"Feng Qingcheng is back?"
A chilling glint flashed in Feng Ninghe's eyes, and the air around her grew colder.
The scene of Feng Qingcheng personally digging open her abdomen five years ago was still vivid in her memory. Even after so long, she could feel the faint ache in her abdomen.
Feng Qingcheng had finally returned. She had been waiting for this day for a very long time.
Sensing the cold aura emanating from her, Old Man Xu shivered involuntarily. Xiao Zhao, with its sapphire eyes hidden in the darkness, nuzzled affectionately against Feng Ninghe's slender neck with its round body, occasionally whimpering.
Understanding Xiao Zhao's comforting intent, Feng Ninghe's eyes curved, and the coldness around her instantly vanished. She casually stroked the fur on Xiao Zhao's body.
"It's good that I also want to see how far she has grown in these five years."
The female voice that escaped her lips was soft.
Old Man Xu once again handed over the pitch-black discarded medicinal herbs in his hand: "Ninghe, why did my refinement fail? The pills simply wouldn't take shape."
Feng Ninghe lowered her gaze to the discarded herbs in Old Man Xu's hand. After a careful inspection, she picked out two herbs: "You placed these two in the wrong order. This one goes in last, and this one should be added at the very beginning."
Her clear voice carried a hint of ease, and Old Man Xu's eyes immediately lit up.
"Ninghe, you are indeed brilliant. You've resolved my confusion in a few words. I'll go try it now!"
Old Man Xu eagerly held the clump of dark herbs and quickly departed. He rushed into the room and began refining with his mortar and pestle.
Feng Ninghe returned to her room to rest. To prevent any disturbance, she specifically set up a formation to shield herself from the outside world.
The next day.
A maidservant arrived with a beaming smile, quickly approaching Feng Qingcheng: "Second Miss, someone has been sent from the palace. The Emperor heard of your return to the Feng family, and it coincides with the impending blooming of the Zilai flower in the palace. On the day the Zilai flower fully blooms, a banquet will be held to invite dignitaries and young noble scions."
The Zilai flower could not only be admired but also eaten. Consuming it could cleanse the body and strengthen the bones, which was beneficial and harmless to cultivators.
The maidservant also added with flattery: "Second Miss, the Emperor must know that your cultivation has reached the Nascent Soul realm, and he has specifically invited you. Only you are worthy of such honor!"
The words of praise caused Feng Qingcheng's finely trimmed eyebrows to involuntarily rise, and a few smiles appeared in her eyes.
She said proudly, "The attendees at the banquet are all dignitaries. It's a perfect opportunity for me to shine."
Now, she was a Nascent Soul cultivator, the first person of her age in the Li Kingdom to reach this realm. Looking across the Li Kingdom, she dared to claim the second position, as no one else would dare to claim the first.
Feng Qingcheng seemed to recall something and specifically asked: "Will Feng Ninghe attend the banquet?"
The maidservant paused, then after a moment of thought, replied softly: "The Eldest Miss manages the Feng family and is on good terms with the Emperor and Empress. She will likely attend the banquet."
Feng Qingcheng's gaze narrowed slightly, and a few glints flickered in her eyes: "If she's not at the banquet, it will certainly lose its fun. You go and find out for me, I need definite information on whether she will attend."
The maidservant dared not delay and quickly nodded in agreement.
"Second Sister!"
A slightly hurried female voice rang out at this moment. Feng Tongtong rushed in, her eyes filled with joy: "Second Sister, do you know who just came?"
Seeing Feng Tongtong's beaming smile, Feng Qingcheng instinctively raised an eyebrow and looked at her: "Who?"
Feng Tongtong eagerly said: "Someone from Liu Mian Pavilion just sent a large box of medicinal herbs, saying it was a gift for Miss Feng. I didn't expect that you just returned, and Liu Mian Pavilion would send herbs."
"Liu Mian Pavilion?"
The simple words made Feng Qingcheng's eyes light up: "Liu Mian Pavilion is renowned throughout the Li Kingdom. Even in Jinling, people specifically travel to the Li Kingdom to seek out Sixth Master. This Sixth Master has an extraordinary background."
The Li Kingdom and Jinling were worlds apart, yet Liu Mian Pavilion's reputation had reached Jinling. This Sixth Master was extremely mysterious and had dealings with several major immortal sects in Jinling, making him someone no one in Jinling wished to offend. However, compared to Si Jianye, Sixth Master was still far behind. Yet, befriending such a figure could only bring her benefits.
Feng Tongtong grumbled beside her: "Second Sister, you've just returned, and Liu Mian Pavilion sent a large box of herbs. It seems this Sixth Master also wants to befriend you. Feng Ninghe definitely wouldn't have imagined that Sixth Master would turn around and fawn over you."
Feng Qingcheng couldn't hide the pride in her eyes, her fair face as delicate as congealed fat: "I have no dealings with Sixth Master, and I didn't expect him to send herbs the day after I returned to the manor." In Jinling, she was busy trying to curry favor with Si Jianye, and her impression of Sixth Master was limited to external rumors.
"Second Sister, you are now a Nascent Soul cultivator. There is no one in the Li Kingdom more powerful than you. It's normal for Liu Mian Pavilion to want to befriend you." Feng Tongtong said eagerly, her words animated: "Feng Ninghe has quite a good relationship with this Sixth Master. I didn't expect him to send you gifts instead. If Feng Ninghe knew, her face would surely turn green!"
Soon, a maidservant carried the large box of medicinal herbs over. Many people along the way stopped to admire it. The disciples of the Feng family kept sighing and comparing the Eldest Miss and Second Miss.
"I didn't expect the Second Miss to be able to gain the favor of Liu Mian Pavilion. Look at this large box of precious herbs, several of which are priceless."
"The Eldest Miss was a cultivation waste five years ago, and after five years, she's become a dark horse, equally impressive."
"If you ask me, this Second Miss is more powerful than the Eldest Miss! She's a Nascent Soul cultivator at such a young age. Such a genius is the first in the Li Kingdom! Even if the Eldest Miss is powerful, she's far from being comparable to the Second Miss..."
The Feng family disciples stared enviously at the box of herbs. Feng Guangyao and Zhang Shi walked towards Feng Qingcheng's room with their chests puffed out. In this world, the strong reigned supreme, and only cultivation and strength could command respect. With Feng Qingcheng here, Feng Guangyao's ambition to regain control of the Feng family was within reach!
"As expected of the Pavilion Master of Liu Mian Pavilion, such a generous gift!" Feng Tongtong's gaze was fixed on the herbs in front of her, and she couldn't help but reach out and caress them. Even the lowest-grade herbs would cost tens of thousands of spirit stones to acquire.
A beautiful arc formed on Feng Qingcheng's lips, her eyes filled with pride. She had seen many good things in the Immortal Sect and wasn't as unsophisticated as Feng Tongtong, who was infatuated with the herbs. However, this box of herbs were all good items, and even she couldn't help but be tempted.
Looking at the box full of precious herbs, Zhang Shi smiled so widely her mouth couldn't close: "Qingcheng, you are truly amazing. Liu Mian Pavilion sent herbs as soon as you returned."
Feng Guangyao looked on with relief: "It's as if our Feng family's ancestors' graves are emitting green smoke to have you. With your good relationship with Liu Mian Pavilion in the future, perhaps Liu Mian Pavilion can even heal Tongtong's face and hair."