Chapter 136: Sacrifice

Xu Hua had lived for more than three thousand years and had experienced a great many things. By now, there were few people or events that could truly pique her curiosity.

However, Ning Xu was definitely one of them.

Without a doubt, she harbored secrets—significant ones at that.

Xu Hua continued, “Speaking of which, the fact that Si Zang could reincarnate is already unusual in itself.”

“The Reincarnation Pill—was it you who gave it to him?”

Though phrased as a question, Xu Hua’s tone was firm.

Back then, they had set their sights on Si Zang’s sword bones, so they had kept close watch over him at all times.

They probably knew the treasures he possessed even better than he did.

This was to avoid any unnecessary trouble. If Si Zang suddenly pulled out some hidden trump card while they were after his sword bones and managed to turn the tide, it would have been extremely disadvantageous for them.

Fortunately, Si Zang didn’t have any particularly powerful treasures.

In fact, he spent most of his time practicing swordsmanship on his own mountain and rarely ventured out for training.

Yet, despite this, a sword immortal so immersed in his own world had somehow come to possess an extremely rare and precious Reincarnation Pill. No matter how one looked at it, the appearance of this pill seemed far too coincidental.

Given that Ning Xu was the only anomaly in his life during that period, Xu Hua had every reason to suspect that she was the one who had brought him the pill.

Xu Hua fixed her gaze on Ning Xu, unwilling to miss even the slightest fluctuation in her expression.

To be honest, Ning Xu had to admit that Xu Hua was indeed somewhat intelligent to have deduced this much. However, that was the extent of it.

As for the truth, she naturally wouldn’t reveal a single word.

Thus, Xu Hua was doomed to learn nothing from her expressions.

Even without a response, Xu Hua showed no disappointment.

She coaxed, “Tell me your secret, and perhaps I’ll spare your life.”

The Melon-Eating System immediately started cursing again. 【That old hag’s mouth—full of lies!】

Just then, a hearty laugh interrupted Xu Hua’s attempt at persuasion.

Her expression darkened as she turned toward the source of the laughter.

The moment she saw who it was, a flash of surprise crossed her face. “Bei Yao? What are you doing here?”

The cultivator called Bei Yao chuckled and said, “Since Fellow Daoist Ning needs help, of course I’ve come.”

Xu Hua’s suspicious gaze flickered over Ning Xu. “You two know each other?”

But how could that be possible?

If they knew each other, then when had they formed this bond?

If Ning Xu could hear Xu Hua’s thoughts, she would tell her that she had no connection with this life’s Bei Yao. The one she had interacted with was the Bei Yao from his past incarnation.

However, that was a secret Xu Hua was destined never to learn.

The Melon-Eating System excitedly reported, 【Host, after you posted that thread in The Three Thousand Realms Cultivator Exchange Area, Bei Yao quickly left a comment!】

【Although he only wrote his name, his surname was unique enough that I was able to identify him right away. And I was right—he’s the reincarnation of Old Bei’s son.】

【Since you were busy, I replied on your behalf.】

【I told him to come directly to the bottom of Ming Palace Cliffs.】

After a brief pause, the Melon-Eating System added, 【Oh, by the way, Host, quite a few cultivators saw that reply. A lot of them might be on their way to watch the drama unfold.】

Ning Xu said indifferently, “That’s fine.”

After all, it was about time for the cultivation world to see Xu Hua and the others for who they truly were.

Xu Hua’s tone was cold. “Bei Yao, this matter has nothing to do with you. I advise you not to meddle where you shouldn’t.”

As she spoke, Zhi Qing stepped forward, adopting a threatening stance.

Although Bei Yao was a blade cultivator, he did not appear rough or wild; instead, he carried an air of refinement. He swung his large saber lightly, its blade casting formidable shadows. He declared loudly, “How can Fellow Daoist Ning’s matter be considered ‘none of my concern’?”

Xu Hua narrowed her eyes. “So, are you determined to interfere?”

Bei Yao shook his head. “Xu Hua, I already told you—it’s not ‘interfering.’” It was a debt he owed.

In his past life, he had been deeply indebted to Ning Xu. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to repay her then.

But now, he finally had the chance to return the favor.

Without Ning Xu, there would be no him today. Since she had reached out for help, how could he possibly turn away?

Xu Hua, unable to dissuade Bei Yao, grew irritated. She turned to Ning Xu instead, giving her a mocking smile. “So this is the helper you found?”

“I admit, as a blade cultivator, Bei Yao’s combat strength is indeed high. Unfortunately, he’s only at the late-stage Tribulation Stage, whereas Zhi Qing and I are both at the Mahayana Stage.”

“Give up. You have no chance of winning.”

Hearing her confident declaration, Ning Xu simply said, “Oh? Is that so?”

For some reason, despite Ning Xu’s calm tone, Xu Hua detected a hint of something… unusual.

But that shouldn’t be possible.

What trump card could Ning Xu possibly have?

No matter how powerful her hidden cards were, with such an overwhelming gap in cultivation levels, Ning Xu’s side couldn’t possibly have any chance of victory.

But she was too calm—so calm it was unusual.

The same question remained: what kind of confidence did she have? How could she stand here so composed in such a situation?

At this moment, a slightly aged male voice rang out, “Is there really no chance of winning?”

Seeing the newcomer, Xu Hua, Zhi Qing, and Gou Chen were visibly stunned.

“Senior Brother Lu!”

“Senior Brother Lu, why are you here?”

This title wasn’t particularly familiar to Ning Xu, but she quickly pieced it together—this Senior Brother Lu must be one of the people she encountered when she first arrived at the Endless Sea three thousand years ago.

The Melon-Eating System quickly confirmed her guess. 【Host, this is the one who survived thanks to your tribulation-transcending ‘divine artifact.’ Without that ‘artifact,’ he would have been long gone.】

The male cultivator, whom Xu Hua and the others addressed as Senior Brother Lu, did not spare them a glance. His entire attention was fixed on Ning Xu and Si Yan.

He spoke slowly, “Daoist Ning…”

“And… Master Uncle.”

After uttering this long-forgotten title, Senior Brother Lu’s aged face revealed a trace of gratified joy. “How wonderful… to meet again.”

The last time they had met was three thousand years ago.

In the blink of an eye, three millennia had passed.

He had aged, but Ning Xu and Si Cang seemed largely unchanged.

No, there was still some difference.

At the very least, Si Cang’s reincarnation did not look exactly like his past self.

Compared to Senior Brother Lu’s emotional nostalgia, Si Yan—the one addressed as Master Uncle—remained utterly indifferent.

He said plainly, “I am now Si Yan.”

Senior Brother Lu let out an “Oh,” then smoothly adjusted, “Alright, Master Uncle.”

The Melon-Eating System cackled wildly. 【Never thought this Senior Brother Lu would be so simple-minded.】

After all, seeing an elderly, white-haired cultivator with little lifespan remaining address a young man barely in his twenties as “Master Uncle” was quite the amusing sight.

At this point, Xu Hua’s expression had darkened considerably.

After hesitating for a moment, she still asked, “Senior Brother Lu, why are you here?”

Si Cang held a high seniority within the Ming Palace Pavilion, and all the disciples beneath him had to call him “Master Uncle.”

But none of them were from the Ming Palace Pavilion. Previously, whenever they encountered Senior Brother Lu, they had always addressed him as “Senior Brother.”

Hearing the question, Senior Brother Lu gave the same answer, “Daoist Ning needed me, so I naturally came.”

A shadow of doubt loomed over Xu Hua’s heart.

Something was wrong—seriously wrong.

Since when did Ning Xu and Senior Brother Lu share such a connection?

How many things had Ning Xu done behind their backs?

Neither Bei Yao nor Senior Brother Lu were fools. In fact, when they saw the altar at the bottom of Ming Palace Cliffs, they had already begun to speculate.

Bei Yao spoke up, “Daoist Ning, may I ask, what exactly is happening here?”

Ning Xu glanced around. The four-person group opposite her was present, but Lie Quan had yet to arrive.

However, whether Lie Quan came or not wouldn’t make much of a difference. She cleared her throat and explained, “You should have all noticed this altar. To be blunt, the ones who set it up were Xu Hua and the others.”

Senior Brother Lu frowned, his gaze turning sharp as he looked at Xu Hua. “Why would you set up something like this?”

The one who answered was not Xu Hua, but Ning Xu.

“Naturally, it’s for sacrificing prodigies, and then… sacrificing the entire cultivation world.”

Sacrificing the entire cultivation world?

Although Bei Yao and Senior Brother Lu had already suspected that Ning Xu wouldn’t have called them here for something simple, hearing this still left them momentarily stunned.

Bei Yao’s expression turned grave. “Why would they sacrifice the entire cultivation world?”

At this point, there was no longer any need to hide the truth.

Ning Xu said calmly, “They made a deal with someone.”

“The deal was that they would offer up the cultivation world, and in return, that entity would grant them ascension.”

Hearing this, Senior Brother Lu’s aged face twisted in anger. “Absurd! Absolutely absurd!”

“Xu Hua, are you really going to destroy the entire cultivation world just for your own selfish desires?”

By this point, Xu Hua clearly had no intention of pretending anymore.

She still wore a gentle smile, but in this situation, that smile carried a sense of indifference and eerie detachment.

She countered, “And so what?”

“This is an extremely profitable deal, isn’t it?”

“I don’t believe that if you were in my position, you would refuse this deal. No, no, no—you simply haven’t had the opportunity. If you had, you would undoubtedly make the same choice I did.”

Bei Yao shook his head and sighed. “Xu Hua, you’ve fallen into madness.”

Throughout history, only three people had successfully ascended.

Xu Hua’s desire to ascend was understandable, but the method she chose was something Bei Yao could never agree with.

Xu Hua let out a mocking laugh. “What do you know?”

As she spoke, a hint of fervor flashed in her eyes. “I have served that being for a full three thousand years. Originally, I only had one more month before I could complete my mission perfectly. But unfortunately…”

“Although you all are a bit of a nuisance, it’s not a big problem.”

“I just have to get rid of all of you.”

“The ritual to sacrifice the prodigies will proceed as planned. Your presence changes nothing.”

By the end of her speech, the madness in Xu Hua’s eyes grew more intense. Clearly, she had sunk deeper and deeper into this lie.

At that moment, a new post suddenly appeared on The Three Thousand Realms Cultivator Exchange Area:

“Just a Complete Passerby, But I Happened to Be at Ming Palace Cliffs for the Drama—Accidentally Overheard a Shocking Piece of News That Will Shake the Entire Cultivation World!”