Chapter Five: Seizing His Weakness

Ning Xianyu immediately put on an air of profundity and said to Du Juezi, "You may withdraw."

"What happened today must not be revealed to anyone, or I’ll rip out your soul and drink it down with water!"

Ning Xianyu failed to notice that, upon hearing this, the corner of Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

Du Juezi was similarly baffled.

Since when did the Ancestor have such eccentric habits?

"Yes," Du Juezi replied, then took his leave.

This left only Ning Xianyu and Xuan Yuan Tunhan in the great hall.

A tense atmosphere began to spread between them.

Xuan Yuan Tunhan fixed his gaze on Ning Xianyu, weighing his options.

Because of the heart demon festering within him, he was always in torment, as though roasting over flames. Only the Nine-Petal Ephemeral Bloom could extinguish that fire.

Yet, after being switched into this woman’s body, Xuan Yuan Tunhan found that the heart demon was gone.

For this reason alone, Xuan Yuan Tunhan had no intention of returning to his own body for the time being.

Still, he was uneasy about his body being in her hands.

Moreover, he was deeply curious about her origins and the existence of that so-called system.

To this day, he could make no sense of the things the system had said.

But Xuan Yuan Tunhan was in no hurry; as long as he remained in this woman’s body, he could overhear their conversations.

After all, they didn’t know he could listen in—he might even glean secrets previously unknown to him.

With this in mind, Xuan Yuan Tunhan spoke: "Tell that thing inside your body to switch us back."

Ning Xianyu’s scalp tingled as she replied, "Ancestor, it can’t be done for now."

"What do you mean, it can’t be done?" Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s eyes were icy, looking at Ning Xianyu as if she were already dead.

Of course he knew it couldn’t be done.

He only asked to avoid giving himself away.

Ning Xianyu wanted to weep but dared not. She was afraid she’d lose a finger.

"Please don’t be angry, Ancestor! The switch can only be made after a month!" Ning Xianyu lowered her head, not daring to meet Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s eyes.

She cursed the system in her heart.

The system simmered with silent fury.

"You want me to stay in your lowly body for a month?" Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s tone was dangerously soft.

Ning Xianyu’s heart nearly choked with blood: [System, did you hear that? Is this how people talk? My body is lowly, and his is noble?]

No matter how thoroughly she cursed Xuan Yuan Tunhan in her heart, outwardly, Ning Xianyu could only play the humble servant.

"Yes, yes, yes. Forcing Ancestor to dwell in my body is a grievance for you, but I promise, a month from now I’ll swap us back immediately!" Ning Xianyu said cautiously. "Could you treat me like a fart and just let me go?"

"Are you bargaining with me?" Xuan Yuan Tunhan bent down, his gaze boring into Ning Xianyu’s eyes.

Within those glacial eyes, the desire to kill was undisguised.

Ning Xianyu felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head, and fear stole her words.

Sensing a chance to act, the system hurried to egg Ning Xianyu on: [Don’t be afraid, host! This body is his—if he kills you, he can’t go back either. Once a month has passed, I’ll put you in a body he’ll never find!]

[Really? If that’s the case, I’m going to do as I please!] Ning Xianyu replied.

Ning Xianyu, throwing caution to the wind, sat cross-legged on her own legs, looking as fearless as a pig too used to boiling water.

"If Ancestor is dissatisfied, just kill me now," she said.

"You think I’m a fool?" Xuan Yuan Tunhan narrowed his eyes, a cold sneer in his heart.

This idiot really dared to rebel.

He sneered, "This body is mine to begin with. If I kill you, I’d only be damaging my own flesh. If I chop anything, it’ll be your body."

Ning Xianyu looked shocked. "You’re not afraid of pain?"

Xuan Yuan Tunhan regarded her with disdain, scoffing at her question.

Sensing she was being looked down upon, Ning Xianyu steeled herself and looked away. "Go ahead then—it’s not me who’ll feel the pain."

She spoke to the system: [System, so what if I lose this body!]

The system was pleased: [Now you’re talking! Don’t be afraid, host—stand your ground!]

Xuan Yuan Tunhan was so infuriated he almost laughed. He detested situations and people beyond his control.

He grabbed Ning Xianyu’s chin, forcing her to face him.

His eyes glinted dangerously. "Do you think just because you’re in my body, I have no means to deal with you?"

Ning Xianyu shuddered, crossing her arms protectively over her chest. "What do you want?"

Xuan Yuan Tunhan smiled faintly, his tone lazy: "Even if you’re in my body, your soul is weak. My Void Realm soul could reduce you to an idiot in an instant. Do you understand?"

In a flash, every hair on Ning Xianyu’s body stood on end.

A primal sense of danger flooded her, as though she were being hunted by some ancient beast.

She trembled, asking the system, [Is he telling the truth?]

The system’s voice grew small: [Well… in theory, yes.]

Good grief!

Wasn’t she the one getting played for a fool?

Ning Xianyu’s bravado vanished on the spot, leaving her all but clinging to Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s leg to beg for mercy.

"Ancestor, I was wrong!" Ning Xianyu buried her head under her arms, playing ostrich.

A trace of satisfaction flickered in Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s eyes. "Since the switch can only happen in a month, I’ll let it go for now."

"But I can’t let you walk around with my face. Tell me, how should I deal with you?"

Deal with me? What nonsense!

Ning Xianyu was so nervous her toes curled into the floor.

Xuan Yuan Tunhan was just looking for an excuse to make things difficult for her.

No way—she couldn’t let him succeed.

She just had to hold out for a month, until the system’s wish-granting ability was restored.

Racking her brains, Ning Xianyu grasped at the Nine-Petal Ephemeral Bloom as her lifeline. "Ancestor, spare me! Don’t you still need to handle the matter of the Nine-Petal Ephemeral Bloom? Using my body would be inconvenient for you—why don’t I go in your stead and retrieve the flower for you?"

Xuan Yuan Tunhan shot her an approving glance. "You are quick-witted."

Indeed, Ning Xianyu had found Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s Achilles’ heel.

He was determined to obtain the Nine-Petal Ephemeral Bloom.

"Go. Tell Du Juezi to prepare for a journey to Flower Melody Island," Xuan Yuan Tunhan agreed to her proposal.

Ning Xianyu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She felt as if the executioner’s blade had edged just a little farther from her pitiful neck.

"I’ll go right away!" Ning Xianyu sprang up, transforming into a streak of light and vanishing before Xuan Yuan Tunhan’s eyes.

Flower Melody Island ranked seventh among the ten great sects of the cultivation world.

Though its power did not match Jade Immortal Sect, the island mistress, Fairy Longyue, had created the Chaotic Soul Melody, a technique that attacked a cultivator’s very soul.

It was nearly impossible to guard against.

Within the cultivation world, it was a most troublesome opponent.

Moreover, the island was home only to female disciples, all of whom were considered extraordinary vessels for dual cultivation.

Many sects in the cultivation world sought Flower Melody disciples as Dao partners.

Thus, although Flower Melody Island’s ranking was low, no one dared provoke them.

Three hundred years ago, the island closed its gates to outsiders.

Even the Hundred Blossom Festival, held once every hundred years, had been postponed twice.

Rumors about this abounded in the cultivation world.