“This… this…”
Nangong Liuli was deeply shaken.
Every single thing the system had stated was true.
Many of them were her private matters, even her innermost thoughts, things she had never mentioned to anyone.
Yet this mysterious existence calling itself the system knew them all with absolute clarity.
“What exactly… are you? Why do you know so much?”
[I am the system. The omnipotent system.]
Nangong Liuli fell silent.
She still wanted to ask more, but the system continued its report.
[You treated Qin Yuan as your imagined rival and began to work hard at alchemy and cultivation. You believed that with your talent, sooner or later you would catch up to that boy and surpass him. However, every time you made a breakthrough and secretly went to observe Qin Yuan, you discovered that he had grown even more. You were unwilling to accept it and began to put in even greater effort. Yet all of it seemed futile. Qin Yuan advanced far too quickly. No matter how hard you tried, the gap between you and him only widened. You smiled bitterly and felt frustrated. Eventually, you gave up competing with him…]
As the system’s voice echoed on, the shock and suspicion in Nangong Liuli’s heart gradually subsided. Her thoughts drifted back four years.
Thinking about it now… she had been somewhat obsessive back then, somewhat stubborn.
And… rather cute.
But later… everything changed.
[One day, Qin Yuan came to find you. At that time, you happened to be troubled. There was a pill you had refined many times without success.
“What’s wrong, Senior Sister Liuli?”
It was your second real conversation. Qin Yuan had not yet shed his youthful innocence, yet he was still dazzling.
“It’s nothing. Just some issues with alchemy.”
You had not expected Qin Yuan to seek you out so suddenly. Yet toward this young man, you felt no hostility at all. A faint smile even appeared on your face.
“What is it, Junior Brother Qin Yuan?”
“During my Training Journey, I found a Ten-Fragrance Wood. I heard it’s very helpful for alchemy. I don’t need it myself, so I brought it to you.”
You were stunned for a moment, then shook your head. “Thank you, Junior Brother Qin Yuan, but this is too precious. I can’t accept it.”
Ten-Fragrance Wood was indeed extremely rare. Even the Supreme Profound Sect did not have much of it.
“It’s fine, Senior Sister. We’re from the same sect. There’s no need to be so distant. I don’t need it anyway.”
“But…”
“Please take it, Senior Sister.”
Qin Yuan reached out, took your hand, and firmly placed the Ten-Fragrance Wood into your palm. “Don’t be so distant, Senior Sister. We’re fellow disciples.”
You met his earnest gaze and found yourself unable to say the words of refusal.
At that time, your attention was entirely on the Ten-Fragrance Wood. You did not even realize that your hand was still being held.
When you finally noticed, you immediately pulled your hand back, your face turning red.
Your cheeks flushed like peach blossoms, and your voice softened. “Thank you.”
A trace of nostalgia flashed through Nangong Liuli’s eyes.
That had been the true beginning of her acquaintance with Qin Yuan.
[“You’re refining the Three Mysteries Pill?”
At that moment, Qin Yuan noticed the formula placed on your table. The source of this chapter is g.com.
“Yes. Unfortunately, I failed.”
You nodded.
Perhaps because you had accepted his gift, or perhaps for another reason, you—who had never liked sharing your alchemy experiences, especially your failures—found yourself unable to resist telling Qin Yuan about your recent troubles.
“I’ve refined this pill many times and tried many methods, but I’ve never succeeded.”
“Could there be a problem with the formula?”
His words startled you, but you quickly shook your head. “That shouldn’t be the case. This formula has been passed down for so long. Surely someone in the past succeeded in refining it.”
“Have you asked your master?”
“My master doesn’t know either. No one has refined the Three Mysteries Pill for hundreds of years.”
“May I take a look at the formula?”
“Of course.”
Qin Yuan accepted the formula and carefully read it from beginning to end.
You looked at him curiously. “Junior Brother Qin Yuan understands alchemy?”
“Just a little.”
He returned the formula to you. “Senior Sister, try replacing Snow Velvet Flower with Blue Silver Grass. Also, delay adding the Demon Ape Root Bone by half an hour before continuing the refinement.”
You stared at him in greater curiosity. “Junior Brother… do you truly understand alchemy?”
“Just a little.”
“Will this really work?”
You found it hard to believe. How could the formula itself be wrong?
“Why not try? You’ve already failed so many times, haven’t you?”
Qin Yuan’s smile was bright, and his eyes shone with confidence.
You were influenced by it.
With the mindset of giving it one more try, you followed his suggestions.
It succeeded.
And it was of superior grade.
When you excitedly carried the Three Mysteries Pill to Qin Yuan to share the good news, he merely smiled faintly, as though he had already known the outcome.
“Senior Sister is truly amazing.”
For the first time, you felt admiration for someone of your own generation.
At the same time, your curiosity about him deepened.
What kind of person was he?
After that, your exchanges with Qin Yuan regarding alchemy became more frequent.
Only then did you realize that his attainments in alchemy far surpassed yours.
Compared to him, you were like mud beneath the clouds. This story is hosted at g.com.
You were shocked. You admired him.
You also felt defeated.
In cultivation, he was unmatched, and you could not compare.
Even in alchemy, the field you were most proud of, you were still far behind.
“Junior Brother Qin Yuan… you’re truly incredible. Where did you learn all this?”
“Just good luck. During a secret realm trial, I happened to inherit the legacy of a great expert.”
That explanation allowed you to regain a bit of confidence.
From then on, your relationship grew increasingly close.
You often cultivated together and discussed alchemical insights.
Not only did Qin Yuan help you greatly in alchemy, but in cultivation, he was even more like a mentor to you.
His understanding and insights surpassed even your father and the Supreme Elder.
With his help, your cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. At eighteen years old, you successfully broke through to the Golden Core Realm.
Such speed left the entire sect in disbelief.
“Only a genius truly understands another genius.”
When you once asked why he was so extraordinary, he gave that answer.
That confidence, emanating from within, was deeply engraved in your mind.
Your heart beat for him once again.]
Nangong Liuli’s expression grew distant.
So Qin Yuan had once been that dazzling.
So she herself had once lived so brilliantly.
So… she had once felt her heart moved.
But later, why had everything changed?
Had Qin Yuan changed, or had she?
In the past, she would have firmly believed that Qin Yuan was the one who changed.
But now, ever since the system appeared, she hesitated.
Thinking back on everything, Qin Yuan had always seemed gentle and refined.
Always spirited and radiant.
And she?
She did not seem to have changed either.
So… what exactly had changed?
[In the next three months, you and Qin Yuan grew even closer. Many fellow disciples noticed and would smile at you both with knowing expressions. You felt shy but not angry. At that time, you were still too innocent to understand what it meant. Or perhaps, you did not want to understand. You were too inexperienced, too shy, and did not dare to face it.]
[One month later, you received shocking news like a bolt from the blue.
Qin Yuan had secretly slipped into Gu Qingxue’s room!]