Chapter 496: Nian Qi’s Background Perhaps the sunlight was blinding, or perhaps she sensed something after Su Zimo glared at her for a long time, Nian Qi’s eyelids twitched and she opened her eyes, stirring awake. “Ah!” She exclaimed and blushed slightly when she saw Su Zimo looking at her from nearby with a smile on his face. Nian Qi stood up hurriedly and patted away the dust on her body. Not daring to look at Su Zimo directly, she remarked in a shy manner, “Uh, I fell asleep by accident.” “How long have you been here?” Su Zimo realized that his voice had already returned to normal and was gentle and warm. “Three days,” Nian Qi replied. That warmed Su Zimo’s heart. Three days ago was the moment when he had just formed his Inner Core and his cave abode had collapsed. Because he had both demonic and immortality cultivation, three days without rest was nothing much to him and he was still energized. However, it was unendurable for a young lady like Nian Qi. Su Zimo said tenderly, “Go back and rest, I’m fine.” “Oh.” Nian Qi nodded and continued, “Master said that your cave abode is destroyed and asked you to relocate to another one.” “Master?” Su Zimo froze for a moment. Nian Qi replied merrily, “Senior crane has accepted to take me in as her disciple!” “That’s great,” Su Zimo was delighted and nodded, quipping at her, “Your seniority in the sect is even higher than mine from now on.” The old immortal crane was the most senior and the strongest within the sect – Nian Qi’s future accomplishments would be limitless learning from the old immortal crane directly! “Don’t worry, young master, my cave abode is right beside yours.” Nian Qi explained hurriedly, “You can call for me if you require anything from now on. I’ll help you do it right away, just like back in Mo Spirit Weapon Workshop.” Su Zimo smiled. “From now on, we’re sect mates. There’s no need for us to get along like before.” “That won’t do. If you hadn’t taken me in back then, I wouldn’t be here today,” Nian Qi shook her head and replied solemnly, “Young Master, no matter what cultivation realm or status I reach in the future, I’ll always be the same maidservant by your side.” “You’re speaking nonsense again,” Su Zimo chuckled and did not take it to heart. What he did not know was that the nonsense to him was a resolute oath in Nian Qi’s heart. Su Zimo remarked, “Let’s go, take me to the cave abode.” “Yes.” Nian Qi nodded. The two of them traveled on their flying swords one after another. Along the way, Su Zimo pondered for a moment and asked in a seemingly casual manner, “Did anything big happen during this period of time?” “Nothing much,” Nian Qi thought for awhile. “There’s just many itinerant cultivators that want to join the sect. The royal family of Great Zhou and the other four major sects sent cultivators with gifts one after another as well to express goodwill.” 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚 Now that Ethereal Peak had a Dharma Characteristic expert in their midst and had undergone rebirth through nirvana after the flames of war, their rise was only a matter of time. Those changes were naturally within Su Zimo’s guess as well. Going silent for a moment, he narrowed his gaze and asked, “Iridescent Clouds Palace and True Fire Sect sent people as well?” “That’s right.” Nian Qi nodded. After a brief pause, she continued, “Don’t worry, young master. The other four major sects lost their Void Reversions and many of their Nascent Souls, Golden Cores and Foundation Establishment Cultivators were injured and dead after this battle at Ethereal Peak. Given the immense losses, they wouldn’t be able to recover within the next thousand years and won’t be a threat to us.” Su Zimo remained silent. Although the other four major sects had already showed signs of submission, the life and death feud between him and Perfected Being Cang Lang was irreconcilable. Perfected Being Cang Lang must have realized that his chances would get slimmer the longer time passed! Su Zimo was at Extreme Foundation Establishment realm. However, what was Perfected Being Cang Lang’s potential? How could he possibly compete with the growth of someone at Extreme Foundation Establishment? Before long, the two of them arrived before two cave abodes. Nian Qi chuckled. “We’re here. Mine is the right one and yours is on the left, young master.” “Alright, go and have a rest.” “Alright, call for me if you need anything, young master.” Nian Qi did not reject him because she was truly too tired and left that remark before heading into her cave abode. “Right,” Suddenly, Su Zimo called Nian Qi back and hesitated for a moment before asking, “How much do you remember about your childhood?” “Ah? A hint of panic flickered through the depths of Nian Qi’s eyes. Lowering her head, she stuttered, “I c-can’t remember. I-I’ve been wandering around t-the capital of Great Zhou the entire time u-until I met you, young master.” Su Zimo looked at Nian Qi deeply without pursuing it further. “It’s nothing much, I was merely asking. Go on then.” Nodding, Nian Qi did not dare to look at Su Zimo and ran along a path towards the cave abode behind her. Su Zimo gazed at Nian Qi’s back view with deep thoughts. Actually, Nian Qi’s background has always been mysterious. Back in Mo Spirit Weapon Workshop, Su Zimo already knew that. It wasn’t just because of Nian Qi’s innate divine strength and shocking cultivation speed, there was something else. Back then, when they first met and Su Zimo handed Nian Qi some food, Night Spirit who was in his embrace had actually closed in and sniffed Nian Qi from head to toe! There were not many things that could interest Night Spirit. The dragon egg in the Dragon Bone Valley was one of them... Of course, that alone was not enough to suspect that there was anything wrong with Nian Qi’s background. The most important thing was that from the moment Su Zimo met Nian Qi, the latter was already around 15 years old. But now that four years had passed, she still looked like a young girl! Time seemed to have stopped on Nian Qi’s body. This was impossible. Unless... Nian Qi’s innate lifespan was extremely long such that four years was almost negligible compared to her total lifespan! What sort of person, or rather, race, would possess such a long lifespan upon birth? Su Zimo had a vague guess in his mind. It might not be an accurate guess. After all, there were many treasures and strange fruits on Tianhuang Mainland. It was possible that Nian Qi might have consumed some miraculous fruit or elixir in the past, resulting in her innate divine strength and extremely long lifespan. The old immortal crane must have spotted something as well and that was why she chose to take in Nian Qi as her disciple. Of course, it wasn’t because Su Zimo suspected Nian Qi’s intents. Although Nian Qi hid her background intentionally, she was a simple and kind girl and harbored no evil intentions towards him or Ethereal Peak. Who didn’t have their own secrets? Su Zimo had his own as well. He would definitely not tell anybody about his demonic cultivation casually! Taking a deep breath of air, Su Zimo set the matter aside temporarily. He took a walk around and relaxed himself before returning to his new cave abode. He was prepared to continue to form his Golden Core! Although he had already cultivated an Inner Core and his strength had increased exponentially, he did not dare to activate the power of the Inner Core and kill his enemies in his demon form recklessly. He could only be considered as a true Golden Core if he entered the Golden Core realm through his immortality cultivation! Furthermore, Su Zimo was excited to see the type of Golden Core phenomenon he would create!