Chapter 44

The Melon-Eating System could shamelessly say things like “Give it for free,” but Ning Xu couldn’t.

Over time, she had somewhat gotten used to the Melon-Eating System’s speaking style. Talking privately like this wasn’t a big deal since the main person couldn’t hear it anyway.

Although she couldn’t directly say she wanted the auction house for free, language was an art. By using different words, she could achieve a similar effect.

Ning Xu tactfully asked, “Daoist friend, do you have enough spiritual stones?”

This implied that after saving his life, the reward shouldn’t be too little.

At this moment, Qi Er’s mind was preoccupied with the strange voice that had told him he would die young.

Losing wealth didn’t matter, and as for harming his wives… after having lost three fiancées, he wasn’t planning on marrying anyone soon.

But the matter of his short life made him uneasy.

Of course, maybe the voice was just speaking carelessly, but for some reason, Qi Er had an unsettling gut feeling that what the voice said was true.

He cupped his hands and explained, “I don’t have enough spiritual stones on hand, but I own an auction house in a prime location. If I sell it, I should be able to fetch a good price. Once I have the spiritual stones, I will repay you.”

He added earnestly, “Of course, if you’re interested in buying the auction house, you’ll be prioritized, and I’ll even offer a discount.” Directly giving it away was impossible for now, and helping to run the auction house was even more so.

Ning Xu had no objections, “Alright!”

Getting an auction house for free wasn’t something that could be rushed. After all, the owner wasn’t a fool to just hand over a valuable asset just because someone saved their life.

Ning Xu and Qi Er exchanged jade tokens, and Qi Er promised to visit after they left the secret realm to express his gratitude.

After the exchange, Qi Er didn’t leave immediately but stayed in place.

Ning Xu gave him a look, signaling that he still had something to say.

Qi Er awkwardly smiled and handed over his storage bag, tentatively asking, “The secret realm is dangerous. May I travel with you?”

He had already been targeted, and if he went alone, his life could still be in danger.

Ning Xu replied, “Of course.” After all, she might need his help with running the auction house in the future, so it was fine to get familiar with him now.

Once they confirmed to travel together, they planned to return and find Wu Luchen.

On the way, the Melon-Eating System kept murmuring, 【His face is truly painful to look at.】

【I can’t even look at it, really can’t.】

Ning Xu: …

Qi Er: …

Curious, Ning Xu asked, “Can you read faces?”

The Melon-Eating System casually replied, 【A bit. I eat all sorts of melons, so I know a bit.】

【His features aren’t bad individually, but when combined, the result isn’t great.】

【Anyone with a similar face to his doesn’t live past a hundred years.】

A hundred years, indeed considered short-lived among cultivators.

Qi Er: !!!

Face change, he must change his face!

Qi Er’s looks weren’t ugly by any means. Cultivators didn’t have ugly appearances, and as for face reading, Ning Xu couldn’t tell.

She casually asked, “What about my face?”

The Melon-Eating System chuckled, 【Your face? It’s clear that you have the fate of ascending to the heavens.】

Qi Er: …

Unexpectedly, this strange entity was quite flexible, speaking sweet words without hesitation.

When it came to this Daoist friend, the fate was to ascend, but when it came to him, it was a short life, financial loss, and wife death.

Ning Xu paused for a moment.

Although she wasn’t recognized as a genius by the Tianya Secret Realm and had initially been seen as an easy target by Fuxian, she accepted the praise.

She then asked, “What about Innocent Cultivator?”

Qi Er, who had been eavesdropping, looked completely confused.

Innocent Cultivator?

Someone actually called them that?

The Melon-Eating System clicked its tongue, 【It’s hard to say, his fate is still undecided, anything can happen.】

【He might become a saint, or he could fall early.】

Qi Er couldn’t help but murmur in his heart, it sounded so real.

But…

It couldn’t be true, right?

He glanced at the male Daoist beside him and couldn’t find any clues on his face. Were they talking about him?

Ning Xu continued, “If one takes a beauty pill and their face changes, can their fate change too?”

【Some can, some can’t.】

After talking about face reading for a while, the Melon-Eating System soon shifted its focus back to eating melons.

After all, eating melons was its greatest source of joy, everything else was just incidental.

The Melon-Eating System suddenly shouted, 【Big Brother is awesome!】

【One person taking on several elders from the Flower Pavilion, and not falling behind!】

【The posts we released are really helpful!】

Qi Er: Posts? What posts?

At this point, an idea inexplicably crossed his mind.

Could it be that he had discovered something extraordinary?

---

On the Flower Pavilion mountain peak.

Because of the beating incident involving Qi Wu, Dan Niang’s real brother, the young clan leader of the Shen clan, was detained in the Flower Pavilion.

Several elders of the Flower Pavilion pressured him to apologize to Qi Wu.

One elder said lightly, “Although you are the young clan leader of the Shen clan, you’re being too arrogant in our Flower Pavilion’s domain.”

At this moment, Qi Wu was healing on the spot.

After taking a healing pill, his breath stabilized significantly.

He still looked like a cool, immortal-like figure, “Big brother, you really misunderstood me.”

The Shen clan’s young leader maintained a stern face, “Misunderstood? If it was a misunderstanding, why is Dan Niang’s condition getting worse?”

Qi Wu’s voice was cold, “I’m also very pained by this, but there’s absolutely no issue with the pill that Dan Niang took.”

The Shen clan’s young leader knew that Qi Wu was making excuses, and the elders of the Flower Pavilion had an idea of what was going on, but without evidence, Qi Wu could deny it as much as he wanted.

A deadlock ensued.

At that moment, the young leader’s jade token suddenly vibrated.

He opened the jade token and quickly scanned it.

After a few laughs, he spoke loudly, “Apologize? I won’t apologize. Not only will I not apologize, but I’m also taking Dan Niang back to the Shen clan.”

Qi Wu raised his eyes, a faint trace of surprise in his indifferent eyes, “You…”

The young leader of the Shen clan took a few steps closer to Qi Wu. Just as the elders were worried that he would suddenly strike, he said, word by word, “Qi Wu, the people who spoke up for you, Lu Chuyi and Qi Xiang, are already in prison and in danger.”

“Next, it’s your turn.”

“I’m waiting for that day to come.”

After finishing, the young leader of the Shen clan calmly looked at the elders and said, “Don’t you have anything to say?”

The elders exchanged glances, not knowing what he had seen.

But the Shen clan was powerful, and openly falling out with the young leader wouldn’t do them any good.

They exchanged glances and finally stepped aside.

As soon as the Shen clan’s young leader left, the elders quickly opened their jade tokens, and almost simultaneously, they accessed the “Three Thousand Realms Cultivators Exchange Area.”

Several posts immediately caught their attention.

The top post read: True Love Invincible? No, They’re Just Stand-ins for the Sister-in-Law — Qi Xiang immortal

The next two posts were:

Qi Xiang Immortal’s Cousin Declares Break with Him!

Second Elder of Flower Pavilion Declares Break ties with Adopted Daughter Lu Chuyi!

At this moment, the elders were dumbfounded.

Breaking ties?

How did it suddenly come to this?

And both of these posts were like this.

After confirming the truth of these matters, they looked helplessly at Qi Wu, who was healing his injuries on the ground.

Next, was it really his turn?

---

When Ning Xu and the others met up with Wu Luchen, the Melon-Eating System was reporting the latest situation.

【Qi Wu, that old sinister one, is looking for information about you.】

Qi Er: !!!

Old… sinister… What?

It actually dared to call Qi Wu that?!

So, what he had guessed was true?!

The posts causing a stir in the “Three Thousand Realms Cultivators Exchange Area” were indeed posted by the person in front of him?

Ning Xu asked, “Is he looking for me to settle scores?” She couldn’t think of any other reason.

The Melon-Eating System clicked its tongue, 【No, it seems like he wants to settle this privately with you.】

Ning Xu, “…”

Looks like Qi Wu was getting anxious.

With two precedents set, he couldn’t afford not to be anxious.

But his plan for a private resolution was bound to fail.

Not long after they gathered, they encountered another key figure in the teacher-student romance — the innate Dao Body.

As an undeniable genius, the innate Dao Body was always conspicuous wherever she went.

To ensure her safety, she was accompanied by two guards, a man and a woman. In addition, many cultivators surrounded her, likely her fellow disciples. They surrounded her like the sun being adored by the stars.

When Ning Xu and the others encountered her, they were resting by the river.

It seemed the innate Dao Body’s group had the same idea.

The riverbank was spacious, and if any spirit beasts or cultivators ambushed them, they could notice right away.

Ning Xu took a glance at them and then stopped paying attention. The riverbank was wide enough for both of their groups.

But the next second, a voice filled with the pressure of a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator echoed.

“Move aside! Don’t take up space!”

Ning Xu, “???”

Another unfamiliar voice rang out, “We need this place, leave immediately.”

Ning Xu, “…”

She didn’t expect these people to be so domineering, wanting to take over the place.

During this process, the innate Dao Body naturally didn’t need to speak for herself; others took care of everything for her.

Ning Xu and the others didn’t react.

The first person to speak continued, “Don’t be ungrateful!”

【This is blatant provocation!】

【They’re just relying on their numbers!】

Indeed.

They had a large number of people. In terms of numbers, they had the upper hand. Not to mention, there were several ninth-level Qi Refining cultivators in their group, so fighting them directly wouldn’t be wise.

Although they couldn’t face them head-on, creating some small trouble for them was still possible.

【Host, find a way to show them some power!】

Ning Xu, “Alright!”

After speaking, the Melon-Eating System still couldn’t calm down, continuing to rant.

【Innate Dao Body? Does she really think she can ascend?】

【If it weren’t for her special constitution, I’d snatch it away and press it onto you!】

Ning Xu: …

That might not be necessary.

【This is just too much, being so arrogant already!】

【Is this riverbank theirs from Flower Pavilion? Ha, laughable!】

【Throw the melon! It must be thrown with force!】

【First, let’s deal with that old sinister Qi Wu.】

【After solving that old sinister Qi Wu, it’s the turn of this little silver coin! Wait for it, all of you!】

Ning Xu: …

Qi Er: !!!