Female Protagonist Assistance System

The following days unfolded routinely. During the day, Xiao Han would ascend to the mountaintop behind the compound to absorb spiritual energy and practice the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique, including its mystical arts—now colloquially referred to as Dou Techniques in this world. At night, she would punctually visit Gu Xun’er’s room to suppress the Golden Emperor Skyscorching Flame. During this period, Xiao Han reaped considerable benefits, her cultivation advancing rapidly. In just one short year, she broke through to the fourth level of the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique, her strength comparable to that of a nine-star Dou Great Master.

Xiao Yan had not given up, persistently attempting to forge a relationship with Gu Xun’er. However, without the foundation from the original story where Xiao Yan used the pretext of nourishing meridians to thoroughly examine Gu Xun’er’s body, she regarded him no differently from other Xiao family disciples.

Surprisingly, the only one who caught Gu Xun’er’s attention was the consistently quiet Xiao Han, who would take detours whenever she saw Gu Xun’er and Xiao Yan together.

Xiao Han: ?? How did you draw such a conclusion after seeing me only a few times??

Freed from the torment of the Golden Emperor Skyscorching Flame, Gu Xun’er’s cultivation speed far outpaced that of the original story, significantly surpassing the still-undiminished Xiao Yan. This greatly displeased the somewhat chauvinistic Xiao Yan, though he dared not show it in Gu Xun’er’s presence.

As the young miss of the Gu family, Gu Xun’er was naturally exceptionally intelligent. After not experiencing the Golden Emperor Skyscorching Flame’s outbursts for several instances, she realized someone was secretly assisting her. Though she didn’t know the identity of her benefactor, and for some reason Ling Ying refused to tell her, this didn’t mean the young miss had given up. However, when this person helped suppress the Golden Emperor Skyscorching Flame at night, she inexplicably found herself unable to open her eyes, her consciousness hazy.

That night.

Xiao Han adjusted her wide brim, nodded to Ling Ying, and said in a hoarse voice, “Today is the last day. After this, your young miss will no longer suffer from the Golden Emperor Skyscorching Flame.”

Ling Ying bowed respectfully, expressing heartfelt gratitude, “Thank you, esteemed one. Without you, our young miss would surely have endured much hardship.”

Xiao Han shook her head.

Ling Ying hesitated, then tentatively asked, “Regarding your mention of taking on a disciple…”

Soon after this esteemed one first helped Gu Xun’er suppress the Golden Emperor Skyscorching Flame and expressed intent to take her as a disciple, Ling Ying had promptly reported to the Gu family patriarch, Gu Xun’er’s father, Gu Yuan. After careful consideration, Gu Yuan had agreed.

After all, they would naturally seek to befriend a powerhouse of unfathomable cultivation who could suppress Heterogeneous Flames.

Xiao Han’s eye twitched slightly. A whole year had passed, and she had almost forgotten about this matter.

However, upon reflection, Xiao Han realized that Xiao Yan was still the chosen one of destiny. Without her support, Gu Xun’er would certainly be unable to overcome the male lead, and might even fall back in love with Xiao Yan due to the Heavenly Dao’s influence. If that were to happen, future tasks would undoubtedly become more challenging. But if she were to take Gu Xun’er as her disciple, she, with her knowledge of the plot, could naturally prevent certain events from occurring and tailor the most suitable cultivation path for Gu Xun’er. Wouldn’t this be twice the result with half the effort?

[Host, do you really intend to take the female lead as your disciple?] The system could hardly believe that its cool, domineering (allegedly) host was actually going to take on a disciple. It was well aware that in her previous life, even after reaching the Formless realm and becoming one of the top cultivator powerhouses, she had never entertained the thought of taking on a disciple.

[Yes,] Xiao Han replied to the system. [Only this way can I openly guide Gu Xun’er’s cultivation and better implement future plans.]

While responding to the system, she addressed Ling Ying, “There’s no rush now. When Young Miss Gu turns fifteen, I will come personally to take her as my disciple. However, before then, I hope Young Miss Gu will not cultivate any techniques. When she turns fifteen, I will impart to her the most suitable technique. The Gu family’s techniques… hmph, they are merely passable.”

Receiving a clear response, Ling Ying was overjoyed. He hastily bowed respectfully again, “Thank you, esteemed one.”

He showed no anger at Xiao Han’s disparagement of the Gu family techniques. For this expert to know that the Gu family was one of the Eight Ancient Clans and still speak thus, it was evident how formidable the technique this esteemed one could offer their young miss must be.

Xiao Han maintained her dignified posture and waved her hand, preparing to leave. However, just as she moved, her robe was grabbed from behind.

Xiao Han stiffened slightly, turning her head to see that Gu Xun’er, who should have had her eyes tightly shut, had opened them, and clearly had not just awakened.

System: Oh, caught red-handed.

Xiao Han: …Caught off guard.

However, Xiao Han was only stunned for a few seconds before quickly regaining her composure, looking at Gu Xun’er with a calm demeanor. She was now immensely grateful that her black robe’s hood was so large and deep that Gu Xun’er couldn’t see her face clearly.

Ling Ying was nearly frightened to death by his young miss’s action. To a powerhouse, Gu Xun’er’s gesture could definitely be considered offensive. This esteemed one was too mysterious, coming each time only to suppress the Golden Emperor Skyscorching Flame for Xun’er before leaving. Ling Ying had no idea what kind of temperament this esteemed one possessed.

As Ling Ying was secretly tense, Gu Xun’er spoke, “Have you been the one helping me all along?”

Xiao Han replied indifferently, “Yes.”

“You want to take me as your disciple?”

“Yes.”

“Then why wait until I’m fifteen?” Gu Xun’er asked, puzzled.

Because that’s when the plot officially begins, the system answered for Xiao Han.

However, would Xiao Han answer like that?

Of course not.

She slowly extricated her robe from Gu Xun’er’s grasp and said, “I dislike taking care of children.”

“Furthermore, I don’t take weaklings as disciples,” Xiao Han continued. “If you want to be my disciple, even if your cultivation isn’t high enough, you must be a strong individual.”

“Gu Xun’er, as you are now, you’re not qualified to be my disciple.”

Gu Xun’er looked bewildered, “If the cultivation isn’t high enough, doesn’t that mean they’re weak? Why must they still be strong?”

Xiao Han gave her a cool glance, “That’s why I said, as you are now, you’re not qualified to be my disciple.”

With those words, lightning flashed beneath her feet, and she vanished from the spot.

Staring fixedly at where Xiao Han had disappeared, Gu Xun’er furrowed her pretty little brow and turned to Ling Ying, confused, “Elder Ling, what did he mean?”

Ling Ying didn’t understand either, but he seemed to grasp something vaguely. Hearing his young miss’s question, he shook his head and said, “I don’t understand either, Young Miss. Perhaps when you turn fifteen and become that esteemed one’s disciple, you’ll understand.”

Gu Xun’er seemed to half-understand and asked another question, “But is he really not deceiving me? If he truly wants to take me as a disciple, why must he wait until I’m fifteen?”

Ling Ying replied, “Although I don’t understand that esteemed one’s meaning either, I believe he wouldn’t deceive you. After all, someone so powerful has no need for lies.”

Gu Xun’er withdrew her gaze thoughtfully, saying no more.

Having returned to her own courtyard, Xiao Han was completely unaware that the female lead was deeply troubled by her words. As soon as she returned to her courtyard, she locked the door.

[Host, the plot of suppressing the Golden Emperor Skyscorching Flame for the female lead is complete. You can take a good rest until she turns fifteen,] the system said obsequiously.

“Not yet,” Xiao Han changed into a fitting black robe, storing the oversized black robe in her storage ring.

This storage ring was a gift from her eldest and second brothers. Although disliked by her father for being “unable” to cultivate and looked down upon by Xiao Yan, her other two brothers adored her deeply. When they realized that Xiao Zhan didn’t favor her and that Xiao Yan harbored great hostility towards her, they even considered taking her along on their adventures outside. However, concerned that she was too “weak” and might suffer hardships, they abandoned the idea.

Thus, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were the only two Xiao family relatives she cared about.

After storing the black robe, the system watched as its host rummaged through drawers and cabinets, gathering all her clothes and money.

Xiao Han initially intended to put everything into the storage ring but found its space too small to accommodate everything. This troubled her.

Seeing Xiao Han’s rare frown, the system felt it was time to demonstrate its usefulness. Its host was too powerful, rarely needing its help, which left the system feeling dejected, even considering itself the most useless system in history, believing the host could perfectly complete tasks without it.

So, at any opportunity to prove itself, the system became extremely excited: [Host, host, you can put things in the system space!]

Xiao Han paused slightly, “System space?”

[Yes, yes, it’s similar to a storage ring, but it’s another space opened by the system. The host can use it freely, and time is static within the system space, so you won’t have to worry about medicines expiring or rotting in the future.]

Xiao Han’s eyes lit up, “Oh? That’s impressive. How large is the system space?”

[The size of the system space changes with the host’s strength. The higher the host’s cultivation, the larger the system space. Currently, with the host at the level of a nine-star Dou Great Master, the system space is about half the size of the Xiao family compound.]

Xiao Han smiled slightly, following the system’s guidance to place all her belongings into the system space, saying, “This is a great help, system.”

System: [/////The system is at your service/////]

Wow, the esteemed host praised it!!

However…

[Host, why are you packing your things?]

“To leave, of course,” Xiao Han said, ensuring everything was packed before locking the door. “I’m still too weak now. I must take advantage of the time before the plot officially begins to improve myself. Otherwise, once the plot starts, I’ll have to keep a constant eye on Xiao Yan and Gu Xun’er, and I won’t have as much time as now to enhance my abilities.”

“Moreover, before the plot begins, I can do some things to maximally alter the future course of events.”

[Oh, I see.] The system instantly understood Xiao Han’s intentions, admiring its host even more. [So, host, where shall we go first?]

Xiao Han gazed towards the northern horizon for a while before asking, “System, I recall you mentioning that this world has more than just Heterogeneous Flames as heavenly energy. Now, I need to know where the lightning-attribute heavenly energy is located.”