Chapter 103

It seemed as if in an instant, the air pressure around Sword Immortal dropped, and anyone with eyes could tell that he was in a bad mood.

Ning Xu was stunned for a moment, then asked the Melon-Eating System, “What happened to him?”

The Melon-Eating System responded lazily, 【Who knows? He’s an old dog, his mood swings are normal at his age. He’s not as emotionally stable as Innocent Cultivator.】

The moment the Melon-Eating System finished speaking, the air pressure around the Sword Immortal dropped even further.

For the first time, Ning Xu felt what it was like to be “accompanied by a tiger.” Though Sword Immortal wasn’t a king, he was the top combatant in the cultivation world, undoubtedly the number one in the realm. With just a wave of his hand, he could turn the vast sea into dry land.

Compared to Innocent Cultivator, Sword Immortal had many traits of a powerful figure. The most obvious was his carefree attitude, an aloofness as if nothing in the world mattered to him.

When she spent every day with Innocent Cultivator, Ning Xu hadn’t noticed it. But after being apart for a few days, she unexpectedly felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

Ning Xu sighed, “It’s been so long since I had the sweets Siyan made with his own hands.”

The Melon-Eating System chuckled, 【You miss them, don’t you, Host?】

Ning Xu admitted it freely. After parting ways, she realized how long Siyan had quietly accompanied her. During every previous trial, whenever she stopped to rest, Siyan would silently hand her hot water and snacks.

But after their separation, she no longer had those fresh and delicious treats.

Upon hearing this, the Melon-Eating System laughed even more smugly.

【Hehehe, this world cannot do without Innocent Cultivator!】

As the two of them chatted, Sword Immortal remained silent and left on his flying sword, accompanied by the old ox that looked both clumsy and cute.

Seeing Sword Immortal leave without saying a word, Ning Xu turned to the two Ming Palace Pavilion disciples standing by and asked, “What happened to Sword Immortal?”

The two disciples smiled bitterly.

What could have happened? Sword Immortal was driven away by you, of course.

Sword Immortal was fine, but all of you were thinking and referring to his reincarnation as Innocent Cultivator. When it came to Sword Immortal, you called him an old dog.

Anyone would have a bad temper under these circumstances.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t say this aloud.

They couldn’t even say they could hear her telepathic communication with that unknown entity.

There seemed to be some restriction in this world, preventing them from revealing the truth.
—

After consolidating her cultivation in the Endless Sea, Ning Xu, at the enthusiastic invitation of the Ming Palace Pavilion disciples, went with them to the Ming Palace Pavilion.

As one of the largest sects of the current era, Ming Palace Pavilion was naturally grand and magnificent, surrounded by clouds and mist, which gave it a somewhat ethereal aura. Unfortunately, such a scene would never be seen again after several thousand years.

The Melon-Eating System sighed in a nostalgic electronic voice, 【What goes up must come down, what thrives must eventually decline. Nothing is eternal.】

【Except for Innocent Cultivator’s love for you!】

【Innocent Cultivator’s love is forever passionate! Forever sincere!】

Ning Xu: “…”

The Melon-Eating System never forgets to gossip.

Ning Xu was taken to the mountain where Sword Immortal was, and after the Ming Palace Pavilion disciples left, Sword Immortal suddenly appeared, having been absent for several days.

“Moo Moo really likes you. You can take care of it here.”

Moo Moo?

Ning Xu was taken aback, realizing that Sword Immortal was referring to the old ox.

The old ox liked her?

However, she had come for Sword Immortal’s sword bones, and since she now had the chance to stay, she naturally wouldn’t refuse.

The days at Ming Palace Pavilion were uneventful.

Disciples of large sects were very diligent, starting their cultivation early every morning. For Ning Xu, her mornings began with feeding Moo Moo.

After a few days of interaction, Ning Xu had completely familiarized herself with Moo Moo.

One day, after preparing Moo Moo’s breakfast, the Melon-Eating System suddenly became excited.

【Host, someone has arrived!】

【Guess who it is!】

Ning Xu quickly guessed the visitor’s likely identity.

If it were an ordinary person, the Melon-Eating System wouldn’t be so excited.

Ning Xu speculated, “Is it Gou Chen? Lie Quan? Or one of the other two?”

“Maybe some of them came together?”

The Melon-Eating System sneered, 【All four of them are here.】

Moo Moo, chewing on grass, suddenly looked up, a spark of intelligence flashing in its round eyes.

When the four entered the mountain where Sword Immortal resided, the formation Sword Immortal had set up began to operate automatically.

This formation didn’t have much of a function, but it ensured that Ning Xu and the Melon-Eating System’s telepathic communication could only be heard by Sword Immortal and his spirit beast.

【Speaking of which, Gou Chen and Lie Quan looked so young three thousand years ago.】

【Now, three thousand years later, they are just old men pretending to be young. Hahahaha.】

【No matter how youthful they look, they can’t hide their elderly air.】

Ning Xu: …

When it comes to sarcasm, no one could rival the Melon-Eating System.

Ning Xu asked, “Who are the other two?”

By this point, the Melon-Eating System didn’t hold back, since they were now three thousand years ago, and future Mahayana cultivators were still in the Nascent Soul stage, even weaker than some of the ordinary disciples of Ming Palace Pavilion.

The Melon-Eating System explained, 【One is Xu Hua, and the other is Zhi Qing.】

【Of the four, only Xu Hua is a female cultivator.】

【But she’s a tough one. Three thousand years later, she’s the most powerful among them. Gou Chen, Lie Quan, and Gou Chen somewhat defer to her.】

【She’s also the mastermind behind the backstabbing incident in the future.】

Ning Xu asked, “What’s her relationship with Sword Immortal?”

The Melon-Eating System responded, 【They’re distant relatives through five generations.】

“Why did she backstab Sword Immortal? For resources, cultivation, status, and power?”

【Exactly.】

At that moment, Sword Immortal’s servant came to call, saying that Sword Immortal wanted Ning Xu and Moo Moo to go to the front hall.

The front hall?

That meant she would meet those four scoundrels?

The Melon-Eating System asked, 【Host, what will you do?】

Without hesitation, Ning Xu replied, “Let’s go.”

Those four couldn’t stir up much trouble now, and it was a good opportunity to size them up.
—

As Ning Xu entered the front hall with Moo Moo, she immediately sensed four pairs of eyes subtly watching her.

She remained calm and stood next to Sword Immortal, allowing the others to observe.

The Melon-Eating System was right. Gou Chen and Lie Quan indeed looked youthful, still carrying a distinct boyish charm.

Zhi Qing, the one the Melon-Eating System mentioned, appeared somewhat taciturn.

As for Xu Hua, she didn’t quite match Ning Xu’s expectations.

She seemed too gentle, too approachable, and when she smiled, her eyes curved in a soft arc, with a gentle, watery light in her gaze. She had a look that instantly made people feel fond of her. Not overly striking, but certainly easy on the eyes.

Gou Chen, the most carefree of the four, spoke up when he saw Ning Xu, “Senior Brother Si, who is this?”

Sword Immortal replied indifferently, “The one taking care of Moo Moo.”

Lie Quan hesitated for a moment and asked, “She’s here…”

Sword Immortal said, “It’s fine. We don’t need to avoid her.”

No need to avoid her?

What exactly was her relationship with Si Zang?

Why was Si Zang treating her so specially?

Countless thoughts flashed through their minds.

The first to speak was Xu Hua.

Her voice, like her appearance, was soft and friendly, “You must be very special to Senior Brother Si.”

Si Zang snorted coldly.

Of course, she was special. She came specifically to take his sword bones.

Xu Hua turned to Ning Xu and said gently, “May I ask how to address you, friend?”

Ning Xu replied with a calm tone, “My surname is Ning.”

Xu Hua was somewhat surprised by her attitude. Few people would respond so coldly to her warmth.

Si Zang was one.

This Ning Daoist was another.

But Xu Hua didn’t think a Golden Core cultivator could resist her charm.

She slightly curved her eyes and smiled, “Ning Daoist, you seem a bit cold towards me. Senior Brother Si and I are only ordinary siblings. Could it be that you misunderstood something?”

This was both an attempt at friendship and a subtle probe.

She was testing the relationship between Ning Xu and Sword Immortal.

Upon hearing this, Ning Xu replied calmly, “I didn’t misunderstand.”

Xu Hua let out a sigh of relief and was about to say that it was fine when Ning Xu continued speaking in the same tranquil tone, “I know you lack fatherly love since childhood, so you like older men, much older than you.”

“Sword Immortal is in the prime of his life. How could he be your type?”

Sword Immortal: …

Everyone else: ???

Xu Hua: !!!