“Hey host, maybe we should wait a bit longer? We still have plenty of time anyway?”

The system eagerly presented all the information it had gathered.

Despite this, truth be told, the system still didn’t understand why its host was in such a hurry.

After all, according to the records, the original host had died three times, all after reaching the Golden Core stage, hadn’t she? Their current host hadn’t even reached Foundation Establishment yet.

From its perspective, they were still quite safe for a long time to come.

An Ning sighed and patted the dog-like system’s head with a dangerous smile:

“If you’re feeling bored recently, you should read more books. Be good now!”

The system: “…”

As usual, An Ning handed the newly refined pills to Chen Ping for sale before packing her things and heading to the main hall.

Before the hour of mao (5-7am), the square near Vermilion Bird Gate was already packed with people.

Although the Xuqing Sect didn’t place much importance on outer sect disciples, the regular benefits were quite good. At least during An Ning’s time here, apart from the monthly allowance of spirit rice, there was a monthly grand lecture around mid-month.

Mostly conducted by peak elders or their direct disciples, these lectures aimed to answer questions for disciples lacking personal mentors.

“A-Ning! Over here! I knew you’d want to attend Elder Ye’s lecture, so I saved you a spot!”

Before An Ning even arrived, a lively voice called out from the square.

The speaker appeared to be thirteen or fourteen, about An Ning’s age, with an oval face, almond-shaped eyes, and slight baby fat on her cheeks. She wore a flowing blue cloud-patterned dress, the magnolia butterfly hairpin on her left temple trembling with her energetic movements.

She clearly had an extremely vivacious personality.

Seeing her friend arrive, Jiang Yan immediately pulled An Ning aside while complaining:

“A-Ning, what have you been so busy with lately? Every time I went to find you, your room was closed with a barrier set up.”

“Wait!” Jiang Yan suddenly turned, eyeing her friend suspiciously:

“A-Ning, you haven’t been cultivating day and night again, have you? You’re way too diligent!”

No wonder she progressed so quickly!

Feeling her own weak spiritual energy, Jiang Yan clenched her small fist…

No, she couldn’t continue like this. She needed to ask her father for more spirit stones and pills.

Seeing exactly what her friend was thinking, An Ning couldn’t help but twitch her mouth after sitting down.

Thanks to this girl’s random explanations, An Ning had gained a reputation among outer sect disciples as a cultivation maniac who practiced every waking moment.

But this also meant her rapid cultivation progress hadn’t raised too much suspicion.

Following her friend’s lead, An Ning sat down.

The young girl before her was named Jiang Yan, one of An Ning’s few friends in the outer sect. They’d met during a minor sect competition.

Logically, after reaching mid-stage Qi Refining, disciples could take on simple sect missions. But with her “ultimate cultivation cauldron” physique, how could An Ning dare wander about?

Especially to remote areas.

Unable to do missions, the training hall became her best option to compensate for combat weaknesses.

As for Jiang Yan, being the daughter of an outer sect manager, she lacked no resources, and her family didn’t want their beloved youngest daughter taking risks.

As frequent visitors to the training hall, they’d gradually become friends.

As they talked, two streaks of spiritual light descended from the sky nearby.

The noisy square instantly quieted.

However, when the light faded, standing on the platform weren’t Elder Ye from Danyang Peak as expected, but two young people—a man and a woman.

Both had outstanding appearances—the man cool and composed, the woman bright and beautiful. Both wore the wide-sleeved white robes only inner sect disciples could wear, with different cuff patterns indicating their respective peaks.

Seeing it wasn’t Elder Ye personally attending, the disciples below showed some disappointment but weren’t surprised.

Most sect elders were at Golden Core stage or above—prestigious figures with little time to teach unrelated disciples. Having their disciples substitute was perfectly normal.

But whether it was An Ning’s imagination or not, throughout the lecture, she kept feeling gazes occasionally falling on her from the platform.

And the feeling wasn’t exactly friendly.

On the way back, An Ning casually asked: “A-Yan, those two earlier didn’t seem much older, yet they’ve already reached Foundation Establishment?”

“And that senior didn’t seem from Danyang Peak either! Why would they substitute for Elder Ye today?”

Jiang Yan’s eyes lit up at the gossip:

“Ah, A-Ning, you’re asking the right person!”

“Those two seniors might look young, but they’re no ordinary figures. The male senior is Senior Changji from Ten Thousand Swords Peak, son of Sikong City’s lord. He joined our sect specifically to learn Peak Master Qiu’s legendary sword techniques.”

“As for why he came today, probably because of his childhood sweetheart Senior Shangguan…”

Jiang Yan’s eyes sparkled with excitement:

“That was Senior Shangguan earlier—Elder Ye’s personal disciple from Danyang Peak, and orphaned daughter of City Lord Sikong’s close friend. Raised in Sikong City, they grew up together as childhood sweethearts. They say Senior Shangguan came all the way to Xuqing Sect for Senior Sikong…”

“Hehe, A-Ning, seeing how they acted earlier, their happy event must be coming soon.”

“Childhood sweethearts, perfect match—so enviable!”

“Wait…” Noticing An Ning’s silence, Jiang Yan suddenly realized:

“A-Ning, since when are you interested in this?”

“You…you couldn’t possibly be…”

“Stop—don’t even think it!”

Grabbing Jiang Yan’s pointing finger, An Ning quickly interrupted the ridiculous notion:

“I just wanted to know how far behind we are compared to them…”

“More importantly, A-Yan, you usually blush at the sight of handsome men. Why so calm today?”

“Pfft! What’s there to get excited about?”

Back in their room, Jiang Yan gulped down tea before waving dismissively:

“They’re heaven’s favorites—completely out of reach for outer sect disciples like us! No matter how polite they seem, they must look down on us commoners. Probably feel slighted if we stare too long!”

“Pretty faces are nice to look at, but when the gap’s this wide? Not worth it!”

Good perspective, sister!

An Ning gave her friend a thumbs up.

Jiang Yan smirked proudly.

Of course—her father always said only reach for what’s within grasp, never what’s too distant.

“But I’m one thing—you’re different, A-Ning.”

“You’re beautiful and talented. At your current pace, if you find a powerful master later, you might surpass those people!”

“Then I’ll take your kind words to heart!”

“Hehehe!”

After more cultivation discussion, it wasn’t until evening when Jiang Yan finally left that the system timidly emerged:

“Actually, I think the girl’s right. With your abilities, finding a powerful master during the upcoming sect competition shouldn’t be hard. Then we’d have backing…”

“With some caution and more pills prepared…”

“Caution? You think the original host wasn’t cautious enough in previous lives?”

As for masters?

Wasn’t the first life’s master powerful enough? A sect elder at Golden Core Perfection.

A top expert in today’s cultivation world.

Moreover, the cultivation world had countless truth-finding methods. Yet the culprit could still act against the original host.

Only two possibilities: either the culprit’s background was so formidable they feared no sect elder’s retaliation.

Or their methods were exceptionally covert.

Alternatively, perhaps to that elder, an ordinary disciple without backing wasn’t worth making a fuss over.

True, her cultivation speed was impressive, but An Ning knew countless talents surpassed her in the cultivation world.

Just one disciple—hardly irreplaceable.

“O…okay…”

“I’m just worried about that person…”

Ever since learning its host’s plans, the system had been constantly anxious.

Equally pensive was An Ning herself. Recalling that vaguely hostile gaze from the platform, she thought:

Seems we need to move even faster!

Another month passed. When An Ning went to the training hall with Jiang Yan as usual, they immediately heard surrounding chatter:

“Hey, have you heard?”

“Rumor says Hundred Treasures Pavilion released a new pill—Clear Spirit Pill—that can increase Foundation Establishment success rates!”

“Especially for Thunder-Fire spirit roots…”

“Brother Jiang, you have a fire spirit root, right? Been having temper control issues? You should try it…”

“That effective?”

“Would I lie?”

Jiang Yan heard much of this too but merely listened—she lacked thunder-fire roots and didn’t practice volatile techniques, so no need to worry.

But new pills? The cultivation world hadn’t seen new pill formulas in ages!

“I wonder which genius developed them!”

During a break, Jiang Yan couldn’t help muttering.

The “genius” beside her simply smiled without comment.

Several mornings later, as An Ning opened her door, a red-robed man blocked her path:

“Fair maiden, our city lord requests your presence.”

“Please wait a moment. I have some things to gather.”

As if expecting their arrival, An Ning’s gaze briefly swept over the group’s phoenix-patterned emblems before making her request.

The teenage girl showed no fear before the imposing group.

As if…she’d anticipated this long ago.

The leading young man’s eyes flickered before nodding permission with one hand behind his back.

Ignoring their gazes, An Ning quickly gathered research materials from her desk.

“System, remember what I told you? From now on, don’t make any movements—not even in my consciousness. Don’t make a sound until I call you. And absolutely don’t probe others…”

“G…got it!”

In her consciousness, the teacup-dog system curled up fearfully.

Truthfully, even without its host’s warning, it would have cowered. Remembering that person’s terror, the system dared not make a peep.

Reassured, An Ning didn’t delay as the group escorted her to an extravagant courtyard.

Canglan Hall, located east of the main hall, was Xuqing Sect’s highest-grade guest residence—reserved for VIPs. But since that person’s visit years ago, it had become exclusively his, untouched by others since.

Taking a deep breath, An Ning stepped through the gates. The moment she entered, all accompanying disciples swiftly withdrew with practiced efficiency.

The spacious hall housed an black-robed man. From her distance, An Ning couldn’t clearly see his face, but upon looking up, overwhelming pressure mixed with scorching flames assaulted her.

Instantly, her entire body felt immersed in molten lava.

An Ning knew—this wasn’t even intentional suppression.

Was this the power of a Nascent Soul cultivator—this world’s current strongest?

Despite her past life experiences, An Ning couldn’t help feeling awed.

“City Lord.”

An Ning spoke first, but the man above coldly remarked:

“Fourteen years old. Qi Refining stage? And only a triple spirit root?”

An Ning: “…”

What was with that tone? Avoiding his gaze, An Ning steadied herself: “City Lord, this seems irrelevant to why you summoned me?”

She refused to believe he hadn’t thoroughly researched her before contacting her.

Did her talents disgust him that much?

Ignoring her reaction, the man languidly stated: “Present the pill formula, and you’ll become a member of West Flame City.”

This wasn’t negotiation—but command.

Seeing his dismissive air, An Ning finally spoke: “How can the City Lord be certain I won’t eventually solve your…problem?”

Yes, eventually.

Though facing the same issue, An Ning knew her current Clear Spirit Pill’s effects on lower realms—especially below Golden Core—were remarkable.

But for someone at his level? Maybe 10% efficacy at best. If not for her youth and potential, he probably wouldn’t spare her a glance.

And his particular condition…

Unexpectedly, the man neither rejected nor grew angry, but studied her intently:

“State your demands.”

Seems his condition was worse than imagined. An Ning steadied herself:

“I’ve heard the City Lord’s sword qi is extraordinary. This humble one, lacking in cultivation, wishes to request three strands for future protection.”

His silence lasted several breaths before he seemed to laugh angrily:

“Do you even know what sword qi is?”

Of course An Ning knew. Top cultivators could seal sword qi as life-saving weapons—typically gifts from elders to important juniors.

But if sword qi were so easily preserved, the cultivation world wouldn’t lose so many sect and family talents in secret realms yearly.

In truth, creating sword qi artifacts retaining over 70% of one’s power required tremendous effort—possibly months of recovery.

Requesting three strands at once was outright audacious.

“To expend such effort for some vague future possibility—do you take me for a fool?”

“Or perhaps…you think knowing my weakness entitles you to make demands?”

His overwhelming pressure nearly forced An Ning to her knees.

Swallowing blood, An Ning suddenly smiled brightly upon looking up.

“Because regardless of success or failure, City Lord, you won’t lose out either way.”

In the empty hall, the fourteen-year-old girl’s smile shone brilliantly, her eyes filled with terrifying determination.

From his high seat, Xiao Tan’s eyes narrowed before suddenly widening in realization.

At length, his thin lips parted:

“You…have astonishing nerve.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep