strokinit Chapter 14904 The Spirit of Self-Improvement
Chapter 14904 The Spirit of Self-Improvement
Chapter 14904 The Spirit of Self-Improvement
Upon hearing this, Ling Xiao's eyes flashed with approval. He nodded slightly and said nothing more. Some truths can only be understood by oneself. A hint is enough.
The interior of Chishui City is much more spacious than it appears from the outside, yet it still retains its simplicity and unpretentiousness.
The long street paved with bluestone stretches straight ahead, with courtyards arranged in a staggered pattern on both sides. The courtyards are all made of blue bricks and gray tiles, without too much decoration, clean and neat, exuding a low-key and profound atmosphere.
The city was deserted; not a single person could be seen.
No, to be precise, Ling Xiao didn't see any trace of anyone.
The long street was quiet, without even a sound of footsteps. The doors and windows of the courtyards on both sides were tightly closed, without the slightest movement. The entire city was as quiet as if it were asleep, exuding an eerie tranquility.
Only a cool breeze whistled through the streets and alleys, echoing in the empty streets and making the desolation even more pronounced.
"What about people?"
Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow and asked, somewhat puzzled. How could such a large city be completely deserted?
The little phoenix walked beside him, and upon hearing the question, a proud smile returned to her face, her tone tinged with pride:
"My mother dislikes noise, so Chishui City is usually like this."
The clansmen and disciples in the city are all diligently cultivating in their respective residences, and will not venture out unless absolutely necessary, so as not to disturb my mother.
Ling Xiao nodded slightly, his doubts vanishing instantly. He didn't ask any more questions. Chishui Phoenix was calm and didn't like noise, so this arrangement was reasonable.
The two walked slowly along the long street, passing through alleys and lanes, and finally arrived at a grand hall deep in the city.
Phoenix Palace.
The main hall's gate is tall and ancient, carved from a single piece of ancient stone, with a phoenix about to take flight, lifelike and majestic.
I must say, the carving is really well done.
Every single feather of the phoenix is clearly visible, and even the finest details on its patterns are clearly visible.
It even gives people a strong sense of impact, as if the phoenix has come to life and is about to break through the wall and fly out.
"Young master, please."
At this moment, Little Phoenix not only admired Ling Xiao, but even felt a sense of awe. In her eyes, Ling Xiao was not much older than her, but his insight into life was far superior to hers.
She kept numbing herself, thinking that she could just keep eating, but she forgot that this was the Chaotic Martial World, a place where the strong prey on the weak.
A slight misstep could result in being shattered to pieces.
Ling Xiao, of course, had no idea that Little Phoenix had so many inner monologues. He followed Little Phoenix through the door.
Inside, it is even more magnificent and spacious than outside. Sunlight can even shine in from the ceiling, making the place exceptionally bright. Even the carvings on the walls seem to come alive.
Walk forward to the end, and on that high throne sits a woman.
That must be the Phoenix of Chishui.
To Ling Xiao's surprise, her appearance was much younger than rumored; she looked to be no more than thirty years old.
His phoenix eyes were slightly raised, his eyebrows were exquisitely beautiful, yet he possessed an innate majesty, radiating an aura of authority without anger, and his body was surrounded by an unfathomable presence that made people dare not look directly at him.
A long, crimson dress spread out around the stone chair, its hem embroidered with intricate phoenix patterns, shimmering with light, like burning flames solidified into silk, both luxurious and imposing.
But Ling Xiao's keen eyes noticed that her face was somewhat pale, and the color of her lips was also a bit lighter than normal.
Although her aura was still powerful, it carried a faint trace of weakness, a sign of her old injuries recurring. Clearly, her injuries were more serious than Jiang Chuan had described.
“Lingxiao.” Chishui Phoenix spoke first, her voice gentle yet powerful, without the slightest air of arrogance, yet carrying an undeniable aura, “Come and sit down.”
Ling Xiao walked forward slowly, without any restraint, and calmly sat down on the futon opposite the stone chair. He met Chishui Phoenix's gaze calmly, neither humble nor arrogant.
His aura was calm and unwavering, showing no sign of awe despite the other party's status and strength.
Chishui Phoenix quietly observed him for a moment, a clear hint of appreciation flashing in her phoenix eyes. A gentle smile appeared on her lips.
"Shi Wensheng and the Demon Lord, these two arrogant people, actually took a liking to you at the same time. You are indeed extraordinary."
She paused, then continued:
"Do you know that Shi Wensheng is arrogant and aloof, and there are very few people in the entire Chaotic Martial World who can catch his eye?"
And the Demon Lord… needless to say, ruthless and decisive, with a capricious nature, no one has ever been able to earn his respect.
Ling Xiao didn't respond, but listened quietly with a calm expression, as if the people and things she was talking about had nothing to do with him, without the slightest hint of pride or boasting.
"I was wondering what kind of young man could attract the attention and special regard of those two peerless experts."
Chishui Phoenix's gaze was fixed on Ling Xiao, her tone carrying a hint of approval:
"Now I understand, it's that heart."
"What heart?"
Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly and asked, a hint of doubt in his mind.
"The spirit of self-improvement."
Chishui Phoenix slowly spoke, her tone becoming serious:
“I heard what you said to Little Phoenix outside the city.”
"Earn respect through self-improvement"—you said this so casually, it seems simple, but to truly achieve it is incredibly difficult. In the entire chaotic martial arts world, very few people can actually do it.
Ling Xiao shook his head slightly, his tone humble, without the slightest arrogance:
"It's just a trivial insight, senior, you flatter me."
"Praise? No, no, no, I've spoiled that little girl. I've never had the heart to be harsh with her, which has led to her becoming arrogant and domineering. You really helped her this time. At the very least, you've made her understand one thing: I'm not invincible, I'm not immortal. If something happens to me, her situation will be very bad."
Chishui Phoenix shook his head, somewhat emotional. "Alright, enough of the small talk, let's get down to business. The reason I invited you here this time is simply to ask for your help in refining a Sacred Rune Stone."
Ling Xiao nodded: "This little phoenix has already told the junior that it wants to refine a Heart-Protecting Sacred Pattern Stone, and it has to be a high-grade seven-star one."
Chishui Phoenix smiled and said, "Young hero, you should be able to refine it, right?"
"I dare not say that I will definitely succeed, but at least I can give it a try!" Ling Xiao always felt that you should not be too confident about anything. Even if you are absolutely sure, you should not be too confident. That way, others will appreciate your hard work and be more grateful to you.
"Whether it succeeds or not, I will be grateful to you, young hero. If you need any materials, please just ask, and I will have them prepared." Chishui Phoenix was already very grateful to hear that Ling Xiao was willing to help, and she could also see that this young man was indeed quite courageous and different from ordinary young people.