Chapter 114

On the way to the Glacier Mountains, they happened to encounter a few cultivators working for that person. Their cultivation levels were inferior to Xu Hua and the others, about the same as Ning Xu’s, making them perfect for her to use as practice.

This wasn’t Ning Xu’s first time actively killing cultivators, but it was the first time she felt the thrill and exhilaration that came from slaughter. Her Mingyue Sword swiftly and cleanly took the life of a Golden Core Stage early-phase cultivator.

Even as he fell, he still didn’t understand why Ning Xu had attacked him.

After all, there was no personal grudge between them, was there?

What he would never understand was that the moment he chose to serve that person, he was already doomed to be cast aside by this world.

Ning Xu bent down and took the storage bag from his waist.

The mission he had received was likely to collect Innate Spiritual Treasures for that person. Unfortunately, he wasn’t very capable. After so many years, all he had managed to collect was a single Grade Seven Spiritual Herb.

Ning Xu casually put the herb into her own storage bag, then formed a hand seal, burning the cultivator’s storage bag to ashes.

“Let’s go. Next one.”

【Got it!】 The Melon-Eating System responded.

The old yellow ox followed in silence.

【Host, your execution is getting sharper and more stylish.】

It was simply a matter of experience.

For the next three days, Ning Xu continued eliminating the disloyal cultivators.

She couldn’t allow them to grow stronger.

If her strength had allowed it, she would have wiped out Xu Hua and the others in one go as well.

Whenever Ning Xu took breaks, the Melon-Eating System would start gossiping again.

【Host! There’s an update on Old Bei!】

Ning Xu took out a water flask from her storage bag and took a sip, casually asking, “Hmm? What happened next?”

【Well, he dissolved his cultivation partner contract, and both his eldest son and youngest daughter were transferred under his younger brother’s name.】

【He’s so disheartened that he doesn’t even want to be the family head anymore. But the elders refused to let him step down.】

【Yesterday, he borrowed the Breaking Sea from his good friend Liu and is planning to take his only remaining son to find the Lan Mai you mentioned.】

The Melon-Eating System sighed. 【You have no idea how ugly his cultivation partner and younger brother’s faces were when he tore into them.】

Ning Xu put away the water flask and said, “I can imagine.”

The Melon-Eating System clicked its tongue in disdain but didn’t bring them up again.

After a brief rest, Ning Xu resumed her cleansing.

This time, her opponent was on par with her in strength. She pushed Reversing the Star River to its limit before finally cutting him down with her sword.

A sky full of stars exploded in front of her eyes before slowly falling, settling into complete silence.

As the enemy fell, the old yellow ox spoke lazily, “You actually know Reversing the Star River, my master’s original technique. Before you, I thought only my master could execute this move.”

Ning Xu: …

She had been careless.

She had learned Reversing the Star River in the Tianya Secret Realm, and just now, she had instinctively used it.

Just as Ning Xu thought the old yellow ox might have noticed something, it drawled lazily, “You’ve got some talent.”

Ning Xu: ???

“…Thanks?”

The old yellow ox flicked its tail. “You’re welcome.”

【This old ox is pretty sly.】 The Melon-Eating System commented.

Ning Xu frowned. “Did it figure something out?” Like… her origins?

The Melon-Eating System dismissed the concern. 【Who cares? There’s no way it could guess we’re from three thousand years in the future.】

The old yellow ox pointed at the ground with its front hoof, signaling that it wanted water.

Ning Xu: “…”

After resting, the group sorted through their spoils.

This time, Ning Xu found a flower inside the fallen cultivator’s storage bag.

The flower had only three petals, each a deep, rose-like red.

Holding the flower in her hand, Ning Xu asked, “What is this?”

Upon seeing it, the Melon-Eating System’s tone became unusually serious. 【This is a Rebirth Flower.】

Ning Xu froze slightly, a thought rising in her mind. “Rebirth Flower?”

【Yes, the primary ingredient for refining Rebirth Pills.】

Hearing this, Ning Xu felt her heart sink.

She asked, “A Rebirth Pill… is for reincarnation?”

【Yes.】

Then, in a slow electronic voice, the system explained, 【Among the Three Thousand Great Daos, how many can truly grant a chance at reincarnation? In this world, only the Rebirth Pill can give a cultivator the opportunity to be reborn. Even great cultivators, if they fall, are truly gone. There is no second chance at life.】

After hearing this, the flower in Ning Xu’s palm suddenly felt much heavier.

She had always thought the Sword Immortal could reincarnate because of his profound cultivation.

But as it turned out, even great cultivators had no chance of reincarnation.

Only those who had taken a Rebirth Pill could have a second life.

Her voice was stiff. “So, this flower…”

The Melon-Eating System fell silent.

Ever since she arrived in this timeline, Ning Xu had been thinking about one question the most—when it came to karma, did the cause come first, or the effect?

Based on what she knew now, it was her arrival that had made the Sword Immortal’s reincarnation possible.

If not for this Rebirth Flower…

Ning Xu asked, 【Aside from this one, are there any other Rebirth Flowers in the world?】

The Melon-Eating System was quiet for a long time before finally replying, 【No. This is the only Rebirth Flower in existence. The next one won’t bloom for another five thousand years.】

Ning Xu’s thoughts were in turmoil. But now was clearly not the time for contemplation.

“So, we need to refine it into a Rebirth Pill as soon as possible.”

【Exactly! This Rebirth Flower was plucked some time ago. There’s no specialized tool to store it properly, so we need to refine it quickly. Otherwise, its medicinal properties will slowly fade until it becomes just a regular flower.】

Ning Xu frowned. “But the person to refine it…”

Qingjiu Immortal wasn’t with her. In this era, there weren’t many people she could trust.

The alchemist refining the Rebirth Pill had to be extremely reliable and have a strong moral compass.

Otherwise, if that person refined only one pill and took it for themselves, what then?

The Melon-Eating System sighed softly. 【Host, you’re getting anxious.】

【You’ve lost your composure.】

Ning Xu didn’t respond.

She knew this Rebirth Flower was crucial and couldn’t be lost.

Without the Rebirth Pill, would the Innocent Cultivator even exist three thousand years later?

At that moment, the Melon-Eating System chuckled. 【Host, isn’t there a perfectly suitable person right in front of you?】

Ning Xu had only been unsettled for a few seconds.

Her ability to regulate her emotions was exceptional—within an instant, she had already calmed down.

In fact, before the Melon-Eating System even spoke, a name had already surfaced in her mind—

Old Bei.

Hearing the system’s words, she smiled. “Melon, we’re thinking the same thing.”

The Melon-Eating System explained, 【If everything goes well, this Rebirth Flower should be able to produce three Rebirth Pills.】

【By custom, two would go to you, and one to the alchemist.】

【That third one should stay with Old Bei.

【Even though he’s trustworthy, a Rebirth Pill is far too valuable. We shouldn’t test human nature. What do you think, Host?】

Ning Xu quickly made up her mind.

“I think you’re absolutely right.”

“One for Si Zang, one for Mou Mou. That should be just right.”

The old yellow ox: !!!

It couldn’t believe it hadn’t been left out!

It was truly, deeply moved!