Chapter 319: Chapter 319: Awakening of the Second Companion Spirit
The dragon’s body expanded rapidly, growing to twice its previous size in the blink of an eye. The special ore shrank as a white light flowed from within it into the creature’s head. Then, the dragon’s tightly shut eyes suddenly snapped open.
A roar rang out, filled with agony. The dragon desperately tried to burrow into Ning Xuan’s body. It was suffused with a powerful energy, and it could sense that the person before it was its host. It knew that as long as it could return to its host’s body, its pain would immediately disappear.
’But why can’t I go back?’
The newly formed Divine Dragon thrashed about around Ning Xuan. She pierced its body with black Vine Silk, injecting the energy from her blue meridians into the creature. The extremely gentle Origin Energy flowed into the Divine Dragon, and the beast, which had been rampaging in pain, gradually calmed down.
Time passed slowly. With the help of the Origin Energy, the new Companion Spirit gradually assimilated the violent energy left behind in its body by the special ore. Although this powerful energy was not yet fully absorbed, it had calmed down and would no longer pose a threat.
Ning Xuan absorbed the new Companion Spirit into her body. In an instant, a gentle yet immense power surged through her limbs and bones like a tide. She could clearly feel her spiritual power skyrocketing. The fog in her Sea of Consciousness was torn away layer by layer, and her vision became unprecedentedly clear—as if she could pierce the void and perceive every wisp of energy flowing in the air.
At the same time, her bones emitted soft cracking sounds. She could feel them growing tougher and denser, while the muscles attached to them, down to their very fibers, were also strengthened bit by bit by the energy. Old, hidden injuries from her training were silently healed, and a faint golden luster began to flow just beneath her skin.
Ning Xuan felt an endless power coursing through her body. She couldn’t resist clenching her fist and throwing a punch. With a HUM, the force of the blow made the surrounding air crackle, and the wall in front of her abruptly dented inward.
The new Companion Spirit settled into the origin of her blue meridians: her Dantian.
"Commander Ning, are you all right?" A knock sounded at Ning Xuan’s door as someone asked with concern from the other side.
"I’m fine. What is it? Did something happen outside?" Ning Xuan asked.
"A powerful energy fluctuation just erupted from your room, like a massive energy explosion. Even now, Thunder Energy is still leaking out. Are you really all right?" the assistant asked worriedly.
Ning Xuan got right up and opened the door. "Feel better now?"
Unexpectedly, the assistant stumbled back a few steps, his eyes wide in terror. "Y-Your face?"
Seeing his expression, Ning Xuan took a mirror out of her Space Button. One look revealed that the skin she had deliberately darkened had returned to its original state. It was now fair as jade and smooth as cream, complemented by red lips, white teeth, and a rosy, peach-blossom complexion.
Thankfully, the scar made of Vine Silk on the other half of her face was still there.
It seemed the recent surge of qi and blood had washed away the substance applied to her skin, revealing her original complexion.
"What’s with that expression? What’s wrong with my face? So what if my skin tone got lighter?" Ning Xuan asked, displeased.
This life assistant was responsible for internal affairs and had been assigned to Ning Xuan for a month. However, since Ning Xuan was often away on missions, they had only interacted for a total of less than ten days.
When the life assistant saw that Ning Xuan was angry, he immediately bowed and apologized. "I’m sorry, Commander Ning. I was just so surprised. Please forgive me."
The life assistant kept his head down, not daring to look at Ning Xuan. ’Commander Ning is just too beautiful,’ he thought to himself. ’Even with that scar, nothing can hide her beauty.’
Ning Xuan didn’t press the issue. She just asked him to prepare some dinner, as she would be returning to the surface to fight first thing in the morning.
The life assistant had just left when Huo Shan arrived. He was staying at the base to recuperate from severe injuries, and his face was etched with guilt as he faced Ning Xuan. "I’m sorry, Ning Zhi," he began. "I know you must look down on me. Most low-Level officers like me, who have served at the base for a long time, are in a similar situation."
"It doesn’t matter, Instructor Huo. That’s your choice. Since the base doesn’t object, you don’t need to worry about what anyone else says," Ning Xuan replied coolly.
She bore Huo Shan no ill will. After all, he had always treated her well, and there was no conflict between them.
"Don’t you feel like I screwed you over by deserting before the battle?" Huo Shan asked guiltily.
"Why would I? I came here specifically to go to the battlefield. Whether you deserted or not has no bearing on that. At the very least, during the three-month training period, you were very conscientious in your role as an instructor, helping us quickly understand and familiarize ourselves with this base." When Ning Xuan finished, Huo Shan was so moved his eyes welled up with tears. He never expected that Ning Zhi truly didn’t blame him.
"Ning Zhi, you have potential, ability, and connections. I don’t. I’m not strong enough, and I have no backing. When I was a new recruit, on my first trip to the battlefield, I was severely injured after just one battle and had to spend three months recovering. I was one of the lucky ones. Many people don’t even survive their first thunderstorm..." Huo Shan wanted to say more, but Ning Xuan cut him off.
"Instructor Huo, I’m deploying tomorrow, and I still have many things to prepare. Perhaps we can talk another day," Ning Xuan said.
"Oh, right. In that case, I’ll be on my way. I’ll come find you again after you return with honors," Huo Shan said with a smile.
Huo Shan had just left, and Ning Xuan’s life assistant had just finished setting out her dinner, when Hua Shangnan arrived.
Seeing that Ning Xuan was eating, Hua Shangnan made himself comfortable and sat down opposite her. "Looks like my timing is perfect, Ning Zhi. It’s so boring to eat alone. I’ll keep you company."
"See? I knew your skin wasn’t that dark! This is your real complexion, isn’t it? It looks so much better," Hua Shangnan blurted out, staring intently at Ning Xuan’s face.
His gaze lingered, his eyes shining with unconcealed amazement as he leaned forward slightly. His voice softened with admiration, "Seriously, I knew it. That previous complexion was a disguise. This is so much better. Your skin is as radiant as jade, and your eyes... they’re as clear as the moon reflected in a cold pond. So expressive." He paused, then asked half-jokingly, "That scar on your face isn’t fake too, is it?"
"I’ve never met someone so shameless. What, is Major General Hua this interested in my appearance?" Ning Xuan scoffed.
"An appreciation for beauty is only human. And I noticed your beauty long ago, it’s just a pity you’re not willing. Ning Zhi, why don’t you reconsider me? Come on, look at me. I’m not bad-looking either," Hua Shangnan said, leaning closer to Ning Xuan and looking at her with sincerity.
