After I left the sect, the entire sect knelt down and begged for forgiveness.

Before entering, contestants must wear identification tags. Each tag represents ten points. Once a tag is taken away and the number on it is erased, the contestant is considered eliminated, and the disciple corresponding to that number will be directly teleported out of the secret realm.

Hunting monsters is rewarded based on their rank, with each rank worth ten points, and each subsequent rank being doubled. Since this is a small, secret realm, the highest-ranking monster discovered so far is rank four.

To enter the secret realm, you need to obtain and verify your number tag, and receive and wear a special bracelet.

After hunting monsters, activate the bracelet to identify the monsters and automatically go there to earn points.

The bracelet needs to be charged with spirit stones, which disciples must do themselves before entering the secret realm. Once inside, without spirit stones, the bracelet will run out of energy and become unusable.

The trial lasts for ten days. After ten days, the secret realm will reopen, and participating cultivators can leave the secret realm on their own.

With the trial imminent, Tao Zhizhi, as a participating disciple, was summoned by Sect Leader Xuan.

In this competition, the list gave two spots to Wenxin Peak, which were originally meant for her eldest and third senior brothers. However, Lingyun's eldest disciple's soul lamp had been extinguished, and the sect could not find any clues when they investigated.

It was only said that they encountered misfortune while training in the far north, and their remains were never found. The spots then went to Ling Yun's third and youngest disciples.

During the competition, this third disciple was also killed, his body left without a complete corpse.

They knew who killed them, that it was their sect that had the dead, but people still came to their door demanding an explanation, and in the end, they couldn't even get the body back.

Ling Yun's disciples were either dead or dead, leaving only this youngest disciple and one in seclusion. The disciple in seclusion was unaware that Ling Yun had fallen to demonic possession.

Sect Leader Xuan looked at this pitiful disciple with a complicated expression. Although she had not performed well in the competition, she had lost her senior brother and master one after another, and he could not bear to say anything harsh to her.

So, fearing she might be under some psychological pressure, I specifically called someone over to ask for her opinion.

He could understand if she didn't want to participate in the upcoming trials and wanted to withdraw from the competition.

Tao Zhizhi bit her lip, raised her head to look at Sect Leader Xuan, her face resolute: "Sect Leader, I want to participate in the trial. I can't let others look down on our Xuantian Sect."

Sect Leader Xuan looked pleased: "It's good that you have this awareness. Go back and prepare. Once you enter the secret realm, follow your senior brother's instructions."

Tao Zhizhi nodded, bowed, and withdrew.

Once she stepped outside, the pitiful yet resolute look on her face was gone; her eyes were filled with hatred.

Her hands clenched tightly, her resentful eyes unable to conceal their venom.

It's all that damned bitch's fault! If it weren't for that bitch, I wouldn't be living such a miserable life! I should have killed her back at Wenxin Peak, and none of this would have happened!
I could have enjoyed everyone's love and happiness, with good resources being delivered to me, but now all of that is gone.

Even the master...

She... her beloved master, who was so good to her, was also killed by that vile woman!
She vowed she would never let that bitch get away with it!

Tao Zhizhi entered the secret realm not for the honor of her sect, but to find an opportunity to kill Lin Yan.

She knew that she definitely couldn't do it with her current abilities.

That wretched woman must have gotten some kind of stroke of luck; not only did her cultivation level increase so much, but she also became a disciple of Venerable Duan Yi and received his protection!
If you can't match their strength, then you have to find other ways.

Although the secret realm may not have particularly high-level demonic beasts, it is still dangerous as a trial ground. She refused to believe that she couldn't find a good opportunity to kill someone!

She was in a bad mood right now, and the only thing that could make her happy was imagining Lin Yan being killed by her.

As soon as she returned to Wenxin Peak and opened the courtyard gate, a gust of evil wind swept her inside.

The door slammed shut, and a white-haired man appeared in her room.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his neck and half his face were covered in demonic markings, making him look particularly alluring. Tao Zhizhi covered her mouth to stop herself from screaming.

"Master...Master..."

The man before them was none other than Ling Yun, who had been jointly killed and then struck by purple lightning.

Her master isn't dead? But her master fell into demonic possession, and if he appeared at the Xuan Tian Sect and was discovered, then...

"My good disciple, aren't you afraid of seeing me like this?"

Tao Zhizhi shook her head, walking over with a shy expression. "No matter what, you are still my master. You were harmed to become like this, and your disciple will definitely avenge you!"

"You are truly my good disciple. Are you willing to do anything for me?"

"Yes, yes," Tao Zhizhi nodded eagerly.

"Very good. Once I advance to the Heavenly Demon realm, I will get whatever my disciple desires. I will spoil you and make you the happiest disciple. I will give you all kinds of rare and precious treasures."

Tao Zhizhi remembered that her master had always doted on her, and that she could get whatever she wanted by just being affectionate with him, so she believed him without hesitation.

Following Ling Yun's instructions, she retrieved a spatial bracelet from the cave where he had once lived. Because her master had previously left a spiritual connection with her, she could open the bracelet.

Inside were some spirit stones and treasures that Ling Yun had accumulated, which he originally kept in his cave for emergencies.

Back at her residence, she handed the bracelet over.

Ling Yun did not accept it.

He is now just a corpse transformed from a wisp of demonic energy, and he still needs her "help" to return to his peak. He also needs to stay by her side so that he will not be easily detected by others.

After taking Tao Zhizhi as his apprentice, he discovered that she seemed to possess abilities that even she herself was unaware of.

Her flaws seem to be easily overlooked by others.

For example, when she throws a tantrum, people subconsciously overlook her willfulness. When she makes a mistake, people subconsciously make excuses for her.

She also possesses a captivating ability that draws others in, and even she herself is not immune to it.

She seems to have some luck and is favored.

He kept this apprentice because he had a premonition that she could help him.

It was after accepting her as his disciple that his cultivation bottleneck loosened, and he even advanced smoothly. Therefore, he was willing to give this little disciple all his love and affection.

Because of her special status, Lingyun returned immediately and stayed by her side.

"My disciple, your master needs to devour some sinful people. You will help your master, won't you?"

"I will." Tao Zhizhi nodded. "Master, I'm going to participate in the secret realm trial next. You asked me to retrieve this bracelet. Is it for me to use during the trial?"

“Of course. Master is hidden inside this bracelet. If you wear the bracelet, Master can always be by your side to guide you. Isn’t that good?”

"Master, you are so kind... If it weren't for that ungrateful wretch, Master wouldn't be like this. It's all her fault! Master, I will definitely find a chance to avenge you."

Ling Yun pulled the person into his arms and continued to coax, "Disciple, your master has suffered a serious injury and now needs to absorb cultivation to stabilize my injuries. I know you are kind, but for the sake of the greater good, I am willing to find someone for you, right?"

(End of this chapter)