Chapter 33

Immortal Qingjiu took out the Grade Eight Soul Revival Pill he had retrieved from the auction house and asked, “Where is she?”

Ning Xu turned to the Melon-Eating System. “Where is she?”

【In Yaoxing City, Peaceful Alley. The innermost house in the alley is the one.】

Ning Xu relayed this information to Immortal Qingjiu.

“Alright.”

He then pushed the Soul Revival Pill toward Ning Xu.

Ning Xu, in turn, pushed a storage bag containing 850,000 high-grade spirit stones toward him.

With this, the transaction was effortlessly completed. Ning Xu didn’t know what Immortal Qingjiu was thinking, but she certainly felt like she had made a profit.

Thinking this, she proactively suggested, “Shall we exchange jade tokens?”

Immortal Qingjiu replied, “Sure.”

“Our side provides after-sales service. If she leaves Yaoxing City before you find her, I’ll notify you immediately.”

“Alright.”

Afterward, as if making casual conversation, Immortal Qingjiu asked, “May I ask how you knew about my concubine?”

Ning Xu replied vaguely, “I calculated it. If you have more questions in the future, feel free to ask me anytime.”

As soon as they exchanged jade tokens, the Melon-Eating System immediately showered Ning Xu with praise.

【Nice move, Host! You even secured a jade token.】

【Although Immortal Qingjiu is only a Golden Core cultivator now, he was once an eighth-grade alchemist.】

【This old guy probably still has a stash of great pills.】

【Building a good relationship with him is definitely the right choice.】

Ning Xu was a little surprised. “He’s an alchemist?”

【Yes.】

“I thought he was a sword cultivator.”

Perhaps because the name Qingjiu (Clear Wine) evoked a sense of carefree elegance, Ning Xu had always assumed Immortal Qingjiu was a sword cultivator.

The Melon-Eating System denied it.

【He’s not. His primary focus is alchemy, with a secondary focus on medicine.】

【The Soul Revival Pill you have in hand was crafted by him personally.】

【However, he hasn’t touched a furnace for many years.】

Ning Xu: “…”

So the two items he put up for auction today were his own creations?

It seemed he was truly desperate for money.

Ning Xu grew curious. “An eighth-grade alchemist’s pills must have excellent quality, right?”

【Put it this way—his pills remain unmatched to this day.】

Ning Xu: !!!

“What a pity.”

She was about to enter the secret realm and hadn’t yet stockpiled many pills. Low-grade Recovery Pills and Rejuvenation Pills were always useful and could never be too abundant.

Just as she finished speaking with the Melon-Eating System, Immortal Qingjiu took out another storage bag.

“The bag contains some low-grade pills.”

Ning Xu: “???”

“What’s this for?”

Immortal Qingjiu stated simply, “A gift.”

Wait—didn’t he already seem pitiful enough, selling an 8-million spirit stone pill for only 850,000?

And now he was even throwing in freebies?

Perhaps sensing her thoughts, the Melon-Eating System commented offhandedly.

【He’s making it very obvious.】

Ning Xu asked, “Obvious about what?”

【He wants to establish goodwill with you.】

Ning Xu was surprised. “He also knows I’m a Child of Destiny?”

The Melon-Eating System fell silent for a moment before replying.

【No.】

【He probably thinks you’re a fortune-teller.】

【After all, if his concubine managed to run away once, she’ll likely run away again—maybe even a second or third time.】

【Wouldn’t he need your help again then?】

This reasoning was so pragmatic that Ning Xu couldn’t even argue against it.

Immortal Qingjiu, who merely wanted to build a good connection: “…”

He had a hunch that this cultivator before him—and that strange voice—might hold the key to resolving the mystery that had puzzled him for 500 years.

Where had his spiritual energy gone?

If he couldn’t uncover this answer, he wouldn’t be able to rest in peace.

After the transaction, Immortal Qingjiu prepared to leave.

Although he didn’t want to go, he no longer had a reason to stay.

Ning Xu stood up as well and casually said, “Take care, Daoist Friend.”

Then she turned to the Melon-Eating System. “Honestly, he doesn’t seem like a love-struck fool.”

As someone once regarded as the strongest in the world, his looks were, of course, flawless—his snowy features exuded charm even without a smile.

Yet even with such an appearance, he couldn’t make someone stay?

The Melon-Eating System scoffed.

【Don’t be fooled by his face.】

【In front of his concubine, he’s not like this at all.】

Ning Xu grew curious. “How is he in front of his concubine?”

The Melon-Eating System raised its tone and mimicked, 【Do you love me? Do you really love me?】

【Can you love me a little more?】

【I can’t live without you…】

Ning Xu: ???

The North-South Peak Master: …

Immortal Qingjiu: … So this is what it feels like to experience secondhand embarrassment so intense it makes your scalp tingle and toes curl.

Truly mortifying.

Perhaps because he was too embarrassed, the storage bag in Immortal Qingjiu’s hand slipped and fell to the ground.

The North-South Peak Master silently picked it up and handed it back to him. “Daoist Friend, take care of this.”

The whole time, the North-South Peak Master didn’t dare to look at him.

If he looked again, he was afraid he might burst out laughing on the spot.

At that moment, Ning Xu was slightly surprised and commented, “I didn’t expect that Immortal Qingjiu… is actually a love-starved powerhouse.”

The Melon-Eating System grew even more disdainful. 【He’s definitely starved for love—and clingy too.】

【People like him aren’t popular anymore.】

【Not to mention, he’s old now, his cultivation is low, and he’s dirt poor. Who would be interested in him?】

Immortal Qingjiu: … There should still be someone interested in me, right?

The Melon-Eating System turned to Ning Xu. 【Are you interested?】

Ning Xu replied tactfully, “I’m not really into love-struck types.”

Immortal Qingjiu was indeed good-looking, but the cultivation world wasn’t lacking in handsome men.

Take the Innocent Cultivator, for example—he looked no worse than Immortal Qingjiu.

This statement was clearly a polite rejection.

Immortal Qingjiu: …

It seems I really am old now.

---

When Ning Xu and the North-South Peak Master returned to their private room, the auction was already nearing its end.

The North-South Peak Master asked, “Did you bid on anything?”

The Hall Master of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall smiled and said, “I won a few drops of ten-year Soul Water and a Grade Six spiritual herb.”

“There wasn’t much else worth buying, so I didn’t bid further.”

The North-South Peak Master nodded in acknowledgment.

Soul Water, when consumed, could refine one’s divine soul to some extent.

Unfortunately, ten-year Soul Water wasn’t particularly potent.

However, it was still quite useful for lower-level cultivators—a little was better than none.

Once the auction ended, Ning Xu and her group prepared to return home.

She had originally planned to purchase the auction house, but now it didn’t seem like a good idea.

For one, she was completely broke.

For another, she had a Grade Eight Soul Revival Pill in her possession.

Although the Fengye City auction house was known for its excellent confidentiality, and aside from those directly involved, no one else knew that she had bought the Grade Eight pill from Immortal Qingjiu, Ning Xu still didn’t want to take any risks.

The Melon-Eating System agreed. 【Your caution is justified.】

【There are plenty of artifacts in the cultivation world that can trace treasures.】

【It’s always better to be safe than sorry.】

Then, the Melon-Eating System clicked its tongue. 【Ultimately, it’s because your cultivation is still too low.】

【So, Host, when will you be strong enough to fear no one and walk through the cultivation world like a boss?】

Ning Xu responded with a cold snort.

---

After returning to the Wenxin Sect, Ning Xu meditated in her small thatched hut for a while. Before long, it was time for the next morning’s lesson.

When she arrived at the square, she received food from the Innocent Cultivator as usual.

Today’s dish was glutinous rice chicken wrapped in vibrant green leaves. The sticky rice carried a faint fragrance from the leaves, while the chicken was tender and flavorful. Ning Xu thought it was the best glutinous rice chicken she had ever eaten—hands down.

She sincerely praised, “Your cooking is getting better and better.”

The Innocent Cultivator’s dark eyes curved into a smile. “I’m glad you like it.”

Ning Xu never hesitated to express her enjoyment of his cooking. She replied directly, “I really like it.”

At that moment, Elder Wu Chichun arrived at the square, bringing along an unfamiliar cultivator.

Clapping his hands to get everyone’s attention, he said, “Let me introduce someone. This is a disciple visiting from another sect as part of an exchange program. He’ll be joining us for morning lessons for a while.”

“Please give him a warm welcome.”

The disciples clapped politely. “Welcome to the Wenxin Sect, Daoist Friend.”

In the midst of the applause, the Melon-Eating System suddenly cried out in disbelief.

【Wait a minute—isn’t that Immortal Qingjiu?!】

【Why is he here instead of looking for his concubine?】

【And why is he pretending to be a Qi Refinement cultivator?】

【Host, don’t tell me he’s interested in you?】

【Absolutely not!!! He’s so old he’s practically crumbling to dust!!!】

Ning Xu: …

Immortal Qingjiu, who only wanted to investigate the mystery of his dissipating spiritual energy: …

The gossip-hungry fellow disciples: …