Not long after, Ning Fa returned to his home.
By this time, the sky had darkened, stars were sparse, and the bright moon hung high.
As soon as Ning Fa entered his house, he suddenly noticed someone standing in the courtyard.
Under the soft moonlight, the person turned out to be a young woman.
She wore a black martial arts uniform. Although it was men's clothing, it perfectly accentuated her tall and graceful figure, giving her a distinct heroic aura.
Her cloud-like hair was casually scattered, and her pure, jade-like face was adorned with eyes that sparkled like stars. Her nose was high and delicate, and her cherry-red lips were slightly pursed, exuding temptation.
At this moment, she was facing away from Ning Fa, looking up at the moon as if she had merged with the night, creating a beautiful and moving picture.
Even Ning Fa, who had seen many beauties in his previous life, couldn't help but have his eyes light up.
However, he immediately frowned, feeling as if he had seen this woman before. He couldn't help but search his memory carefully.
Soon, he remembered who this woman was and his expression changed drastically. "Witch... Witch! ...No, greetings, Fifth Elder."
The woman in black turned around, her star-like beautiful eyes fixed on Ning Fa.
Suddenly, her lips curved into an arc, and she smiled disdainfully.
As she smiled, her entire demeanor changed.
The harmless and charming aura she exuded was completely gone.
Her cloud-like hair, as if stirred by an unseen wind, billowed around her. Cold light flashed in her starry eyes, emitting a sharp, oppressive aura. With her hands clasped behind her back, an air of disdain for all under heaven arose spontaneously.
Although she was a head shorter than Ning Fa, she seemed to be looking down at him.
The corners of her mouth turned up, revealing a wild smile, even tinged with a hint of neurotic madness, giving her a morbid beauty.
Ning Fa felt a tangible pressure descend upon him, like a thousand pounds pressing down, forcing his head to lower involuntarily, compelling him to kneel.
Ning Fa was furious. When had he, Ning Fa, ever bowed his head to anyone?
He would rather die!
He gritted his teeth and forced his head up. Due to the immense pressure, his joints cracked audibly. Ning Fa's face turned red and his neck bulged as he gasped for breath, struggling fiercely.
A flicker of interest flashed in the black-clothed woman's beautiful eyes, and the curve of her lips widened.
Immediately, the pressure on Ning Fa intensified, making him feel like a small boat in a stormy sea, about to capsize at any moment.
But he still didn't give up. Veins bulged on his neck, his eyes bloodshot, but he refused to lower his head.
At some point, the heavy pressure on Ning Fa suddenly eased. Caught off guard, Ning Fa's neck snapped backward, nearly twisting his neck.
"Quite stubborn, aren't you?"
The black-clothed woman said indifferently.
Ning Fa rubbed his neck and then, as if nothing had happened, his expression remained normal. "May I ask why Fifth Elder has come to my home so late at night? It's not because you lost the bet and are refusing to honor it, is it? I heard that Fifth Elder is known for always keeping her word."
A strange look flashed in the black-clothed woman's beautiful eyes. Ning Fa's reaction made her think even more highly of him. After hearing his words, she couldn't help but scoff:
"What are you afraid of? What I, Ning Huarong, say is always true. Since I lost the bet, I naturally won't make things difficult for you."
Hearing this, Ning Fa breathed a sigh of relief. As long as this witch didn't go back on her word, it was fine.
He would find a way to get back the humiliation he suffered tonight in the future.
After all, he was someone who knew when to yield and when to stand firm.
Ning Huarong glanced at him and said lightly, "However, I have another bet I want to make with you."
Ning Fa's heart leaped in alarm. What new trick was this witch up to?
Ning Huarong chuckled lightly, "It's a bet on whether you can break through to the middle stage of Qi Condensation within a year. If you can't, you lose the bet, and you'll still have to be my dual cultivation cauldron for three months. Conversely, if you succeed, I will grant you one condition."
Ning Fa's eyes widened. This witch was still harboring wicked intentions and was so lustful for his body?
Given her appearance, it wasn't impossible for him to endure a few nights with her, but he feared that if this witch got carried away, she might damage his Dao Foundation.
Although this bet sounded fair, everyone in the family knew he had an Incomplete Lightning Spiritual Root. The family had put in so much effort before and couldn't help the previous owner break through the bottleneck to the middle stage of Qi Condensation. How could he break through within a year relying solely on himself?
Wasn't this bet sure to be lost?
Ning Fa shook his head without thinking and refused, "I won't take this bet."
Upon hearing this, Ning Huarong laughed, her laughter growing louder and carrying a hint of neurotic madness, making Ning Fa's ears ache.
Ning Huarong's smile vanished, and a disdainful arc returned to her lips. She said lightly, "I'm not here to discuss this with you, merely to inform you. A year from today will be the deadline for the bet."
With that, Ning Fa felt a blur of movement before his eyes, and Ning Huarong disappeared from his sight.
Ning Fa couldn't even grasp how she had left.
He had met many cultivators in the late stage of Qi Condensation, and his father's old flame, the Ninth Elder, as well as Ning Zonglie, were definitely powerhouses among late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators. However, compared to this woman, they were far inferior.
To Ning Fa, this witch seemed to be in a completely different realm compared to other late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators.
No wonder she was so dominant in the family; it was entirely due to her own strength.
He suspected that once she reached Foundation Establishment, apart from the First Elder, who was in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, and the powerful Third Elder, the other two elders would not be her match.
Ning Fa's expression couldn't help but turn grim. The joy of his recent promotion to family Pill Master had completely vanished.
He had originally thought that after joining the family's Pill Hall, he would no longer be harassed by this witch, but he now realized he had been too naive.
He had underestimated Ning Huarong's determination to obtain him, and overestimated the resistance the family's Pill Hall could offer against her.
Judging by the current situation, even if he was promoted to a Rank 1 Mid-grade Pill Master, if Ning Huarong was determined to make him her dual cultivation cauldron, he would still find it difficult to escape his fate.
Unless he could be promoted to a Rank 1 High-grade Pill Master, perhaps then he could get the family elders to mediate.
But by then, that witch would likely have already advanced to Foundation Establishment. With her strength at that time, and her neurotic personality, it was feared no one would be able to control her.
Thinking this, Ning Fa's expression couldn't help but turn grim, realizing that he seemed unable to escape the fate of becoming this witch's dual cultivation cauldron.
"I was too naive. What's the use of improving my alchemy skills if I don't have the power to protect myself? In the end, I'm just prey to others. This world respects strength above all else; improving my cultivation realm is the fundamental thing."
Ning Fa murmured. Ning Huarong's coercion had made him deeply understand the importance of improving his cultivation.
Even without that bet, he would have to find ways to improve his cultivation.
The good news was that although Ning Huarong was domineering and crazy, she seemed to be a person of her word. So, his next step would be to find ways to break through to the mid-Qi Condensation stage.
But this was likely not easy. After all, his predecessor had tried for so long, and with the family's strong support, he still couldn't break through.
However, no matter how difficult it was, he had to try.
Ning Fa stood in the courtyard for a long time, his face seeming to melt into the night, his expression unreadable.
Half an hour later, Ning Fa let out a soft breath and walked into the alchemy room.
He sat cross-legged on a cushion, forming hand seals, and his internal spiritual energy surged.
Instantly, wisps of electric light began to flash on his right index finger, quickly transforming into a white arc several inches long. It coiled around his index finger like a spiritual snake, never ceasing.
"Go!"
Ning Fa shouted clearly. Immediately, this silver-white arc flashed and flew out, instantly striking a wooden chair beside Ning Fa.
With a flash of light, the sturdy wooden chair, made from twenty-year-old peach wood, instantly turned into a pile of ashes.
Ning Fa nodded with satisfaction. Although he possessed an Incomplete Lightning Spiritual Root, this powerful might was substantial and far surpassed cultivators of the same level.
As long as he could cultivate to the same realm as that witch, even if his strength was not as good as hers, the gap wouldn't be too large.
At that time, with the added benefit of his alchemy skills, it would be wishful thinking for that witch to try and force him.
But the problem now was how to improve his cultivation realm?