Ancient Strengthening Technique

Although Qing Shui had already said that he would not joke about such matters, she was still hesitant. Saying that he wasn’t joking did not mean that he could solve the problem. Strength was still the most important factor. She believed that he was still too young in her heart. She could only shake her head in disappointment.

“Do you think that I’m not strong enough?” Qing Shui laughed as he said.

“Thank you for your sincerity, but you’re still young.” Nalan Qing was still immensely grateful for Qing Shui. Having such generosity was not easy.

“Miss Qing, your strength is now at 850 billion Daos, you are a strong presence in the younger generation.” Qing Shui immediately brought up Nalan Qing’s strength. 

If he could directly talk about her strength, it meant that he was stronger than her. That left Nalan Qing surprised since she was quite powerful herself.

“I don’t want anything bad happening to you. If something did occur, too many people would be harmed,” Nalan Qing said, looking at Qing Shui.

Qing Shui frowned as it made sense. If they brought down 1000 enemy soldiers but lost 800 of their own men, it would be not worth the battle. However, upon thinking about his numerous strategies, such a situation would probably not happen, especially with the Nalan Clan having a lot of strength of their own. 

In the Water Nation, Qing Shui could feel a strong presence. It was probably the aura of the Guardian Beast, which was also the Crystal Dragon mentioned in folktales. He asked, full of confusion, “Is the Water Nation’s Guardian Beast, the Crystal Dragon, not controlled by the Water Emperor?”

“The Guardian Beasts have a transcendent position. No one can control it. They merely protect the nation. If it isn’t nation-threatening, and not from other national level existences, they wouldn’t step in,” Nalan Qing stated.

This Qing Shui understood. Since it was as such, he felt more relieved. As long as the Crystal Dragon did not make a move, he had a chance. He was still fearful that the Crystal Dragon would be controlled by the enemy, and that its unknown strength would be a factor.

“That’s good. As long as the Crystal Dragon doesn’t make a move, I still have the upper hand. The main thing is that I have no idea just how strong the dragon is,” Qing Shui voiced his concerns. 

Nalan Qing did not know where Qing Shui found so much self-confidence. Just how strong was he?

“I know that if I don’t display my strength, you would not feel at ease.” Qing Shui smiled.

Qing Shui brought Nalan Qing up into the air and mustered all his might. 4 trillion Daos of strength simply stunned Nalan Qing. At a certain point, increasing one’s strength was an uphill task. Just a little gap in strength would result in a unilateral slaughter. Qing Shui’s strength was five times her own. It was simply inconceivable…

At this moment, Nalan Qing was finally convinced. Qing Shui laughed and said, “You can relax now. I still have other cards up my sleeve. I’ll let you have a feel.”

Qing Shui’s weakening ability caused Nalan Qing to be stunned for a while until she came to her senses. She was starting to have a bit more faith in Qing Shui.

“Was that not enough?”

Qing Shui unleashed his divine weapon flying sword and his increasing power, causing the negative impacts on Nalan Qing’s body to disappear.

Nalan Qing could fully believe in him at last. This power, together with his weakening ability and ability to reduce damage, would cause the opponent’s strength to be depleted by more than half - meaning that someone with 8 trillion Dao of strength was no match for him. 

Nalan Qing stared at Qing Shui eccentrically to say, “You’re a monster!”

“Miss Qing, please explain to me what the current situation is. Is it just the Beiyuan clan or are there more?” Qing Shui questioned.

“Why do you want to help me?” Nalan Qing curiously glanced at Qing Shui.

“If I say that it’s because you are beautiful and I like you, would you believe it?” Qing Shui asked. 

Nalan Qing looked at Qing Shui and said, “I don’t know!”

“Seems that you have quite a lot of self-confidence. Maybe it’s fate. If we were at the Fragrance Shack, I really don’t know if I would help you. But it’s different here. After the first meeting, to meet again is simply fate. The moment I saw you, I felt comfortable, as if you were my long-time friend, or maybe even my confidant.” Qing Shui beamed. 

Qing Shui’s words caused Nalan Qing to feel a bit unnatural. It had been many years since such words were ever spoken to her, just because she was the Beiyuan clan’s woman. The Beiyuan clan was a powerful presence. Additionally, she maintained a cold facade and few could remain calm around her.

“That’s enough. You don’t need to overthink this,” Qing Shui said upon seeing her stony expression.

“Fine. I’ll tell you. The strong individuals in the Nalan Clan were all poisoned. I don’t know if it was the Beiyuan Clan’s doing or not, but I feel like it is somehow related to the Beiyuan Clan. Not long after, the Nalan Clan may be wiped out by force, and once it happens, there will naturally be other powers ruling the Water Nation.”

“If I remembered correctly, only dukes can fight for a place on the throne,” Qing Shui said, not understanding the situation.

“The Beiyuan Clan have dukes. There are more than a hundred dukes in Crystal City, each with their vast swathes of land. 

“If that’s the case, it’ll be easy. I can cure their poisoning,” Qing Shui said with conviction. 

“Besides poisoning, they still have another card up their sleeves. The Nalan Clan has been on the throne for a long time, so they’ve benefited greatly. Other clans have been left in the dust so the opponent has already linked up with many other dukes. Their plan—to split resources equally, such that each clan would receive more than under the Nalan Clan’s rule. Hence their plot to exterminate the Nalan Clan,” Nalan Qing spoke about things she held close to the chest.

“What about the Beiyuan Clan? At least their relations with the Nalan Clan are not bad, unless they are two-faced?” Qing Shui asked.

“The Beiyuan Clan has the most princes. If my guesses aren’t off, this whole matter is led by the Beiyuan Clan.”

“What are the origins of the Beiyuan Clan?” Qing Shui asked out of curiosity.

“Their ancestors have the blood of the Beiyuan snow fox,” Nalan Qing replied. 

“Okay. Since this is the case, let me meet your father one of these days. I’ll cure every poisoned individual in the Nalan Clan.”

“Great!”

“You don’t suspect that I’m an enemy who, in the disguise of curing, could poison them even further? I could be getting close to you just to cheat you of your money and beauty.” Qing Shui rubbed his nose and looked at Nalan Qing. 

“The end result would not be worse anyway. With your strength, you wouldn’t even need to deceive me. I wouldn’t be able to resist,” Nalan Qing said straightforwardly. 

Qing Shui was going to live there anyway so Nalan Qing had no other choice but to depend on him. But on the second day, news had already spread like wildfire. The city’s widow had a man stay over for a whole night. The city’s most beautiful woman finally got a man…

All sorts of news had spread like wildfire. Such news had left the Beiyuan Clan embarrassed. No matter if Nalan Qing was a wife of the Beiyuan Clan. With this instance, she had cuckolded the Beiyuan Clan regardless of her widowhood.

On the second day not long after the news had spread, Beiyuan Maji brought people over again, blocking the door of Nalan Qing’s house.

“Nalan Qing, you’d better come out!” Beiyuan Maji shouted, voice filled with anger.

Nalan Qing and Qing Shui walked to the door where they saw the numerous people gathered outside, all led by none other than the Beiyuan Maji that Qing Shui had just met.