Chapter 105

As Ning Xu finished speaking, the calm expression that Xu Hua had maintained all this time finally showed signs of cracking.

Xu Hua, “You…”

Ning Xu continued, “This person, the multiple-great-grandson of a Mahayana cultivator, has average talent. He usually relies on consuming pills to level up. Unfortunately, even though he has consumed countless good pills, his cultivation is still mediocre.”

“Just so happened that you ran into him at this time.”

“You have a single water spiritual root. Although it’s not as good as a supreme furnace, it’s still a decent choice…”

Xu Hua, “Enough!” After saying that, Xu Hua turned and left, no longer caring to maintain her persona. As she left, Zhi Qing immediately followed her out. Before leaving, he shot Ning Xu a cold glance.

Once the two of them left, the front hall, which had been somewhat empty to begin with, seemed even more spacious.

Gou Chen and Lie Quan exchanged glances. Although they still wanted to know more details, like how Xu Hua had been played in circles by those two, it was clear this wasn’t the right time to ask.

Lie Quan was the first to take his leave.

“Senior Brother Si, it seems we’ve discussed most of the matters. I’ll take my leave now?”

Gou Chen quickly followed suit and also bid farewell.

“Senior Brother Si, I suddenly remembered I have something to attend to and need to deal with it quickly.”

The Sword Immortal’s tone was indifferent, “You all can go ahead and do what you need.”

Gou Chen and Lie Quan cupped their fists in a salute, “Yes, Senior Brother Si!”

Once they left, the entire front hall was left with only Ning Xu, Si Cang, and his soul beast, the old yellow Ox.

Ning Xu then noticed the large eyes of the old yellow Ox, which were filled with interest.

She was somewhat surprised.

The Sword Immortal remained seated in his position, and seeing Ning Xu staring at Mo Mo, he spoke softly, “Moo Moo is quite interested in what you just said.”

“Do you have anything else to add?”

Ning Xu, “…”

She said to the Melon-Eating System, “I didn’t expect the Sword Immortal not to like eating melons, but his soul beast actually loves them.”

The Melon-Eating System clicked its tongue twice, 【Most people don’t dislike eating melons. Who doesn’t love something so tasty?】

【The Sword Immortal is the real anomaly.】

Ning Xu cleared her throat and asked Mo Mo, “What do you want to know?”

Just as Ning Xu asked this, Mo Mo spoke human language.

It let out a lazy, youthful voice, “How long has she been with that person?”

Ning Xu communicated with the Melon-Eating System briefly and replied, “Over ten years.”

The old yellow Ox let out an “oh” sound. “She’s been with him for so long and still hasn’t figured anything out? She must be really stupid.”

Ning Xu, “…”

She had also interacted with the old yellow Ox for several days now. During this time, the old yellow Ox had never spoken. She thought it was like Pig Brother, who hadn’t cultivated into human form. She didn’t expect it wasn’t that it couldn’t speak, but rather that it didn’t want to.

When it was interested, it would speak, and when it did, it was as sharp-tongued as the Melon-Eating System.

The old yellow Ox continued, “Who is that Mahayana cultivator who is over four thousand years old?”

Ning Xu gave a name.

This was still what the Melon-Eating System had just told her.

Previously, the Melon-Eating System had always referred to the cultivator as “that old thing,” so she only now learned his name.

Upon hearing this, the old yellow Ox let out another “oh” and spoke with a tone of disdain, “Him?”

“He’s just lucky. He found a cave left by an ascendant and became rich overnight.”

“If it’s him, then it’s no surprise he’d do something like this.”

From the old yellow Ox’s words, it was clear it looked down on that cultivator.

The Melon-Eating System then mumbled, 【After hearing this old yellow Ox, I went to check on that old thing’s life story.】

【Tch. Truly just sheer luck.】

【Wait, something’s not right.】

【This old thing… might have some depth.】

Ning Xu asked, “What do you mean?”

【This old thing acts like a spear cultivator, and others think he’s just a spear cultivator.】

Ning Xu, “And then?”

The Melon-Eating System sounded a bit surprised, 【Then, actually, he’s an oracle cultivator.】

【The cave left by the ascendant wasn’t something he stumbled upon by chance. It was something he calculated.】

【His family has been oracle cultivators for generations, but only the direct descendants knew this secret. Only the direct line could focus on cultivating oracle arts. Even the collateral branches thought they were just a spear cultivator family.】

Well, well.

This old thing had hidden things deep enough.

They had fooled everyone in the cultivation world.

Everyone thought he was just lucky, but in reality, he was the one with the deepest secrets.

If that was the case, then Xu Hua being played like a fool made sense.

Although Xu Hua was a tough character, she was still young and inexperienced. Compared to a cultivator who was over four thousand years old, she was still too immature.

After hearing the thoughts of the two, both the Sword Immortal and the old yellow Ox flashed a look of surprise in their eyes.

The Jin family had hidden things so deeply?

Just by looking at their behavior, it was impossible to tell they had anything to do with oracle cultivators.

And now, their direct descendants were all oracle cultivators?

If they thought back carefully, there were indeed a few signs, but these signs were so insignificant that they were easy to overlook. If the Melon-Eating System hadn’t pointed it out, even they would have been fooled.

The Melon-Eating System suddenly realized, 【Now I get it.】

Ning Xu asked, “What’s that?”

【I was wondering, if the Jin family’s direct descendants were all so accurate with their calculations, how could they not find any trace of him three thousand years later?】

【Turns out, it’s because they changed their surname.】

Ning Xu became a bit interested, “Oh? What did they change it to?”

【They changed it to many surnames—Liu, Shen, Dantai, and… Xu. But the descendants of the first few surnames couldn’t make a name for themselves, generation after generation. Only the Xu surname descendants are all outstanding talents.】

“Xu?” Ning Xu became sharp. “Is the Xu you’re talking about related to Xu Hua?”

The Melon-Eating System confirmed, 【Yes, they are. The next family head of their clan married into Xu Hua’s family, and their descendants all carry her surname.】

Ning Xu furrowed her brows slightly, “Did they calculate something?”

【They probably did.】

【All the direct descendants of their family married into others, and only the collateral branches kept their original surname.】

【Three thousand years later, the ones with cultivation spiritual roots were only those who had changed their surnames. Those with their original surnames had all become mortals and could never return to the cultivation path.】

【The descendants of Liu, Shen, and Dantai, although their spiritual roots are all ordinary, at least their descendants can still cultivate.】

【As long as spiritual roots still exist, there’s a chance for the bloodline to return to its ancestral roots. Once it does, the spiritual roots of that descendant will likely be a single spiritual root. This will bring the family back to prosperity.】

【They must be betting on that possibility.】

After hearing what the Melon-Eating System said, Ning Xu realized the Jin family wasn’t simple.

They had calculated everything, even the things that would happen much later.

In that case, they must have also calculated the Sword Immortal’s… downfall.

Perhaps they were even secretly facilitating Xu Hua’s success.

Originally, she hadn’t planned to go after the Jin family.

The Jin family’s old and young had fooled Xu Hua into looking like a fool, and she was happy to see it.

But…

If the Jin family and Xu Hua were in cahoots, that would be another story. The pain the Innocent Cultivator endured in the Endless Sea partly came from Xu Hua, and the Jin family, being in the same faction as her, was complicit.

Since that’s the case, neither the Jin family nor Xu Hua, along with Xu Hua’s accomplices—Zhi Qing, Gou Chen, and Lie Quan—will be able to escape.

Ning Xu watched as the old ox began to lower its head and eat grass again, as if it had lost interest in the Jin family’s over four-thousand-year-old elder. She seized the opportunity to ask the Melon-Eating System, “Does the Jin family have any juicy gossip?”

The Melon-Eating System replied excitedly, 【What’s this? Host, are you going to deal with the Jin family?】

Ning Xu answered affirmatively.

This was the world from three thousand years ago. Everything she did might not change many of the outcomes, but even if it was just to vent her frustration, it was still good.

Moreover, she had a vague intuition.

Some things had an inevitable outcome, and she was powerless to change them, but some small details could still be altered.

If that were the case, then every action she took now would have meaning.

Hearing that the host was going to deal with the Jin family, the Melon-Eating System arrogantly laughed, 【Good! Host, let’s stir up some trouble!】

【Even if it leads to a big mess, the Sword Immortal will clean up the aftermath!】

【Even if he can’t clean it up, it’s fine. Once we get his sword bone, we can return to three thousand years later.】

【Let’s cause chaos! Let’s cause chaos! Let’s cause chaos!】

Sword Immortal: …

Old Ox: Hehe.

Ning Xu calmly spoke to the Melon-Eating System, “Since we’re going to stir up trouble, let’s go big.”

The Melon-Eating System could barely contain its excitement. It couldn’t wait to see itself and its host causing havoc in this era!

Here, there was no one they were afraid to provoke!

Since Ning Xu had already decided to take action, the most important thing now was to pick the most impactful gossip.

At this moment, the Sword Immortal asked indifferently, “What are you thinking about?”

Ning Xu replied, “I was thinking about Xu Hua and the Jin family’s old and young.”

The Sword Immortal continued to ask, “You seem to dislike them very much?”

Ning Xu openly admitted it.

“Why?”

This question didn’t require much thought from Ning Xu, and she answered directly.

“Because I have a grudge against them.”

At that moment, the Melon-Eating System’s scream rang out wildly.

If it weren’t for the Sword Immortal specially setting up a formation to ensure that only he and Mooo could hear Ning Xu and the Melon-Eating System’s thoughts, most of the cultivation world would probably have heard this scream.

The Melon-Eating System was so excited that it couldn’t form coherent sentences.

The grudge wasn’t between the host and Xu Hua, but rather with the Innocent Cultivator!

But Ning Xu said it like this!

What did this imply?

It meant she had brought the Innocent Cultivator into her circle! Although her host had made her stance clear a long time ago, this time’s stance was far more determined and firm than before.

This was pure sugar! Sugar without any bitterness!

It was a hit!

Ning Xu, “… Shut up.”

The Melon-Eating System’s scream abruptly stopped, 【Okay, Host.】

“How do you know about Xu Hua and Zhi Qing’s matters?”

Ning Xu replied, “If I told you that I’m a diviner and that I calculated all their matters, would you believe me?”

The Sword Immortal didn’t ask any further questions, nor did he show whether he believed her or not.

He casually tossed a jade token to her. After throwing the jade token, he left the front hall without saying a word.

He left, but Mooo didn’t leave.

However, Mooo returned to its previous unwilling silence, eating the highly spiritual top-tier herbs at its own pace.

Ning Xu looked at the jade token in her hand, contemplating the Sword Immortal’s intention behind giving it to her.

The Melon-Eating System didn’t know what was written inside the jade token.

Speaking of which, the main system it installed wasn’t always reliable—sometimes it didn’t work very well. But it wasn’t a big problem, as most of the time, the main system was trustworthy, and it could always access the big gossip. That’s why it didn’t pay much attention.

The Melon-Eating System began to urge her, 【Host, hurry up and see what’s written inside.】

After Ning Xu focused her spiritual sense on the jade token, her expression turned complex.

【What happened, Host?】

Ning Xu was silent for a moment before saying, “The jade token contains the weaknesses of Xu Hua and the others in terms of their martial arts and sword techniques.”

The Melon-Eating System, 【???】

【Huh?】

【Does the Sword Immortal really…】

It’s pushing the limits.

If the Sword Immortal remained as aloof and unlikable as he had been, then when the host took his sword bone, at least it would be easier for her to justify it.

After all, just thinking about the process of taking the sword bone already sounded painful.

But unexpectedly…

After the Sword Immortal learned that Ning Xu had a grudge against Xu Hua, he directly shared their weaknesses with her.

Had he foreseen that one day his host would need this?

Seeing Ning Xu’s mood drop, the Melon-Eating System comforted her, 【Host, the fall of the Sword Immortal is an inevitable outcome. We cannot change it.】

【But it’s fine, once an old dog is gone, a new Innocent Cultivator will come!】

【The Innocent Cultivator is purer, better-behaved, and more obedient!】

【So, it’s not a big deal.】

Mooo, who was eating grass with relish, couldn’t help but mutter, Not a big deal?

Not a big deal at all!

Its contracted master is going to kick the bucket, and even the natural sword bone can’t be kept. How is that not a big deal?

Though its master would reincarnate, there was still a difference between the reincarnation and the original soul.

Unless…

Thinking of this, the old ox lowered its massive head and continued slowly chewing the spiritual herbs.

After obtaining the jade token, Ning Xu had been thinking about the relationship between the Sword Immortal and Xu Hua’s group.

Since he could give her all this information, it meant his relationship with them wasn’t that deep.

If that were the case, then how could he have been hurt so badly by them?

The Melon-Eating System slowly spoke at this point, 【We can’t say it like that.】

【Whether the relationship is deep or shallow can only be judged through comparison.】

【If you hadn’t appeared, their relationship would have definitely been considered deep.】

【But you appeared!】

【So, the Sword Immortal’s relationship with you is bound to be deeper!】

Ning Xu: …

“I and the Sword Immortal have only exchanged a few words. We’ve only known each other for a few days.”

How could that compare to his centuries-long bond with Xu Hua and the others?

The Melon-Eating System immediately disagreed, 【The Innocent Cultivator can fall for you at first sight! Then his past life definitely can’t escape this fate! Whether it’s his past life or reincarnation, he’s destined to be completely controlled by you!】

The Melon-Eating System’s tone was firm and confident.

Ning Xu, “… Love at first sight?”

The Melon-Eating System countered, 【Was it not?】

“It probably wasn’t.”

Ning Xu couldn’t figure it out, so she decided not to dwell on it for now.

After all, the most important thing at the moment wasn’t to guess the Innocent Cultivator’s feelings for her, but to stir up some trouble!

The Melon-Eating System immediately pushed the Innocent Cultivator to the back of its mind.

Though the Innocent Cultivator was important, gossip was more important!
Ning Xu carefully thought for the entire afternoon.

By evening, several big pieces of gossip suddenly spread throughout most of the cultivation world!

And these juicy bits of gossip were all related to the Jin family!

The Jin family’s secrets, hidden for over a thousand years, were unexpectedly brought to light for everyone to see!