Chương 164: A Promise Forged

Huaijin's heart leaped the moment those words left her lips. Truth be told, he'd been wanting to broach this subject for a while but had held back, afraid it might spark some misunderstanding. But since Ning Nanzhi had taken the initiative herself, he wasn't about to play the gentleman any longer.

"Haha! Are you sure I wouldn't be imposing?" He put on his best show of reluctant modesty, even as his spiritual sense dove into his storage pouch, already retrieving the formation materials he'd prepared long in advance.

"Take a look and see if anything's missing. If not, I'll have the clan rush over whatever else we need." Huaijin's grin turned just a shade too eager. Ning Nanzhi regarded him with those clear, knowing eyes, a faint smile tugging at her lips. She didn't call him out on his obvious act.

"Bring your things and follow me. This should be enough." She swept her eyes over the neatly arranged materials, clearly, he'd been waiting for this moment all along. Yun Pinyu had long ago told her that she was a once-in-a-generation prodigy in the arts of formations. And the Ning Clan's array formation techniques, after all, enjoyed a storied reputation throughout the entire Tang Kingdom. Huaijin trailed behind her, his mood soaring.

Clad in flowing violet robes, Ning Nanzhi moved with an effortless grace, and her subtle fragrance drifted past him with every step. His mind felt lighter than it had in weeks. He served as her assistant, handing over materials as she requested them, all the while studying her formation techniques with keen attention. He no longer had the time to dive into formations himself, his true callings were alchemy and artifact forging. Talisman drawing was only a secondary pursuit, something he dabbled in on the side.

He'd considered picking up formations if his cultivation ever hit a bottleneck, but with his Realm-Breaking Pearl ensuring that would likely never happen, it remained a distant thought. Three hours slipped by. Ning Nanzhi's cheeks were flushed with exertion, her breathing slightly unsteady. But her bright eyes gleamed with satisfaction. On Purple Cloud Peak, the original Tier 2 mid grade Flame Beacon Mystery Array now radiated a completely new level of power.

Under Ning Nanzhi's meticulous hands, it had been elevated to Tier 2 upper grade. The array's defensive barrier shone with an intensity several times stronger than before. There was no denying it, Ning Nanzhi's talent for formations was nothing short of extraordinary. Her techniques flowed like water, each gesture smooth and purposeful, leagues beyond anything Huaijin had observed from the formation masters of the Gao Clan.

"The upgrade's complete," she said, having swallowed a pill to restore her depleted spiritual energy.

"But the Bloodflame War Lance still needs to be refined to Tier 2 upper grade. That will amplify the array's power even further." Huaijin nodded.

"Leave it to me." With a flicker of thought, the blood-red lance materialized in his grasp.

"Give me a moment." Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Alright." The Zhang Clan's artifacts had already carved out a name for themselves in the Qingtai city markets. Even the Ning Clan in Guiyun prefecture had heard whispers of their quality. The fact that Huaijin was a Tier 2 upper grade artifact forger came as no surprise to her. As Zhang Rende led her on a brief tour of the mountain, however, she noticed something unexpected. In less than half an hour, Huaijin stepped out of the forging chamber.

'Did something go wrong?' Before she could even ask, a crimson lance appeared in his hand and shot straight into the array's core. The Flame Beacon Mystery Array's shimmering barrier visibly intensified, its light blazing several shades brighter in an instant. Ning Nanzhi fell silent, her jaw tightening.

'That fast?'

"If you don't mind me asking," she ventured carefully, "as a Tier 2 upper grade artifact forger, have you already reached the peak of that tier?" Huaijin offered a modest smile.

"Not quite. About a year ago, I successfully forged a Tier 3 artifact." As if to prove his point, he drew the Thunderclap Nether Sword, the very weapon he'd forged from materials she'd watched him acquire. Ning Nanzhi's starry eyes widened. She studied the purple sword, sensing the profound aura emanating from its blade, and a deep shock rippled through her core.

'Tier 2, eighth level. And he can forge a Tier 3 low grade artifact?' Such talent in artifact forging bordered on the monstrous. Noticing her dazed expression, Huaijin couldn't resist reaching out and gently pinching her round, soft cheek.

"What's there to be so shocked about? That's just standard operating procedure for me. If you've got any Tier 3 materials lying around, I can forge a Tier 3 artifact for you." He delivered that boast with an air of casual confidence, letting his fingers linger on her cheek a moment longer than necessary. The sensation was pleasant, smooth, warm, and he found himself reluctant to pull away.

"Hey," she said flatly, one eyebrow arching.

"Is it nice to touch me?"

"Pretty nice, actually." Huaijin answered without thinking. Thump! Her delicate fist landed square against his chest. He barely registered the impact, but for the sake of propriety, and because he enjoyed the banter, he staggered back with an exaggerated grimace of pain.

"Pinyu was right about you," she declared, seeing through his theatrics instantly.

"You really are a hypocrite." Huaijin just laughed, closing the distance between them again. Ning Nanzhi wasn't truly angry. Beneath her feigned annoyance, a quiet warmth lingered between them, soft and unspoken. Sometimes, fate worked in the strangest ways. When he'd visited the Yun Clan, Ning Nanzhi had happened to be there visiting her aunt. If Huaijin had arrived even a few days later, their paths would never have crossed.

And Yun Zhaoxi, for his part, had been searching for a worthy son-in-law for his daughter. Though he was reluctant to marry her precious child so far from home, Huaijin's terrifying potential, paired with his Earthly Fiend Spirit Body, made him an extraordinary opportunity to pass up. Any children born of such a union might even inherit his physique. Ning Nanzhi had been the sweetener in the deal. And yet, something between them had simply clicked.

If she hadn't felt some genuine fondness for him, she would never have offered to travel alongside him. And after witnessing his combat prowess firsthand in the battle against the Blood Infant Elder, she knew she couldn't afford to let a prodigy like him slip away. Her family, and her parents, had all encouraged her pursuit. So here she was. And Huaijin, for his part, found himself more than satisfied with Ning Nanzhi. It wasn't just her elegant features or her prodigious talent in formation's. Well...

maybe a tiny part of it was. But what truly drew him in was her personality, that perfect blend of quiet gentleness and unyielding spirit. She was exactly his type.

"Anyway!" he said, smoothly pivoting to a new topic with a grin.

"Green Bamboo Mountain is pretty scenic too, you know. Want to come take a look?" Ning Nanzhi rolled her eyes.

"Oh, I see. You just want free labor to upgrade your formations. If that's what you're after, just say it plainly instead of all this roundabout nonsense."

"You caught me!" Huaijin scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Nanzhi, you know me too well."

"When I break through to the Purple Mansion realm," she said, giving his chest another light thump, "the forging of my Life Bound Artifact is all on you."

"Absolutely! I've got you covered."

"There's only one set of materials."

"No problem. As long as I'm the one doing the forging, it's guaranteed to succeed." He spoke with conviction, and he wasn't exaggerating.

"Then what are we waiting for?" She waved a hand grandly, striding forward with renewed energy.

"Let's go!"

"Now that's what I call decisiveness!" Watching her graceful figure move ahead, his thoughts drifted into warm reverie.

'So adorable. How can a person be this adorable?' The smile on Huaijin's face only deepened as he followed in her wake.