The Hehuan Sect Was Squeezed Dry for Ten Thousand Years, but It Became a Sacred Ground?

Chapter 26: The Greedy Girl! Behind-the-Scenes Manipulation!

Ning Chen reclined against a soft pillow, hands resting behind his head. He listened to the increasingly labored breathing beside him. Glancing down at the trembling woman leaning against him, he frowned and lightly scolded, “If you can’t handle it, stop forcing yourself.”

“No… I can… Senior Brother, I’m fine,” Nangong Ling replied, her damp face lifted, radiant eyes full of determination. Though she trembled slightly, she refused to back down, gritting her teeth to persevere.

Ning Chen didn’t press further, offering only a passing reminder. He couldn’t help but recall their first meeting years ago—her bold yet excessively naive demeanor at the time. Now, her uninhibited behavior rivaled, if not surpassed, that of Liu Ruyan.

All this because of her frustration with the Heavenly Ice Spirit Body?

That kind of progress wasn’t achieved overnight. Years of accumulation were behind it. Did Nangong Ling truly believe she could close a century-long gap in just six short years? And that too while facing inevitable losses during her cultivation?

Even if she consumed a stomach full of resources every day, it wouldn’t change much. Besides, her Sun and Moon Divine Eyes were remarkable on their own. Why was she pushing herself this hard?@@novelbin@@

Perhaps because his own cultivation felt effortless, Ning Chen couldn’t fully grasp others’ relentless pursuit of power. After all…

His gaze shifted toward a flickering, ethereal screen that materialized before him.

[Host: Ning Chen]

[Cultivation: Sealed (Foundation Establishment, Stage 1: 11/1000)]

[Accumulated Closed-Door Cultivation Experience: 297,612,500 points (calculated nightly at midnight)]

[Innate Talents:]

Talent 1: Duplication

Talent 2: Unyielding Resolve (Blue Quality, +100 EXP/day)

Talent 3: Merciless Sword Heart (Purple Quality, +1000 EXP/day)

[Physique:]

Supreme Chongyang Sacred Physique (Red Quality, +100,000 EXP/day)

Red Sun Dragon Saliva Physique (Purple Quality, +1000 EXP/day)

[Divine Ability:]

Sun and Moon Divine Eyes (Gold Quality, +10,000 EXP/day)

(Accumulating diverse talents, physiques, and abilities increases the maximum daily experience gain during closed-door cultivation.)

(Current Daily Experience: 112,100)

(Note: Exiting closed-door cultivation triggers a thousand-year cooldown period for the system.)

***

In just a few years, nearly 300 million experience points had accumulated. If Ning Chen exited closed-door cultivation now, he could instantly gain 30 billion EXP. Such an enormous sum would likely propel him beyond Liu Ruyan’s current Nascent Soul Stage 3.

But his initial impatience for revenge had long since faded.

A thousand-year cooldown wasn’t something to squander lightly. Besides, thanks to the slave mark, he had already turned the tables. Though the mark didn’t grant full control, it subtly influenced Liu Ruyan’s behavior. As she absorbed more of his energy, she became increasingly submissive.

The dynamics between them had quietly shifted.

Without the Unyielding Resolve talent, Nangong Ling struggled for a while before ultimately giving up. After replenishing her energy, she knelt beside Ning Chen and helped clean up, her movements practiced and efficient. Then, she returned to the open space to cultivate.

Over six years, she had advanced from the Golden Core Stage 4 to Stage 7. Her progress far surpassed that of Liu Ruyan during the same period. Yet Nangong Ling still found it unsatisfactory.

She truly was greedy—such an insatiable girl.

When her cultivation concluded, Nangong Ling nestled beside Ning Chen, allowing him to toy with her as he pleased. Her demeanor was gentle and submissive, a stark contrast to her unapproachable aura outside.

Her recent performance during the sect tournament had elevated her from obscurity to fifth place on the Spring Radiance Rankings.

The Spring Radiance Rankings was an official list compiled by the Grand Xia Dynasty, cataloging female cultivators younger than 100, at or above late Foundation Establishment but below Nascent Soul. It factored in their appearance, strength, and accomplishments to rank a thousand notable women. Each name on the list garnered widespread admiration.

Although Nangong Ling ranked fifth overall, she was the top-ranked cultivator in the Golden Core stage. The four women above her were all Nascent Soul cultivators, so deference was inevitable.

Ning Chen only learned about her achievement when Xu Qingyao teased him about it during a dispute over “sharing his resources.”

The thought amused him. Women who were celebrated as goddesses by countless admirers outside competed fervently for his favor here.

Nangong Ling gazed up at him, her delicate hand tracing his flawless features. In the past, she had been motivated primarily by the rapid progress his energy granted her. But now, she knew her heart and soul had wholly succumbed to her Senior Brother.

If Ning Chen could read her thoughts, he would merely smile indifferently.

He had mastered the shortcut to a woman’s heart—it was as simple as that. Only rare individuals like Liu Ruyan could maintain absolute composure afterward.

“What’s on your mind?” he asked, sensing her unsettled emotions.

Nangong Ling never hid anything from him. She replied in a hoarse voice, sounding somewhat disheartened, “A new batch of junior sisters will join the sect today.”

“And?”

“Master said yesterday that she plans to select the best among them to train with you, Senior Brother, to quickly strengthen the sect.”

The implication was clear. Nangong Ling felt a surge of jealousy.

Three of them were already struggling to monopolize his attention, yet now more would join?

Was he planning to abandon them after a hundred years of indulgence?

Even their martial aunt had protested, but in the end, the sect was still their master’s domain. Their opinions held no weight.

Ning Chen listened silently, unsurprised.

After all, this was part of his behind-the-scenes manipulation.