Free Web NovelChapter 253: Chapter 253: Greetings, Lord General
"YIP YIP YIP," the Little Fox whined, having slipped into Ning Xuan’s cabin at some point to circle her feet.
Ning Xuan reached out, and the Little Fox leaped up her arm and into her embrace.
Ning Xuan reached back, stilling Yun Han’s fingers as he massaged her. She stood up and walked to the cabin window. Compared to a Jump Ship, the Starship was larger, more luxurious, and more comfortable.
The view outside was magnificent. The Starship was about to arrive at Central Star.
Ning Xuan’s team had an overall ranking of third place, while Ning Xuan’s personal rank was seventh. Of the other twelve people on the team, only Tang Xue was also a candidate; the rest were either graduate reinforcements or sponsored members. Tang Xue’s personal rank was 37th.
Graduate reinforcements were ranked separately, and sponsored members were not ranked at all. However, everyone would receive a hefty team reward. In addition, there were other gains from the exploration process, and they had all received a share corresponding to their contributions. These private gains were far more substantial than the official rewards.
Looking at the scenery outside, Wang Teng, Wang Yue, and Zhang Nan felt their hearts swell with pride and excitement. Developing a New Star Body was fraught with danger. They had all chosen to venture into one because they were facing various hardships in their lives.
They had been prepared to risk life and limb, yet they had encountered no real danger on the New Star Body and had instead reaped immense rewards.
As the team’s leader, Ning Xuan understood and valued each member’s capabilities. She cherished their lives and wouldn’t recklessly chase glory just because powerful individuals like Di Youlin were present. Of course, Di Youlin and the others had taken on far more missions, so their rewards were undoubtedly greater. But the rest of the team accepted this without complaint and were even grateful. After all, if they had attempted those same missions, it would have meant certain death.
As for the gains from this trip, just absorbing the spiral nebula in the Oasis Fairyland had made the entire journey worthwhile.
Wang Teng and the others could still feel the spiral nebula stored in their bodies continuing to improve their genes and bloodlines. Their physical fitness and Spiritual Power Values changed daily.
The Starship’s landing point was packed with the families of candidates waiting to greet them. Amid the crowded throng, seven areas stood out as particularly spacious. Yan Fuzhen occupied one of them. His powerful presence made him impossible to ignore. He was dressed in a simple white shirt and black pants, which gave him a refined and scholarly air. His hair was impeccably combed, and he stood ramrod straight, with two rows of young, uniformed Attendants behind him.
In another clearing about fifty meters away from Yan Fuzhen stood a man with delicate features. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his lean waist wrapped in a standing-collar shirt of dark silver with a cloud pattern. A gilded frog-button at the collar was adorned with a pigeon’s blood ruby, which cast an uncanny red glint on his brow bone as the morning light passed over it.
The natural upward curve of his eyes should have made him look flirtatious and passionate, but an old scar running through his left eyebrow stripped away any hint of romance, leaving only the cold severity of a blade that has tasted blood. When the Starship’s engines kicked up a gale, the clothes of the surrounding crowd billowed wildly, yet his long, silver-gray hair hung perfectly still. The air around him seemed to be frozen by some invisible magnetic field.
A few family members holding welcome signs accidentally stepped into his area and suddenly shivered in unison. The man gave them a casual glance, and someone immediately stepped forward to drive them away.
Spotting Ning Xuan approaching, Yan Fuzhen immediately went to greet her. Ning Xuan glanced at Yan Fuzhen’s attire, then at the man not far away, and suddenly said to Yan Fuzhen, "Housekeeper Yan, don’t you own any nicer clothes?"
Yan Fuzhen looked down at his own clothes and gave a helpless smile. "My apologies, Master. I will go and have new clothes custom-made."
As Ning Xuan and Yan Fuzhen were speaking, the exquisitely featured, gorgeously dressed man walked straight toward them. freёwebnovel.com
Watching the man draw closer, Yan Fuzhen’s gaze sharpened. Just as Yan Fuzhen was about to make a move, the man stopped about seven steps away, bowed his head to Ning Xuan, and said, "Greetings, Lord General."
Both Ning Xuan and Yan Fuzhen were stunned. Although Yan Fuzhen didn’t recognize the man, he could sense his immense power—a power that, by instinct, felt even greater than his own.
The Little Fox in Ning Xuan’s arms wriggled its head out and rolled its eyes with a hint of exasperation.
Ning Xuan glanced down at the Little Fox. It let out a few "YIP YIP YIP" whimpers and pawed at her clothes, reluctant to part.
Ning Xuan saw the man looking in her direction. When he held out his arms, she instantly understood his meaning. She yanked the Little Fox off her and tossed it toward the man.
Ning Xuan noticed that the man’s brow furrowed in distress when he saw her rough action.
The man caught the Little Fox steadily and left without another word.
’Who is this Lord General? And what’s the deal with that Little Fox?’ Yan Fuzhen silently pondered. But he didn’t ask, instead leading Ning Xuan to the Flying Car to return to the villa.
The moment Ning Xuan stepped into the Flying Car, she suddenly felt her bloodline boil. Searing flames erupted from within her body, and soon, her entire form was covered in fire.
"Switch to manual piloting! Return to the villa at maximum speed!" Yan Fuzhen commanded his subordinate.
Even from a distance, he could feel the scorching heat. Crimson ripples of energy were spreading outward in layers, with Ning Xuan at the center.
Yan Fuzhen watched as the tips of his hair curled and scorched. The temperature display on his inner protective suit began to flash a piercing red light.
Although the Flying Car he had summoned was a high-Level model made of fire-resistant, high-temperature materials, Ning Xuan’s fire was no ordinary flame. If she lost control completely, the entire vehicle could be set alight.
"Master, your Fire Element Energy is running rampant! I have some medicine here to suppress energy surges, do you..." Yan Fuzhen pulled a bottle of medicine from his Space Button, intending to ask if she wanted to use it.
Before Yan Fuzhen could finish, Ning Xuan waved her hand at him. "No need. Bring Yun Han and Lan Xin here. Have the others take another Flying Car."
Ning Xuan kept her eyes shut, afraid to open them. She felt as if she might breathe fire if she did.
"Yes." Yan Fuzhen didn’t question her for a second and hurried off to make the arrangements.
A short while later, Lan Xin and Yun Han arrived. Seeing Ning Xuan’s condition, both of their faces filled with worry. freёwebnoѵel.com
"Don’t be afraid. My flames won’t harm you. But, this probably won’t be pleasant. If it becomes unbearable, you have my permission to scream," Ning Xuan said with her eyes closed, struggling to refine the out-of-control Fire Element Energy and guide it into the meridians and acupoints throughout her body.
However, the Fire Element Energy was ferocious. Due to the presence of another Bloodline Energy, the Little Red Bird was agitated, hovering on the verge of emerging. This stirred the Fire Element Energy, causing it to churn uncontrollably within Ning Xuan.
That blue energy lay dormant within her bloodline, completely still and unmoving.
