Chapter 135

If there was one thing that mattered most to Xu Hua, it was ascension.

Everything she had done so far was for that sole purpose.

But Ning Xu’s words were practically saying, “Forget it, you’ll never ascend.”

She was practically asking for trouble.

She didn’t believe Xu Hua could endure this without reacting.

Yet, as it turned out, Xu Hua really could. Even after this, she didn’t make a move herself—perhaps she was still trying to maintain her aloof image.

The Melon-Eating System clicked its tongue.

【Didn’t expect Xu Hua to be such a coward—still not stepping in? Trash!】

After throwing in that sharp remark, the Melon-Eating System continued,

【Host, it looks like they’re fully focused on the sacrifice right now and don’t have time for anything else.】

Ning Xu was a little disappointed. “I thought Zhi Qing would step in for her, just like last time.”

The Melon-Eating System gave the same response as before,

【Things are different now.】

【Back then, you had just obtained the Primary Chaos Qi and hadn’t fully refined it yet, so they still had a chance to take some of it.】

【But now, it’s completely yours.】

【Even if Zhi Qing reveals that you possess the Primary Chaos Qi, no great power will come for it anymore—because it’s useless to them.】

【Those great figures might even want to befriend you now. Who knows? Maybe when you ascend, you could grant them a great opportunity.】

Back then, when Ning Xu first obtained the Primary Chaos Qi, it attracted a lot of greed.

But now, if cultivators found out about it, they might still be envious, but any powerful cultivator thinking of attacking her would have to reconsider.

Not only would they fail to obtain the Primary Chaos Qi, but they might also incur karmic consequences—making it a losing deal. Any rational great power wouldn’t take that risk.

The same situation, placed in a different context, had led to a completely different outcome.

This was the biggest reason why Zhi Qing hadn’t exposed her secret.

Since Xu Hua still hadn’t confronted her, Ning Xu didn’t dwell on it.

Instead, she asked the Melon-Eating System, “Lu Kou mentioned before that if needed, I should look after the Lu family. Do they have anything going on right now?”

The Melon-Eating System replied,

【Nothing major.】

“What about minor things?”

【Well… the once-glorious Lu family has completely declined. Now, they’re just an insignificant small clan.】

【Wait, hold on.】

Ning Xu asked, “What is it?”

【A descendant of the Lu family was lost at a young age and grew up elsewhere. And it just so happens that he’s one of the geniuses Xu Hua has targeted this time.】

【Even more coincidentally—he’s the Sect Leader’s biological son!】

The Sect Leader’s biological son?

Ning Xu’s memory flashed back to her first day in the cultivation world. She recalled that the first big piece of gossip she had heard was about the Sect Leader.

That was when she had learned that the Sect Leader had raised a son for 800 years—only to discover that the child was actually his mortal enemy’s son.

And the fake son obviously knew this, using the Sect Leader as an unwitting fool all along.

Since the one by the Sect Leader’s side wasn’t actually his child, then where had his real son gone?

Now, she had the answer.

After thinking for a moment, Ning Xu decided to inform Elder Wu and have him pass along the message.

She sighed, “This world is really small.”

The Melon-Eating System agreed,

【It really is. Who would’ve thought the Sect Leader actually had a history with Lu Kou’s descendant?】

Ning Xu: …

Three days passed, and one-third of the altar had been destroyed. The remaining two-thirds would take about a week.

On the third day, Xu Hua finally noticed something was wrong with the altar. She and Zhi Qing, along with the others, sensed the change and didn’t hesitate—they immediately rushed over.

The Melon-Eating System reported,

【Host, Xu Hua and her people are coming.】

Ning Xu lifted her gaze toward the sky.

They were coming?

As expected.

In truth, part of her provocations had been meant to lure Xu Hua into a direct confrontation.

But Xu Hua was too cautious—she had refused to take action until now.

Still, she had finally come.

As Ning Xu had said before, their last battle had been far too embarrassing. But this time, they were on home ground.

It was time to make full use of their advantage.

With that thought, Ning Xu leisurely posted a new thread on the Three Thousand Realms Cultivator Exchange Area.

【I am Ning Xu from Ming Palace Pavilion. If you know me, contact me as soon as possible. Thanks.】

Of course, Ning Xu wasn’t actually from Ming Palace Pavilion, but she had stayed there for three months.

Explaining everything in detail would be too troublesome. The right people would immediately understand what she meant when they saw the post.

That’s right—she was calling for reinforcements.

As soon as the post went up, cultivators casually browsing the forum were left utterly baffled.

They flooded the thread with comments.

【? What Ming Palace Pavilion? That place doesn’t exist anymore.】

【I always thought Melon Mover came from a major sect, but turns out they’re from some small sect?】

【Never heard of this sect before. Melon Mover, you’re actually from this sect? Is it newly established?】

【Most of the historical records in the cultivation world have been destroyed. Some cultivators might really not know about the Ming Palace Pavilion. Luckily, my family has a deep foundation, and among our collected books, there happens to be a record of it. Ming Palace Pavilion was the number one sect several thousand years ago, reigning at the top for four thousand years straight. You could say that three thousand years ago, it was an undisputed giant. The Sword Immortal Si Zang you’re familiar with came from this sect.】

【???】

【Ming Palace Pavilion was that powerful?】

【Wait a minute, is Melon Mover saying… she’s lived for three thousand years?】

【That doesn’t make sense. When she first joined the forum, she was only at the Qi Refining Stage. There’s no way she could have lived that long.】

【Then what’s going on? Could it be that she holds the blueprint for reviving Ming Palace Pavilion?】

【Hiss… That’s not impossible. After all, such a powerful sect vanishing from the cultivation world is indeed a great pity. If Melon Mover was a disciple of some elder from Ming Palace Pavilion, or if she has some other reason to revive it, this explanation makes complete sense.】

Ning Xu: …

One could only say that cultivators have extremely rich imaginations.

This post was actually meant for only a specific few cultivators.

But since she had no other way to contact them at the moment, this was the best she could do.

Not long after she posted, Si Yan spoke calmly, “Someone’s coming.”

In just an instant, three cultivators appeared near Ming Palace Cliff.

Upon seeing them, the Melon-Eating System let out an “Oh-ho.”

【Compared to last time we saw them, they’ve really aged a lot.】

【No matter how they try to conceal it, they can’t hide the stench of old age on them.】

【Damn, they stink!】

Ning Xu: …

She had to admit, sometimes the Melon-Eating System’s choice of words was way too precise and sharp.

Si Yan, standing beside her, raised an eyebrow slightly, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.

Wasn’t it just the stench of old age?

Xu Hua still seemed as gentle as ever, but her gaze was different from before.

If, in the past, her eyes held a young cultivator’s hope and longing for the future, then now, her gaze was as deep as an ancient well—unfathomable.

Such depth carried an overwhelming sense of experience and the weight of time.

Even though her skin was still fair and smooth, aside from her appearance, there was no trace of the old familiarity left in her.

All the liveliness, the youthful spirit—it was all buried beneath the merciless years.

The person standing before them now was a cultivator at the pinnacle of the cultivation world—proud, condescending, with eyes full of disregard for the lives of lower-level cultivators.

It was precisely because she looked down on such existences that she had no hesitation in sacrificing the entire cultivation world just to ascend.

Seeing Ning Xu and Si Yan again, Xu Hua’s expression remained calm, as if she had long foreseen this moment. Meanwhile, Zhi Qing stood silently behind her, like a shadow, maintaining a protective stance.

When he saw Ning Xu again, his eyes were still as vicious as ever. He sneered, “You were only at the Nascent Soul Stage, yet you jumped into the Endless Sea and still didn’t die. You really have a tough life.”

Ning Xu smiled faintly. “Indeed, quite tough. Even I think so.”

Zhi Qing’s tone turned even colder. “I wonder how long your luck will last.”

Ning Xu threw the question back at him. “Take a guess?”

The Melon-Eating System cursed, 【This Dog Bastard is at it again, scheming as always. Guess he still hasn’t learned his lesson!】

【But, Host, your sarcastic tone was on point this time. Look at Zhi Qing’s face—he’s so pissed he’s turning white! Hahaha!】

Xu Hua and Zhi Qing’s reactions were too subdued, but Gou Chen’s eyes flashed with clear surprise. “Si Zang? You…”

Si Yan spoke unhurriedly, “I’m not called Si Zang anymore.”

“I am Si Yan.”

Gou Chen: …

Xu Hua didn’t descend to the base of Ming Palace Cliff. She maintained her lofty stance, looking down on Ning Xu and Si Yan from above.

She spoke with a regretful tone, “Why are you two so persistent?”

“If you weren’t interfering with our plans, perhaps you could have lived a little longer.”

Ning Xu said lazily, “So you mean we should just sit still and wait to be sacrificed?”

Even the usually composed Xu Hua was slightly taken aback at those words. “Sacrificed? What do you mean?”

Zhi Qing and Gou Chen also looked surprised.

Ning Xu spoke slowly, “Aren’t you planning to use the entire cultivation world as your stepping stone? To achieve your goal, aren’t you going to destroy the entire cultivation world?”

This time, Xu Hua was genuinely surprised.

A sharp killing intent flashed in her eyes.

“So you even know about this.”

She didn’t immediately make a move, though. After all, given the difference in their cultivation levels, there was no urgency.

There were still many things she wanted to ask Ning Xu.

So, she slowly asked, “I’ve always been curious—how exactly do you know all these things? This cultivation world seems to hold no secrets from you.”

Ning Xu replied calmly, “That’s something I can’t tell you.”

Xu Hua clearly understood that she wouldn’t get an answer, but she continued, “Besides this, I’m even more curious about your experiences.”

“I see that your bone age is no more than 24, yet our first meeting was three thousand years ago.”

“I am certain that the person I met three thousand years ago was indeed you—not a past incarnation of you, nor anyone else.”

“So, how exactly did you return to the past?”

“Was it an artifact? Or some special method?”

Xu Hua looked into Ning Xu’s eyes, filled with intrigue, curiosity, and… greed.