Chapter Thirteen: I'm Just Here to Go Through the Motions

Ning Xianyu was teasing the system when she suddenly felt as though the ground beneath her feet was shaking.
What was going on?
She glanced downward, but there was no earthquake—and no one else seemed to notice anything amiss. It couldn't be that she alone sensed the tremor.
Puzzled, she turned her head and caught sight of Xuan Yuan Tunhan's cold, indifferent profile.
It was her own face, yet it now seemed strangely unfamiliar.
Was he angry again?
After spending several days with him, Ning Xianyu had already discerned a certain pattern—she knew that this formidable man beside her had a temper that flared unpredictably.
[System, do you think the reason the big demon lord's mood swings are so erratic is that he’s gone so many years without a companion and is bottling up too much inner fire?]
[Haha, I don’t know—I have no experience.]
[Haha, nor do I, but I’ve read books! That’s how they always describe it: if someone holds back too long, things can go awry, haha.]
Bang!
Just as she and the system were snickering to themselves, a sudden crash rang out in the distance—a jade tree snapped and toppled with a loud rustle.
All the cultivators whipped around, then made the same move: they all distanced themselves from Xuan Yuan Tunhan.
Ning Xianyu widened her eyes in innocence.
It wasn’t her—it was the person beside her.
She was still shivering when Xuan Yuan Tunhan came over and took her hand tightly.
Hmph. Every inch of land within the Six Realms of Yunhuang was reserved for this woman’s ashes; just wait and see.
Ning Xianyu thought perhaps she hadn’t been standing straight enough, so she quickly straightened her back.
The disciples of Flower Sound Island seized the opportunity to slip away.
Du Juezi stepped forward and said, “Everyone, let’s follow tradition and draw lots to determine the order of the matches.”
No one objected; all agreed to go into the grand hall for the drawing.
After all, that’s how it was always done.
The Hundred Flowers Festival was not only a day for the disciples of Flower Sound Island to choose companions—it was also a day for the ten great sects to compete, a proof of strength.
Jade Immortal Sect was the foremost sect in the world, always overshadowing the others, which had long caused resentment.
But none dared voice their anger, for none could defeat Xuan Yuan Tunhan, and none would risk provoking him.
Under Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s direction, Ning Xianyu stepped forward and said, “As usual, only ten places are chosen. My Jade Immortal Sect will provide twelve disciples for the matches; each of you will offer one, making twenty participants. Perfect.”
There were nine sects visiting Flower Sound Island—eight besides Jade Immortal Sect, so giving each one a spot seemed fair.
Except…
Perfect?
Ning Xianyu herself felt that Xuan Yuan Tunhan was being domineering and unreasonable.
He called it a twenty-person match, but Jade Immortal Sect accounted for more than half; even if they performed poorly, they’d still have five or six make it through.
How was this “perfect”? It was blatant bullying.
Mo Yu-jun from the Fierce Phoenix Mountain was the first to object: “Ancestor Xuan Yuan, your sect’s candidates are twelve times ours. Don’t you think that’s unfair?”
Ning Xianyu was shouting inwardly: [Exactly, exactly! I agree—it’s unfair. But you’re truly brave.]
Still, she glanced at Mo Yu-jun, instinctively adopting a commanding tone: “You wish to discuss fairness with me?”
Strength is fairness.
Without it, what use is fairness?
[See? Still too young. Daring to talk fairness with the demon lord—this child is too naive.]
With just one look, Mo Yu-jun felt a chill throughout his body, grunted coldly, but dared not say another word.
Others had their opinions too, but none dared speak, so the matter was settled cheerfully.
Though twenty would compete, most were from Jade Immortal Sect, but the order of matches would still be decided by lot.
Usually, Du Juezi handled the drawing; Xuan Yuan Tunhan paid no attention to such matters.
But this time, Du Juezi stepped back, signaling for the ancestor to take charge.
Ning Xianyu, helpless, could only enter the grand hall to draw lots at Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s urging.
Flower Sound Island was well-versed in hosting such competitions; all the necessary tools were already prepared.
The drawing involved writing each disciple’s name on a slip, then tossing it into a bronze cauldron in the hall.
Soon, the cauldron would spit out slips in pairs; the names on those slips would be the opponents.
There was a catch: for Jade Immortal Sect, this method was a bit disadvantageous.
Since they entered twelve names, the drawing did not deliberately separate them—so their own disciples might end up facing each other.
Ning Xianyu walked slowly, entering last.
Inside, she overheard a sect leader muttering, “Let’s hope the Jade Immortal Sect draws lots against itself.”
That way, half of their own would be eliminated in the first round—let’s see how proud they are then.
Ning Xianyu walked straight in, glancing at the sect leader.
So even those who had cultivated for thousands of years could be so childish, muttering like schoolchildren.
The slips were prepared by Flower Sound Island, and only their disciples could write them.
Ning Xianyu went to the front and reported her name to the disciple there.
A young woman wrote down each name, about to throw them in, when someone called out, “Wait.”
It was Shangguan Xuanyue, the leader of Yin Mountain Sect; he stepped forward, saying he wanted to check his sect’s slip.

“Little fairy, let me see if the name is correct.”
The disciple looked at him, agreed, and handed over the slip for Yin Mountain Sect.
Sheng Tiankuang, leader of Sacred Heaven Sect, scoffed, “It’s just a name—must you check it? Shangguan leader, you’re being overly cautious.”
Shangguan Xuanyue smiled, “Cultivators may disregard form, but are still bound by it; fate relies on the heavenly order. Sometimes a name written wrong may affect the outcome, so I’d rather be careful for my disciple’s sake.”
“Hah!”
Sheng Tiankuang laughed derisively and stepped aside, unwilling to associate with him.
After checking, Shangguan Xuanyue politely returned the slip: “Thank you for your trouble.”
The disciple returned the courtesy and prepared to place all the slips in the cauldron, when someone else spoke up.
“Wait, I agree with Shangguan leader—bring me my sect’s slips, let me check them.”
After this, the other leaders all wanted to review their own slips as well.
The disciple from Flower Sound Island looked at them in exasperation, as if suspecting they were all unwell.
What’s so interesting about a slip of paper?
Nevertheless, they brought the slips over and examined them meticulously.
Not only did they inspect, but they argued as they did—one jabbed at another, another retorted, making quite a lively scene.
The disciple from Flower Sound Island even asked Ning Xianyu if she wanted to check hers.
Ning Xianyu declined outright.
There was nothing worth seeing.
Besides, it had nothing to do with her—she was just here to fulfill a process.
No need to call her in—thank you!
Ning Xianyu stood aside to watch the spectacle, her mind busy as ever, chatting happily with the system.
[Look at Sacred Heaven Sect’s leader—his name is wild, and he’s wild himself. Maybe his cultivation is quite high?]
The system quickly clarified: [He only changed his name after becoming sect leader. He used to be called Ah Zhong.]
[Pfft! Seriously? So juvenile, but he looks so proper.]
Outside the hall, Xuan Yuan Tunhan sat alone, listening to the lively conversation between a woman and her system in his mind, feeling a headache coming on.
How was it that even from such a distance, he could still hear her endless chatter?