The male supporting character was actually myself.

The original owner was indeed a fool who only knew how to bury himself in the study of alchemy, otherwise he wouldn't have been completely fooled by Zhou Zhixue in the original story and acted as an ATM for pills. He had no knowledge about this subject stored in his memory.

The cultivation world originally consisted only of the human realm. At that time, spiritual energy was abundant, but there were not many secret realms or opportunities, and the types of cultivation methods were relatively limited. In ancient times, a foreign continent suddenly collided with the cultivation world and bordered it. After many years of war, exploration, and eventual integration, the demon realm we know today came into being.

The Demon Realm appeared later, but it is still a product of the medieval period.

According to records, black flames erupted from the depths of a remote, icy mountain, causing the earth to tremble violently and alarming the entire cultivation world. Soon after, an abyss appeared from which all sorts of strange and grotesque demons flew out.

After years of fighting and exploration, the cultivation world and the demon world have developed a good relationship and even frequently interact and intermarry, but they have always maintained a delicate balance with the demon world.

Neither the human nor the demon race looks down on the demon race. Except for the period when relations were eased by Leng Moran's forceful rule, they now rarely interact and keep to themselves.

"It can be said that our cultivation world has become as prosperous as it is by constantly accepting and embracing new worlds. Countless secret realms and various opportunities coexist, and the exchanges between sects have created more new paths to immortality that can lead to ascension."

Some powerful beings predict that the cultivation world will face another world invasion in the future, bringing both war and opportunity.

Yan Xuzi took a sip of tea and asked, "Why did you suddenly think of asking such childish questions? If you want to know something next time, go to the library and look through the history books yourself."

So being hacked isn't such a rare thing after all!

No wonder so many cultivators in the story immediately accepted the premise of the strange appearance, and all the major secluded sects mobilized. It seems that with the precedent set, defeating the enemy would bring more opportunities and gains. So that's how it is...

"Sect Master, to be honest, I've been having the same dream lately." Jiang Chen said in a serious tone, "In the dream, a new world passage appears in the mist deep in the Shattered Star Sea, and all that emerges from it are ugly, strange, and inhuman creatures. They are ferocious and powerful, and they can pollute wherever they go. Even the combined power of the Three Realms is difficult to resist them."

Yan Xuzi: ⊙0⊙

Is this the unique advantage of those lucky people with extraordinary fortune?

Is Haotian warning him so that he can make plans early and gain more benefits from it?

"Will there be another invasion now?" He frowned slightly, closed his eyes, and began to deduce the secrets of heaven.

Perhaps the bizarre invasion couldn't be completely concealed by the protagonist's halo, or perhaps the sect leader's cultivation had become stronger.

Yan Xuzi's divination went very smoothly this time. Although the image was blurry, he could vaguely "see" from the depths of the sea a scene of many bizarre creatures, even more disgusting than the demons, emerging.

However, the fortune of heaven and earth remains elusive and intangible, and the cultivation world is in chaos with no future in sight.

"As expected! But this time, the invasion from another world is probably... I can only deduce that after the invasion, the fortune of the cultivation world will rise rapidly, and then it will decline rapidly. In the end, I'm afraid..." He dared not say more, and his heart became inexplicably heavy again.

Thinking of Lin Xucheng's escape, Yan Xuzi vaguely sensed that this invasion was probably a great opportunity for the other side to take advantage of the chaos.

Jiang Chen, seizing the opportunity, encouraged, "Since Haotian gave us a warning in advance, it means there's still hope! It's all up to us. As long as we make preparations in advance, we can definitely shut down the strange invasion at the exit."

Furthermore, Lin Xucheng, who escaped during the otherworldly invasion and has been missing ever since, will definitely take advantage of the chaos to seek opportunities. If we prepare in advance, wouldn't we be able to catch him like a turtle in a jar?

Yan Xuzi's eyes lit up. As expected of Liu Jiangchen, who could rival the Chosen One!

Heaven has spared my Xiaoyao Sect!

After whispering for a long time, Jiang Chen finally took his leave and returned to his residence.

"Host!" He had barely started preparing when he heard a long-lost soft, sweet voice. Then, with a "duang," a solid, fluffy ball of fur landed on his back, scratched him a couple of times, and then hugged his neck, licking and rubbing his face.

"Meow meow meow~ Host, I miss you so much! Have you missed me too, meow?"

"Look what amazing treasures your adorable kitten brought back from its wild adventures!"

The fluffy dumpling jumped and meowed excitedly, "I read the script carefully as soon as it was updated. He's actually going to be in seclusion there for half a year! He'll be sitting there cultivating for so long and doing nothing. I don't want to stay with him."

Host, don't worry, I'm not a useless cat anymore, I know the way!

Every now and then, I'd sneak over and glance at him. As long as Lin Xucheng didn't cause any trouble, this soft and adorable little kitten could even help warm the host's bed!

As it spoke, it began rummaging through the system space, pulling things outwards.

Piles of top-grade spirit stones, bottles and jars full of various elixirs and countless medicinal herbs... This time, the entire secret realm was plundered, leaving nothing for the protagonist. The supplies brought back by the little white cat were so abundant that even Jiang Chen, who was used to seeing big scenes, was secretly amazed.

He took out a grilled steak, which was the little dumpling's favorite, from the food maker, rubbed its fur a few times, and praised, "My little white thing is getting more and more capable. This job was done super well!"

"Just in time, I was planning to set up a trap for Lin Xucheng according to the new plot, and these pills you brought back have solved my immediate problem."

[Mission: Refine 100 Qi-Replenishing Pills, 100 Blood-Replenishing Pills, and 100 Primordial Chaos Pills within six months... Reward: 2 One-Time Grade A Items]

The task list was so long that Jiang Chen and Rong Tuanzi were so busy looking at the number of pills that they didn't even have time to say anything after the task was suddenly released.

After a long while, the little white cat, flustered and angry, jumped up and down, cursing the main system, "What is all this nonsense? Thousands of pills! Are you trying to kill my host with exhaustion? What's wrong with a male supporting character? Don't male supporting characters have rights? I'll get you!"

Jiang Chen: ...

"Little White, don't be so irritable. Look carefully before you start cursing." He chuckled and rubbed the bouncing white cat a couple of times, then explained in a low voice, "Although there are many, the pills are not of high grade. One batch can only produce twenty or thirty."

It's probably because they saw you brought back so many medicinal herbs that they wanted to give me something to do.

After it's refined, issue a mission and place it where the male protagonist can steal it. Then Lin Xucheng can use it to generously reward others. Otherwise, how could he have built a team and had so many people follow him to fight the monsters from the start? Relying solely on the protagonist's halo without giving any benefits will only exhaust him after a few uses!

Fluffy dumpling: (?ω?)

"As expected of my chosen host, you are indeed smart and capable!" It raised its paws and praised its host. "So, can we take this opportunity to dig a pit so that the protagonist has to use up his aura to do whatever he wants? Oh, by the way, after several setbacks, Lin Xucheng's aura has dimmed a lot."

Especially, hehehe..."

It scratched its round belly with its paw, took out a memory stone, and pushed it forward. "It'll be so much more exciting after the roles are switched! It's just a pity that my forum post got a 404 error, and they even banned me for a month for promoting inappropriate videos..."

However, the post was already quite popular before the forum administrators discovered it!

Who would have thought that the plot, which was supposed to be about the protagonist taking advantage of a woman by using connections, would be twisted into the protagonist being the one who gets taken advantage of? Many auxiliary systems were stunned and even wanted to ask the cat for a strategy guide.

I suppose they, who usually just accept their fate, must really dislike those jerk protagonists, hahaha~

Chapter Twenty-Four: I'm Not Just a Freeloader

"You actually filmed a video in that kind of situation?" Jiang Chen looked at it in astonishment, then casually picked up the fluffy ball by the scruff of its neck and shook it. "What kind of special fetish do you have?"

The fluffy little ball of fur curled up its head and little feet, making it look even rounder and more cuddly. It stammered, "What are you thinking, host? What bad thoughts could a little kitten possibly have?"

I just wanted to show you how easily the protagonist's aura can drop after they've been defeated!

And, and, Meow was thinking, what if this recording could come in handy…”

Jiang Chen: (￣ー￣)

How could it possibly be of any use?

The one who confronted him was the former leader of all demons, a character who, after the plot update, was made the male protagonist the final boss. Releasing this dark history would only hurt the enemy a thousand while hurting oneself eight hundred.

"Host, I have some more good stuff here!" The fluffy little dumpling peeked out and gestured for him to look into the system space like a treasure. "Look! We can't just take this out casually. Let's admire it for now and release it after that troublemaker Lin Xucheng is dead!"

It was indeed a vast palace complex.

When shrunk many times over and stored in a spatial grid, it resembles a miniature model toy, yet the different areas with distinct functions can still be clearly distinguished. When enlarged, it can be used for habitation or to smash people; when shrunk, all objects within it can be proportionally reduced without any impact—truly a divine artifact left behind by an ascended immortal.

"It's a real shame that it can only be used in cultivation-themed missions. I wish it could be used anywhere!" The little white cat was practically drooling. This was like carrying a house with you!

Jiang Chen dusted it off and placed it on the table, praising, "You've made a great harvest this time, you're the biggest contributor. Now get some rest, we're going to prepare a big surprise for Lin Xucheng!"

Fluffy dumpling: (。???。)

Yay! I love it when they set traps for that jerk protagonist!

After two busy days, the task was completed; Rongtuanzi helped organize the system space and found many resources that had been put in from other cultivation-themed mission worlds.

After everything was prepared, the day that had been agreed upon with the Wind Chaser Eagle arrived.

The Jade Maiden Peak, where Fairy Siling resides, is located between the Free and Unfettered Sect and the Shattered Star Sea, slightly closer to the Shattered Star Sea. It is a towering mountain peak shaped like a beautiful woman holding a flower, hidden among the mountains.

Even cultivators, without the Jade Maiden Peak token or the secret entry technique, would have no chance to see the true face of this ancient, secretive, and low-key sect, even if they stood right in front of it.

Fortunately, the She Niu Zhui Feng Diao had already obtained a token from Fairy Si Ling. He walked to the sect's protective array shrouded in mist and showed the token, which was made of special material. The mist gradually dissipated and a majestic mountain appeared in front of them.

"Wow~" The fluffy little ball perched on Jiang Chen's shoulder stared wide-eyed. "No wonder it's Jade Maiden Peak, the main force of the protagonist's harem! Even a mountain is so beautiful! Host, why don't you take a look at that Fairy Siling later? If she's your type, then get her! Steal the protagonist's fish!"

Jiang Chen glanced at it, and the fluffy ball quickly jumped to the other side, pretending to admire the scenery.

"The renowned alchemist Liu Jiangchen is indeed a handsome and talented man!"

“Cultivators absorb the essence of heaven and earth by drinking dew and breathing wind. Apart from a few, how could they be bad-looking? Liu Jiangchen comes from a prestigious family and her extraordinary temperament is indeed outstanding.”

"I heard that the Ancestral Elder specially invited Liu Jiangchen. Is she preparing to advance to the Dao Integration Realm with custom-made pills?"

"If our patriarch and elders can achieve the Dao Integration Realm, then our Jade Maiden Peak will reach an even higher level..."

…………

The renowned alchemist personally visited Jade Maiden Peak, which aroused great curiosity among the disciples of the sect.

However, cultivating the Immaculate True Scripture requires a special physique. The entire mountain gate is filled with fairies, and their numbers are not very large. Those who come to watch are well-behaved, watching from a distance and whispering among themselves, not daring to approach.

Led by a young Taoist, Jiang Chen, along with four guardians specially dispatched by the Xiaoyao Sect for their safety, the Wind Chaser Eagle, and the lazy demon cat, quickly arrived at the summit of Nianhua Mountain, where they were warmly welcomed by Fairy Siling.

"She really is a great beauty!" Upon seeing Fairy Siling, who was as beautiful as a lotus emerging from water and had the temperament of a fairy in the moon palace, the fluffy ball immediately stood up straight. After a few seconds, it stroked its beard with its paw, shook its head, and sighed, "It's a pity that her temperament doesn't match. She's not the type that the host likes."

Jiang Chen: ...

Do you really think I'm here to find a partner?

A moment later, sitting opposite the beautiful senior in the tea room, he presented a letter written by Yan Xuzi with both hands: "The sect leader of Bizong observed the stars and deduced the secrets of heaven. He discovered that a new world fusion passage would reappear in the Shattered Star Sea in half a year. However, this time the invasion of another world is extremely troublesome."

The senior should know how fierce the war against the demons was in the Middle Ages; this strange invasion is even more intense than the demon invasion itself.

Fortunately, the sect leader deduced that your sect's Immaculate True Scripture is the nemesis of invading monsters. I urge you, senior, to review it carefully and consider whether to join the Three Realms Guardian Team.

"Since the Sect Master of the Free and Unfettered Sect personally deduced it, there's absolutely no way it can be wrong." Fairy Siling took the handwritten letter, read it carefully, and then nodded solemnly. "Since the strange entity primarily attacks by spreading plague through pollution, the Immaculate Scripture can indeed restrain it. The task of protecting the safety of the Three Realms is of utmost importance, and Jade Maiden Peak has an inescapable duty to fulfill it!"

Originally, I just wanted to get to know this youngest alchemist to prepare for the pills I would need to advance to the Dao Integration Realm. I didn't expect that the other party would reveal such a bombshell as soon as we met.

The invasion from another world has caused widespread suffering, but along with the crisis come various opportunities. Since the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect has begun to organize people to prepare to resist the invasion, it is neither reasonable nor moral to refuse.

Moreover, Jade Maiden Peak's cultivation methods are unique, and its disciples are few. In situations requiring intense combat, they would need protection from other sects. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so naturally, it's safer to stick close to a major sect, and the distribution of benefits will be guaranteed.

The two sides had a very pleasant conversation, which was certainly not what the Wind Chaser had imagined.

After discovering that Little Willow's "blind date" with Fairy Siling had fallen through, it drooped its wings and squatted on the big tree, looking worried.

"Tsk tsk, our little Liu is good in every way, but his standards are just too high!" The Wind Chaser Eagle tried to suppress its loud voice and covered its face with its wings to complain to the demon cat, "Look at him, he doesn't even look at someone like Fairy Siling, who has such a high status!"

The demon cat's glassy eyes darted around lazily as it said, "Meow~ You've chosen the wrong person at all. How old is Xiao Liu? Those female cultivators you've found could be his great-great-grandmothers. Don't believe me? Try picking someone around your age. Do you know any genius female cultivators in their early twenties?"

Chasing Wind Eagle: Σ(☉▽☉"a

It's actually an age issue?

The key is that those who can afford to raise demonic beasts are all female cultivators in their twenties with strength and background...

Its eyes darted around, and it flapped its wings a few times. "I refuse to believe I can't help him find a match! Caw~ I'll contact my cronies right now; they definitely know where to find a beautiful, young fairy who's a perfect match for our Little Willow!"

I came up with a random idea to get rid of it, and the demon cat finally had some peace and quiet. It twitched its ears and continued to squint.