Chapter 148

The Melon-Eating System let out a loud scream.

【Host, what the hell is going on? What happened in the days I was gone?】

Ning Xu replied leisurely, “Not much, just that he was afflicted with a Divine Sense Gu, and I used my divine sense to help him dispel it.”

The Melon-Eating System was stunned for a moment before reacting. 【Wait, isn’t that basically spiritual intercourse?】

Ning Xu affirmed, “Yes, it was spiritual intercourse.”

The Melon-Eating System: 【AHHHHHH!】

【So, what else did you two do inside your divine senses?】

【Did you… you know, get all touchy-feely?】

【Hehehehe.】

Sure enough, before long, the system’s signature perverted giggles filled the air.

Just as the conversation between the human and the melon system was getting lively, a familiar voice suddenly joined in.

A person asked sincerely, “Excuse me, what does ‘touchy-feely’ mean?”

Ning Xu and the Melon-Eating System: ???

Ning Xu instinctively turned to look at Si Yan beside her. “You?”

Si Yan nodded. “It’s me.”

On the other side, Hu Cao looked at them suspiciously. “What are you guys talking about?”

Why did their conversation suddenly take such a strange turn? Were they playing some kind of riddle game?

The Melon-Eating System was momentarily stunned before exclaiming excitedly, 【I didn’t expect that after the system upgrade, even the Innocent Cultivator can join our conversation!】

【Great, great, this means our gossip group has gained another member!】

Si Yan politely asked, “The Innocent Cultivator—does that refer to me?”

The Melon-Eating System: 【Exactly! It’s the nickname the Host gave you! No, no, I should say—it’s a term of endearment!】

Ning Xu, who was unexpectedly taking the blame for this: …

She didn’t bother explaining, but she did have a concern. “If Si Yan can hear our conversation and even join in, does that mean others can hear it too?”

The Melon-Eating System quickly responded, 【Host, hold on.】

After a short moment, it reassured her, 【Host, don’t worry. I just checked the new system settings and found that there’s a new group chat, and it’s just me, you, and the Innocent Cultivator in it. No one else can hear us.】

Si Yan lowered his gaze, deep in thought.

It seemed that from now on, he wouldn’t need to use formations to block Ning Xu’s and the system’s mind conversations. An unexpected bonus was that he had become part of their circle. Did this mean he had been fully accepted?

Now that she was certain no one else could hear their discussion, Ning Xu refocused her attention on Hu Cao.

Meanwhile, in just a short span of time, the Melon-Eating System had already figured out the current situation.

It grumbled, 【They still want to resurrect the Demon King? What a joke! The Demon King has been gone for so long, and they still think they can bring him back?】

【The former Divine King wanted to drain all the spiritual energy of the cultivation world, while the Demon King wanted to become its supreme ruler. Neither of them was particularly capable, but they sure had grand ambitions.】

Ning Xu had been closely observing Hu Cao’s expression. Seeing that he showed no reaction to the system’s words, she finally felt at ease.

It seemed that, indeed, no one else could hear the Melon-Eating System’s voice.

Ning Xu drew her Mingyue Sword. She said coolly, “Since we’re all here for the fourth demon core fragment, let’s not waste any more time.”

Hu Cao tilted his head and took out his own natal spiritual weapon—a whip made from the remains of a divine beast.

With a command from him, the other demons swarmed toward Ning Xu.

The Melon-Eating System let out a noise of surprise.

【Host, it’s not just demons surrounding you. There are actually quite a few human cultivators mixed in!】

While fending off Hu Cao’s attacks, Ning Xu asked, “Who are they?”

The Melon-Eating System muttered, 【Some of them are from the Flower Pavilion, and a few others… why do they look kind of like Xu Hua?】

Xu Hua?

Could it be that Xu Hua’s descendants had allied themselves with the demons?

But Ning Xu had a feeling that things weren’t that simple. Perhaps they hadn’t just recently formed an alliance but had been colluding for a long time.

That raised an important question—if they had been working together for a while, what was Xu Hua’s goal in cooperating with the demons?

She could make a guess.

Xu Hua had previously worked for the Divine King.

And the Divine King needed all sorts of rare treasures.

There was no way Xu Hua alone could gather all those resources, so she needed allies. The demons happened to have many precious materials in their territory, so she must have struck some kind of deal with them.

However, regardless of whatever agreements they had in the past, they were now null and void—because Xu Hua was no longer around. But judging by the situation, the demons and Xu Hua’s descendants had likely formed a new deal.

Hu Cao’s whip lashed toward Ning Xu fiercely. She tilted her head, narrowly avoiding the vicious strike. But Hu Cao’s relentless attacks followed swiftly, giving her no chance to catch her breath as his whip slashed through the air with tremendous force.

The Melon-Eating System suddenly asked, 【Where’s the Cat? Why isn’t it here?】

【Host, don’t tell me—you came all the way to the Hundred Gu Valley to retrieve the fragment, and that thing is still back at Laurel Tower indulging in pleasure?】

Ning Xu said nothing.

Realizing it had guessed correctly, the Melon-Eating System started furiously cursing the Cat. 【What’s wrong with that artifact spirit? Being lecherous is one thing, but it’s completely unreliable! Host, you shouldn’t spoil it so much! When you get back, find seventy or eighty ugly men and make it feast its eyes on them as punishment!】

Ning Xu: ……

Only the Melon-Eating System could come up with such a vicious yet childish idea.

With that thought, Ning Xu casually unleashed the demons’ Endless Demon Fire.

The moment they saw the demon fire, the expressions of the demon clan members changed drastically.

“Sacred Flame?”

“It’s really the Sacred Flame!”

“How did the Sacred Flame end up in your hands?”

“What did you do to Elder Niao?”

Elder Niao?

Ning Xu said coolly, “Are you referring to that white-haired old hag?”

“If you mean her, then I can tell you the answer.”

“She was burned to ashes.”

As soon as she said this, the demon cultivators’ eyes turned red with fury.

“You… How dare you!”

“Brothers, let’s fight her to the death! She actually killed Elder Niao!”

“The Sacred Flame cannot fall into the hands of a human cultivator!”

Seeing the new flames in Ning Xu’s hands, the Melon-Eating System got excited.

【Host, you actually subdued the demon clan’s Sacred Flame?】

【That’s amazing!】

Si Yan agreed, “Indeed, it’s very impressive.”

【Super impressive!】

“Absolutely incredible!”

【As expected of my Host!】

“As expected of my dear Xu Xu!”

Ning Xu: ……

At first, only the Melon-Eating System was enthusiastically showering her with praise. But now, even the Innocent Cultivator had joined in.

She was completely surrounded by endless compliments!