As Dai Chengfeng spoke, his gaze remained fixed on Ning Rongrong's eyes, his tone utterly serious: "Now do you understand why I urged you to find a suitable environment?"
"If you change your mind, there's still time."
"We can wait until we find an extremely cold spring or until I've prepared more effective means to suppress the drug's effects before proceeding."
Ning Rongrong's gaze flitted between the three treasures—the Beautiful Silk Tulip, the Great Rejuvenation Pill, and the Dragon Blood Soul-Refining Pill.
Her heart raced with both the immense opportunity before her and the potential risks.
Purifying her essence, evolving her martial soul, enhancing her soul ring years—these three combined effects were almost unimaginable!
This could completely transform her, elevating her to become one of the top existences among her peers and paving the way for future breakthroughs to even higher realms!
But the price…
That face-flushing, heart-pounding "side effect"—and an amplified version at that, thanks to the stacking of the drugs…
She raised her head and saw in Dai Chengfeng's eyes no trace of mockery, only sincere warning and a faint, barely detectable concern.
She recalled her earlier declaration filled with determination—to prove to everyone that she, Ning Rongrong, was no longer a fledgling who needed eternal protection.
She could endure pain, she could persevere toward her goals!
In the end, her intense desire and vision for the future overpowered her shyness and doubts as a young girl.
Ning Rongrong pressed her lips together tightly, a resolute flush rising to her cheeks. She nodded firmly: "I understand!"
"But I've decided to take them now!"
"Dai Chengfeng, I trust you! Please believe in me—I can hold on!"
Dai Chengfeng looked deeply into her eyes, seeing unwavering determination.
He knew further persuasion would be futile; the stubbornness and pride deep within this girl had been fully ignited.
"Alright!"
Dai Chengfeng said no more, handing her the white jade bottle. "Take the Great Rejuvenation Pill first, refine it here, and I'll guard you."
Ning Rongrong accepted the bottle, poured out a milky-white, smooth, crystalline pill, and without hesitation, placed it in her mouth.
The pill dissolved instantly upon contact, and a gentle yet overwhelming surge of medicinal energy flowed through her limbs like a warm current.
Without delay, she immediately sat cross-legged, following Dai Chengfeng's instructions, channeling her soul power to guide the medicinal energy in cleansing her meridians and nourishing her body.
The marrow-cleansing process was far from easy. The sensation of her meridians being widened and impurities forced out brought a tearing pain, but Ning Rongrong clenched her silver teeth tightly. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, yet she didn't utter a single sound.
Dai Chengfeng nodded slightly from the side. This girl indeed had some resilience.
After about an hour, Ning Rongrong's aura trembled, her soul power noticeably increased by a level. Her skin became more radiant, and the impurities expelled were quickly cleared away with her soul power.
She opened her eyes, their brilliance surpassing what it had been before.
"How do you feel?" Dai Chengfeng asked.
"Great! My soul power has increased by one level, and I feel much lighter!" Ning Rongrong replied excitedly.
"Mm, next, the Beautiful Silk Tulip."
Dai Chengfeng handed her the jade box, repeating the key points of consumption: "Remember, eat the petals, inhale the stamen, guide the essence, and push it toward your martial soul."
Ning Rongrong solemnly accepted the box, gazing at the regal golden tulip. She took a deep breath, leaned down, and followed the sequence to consume the petals. Finally, she parted her red lips, gently enveloped the golden stamen, and sucked lightly.
In an instant, a massive surge of heaven and earth essence rushed into her body like a breached river!
This energy, while gentler than the Great Rejuvenation Pill, was far more vast and overwhelming. Ning Rongrong felt her Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul involuntarily manifest, its radiance bursting forth and trembling violently as if undergoing a fundamental transformation.
The pagoda's colors became even more dazzling, and its layers seemed to blur and increase. A wondrous sensation of breaking through limitations enveloped Ning Rongrong's mind.
Seizing the momentum, Ning Rongrong promptly swallowed the Dragon Blood Soul-Refining Pill.
In an instant, the supremely yang and fiery medicinal energy of the whale glue, triggered and amplified by the Beautiful Silk Tulip's boundless life force, erupted like a volcano igniting!
"Uh…"
Ning Rongrong let out a suppressed moan.
Hot!
An indescribable scorching heat rose from her dantian, instantly sweeping through her entire body!
Her blood felt like molten lava, roaring and rushing through her veins.
Her skin flushed a tempting peach hue, delicate beads of sweat forming only to evaporate immediately from her body heat, creating a hazy mist.
"Focus your mind! Guide the medicinal energy!"
Dai Chengfeng barked sharply, simultaneously flashing to Ning Rongrong's side. He sat cross-legged behind her, placing his palms on her back.
Pure and potent soul power surged into her body, attempting to help her regulate the violent medicinal energy, especially to suppress the restless heat.
However, as Dai Chengfeng had anticipated, Ning Rongrong's willpower was far from matching Zhu Zhuqing's ironclad resolve;
Her current soul power level was also much lower than Hu Liena's when she consumed a similar pill;
More importantly, there was no external assistance like ice water available here.
Dai Chengfeng's soul power felt like trying to calm a boiling ocean—its effect was minimal.
The supremely yang medicinal energy, mixed with the Beautiful Silk Tulip's life essence, transformed into the fiercest flames of passion. It not only scorched her meridians but also relentlessly battered her mental defenses.
Ning Rongrong's breathing grew increasingly rapid, her eyes beginning to glaze over. Her once clear pupils were now clouded with a watery allure.
She felt that Dai Chengfeng's hands on her back were no longer transmitting soul power but instead a coolness that made her crave closeness.
"Hot… so hot…"
She murmured unconsciously, her body starting to writhe restlessly.
Dai Chengfeng frowned deeply, increasing the flow of his soul power, but the effect remained poor.
Ning Rongrong's willpower was rapidly crumbling.
"Dai… Dai Chengfeng… Brother…"
Suddenly, Ning Rongrong abruptly turned around, no longer facing away but instead throwing herself limply into Dai Chengfeng's arms.
The sensation of the soft, delicate body of the young girl, along with the scorching breath mingling her maidenly fragrance and the peculiar medicinal aroma, caused Dai Chengfeng's body to stiffen slightly.
"Ning Rongrong! Snap out of it!"
Dai Chengfeng barked low, trying to push her away slightly.
But Ning Rongrong clung to him like an octopus, her arms tightly wrapped around his neck. Her burning cheek pressed against his cool nape, greedily absorbing the slight chill.
"So comfortable… don't leave…"
She rubbed against him like a small beast seeking shelter, murmuring incoherently.
"Help me… Brother… so hot… it hurts…"
Her rationality had been almost entirely consumed by the flames of desire, leaving only the most primal instincts.
She began to tear at her clothes frantically. The neckline of her delicate dress was pulled open, revealing her elegantly curved collarbone and a patch of snow-white, flushed skin.
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