All of the protagonist's Daoist partners are mine!

This is the downside of being young and inexperienced.

Xing Moxie couldn't help but recall his early days in business, when he often made the same basic mistakes as Yu Changfeng.

What? Because he overlaps with his past self, he's expected to go easy on Yu Changfeng and be more lenient?

Incorrect.

Crushing Yu Changfeng underfoot and killing him—doesn't that mean Xing Moxie has surpassed her past self? Heh heh.

"Thank you all for giving me, Lu Renjia, the honor of coming from so far away to create this unprecedented spectacle..." Xing Moxie began to speak.

Yu Changfeng breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed he had successfully fooled them.

After the usual opening remarks, Xing Moxie said, "To add to that, there are two grand prizes waiting for you all in this exploration of the secret realm."

Upon hearing about the grand prize, the audience held their breath even more intently.

"After the event begins, I will go to the entrance of the secret realm and bestow a mysterious gift upon the first person who finds the location of the secret realm in the vast mountains."

"Wow, wow~" That's awesome.

"Then, after investigation, it was found that this secret realm was set up by a demonic cultivator before his death. The first person to reach the deepest part of the secret realm and bring back the demonic cultivator's head will receive the ultimate prize—a discipleship at Qingxin Peak of the Xuantian Immortal Sect."

“Ohhhhhhh!!!”

These words caused a stir in the audience.

The roar shook the mountains.

This prize is amazing! I thought the immortal master's recruitment would only benefit his own people, but I never expected that unrelated people, even rogue cultivators, would have a chance to compete for it.

How could they not be excited?

Those who missed today's event truly missed a chance to change their life's fortunes!

"Long live Immortal Master Lu! Immortal Master Lu is unparalleled in benevolence and righteousness!"

"Croak! Immortal Master Lu, we love and respect you!"

"Immortal Master Lu is truly a model for the cultivation world!"

A chorus of croaking filled the air.

Yu Changfeng couldn't help but be tempted: "The quota for the Xuantian Immortal Sect..."

Sister Zhong hurriedly advised, "You can't do that, Changfeng! You absolutely can't compete for that spot. That's like throwing a lamb to the slaughter! With your talent, you don't necessarily have to join the Xuantian Immortal Sect. You can choose from the other four major immortal sects."

“Other immortal sects are far away, and I am a wanted criminal with nothing. Even if I go to the second closest Great Sun Immortal Sect, it will take at least ten years to get there.”

"It's alright. With my support, even if you become a wandering cultivator in the mountains, you will never be worse off than a disciple of an immortal sect."

"Hmm..." Yu Changfeng thought it made sense, but still hesitated, so he didn't answer for the time being.

Glancing at the young chosen one lost in thought, Xing Moxie licked his lips. System inventory, hehe, I'm about to become someone with a system too.

……

The exploration of the hidden realm has officially begun.

Tens of thousands of cultivators flocked to the northern mountains, taking out all sorts of roadside props and using various techniques to search for spiritual energy reactions.

Yu Changfeng took the lead and rushed into the valley, putting distance between himself and the others.

"Sister Zhong, how are you?"

"Not yet. As long as the secret realm is not protected by a powerful array, I can detect it once it enters within a mile."

This feature already far surpasses that of other contestants, but Yu Changfeng still feels it's not efficient enough.

If he had some points left, he could exchange them for items that allow him to perceive spiritual energy over a wider area.

"What do you want to do?!" A familiar shout came from the woods.

"Hmm? What's that voice?" Yu Changfeng turned around and went to investigate.

It really was Guan Jinshu. Hadn't she already latched onto the Lu family? What's she doing here?

At this moment, Guan Jinshu was surrounded by three burly men at the sixth level of Qi Refining, and he was completely helpless.

One of the burly men approached with a sneer: "Miss Guan, the recent events between your Guan family and the Lu family have become a topic of conversation. I presume you have inside information and know the location of the secret realm? If you're willing to hand it over, we won't make things difficult for you."

The burly man blocking her retreat lewdly said, "Hehe, if you don't comply, don't blame us three brothers for making some money in other ways."

The third burly man was even more enthusiastic: "Hehe, we have one entrance, which is perfect."

"Shameless scoundrel!"

Guan Jinshu was cornered, but she was only at the fourth level of Qi Refining. How could she escape from these three people?

Yu Changfeng heard a "ding" sound.

Sister Zhong issued a task: "A face-slapping plot has been detected. Please slap the face of the villains and complete the hero-saves-the-damsel-in-distress mission."

"Great!" Yu Changfeng was just looking for a place to show off.

A perfect pillow for someone who's just fallen asleep, awesome!

He immediately leaped into the air, making a heroic entrance.

"Stop it, all of you!"

"What? Where did this brat come from, ruining my good time?"

"In broad daylight, under the clear sky, how dare you bully others under my nose? You're asking for death!" Yu Changfeng couldn't wait to unleash his fists and feet.

You know, he's been feeling really frustrated these past few days.

Three burly men at the sixth level of Qi Refining rushed forward, but they were no match for Yu Changfeng.

Chapter 66: 67 Killing three birds with one stone? Just kidding.

Even though his injuries haven't fully healed, Yu Changfeng is still a super Foundation Establishment cultivator who once fought against Golden Core experts.

"Drink!"

"Crash!" The three burly men fell flat on their faces and wet themselves.

Seeing the situation was dire, the eldest brother in the middle shouted, "Oh no! It's a Foundation Establishment expert! Retreat!"

"Huh? I haven't even used my full strength yet, and it's already gone?" Yu Changfeng was still unsatisfied, feeling that this attempt at showing off hadn't been very exciting.

But at least the mission was accomplished.

Sister Zhong jumped out: "Congratulations, host, for completing the mission of rescuing the damsel in distress and obtaining a ten-year-old Zhu Yu Grass."

“That back view, could you be…” Guan Jinshu cast a curious glance at him.

Yu Changfeng smiled and turned around: "What? You don't recognize me just because I'm wearing the mask you gave me?"

"So you really are Yu Changfeng! Why are you here?"

"You gave me the event poster and then asked me why I came here?"

"I'm asking, with such a vast mountainous area, why did you happen to appear here?"

"Yes, why is that? Perhaps it's fate that brought us together."

Upon hearing this, Guan Jinshu stared at him with wide eyes, looking at him in confusion.

Yu Changfeng realized that he was talking like he was trying to pick her up. He clearly hadn't intended to flirt with her.

For a moment, the atmosphere between the two became ambiguous and indescribable.

Yu Changfeng quickly came to his senses: "I saved your life, so you should help me this time. I found a Zhu Yu Grass up ahead, and I need to digest it now. You protect me."

He needs to use the Jade Grass to recover from his injuries as soon as possible, so that he can have a better chance of winning in the secret realm.

Theoretically, he should find a secluded place to absorb the essence, but he also needs to be the first to find the entrance to the secret realm and obtain the mysterious and generous gift. Therefore, he has no time to avoid Guan Jinshu.

"I understand." Guan Jinshu was a straightforward person and immediately agreed.

……

On the other side, the talisman in Xing Moxie's hand lit up.

"Oh? You ran into her so soon? As expected of the chosen one, you never miss an opportunity to be a hero and save the damsel in distress, right?"

He continued to connect the talismans on Guan Jinshu's body.

"Hmm? Zhu Yucao? Found it? Hmph, what an interesting explanation..."

Although Zhu Yu Cao is not a high-grade medicinal herb, it is not a wild vegetable that can be picked up casually in the mountains.

Moreover, this area was burned down by Xiao Linglong's gourd the night before last, so even if there were any spiritual herbs there, they were all turned to ashes.

"Given by the system? Very good..." Xing Moxie waved his hand.

The chubby elder of the Lu family immediately came over: "Ancestor, what are your orders?"

"Go and fetch a hundred-year-old Zhu Yu Grass immediately. Remember, it must be at least a hundred years old."

"Yes, have someone prepare it immediately."

……

A moment later, Yu Changfeng exhaled a breath of stale air.

"Ten years of Zhu Yucao is indeed good; my injuries have now healed by more than half."

"Of course." Seeing him smile, which was a rare occurrence, Zhong Jie breathed a sigh of relief: "Don't you even know who's taking such good care of you?"

"Thanks to you, Sister Zhong."

"It's good to know."

Yu Changfeng turned to look at Guan Jinshu not far away: "You actually didn't leave."

“I keep my word. Since I promised to protect you, I will not abandon you.”

Her dashing profile made Yu Changfeng's heart flutter: "It seems I misunderstood you before... Speaking of which, haven't you already been able to enter the Immortal Sect? Why did you come here?"

"Opportunities to explore secret realms are extremely rare. Since I am determined to cultivate, I will naturally not miss them."

After saying that, Guan Jinshu tossed him a piece of paper.

"This is?"

"The location of the entrance to the secret realm." She turned around and said, "My father spent a lot of money to buy it from the Lu family, seemingly hoping that I would be the first to arrive and leave a good impression on the immortal."

"Yes, that's exactly what your snobbish old man would do."

“Protecting the Dharma is nothing. If you help me once, I will give you the opportunity, and then we will be even.”

After saying that, Guan Jinshu walked away by another path.

As she walked, she wondered—the immortal seemed to want her to get closer to this guy, but why did he give her such cold lines? She couldn't understand the immortal's intention.

Alas, Guan Jinshu is still too young in this regard, far less shrewd and calculating than Xing Moxie, who had played countless galgames in her previous life.

The pure love examiner Xing Moxie knew that a guy like Yu Changfeng would never be interested in a woman who actively threw herself into his arms. Only a woman who was aloof and had a touch of arrogance and distance could make him fall in love.

As expected, Yu Changfeng stared at Guan Jinshu's back until it disappeared from sight.

"Why didn't I notice this before? She's not without merit."

Sister Zhong nodded: "It seems that Miss Guan does have a good impression of you, but she's a bit arrogant."

"Sister Zhong, you don't understand. This kind of strong woman is the best. She is often cold on the outside but warm on the inside."

"Okay, you get it."

……

A while later.

Xing Moxie, who was enjoying afternoon tea at the entrance of the secret realm, put down her teacup and said, "So, we've finally arrived?"

Yu Changfeng descended from the distant mountain peak. Along the way, he had doubts about the authenticity of this route, but upon seeing the Lu family immortal and his accompanying disciples, he completely lowered his guard.

Guan Jinshu was right.

Yu Changfeng couldn't help but smirk: "A heroic rescue not only earned me points for slapping someone in the face, but also won Guan Jinshu's favor. Judging from the situation, I was the first to arrive, and the mysterious gift is definitely mine. Hmph, killing three birds with one stone! It seems fate is indeed on my side!"

Zhong Jie said, "Changfeng, that Lu family immortal is very strange. It's best to be careful."

"I know, do you think I'm the kind of person who would stumble over the same stone twice?" Yu Changfeng said, frowning.

He was getting a little impatient.