Ning Xiang could tell that besides binding Mingyuan and preventing his escape, the Ice Talisman Formation also restricted his use of demonic power and suppressed his fire techniques.
Setting up a formation alone was not particularly difficult. The difficult part was keeping its configurations so endlessly changeable against an expert like Mingyuan.
In her previous life, she had focused solely on following the plot and had never understood this master very well. No wonder he was the book's leading male protagonist. He really did have something up his sleeve.
But then again...
Ice subdued fire, but who was to say fire could not subdue ice?
Roaring flames sprang up around Soul-Rending. Their tongues were as crimson as blood, yet their cores were actually ice blue.
This was the legendary Netherworld Flame.
Mingyuan swung Soul-Rending, and wherever the Netherworld Flame passed, every ice talisman melted and was devoured.
The Netherworld Flame evaporated the ice talismans into vapor. Amid the swirling mist, Mingyuan slowly emerged.
The young man's eyes shone like bright stars. He was strikingly handsome and radiant, with an air of carefree abandon about him. Now his eyes blazed as though he had encountered a worthy opponent at last.
Wait, if he's this powerful, how did Iceberg Lu injure him so badly?
Ning Xiang muttered inwardly.
The novel unfolded from Jiang Miaomiao's perspective, so much of these male leads' origins and backgrounds had never been clearly explained.
Lu Qingchen glanced at Ning Xiang, who was obediently eating her flatbread, a few crumbs still clinging to the corner of her mouth. He wondered why, given the Demon Venerable's temperament, he would actually tell her about this.
Mingyuan pointed Soul-Rending at Lu Qingchen. "Dare to fight me again? If you lose, give me your disciple."
"Huh?" Ning Xiang pricked up her ears. Were they talking about... her?
Both big shots looked at Ning Xiang at once. She was overwhelmed by their attention. This blessing... she neither wanted nor deserved it!
Lu Qingchen spoke coolly. "I never realized you were so popular."
Ning Xiang pursed her lips. What was that supposed to mean? Who was he looking down on?
Iceberg Lu won't really give me to Mingyuan, will he? Hmm... then what would that make me? A princess sent by the Profound Heaven Sect to the Demon Domain for a marriage alliance? Hah! That old lecher Mingyuan must have fallen for my beauty!
If Lu Qingchen really gave her away, should she leave with the Demon Venerable? Sigh, what a vexing dilemma.
The system rolled its eyes. To describe her attitude with a term from a later era, this was humblebragging.
Lu Qingchen: I wasn't planning to let the Demon Venerable take this disciple, but now I want to pack Ning Xiang up and send her away. What do I do?
Mingyuan: I wanted to take this little girl away, but now I just want to pinch her to death. What do I do?
The two exchanged a glance, and much of the explosive tension between them instantly dissipated.
"This disciple of mine is gifted, intelligent, and exceptionally quick-witted. If she has caught your eye, Demon Venerable, you are welcome to take her back with you. I believe she will have even greater opportunities under your guidance."
Mingyuan modestly declined. "No, no. I don't know how to teach disciples. I'm afraid I would hold the young lady back."
Ning Xiang: They're both praising me, so why does this sound so wrong?
The result of the cultivation world's big shot and the Demon Domain's big shot politely yielding to each other was that both took a step back.
Ning Xiang rode the Canglang Sword to the top of Reflection Cliff and watched Mingyuan turn into a streak of scarlet light and leave the Profound Heaven Sect.
She looked at Lu Qingchen in confusion. "Lu... Master, why did you let the Demon Venerable go?"
That had been close. She had almost blurted out her mocking nickname for Lu Qingchen.
Lu Qingchen stood tall and elegant as jade, his robes fluttering as though he might ride the wind away.
After a long silence, Lu Qingchen finally said, "If something happened to him in the Profound Heaven Sect, the Demon Domain would fall into chaos. Then a bloody storm would sweep through the entire Cultivation Realm."
Ning Xiang thought little of that.
Tch, you make it sound so noble. Isn't it just because you can't beat Mingyuan?
Lu Qingchen: "..." He slowly turned to look at Ning Xiang. "And you? How did you fall from Reflection Cliff?"
"This disciple was practicing swordsmanship by the cliff when the Demon Venerable suddenly appeared and forcibly carried me down." Ning Xiang wiped away nonexistent tears from the corners of her eyes. "Fortunately, you arrived in time, Master. Otherwise, this disciple would have perished. Master, you're so good to me. I'll repay you even if I have to toil like an ox or a horse."
"Ning Xiang."
"Yes?"
"Wipe the corner of your mouth."
"Huh?"
"When I arrived, you were preparing breakfast."
"..."
"When the Demon Venerable and I were fighting fiercely, you were eating breakfast."
"..."
"The Demon Venerable even thought highly of you and wanted to take you as his disciple."
"...I was wrong." Ning Xiang obediently admitted her fault.
The system burst into wild laughter. Even you had moments when you were put in your place, Host!
Lu Qingchen looked at Ning Xiang's bowed head and was momentarily speechless. After a while, he said, "Go back."
Huh? He was letting her off that easily?
Ning Xiang could hardly believe it.
She had thought this stern, impartial master would send her to the Disciplinary Hall for an investigation.
Before Ning Xiang could react, Lu Qingchen had already drifted away.
Ning Xiang hurriedly summoned the Azure Sea Sword and followed.
"Master, why did you suddenly come over? And how did you know I was at the bottom of the cliff?"
Lu Qingchen did not answer.
Ning Xiang was used to his aloofness, so she said nothing more.
Once she returned to her Lingling Cottage, she called out to the damned system. "Does this count as completing the mission?"
The system was frozen.
Ning Xiang sneered. "Keep playing dead, and see if I don't report you to the Heavenly Dao!" These days, even systems dared to fish in muddy waters, while she, the vicious supporting female character, was left worrying about meeting her targets.
The utterly humbled system spoke.
[How could this count? Just look at how far the plot has gone off course.]
"I don't care. The Demon Venerable has successfully remembered Jiang Miaomiao and left the Profound Heaven Sect safe and sound, and Jiang Miaomiao has entered secluded cultivation. That's exactly the original novel's plot!" Ning Xiang argued shamelessly.
[...Allow me to check how closely this section of the plot matches the original novel.]
A moment later, the match rate the system calculated was actually ninety-eight percent.
[Why is this match rate so unreliable? Or has someone tampered with the original novel?]
But the data could not be wrong, so the system said:
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on achieving a milestone. The system rewards you with one irresistibly adorable pet. Keep up the good work, dear Host.]
An adorable pet?
Wasn't it supposed to be a spirit beast? Before Ning Xiang could figure out the difference between the two, something tugged at her skirt. She looked down and nearly fell apart-
An enormous, round bird nestled against her leg. Its feathers were a mottled moss green, and its wings and tail were very short. It had a huge facial disk and was so fat it was practically a ball, its feet entirely hidden. With those black-bean eyes, it looked utterly dim-witted!
"Didn't we agree the reward would be a spirit beast? This thing can't even fly. Am I supposed to raise it for meat? I want a return! Now! This instant! Immediately!" Ning Xiang declared firmly.
Realizing it had been rejected, the big fellow on the ground flapped its wings in protest. Unfortunately, it was so heavy that it could not even hop, and could only let out "hwee, hwee" cries.
The system smiled.
[That isn't possible, dear Host. You already used your chance to exchange a reward last time. Dear Host, this is an endangered kakapo. Who knows how many people its cuteness has melted?]
Ning Xiang took another look at the enormous ugly bird and finally resigned herself to her fate, pressing a hand helplessly to her forehead.
"Fine. Flip a card."
A moment later...
Ning Xiang stared at the "Defense" attribute she had drawn, and the light gradually drained from her eyes.
People could not possibly have bad luck twice in a row, but she could.
Sensing Ning Xiang's foul mood, the system promptly activated its self-protection mechanism-pretending to crash.
Damned system! Ning Xiang cursed inwardly. She rallied herself and went over the upcoming plot.
While Jiang Miaomiao was in secluded cultivation, the original owner of her body had never been idle either. Every few days, she went to Chengfeng Courtyard to boldly declare her love for Lu Qingchen. Naturally, she was thrown out by him every time, becoming the laughingstock of everyone on Solitary Light Peak.
Ning Xiang: This is easy! I know this routine all too well!
Before you continue