Ding Ruozhao hesitated, but still voiced her thoughts.
"With my current strength, I am confident in defeating the Thunderfire Beast, but if I want to extract the beast's demon soul again to create a new soul牌 (soul tablet), the chances of failure are extremely high."
"The Thunderfire Beast has also been imprisoned by the Azure Thunder Sect for a while, and although its intelligence hasn't fully developed, it is no longer as loyal to the Ding family as it used to be. If I force it into submission again, it will only retaliate immediately. Directly killing it would not benefit the Ding family at all."
As Ding Ruozhao explained, the old woman couldn't help but sigh, but she still asked, "Zhao'er, you said you would leave the Ding family to find Xiaomei, right?"
"Yes, I have received some news about my sister before, and it might be dangerous, so I cannot stay and oversee the Ding family."
Ding Ruozhao calmly answered the old matriarch's question, but as she spoke, she frowned slightly and pursed her lips. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Besides the reasons she stated, there was another important reason for her leaving the Ding family: she herself was not entirely free. The numerous helplessness within made Ding Ruozhao feel somewhat irritated.
Amidst such chaotic thoughts, Ding Ruozhao once again released her aura and used her cultivation to suppress the Foundation Establishment cultivators present, deciding on the matter.
In the cultivation world, strength is always paramount.
After that, these people no longer dwelled on the issue of the Thunderfire Beast. The final result of their discussion was to focus on recuperation and rejuvenation for the time being.
Soon after, they left the stone house and announced this plan to the Ding family cultivators: they would be recuperating on this deserted island for a period of time.
The crowd received the answer and dispersed.
They didn't have time to cultivate now; there were still many things to do. Besides the Ding family cultivators, there were also tens of thousands of mortals on the deserted island, and these people also needed to be properly settled.
This yellow island was called Huangshi Island by them. The entire island had an area of nearly a thousand miles. However, it was frequently subjected to the erosion of the罡风 (罡 wind) outside the island, and the only habitable area was the two- to three-hundred-mile stretch of dense forest environment in the south.
To settle here, it was also necessary to establish a certain defense mechanism.
The Ding family had multiplied for over a thousand years, and the number of mortals had long exceeded one million.
Of course, the Ding family couldn't take care of those millions of mortals now that they were overwhelmed themselves. Those mortals probably still didn't know that the main family had betrayed the Azure Thunder Sect.
But the fate of these people would not be too dangerous. Although the Ding family had betrayed the Azure Thunder Sect, the Azure Thunder Sect would not care too much about the mortals. Even if they were implicated, they would not massacre the mortals.
At this moment, the mortals on this deserted island were all direct relatives of the Ding family cultivators.
After the cultivators left, Ding Ruozhao alone designated an area on the deserted island for the Thunderfire Beast, as the beast's settlement.
Then, the woman transformed into a streak of silver light and headed straight for Zhang Ling's current residence. It was time to fulfill her promise to this guy.
...
Zhang Ling was sitting in the pavilion, meditating quietly, when he suddenly sensed something and opened his eyes. He turned around and walked out of the pavilion, only to see a person standing outside the formation, it was Ding Ruozhao.
The woman had now changed into a snow-white dress, looking a bit more gentle. She was examining the formation he had set up, seeming quite interested.
Zhang Ling also said with a smile, "Fairy Ding, please," and opened the formation.
Ding Ruozhao did not enter first, but glanced at him and giggled.
"After so many things, we can be considered acquainted, just call me Ruozhao. Don't you think it's a bit cliché to always call me Fairy?"
Zhang Ling's expression froze when he heard this, and his face couldn't help but show some embarrassment. He didn't expect the woman to suddenly say such a thing. In his impression, this person usually appeared very cold and assertive.
Seeing him in a daze, Ding Ruozhao snorted lightly, smiled, and entered the formation.
Zhang Ling also smiled, regained his composure, and led Ding Ruozhao into the house, sitting down at a round table.
The two were silent for a moment, then Ding Ruozhao spoke first.
"Thank you for helping me to successfully seize the Thunderfire Beast and kill Liu Yuan this time."
Zhang Ling just smiled and said nothing. There were many dangers this time, but he actually didn't contribute much, at most playing a restraining role when dealing with Liu Yuan.
Compared to the reward this woman offered for him to help, it was naturally not worth mentioning.
"Although I haven't been in contact with you for long, we have experienced several life-and-death situations. Whether you agreed to help rescue the Thunderfire Beast because of the reward or for other reasons, I want to say thank you. With the Thunderfire Beast, the Ding family will be worry-free for hundreds of years. I'm here today to fulfill my promise and pass on the Jade Phoenix True Essence to you."
Zhang Ling was a little surprised to hear the woman in front of him say this so readily.
Then, Ding Ruozhao frowned slightly, as if thinking of something, her cheeks flushed, and she said in a low voice.
"The method to pass on the Jade Phoenix True Essence to a man... requires oral transmission."
When Zhang Ling heard this and saw the woman's suddenly bashful expression, his heart was shocked and began to pound.
He thought that it would be like the previous time when testing the Jade Phoenix spiritual energy, as long as there was physical contact, but he didn't expect it to be done this way.
Seeing Ding Ruozhao frowning slightly and bowing her head slightly, Zhang Ling had very little experience with this kind of male-female relationship, but he was not an ignorant person. After all, he and this woman already had an intimate relationship.
Looking at the woman in front of him again, he suddenly felt that Ding Ruozhao was also particularly beautiful, and his body became hot for a moment.
In this somewhat strange feeling, the atmosphere in the house seemed to become softer and more ambiguous.
Just as he was looking at the woman, somewhat lost in thought, he suddenly heard the woman's reproachful voice. "Then... let's start passing on the spiritual power now."
These words brought Zhang Ling back to his senses, and he laughed dryly. But after waiting for a while, the woman still didn't make any movements.
Zhang Ling suddenly thought of something. Although the woman had agreed to pass the Jade Phoenix spiritual energy to him, it was probably impossible for any woman to take the initiative.
Zhang Ling suddenly stood up, his figure flashed, and he was next to the woman.
Ding Ruozhao was startled by his sudden action and stood up abruptly. But before she could speak, Zhang Ling had already put one arm around her.
Ding Ruozhao subconsciously wanted to push Zhang Ling away, but then another hand wrapped around her waist, her body softened, and she fell into the arms of the man in front of her.
Suddenly, the woman's body became hot, her face flushed. She pushed out with both hands, using a little spiritual power. Zhang Ling was shaken by the spiritual power and leaned back.
But at this moment, he was holding Ding Ruozhao, he only felt a sharp pain in his chest, his whole body was unstable, and he staggered back a few steps, falling right onto the bed behind him.
Ding Ruozhao also exclaimed, and was pressed down under him.
