Crazy-Gossiping-c4

Chapter 4

When Ning Xu heard this, she became interested.

Her scumbag ex-fiancé?

She glanced at the young male cultivator. He looked decent enough, but his expression was a bit gloomy, giving off a vibe that he wasn’t easy to get along with. He was wearing the robe of an inner sect disciple, so at the very least, he must be a dual spirit root cultivator.

Unfortunately, she didn’t inherit many memories related to this person.

She muttered to the Melon-Eating System, “What’s this scumbag here for?”

The Melon-Eating System casually replied, 【Maybe he heard that you joined the sect and came to take advantage of you. You know how it is, everyone has those poor relatives who like to come knocking for favors. Even though this guy isn’t exactly your relative, it’s the same idea, I’m sure you get it.】

The scumbag ex-fiancé, now tagged with “the poor relative who comes knocking”: …

If the timing were right, Ning Xu would have crossed her arms and said, “Tsk tsk, came knocking so soon. He must be doing terribly in the sect, right? If he were doing well, he wouldn’t have remembered me, his former fiancée.”

The Melon-Eating System clicked its tongue, 【Exactly. Otherwise, why would I use the term ‘useless’ to describe him?】

“Then who is useful?” Ning Xu actually wanted to ask the system if, in its opinion, she, the host, was considered useful. But before she could voice it, she felt it wasn’t necessary.

If she wasn’t useful, then could there be any cultivators in this world who were?

Of course not!

She had the special existence of being bound to the Melon-Eating System!

So, the term “useless” had absolutely nothing to do with her.

Upon hearing the question, the Melon-Eating System had something to say, 【If you’re asking me, I’ll give you an honest answer.】

“Go ahead,” she said. She hadn’t been here long, and she didn’t even know everyone yet. It was better to hear what the system had to say. Besides, it was just the two of them here, so she wasn’t worried about offending anyone. As for her scumbag ex-fiancé, Ning Xu didn’t care at all. He was already useless, so what did it matter?

【If you want to go by my ultra-high standards, the number of young cultivators worthy of the term ‘useful’ is fewer than the fingers on one hand.】

Ning Xu responded, “I get it, I get it. According to your standards, this scumbag doesn’t amount to anything.”

Hearing this, Xu Shixing finally couldn’t hold back anymore and snapped, “Ning Xu!”

Ning Xu casually dug at her ears. “Huh? I’m here. Do you have something to say?”

Thinking that Ning Xu had also gone to the morning class and probably received three low-grade spirit stones from the Sect Leader, Xu Shixing restrained his temper and said, “You went to your morning class, right?”

As for the strange voice Ning Xu was talking to, Xu Shixing completely ignored it.

In his mind, this was probably just one of Ning Xu’s little tricks to attract his attention.

He knew too well how much she liked him.

She was probably venting her frustration from unrequited love by saying bad things about him in front of him.

He could understand, so he wouldn’t pay too much attention.

If Ning Xu were to give him the three low-grade spirit stones, he would pretend he hadn’t heard anything. After all, it was just a few words said to him. No harm done, and the spirit stones were the only real benefit.

Upon hearing this, Ning Xu gave Xu Shixing a probing look. “I did, what’s wrong?”

After confirming that Ning Xu had attended the class and hadn’t skipped it, Xu Shixing let out a sigh of relief. “Good. Then give me your spirit stones.”

Ning Xu was stunned. “???”

She couldn’t help but complain to the Melon-Eating System, “Is he sick or something?”

If the Melon-Eating System had hands, it would be pointing them now.

【You just realized? He looks like he has a few screws loose.】

Ning Xu continued to chat with the Melon-Eating System, “What nerve to ask for them?”

【His face is as thick as an old boot.】 The Melon-Eating System lamented that it had no hands; otherwise, it would be gesturing dramatically.

While they were exchanging complaints, Xu Shixing’s face changed color rapidly, turning a shade of pale green, almost like it had been dyed.

“Ning Xu!” He directly interrupted Ning Xu’s conversation with the mysterious voice. He didn’t know where she’d found this little trick, but it was really starting to irk him. Though Ning Xu had always pulled stunts before, none of them had been so annoying.

“Ning Xu, you know that I’m at a crucial point in my cultivation, and I’m in dire need of spirit stones…”

Ning Xu, like a stubborn old rooster, immediately shot back, “You can trick me about emotions, but trick me about spirit stones? No way!”

Without spirit stones, there would be no spirit energy. Without spirit energy, she wouldn’t be able to eat melon. Without eating melon, what fun would her life have?

Who was he to ask for her spirit stones?

Anyone who tried to stop her from eating melon was her enemy!

“You… Fine, you won’t give me the spirit stones, huh?”

Ning Xu was utterly confused. Who did this guy think he was, trying to take her spirit stones?

Xu Shixing, in a dark mood, said, “I thought that although we couldn’t be fiancés, we could still be friends. But, Ning Xu, you’ve really disappointed me.” He gave her one last deep look. “By tomorrow morning, I’ll be in my cave.”

With that, Xu Shixing turned and left, leaving Ning Xu utterly perplexed.

“What does he mean by that?”

The Melon-Eating System sounded disinterested, 【What else could it mean? It means if you want to back out, you can do so before tomorrow morning.】

“Back out? Back out of what? Back out of not giving him the spirit stones?”

【Exactly.】

Xu Shixing had successfully left both Ning Xu and the Melon-Eating System speechless.

After Ning Xu and the Melon-Eating System returned to her room, the Sect Leader, who had been hiding and listening in, revealed himself.

He wasn’t wrong.

Ning Xu’s conversation with the so-called system could only be heard within a certain range. Once the range was exceeded, the conversation couldn’t be heard.

From this conversation, a lot of information could be gleaned.

For instance, the most important point was that Ning Xu was no longer the same person she used to be. The person inside had changed, or else she wouldn’t have failed to recognize her former fiancé.

But in this small world, there was no such thing as soul-snatching or rebirth.

It seemed that the system’s abilities were far greater than he had imagined.

Currently, this person and the unity both have no ill intentions toward the sect, and it’s actually better to be extra kind and try to win them over.

In any case, they cannot afford to offend them easily.


—

After returning to her room, Ning Xu directly sat on the meditation cushion and began meditating.

Just now, the Melon-Eating System gave her a brief introduction to her former fiancé’s background, and to her surprise, it even consumed spiritual energy.

“Alright, I get it, you’re a Spirit-Devouring Beast. I understand.” In her time, there were Gold-Devouring Beasts, and now there are Spirit-Devouring Beasts. Alright, alright, they’re all hard to take care of. She had figured it out: whatever the Melon-Eating System told her, whether it was good or bad, it always required spiritual energy.

The Melon-Eating System chuckled slyly, 【Isn’t this great? It encourages you to cultivate and improve.】

Ning Xu couldn’t help but think that she was probably the only cultivator in the entire cultivation world who was crazy about cultivating just to eat melon.

If it weren’t for that melon, she probably wouldn’t be working so hard. As for those ten high-grade spiritual stones, Ning Xu planned to keep them for now—perhaps they would come in handy later.

After four hours of meditation, Ning Xu opened her eyes. When she first sat down to meditate, it was only dusk, but now, the night was deep, probably around midnight.

Ning Xu couldn’t help but murmur, “Cultivating with three spiritual roots is really slow. The Qi Sea is so small, and it still takes four hours just to meditate.” The speed at which she absorbed spiritual energy was almost as slow as a turtle.

The Melon-Eating System comforted her, saying, 【Three spiritual roots are actually very good, especially your water, wood, and earth spiritual roots.】

Ning Xu: …

“Probably, you’re the only one who thinks three spiritual roots are good.” According to the usual plot of novels, chaotic spiritual roots and the innate Dao body are the real powerhouses. Three spiritual roots? No matter which novel it’s in, they are always cannon fodder.

Even she herself thought three spiritual roots were not that great. The most important thing was that there was no pill in this small world to remove one of the spiritual roots. A cultivator’s spiritual roots could never be changed from the start to the end, with no chance of modification.

The Melon-Eating System didn’t care and said, 【You don’t understand, right? Over the past thousands of years, only three mighty beings have ascended.】

Ning Xu, “Only three?”

【Yes, do you think ascension is as easy as picking cabbage?】

【You probably don’t know, but among these three ascended mighty beings, one of them had the same water, wood, and earth spiritual roots as you. I’ve already planned out your future cultivation path. No matter what, before you reach the God Transformation stage, you can directly follow the cultivation routine of that mighty being. Whatever methods they used, you can copy them exactly. If you’re willing, I can also provide you with the post-God Transformation cultivation methods.】

Ning Xu, “Uh, wouldn’t that be a bit awkward?” The Melon-Eating System was suggesting she follow in the footsteps of someone else? Well, there was also the saying of standing on the shoulders of giants.

Although taking a shortcut would definitely be easier, would the mighty beings have any objections?

The Melon-Eating System clicked its tongue, 【What’s wrong with that? If the mighty being knew that a cultivator with the same spiritual roots as hers successfully ascended by following her path, she’d be happy. This would even be considered a good deed for her. You know, good deeds are very important in the immortal world.】

【This small world hasn’t had a cultivator ascend in nearly three thousand years.】

【If no one ascends, the ascension path will soon close.】

【If you can ascend by following the mighty being’s method, it will reward her with a lot of merit. In other words, it’s a win-win situation for both of you.】

If it’s a win-win situation, then following the big shot’s successful routine should be fine.

But…

Ning Xu had a thoughtful expression, “So, the way I get the mighty being’s cultivation method is…”

【By consuming spiritual energy.】

Ning Xu, “…I knew it.”

After that, the Melon-Eating System continued its chatter, 【Is spiritual root important? Yes. But is it particularly important? Not really.】

【Among the three ascended mighty beings, besides the one with water, wood, and earth spiritual roots, there was also one with four spiritual roots.】

【The last one is the one with the best talent, the Heavenly Spiritual Root.】

【What does this show?】

【It shows that spiritual roots are not the only factor that determines one’s future achievements. Even if you have a Heavenly Spiritual Root, so what? Over the past thousands of years, so many extraordinary Heavenly Spiritual Roots, and only one succeeded in ascending.】

【Besides spiritual roots, the right cultivation method is the most important thing.】

【In my opinion, among the four important factors—talent, luck, mindset, and cultivation method—the cultivation method is the most important. The rest are all secondary.】

【Cultivation methods are fundamental.】

【If you cultivate the right method, you’re already halfway to success.】

Ning Xu found the Melon-Eating System’s thoughts quite interesting, and she asked, “Then what about the other three? In your opinion, how would you rank them?”

Without hesitation, the Melon-Eating System said, 【Mindset second, luck third, and talent fourth.】

In this cultivation world, most cultivators probably thought talent and luck were very important.

But the Melon-Eating System’s opinion was contrary to the mainstream view.

Ning Xu pondered.

Mindset… is more important than luck?

The Melon-Eating System, knowing what Ning Xu was thinking, spoke bluntly, 【Of course. If your mindset isn’t good, no matter how outstanding your luck is, you won’t be able to overcome your inner demons. Only with a good attitude can you survive and thrive in the scheming cultivation world.】

Ning Xu nodded, “Alright, I understand. You can continue.”

The Melon-Eating System clicked its tongue, 【There’s not much more to say. It’s just a pity that in this small world, many Heavenly-Level cultivation methods have been lost.】

At this point, Ning Xu’s thoughts shifted.

“Do you have any Heavenly-Level cultivation methods?”

【Of course, I have as many as you want.】

Upon hearing this, Ning Xu had a look of “I knew it.”

Meanwhile, the Sect Leader, who had been secretly listening nearby, along with the Masters of various peaks who had hurried over, all brightened at the mention of Heavenly-Level cultivation methods.

Heavenly-Level cultivation methods?!

They had stumbled upon a treasure!