Chapter 120

Ning Xu asked the Melon-Eating System, “What is Fox Speech?”

The Melon-Eating System explained, 【It’s an innate and extremely powerful talent of pureblood fox clans, similar to prophecy.】

Ning Xu looked at the five newly arrived foxes in front of her. They stopped at a distance of one meter from her, standing respectfully and obediently.

“Hu Xi—”
“Hu Er—”
“Hu Chen—”
“Hu Ba—”
“Hu Shan—”

“Greetings, Daoist friend!”

The last sentence was spoken in unison, carrying a strong sense of momentum.

Ning Xu: …

“You found me through ‘Fox Speech’?”

Hu Xi answered her.

“Daoist friend, that’s correct. I have recently used my talent several times, and each time, it has guided me here.”

The other foxes echoed his words.

“I experienced the same.”
“So did I.”

Ning Xu asked, “Your talent guiding you here—does it suggest that there is an opportunity to be found here?”

Hu Xi nodded. “Yes.”

After saying this, he looked at Ning Xu and asked, “Daoist friend, you must have arrived in this small world not long ago, correct?”

Ning Xu: ???

Hu Xi chuckled lightly. “I activate my talent every so often, but… for the past several hundred years, ‘Fox Speech’ had seemed to be completely ineffective, never showing any response. Then, about a month ago, it started reacting every single time.”

Ning Xu: …

She had to admit, this ‘Fox Speech’ really lived up to the Melon-Eating System’s description as an ‘extremely powerful talent.’

Hu Xi continued, “At that moment, I knew that my great opportunity had arrived, and that it could disappear at any moment.” Since ‘Fox Speech’ had only recently begun responding, whatever had triggered it could leave at any time.

“So I immediately left my old home and followed the guidance of ‘Fox Speech’ all the way here.”

“Along the way… I happened to run into some of my kin.”

At this point, Ning Xu understood. She had assumed they had all arranged to come together, but it turned out they had met by chance on the way.

Once Hu Xi finished speaking, Hu Er followed up, “Daoist friend, Hu Yao is our older clan brother. He is a few years older than us, so his cultivation level is slightly higher. But when it comes to talent, we are in no way inferior to him.”

The Melon-Eating System, always eager for drama, cackled mischievously, 【Oh, is this where the scheming begins?】

Hu Er’s words were basically saying that choosing Hu Yao was not as good as choosing them.

Hearing this, Hu Yao’s usually expressionless face showed a hint of arrogance. He countered, “My cultivation level is only slightly higher than yours?”

Hu Chen chuckled charmingly and replied, “Brother, what you’re saying… When we reach your age, we will definitely have your level of cultivation as well.”

Ning Xu cleared her throat, cutting off their passive-aggressive bickering.

She stated directly, “My cat is very satisfied with Hu Yao.”

At these words, the group immediately understood Ning Xu’s implication and stopped targeting Hu Yao. Joking aside, Ning Xu had already shown her approval of Hu Yao. If they continued to go against him, wouldn’t they be digging their own graves?

“As for you all…”

The usually composed foxes instinctively held their breath.

Whether they could seize this opportunity depended on this Daoist friend’s attitude!

Ning Xu smiled faintly. “That depends on whether you can let go.”

Hu Xi and the others: ???

They looked completely puzzled. Let go? What did Daoist Ning mean by that?

Ning Xu released her cat and held it in her arms.

Inside her spiritual domain, the Mountain and River Diagram hovered quietly at the center, while the artifact spirit was impatiently nestled in her embrace.

Ning Xu explained, “My cat has a preference for attractive men.”

“If you wish to follow me, you will need to satisfy my cat.”

The foxes immediately relaxed. They had thought it would be some difficult requirement, but it turned out to be just this?

Foxes were naturally skilled at enchantment. Winning over a mere cat was practically effortless.

Hu Xi smiled and said, “Daoist friend, I am a pureblood royal fox from Qishan, most proficient in the fox clan’s secret technique—Fox Clan’s Thousand Faces. If your cat ever tires of my current appearance, I can completely alter my looks and physique.”

Not wanting to be outdone, Hu Chen quickly added, “Daoist friend, I may not be of the royal bloodline, but I have also mastered transformation techniques. I guarantee that your cat will be pleased.”

Hu Ba immediately stated his case as well, “Daoist friend, though I lack transformation abilities, I specialize in crafting small trinkets that spirit pets love. I promise your cat won’t grow bored of me.”

Each of the male foxes displayed their unique talents.

The Melon-Eating System clicked its tongue twice, commenting, 【The competition is fierce, way too fierce. They’re already fighting for favor.】

【But honestly, I think foxes are too flirtatious. Dogs are much more purehearted. What do you think, Host?】

Ning Xu’s response remained the same—her opinion didn’t matter.

What mattered was her cat’s opinion.

After all, it wasn’t her who was choosing them, but her artifact spirit.

She had no such intentions toward them.

After hearing the male foxes’ self-introductions, Ning Xu nodded and said, “My cat is quite satisfied with you all as well.”

“If you have no objections, I can sign a secondary spirit beast contract with you immediately.”

Hu Xi and the others did not hesitate and agreed on the spot.

If they missed this chance, they might never get another one.

—

After signing the contracts, Ning Xu let go of her cat.

As soon as it was released, the cat darted off like a fish returning to water, running around joyfully with all its might.

It first rubbed against one male fox spirit, then stuck close to another, and finally snuggled into the arms of yet another, staying busy the whole time.

Upon seeing this, the Melon-Eating System sharply commented, 【To be honest, even the male and female cultivators of the Hehuan Sect aren’t as eager as it is.】

【Good thing it doesn’t have a human form, or else even the cultivators of the Hehuan Sect would have to concede defeat!】

Ning Xu: …

Although she suddenly gained six subpar spirit beasts, they didn’t require much effort on her part.

They had emotional intelligence, skills, and wealth, fully capable of taking care of themselves.

Ning Xu didn’t have many demands for them. Her only requirements were: no unnecessary trouble, no scheming against each other, and no need to compete for favor—there were no distinctions between them in her eyes. She could treat them all equally.

Upon hearing this, the Melon-Eating System couldn’t help but indulge in another round of gossip.

【Equal treatment… tsk tsk tsk, people aren’t unfeeling grass and trees. How could anyone truly treat all equally? So, Host, who gets your favoritism?】

Hearing this question, even the old ox instinctively looked at Ning Xu.

She didn’t answer, but a name subtly surfaced in her mind…

The old ox saw her expression and immediately knew—the old dog had no chance.

It leisurely resumed chewing on its spirit grass, unclear whether it felt pity for the old dog or was simply enjoying the drama.

—

After resolving the artifact spirit issue, Ning Xu found herself momentarily free of pressing matters.

There was about a week left before the Reincarnation Pill would be ready. Originally, she planned to pass the time through meditation, but unexpectedly, early one morning, she received an invitation letter.

The letter sincerely invited her to meet at the largest restaurant in Tiancheng.

The sender of the invitation was—The Owner of Mingyue Tower.

Ning Xu was a bit surprised when she received the letter.

She asked the Melon-Eating System, “The owner of Mingyue Tower is looking for me? They actually know about me?”

She continued, “Do you know why they invited me?”

The Melon-Eating System responded, 【Host, hold on a moment, I’ll check right now.】

After a while, the Melon-Eating System announced, 【Found it!】

Ning Xu perked up. “Oh? What’s the reason?”

The Melon-Eating System spoke quickly, 【Host, ever since you signed a subpar spirit beast contract with Hu Yao, he resigned from Mingyue Tower. In other words, he has officially gone straight!】

【Mingyue Tower lost such a huge money tree, and in the past few days, their revenue has plummeted.】

【Since Hu Yao left the industry, many customers who specifically came to see him couldn’t find him and left numerous bad reviews for Mingyue Tower.】

Ning Xu: …

She glanced at Hu Yao beside her and said, “The owner of Mingyue Tower sent me an invitation letter, asking to meet.”

Hu Yao, who had already heard everything through their mental connection, fully understood the situation.

He immediately stated, “Master, I followed proper procedures and terminated my employment with Mingyue Tower. The manager asked about my reason for leaving, but I didn’t answer and didn’t involve you.”

The Melon-Eating System sighed, 【These days, even old perverts are quite capable.】

Hu Yao never mentioned Ning Xu, yet the owner of Mingyue Tower still managed to trace things back to her.

The Melon-Eating System asked, 【Host, are you planning to go?】

Ning Xu didn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”

Why wouldn’t she go?

The other party had already tracked her down through Hu Yao and probably knew she had taken him away.

Since they sent an invitation with polite wording, it meant they weren’t harboring strong hostility—otherwise, they could have just shown up at her doorstep with force.

Besides, if she didn’t go, who knew what the other party might do next?

By attending, she could at least gauge their intentions and respond accordingly.

Hearing this, the Melon-Eating System shouted, 【Great, let’s go!】

【The owner of Mingyue Tower has always been a mysterious figure. Even though she founded the tower, she rarely appears in public. Not even the top courtesans of Mingyue Tower have ever seen her true face.】

【Right now, all I can find is that the owner of Mingyue Tower is a female cultivator who hasn’t appeared in public for several centuries. Any further details will take more time to uncover since there’s very little information available about her.】

【Given this situation, either she’s a complete recluse, or she’s facing some kind of trouble.】

【If it’s the latter, then her trouble must be significant.】

The specifics of the Mingyue Tower owner’s situation could only be confirmed after meeting her in person.

Ning Xu told Hu Yao, “I plan to accept the invitation.”

Hu Yao immediately said, “I’ll accompany you.”

Ning Xu waved her hand. “No need. You and Hu Xi can stay behind and watch over Mao Mao.”

Seeing that she had made up her mind, Hu Yao didn’t argue and obediently followed her instructions. The old ox, however, was not as compliant as Hu Yao. It nudged its way forward, clearly insisting on going along.

Ning Xu quickly gave in. “Fine, fine, you can come.”

—

The next day, Ning Xu arrived at the largest tavern in Tiancheng, following the address on the invitation.

As soon as she arrived, the shopkeeper greeted her with a smile. “Are you here for the appointment with the owner of Mingyue Tower, fellow Daoist?”

Ning Xu nodded slightly. “Yes.”

The shopkeeper’s smile became even more cordial. He didn’t question why she had brought an old ox with her.

“Please, follow me.”

After leading her to a room on the third floor, the shopkeeper quietly withdrew.

Standing at the door, Ning Xu had yet to knock when a gentle voice came from inside. “Come in.”

Steadying herself, Ning Xu pushed open the door.

As soon as she entered, she caught a fresh and elegant scent—like pear blossoms mixed with a hint of wood.

The female cultivator seated in the main seat smiled and asked, “What do you think of this incense?”

Ning Xu sniffed lightly and gave a serious evaluation. “It’s decent.”

The woman’s smile widened.

She gestured for Ning Xu to sit.

Ning Xu picked a seat, and the old ox also found a comfortable spot to settle down. Once seated, the woman propped her chin on one hand and looked at her with interest.

“You must be curious about why I invited you here.”

Ning Xu admitted, “I am.”

The woman’s voice was soft and measured.

She slowly said, “Hu Yao spent five years at Mingyue Tower. That may not sound like long, but it’s not short either. Not to mention, the manager signed a ten-year contract with him.”

“There were still nearly five years left on that contract, yet he chose to leave Mingyue Tower, willingly paying the penalty fee.”

“That’s when I knew—he must have found a better place. So much better that he was willing to give up everything for it.”

Ning Xu stayed silent, waiting for the owner of Mingyue Tower to continue.

“I wanted to know—what kind of place could make him abandon such immense wealth?”

Ning Xu finally spoke. “And then, you found me.”

The woman smiled brilliantly. “That’s right.”

“When I learned that your cultivation level is only at the Nascent Soul Stage, I was quite surprised.”

“But I figured, if you could make Hu Yao willingly follow you, you must be extraordinary.”

“So, I invited you here to see what makes you special.”

At this point, Ning Xu understood the purpose of the meeting.

She looked up and asked, “Now that you’ve met me, do you see what’s special about me?”

The woman’s eyes sparkled with interest. “Just your boldness alone is already rare among cultivators.”

At that moment, the Melon-Eating System provided some background information.

【Host, the woman in front of you is an ancient senior cultivator, older than many old fossils in the cultivation world.】

【Her cultivation level is terrifyingly high.】

【She has an artifact that blocks the Heavenly Dao’s detection, which is why I couldn’t find much about her before.】

【She could have undergone the tribulation for ascension long ago, but for some reason, she hasn’t. Maybe she isn’t ready, or maybe there’s another reason—either way, she’s been hiding away for centuries.】

【Honestly, she’s a master at laying low.】

【Only the most exceptional talents can reach ascension tribulation, but I suspect her greatest talent is survival.】

Ning Xu: …

No matter the time or place, the Melon-Eating System was as sharp-tongued as ever.

The moment the Melon-Eating System finished speaking, Ning Xu failed to notice that the female cultivator seated in the main seat had lost the amusement on her face, replaced by a look of sudden realization.

So that’s how it is.

No wonder Hu Yao was so determined to turn over a new leaf, willing to abandon everything just to leave Mingyue Tower. It turned out he had encountered the Master of Heavenly Fate.

If he missed this opportunity, who knew how long it would take to find another one? Or perhaps, he might never meet such a person again.

For the Tower Master of Mingyue Tower to reach this point today, she had always been regarded as a favored daughter of the heavens, a child of fortune.

Since beginning her cultivation, the number of opportunities she had encountered, both big and small, were beyond counting.

Yet, even with her considerable fortune, in the face of a cultivator like Ning Xu—who was practically cheating—she had no choice but to admit defeat.

Even though she had already reached the peak of the Mahayana Stage, before Ning Xu, she had no secrets at all.

That unknown existence might even be capable of digging up everything about her.

The female cultivator smiled calmly and answered the question Ning Xu had asked earlier.

She replied, “I’m very fortunate—I can see what makes you special.”

Her thoughts shifted, and soon, she had made up her mind.

She spoke, “To be honest, I could have faced my Ascension Tribulation hundreds of years ago.”

Ning Xu asked, “Then why didn’t you undergo the tribulation?”

At this, the female cultivator gave a bitter smile. “It’s not that I didn’t want to, but I had a premonition. If I faced the tribulation, I would undoubtedly perish beneath the Ascension Lightning!”

Ning Xu: !!!

No wonder!

No wonder the Tower Master of Mingyue Tower had been hiding away all these years.

She must have been waiting for a turning point, right?

The female cultivator continued, “Daoist friend, I see that your fortune is overwhelming—you must have extraordinary opportunities.”

“I’ve lived for so long, and I truly have quite a few good things in my possession.”

“To say nothing else, just Mingyue Tower alone earns me nearly seven figures in high-grade spirit stones every year. And that’s pure profit—after deducting all expenses, that’s the amount I can actually pocket. If we’re talking gross profit, Mingyue Tower brings in eight figures in high-grade spirit stones annually.”

Hearing this, the Melon-Eating System couldn’t help but scream.

【Seven figures! In high-grade spirit stones! That’s just one year’s income!】

【Host, did I hear that right? High-grade spirit stones! Converted to mid-grade ones, that’s nine figures! Converted to low-grade, that’s eleven figures!】

【This old hag is insanely rich!】

【This is a true rich woman, a real rich woman!!!】

【She’s ten thousand times wealthier than a goddess—this is the real deal!】

The Melon-Eating System’s voice was so loud it could almost pierce the heavens.

Yet, despite being called an “old rich woman” by the Melon-Eating System, the Tower Master of Mingyue Tower showed no reaction whatsoever.

She was indeed quite old.

To receive the title of “true rich woman” from such an unknown existence—she considered it an honor. After all, this was a form of recognition of her strength. Many other female cultivators didn’t even qualify to receive this evaluation.

Ning Xu pressed her lips together and asked, “You’re telling me all this because…?”

The female cultivator smiled sincerely.

“I won’t beat around the bush with you.”

“To put it plainly, the situation I face is a dead end. I’ve been trapped in this predicament for six hundred years.”

“I had nearly given up—but fortunately, I met you.”

“I have a premonition that I’ve finally found my turning point.”

Ning Xu was slightly startled and said, “You think too highly of me.”

The female cultivator waved her hand, her tone carrying evident goodwill. “Daoist friend, don’t underestimate yourself. Your fortune is the strongest I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Such an overwhelmingly powerful destiny—she had never seen anyone possess such luck before. Seeing it today had truly broadened her horizons.

She smiled slowly. “Daoist friend, if you can help me break this deadlock, Mingyue Tower, and all the valuables in my possession that catch your eye—I will offer them all to you. What do you think?”