After transforming into a fairy, I, in my simulation, wreaked havoc in the cultivation world.

[The next three days will be another period of non-stop travel.]

After several transfers and teleportations, you have finally arrived at your destination—Dragon Slayer City.

As its name suggests, when viewed from above, the entire megacity appears to have cleaved a mountain ridge running north to south in two.

The city wall, forged from dark blue-black iron stone, stands over a hundred feet tall. From a distance, it resembles a winding black dragon lying on the ground, its surface covered with intricate spiritual patterns and concealing killing formations. A single glance at it is enough to shake your very soul.

[As the city gates opened, a surging crowd flowed, yet there was not a sound. After presenting the city lord's decree, your group entered the city safely.]

"Find a place to stay first, then register."

Bai Shouzhou had clearly visited many times, readily accepting all suggestions and making arrangements.

After arriving at the inn, everyone went to rest. You and Bai Shouzhuo naturally shared a room.

"Qian'er, have you thought it through?"

Inside the guest room, the two of you sit across a table, Bai Shouzhuo looking at you with a solemn expression.

"The Hundred Cities Martial Arts Tournament is a true meat grinder; even if you far surpass ordinary Qi Refining cultivators, you still risk perishing."

【"Um."】

You nodded earnestly.

Although you don't know what Bai Shouzhou did at the City Lord's Mansion that day, you've always been quite wary of him, sensing an inexplicable strangeness about him.

[Furthermore, you have a vague feeling that what Feng Qianyue instructed might also be related to him.]

However, you have no time to think about these things right now. Thinking about them is pointless if you're not strong enough. Obtaining these two Foundation Establishment Pills is the most important thing right now.

"Sigh~ if that's how it is, then I won't try to persuade you anymore."

Bai Shouzhuo sighed softly in resignation.

[After spending so much time together, you've deliberately displayed a very stubborn personality; once you've made up your mind, you won't easily change it.]

"If things are hopeless, your first priority must be to protect yourself."

Listening to the man's rambling words, you smiled slightly, stood up, and gracefully walked to his side. You skillfully wrapped your arms around his neck, leaned close to his ear, and gently breathed out a warm breath.

"Then my husband must cheer me on tonight!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Shouzhuo's eyes darkened, and with a flick of his finger, a barrier silently enveloped the entire room.

【"Huh?"】

You sensed something was wrong and tried to back away, but he pulled you into his arms.

"Husband, it's daytime now?!"

"Ugh...ugh?...Ugh!!!"

【...】

Half a month passed quietly in this painful yet joyful training, and the Hundred Cities Martial Arts Tournament finally began.

[The number of "hundred cities" is actually a figurative number; the actual number of participating cities is probably around a thousand.]

The assessments for Yellow-rank cities are battles for Qi Refining cultivators, hosted by Earth-rank cities. The assessments for Profound-rank cities are battlefields for Foundation Establishment cultivators, hosted by Heaven-rank cities.

As for the cities at the Heaven and Earth levels, that's a matter for the royal family.

Today you are still dressed in a striking red outfit, your face covered by a black veil. Although it conceals most of your features, it cannot hide your aloof and stunningly beautiful aura, drawing frequent glances from many.

[And standing beside you is an extremely robust young man, none other than Cao Qing, the son of that burly, bearded man.]

The Hundred Cities Martial Arts Tournament is divided into two parts.

The first battle is a clandestine conflict, where thousands of Qi Refining cultivators are thrown into the same clandestine realm, and the battle continues until only fifty remain.

The second match is a ring duel, both matches being life-or-death struggles.

Cao Qing volunteered to be your bodyguard for the first event. Although you didn't expect him to be of much help, his fierce demeanor intimidated many people and saved you a lot of unnecessary trouble.

Just as you were observing your surrounding opponents, the sky suddenly darkened, and a powerful pressure descended like a landslide and a tsunami. Then, two figures appeared like ghosts on the main seat of the high platform.

A young man in black robes with effeminate features sat upright, with a beautiful woman in a purple dress nestled beside him.

Although the two had already restrained their auras, they still managed to silence all the cultivators present.

The moment you saw the woman in the purple dress clearly, your pupils constricted sharply, and almost instinctively you lowered your head, holding your breath.

[Holy crap! Purple Jade!!!]

What's that old witch doing here?

Judging from his aura, the effeminate-looking young man is most likely the city lord of Duanlong City, a genuine Nascent Soul cultivator.

The two of them are behaving so intimately; could this city lord be her lover?

[Damn it! A shameful pang of envy crept into my heart; it must be the Hehuan Sect's cultivation techniques at work.]

"Lord City Lord, which secret realm will be open this time?"

An elderly man with white hair strode forward, bowed deeply, and spoke with utmost respect.

【"Choose..."】

The effeminate young man was about to speak when Zi Ai, standing beside him, wrapped her arms around his neck.

"My lord, I'd like to see a performance where someone dies quickly."

"Then let's turn into a desolate, miasma-ridden hell."

The effeminate young man waved his hand lazily, his expression indifferent.

The battles between Qi Refining cultivators were nothing more than ants fighting; if it weren't for dealing with the imperial envoy, he wouldn't have bothered to even glance at them.

[...Upon hearing this, your lips twitched slightly, and you cursed inwardly, "That damned vixen!"]

[The desolate forest and miasma-filled hell—if I had to describe this secret realm, it would remind you of a game from a past life—PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.]

This secret realm is surrounded by dense poisonous miasma, which continuously contracts towards the center, constantly compressing the space for survival and indirectly accelerating the pace of the battle.

[This directly extinguished your plan to slowly and secretly ambush others and obtain some storage bags.]

[After all, so many city lords are watching the battle. If you dare to step forward and collect storage bags on a large scale, you'll probably have a hard time returning safely to Bailu City.]

【"yes."】

The white-haired elder offered no objection. With a flick of his wrist, a black, ring-shaped jade key flew out, heading towards the massive stone tablet covered in mysterious runes in the center of the plaza. It then steadily embedded itself into a groove on the tablet's surface.

In an instant, the runes on the stone tablet glowed with a faint light, and a vortex-like passage slowly opened before it.

【"Enter the secret realm."】

The white-haired old man turned around and addressed the crowd in the square with a blank expression.

A moment of silence fell over the plaza, then countless streaks of light, each a different color, shot into the sky, rushing to plunge into the vortex passage.

"Miss Lin, let's go."

Cao Qing rubbed his hands together and stepped forward, his憨笑 (a simple, honest smile) revealing his eagerness, clapping his hands loudly against his chest.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Young Master Cao."

You snapped out of your thoughts, chuckled softly, and walked towards the entrance.

【"Huh?"】

From the high platform, Zi Sha's gaze fell upon the plaza.

【"What's wrong?"】

The effeminate young man leaned casually against the chair, his hand gently caressing her waist.

"I've spotted a promising talent."

"Don't act recklessly. If the envoy from the Celestial Dynasty discovers your identity, I'll be in big trouble."

"Hehehe~ I understand!"

[The instant before you stepped into the secret realm, a chill ran down your spine as an extremely intense, scrutinizing gaze blatantly fell upon you.]

[Damn it! It must be that damned old witch!]

...