Set a goal, and the system takes over the body.

No one in the entire Tianfu City had ever heard of anyone reaching the Core Formation Realm.

If one were truly at the Core Formation Realm, sweeping across the entire Heavenly Palace would be more than enough.

Why would someone like him choose a place like Black Wind Stronghold and raise a demon? What is he after?

"Any other news?" Qi Xiuyuan asked.

"That's all, that's all. I've told you everything I know. Also, I feel terrible. There's a force inside me tormenting me, sometimes I feel cold, sometimes I feel hot. Brother, please have mercy on me and let me go. I will definitely prepare a generous gift to repay your kindness in the future!"

"Since you don't have any, you can go die."

"What?!"

Guan Bao was suddenly taken aback.

"Clang!"

A streak of silver-white light pierced the night.

Guan Bao felt a chill on his neck, his vision blurred, and he vaguely saw a familiar headless body with blood spurting from its neck.

That's... my own body?

Finished!

This is really the end!

A moment later, everything went completely black before his eyes.

Qi Xiuyuan sheathed his sword.

The blood that splattered from Guan Bao's neck quickly condensed into layers of frost on his clothes and the surrounding grass and trees.

With a gentle touch, the frost shattered and the vegetation burned.

"Is this the power I gained after cultivating with the help of the Frost Flame? It's really strong. Even if I hadn't struck him just now, he probably wouldn't have survived for long!"

"If we could refine the entire Frost Flame, its power would probably be even more terrifying!"

With his thoughts racing, Qi Xiuyuan set another goal.

Find and subdue Qin Heilong!

But after looking at the two methods the system provided, they were just sending him to his death.

To rephrase the question, ensure your own safety and find and subdue Qin Heilong.

It will take six months to achieve the result.

Qi Xiuyuan decisively gave up.

He turned his head to look towards the mountain stronghold.

The monster seemed to be causing a lot of trouble, roaring incessantly. But if so many soldiers and warriors couldn't hold it off, he wouldn't be able to help and would only expose his identity.

With my second uncle's shrewdness and competence, he will definitely be fine.

I decided to skip the crowd and head straight down the mountain.

Under the cover of night, Qi Xiuyuan deliberately chose secluded paths to hurry down the mountain. When he reached the woods at the foot of the mountain and found the place where he had tied his horse, he was just about to go over to untie the reins when he suddenly sensed a danger.

He stopped and listened carefully.

I could faintly hear several suppressed breaths coming from the nearby bushes.

They crept over quietly and saw that there were indeed several officials squatting there, staring at the spot where the horse was tied, clearly intending to wait for them to come to them.

"This horse cannot be kept, and it certainly cannot be ridden back to Tianfu City. Otherwise, if the authorities trace it back through the horse shop's records, we won't be able to explain ourselves no matter what we say."

Qi Xiuyuan's mind raced.

He acted swiftly, his fingertips flashing, his divine finger energy freezing the group in place.

"Set a goal: return safely to Tianfu City without leaving any future troubles."

[Target detected: Safe return to city, leaving no future trouble]

Method 1: Kill all the government troops and Huang Jing, then return to the city.

[Method 2: Ride your horse north for thirteen li, stab its rump with a knife to startle it and cause it to run wildly into the monster's territory, where it will be devoured. Then return to the city alone and settle the debt for the lost horse as soon as possible.]

Please select a method to complete the objective.

"Method Two!"

Qi Xiuyuan was incapable of dealing with Huang Jing and killing all the soldiers; sending him to Fang Yi was simply suicide.

[The system has taken over the body and is now in operation.]

He immediately untied the horse's reins, mounted it, and instead of heading towards Tianfu City, he turned the horse around and galloped off in the opposite direction, covering more than ten miles in one go.

He reined in his horse, dismounted, raised his hand, and plunged his knife into the horse's rump.

"Lülü..."

The horse, in pain, neighed and galloped off into the depths of the dense forest.

Qi Xiuyuan sheathed his sword and stood there listening quietly for a while. Not long after, a mournful cry of a horse came from afar, followed by the frantic roar of a demon.

Without lingering, he unleashed the Five Animal Movements and turned back towards Tianfu City.

However, he did not stop at the North Gate, but instead circled around to the vicinity of the South Gate, changed his clothes back into his original ones, and put away his mask.

The sky gradually turned a pale white.

The morning mist drifted over the fields, and the air was cool with dew.

It was exactly 5:00 AM.

The city gates opened on time, the drawbridge was slowly lowered, and merchants carrying loads and pedestrians began to enter and leave the city one after another.

Qi Xiuyuan did not join the first wave of excitement.

He waited in the woods for more than an hour until the flow of people entering and leaving the city increased, then he followed the crowd into the city and went to the horse shop to pay for the lost horse.

Only after the treatment was completed did he regain control of his body.

"I wonder if my second uncle and the others have returned to the martial arts school yet?"

Qi Xiuyuan murmured softly before slowly walking towards the Qingshan Martial Arts School.

At the Qingshan Martial Arts School, in the training ground.

The morning light spilled over the wall, casting a golden glow that enveloped the martial arts school disciples.

Under Qu Jiuge's guidance, they are practicing the Five Elements Stance Technique.

Although Qu Jiuge has only entered the early stage of the Qi and Blood Realm, once he crosses that threshold, the power of Ming Jin will be there for all to see.

He looked at the slender figure, whose punches whistled through the air, and whose strength, from opening and closing his muscles and bones, was far beyond what a disciple who had not yet sensed his qi and blood could compare to.

These disciples had long been convinced of his worth.

No one was dissatisfied with him anymore because he started late and was young.

"Our senior brother is back!"

One of the disciples, with sharp eyes, spotted a figure approaching from the courtyard gate and quickly called out.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to look.

Qu Jiuge quickly stepped forward, her back ramrod straight.

Good morning, Senior Brother!

Qi Xiuyuan nodded slightly and patted his shoulder.

"Junior Brother Qu, well done."

"It's all what I should do." Qu Jiuge said earnestly, her eyes full of enthusiasm.

"Alright, you lead everyone to continue training."

"Yes, Senior Brother!"

Qu Jiuge straightened his chest, turned around and returned to the front of the group, leading everyone to resume their training.

Qi Xiuyuan didn't linger, nor did he ask his second uncle, Qi Wence, if he had returned, because there was no need to ask.

If they come back.

The martial arts gym wouldn't be this deserted.

Although he was worried about the safety of his second uncle and Xu Yi, there was nothing he could do but wait for news.

He returned to his courtyard with his bundle.

Gold and silver jewelry were all put into the cabinet.

The rest of the items were all laid out on the table.

"Set goals, and use tokens and maps correctly."

[Target detected: Token and map used correctly]

[Method 1: Arrive in Yujing a year later, find Bafeng Ridge, and single-handedly defeat all the young prodigies of the four major families to obtain the qualification to cultivate in Bafeng Pool. You will then learn the correct use of the token and map.]

[Method 2: Arrive in Yujing one year later, find Min Guanzhi, represent the Min family in the battle of the young talents of the four great families, help the Min family win the championship, and you will learn the correct use of the token and map.]

Please select a method to complete the objective.

"A year later, Yujing? That Min Guanzhi is still one of the four great families of Yujing?"

Qi Xiuyuan tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his brows furrowing slightly. He couldn't help but think of the aristocratic prodigies and the Great War of the Hundred Dynasties.

If he wants to participate in the Hundred Dynasties War, the path through Haisheng Palace is definitely blocked; that's their private territory, not for outsiders.

His only way out is to fight his way through the World Martial Arts Tournament and win a ticket to the competition.

If things really come to that point, it's only a matter of time before they have to compete with the geniuses of the major families.

Using this as an excuse to go to Yujing to broaden one's horizons and get a feel for the talents of aristocratic families doesn't seem like a bad thing.

"There's still plenty of time, no rush."

Qi Xiuyuan's gaze fell on the Minggu Pill and its formula on the table.

He doesn't need the Minggu Pill right now. Several of the main ingredients in the formula are very rare and not easy to gather. He'll keep it for later.

Finally, his gaze settled on the three secret manuals.

"Swift Shadows"!

The Blade of Destruction!

The "Mountain and Sea Transformation and Qi Condensation Technique"!