Chapter 124

As long as one was a cultivator, it was impossible not to know the preciousness of Primary Chaos Qi. This was the primordial energy present at the dawn of creation, the initial essence of all things in the world. Now, it had become so rare that it was almost nonexistent. And Primary Chaos Qi could eliminate a cultivator’s inner demons, ensuring a smooth path in cultivation—it was the most priceless treasure in existence.

Some low-level cultivators refused to believe it and kept questioning the cultivators around them.

“Is it really Primary Chaos Qi? Are you sure you didn’t see it wrong?”

The cultivator being questioned grew annoyed and responded coldly, “It was confirmed by several Mahayana Stage cultivators. Do you think they would be mistaken?”

Only then did the low-level cultivators fall silent.

But they still didn’t understand—why was that particular person the lucky one?

Even for ascended cultivators, Primary Chaos Qi was incredibly crucial and rare. Why had the former Tower Master been so generous as to give it away?

This question lingered in the minds of many cultivators, leaving them utterly perplexed.

One cultivator murmured, “To protect that person, she even conjured up a dense fog with her bare hands just to obscure our vision.”

At the former Tower Master’s cultivation level, moving mountains, filling seas, creating rain, and summoning mist were all things she could do effortlessly. If she wished to bring a heavy snowfall upon the cultivation world, she could easily make it happen.

After witnessing that golden beam of light, the City Lord and his aides remained silent.

There was no need for further speculation—some things had already been confirmed.

Regarding the former Tower Master of Mingyue Tower, the City Lord knew her well enough. She was not some kind of selflessly generous saint willing to give anything away. Unless… she had received something from that person beforehand.

That wisp of Primary Chaos Qi was not a gift but an equivalent exchange.

After a long silence, the City Lord gazed at the former Tower Master’s fading figure and said, “Sir, you were right.”

The aide bowed and responded, “The City Lord should forge closer ties with that person.”

—

As the dense fog gradually dissipated, the former Tower Master’s figure reappeared in everyone’s sight.

She followed the Ascension Path, moving farther and farther away from them.

Several days ago, she had already taken care of all her affairs and bid farewell to those close to her. Everything that needed to be done was done.

She looked at the gathered cultivators…

Among them were familiar faces and strangers, powerful figures and young cultivators who had just stepped into the cultivation world.

She laughed aloud and said, “Everyone, until we meet again! I’ll be waiting for you all in the Upper Realm!”

—

After the former Tower Master of Mingyue Tower ascended, the remaining cultivators gradually dispersed.

In addition to the dense fog, she had also cast an illusionary technique to obscure the person’s exact location. Even after the fog had cleared, no one had any clue as to who had obtained the Primary Chaos Qi.

Ning Xu and Si Zang also left.

Upon returning to Ming Palace Pavilion, Ning Xu turned to the Sword Immortal beside her and asked, “Do you not have any questions?”

Although others were unaware of where that wisp of Primary Chaos Qi had gone, Si Zang, who had been at Ning Xu’s side, knew.

Even Old Ox knew.

That most supreme and precious wisp of Primary Chaos Qi had flown straight into Ning Xu’s forehead before their very eyes.

Hearing her question, the Sword Immortal responded indifferently, “That is your fate.” Asking too much would be impolite.

Ning Xu looked at Si Zang before her.

He was different from Si Yan—his demeanor and appearance were not the same.

But they shared a similar quality—both were reserved, yet unwavering and reliable.

Thinking about how she might never see this version of Si Zang again, Ning Xu uncharacteristically said one more thing:

“I permit you to ask.”

The Sword Immortal glanced at her in mild surprise.

Old Ox shook its massive head.

Was this a rare moment of sentimentality before parting?

The Sword Immortal had no questions. Instead, a rare smile appeared on his usually cold and aloof face.

For some reason, that smile felt oddly familiar.

Separated by three thousand years of time, Ning Xu suddenly felt as if she was seeing Si Yan’s shadow through Si Zang.

What was he smiling about?

“Who are you seeing through me?”

Just as Ning Xu was lost in that familiar smile, a voice suddenly sounded in her ears.

The Melon-Eating System clicked its tongue.

【A true Dog Bastard’s soul-searching question!】

【”Who are you seeing through me?”】

【”Are you betraying me for another dog?”】

【”Am I just a substitute?”】

【Classic case of ‘I’m jealous of myself’!】

Ning Xu: “…”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she made a promise: “If one day I ascend, I will gift you a wisp of Primary Chaos Qi.” She considered it repayment for taking his sword bones.

Although that wisp of Primary Chaos Qi might not reach him, it would surely find its way to his next reincarnation.

Si Zang’s eyes curved slightly as he cupped his hands in thanks. “Then I shall thank you in advance, Daoist friend.”

After making a promise, Ning Xu returned to her temporary residence to prepare for cultivation.

At that moment, the Melon-Eating System suddenly let out a loud roar, 【Dog Bastard, if they don’t stir up trouble for a single day, do they start feeling restless? How shameless!】

Ning Xu: “……”

She asked, “What happened?”

【Xu Hua and Zhi Qing, those two mad dogs, have started biting people again!】

【They made a post in the Three Thousand Realms Cultivator Exchange Area, claiming that you are the one who obtained the Primary Chaos Qi.】

【They have no evidence at all, yet they directly put your name out there. It’s obvious they just want to drag you into this mess.】

Ning Xu asked, “How are others reacting? Do they believe it?”

【Some do.】

The Melon-Eating System clicked its tongue, gloating over the spectacle, 【Host, we might have to go on the run.】

Three thousand years later, after stirring up trouble all over the Flower Pavilion, they had never once fled. But now, after returning three thousand years into the past, they still couldn’t escape the fate of running away.

But it wasn’t a big problem.

Once they got through this period, they could return. And by then, wouldn’t they be standing tall again?

The Melon-Eating System laughed arrogantly, 【Provoking the Flower Pavilion and Gou Chen is no different from provoking a cotton ball.】

【But Xu Hua and Zhi Qing are a bit more capable.】

【To make their claim more credible, they even posted under their real names.】

【They’ve really thrown everything on the line just to drag you down with them.】

【But anyone who dares to mess with my Host will have to pay the price!】

Ning Xu was not short of spirit stones or magical artifacts at the moment.

Before ascending, the previous owner of Mingyue Tower had met with her one last time and handed over everything they had promised.

Aside from Mingyue Tower, all the valuable treasures that should have been inherited had now fallen into Ning Xu’s hands.

The Melon-Eating System, showing its true black-hearted nature, said, 【Host, the more we weaken their strength and abilities now, the higher our chances of victory three thousand years later.】

Right now, Xu Hua and Zhi Qing weren’t difficult to deal with.

They weren’t ancient old monsters yet. Whether in terms of cultivation or methods, they were still too green.

At first, Ning Xu and the Melon-Eating System hadn’t thought in this direction because they didn’t have the necessary resources.

But now, things were different.

Over this period, Ning Xu had essentially become rich overnight.

She could now do all the things she had wanted to do before but never had the means to.

Ning Xu pondered for a moment and said, “The previous Tower Master had a Ninth-Grade Formation Disk. I think it might come in handy.”

The moment Ning Xu mentioned it, the Melon-Eating System immediately reacted, 【The Reversal Formation Disk!】

“That’s right.”

Although this formation Disk was technically Ninth-Grade, its effectiveness surpassed that of ordinary Tenth-Grade formations.

A Ninth-Grade Formation Disk might not be able to deal with ancient beings who had become as cunning as foxes, but handling Xu Hua and Zhi Qing in their current state would be a piece of cake.

“From what we know, their betrayal of the Sword Immortal happened at the Endless Sea. We can set up the formation there in advance and lure them into the trap.”

The Melon-Eating System wildly praised her, 【Brilliant idea, Host!】
—

The cultivators of the cultivation world reacted quickly.

Whether or not Ning Xu had truly obtained the Primary Chaos Qi, they had all decided to investigate. If she had, then it would be a joyful discovery. If she hadn’t, they wouldn’t have lost anything by checking.

A cultivator sneered, saying, “A treasure like that falling into the hands of a low-level cultivator would be nothing but a waste.”

With such a short amount of time passing, it was unlikely that the person had already refined the Primary Chaos Qi.

They still had a chance.

When a group of people arrived at the gates of the Ming Palace Pavilion, its Pavilion Master wore an expression of complete numbness.

The scene before him was eerily familiar.

Not long ago, the Jin family had also arrived aggressively, demanding an explanation from Ning Xu.

Of course, in the end, the Jin family hadn’t gotten their explanation.

The Pavilion Master had thought that the trouble had passed, but he never expected that, before much time had even passed, yet another large group of powerful cultivators had arrived.

Although he felt internally exhausted and numb, he still maintained a warm smile on his face.

“I wonder what guidance you esteemed Daoists have for us?”

A nearly two-meter-tall cultivator with bulging muscles stepped forward from the crowd and said, “We heard that Ning Xu is at the Sword Immortal’s mountain. We’d like to see her.”

As expected, they were here for Ning Xu again.

The Pavilion Master of the Ming Palace Pavilion couldn’t even be bothered with small talk this time. He simply said, “Please, follow me.”

A grand procession made its way to Si Cang’s mountain, only to find—there was no one there.

“Where are they?”

“Where’s Ning Xu?”

“Where’s Si Cang? Why isn’t he here either?”

“Did they run away?”

The Pavilion Master of the Ming Palace Pavilion: ……

How was he supposed to answer that?

He had no idea either!
—

Fleeing madly toward the Endless Sea, Ning Xu was accompanied by Si Cang and the Old Yellow Ox.

At the time, she had only casually invited them, without any real expectations, but to her surprise, they both agreed to leave with her.

A trace of guilt rose in Ning Xu’s heart.

She asked the Melon-Eating System, “Did my presence accelerate that betrayal?”

The moment she had settled on Si Cang’s mountain, her actions had inevitably influenced him.

To vent for the Innocent Cultivator, she had actively provoked Xu Hua and the others, which ultimately brought trouble to the Old Dog.

No matter how she looked at it, Si Cang was the most innocent party in all of this.

Just because he was born with a sword bone, others coveted him.

Just because his reincarnation was Si Yan, he had been dragged into all this trouble because of her.

The Melon-Eating System was silent for a moment before comforting her, 【Host, don’t worry. That betrayal was always bound to happen, and the Sword Immortal’s fate wouldn’t have changed. Your presence didn’t alter any major events.】

Ning Xu clenched her right hand tightly.

The Melon-Eating System continued, 【Host, you’ve already given him the Reincarnation Pill and promised him a wisp of Primary Chaos Qi. You’ve given him everything you could. You’ve done more than enough. How should I put it… The Old Dog just isn’t as lucky as the Innocent Cultivator. There’s nothing that can be done about it—it’s just fate.】

For example, the one who had their sword bone taken was the Old Dog, but the one who would use the sword bone in the future was the Innocent Cultivator.

For example, the wisp of Primary Chaos Qi that the Host had promised the Old Dog would inevitably end up in the hands of the Innocent Cultivator.

For example, whenever the Innocent Cultivator was wronged, the Host would stand up for him—but the one who had to bear the consequences was the Old Dog.

How should it put it? The Old Dog seemed like some kind of tragic scapegoat, while all the benefits went to the Innocent Cultivator.

The web of cause and effect was too tangled for even the Melon-Eating System to unravel.

All it could do was sum it up with: The Old Dog just had terrible luck.

Even the Melon-Eating System couldn’t help but sigh, 【Old Dog, what a pitiful fate.】

The Sword Immortal: ……

The Old Yellow Ox: ……