Chapter 113

After causing some trouble for Zhiqing and Xuhua, Ning Xu planned to head out to find the spirit of the Mountains and Rivers Diagram.

Before leaving, she had to inform the Sword Immortal.

The Sword Immortal didn’t show much reaction to her departure, but the old yellow ox stuck to her persistently.

【Melon-Eating System】: 【What does this ox want?】

Ning Xu tentatively asked the old yellow ox, “Do you want to come with me?”

For the first time in days, she heard the ox speak in human tongue again. “Yes.” It was still that lazy, youthful voice.

Ning Xu politely declined. “That might not be convenient.”

The old yellow ox looked at her with its large, wise eyes, its tail swaying leisurely behind it. “I won’t hold you back.”

At this moment, the Sword Immortal spoke as well. “When you need it, Moo Moo may be able to lend you a hand.”

After all, the old yellow ox was the Sword Immortal’s natal spirit beast. It looked simple and honest, but its true combat ability couldn’t possibly be weak.

This time, Ning Xu didn’t refuse.

She wouldn’t stay in this era for long, so even if some secrets were discovered, it didn’t matter.

For example… the fact that she was about to obtain the Mountains and Rivers Diagram.

The moment Ning Xu agreed, a storage bag was tossed toward her. She instinctively caught it.

The Sword Immortal’s voice was calm. “Your payment for taking Moo Moo out.”

Ning Xu: “…”

She scanned the bag with her divine sense and found that besides spirit stones and some essential pills, there was also a flying immortal artifact.

【Melon-Eating System】: Tsk tsk. 【That old dog is really rich.】

【Just this one flying immortal artifact is worth eight figures in top-grade spirit stones.】

【Although young pups are great… there are times when old dogs have their charm too.】

【Sometimes, the old dog is quite fragrant.】

Si Zang: …

Ning Xu: …

After thanking the Sword Immortal, she took the storage bag and left with big strides. Seeing this, the old yellow ox followed at a leisurely pace.

—

A flying immortal artifact worth eight figures not only had top-tier defensive capabilities but could also freely change its form.

Since Ning Xu was not one for ostentation and was specifically heading out to find an artifact spirit, she didn’t want to attract too much attention. So, she changed the flying artifact’s appearance to the most ordinary ship form.

According to the Melon-Eating System, the artifact spirit was currently enjoying a leisurely life in the Glacier Mountains, west of the Ming Palace Pavilion. So, that was her destination.

The journey was long. After boarding the flying artifact, Ning Xu first used her divine sense to check into The Three Thousand Realms Cultivator Exchange Area for a quick look.

She originally just wanted to see if there was any fresh gossip in the cultivation world, but as soon as she entered, she saw a new post pinned on the homepage.

《Let’s Dig Into a Certain Male Cultivator with Treasure-Seeking Rat Bloodline—Post Creator, Please Click In》

Hmm? Were they looking for her?

Without hesitation, Ning Xu clicked into the thread.

After reading the contents, she fell silent.

The post only contained a few simple lines—

【Do you have any melons on Elder Bei? I’m really curious about his rise to power. If you know anything, can you tell me? Please! If necessary, I’m willing to pay for the information!】

Ning Xu had thought it was something important, but it turned out to be someone actively seeking out melons?

But… Elder Bei?

She vaguely remembered this name. Elder Bei seemed to have left a comment on one of her posts before? Something about asking for the names of those high-quality spirit herbs that Chang Zhiqing possessed?

【Melon-Eating System】: 【Elder Bei is an alchemist, a figure of legendary status in the alchemy world.】

Ning Xu had no interest in entertaining such people.

Although she spread melons, she had her own principles. She didn’t spill just any gossip. For children or people with whom she had no personal grievance, she wouldn’t expose anything.

Just as she was about to exit the thread, the Melon-Eating System whispered a few words to her.

After hearing those words, she immediately changed her mind.

—

Below the post asking for Elder Bei’s gossip, quite a few cultivators had left comments.

【? Why do you want this kind of gossip?】

【I have a feeling you don’t have good intentions toward Elder Bei.】

【I wonder if that mysterious expert will even bother with this post.】

【Personally, I really respect Elder Bei, so I don’t actually want to hear any dirt on him.】

【I also… Old Bei, please don’t have any scandals!】

【Old Bei is an upright person. I don’t think he would have any major gossip.】

【Cases like the Jin family’s, where they kill and steal treasures, are rare, right? I feel like most powerful figures are still quite righteous.】

Just as the cultivators were discussing fervently, a new comment suddenly appeared on the post.

And this new comment came from the same person who had recently made waves with several hot posts.

【Old Bei is a senior worthy of respect. There’s nothing much to say about his rise to prominence. In short, he was a somewhat talented cultivator who, through his own efforts and a bit of luck, successfully became a giant in the alchemy world. His story is inspirational, and he is kind and just. However…

Old Bei, you should be more careful of the person by your side.】

As soon as this comment was posted, the thread completely blew up.

【The legendary insider has spoken! Old Bei has no scandals—this is great!】

【But the insider is telling Old Bei to be cautious of the person beside him? Could it be that there’s something wrong with his Dao companion?】

【Hey, insider, can you be clearer about what you mean?】

【I’m Old Bei’s disciple. Are you deliberately slandering my Mistress?】

【Old Bei’s seventh disciple here. You may not know Mistress well, but we in the sect see her actions clearly.

Mistress is gentle, hardworking, and virtuous. She has been with Master for over four hundred years. In these four centuries, she has diligently cared for Master’s daily life and has shown us disciples great kindness.

She is filial to her elders and affectionate toward the younger generation.

I don’t know why you’re saying this, but I want to make it clear that we are all aware of Mistress’s years of dedication.

If you’re trying to drive a wedge between Master and Mistress, then I can only say—you’ve made the wrong move!】

After Old Bei’s personal disciple stepped forward to vouch for their Mistress, some cultivators who enjoyed stirring up trouble called out to Old Bei himself.

【What you disciples say about your Mistress doesn’t count. Only Old Bei’s words matter. Old Bei, are you here?】

【Yeah, Old Bei’s opinion is what matters. Old Bei, the insider is telling you to be careful of the person beside you—what do you think about that?】

【Old Bei, your two disciples are about to argue with the insider. Say something!】

【Old Bei, calling Old Bei!】

A quarter of an hour passed, and finally, the much-anticipated Old Bei personally responded.

【Young friend, I have been with my wife for a very long time. While I wouldn’t say I know her through and through, I do believe I understand her character. Why do you ask me to be more mindful of her?】

Compared to his disciples’ aggressive tone, Old Bei himself was much more composed. The insider had told him to “be careful of the person beside him,” but when Old Bei repeated it, he softened the wording to “pay more attention to her.” Clearly, he was leaving room for both parties.

The insider replied, 【Can I say it here?】

Old Bei responded directly, 【Go ahead. Speak freely.】

The insider sighed slightly.

Old Bei was indeed a senior worthy of respect. He did not possess the arrogance that some powerful cultivators had. Instead, he was humble and courteous.

After some thought, the insider decided to speak plainly.

【Old Bei, I fear you do not know that your wife and your younger brother were each other’s first loves.

Your family has always adhered to the tradition of the eldest son inheriting the family estate.

And you, as the legitimate eldest son, were undoubtedly the future head of the family.

Between you and your younger brother, your wife ultimately chose you.

She bore you two sons and a daughter.

Among them, you value your eldest son the most because he has the highest talent and the most steady personality. You believe he resembles you in your youth.

As for the other son and daughter, you favor your youngest daughter the most because she is the family’s youngest, sweet-tongued, and resembles your wife. Out of love for your wife, you naturally dote on her as well.

Of your three children, the one you pay the least attention to is your second son.

As the middle child, he is honest but inarticulate, works hard but speaks little, and rarely fights for himself. His alchemy talent is average, and his looks are unremarkable. You have low expectations for him and do not pay much attention to him.

However, what is truly regrettable is this—of your three children, only your second son is actually your biological child.

Neither your treasured eldest son nor your beloved youngest daughter carries your bloodline—they are your younger brother’s.

Even more regrettably, they both have suspicions about their true parentage.

Old Bei, though your second son’s talent in alchemy is mediocre, he is upright and reliable. He may achieve something in the way of the Sword. Among your friends, a certain Daoist Liu possesses a Sword called “Breaking Seas,” which would suit your son well.

That Daoist Liu is a sound cultivator and has no use for a Sword. You should find a way to obtain it for your second son.

As for skilled Sword cultivators, there is one named Lan Mai, a formidable expert with a rough personality. He is straightforward, never holds back when teaching, and would make an excellent strict master for your son.】

After the insider left this comment, the cultivators reading the post fell into silence.

Old Bei’s disciples, in particular, were utterly stunned.

The eldest son and the youngest daughter… were not actually their Master’s children?

And the often-overlooked second son was the only one who was truly his?

And the eldest and youngest… both knew about this?

They had been hiding it from their Master together?

Mistress…

How could she do such a thing? How did she and the Second Master dare?

Was Mistress’s usual gentleness and kindness all just an act?

How could this be…

Had everything they witnessed all these years been false?

While Old Bei and his disciples rushed to verify the truth, the forum’s cultivators erupted in heated discussion.

【Did you all notice? The insider seems to admire Old Bei’s second son.】

【Envy. The insider not only found him a good teacher but also a fitting Sword—what an incredibly selfless and kind-hearted person!】

【Insider, insider! I’m a formation cultivator, but I have little talent in formations. Can you tell me where I might succeed?】

【Insider, why are you being so kind to him?】

The insider ignored all previous comments—except for this one.

They replied, 【Because he is upright, kind, and has his own principles. His life should not be wasted.】

—

The moment this comment was posted, the Melon-Eating System’s voice rang out in Ning Xu’s mind.

【Host, you successfully changed a cultivator’s life! You’re amazing!】

To Ning Xu, this was nothing more than a small effort. But to someone else, it was a genuine favor that had altered their fate.

Ning Xu smiled faintly.

The Melon-Eating System was silent for a moment before saying, 【Host, I have to praise you. Your cultivation speed is already very, very fast.】

Ning Xu hummed in acknowledgment, waiting for it to continue.

The Melon-Eating System sighed. 【But… it’s still not fast enough.】

【Cultivators below the Nascent Soul Stage can only use one percent of the Mountain and River Diagram’s power. Only at the Nascent Soul Stage do you truly qualify to possess it.】

Ning Xu asked, “Do you have a way to accelerate my cultivation?”

The Melon-Eating System responded immediately, 【Yes.】

Then, it explained in detail.

Hearing this, Ning Xu frowned slightly.

That being… not only made promises of ascension but also set up such an extensive scheme. What exactly were they planning? What was their true goal?

Whatever it was, it would not be small.

The Melon-Eating System continued, 【Just now, when you changed Old Bei’s second son’s fate, I noticed you gained a small amount of merit.】

【This is a reward from this world’s Heavenly Dao.】

【Of course, it’s not much, and its usefulness is limited.】

【But… what if you accumulated a lot of merit?】

Ning Xu quickly understood its implication.

“You want me to gather merit.”

【Exactly.】

【And there’s plenty of merit to be earned here.】

Ning Xu considered briefly before asking, “You mean, earn merit from those cultivators carrying out that being’s tasks?”

The Melon-Eating System chuckled. 【As expected of my host—so smart.】

Ning Xu didn’t hesitate in her response. “I can do that.”

Those cultivators weren’t doing good deeds.

Since that was the case, she would just have to clean them up—one by one!

Sensing her burning battle spirit, the Melon-Eating System cheered loudly.

【Host, kill!】

The old ox: …

Weren’t they supposed to be searching for the Mountain and River Diagram’s artifact spirit?

How did this turn into a mission to hunt down cultivators?

Oh well, whatever.

As long as there was drama to watch, it wasn’t a loss!