“Don’t say I didn’t warn you: Jiang Nianyao is someone of great opportunity. Building a good relationship—or at least forming deep ties on the surface—will be beneficial to you all in the future. She might even be able to give you a hand when the time comes.”
Wen Li’s gaze lingered particularly on Xie Tinglan.
Xie Tinglan furrowed his brows slightly, only half-understanding her meaning.
Hua Cishu, Yao Dai, and Xin Jiuxian assumed she was referring to Jiang Nianyao’s powerful father and his vast influence. Only Zongzheng Huangyue’s long lashes fluttered slightly. Opportunity... providence...
Wangquan Sheng was the providence of her own narrative line.
Then Jiang Nianyao must be the providence for Xie Tinglan’s line. In that case... at the very least, Xie Tinglan currently needed to contend against a so-called Chosen of the Heavenly Dao, just as she did.
But Master used the word 'opportunity' instead of 'providence.' Could it be that she isn't a Chosen one, but rather an important figure in Xie Tinglan’s line, second only to the Chosen one? If that were the case, why didn't Master speak to Xie Tinglan privately instead of saying it in front of everyone?
Did Xie Tinglan not know his own fate of clashing with a Chosen one in the future? Or did Master have other intentions?
The five of them set off immediately upon receiving the mission, each relying on their own abilities.
After they left, Wen Li sat down quietly and took a sip of tea to moisten her throat. Calculating the time, Xin Feiliu should be on her way to the Eastern Province via the Interprovincial Passage by now.
By her estimation, Old Three would arrive here in seven days at most.
【Host, you’re already so powerful, why don’t you just carry them to victory?】 The system came online.
【Brightly colored flowers in a greenhouse are easily crushed. Even if I carry them now, if they actually face a Chosen one in the future, what will they use to resist the force of the plot? Am I supposed to keep an eye on each of them personally? If they’re that useless, they aren’t worth the effort. I’d rather just stab them to death myself.】
Wen Li leaned lazily against her chair, her body slumped as if she were boneless, yet the words she spoke were chilling in their ruthlessness.
【Host, why do you have to insist on getting Jiang Nianyao’s trust? Couldn’t you just take her Soul Blood to make her obedient?】
Wen Li let out a soft scoff. 【Is coercion the same as willing compliance? Jiang Nianyao is the second female lead of Xie Tinglan’s line; she won’t meet an end so easily. Her ability to survive until the later parts of the plot shows she has some substance. Since she likes Xie Tinglan and possesses a benevolent, compassionate heart, she values sentiment above all else. With someone like her, coercion will only backfire. Binding her with the thread of emotion is the most secure way.】
Furthermore, she cared more about the mental state of her six disciples than their cultivation. They needed the acting skills of a villain—capable of spinning webs of lies that deceived even themselves—and the resolve to enter the fray and ruthlessly cut down those within it. Since they hadn't encountered the Chosen protagonists yet, practicing on supporting characters would eventually come in handy.
The system was puzzled again. 【Host, are you really so bored that you insist on staying with these six disciples and watching them grow?】
【You’ve actually become smarter after those data repairs.】 Wen Li narrowed her eyes slightly, her tone cooling. 【Stop your probing. You aren't exactly benevolent yourself. We’re both just taking what we need, so stop pretending.】
If the system’s occasional questions in the past were truly due to it being a thickheaded idiot, then the current system was purely playing mind games, trying to guide and probe her to figure out her goals so it could control her.
The system fell silent before suddenly changing its tune. 【Oh, I was too stupid before, and I'm just not used to being smart yet. Why so defensive, Host? I’m right here in your mind. It’s no fun if we’re always on guard against each other. If you finish your missions and I meet my KPIs, we can speed up the progress together by cooperating!】
Wen Li chuckled, her cool features looking chillingly detached. 【Your best way to cooperate is to follow my lead obediently. If you try to suppress me, you’ll die. Did you think I had no way to deal with you just because you’re a system?】
The system remained silent; it did indeed feel somewhat invincible.
Wen Li toyed with the dagger in her hand. 【I must remind you for the last time: even if you bind someone else, setting aside the fact that it would be difficult for you to sever the bonds I’ve already built with the six villains, I would still be able to kill anyone you bound yourself to. Just as I told Hua Cishu, I will turn your multiple-choice options into a single, unique answer. Furthermore, you’ll have to beg me to keep hosting you before I’ll even consider it.】
The tone of her last sentence rose slightly, carrying the condescending air of a master giving charity.
The system made no further sound. It could already feel the faint aura of madness radiating from Wen Li’s cold essence. She was a lunatic! Not only did she want to keep six villains like pets and personally teach them to be as crazed and ruthless as herself, but she also wanted to control everything—including an otherworldly entity like itself.
But more than Wen Li’s ruthlessness, what the system feared most was where she got the confidence to threaten it like this. Just how far had her strength truly reached?
【...Host, I understand.】
In the end, the system was forced to compromise and truly settle down—though one percent of its restiveness remained.
Wen Li didn't care whether the system was sincere or not. She slowly stood up and walked out of the cave dwelling.
...
Three days later.
Wen Li arrived once more at the base of the three main peaks of Tingyin Pavilion.
Bai Songxu seemed to have received orders, as he was already waiting for her. Grand Elder Shengji and Third Elder Linghu Ci were kneeling to the side, their expressions filled with grief and sorrow.
“...Senior, the Ancestor is waiting within his cave dwelling.”
Bai Songxu had cast aside his usual flippancy. He was now dressed in plain white robes, his face showing a trace of mourning.
Wen Li’s expression remained detached as she slowly stepped alone into the cave dwelling, which no longer had its defensive barrier.
“You’ve come.”
Inside the cave, the soul form had actually regained a physical body. Bai Yu, who had undergone rejuvenation and returned to the appearance of a handsome twenty-year-old man, stood quietly by the cold jade bed in a moon-white robe. His face was radiant, not at all like someone whose death and Dao-dissolution were imminent.
It was as if he had been waiting for her for a long time. When he saw her, a relaxed and carefree smile appeared on his face.
Wen Li knew this was his final burst of vitality before the end.
“Yes.”
With that single, faint syllable, she stepped forward and sat down. Bai Yu sat as well and poured some tea.
“I have already given instructions to Shengji and Linghu Ci. Once Xin Jiuxian has grown, Tingyin Pavilion will be hers. I have also handed over the Soul Blood of Shengji and Linghu Ci to you; you may command Tingyin Pavilion at any time you wish.”
Hearing that he knew she had taken the Soul Blood of his two elders, Wen Li’s expression remained calm and showed no embarrassment at being caught. Bai Yu’s words weren't just handing her a blade; he was also tethering Tingyin Pavilion to her. After all, there was no such thing as getting benefits for free.
“You’re about to die, yet you still worry about these juniors? Descendants will have their own luck; you should let go.”
She picked up the tea and took a small sip.
Hearing this, Bai Yu let out a helpless, light chuckle. “I am indeed dying, but I established Tingyin Pavilion with my own hands. I cannot bear to see the sect fractured and the disciples scattered.”
He was a music cultivator. Compared to the more common sword, spell, and pill cultivators, the path of a music cultivator was more difficult and mysterious, with very few people following it. He had founded Tingyin Pavilion back then precisely to provide a sanctuary for the many music cultivators in the Southern Province.
As the largest music cultivation sect in the Southern Province, Tingyin Pavilion had a wide circle of friends. However, once the sect ceased to exist, the advantage of music cultivation—the ability to nourish meridians—would become a death warrant as other cultivators coveted and envied it.
“Tsk, you’re just working yourself to death by worrying too much.” Wen Li shook her head, unable to understand this behavior.
He had been perfectly fine in the Central Province, but he insisted on performing a divination for her on behalf of his master. Not only did that cost him his lifespan, but this latest divination for Tingyin Pavilion had directly claimed his life.
Rate on N.U.
