Chapter 15: Luo Ningshuang
Chapter 15: Luo Ningshuang
Heaven Primordial Continent, Jixia Academy, Alchemy Chamber.
Due to the perpetual burning of alchemical furnaces, the temperature here was several hundred degrees higher than outside.
In such an environment, Luo Ningshuang kept her eyes fixed on the furnace before her.
The firelight illuminated her youthful face and sweat-drenched forehead.
Though still somewhat immature, anyone with eyes could see she would undoubtedly blossom into a peerless beauty within two years.
Silver-white hair cascaded from her temples, framing the peculiar Dao mark on her forehead.
Far from appearing out of place, it only accentuated her unique aura.
“Well, well, if it isn’t our former Holy Maiden? Still refining pills this late at night?”
“Alchemy’s all she’s got left now. Without this skill, she’d have been expelled long ago.”
“What’s the use of refining pills well? Stoking fires is all she’ll ever do. Speed means nothing—steady progress is what truly matters!”
Luo Ningshuang remained unmoved by these voices.
Since her cultivation began declining, she’d heard countless similar remarks.
The irony was that these very voices had once surrounded her with flattery.
She’d even kindly advised these two to focus on proper cultivation rather than wasting effort on such things.
Yet they’d misinterpreted her words as condescending mockery.
Now they frequently came to the Alchemy Chamber to ridicule her situation, sometimes even deliberately harassing her.
In these moments, Luo Ningshuang found herself grateful for her declining cultivation—only through this could she truly discern the hypocrisy behind empty praises.
She grabbed a handful of fuel and added it to the furnace before her.
A remorseful voice echoed in her mind: “I’m truly sorry. If not for me, you wouldn’t be in this situation…”
This voice always appeared whenever Luo Ningshuang faced ridicule over her weakened cultivation.
“……”
She glanced down at the pendant hanging from her neck—the source of the voice resided within.
The being claimed to be Yaochi Empress, ruler of the extraterrestrial Yaochi Holy Land, who had perished due to treachery, her remnant soul now attached to her lifebound artifact, the Yaochi Heavenly Lock, which had drifted to Heaven Primordial Continent.
Twelve-year-old Luo Ningshuang had stumbled upon the Yaochi Heavenly Lock during an expedition.
Sensing her innate Dao marks, the artifact had initiated a bonding ritual of its own accord.
Once connected, the Yaochi Heavenly Lock began absorbing Luo Ningshuang’s cultivation to replenish the empress’s remnant soul, causing even her innate Dao marks to dim.
A year had passed since then—Luo Ningshuang’s cultivation had plummeted to the third layer of the Mortal Dust Realm, while Yaochi Empress’s remnant soul had regained enough strength to communicate. Yet three more years were needed to fully restore the soul.
“If you truly wish to apologize,” Luo Ningshuang responded mentally, “then after your soul is restored and memories fully recovered, teach me the cultivation methods of your Yaochi Holy Land.”
Having fallen from the heavens to the depths, Luo Ningshuang had long developed maturity beyond her years.
Verbal apologies could never compare to tangible action.
She’d received fragments of alchemical knowledge from the empress—techniques far surpassing anything in this world.
“I, Yaochi Empress, swear upon my honor and destiny! Once my soul is restored and memories recovered, I shall impart all Yaochi Holy Land techniques to Luo Ningshuang without reservation!”
As the empress’s oath echoed in her mind, Luo Ningshuang calculated the time remaining.
Three years, two months, and twelve days.
Just then, the two mockers approached her.
“You’re just a menial student now! How dare you ignore us when we speak to you?!”
“You’re still clinging to past glories, aren’t you? Time to show you reality!”
As they moved to strike, a black-clad figure suddenly appeared—Meng Shu—who sent both flying with a single palm strike before Luo Ningshuang.
“Insolent fools! How dare you lay hands on her?!”
Luo Ningshuang stared in shock at Meng Shu—she had no memory of ever meeting this man.
Before she could inquire, Liu Yueru, headmistress of Jixia Academy, materialized in the Alchemy Chamber, her gaze locked onto Meng Shu. “Who are you?!”
She’d sensed the peak Star Realm spiritual fluctuations when Meng Shu struck, yet recognized no such figure in her memory.
“I am the guardian of my young master. Luo Ningshuang is betrothed to him—is this how Jixia Academy treats its guests?!”
At Meng Shu’s accusation, realization dawned on Liu Yueru.
Simultaneously, she grew puzzled—when Luo Ningshuang’s cultivation first began declining, she’d visited the Three Saints Sect, where Su Ming had shown complete indifference.
Why would he suddenly show concern for his fiancée now?
Wait—no!
Liu Yueru realized this wasn’t about concern for his betrothed at all.
Her expression turned knowing as she spoke: “For you to come personally… Young Master Su must have finally made that decision.”
After all, everyone—including Luo Ningshuang herself—had long accepted that with her cultivation fallen to the Mortal Dust Realm, Su Ming would inevitably sever ties. The annulment letter’s arrival was merely a matter of time.
“So the day has finally come?” Luo Ningshuang thought silently as she observed Meng Shu.
She knew well that her continued stay at Jixia Academy relied not just on Yaochi Empress’s alchemical teachings, but more so on her engagement to Su Ming—a man she’d never met.
The academy wished neither to slight the Three Saints Sect nor provoke Su Ming’s Heavenly Dao Realm parents.
Before Meng Shu could respond, Liu Yueru continued: “Since the annulment has been delivered, effective immediately, Luo Ningshuang is no longer a disciple of Jixia Academy!”
“In recognition of your alchemical contributions, take these hundred low-grade spirit stones. Henceforth, you have no ties to this institution!”
Meng Shu’s voice turned dangerous: “What is the meaning of this?”
Assuming he disapproved of her handling, Liu Yueru added: “Having left the academy, you must return all cultivation techniques learned here!”
The unspoken implication: Luo Ningshuang’s remaining cultivation would be erased.
At this, Meng Shu roared: “How dare you?! Luo Ningshuang remains my young master’s acknowledged fiancée! To speak of crippling her before me—Liu Yueru, your audacity knows no bounds!”
Both Liu Yueru and Luo Ningshuang stood frozen.
“This… this can’t be! With her cultivation ruined and Dao marks faded, there’s no reason to maintain the engagement…”
“You’d best start considering how to explain yourself to my young master!”
Ignoring Liu Yueru, Meng Shu turned to Luo Ningshuang and produced a letter handwritten by Su Ming.
“Young Mistress, this is my young master’s letter for you. Since Jixia Academy has expelled you, will you return with me to the Three Saints Sect?”
As she opened the letter, Luo Ningshuang’s eyes stung—the contents laid bare her current reality and possible futures with brutal honesty.
Yet Su Ming also expressed understanding and respect for her circumstances, offering her a choice.
If she wished to sever ties, their engagement would end here.
But if she still harbored the will to advance against the current of cultivation, this letter served as an invitation to journey together.
After reading, confusion filled Luo Ningshuang.
Why would he maintain their engagement when she’d become a cripple? Why offer cultivation resources?
This past year had shown her humanity’s ugliest faces—she no longer believed in kindness without motive.
Yet whatever her fiancé’s intentions, they surely surpassed remaining at Jixia Academy.
“I’ll go with you…”