Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Luo Qingci pondered in her room for a long time before she couldn't resist opening the system panel. She called out to it several times before it reluctantly responded with a dismissive "Hmph."

"The female lead's apprenticeship arc is done, right? Why is there no follow-up? This is so weird; I've never heard of a system like yours. Isn't this just way too unfair?"

Being dragged into this mess was already confusing, and now it's all for nothing. What did I do to deserve this?

"What do you want?"

"I see others who transmigrate with systems get plot reminders, right?"

"I did," the system shot back.

Luo Qingci was speechless, "Isn't that, like, the bare minimum? Otherwise, what's the point of transmigrating into a book? I mean, aren't there things like favorability or darkening values?"

The system was silent for a long time before coolly replying, "You really want the female lead's favorability? You sure about that?"

Luo Qingci was at a loss for words. What favorability could the female lead possibly have for her now? But, can't we see it just in case?

"Sure! Can't you just give me both?" Luo Qingci pleaded, after all, her ultimate task was to prevent the dragonet from destroying the world after darkening.

The system stayed silent, simply displaying an interface to Luo Qingci.

Luo Qingci saw three names displayed: the first was Luo Qingci, the second was Chi Qing, and the third was Earth Spirit.

She was taken aback and couldn't help laughing, "Even the fake names are in here? But why can't I see the favorability?"

"Currently, you can only view one identity. Others require task completion to unlock," came the calm reply.

"This system is way too stingy," Luo Qingci felt like she had the worst luck ever.

The system didn't budge, so Luo Qingci could only choose to view Ruan Li's favorability towards Luo Qingci, as that was the real identity.

Even though she was prepared, the favorability score still left Luo Qingci stunned.

Favorability: -9999

"Should I be relieved it's only four digits?"

"Nope, it just means the lower limit is off the charts, not literally -9999."

Great, just what I needed to hear. This favorability is basically at rock bottom.

"Has anything I've done even mattered?" Luo Qingci sighed, although she maintained her persona, she had done some good deeds, right?

The system didn't answer, and Luo Qingci sighed again, "What I'm about to do is even worse—what am I supposed to do now? How much time do I have left before Luo Qingci dies?"

Thinking of something, Luo Qingci asked again.

This time, the system didn't beat around the bush and just showed a number: 89 years.

"Wow, long life."

Hearing this, Luo Qingci nearly choked.

Eighty-nine years of cultivation, with decades likely spent in seclusion and wandering—how much of that time is really mine?

She looked again at Luo Qingci's favorability, feeling a deep sense of sadness. She wondered what Chi Qing's favorability was like; the dragonet had adored her back then. Wherever she went, it would cling to her, so obedient and cute.

The thought brought a pang of regret to her heart. After all, she had abandoned her like that, and now she might resent her.

Not wanting to dwell on it any longer, the urgent matter at hand was to help the dragonet with her cultivation.

As the story goes, the male lead is supposed to show up after the dragonet builds her foundation, and time is running out.

To stop the dragonet from going down a dark path, the most important thing is to prevent her from falling for the male lead; that guy doesn’t deserve her.

Besides, the dragonet’s character is a bit of a hopeless romantic, which isn’t good. If she doesn’t get hurt physically, she’ll spiral into darkness from unrequited love.

Since her meridians wouldn’t heal anytime soon, the only option was to harden her body through grueling training. Remembering the dragonet’s struggles in the original story, Luo Qingci felt a pang of heartache.

Climbing to the peak of Xuanfeng to pick spiritual herbs, facing the wall at Jueqing Peak, standing in horse stance under the waterfall at Sunset Cliff, and entering the dark pool prison—each one was a brutal challenge.

"Mission: Help the female lead reach the third stage of body refinement."

The *ding* made Luo Qingci’s face pale. This system was way too harsh; she’d barely thought of it, and it was already forcing her hand.

"Finish the mission to make any requests."

Luo Qingci gritted her teeth, "You’re really something."

She shut the system down and sat alone in the room, frowning as she pondered what to do next.

Human-demon conflicts were on the rise, with more and more demons ravaging the human world. Things were only going to get worse. The story’s backdrop was the sealing and eradication of the demon race, a setup that’s basically a ticking time bomb in stories.

This book didn’t break the mold.

Luo Qingci remembered that soon after, the immortal sects would find out the demon race, thought extinct, was resurfacing.

Three years after joining the sect, Ruan Li and the others would have to go down the mountain for trials.

As the female lead, the dragonet’s first trial was bound to be anything but smooth sailing. At her current level, she’d never make it through. By then, there might not even be a reason to keep her as an inner disciple.

In three years, she had to help the dragonet reach the same level as in the book, which was the mid-stage of foundation building and the third stage of body refinement.

For someone who struggles with even the basics of qi absorption, reaching a level that others take over a decade to achieve in just three years is incredibly difficult.

Luo Qingci had no experience in teaching disciples, and the more she thought about it, the more her head ached.

Luo Qingci spent the entire day brooding in the Hanlu Courtyard until Su Yu brought some snacks in the evening, interrupting her thoughts.

Watching Su Yu place the snacks and tea on the table, Luo Qingci reflected inwardly. Su Yu was also her disciple. Although she had to focus on Ruan Li due to the mission, she should also do something for Su Yu.

So, as Su Yu was about to leave, Luo Qingci called her back.

"How far have you progressed in the Mixed Origin Nine Techniques?"

Su Yu hesitated, "Reporting to Master, this disciple is slow-witted and stuck at the fourth level, unable to make progress."

Luo Qingci didn’t say anything, stood up, and left the room. Su Yu looked anxious, her eyes filled with shame.

Luo Qingci saw it clearly and sighed inwardly. Su Yu was also just a child.

"Show me your practice." Luo Qingci’s tone wasn’t harsh, and the implication was clear—she was going to guide her. Su Yu was overjoyed and nodded vigorously, summoning her sword.

Luo Qingci was the most skilled in swordsmanship in the entire Celestial Calculus Sect. Among her peers in the immortal sects, no one could surpass her in sword techniques, and even Tian Jizi had to admit her extraordinary talent.

Even with a changed core, Luo Qingci had no bottlenecks in sword techniques except for the Heartless Sword Art.

So Su Yu, having become her disciple, was also wholeheartedly focused on mastering the sword path.

Luo Qingci carefully observed Su Yu's moves, frowning slightly after she stopped.

Su Yu quickly looked at her, "Master, was there something I did wrong?"

Luo Qingci didn't answer but instead reached out and grasped the air. Su Yu's sword fell into her hand without any resistance.

"This is the most serious problem. Your sword is not under your control. I can take it as easily as flipping my palm."

With a flick of her right wrist, a surge of blue spiritual energy swept over the spirit sword, unleashing a wave of sword qi.

"The sword is just a tool. Although it emphasizes the unity of man and sword, you must first absolutely conquer it before you can let go and accommodate it. Watch." With these simple words, Luo Qingci reenacted the nine sword techniques of the fourth level that Su Yu had just performed.

The same sword, the same moves, yet in Luo Qingci's hands, they were entirely different. The sword seemed to come alive, with her wrist movements bringing forth a chilling sword intent.

Luo Qingci executed the moves Su Yu struggled with as effortlessly as a leisurely stroll.

As the sword qi danced, the plum blossoms in Hanlu Courtyard quivered incessantly. The surrounding spiritual energy attached to the sword roared like a dragon.

Su Yu stood watching, her cheeks tingling slightly. Yet she seemed oblivious, her gaze fixed on Luo Qingci, brimming with awe. Her right hand, fingers mimicking a sword, instinctively followed the motions.

Meanwhile, after returning, Ruan Li had hoped to cultivate now that she had successfully drawn in spiritual energy, but she couldn't continue.

Frustrated, she stepped out of Qingxuan Pavilion.

The ruckus in Hanlu Courtyard was impossible to overlook, and even through the courtyard wall, she could sense the sword intent inside.

The courtyard gate was open, and as she walked to the entrance, she saw the scene inside.

After a brief glance, she turned away.

Luo Qingci could indeed be a good master, but she chose not to, and that disciple would never be Ruan Li.

Luo Qingci's power sent a chill through Ruan Li's heart. It was said that she had stagnated after being injured, but from what she had observed these past few days, Luo Qingci remained unfathomable. When would she ever get her revenge?

Inside, Su Yu's voice rang out excitedly, "Thank you, Master. I understand now."

"Take it and practice again." Luo Qingci's response was in stark contrast to Su Yu's voice.

Ruan Li chuckled bitterly. Oddly, she felt a pang of envy for Su Yu.

As the thought crossed her mind, she saw Su Yu swept out by a sudden gust.

"Don't ruin my plum trees."

Standing outside, Ruan Li was caught off guard and found herself face to face with Su Yu, who had stumbled a few steps before regaining her balance.

Su Yu was stunned for a moment, then blushed and whispered, "Master cherishes her plum blossoms."

After saying this, her eyes lit up again, "A Li, I'm going back to practice my sword."

Without a second thought for Ruan Li, she dashed back to Qingxuan Pavilion to practice.

Ruan Li couldn't help but shake her head. Her senior sister was truly a martial fanatic.

She turned her head to glance at the Hanlu Courtyard again. Just moments ago, it was a scene of a loving master and disciple, but in the blink of an eye, the disciple was thrown out.

From this, it seemed that Luo Qingci had some affection for her disciples, but not much.

Luo Qingci hadn’t noticed Ruan Li outside, so she stepped out.

"Master."

The dragonet’s face was pale, and she looked drained. She probably couldn’t help but use spiritual energy again after returning.

Luo Qingci gave a slight nod, her eyes resting on Ruan Li’s face as she cautioned her, "Don’t attend the morning classes these days, and don’t practice either."

Ruan Li looked stunned, her eyes wide with panic, "Master, I just managed to draw in spiritual energy today..."

"I know. I have a task for you. Rest for two days, and I’ll take care of the arrangements." Luo Qingci saw the dragonet’s shocked expression and really wanted to tell her that she was helping her, but she couldn’t. She could only hope the little one was clever enough to grasp her good intentions.

When night came, Luo Qingci stayed awake, sitting quietly on her bed in meditation.

After a long time, she opened her eyes and muttered to herself, "This little one is tough, not even worried about stunting her growth."

"Hey, you said I have to stick to my character, so as long as I’m Luo Qingci, I have to act the part. But if I change my identity, I can do whatever I want. So, if I do something secretly and it’s not discovered at the time, it doesn’t count as breaking character, right?" Luo Qingci decided not to let the system have it so easy and asked.

"Yes."

"What if the other person is just too sharp and I get caught? How’s that supposed to work?"

The system was silent for a long time before finally throwing out two words, "Severe punishment."

"That’s not fair. You’re no help at all, dumping everything on me, and I’m only human. People mess up."

"Besides, there’s always someone better out there, haven’t you heard? Are you saying no one’s allowed to outsmart me? If that’s how it is, you might as well just kill me now. Save me the trouble of doing all this just to get punished. Who even made you? Did they use their brain? Did they even test you? Are you sure you’re not broken?"

Luo Qingci hadn’t rambled like this in a long time, spouting a stream of complaints without pause. The system suddenly realized that with the female lead back, this chatterbox host had returned too.

While mentally bombarding the system, Luo Qingci quietly slipped over the wall of the Hanlu Courtyard and climbed into the Qingxuan Pavilion.

The system was at a loss for words. It had asked so many questions and even threatened her, but she clearly didn’t care, still doing whatever she wanted.