Chapter 111

Zhi Qing was full of secrets. Just as Ning Xu was about to dig out all of his past, an unexpected guest arrived first.

When the Sword Immortal led the guest to the back mountain, Ning Xu immediately recognized her—

Lu Kou, the current Pavilion Master of Star Pavilion.

Lu Kou’s long hair cascaded down, simply tied with a loosely knotted red silk ribbon. She wore a dark-colored, wide-sleeved robe, with stars swirling at the hem—deep and mysterious. Though she was a female cultivator, Ning Xu inexplicably sensed a touch of unrestrained elegance and rebellious spirit from her.

Before speaking, Lu Kou smiled. “Daoist Friend Ning, I hope I’m not intruding.”

Her features were not stunningly beautiful, but this smile was breathtaking.

Before Ning Xu could respond, Si Zang spoke first, explaining, “She has been searching for the person who posted the thread recently. Once I found out, I told her about you.”

Ning Xu: ……

【What’s the meaning of this? What’s the meaning of this?】

【That old dog sold you out without a word?】

【No wonder the old dog doesn’t have a good fate as a Xiu Gou. Look at what he’s done!】

The formation Si Zang set up could keep out Xu Hua and the others, but it was useless against the youngest and most talented Pavilion Master in the history of Star Pavilion.

Lu Kou, hearing these stray thoughts, showed no reaction. She simply spoke naturally, “Daoist Friend Si knows that I have a treasure in my possession. I obtained this treasure nearly a hundred years ago, but unfortunately, I have never been able to uncover its secrets.”

“Daoist Friend Si has great faith in you. He believes that rather than letting this treasure go to waste in my hands, it would be better for you to give it a try.”

【Oh? A treasure?】

【Let me take a look at what it is.】

Ning Xu glanced at Si Zang in mild surprise. “So that’s how it is.”

Lu Kou assured her, “Daoist Friend Ning, I came here today to form a good karmic connection with you. The fact that you are the poster of the thread—only you, I, and Daoist Friend Si know. No one else will ever find out.”

Ning Xu questioned, “A karmic connection?”

Lu Kou nodded. “That’s right.”

She explained slowly, “I am here to gift you a treasure. If you succeed in unlocking its secrets, you will owe me a karma.”

Without keeping her in suspense, Lu Kou continued, “If the Lu family ever faces calamity in the future, I hope that, for the sake of today’s karma, you will lend a hand.”

Ning Xu did not immediately agree. Instead, she said, “I am merely a Golden Core cultivator.”

Lu Kou gave a mysterious smile. “Perhaps you won’t be for long.”

These words, coming from the Pavilion Master of Star Pavilion, carried a deeper meaning. Had she foreseen something?

Lu Kou’s smile deepened. “To be able to write such brilliant threads, you must also be a divination cultivator. Like Daoist Friend Si, I too have great faith in you.”

Ning Xu replied, “Thank you.” She also had great faith in herself.

Except—she was not a divination cultivator.

She had only pretended to be one in front of Si Zang to fool him.

In reality, she was a sword cultivator. Of course, she could also be a melon cultivator…

With that thought, she asked, “Senior Lu, what about you?”

With Lu Kou protecting the Lu family, what kind of difficulties could they face? If even Lu Kou could not resolve them, then it must be an extremely troublesome matter.

Did Lu Kou truly trust her this much? Did she really believe Ning Xu could resolve such a crisis?

Hearing this, the smile on Lu Kou’s face faded slightly. She did not hide anything from Ning Xu and directly said, “I am about to enter seclusion. I will not emerge for a short period.”

That “short period” was not decades, nor centuries—it was thousands of years.

This was also the reason why Si Zang brought Lu Kou here today.

After obtaining the other half of the ancestral technique from the Jin family, Lu Kou had gained new insight and was preparing for a long seclusion.

Meanwhile, Ning Xu was also about to set off in search of the Artifact Spirit of the Mountains and Rivers Map.

If they did not meet today, then for the next few thousand years, there would be no chance for them to meet again.

That was why Si Zang had brought her here without warning.

Hearing this explanation, Ning Xu was already leaning toward agreeing.

At that moment, the Melon-Eating System spoke again:

【Host, you can accept this deal. The treasure she holds is indeed well-suited for you.】

Ning Xu nodded. “Alright.”

If she accepted Lu Kou’s karma today, then in the future, should the Lu family face difficulties, she would not stand idly by.

But that “future” would be at least three thousand years later.

Still, the Pavilion Master of Star Pavilion was a master of mysterious divinations. Every action she took must have been carefully considered.

Receiving Ning Xu’s assurance, Lu Kou let out a breath of relief.

She wasted no time. Taking the treasure from her storage bag, she revealed it at once.

Looking at the tattered, yellowed parchment in her hand, Lu Kou’s expression held a trace of regret. But that regret and reluctance soon turned into acceptance.

In cultivation, one must not harbor delusions.

Since this Star Derivation Map was not meant for her, why should she continue clinging to it?

Lu Kou’s voice was calm as she said, “Daoist Friend Ning, this is the Star Derivation Map. Unfortunately, it is incomplete.”

“Its creator is unknown. Personally, I believe it came from the Upper Realm by sheer chance.”

At this, Lu Kou fell silent for a moment.

After ascending, one could reach the Upper Realm. She wondered if she would have the chance to ascend.

These thoughts only flickered in her mind briefly.

She quickly continued, “Perhaps because it is incomplete, despite studying it for nearly a hundred years, I have been unable to unravel its mysteries.”

“Today, I am passing it on to you, hoping you will gain something from it.”

【You spent a hundred years trying to decipher it and failed? My host will definitely succeed!】

【But this thing really is incomplete, and the missing part is the most crucial one. Who was the bastard that took it away? That guy must be a real silver coin.】

【Host, hold on. Let me use my most advanced quantum algorithm to restore the Star Derivation Map for you!】

Ning Xu: ……

Lu Kou was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter.

Ning Xu was a little surprised and asked, “Senior Lu, what are you laughing at?”

Lu Kou shook her head, laughing until tears formed at the corners of her eyes. She spoke with a tone of deep emotion. “It’s nothing. I’m just happy that this treasure has finally found its rightful owner today.”

So that was it!

The Star Derivation Map was missing its most crucial piece.

Since she could not restore that missing section, she had no way to unlock the map’s secrets.

Well—cheat abilities were also a kind of strength.

She had never encountered such a mystical object before, so whether she could comprehend the Star Derivation Diagram or not seemed rather normal.

It had to be said, the Melon-Eating System was still highly efficient. In just a short time, it had completed the missing parts of the Star Derivation Diagram.

At this moment, the Sword Immortal spoke, “Are you ready to begin comprehending it? I will stand guard for you.”

Ning Xu nodded. “Alright!”

She assumed a meditative posture and tossed the Star Derivation Diagram into the air. In the next second, a fragmented illusion of the starry derivation slowly unfolded before her eyes.

Gradually, the fragmented illusion became complete until there were no missing parts left!

—

At this moment, Ning Xu was directly facing the most brilliant and vast sea of stars.

Countless nebulae rotated in a rhythmic pattern before her eyes.

This starry sea was magnificent and mysterious.

In the face of this vast galaxy, she felt so insignificant.

Before long, the sea of stars rapidly receded from her sight, and in its place, a stream of unfamiliar people appeared before her.

Some were mortals, some were cultivators, some were young children, and some were elderly.

Countless figures flashed before her eyes.

In that fleeting instant, it was as if she had glimpsed the fates they might have in the future…

From birth, to babbling their first words, to attending school, or being discovered to have spiritual roots and joining a sect as a disciple…

Some would reach an age suitable for marriage and wed a good spouse, while others would focus solely on cultivation, becoming obsessed with ascension…

Their lives unfolded before her like a vast scroll.

The influx of information was overwhelming, and Ning Xu felt as if her head was about to split open from the pain.

But she knew this was a crucial moment, and she could not back down.

She could only keep pressing forward…

—

When Ning Xu finally woke up again, Lu Kou was no longer by her side.

She rubbed her temples and pulled herself back from the myriad visions she had just experienced.

“Where is Senior Lu?” she asked.

Si Cang was leaning against a large tree with his arms crossed over his sword. Before she spoke, he had been resting with his eyes closed. Upon hearing her voice, he opened his eyes and answered.

“She has already gone into seclusion.”

The moment Ning Xu had begun comprehending the Star Derivation Diagram, Lu Kou had bid farewell.

There was no longer any doubt.

Ning Xu was the true master of the Star Derivation Diagram.

She was bound to fully comprehend this artifact—there was no need to question it.

As soon as Si Cang finished speaking, the Melon-Eating System started clamoring noisily.

【Host, do you know how long you were in comprehension?】

Before Ning Xu could answer, the Melon-Eating System continued on its own.

【Half a month! A full half month!】

【Host, you have no idea what I went through during these two weeks!】

【I counted every second of every day!】

【Do you know what it means to feel like every day is a year?】

【The life I lived during that time was exactly that!】

【It was unbearable! Absolutely unbearable!】

Without anyone to eat melons with, the Melon-Eating System had nearly gone insane.

Luckily, its host was different from ordinary cultivators.

Normal cultivators frequently entered seclusion, and their sessions lasted years at a time. This time, Lu Kou had even planned to seclude herself for a thousand years!

Thankfully, its host did not need to enter seclusion! If she had to retreat for that long, it might as well just format itself.

Hearing the Melon-Eating System ranting on, Ning Xu took a few seconds before responding, “Thank you for your patience.”

The Melon-Eating System whimpered, 【Host, as long as you understand!】

【Oh right, host, I haven’t even congratulated you yet for successfully touching upon the Path of Fate.】

【Congratulations, congratulations!】

Ning Xu smiled faintly. “Thank you.”

The Sword Immortal was about to awaken his comprehension of the Path of Time during his backstabbing battle, while she, after obtaining the Star Derivation Diagram, had grasped a sliver of the Path of Fate.

The Path of Fate, as the name suggested, allowed one to glimpse the possible lives of humans, ghosts, demons, and objects.

Why only “possible” lives?

Because fate was determined by human actions.

Destiny was not set in stone.

After the Melon-Eating System finished speaking, it started mumbling again. 【Host, before the Star Pavilion Master left, she also left behind a few words.】

Ning Xu casually asked, “What did she say?”

【She said that if there is a chance, you shall meet again in a few thousand years.】

Ning Xu chuckled. “Perhaps that day will truly come.”

She wondered what exactly Lu Kou had foreseen.

Had she foreseen that the Lu Clan might face difficulties three thousand years later?

But those matters were impossible to confirm now. She would have to wait until she returned to find out.

After finishing her conversation with the Melon-Eating System, she turned to look at the Sword Immortal, who had been standing with his arms crossed the entire time.

“Thank you,” she said.

The Sword Immortal responded indifferently, “You’re welcome.”

Beside him, the old yellow ox happily swayed its tail.

Over the days she had been comprehending the Star Derivation Diagram, it was probably the Sword Immortal who had been feeding the old ox spiritual herbs, right?

Just as Ning Xu was about to say something more, the Sword Immortal spoke first.

“Congratulations.”

Ning Xu: “?”

“You have reached the peak of the Golden Core Stage.”

Ning Xu: !!!

She had thought he had discovered her comprehension of the Path of Fate, but it turned out he was congratulating her on something else entirely!

The comprehension of a Dao was an extremely private matter for cultivators.

Unless the relationship was particularly close, cultivators would not casually share such insights with one another.

If the one standing before her were the Innocent Cultivator, she might have eagerly shared this joyful news.

But if it was the Sword Immortal…

There always seemed to be a bit of distance between them.

Since the Sword Immortal did not ask, Ning Xu naturally did not mention it either.

Hearing his congratulations, Ning Xu carefully examined herself and realized that her cultivation had indeed jumped from the early Golden Core Stage to the peak of the Golden Core Stage in one leap.

Comprehending the Grand Dao granted far too much experience.

The Melon-Eating System praised her, 【Host, across the entire cultivation world, those who can comprehend a Great Dao—even just a tiny fraction—can be counted on one hand.】

【You have now touched the threshold of the Path of Fate. If you delve a little deeper, you will officially step through its gates!】

【Amazing, absolutely amazing!】