Chapter 125: Ning Tian's Hope
While Lin Yun and Xiao Xiao were whispering together, several students in Class One were secretly watching her.
Aside from those who already knew her well, most of them found the "new" Xiao Xiao completely unfamiliar.
After all, just a change in hairstyle could make someone nearly unrecognizable — let alone a transformation like Xiao Xiao's, with dyed hair, colored lenses, and flawless makeup that made her look like a completely different person.
Whispers spread through the classroom.
"When did Class One get such a beauty?"
That rare blend of youthful innocence and elegant purity drew the attention of countless infatuated boys, each of them restless with excitement.
If she hadn't been acting so close with Lin Yun — the infamous "freshman demon king" — some of them would have already rushed over to strike up a conversation.
At that moment, Ning Tian and Wu Feng finally arrived, walking into the classroom and heading naturally toward their usual seats in the corner. Ever since the class reorganization, the two spots in front of Lin Yun had always belonged to them, and no one dared compete for them.
Ning Tian smiled faintly as she glanced at the familiar figure.
That golden hair gleaming like sunlight, those sharply chiseled and perfectly symmetrical features, that calm yet unapproachable aura — they had haunted her thoughts throughout the entire break, keeping her awake night after night.
When she returned to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect during the holidays, the first thing she did was mention Lin Yun to her mother — Ning Zhiyou, the current Sect Master.
Though she had already written about Lin Yun before, words on paper could never capture the full picture. Hearing that such a prodigious student existed in the same year as her daughter left Ning Zhiyou astonished.
But once she learned that Lin Yun came from a secluded sect, her excitement gave way to hesitation.
If it had been any other disciple of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she would have agreed immediately to a marriage alliance. Gaining the support of a powerful hidden sect was an opportunity not to be missed.
But Ning Tian was different.
As the Sect's young mistress, she was destined to inherit leadership one day. How could she be sent away in marriage?
And having Lin Yun marry into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was utterly unrealistic.
He was a Golden Dragon Spirit master — bearer of an ultimate attribute — and even kept a millennium-old Ice Jade Scorpion with the Ultimate Ice attribute as his companion. Anyone could tell he was the core disciple of his sect, cultivated with utmost care.
Having him marry into her sect would be as absurd as asking Beibei to marry into someone else's family — both were heirs to powerful legacies. Lin Yun was a scion of a hidden sect, while Beibei was the successor of Mu En, the current Sea God Pavilion Master and pillar of Shrek Academy.
So Ning Zhiyou could only advise her daughter to abandon the idea.
Building a good relationship with Lin Yun was fine — even offering assistance if needed, especially in financial matters, since wealth was the one thing the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had in abundance.
If they could earn Lin Yun's friendship, even without marriage ties, the sect would still gain his future support.
Unless, of course, he turned out to be some ungrateful, power-hungry sect of evil soul masters — but that was clearly impossible.
Still, Ning Tian was torn. She had been ready to compete openly with Xiao Xiao for Lin Yun's attention, and just when she was finally standing on even ground, her own mother had ordered her to give up.
How could she possibly sleep peacefully after that?
With those conflicted thoughts, Ning Tian entered Class One — and froze the moment she saw Lin Yun, alongside the now stunningly transformed Xiao Xiao.
"You're… Xiao Xiao?" Ning Tian asked hesitantly after a brief pause, her tone uncertain and probing.
Even after all the open and covert rivalry they'd shared for an entire year as "plastic best friends," Ning Tian could still recognize traces of the old Xiao Xiao in her features — despite the drastic transformation.
Still, Xiao Xiao's change left her utterly stunned.
Wu Feng beside her was no exception.
Looking at Xiao Xiao's now breathtaking beauty — one that could easily overshadow Ning Tian's own — Wu Feng's expression visibly cracked.
"Yes, can't recognize me anymore?" Xiao Xiao said playfully, winking at Ning Tian with a mischievous smile.
Before today, Xiao Xiao had always felt a little guilty in front of Ning Tian. In terms of appearance, she used to be slightly inferior, and when it came to temperament, she couldn't compare at all to the refined aura of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's young mistress.
She herself had never understood why Lin Yun, who clearly had every reason to favor Ning Tian — more beautiful, higher in status — had always chosen to stay close to her instead.
Perhaps it was precisely because Lin Yun chose her over Ning Tian without hesitation that she fell for him so easily.
After last night's transformation, the newly reborn Xiao Xiao had finally shed her lingering inferiority. Now, she could stand beside Lin Yun openly and proudly — this was the victory of the "loli."
Ning Tian, meanwhile, was left momentarily speechless.
"How did you become like this? I almost didn't recognize you," she finally asked after a pause, then quickly added, "If it involves your secrets, it's fine. I don't intend to pry into your private matters."
Xiao Xiao didn't answer. Instead, she turned her gaze toward Lin Yun.
The immortal herb had been given by him. Her spirit, her new appearance — all of it was Lin Yun's gift. Xiao Xiao wasn't childish enough to reveal anything just to show off.
Following her gaze, Ning Tian also looked toward Lin Yun, anticipation burning in her eyes.
She was dying of curiosity.
What could cause such a drastic change in a person?
More than that, she had a strong hunch — that Xiao Xiao's transformation might be related to the ultimate evolution that the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been pursuing for tens of thousands of years!
Under the two girls' intense gazes, Lin Yun smiled faintly. "Nothing special. Just a heavenly treasure cultivated by my sect. As my woman, Xiao Xiao naturally has the qualification to consume it."
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well belonged to Tang San?
Nonsense.
It was the land of the Ice Fire Dragon King's fall — rightfully a treasure ground of the dragon clan!
'Occupy my dragon clan's sacred land, Tang San — you've already chosen your path to death.'
So, was there a problem with calling the herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well the cultivated treasures of his Beast-Taming Sect?
Absolutely not.
'Heavenly treasures?' Ning Tian's heart skipped a beat, her premonition growing even stronger. Her eyes filled with hope as she asked urgently, "Are they immortal-grade herbs?"
Under her expectant gaze, Lin Yun gave a calm nod.
They were indeed immortal herbs.
Ning Tian's body trembled with excitement, her fervent gaze nearly melting Lin Yun where he stood.
The Realm of Nine Treasures — the Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda!
Never in her wildest dreams had Ning Tian imagined that the immortal herb her sect had sought for ten thousand years would appear before her today, so close that it was almost within reach.
(End of Chapter)
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