Chapter Four: The Grandmaster Kneels Before an Unremarkable Woman

With spiritual energy shielding her, Ning Xianyu’s mind was no longer sluggish. Irritated, she demanded, “Stop changing the subject. I haven’t settled accounts with you for what you did to me. Now, tell me—what’s the plan?”

The system sounded aggrieved. “Even if we want to swap back, you’ll have to wait a month and make another wish.”

A month?

With Xuan Yuan Tunhan, that fiend, trapped inside, Ning Xianyu doubted she’d even survive the day, let alone wait a month. If he figured things out, he might come out blade in hand and cut her down.

Desperate, she threatened, “I want a solution right now, or I’ll tell Xuan Yuan Tunhan about your existence!”

The system was on the verge of tears, unable to fathom how it ended up with such a shameless host. “Why don’t you seek out this world’s protagonist? With his protagonist aura, even Xuan Yuan Tunhan couldn’t harm you.”

Ning Xianyu arched an eyebrow. “Protagonist? Right, you said this world is virtual—is it a book?”

The system confirmed, “Yes, a novel called ‘Sword Sovereign.’ Xuan Yuan Tunhan is currently the apex of power in this world.”

“But that’s only because the male lead hasn’t grown yet. Once he does, bosses like Xuan Yuan Tunhan are just fodder for leveling up.”

Ning Xianyu was furious again. “Are you insane? You swapped me with the protagonist, making me his stepping stone, and you claim you aren’t trying to ruin me?”

The system argued, “But he’s truly invincible in the cultivation realm right now! You only wanted to escape the drudgery of sweeping gardens as a miscellaneous spirit root. Why not enjoy being an ancestor for a while? Once my energy recovers, you can wish to become someone else.”

Enjoy it?

How could she enjoy it?

Ning Xianyu rubbed the tip of her nose, cold to the touch.

With Xuan Yuan Tunhan lurking behind her, if she paraded around in his shell, she’d be courting death.

“Come in,” Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s voice sounded again from behind.

Ning Xianyu hurried back.

She hunched her shoulders and came before the fiend.

Xuan Yuan Tunhan narrowed his eyes, watching his own body adopt a humble, obedient pose. A strange feeling stirred within him.

How to describe it? He just wanted to cut something.

As the thought moved, Ning Xianyu saw a flash of cold light.

A loud boom followed.

The glass lamp by the bed was struck by sword energy and shattered instantly.

Ning Xianyu’s knees went weak, and she knelt straight before Xuan Yuan Tunhan.

Just then, a stream of light shot into the hall.

Accompanied by the excited voice of Sect Master Du Juezi: “Reporting, Ancestor, I’ve investigated the matter you—gah?”

Du Juezi’s voice cut off abruptly.

He stared, dumbfounded, at Xuan Yuan Tunhan kneeling before an unremarkable woman, his eyes nearly bulging out.

What was going on?

Why was the founder kneeling before a plain woman?

Who was she?

Where was he?

Was he about to be silenced?

Du Juezi’s mind raced.

Meanwhile, Ning Xianyu’s thoughts were filled with frantic screams, “It’s over! We’ve been seen! The demon will pull out my soul, grind it to dust, and drink it! Disaster!!!”

Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s gaze grew ever more dangerous, the oppressive aura around him increasingly terrifying.

Ning Xianyu grabbed Du Juezi’s beard, yanking him down to kneel at her side. “Old fool, what are you staring at? Hurry and bow to the ancestor!”

Du Juezi, bewildered, was caught off guard and knelt so hard his knees formed spiderweb cracks.

So shocked, he didn’t even notice the ancestor’s odd address.

Ancestor? Isn’t he our ancestor?

Full of doubts, Du Juezi dazedly kowtowed to Xuan Yuan Tunhan inhabiting Ning Xianyu’s body. “Greetings, Ancestor.”

Ning Xianyu threatened, “The existence of the ancestor is vital. If you dare spread word of what happened today, I’ll grind your bones to ash. Understood?”

Du Juezi nodded frantically, terror written all over his face.

If the ancestor said he’d kill, he really would, whether you were sect leader or elder.

He’d erase your soul!

Ning Xianyu nervously glanced at Xuan Yuan Tunhan, her fluttering eyes pleading.

She hoped the ancestor would show mercy and spare her.

The woman’s face was gloomy, her cold gaze trailing over the artery in Ning Xianyu’s neck.

Inside, Ning Xianyu felt her inner self trembling like a taut string.

“System! Help! If he kills me, can you bring me back?”

The system replied, “Don’t worry, host. On Qingming, Double Ninth, birthdays and death anniversaries, I’ll burn offerings of your favorite king and that man.”

Ning Xianyu cursed, “You wretch! If I die, I won’t let you off. I’ll expose you right now!”

Her expression shifted, entering the love-hate mode with the system.

“Wait, wait! I have a solution!” the system pleaded.

Ning Xianyu’s eyes reddened. “Speak!”

“Take him as your disciple!” the system urged.

The red light in Ning Xianyu’s eyes faded instantly. She squinted, despair settling in.

“I’m tired. Let everything be destroyed,” she muttered.

“Sys—” she began.

The system interrupted, “Ah! Right now, you are him and he is you. If you take him as your disciple, it’s as if he takes you as his. Once a teacher, always a parent. How could a father kill his own child? Even a tiger cares for its cubs!”

The system explained frantically.

A muffled laugh escaped from Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s lips, now wearing Ning Xianyu’s innocent face.

Ning Xianyu stared at him in horror.

Had he… had he just laughed?

She wasn’t sure.

It was so brief, barely audible.

Looking at Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s corpse-like expression, Ning Xianyu preferred to believe that the “pfft” was him secretly passing gas.

Du Juezi, kneeling beside Xuan Yuan Tunhan, leaned in and whispered, “Ancestor, the matter you asked me to investigate has yielded results.”

“What matter? I didn’t—” Ning Xianyu replied blankly.

Suddenly, Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s voice echoed in her mind, “Let him speak.”

Startled, Ning Xianyu changed her tune, feigning enlightenment. “Ah, that matter. What did you find?”

Du Juezi hesitated, glancing at the woman by the bed, saying nothing.

Ning Xianyu prompted, “The ancestor is one of us. Speak freely.”

At last, Du Juezi reported, “The nine-stemmed Epiphyllum of Flower Sound Island is indeed about to bloom. Island Lord Fairy Longyue has already perished, her soul sealed beneath the flower. Junior Sister Bu Jiao observed the stars last night and predicts the flower will bloom within three days at the latest!”

Ning Xianyu didn’t understand a word. “System, what’s the nine-stemmed Epiphyllum?”

“A miraculous herb that conquers heart demons,” the system replied. “Xuan Yuan Tunhan has coveted it for most of his life.”

“Thirty thousand years ago, he forcibly broke through from the Shattered Void realm to the Void realm, planting a heart demon. With that demon, no matter his talent, his strength could not advance.”

Ning Xianyu vaguely understood.

She only knew this flower was crucial to Xuan Yuan Tunhan.

A determined look flashed in Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s eyes as he conveyed his will to Ning Xianyu: “Let him go.”