Chapter 122

After obtaining the Rebirth Pills, Ning Xu was finally able to put down a major concern in her heart. Instead of returning to Ming Palace Pavilion, she decided to first check on Moon Laurel Tower.

On its grand opening day, the area in front of Moon Laurel Tower was bustling with carriages and crowds coming and going. The six lesser spiritual beasts she had contracted were all busy greeting guests. Seeing that Moon Laurel Tower was making a fortune and business was thriving, she leisurely made her way back to the mountain where the Sword Immortal resided, leading the old yellow ox with her.

As soon as they arrived, they saw the Sword Immortal waiting at the entrance.

Ning Xu didn’t ask why he was there. Instead, she directly tossed him a porcelain bottle without saying a word, intending to head straight back to her residence. Even after her time away, her room had been kept for her.

The Sword Immortal had already learned of the item’s existence from his life-bound spiritual beast, but he still asked, “Why are you giving me this?”

Ning Xu paused slightly in her steps. “I told you before that I practice divination. I did a reading for you and felt that you would need it.”

The Sword Immortal gripped the porcelain bottle a little tighter. “This is a precious item, but I have no suitable gift to return.”

Ning Xu replied calmly, “Your safe reincarnation is the best return gift.”

Sword Immortal: …

【Melon-Eating System: OMG! Sugar! Sweet, sweet sugar!】

The old yellow ox chewed its spiritual grass slowly.

Was this really sugar? Maybe for the little pup, but for an old dog, this was definitely a knife to the heart.

—

Ning Xu didn’t concern herself with the Sword Immortal’s thoughts any further. After returning to her room, she listened to the Melon-Eating System’s latest report on Moon Laurel Tower.

【Before, just having one Fox Shine at Bright Moon( Mingyue) Tower was enough to make enormous profits.】

【Now, Moon Laurel Tower has six male fox spirits! Six!】

【Both male and female cultivators have gone absolutely crazy, rushing into Moon Laurel Tower!】

【Host, I finally understand why that male fox spirit you encountered when you first transmigrated to the cultivation world had such bad body odor.】

It took Ning Xu a moment to realize which fox spirit the system was talking about.

It was referring to the male fox spirit who had seduced the original host’s former fiancé.

【Host, you basically took away all the pureblood male fox spirits. Without them, all the foxes born afterward were mixed blood. Because their bloodline isn’t pure, no matter how high their cultivation is, they all have that lingering fox musk.】

【No wonder they smell so bad!】

Ning Xu: …

So, this was her fault now?

【Of course not, Host!】 The Melon-Eating System quickly corrected itself. 【If anyone’s to blame, it’s the pureblood male fox spirits! If they hadn’t clung to your thigh, the later generations wouldn’t have all turned out to be mixed breeds.】

After finishing the topic of the fox spirits, the system added, 【Host, some old customers are still asking about the previous tower master. They want to know what she’s up to and why she suddenly transferred ownership of Bright Moon( Mingyue) Tower.】

Thinking of the previous tower master, Ning Xu’s gaze deepened. “They’ll find out soon enough.”

—

A few days later, while Ning Xu was still meditating, the entire mountain suddenly shook. She immediately opened her eyes and asked, “An earthquake?”

【No.】

“Then why is the ground shaking so much?”

As she spoke, the tremors grew more intense. The furnishings in her room couldn’t stay in place and tumbled to the ground.

Ning Xu quickly left her room and moved to an open area. Soon after, the Sword Immortal and the old yellow ox also arrived.

The moment the Sword Immortal arrived, he spoke. “Someone is undergoing Ascension Tribulation Lightning.”

Ning Xu had already learned this from the Melon-Eating System, so she wasn’t surprised.

The Sword Immortal, having learned about Ning Xu’s transaction with the previous tower master from the old yellow ox, understood exactly who was facing the tribulation.

However, the rest of the cultivation world had no idea.

The moment the tremors began, someone posted on the Three Thousand Cultivators Exchange Area.

【Did we just have an earthquake? What’s going on?】

【I thought I was imagining things at first, but it’s real!】

【What kind of earthquake has such a massive range? I’m in the south, my brother is in the north, and we both felt it.】

【Earthquake my ass! A cultivator is undergoing heavenly tribulation near Sky City! Since Sky City is in the central region, almost the entire cultivation world felt it!】

【Heavenly tribulation? Holy crap! Someone is facing Ascension Lightning? Who is it?】

【I just so happen to be near Sky City. If my guess is correct, the one undergoing Ascension Lightning is the master of Bright Moon( Mingyue) Tower.】

【??? So she suddenly handed over Bright Moon( Mingyue) Tower because she was preparing to ascend?】

【So, here’s the question: Why didn’t she undergo her tribulation before? Why is she choosing to face it now? And why did she hand over Mingyue Tower to the divine being?】

【Why do I feel like the former Tower Master being able to face her ascension tribulation has something to do with the divine being?】

【Brothers, I rushed to Sky City on purpose. Can anyone tell me why this ascension tribulation is so massive? The entire area around Sky City is surrounded by lightning! It’s absolutely breathtaking!】

【If you miss witnessing this, you’ll regret it for life! I’ve lived for over a hundred years, and this is my first time seeing an ascension tribulation! This is a spectacle worthy of being recorded in history!】

【I thought some of the older seniors were already incredible, but it turns out the truly powerful ones are the most low-key—silently stepping forward to face the ascension tribulation without a word.】

【I just happened to be near Sky City and rushed over the moment I sensed the tribulation! The cultivator undergoing tribulation is completely unfamiliar—I’ve never seen them before!】

【If the person facing the tribulation is really the Mingyue Tower Master, then it makes sense she looks unfamiliar. She hasn’t appeared in public for hundreds of years and has been in seclusion all this time.】

【Divine being, tell me, does this person’s tribulation have anything to do with you?】

The entire Three Thousand Realms Cultivator Exchange Area was in complete chaos.

The old folks who had come out of seclusion for the Mountains and Rivers Painting were utterly stunned.

What? Someone actually reached the ascension tribulation before them?

They didn’t have time to think too much and immediately rushed to the scene.

Even just observing someone undergo an ascension tribulation could bring them immeasurable benefits.

Xu Hua and the others also heard the news.

She and Zhiqing had been entangled in endless troubles lately. To get out of their predicament, they had no choice but to hand over a fragment of the divine artifact.

Even though they knew full well that having the fragment didn’t necessarily mean they could complete the artifact, being forced to give it up still left a bitter taste in their mouths.

Upon learning that someone was facing the ascension tribulation, they immediately set off to witness it.

Sky City was already the most bustling and lively city. Now, with this event, it was on the verge of being overwhelmed by the flood of cultivators.

Even the City Lord had to personally step out to maintain order.

Once the situation in Sky City stabilized a little, the City Lord sighed and turned to his advisor. “She’s finally facing the ascension tribulation. Tell me, is she merely forced to confront it, or has she found a way to break through?”

Mingyue Tower was located in Sky City.

To live peacefully in Sky City for so many years, one had to interact with the City Lord’s manor.

After years of acquaintance, the Tower Master and the City Lord had become friends—not the closest of friends, but close enough to speak honestly with each other.

So, the City Lord was well aware of the Tower Master’s situation.

Hearing his question, the advisor stroked his beard and smiled. “City Lord, what kind of person do you think the Tower Master is?”

“Her?”

The City Lord recalled carefully.

In his memory, the Master of Mingyue Tower was an extremely cautious cultivator—always steady and never reckless in pursuit of quick gains.

He remembered once asking her what she would do if she never found a way to break through.

At the time, the Tower Master had simply smiled and said that if that were the case, then it was simply her fate. But she believed her fate wouldn’t end that way.

The advisor continued, “City Lord, we previously estimated that she could hold on for a few more decades. Yet now, before that time has even arrived, she’s already facing the ascension tribulation. That means… she’s confident.”

The City Lord gazed up at the sky, at the dazzling lightning and the overwhelming power of the tribulation, and sighed. “How enviable.”

How many cultivators spent their entire lives without ever reaching the ascension tribulation?

Just being able to face it meant she had already surpassed the vast majority of cultivators.

After a moment of thought, the advisor suggested, “City Lord, if you have the time, why not meet with the new Tower Master of Laurel Tower?”

The City Lord, clearly a frequent visitor to the Three Thousand Realms Cultivator Exchange Area, joked, “What? You also think her ability to break through this deadlock has something to do with the new Tower Master?”

The advisor smiled without answering directly. “It’s just a meeting—it won’t hurt. What do you think, City Lord?”

Hearing this, the City Lord fell into deep thought.

For the advisor to say this meant he was extremely interested in the new Laurel Tower Master.

There weren’t many people who could pique his advisor’s interest, but each one was extraordinary.

After a moment, he nodded. “Understood. I’ll arrange a meeting with her soon.”
—

Meanwhile, the Mingyue Tower Master stood with unwavering confidence, facing the boundless purple lightning head-on.

The trace of Dao intent that Ning Xu had given her was immensely helpful, allowing her to glimpse a sliver of hope amidst a seemingly dead-end situation.

Seizing the moment, she decisively embraced that fleeting opportunity, fully unleashing her aura and summoning a tribulation of unparalleled magnitude.

If she succeeded, she would ascend. If she failed, she would have no regrets in this life!

At this moment, the eyes of the entire cultivation world were fixed on her.

She was aware of this, but she didn’t care.

The only thing that mattered to her was overcoming the eighty-one lightning strikes. She had no energy to spare for anything else.

At that moment, Ning Xu and the Sword Immortal arrived at the scene.

The location of the tribulation had been carefully chosen by the Tower Master.

Though near Sky City, it was still a fair distance away, surrounded by desolate mountains and rugged terrain, with little to no inhabitants—ensuring that no innocent lives would be affected.

By the time they arrived, the area was already packed with cultivators.

Surprisingly, everyone was maintaining a rare harmony. There was no scheming, no plotting—no one even spoke.

They all stared unblinkingly at the figure enduring the tribulation, as if wanting to etch this moment into their memories forever.

Ning Xu asked the Melon-Eating System, “Do you think she’ll succeed?”

The Melon-Eating System didn’t answer directly but instead said:

【She is the most determined and resolute cultivator I’ve ever encountered.】

【Even compared to the Sword Immortal, she seems more steadfast.】

Then, as if shifting gears, it continued:

【Of course, she’s already an old fossil, while the Sword Immortal is barely over a hundred years old. It’s only natural that he can’t compare. Some things can only be refined over time.】

Though the Melon-Eating System hadn’t given a direct answer, its response had already indirectly addressed her question.

And then, as if on cue, it changed direction again:

【But of course, for a Daughter of Destiny, even if some things haven’t been refined over time, it doesn’t really matter.】

Old Yellow Ox: …

The double standard in play here—you’ve got it down to an art. As expected of you, Melon-Eating System.