Chapter 133 Sister, Be Careful

Late at night, the moon was hidden, and the stars were sparse.

In the Mu Family's East Courtyard, Mu Wanning's residence was quiet and still. The daytime clamor had long since faded, leaving only the rustling of spirit plant leaves in the night wind. The lights in the main house were extinguished, and it was pitch black. Only the spirit pond in the backyard shimmered under the hazy moonlight, its surface enveloped in a misty Spiritual Qi that seemed even denser than in previous days, flowing slowly with an eerie tranquility.

However, if one were to perceive carefully, they would discover a faint, purplish-black mist vaguely rippling around the spirit pond, almost merging with the night. This Aura was extremely subtle, mixed with the dense Spiritual Qi and water vapor, making it difficult for ordinary Cultivators to detect even when close. But if a highly cultivated individual or someone extremely sensitive to energy Auras were present, they would surely feel a subtle, pure yet sinister pressure, along with a strange rhythm that seemed capable of devouring Spiritual Qi.

At this moment, deep within the spirit pond.

Mu Wanning sat cross-legged on a warm jade platform by the pond, her body immersed in the pure Spiritual Qi-infused water. Her eyes were closed, her beautiful face appearing even more noble and ethereal under the moonlight and mist. However, her slightly furrowed brows and the fine beads of sweat on her forehead indicated that her current state was not as calm as it appeared.

Faint and extremely thin purplish-black streams of Qi were slowly seeping from her acupoints, like living things, moving and coiling over her fair, jade-like skin. Finally, three feet above her head, they vaguely outlined a blurry, fanged and clawed Dragon-shaped phantom! This Dragon phantom was dark purple all over, with ferocious scales and claws, and its eyes were two flickering ethereal lights. Though just a phantom, it possessed an inherent domineering Aura that looked down on the world, but within that Aura was a chilling coldness and a devouring intent that made one's heart palpitate.

This was precisely the Purple 極 Emperor Art she had been Cultivating not long ago! Mu Wanning was fully channeling her Cultivation Technique, attempting to control and purify this nascent, overbearing power, but it was clearly not easy. Her Aura fluctuated unstably, at times vast and grand, at times strange and sinister, and the purplish-black Dragon phantom flickered accordingly, as if it could lose control at any moment.

"Hoo... hiss..." Mu Wanning's breathing had a peculiar rhythm. With each inhale and exhale, the pure Spiritual Qi in the spirit pond transformed into visible white streams of Qi that she absorbed into her body. At the same time, traces of extremely rare terrestrial Spiritual Qi in the pond water, imperceptible to ordinary people, were forcibly extracted and integrated into the purplish-black Dragon Qi. Her Aura was steadily climbing at a slow but firm pace, and the Bottleneck of the Early Stage Soul Transformation Stage even showed signs of loosening! The miraculous effect of this Cultivation Technique was evident.

But correspondingly, the sinister purplish-black Aura also intensified slightly. Mu Wanning's tightly closed eyelids trembled even more violently, clearly indicating she was under immense pressure and struggle internally. Cultivating this technique brought rapid progress, but this ever-present "sinister" Aura was like a sword hanging over her head; if exposed, it would be quite troublesome to explain.

Just as she was fully focused, attempting to guide a wisp of the most restless Dragon Qi back into her Meridians at a critical juncture—

"Crack."

An extremely faint sound, like a dry branch being stepped on, came from the shadows of the rockery not far from the spirit pond.

Though the sound was light, to Mu Wanning, in her state of extreme concentration and full sensory perception, it was like a clap of thunder!

Her delicate body trembled violently, and the unstable purplish-black Dragon phantom above her head fluctuated fiercely, letting out a silent roar, almost dissipating! The surging spiritual power within her body surged backward, making her throat sweet, almost causing her to spit blood, which she forcefully suppressed.

"Who?" Mu Wanning's eyes snapped open, her pale golden pupils shooting out sharp, tangible golden light in the night, instantly locking onto the direction of the sound. At the same time, her mind raced, and she forcibly interrupted the Cultivation Technique's operation, the purplish-black Aura overflowing from her body receding like a tide, attempting to withdraw back inside. The purplish-black Dragon phantom let out an unwilling, silent hiss, then suddenly disintegrated, turning into specks of purplish-black light that rapidly disappeared into her body.

However, due to the hurried interruption, a wisp of purplish-black Aura, like wisps of smoke, still lingered around her, unable to fully retract. Though faint, its sinister color was still conspicuous under the moonlight.

Mu Wanning's heart instantly sank to rock bottom, a chilling coldness rushing from her feet to her head! She had been discovered! And while she was Cultivating!

She stood up abruptly, splashing water to the side, not caring that the pond water clung to her clothes, revealing her curves. A set of plain white outer garments instantly appeared in her hand, which she quickly wrapped around herself, covering the faintly exposed allure. But her gaze remained fixed on the shadows of the rockery, her Aura as sharp as a drawn sword. The Soul Transformation Stage pressure was unleashed without reservation, firmly locking onto that shadowy area, filled with murderous intent!

No matter who the intruder was, having seen what they shouldn't have, things would likely not end well tonight!

Just as Mu Wanning's Aura reached its peak and spiritual power condensed in her palm, preparing for a thunderous strike—

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Clear and steady footsteps slowly echoed from the shadows.

A tall figure slowly stepped out from behind the rockery, entering the crisp moonlight.

The newcomer wore a dark green brocade robe, with a tall and straight posture, a handsome face, and a faint, enigmatic smile playing on his lips, exceptionally clear under the moonlight—it was none other than her "younger brother," Mu Changge!

No, to be precise, it was Xiao Ming disguised as Mu Changge.

His face held a perfectly timed expression of "surprise" and "doubt," his gaze sweeping over Mu Wanning's slightly flustered, beautiful face and the lingering traces of dark Qi around her body that hadn't fully dissipated.

"Sister?" Xiao Ming spoke, his voice unusually clear in the quiet night. He tilted his head slightly, revealing a seemingly harmless yet probing expression: "I just saw... you seemed to have something..." His tone was full of "concern," as if he truly were a good younger brother worried about his sister.

Alarm bells rang in Mu Wanning's heart, and her fingers in her sleeve instantly tightened. He saw it! Although he might not have seen everything, he definitely noticed something abnormal! She absolutely couldn't admit it!

"You saw wrong." Her voice was icy, carrying a coldness that pushed people away, as she forced herself to remain calm. "I was just Cultivating. It's late; why aren't you resting in your own courtyard, coming here? Get out!" She tried to dismiss him with her usual cold and commanding tone.

"Saw wrong?" Xiao Ming seemed not to hear her latter half of the expulsion. Instead, he took another step closer, his face showing even deeper concern, but a hint of playful amusement flickered in his eyes. "Sister, Cultivation is no small matter. If anything goes wrong, how can it be taken lightly? Father would also be worried if he knew."

As he spoke, he naturally took another step forward, simultaneously extending his hand as if to grasp Mu Wanning's wrist: "Come, let your brother help you check."

"Stop! Don't come any closer!" Mu Wanning panicked even more when she saw him about to make a move, sharply shouting a warning, and instinctively retreating to create distance. Her mind was unsettled, her Aura chaotic, and she dared not let this recently somewhat strange "younger brother" get close enough to investigate. If he found out, it would be terrible.

In her retreat, she forgot that she was already at the edge of the spirit pond!

Her foot slipped, landing on the wet, slippery pond wall!

"Ah!" A short gasp escaped her lips. Mu Wanning instantly lost her balance and fell backward, about to tumble into the shimmering pond water! Although the pond water wasn't very deep, falling in unexpectedly would certainly be embarrassing. More importantly, her thin white outer garment and already somewhat damp clothes...

In a flash of lightning—

"Sister, be careful!"

Xiao Ming's voice seemed to carry a hint of "urgency." His figure flashed like a ghost, instantly crossing the few feet between them and appearing beside Mu Wanning! Just as Mu Wanning was about to fall into the water, a strong, powerful arm suddenly wrapped around her slender waist, which could be spanned by a single hand, steadily pulling her backward-tilting body back up!

The immense inertia caused their bodies to press tightly together.

Mu Wanning, still reeling from fright, felt a clear yet subtly oppressive masculine Aura wash over her, and the arm around her waist felt hot like an iron band. She instinctively looked up, her gaze meeting Xiao Ming's face, now incredibly close, and his eyes, which at this moment appeared exceptionally deep.

And Xiao Ming's other hand, due to the "urgency" of stabilizing their bodies, also instinctively reached out, and, by sheer coincidence, his palm landed precisely on an extraordinarily soft, prominent, and astonishingly elastic fullness...

Time, it seemed, froze at this moment.