Chapter 253 - 133: Dragon Maiden’s Gift, Jade Blood Dragon Core Pendant, a Month in a Flash, Secret Martial Great Success, Tribulation Fire Burning Robe

Chapter 253: Chapter 133: Dragon Maiden’s Gift, Jade Blood Dragon Core Pendant, a Month in a Flash, Secret Martial Great Success, Tribulation Fire Burning Robe

WOOSH~~~

A cool breeze blew in from the docks, lifting the dark, blue-green strands of hair at Bai Shuo’s temples.

"Ji Xiu, I have to go."

The corners of her shimmering, almond-shaped eyes were dotted with tiny silver scales. Her eyelashes, like cicada wings, fluttered. The hem of her skirt stirred as her jade-like fingers rested on a cold stone pillar, her posture betraying a hint of reluctance.

"Sister Bai Shuo..."

Seeing this, Ji Wei, who stood to one side, bit her lip and blinked.

At this, Bai Shuo smiled and gave her a gentle wave.

"Goodbye, Little Wei. I hope the next time I see you, you’ll be a rising Daoist Fairy."

Having stayed here for so long, with her status and perspective, Bai Shuo could easily tell from Fan Nansong’s nervous demeanor alone that Ji Wei was hiding a secret.

In fact.

A little girl from a rural county with no knowledge whatsoever of Dao Skills, even with a Daoist High Merit personally tutoring her...

...should not have been able to complete her Licensing, master Qi Absorption and Grain Avoidance, and become a Qi Cultivator in just a few short months. Furthermore, her body shimmered with a profound light, and her Divine Soul seemed to hold some hidden mystery...

Anyone who wasn’t a fool could guess she had a powerful expert backing her.

But then again, neither of the siblings was ordinary.

Bai Shuo had long since gone from initial shock to simple numbness on that point.

"This is for you."

Taking out a jade pendant threaded with wisps of blood-red silk and shimmering with a mother-of-pearl iridescence, Bai Shuo took a few steps forward and pressed it into Ji Xiu’s palm.

"What is this...?"

Seeing Bai Shuo give him a gift just as she was leaving, Ji Xiu instinctively wanted to refuse.

’Are you kidding me? Bai Shuo already paid plenty of "rent" during her stay here. This thing looks valuable at a glance; it’s probably a Spirit Grade treasure. When I was cultivating Mortal Transformation: Soaring Dragon Gate, I practically drained her of her blood twice over. Taking from her and eating her food... it was all getting rather embarrassing.’

"Hey! Are you going to turn your back on her after everything?"

Qingtuan’s eyes widened when she saw the pendant from the side.

And when she saw that Ji Xiu actually intended to refuse it...

...she jumped up in agitation and started shouting:

"That’s a ’Jade Blood Dragon Core Pendant’! It’s one of a Dragon and Phoenix Double Pendant set, forged from a wisp of Dragon Blood! It’s a Spirit Grade treasure!"

"It can automatically replenish itself with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, and if the wearer faces a life-or-death crisis, it can even block a full blow from a Dragon Tiger Realm master!"

"Not to mention that a Dragon Prince or Princess can only forge one pair in their entire lifetime using their own Essence Blood!"

"Let’s just talk about the promise you made to the Young Lord. Are you planning to go back on your word now?"

"Hmph. My lady, you see? He’s found a higher branch to climb now. The Heir of the Marquis of Beicang from Jiangyin Prefecture has taken a liking to him, so he doesn’t want to follow your path anymore..."

"We’ve heard a thing or two about that Xiao Mingli’s fame from her youth."

"They say she was just one step shy of making the Juvenile Dragon Stele. She’s incredibly famous in Cangdu and its surrounding prefectures. Her father is a Marquis, her mother’s clan is a Giant House... a true blue-blooded noble."

Ji Xiu’s expression darkened. He watched the green-robed girl needle him relentlessly, clearly getting revenge for what happened at the docks. ’So petty,’ he thought.

’But... the Jade Blood Dragon Core Pendant only comes in a matched pair?’

He glanced at the pendant hanging from Bai Shuo’s waist, which looked quite similar to the one in his palm...

Ji Xiu hesitated for a moment but accepted it. Then, as he recalled the many stories and moments they had shared, he felt a wave of melancholy wash over him.

He clenched the pendant, lowered his gaze, and looked at the Dragon Maiden before him, whose beauty was like the clear, cool light of the moon. After a moment of thought, he bowed his head slightly and said with great seriousness:

"Young Master Bai."

"Mm."

The Dragon Maiden lowered her eyes, humming softly in assent.

"In the future, if there is ever a need for my service..."

"I, Ji Xiu, will answer the call."

"Let this pendant be the proof."

He spoke softly, but his tone was resolute.

Hearing his words, the eyes of the woman in the watery gauze gown lit up for an instant, as if reflecting the shifting aurora in the sky.

Then, her eyes curved into a smile, like the rippling of scattered starlight.

"Let this pendant be the proof."

Bai Shuo took the pendant from her own slender waist and gently tapped it against the one she had given Ji Xiu.

Then, her figure vanished into the cold wind, leaving only the sway of her skirt and the DING-DING of the ’jade charm’ on her snow-white neck. With Qingtuan at her side, they gradually shrank into black dots and disappeared from view.

Ji Xiu lifted his gaze and watched in silence.

"Brother? Brother?"

"They’re long gone."

"Sister Bai Shuo has an impressive background, but our family is no slouch either."

"You just have to strive a little harder, and I’ll strive a little harder. When the time comes, we’ll go right to her home and snatch her back! That woman with her just now... she didn’t seem like a good person."

"Her life in that Water Mansion probably isn’t very easy."

Ji Wei stood beside Ji Xiu, tugging at the corner of his sleeve and pouting.

At the same time, her eyes held a hint of curiosity.

"What’s it like inside Jiangyin Prefecture?"

"Observatory Master Fan said that since I’ve mastered ’Qi Absorption and Grain Avoidance’ and have some ability to protect myself, it’s time for me to go to the Prefecture to use its resources for faster Cultivation. Then I can go pay my respects to a Sect elder who will teach me Daoist Skill Cultivation."

"Brother, do you think I should go?"

Ji Wei fidgeted with her small hands; her entire being seemed to change by the day.

Doted on by Ji Xiu, she now had a slender figure and porcelain-white skin. Coupled with her long practice of Dao Skills—mastering Licensing and Qi Absorption...

...you would be hard-pressed to find such an outstanding young lady from a great family in all of Jiangyin Prefecture.

Looking at the vibrant, youthful energy practically overflowing from her...

Ji Xiu smiled.

"Go. Why wouldn’t you?"

"No one stays in a small place forever."

"You always have to go and see..."

"...the higher, more distant scenery."