Heaven Refining physique Chapter 222: Flustered

"To retain a fragment of your original being, whether it be skin, blood, or even the tiniest particle, is essential.

With this connection, once your soul has recuperated from any damage sustained, you can spiritually link with it. Subsequently, your entire physical form will be restored to its former state.

This profound technique is exclusive to cultivators of elevated realms, where physical afflictions can be mended within moments.

Given my current cultivation level, I possess the capability to regenerate from a single desiccated drop of my blood, let alone a perfectly preserved sample, which I have taken care to safeguard until this opportune moment."

Jiang Hao was taken aback. He was certain he had not observed any blood drop within the spatial ring. Compelled by curiosity, he searched again, eager to witness the blood of a cultivator who had ascended to the zenith of existence.

Upon reaching the Nascent Soul stage, he understood that his blood possessed far greater potency than in his mortal days; a solitary drop could sustain thousands of ordinary people. He marveled at the potential potency of Senior Yin's blood.

"Cannot locate it?" Yin Ni inquired with a gentle smile.

Jiang Hao regained his composure and shook his head. Indeed, he could not find it within the ring. Could it be within the fractured dimension that required mending?

"Ah, every component of my being is infused with formidable dimensional laws, making it impossible for my blood to remain ordinary. It has birthed its own pocket dimension within the ring, and yes, that is the very dimension where I currently reside."

Jiang Hao expressed surprise. So, the dimension where he had first encountered Senior Yin was contained within her drop of blood. That single drop had not only birthed a dimension inside the ring but had also created another dimension within itself, serving as Senior Yin's sanctuary.

If a single drop of her blood held such immense power, one could only speculate about Senior Yin's capabilities during her strongest period.

Yet, she had been reduced to this state. Jiang Hao let out a sigh. It appeared that the truly supreme beings remained beyond his full comprehension... his interactions with Senior Yin, who consistently displayed a playful demeanor, had made him overlook her true standing.

She was an entity whom others might not even dare to gaze upon, much less converse with. Her existence was truly unparalleled. A subtle smile touched his lips.

"What in the world? What have I missed all this time... how have you learned to smile?"

Jiang Hao was momentarily stupefied and quickly reverted his expression to its natural state. Smiling, after all, was not a profound concept like the Dao that required deep contemplation.

"Of course it is, for you at least," Yin Ni responded with a smile, leaving Jiang Hao utterly astonished.

He regarded her with a peculiar expression. He was now entirely convinced that Senior Yin could perceive his thoughts, even when he was not within her dimensional space.

While he had harbored suspicions before, she always possessed a knack for lowering his defenses. Now, she had openly acknowledged it without any pretense.

"Since when, Senior?" Jiang Hao inquired with a hint of weariness in his voice.

"What?" Yin Ni feigned innocence, while Yao Ying simply shook her head and paid them no mind, already privy to the situation.

"Senior, regarding your ability to read my thoughts."

Yin Ni finally ceased her playful teasing and stated, "Fear not, I was not capable of reading your thoughts prior to this... previously, I could only anticipate your thoughts to a certain extent. However, with my recovery, I can now almost fully perceive them.

This is because the ring is bound to you, and likewise, it is bound to me as well. Such bindings are established on a soul level... making it effortless to read another's thoughts. Naturally, you are far too weak to read mine."

Jiang Hao glanced at the ring. Ever since forming a bond with it, he had sensed a peculiar connection. Therefore, this ring served as a conduit between him and Senior Yin—she could traverse to his side with ease, but he lacked the strength to reciprocate.

Should he consider removing the ring for a period? He dismissed the thought; he possessed no secrets he felt compelled to conceal from her.

"Removing the ring would prove futile. You would need to sever the bond itself, and if I do not consent to its dissolution, then you cannot break it," Yin Ni declared with a roguish grin.

Jiang Hao was rendered speechless, suppressing any further imprudent thoughts. Blast it, he was now being toyed with by an ancient—

"Ancient what?" Yin Ni arched an eyebrow.

"Ahem... perhaps you should allow me to finish my sentence, Senior; it is the older generation," Jiang Hao replied with an impassive countenance.

"Oh, is that so? Perhaps I should demonstrate what true 'bullying' entails." Yin Ni's smile widened with each word, sending a shiver down Jiang Hao's spine.

"What? You have feelings for Yao Ying?" Yin Ni exclaimed with a look of feigned shock.

A sense of dread washed over Jiang Hao. He had harbored a premonition of such a turn of events, though he could not precisely articulate the reason for his disquiet.

He was certain that Elder Yao was already aware of the situation, and the feeling was mutual, perhaps fueled by their connection. While he didn't dwell on it now, hearing it directly from her still had a profound impact. He decided to simply disregard her words.

After careful consideration, he enveloped his ears with spiritual qi and turned his gaze towards the sea, choosing to ignore whatever unfolded next.

Yao Ying inwardly sighed. Why was she being drawn into this predicament? The words spoken had placed Jiang Hao in a difficult position, but they affected others as well.

"Tsk, no fun... At least show some distress. Oh well... I'm going to repair the ring. It will take some time, so don't disturb me," Yin Ni stated before vanishing.

Despite Jiang Hao's attempt to block his hearing with spiritual qi, he heard her words distinctly. It appeared she could effortlessly circumvent his spiritual barrier, a subtle reminder that his minor tactics were insignificant against her power.

Jiang Hao dispelled his barrier, feeling a touch of awkwardness standing near Elder Yao. He let out a breath and resolved to proceed, acknowledging an emotion he had never experienced before.

He couldn't recall if he had felt flustered as a child, but since he had no memory of it, this was the first time he truly grasped the feeling.

His eyes remained fixed on the sea as he pondered the current well-being of Senior Huan, Senior Zhi, Senior Sister Ming, Sister Meiying, and Fenglai.

They had elected to visit the Northern Region first, meaning they might have already arrived. Unlike the Central Region, which lacked a teleportation array connecting to other regions, all other regions possessed such arrays to facilitate inter-regional travel due to robust trade.