Volume 1: Phoenix Hidden in the Northern Domain Chapter 22: The Years Passed

  On the snowy mountain, there is no change of seasons, and snowflakes flutter all year round. The vast expanse of white makes it difficult to see any living things. Living among them, if one doesn't pay special attention, even the passage of time cannot be judged.

  From the outside, Xueying Mountain Villa on Mount Xuexue seems like a paradise on earth, a legendary haven. Isolated from the world, no matter how much change occurs outside, Mount Xuexue remains unchanged. There was once a rumor that if one were to stay in Xueying Mountain Villa, they would truly experience the feeling of time passing differently - a moment on the mountain is equivalent to several years on earth. It's said that when staying in Xueying Mountain Villa, it's hard to feel the passage of time, and only when returning to reality and leaving Mount Xuexue to enter the outside world does one suddenly hear that several seasons have already changed.

  Tang Nian has been living in Xueying Manor for a whole year, and the life of the past year was dull and monotonous, but it didn't make Tang Nian feel empty or lonely.

  These days, apart from practicing internal alchemy, I occasionally practice elixir, study medicine, read books, learn to play the zither and chess with Si Ling Gu Yun, and exchange martial arts moves.

  No need to worry about food and clothing, no need to worry about the lack of medicine, no need to find a place with abundant spiritual energy for cultivation, and there will be no one who will give her a disdainful look at first sight. Such a life is really leisurely and fulfilling for Tang Nianian.

  In a year, Tang Nian's cultivation had reached the peak of foundation building from the initial stage. The greatest credit for this speed still belongs to Si Ling Gu Yun. Thanks to his innate talent of remembering everything he reads, combined with Si Ling Gu Yun's meticulous guidance, Tang Nian was able to break free from being illiterate and found it easy to read books about this world, gaining a deeper understanding of the information within.

  This world is similar to the Xiu Zhen realm, where the strong are revered. However, cultivators here are called Yuanzhe, and they cultivate a type of energy known as Yuanli. From high to low, it is divided into four levels: Tian, Di, Xuan, and Huang. Each level is further divided into seven sub-levels. After the Di level, each sub-level has its own title, ranging from Shi (1st level) to Sheng (7th level), with the titles being Shi, Shi, Hou, Wang, Jun, Di, and Sheng respectively.

  Among the Yuan Zhe, there are several special occupations: alchemists, Shura, wandering knights, and silver-faced. Among them, the alchemist has the highest status and is most revered. A top-notch alchemist must be a top-notch master, and can cultivate a group of masters. However, being a top-notch master does not necessarily mean one is an alchemist.

  Asura's metaphorical hellish soul collector, simply put, is an assassin. Ronin are mostly lone wanderers, traveling around, selling intelligence information and helping people find some special items. As for the Silver Face, as long as you pay the corresponding price or other rewards, they can help you do anything, and the Silver Face will wear a silver dull mask on their face.

  Half a year ago, Tang Nian learned that Zhu Miao was a Tier 4 Alchemist and also a Tier 5 Cultivator, so she proposed to have a match with him. Zhu Miao agreed without hesitation, as she had always been curious about Tang Nian's true strength but couldn't ask due to their difference in status. Now that Tang Nian took the initiative to propose the match, it was exactly what Zhu Miao wanted.

  In this battle, Tang Nian calculated that his own strength was equivalent to the world's emperor level, and his medicine power was far superior to Yuan's original power. Not only did it have infinite vitality, but it was also vast and surging, and it would not easily dissipate. However, due to his lack of close combat experience, he could easily fall behind, but if he were to use poison and medicine, Zhu Miao would not be a match for him at all.

  If one can break through the foundation and reach the Void Refining stage, they will be on par with the top masters of this world.

  After learning about the sparring between the two, Si Ling Gu Yun personally taught her martial arts and sword techniques. Tang Nian didn't refuse, and with a keen mind, she demonstrated her skills with precision and finesse, leaving Zhu Miao Ti watching in awe, feeling both admiration and numbness.

  It is said that people of a feather flock together. Someone like ZhuangZhu finds someone who is also of the same evil level.

  Four people, including Zhao Tie, heard about this matter and each had their own thoughts. Among them, Zhao Tie was the most excited, and proudly said that he knew Tang Nianian was extraordinary from the first glance, so he brought her back to marry the young master.

  One year has passed, and the people in Xueyingshan Manor have completely acknowledged Tang Nian's status as the main mistress. It is not only because of Ciling Gu's endless doting on her, but also because everything she herself has shown them makes it impossible for them to deny it.

  The sunlight is bright and beautiful, with ice crystals shining in seven colors. The plum blossoms are always in bloom and never fade, with a proud and natural beauty.

  A man wearing a light green cloud-patterned long gown with wide sleeves, his back distant and dust-free, one hand embracing the slender waist of a woman wearing a similar light green white-based long skirt, one hand covering the woman's hand holding a wolf hair brush stained with ink, sketching on the snow-white Xuan paper on the desk.

  After a while, the man held her hand and picked up the pen, smiling lightly: "How's this?"

  Tang Nian carefully looked at the ink painting that was only added a few strokes by Si Ling Gu Yun, compared to before it was like adding the finishing touches to a dragon's eyes, full of vitality. For a moment, she narrowed her eyes and sincerely praised: "Very impressive."

  He gazed at her crystal-clear face, and saw the gentle tremble of her eyelashes and the slight upturn of her mouth corners, all of which he found endearing. He leaned in and left a kiss on her forehead.

  "Huh?" Tang Nian's head tilted slightly, and then she smiled cleverly with a hint of mischief, her eyes gleaming like smoke wafting through the air, "Lone Goose."

  Cui Ling's eyes deepened as he watched her climb onto his body and lick his lips.

  A year of getting along, everything has changed quietly, such as Tang Nian now daring to take the initiative to ask for Tianmo poison, is it really grasping the key or being indulged in fearlessness.

  Tang Nian's kissing skills were not good, but he knew how to yearn for it. It was this clumsy and inexperienced kiss that was the most captivating.

  Tang Niannian was enjoying his meal when suddenly he was turned into the guest by Si Ling Guhong, and welcomed a fierce yet gentle beast-like crazy storm.

  Unbeknownst to her, Tang Nian had been flipped over and was now lying on the desk, dazedly blinking at Shi Ling Gu's face above hers. His eyes were dark and sinister, like a beast of prey locking onto its quarry, ready to devour it whole at any moment.

  Tang Nian's eyes blinked, but she wasn't afraid. She knew what was going to happen next and that it would feel a bit strange, but it wouldn't hurt and definitely wouldn't be life-threatening. After all, this wasn't the first time.

  To her, this had already become the price she must pay for taking the Tianmo poison.

  "Gu hong......" Even if it's for the sake of getting something, Tang Nian still shamelessly wants to escape once. Her blurry eyes plead with the other person, her voice low and soft like sweet glutinous rice, making the listener's heart soften, "Gu hong, gu hong, I know I was wrong, gu hong......"

  This trick never fails. As long as you lower your voice, call the other person's name, and be a bit more gentle in your demeanor, they will give you whatever you want. Except for freedom, she didn't dare try this either.

  This demeanor was learned from one of the snow foxes of Ye Lianqiao's twin sisters, when she saw with her own eyes how that snow fox used such a soft gaze to stare at Ye Lianqiao's two sisters, making them like it so much that they fed each other delicious food.

  This trick is clearly not very effective in this matter of gain and loss with Tianmo poison, and this time is no exception.

  Ciling Guhong looked at her eyes, which were not only not simple but even more profound. It was unexpected that Tang Nianian would not think of it, and at this time she took the initiative to hook up with him, put on this posture, and use such a voice to call out his name, the effect would only be the opposite.

  Digression

  One more post, continuing from yesterday's debt