The door of the Wansheng Study on the 1222nd floor reopened.
Lin Shuang glanced at the time—it was almost the Chen hour in the afternoon.
Today in Zhenchuan, she was truly working hard, following a schedule as rigorous as her final exam routine.
Except for some essential activities like reading novels and taking a nap, her entire day was packed with study.
It had been a long time since she last worked this hard.
Lin Shuang lifted her head, gazing at the evening glow about to fully emerge on the horizon, feeling proud of herself.
[December 22nd]
[5. Completed the Wansheng Study: Dan Tian No.6 is exhausted and entered hibernation. Midway, switched to No.7, remaining energy at 50-60%.]
After recording her schedule, she secretly glanced into her qizi pouch.
As she approached the study’s entrance, three scrolls were already floating in front of the stone steps.
[Congratulations on breaking through! You may take out the cultivation techniques you’ve advanced to the second stage!]
“Better Return Sword”
“Thirteen Waves Saber Art”
“First-tier Poison Zhan Pill”
Lin Shuang smiled, “Thank you, study. Thank you for helping me grow.”
She reached forward, picked up the scrolls, and placed them into her qizi pouch.
But soon, her hand brushed against a jade slip inside the pouch—“Hope you don’t mind me taking some of your stuff!” also known as “The Art of Dripping Water into a River.”
Lin Shuang then pretended nothing happened and turned her head, only to feel the icy fingers of someone beside her also reaching for the scrolls.
She turned around and saw Huangpu Yuan’s dark pupils narrowing.
“Sorry, Senior Brother.”
“It’s fine.”
Huangpu Yuan withdrew his hand, lowered his head, and pressed the other hand on a hand warmer.
“The Blood Slaughtering Formation” was hidden in his sleeve.
In an instant, the three of them smiled simultaneously and stepped into the resting cave dwelling.
*
Inside Zhenchuan Mountain Tower, hollowed out, resting cave dwellings were suspended every three thousand floors.
At this moment, almost every cave dwelling had disciples standing in front of projections, their expressions strange.
A white-robed disciple, with torn clothes and bloodstains, had just tiredly emerged from the 3900th floor.
Just as he was about to sit down and catch his breath with his companion, the burly older brother with fish scales on his arms gestured him over.
The white-robed disciple struggled to stand and walked over, lowering his voice to ask.
“Did the Master faint and withdraw from the Zhenchuan test?”
His eyes flickered with an expression of “I knew it,” yet tinged with regret.
The Master’s withdrawal was not good news for Meng Zi or Lin Shuang.
With one member missing, the trio was incomplete.
But over the years, Huangpu Yuan had always stopped at the 500th floor of Zhenchuan.
His ancient bloodline had been severely damaged, allowing him only one attack per day.
And they had long suspected that within the inner sect of Qing Shui Sect—and even within Zhenchuan—there was no safe place. There were always people searching for the Master with ill intent.
Once Huangpu Yuan, in this identity, unleashed his full power, his bloodline would be exposed, forcing him to leave Qing Shui Sect.
This would be an obstacle for the Master, for them, and for the entire demon race’s revenge mission.
The sudden descent into madness of the previous Demon King and the leader of the Nine-tailed Fox Clan, leading to their demise at the hands of cultivators, pointed clues directly to the East China Region.
Only the Qing Shui and Shan Hai sects, the longest-established and local powerhouses in East China, could collude secretly with evil cultivators without exposure!
“Don’t talk about it out here. Wait until I leave Zhenchuan tonight to go find him.”
The white-robed disciple whispered, “My team of three has reached our limit today. We’re going back to the cave dwelling to rest.”
“By the way, Brother Gui, how many floors have you reached?”
“I’ve broken through to the 5000th floor. This time, my goal is the 6000th.”
The fish-scaled older brother answered casually.
The white-robed disciple nodded, “I entered between the 2000th and 3000th floors today. I haven’t found any suspicious signs in three trials. What about you at the 5000th floor?”
“Nothing unusual,” the fish-scaled older brother frowned. “The Master said that if human cultivators turn to evil, they will definitely leave traces.
Zhenchuan is maintained by all the elders of Qing Shui Sect together, hiding the elders’ preferences and dislikes. Investigating Zhenchuan should reveal clues from back then. But even in the 5000+ floors I’ve visited, I haven’t found any abnormal objects or signs of evil cultivators.”
The white-robed disciple pondered, “Maybe it’s above the 6000th floor. If not this year, then in ten years. One day, we will investigate all of Zhenchuan.”
As he spoke, some of the unruly white hairs behind him suddenly stood up.
His expression changed.
“I need to leave Zhenchuan quickly. If the Master is eliminated, he might secretly revert to his original form and infiltrate Zhenchuan again for investigation.”
But this year, with Lin Shuang from the outer sect inside, there might be some idle elders who, out of curiosity, pay attention to the situation within Zhenchuan.
This year is too dangerous.
The fish-scaled older brother was silent for half a moment before letting out a strange cry, “Xiao Bai, can you stop interrupting me at the beginning all the time?”
“You know our fish clan only has seven breaths of memory during rest time normally.”
Xiao Bai: “…So, what did you call me over to say?”
The fish-scaled older brother frowned, “Uh, was I coming over to talk to you?”
Xiao Bai: …
“Oh, look outside at the Red Leaderboard! Lin Shuang from the outer sect has become the floor master at the 1200th floor!”
“What!”
The disciples inside the resting cave dwelling, who had just returned from trials and were unaware of the latest updates, checked the Red List and were instantly shocked, sparking heated discussions among them.
Xiao Bai and the fish-scaled older brother stood up abruptly.
The fish-scaled older brother felt a sense of relief, “I remember now! I came to tell you that the Master went to the 1200th floor and became the floor master.”
“…”
Xiao Bai’s white hair was even messier.
“Why didn’t you say so earlier!”
“How could this happen? Why did the Master go above the 500th floor this year? Xiao Bai, you’re the smartest. Do you know why?” the fish-scaled older brother asked.
Xiao Bai, of course, didn’t know.
“I wanted to send a message to the Master, but I dared not. Our fish clan is at odds with the Master’s Huangpu Yuan identity outside.”
The fish-scaled older brother scratched his head.
But Xiao Bai lowered his head, his lips moving silently, “They’ve reached the 1200th floor, so they can view projections from a thousand floors below—”
He quickly opened the disciple’s projection for the 222nd floor.
There, many anonymous disciples’ comments scrolled by.
One name caught his and the fish-scaled older brother’s attention simultaneously.
[I happened to pass by here: I’m rooting for this disciple on the 200th floor.]
[I happened to pass by here: I see you’ve been here a while. I’m really anxious.]
[I happened to pass by here: The maze in the picture requires a disciple at the peak of the Foundation Building stage to escape. Be careful.]
[I happened to pass by here: So much blood.]
[I happened to pass by here: Fortunately, you brought pills.]
“I see blood here!”
Xiao Bai recited the first character of each comment!
I saw the Blood Slaughtering Formation!
The fish-scaled older brother’s pupils contracted, “The Blood Slaughtering Formation that trapped the previous Demon King… Zhenchuan definitely has issues! Then what does the Master want us to do next—”
Don’t worry.
I have already found someone to help me coast through the investigation of Zhenchuan.
“!”
“Earlier, the Master feared his bloodline would be exposed, so he never joined our team, always withdrawing at the 500th floor… This year, he finally found someone to coast with?!”
The fish-scaled older brother was moved.
Help him coast.
Who?
Lin Shuang?
Xiao Bai’s eyes trembled, his white fur behind him quivering.
Indeed, compared to the frail Huangpu Yuan in Zhenchuan, what drew more attention was Lin Shuang, who broke into the inner sect from the outer sect!
“Wait, they became the floor master of the 1200th floor?”
Xiao Bai asked oddly.
Suddenly, he looked down at his communication stone.
[Meng Zi]: Xiao Bai, are you leaving Zhenchuan tonight? Do you have time to chat with me about your outer sect matters?
[Meng Zi]: …I think Lin Shuang isn’t that… weak or lazy. Did you… misunderstand her?
[Meng Zi]: Xiao Bai, are you asleep? I can’t sleep.
“!!”
Xiao Bai’s expression changed.
*
Inside the resting cave dwelling under the 3000th floor of Zhenchuan, Lin Shuang and the others had already teleported to the rest area.
“Hey, Auntie, is this floor still under your management?”
Meng Zi, carrying his blade, walked ahead of Lin Shuang and Huangpu Yuan, greeting the pink-robed junior aunt who had just sold a cave dwelling for twenty years with a smile.
“We’re back again, just to take a look at the cave dwelling of the 1200th floor.”
Just looking, no buying!
The pink-robed woman rolled her eyes, no longer as enthusiastic as before.
Especially when her gaze swept over the third water beast embroidery on Lin Shuang’s chest, which was pale gold, different from the silver-white threads of the previous two water beasts.
This was the mark of passing through and becoming a floor master, and triggering all hidden magical treasures of that floor.
It meant the disciple had completed the highest difficulty of that floor with exceptional performance.
The value was completely different!
In past years, disciples who obtained this beast emblem would eventually achieve scores above the 6000th floor!
The pink-robed woman turned her head away, “I see, you might not even look down on the cave dwelling of the 1200th floor. You won’t give up unless you fall from a higher floor.”
“Yeah, indeed, the 800th cave dwelling is an hour’s flight by sword from the Transmission Hall. The 1200th cave dwelling is at least half an hour’s walk, right?”
Lin Shuang estimated, the inner sect was not simple.
The pink-robed woman’s action of opening the 1200th cave dwelling stiffened.
Compared to the two-room cave dwelling of the 800th floor, the 1200th cave dwelling was a three-bedroom, one-living room, at least 150 square meters, facing the sea of clouds, watching the stars at night…
Lin Shuang glanced and immediately realized the cave dwelling was between the fourth and fifth ring roads!
Even further away from the Sect Leader’s residence…
She immediately felt dispirited.
If she had to travel for an hour every day, she could endure it, but—
“In my outer sect room number ninety-nine, whether going to the Transmission Hall, the dining hall, the management office, or outside the mountain gate, it’s all within half an incense stick’s time.”
Entering the inner sect, she instantly moved from the first ring to the fifth ring. How could she bear it?
“Ah, it’s easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go from luxury to frugality,” Lin Shuang apologetically looked at the pink-robed junior aunt.
The pink-robed woman’s mouth twitched, your outer sect is luxury, your inner sect is frugality!
“The inner sect’s spiritual energy is far more abundant than the—”
Before she could finish, Huangpu Yuan spoke, “I remember the 1200th cave dwelling doesn’t provide immortal cranes as mounts either?”
A pale face showed a trace of elegant disdain.
The pink-robed woman’s veins throbbed, she put away the cave dwelling jade slip and turned around!
Meng Zi, carrying his blade, looked left at Lin Shuang and right at Huangpu Yuan.
He also gave up the idea of looking at houses.
Hmph, if both the outer sect junior sister and the frail senior brother didn’t like it, why should he be the fool?
Lin Shuang and the three of them scratched their noses, innocently leaving the tea table where they were looking at houses.
“Did I seem impolite? But the distance is indeed far.”
“No problem, junior sister. Without immortal cranes, even spirit chickens wouldn’t nest at the 1200th cave dwelling.”
“…This cave dwelling must cost at least ten thousand a month. I bet the auntie doesn’t live there herself.”
The pink-robed woman almost rushed forward.
But a green-robed figure was faster, “Senior Sister!”
Lin Shuang paused, turned around, and saw Zhao Keran, who was trying to rush over and get close to her, “Junior sister?”
“I just sensed you were here cultivating, and was a bit curious. Did you also come to Zhenchuan for trials?”
The pink-robed woman pressed her forehead, “They are here in the outer sect to assist with chores, not for cultivation.”
She said and gave Lin Shuang a resentful look.
“You think everyone is like you, rushing into the inner sect—”
But before she could finish, Zhao Keran interrupted cheerfully.
“No wonder Senior Sister, even from a hundred steps away, you noticed I was cultivating here.”
The pink-robed woman: ?
She looked back and saw Zhao Keran holding a bunch of cave dwelling jade slips in her hands, tossing them, with spiritual water constantly washing down from above.
And in her hands, she was rolling two walnut-sized swords, her feet moving forward, backward, left, and right.
“???”
“Since Senior Sister is in Zhenchuan, how can I slack off?”
Zhao Keran looked at Lin Shuang with an expression full of expectation for praise.
“Master Li sent us here to Zhenchuan to help with chores. I used the practice of the Rain Silk Technique to wipe the Zhenchuan jade slips, while training my spiritual sense to watch Senior Sister’s trial projections, while training my idle hands’ fingers’ flexibility and sword techniques, and my feet are training the Golden Cicada Shedding Steps.”
The pink-robed woman: ??
Meng Zi, carrying his blade: ???
Huangpu Yuan’s elegant phoenix eyes twitched violently.
But Lin Shuang was very pleased, reaching out to pat her junior sister’s shoulder.
She was happy that her junior sister had learned so much from her time management mastery.
Unlike herself, who only regretted being too slow when she lost her loved ones.
“You’ve grown up, junior sister.”
Zhao Keran smiled happily, “Then I’ll continue. After finishing today’s homework, I’ll go try the 100th floor of Zhenchuan.”
Lin Shuang smiled, “Okay.”
She couldn’t help but guide her junior sister, pointing at the jade slips in Zhao Keran’s hand, which were tossed into the air like juggling.
“Your Rain Silk Technique still wastes 40%. Some of the silk falls through the gaps between the jade slips.”
“Why not split more spiritual threads and attach them to these rain silks, using the falling silk to clean the teacups at the same time? And coordinate your footwork with the rain silk to complete obstacle avoidance training?”
The pink-robed woman’s fingers twitched: ??
Meng Zi: ??
Huangpu Yuan: …
Zhao Keran’s round face immediately became solemn, “Yes, Senior Sister. I still haven’t fully grasped the fastest learning techniques. I’ll go practice right away!”
The pink-robed woman lowered her head, holding the jade slip of the 1200th cave dwelling.
Are all the outer sect servants doing things like this now?
Are outer sect senior sisters all teaching their junior sisters like this?!
Had she not visited the outer sect for too long?
She had been too focused on the projection of the Wansheng Study earlier and didn’t notice this outer sect female disciple’s ‘strange movements’ beside her!
“Alright, you continue cultivating. Senior sister won’t disturb you.
Next time, remember that once your schedule starts, you should focus, and don’t interrupt it just because Senior sister came over.”
Lin Shuang patted her junior sister’s forehead.
Zhao Keran immediately deeply reflected on herself, “I’ll start this incense stick over.”
Lin Shuang nodded, pleased, and looked at Huangpu Yuan and Meng Zi, “Let’s go redeem the rewards.”
A trace of wariness flashed in Huangpu Yuan’s phoenix eyes.
If human cultivators are all like this, how can demon cultivators’ talents and bloodlines compete?
Behind them, Meng Zi hesitated with his steps, a sudden white light flashing in his mind.
—You’ve grown up, junior sister.
—Junior sister, your Rain Silk Technique still wastes 40%…
—Junior sister, have you learned it yet…
Meng Zi’s big sword trembled slightly as he looked ahead at Lin Shuang’s retreating back.
He seemed to have, maybe, somehow sensed the reason why Xiao Bai fled from the outer sect.
Zhao Keran used the rain to cleanse the jade tablet, her hands dancing with sword techniques. Her feet moved as if riding a horse…
Xiaobai.
Have you ever been like this before?!
[Reward for Layer 1222:]
[Due to triggering a hidden treasure, the reward is quadrupled. 4888 sect contributions have been issued.]
The Merit Stone Monument instantly spewed out a flood of reward cards toward Lin Shuang and the others, like an arcade machine.
This time, Lin Shuang received more than the others.
She had triggered the Qianshan Wanchong Screen and the Fuke Mirror.
[15000 spirit stones, can be used to purchase/rent cave dwellings numbered 1–1200.]
[6000 spirit stones, can be used to cover basic inner sect spiritual energy fees.]
[3000 spirit stones, can be used to exchange for tier-3 spiritual treasures and other items.]
[2000 spirit stones, usable throughout the inner sect.]
Lin Shuang received the 2000 spirit stone general-use red envelope.
Additionally, there were two Zhenchuan Yindu Leaves, still fragrant with the scent of books, inside her spatial pouch.
[Zhenchuan Yindu Leaf: Access to layer 5000, Myriad Scroll Grove (available to Ningyuan cultivators).]
[Zhenchuan Yindu Leaf: Access to layer 9000, Myriad Scroll Sea (available to Divine Refinement cultivators).]
Huangpu Yuan and Meng Zi each received two leaves for layer 9000, one fewer than her.
She achieved perfect results this time.
Lin Shuang was satisfied with the updated plan.
— Obtain more Yindu Leaves √√√
— Obtain more layer lords √√√
Her obsessive-compulsive tendencies felt extremely comfortable.
“The tier-3 spiritual treasures can now be exchanged!”
Meng Zi was also enchanted by the rewards.
In the previous layers—300 and 800—they had only encountered tier-1 and tier-2 elixirs, which they hadn’t exchanged for.
But now, the Zhenchuan exchange privilege for tier-3 spiritual treasures had opened to them.
“Senior apprentice-sister, the tier-3 spiritual treasures available for exchange are all on this treasure rack.”
Zhao Keran continued moving her hands and feet.
She was also introducing the three of them to the rewards.
Her duties included assisting inner sect disciples with exchanging rewards, and if a disciple exchanged a lot, she could earn a commission.
As she spoke, Zhao Keran split off a divine consciousness to activate the treasure rack.
The first shelf opened, displaying tier-one to tier-three elixirs for healing, treating wounds, and dispelling negative effects.
The second shelf opened, revealing first to third-tier magical artifacts—swords, knives, hairpins, rings, rulers, zithers, and even alchemy furnaces.
The third rack was more chaotic, falling under the “Other” category, but far richer than what Lin Shuang and the others had seen at layer 800.
—”Please, Zhenchuan, Spare My Life” (includes a red leaf gifted by the elder who wrote the book) 10000 spirit stones.
Using this bookmark allows you to pause the Zhenchuan trial immediately and request an elder to appear and offer guidance once, limited to use below layer 3000.
—”Disciple’s Zhenchuan Insights” 12000 spirit stones.
You can buy it, and I’ll write it. Rumored to be anonymously written by several kind-hearted senior apprentices.
— Portable Dao Companion Rental: 15,000 spirit stones for ten days.
They can accompany you closely within Zhenchuan, cooking and doing laundry for you. Some Dao companions are well-informed and can provide crucial information about Zhenchuan.
Others, however, know nothing and are clueless—it all depends on your luck.
Lin Shuang: “…”
Meng Zi: “…”
It reeked of a scam.
Huangpu Yuan, however, had a gleam in his phoenix eyes and immediately bought “Spare My Life” and “Zhenchuan Insights.”
Curious, Lin Shuang and Meng Zi leaned closer.
As soon as “Spare My Life” was opened, small text appeared, completely different from the bold title on the cover.
— 102 Inner Sect Rules of Qingshui Sect
Meng Zi: “…”
Lin Shuang: “…”
Scam!
Clicking into the main text, it was completely unrelated to the cover!
The author didn’t even bother to pretend!
But Huangpu Yuan quickly took a red leaf bookmark surrounded by spiritual energy from the book.
In small print:
— Recite the 102 inner sect rules, and I will come to save you.
— Can summon Elder Li Min to any stone layer within Zhenchuan’s 3000 layers, offering you one clue to solving the trial.
— It’s true. If you don’t believe me, you can try reciting the rules once.
The 102 rules were at least ten thousand characters long.
Huangpu Yuan: “…”
With a slap, he closed the book.
Then he set it on fire.
Lin Shuang lowered her head, barely suppressing a laugh.
“Senior apprentice-brother, don’t you want to look at the other book, ‘Zhenchuan Insights’?”
Curious.
Meng Zi perked up.
The next moment, Huangpu Yuan tossed the book into her arms.
“A gift for you, junior apprentice-sister.”
Lin Shuang opened the blue cover and saw small print on the first page.
— Actually, Zhenchuan opens once every ten years, but occasionally, it opens midway for disciples.
— For example, if you possess a Zhenchuan Yindu Leaf, once you reach the required cultivation level, you can activate the leaf anytime to enter Zhenchuan.
Lin Shuang was stunned.
This book was genuine!
“Senior apprentice-sister? Want to see anything else?” Zhao Keran reminded them.
Now wasn’t the time to read.
Lin Shuang narrowed her eyes, decisively putting away “Zhenchuan Insights,” and nodded to her junior apprentice-sister.
She’d read it during tonight’s reading schedule.
Meng Zi was also reminded to look at the swords. “Junior apprentice-sister, where’s the tier-3 knife?”
“Follow me, senior apprentice-brother.”
Meng Zi left to check the treasure rack.
Lin Shuang strolled leisurely, picking up “Shao Ke Accompanies You in Talisman Crafting, Volume 3 (Pseudo)” from the miscellaneous rack.
She raised an eyebrow.
What did “pseudo” mean?
The first two volumes didn’t have this note.
Zhao Keran had already returned.
Her feet switched to the water-skimming step technique, and with a quick wipe of her hands, she efficiently scanned her servant’s badge over the jade slip beneath the book.
She immediately explained, “Senior apprentice-sister, this is a copied version, lacking Master Shao’s divine consciousness imprint. The original costs 3000 spirit stones for a ten-day rental, but senior apprentice-sister can use a 3000 spirit stone voucher, making it free.”
Zhao Keran knew how capable her senior apprentice-sister was—she could memorize a master’s divine consciousness imprint just by borrowing it.
But Lin Shuang glanced at the table of contents of this handwritten (pseudo) volume and shook her head, putting it back.
Volume 3 still lingered at the first introductory talisman of tier-3, the Spirit Gathering Talisman.
It hadn’t even touched on the tier-5 Retrospective Talisman—it was still far off.
Lin Shuang shook her head. “I’ll look around more. You go ahead.”
Zhao Keran understood and immediately resumed her graceful movements, eagerly watching Meng Zi and Huangpu Yuan.
Meng Zi was sweating, staring at a Baichao Knife on the treasure rack, compatible with the Thirteen Knife Techniques he had learned in the scroll room.
But it cost thirty thousand spirit stones. He could only deduct three thousand—he couldn’t afford it.
Huangpu Yuan, however, smiled. “Junior apprentice-sister, I’ll take the ‘Twelve Refining Dan Master’s Non-Exploding Furnace Blessing,’ the ninety-thousand genuine version.”
Zhao Keran hissed.
Meng Zi stared wide-eyed.
You think exploding pots can be solved by buying spells?!
Lin Shuang, after wandering around, had her eye on tier-3 talisman brushes and yellow paper—items she had always been short on.
She hadn’t expected unlimited exchanges within Zhenchuan.
After buying a stack of twelve papers and three brushes, she used up all her layer reward spirit stones.
Meng Zi really felt sorry for the two of them. “You two are such spendthrifts.”
[Tier-3 Wolf-Hair Brush (Consumable): Talisman-specific. One brush can create 1900–3000 tier-3 talismans or about 12,000 tier-2 talismans.]
“Do you think you’ll use up three brushes?”
Three brushes would last an eternity—purely giving money away!
Meng Zi was speechless.
But Lin Shuang winked. “I can use them. I once used twelve brushes at once.”
Meng Zi: “?”
His brow twitched. For some reason, he thought of the speed-running table.
But recalling the ugly tier-1 speed-boosting talisman he saw in “Ah, I’m Dead,” he shook his head.
Just as he was about to speak, a light projection emerged from his disciple badge.
[Zhenchuan Trial: Group 235 challenges Group 11111.]
[Wager: One personal cultivation technique.]
“Hmm?”
Lin Shuang hesitated slightly.
The Zhenchuan challenge token had already flown to her.
[The winner may take one personal cultivation technique from the loser. Accept or reject?]
“Despicable! They’re targeting us because we just came out of the scroll room!”
Meng Zi was furious.
Huangpu Yuan smiled, explaining to the bewildered Lin Shuang, “Above layer 1000, Zhenchuan encourages disciples to challenge each other. The wager can be any spiritual treasures, spirit stones, or contributions obtained within Zhenchuan.”
“Even cave dwellings—losing means the wager is directly deducted from the disciple’s badge.”
Compared to Chen Sheng’s informal challenge, challenges above layer 1000 were serious.
Many higher-level mid-stage disciples hunted lower-stage disciples at layers above a thousand.
Especially when lower-stage disciples obtained rare spiritual treasures in certain Zhenchuan layers.
The floating red list made it widely known.
The three of them had just left the Myriad Scroll Room publicly.
“This is also simulating the outside world, where cultivators who just obtained treasures get targeted. Zhenchuan uses this harsh rule to remind disciples not to slack off—it’s reasonable.”
Huangpu Yuan smiled. “However, the weak can also refuse.”
[Group 235: Average strength at the peak of the third level of the Ningyuan layer.]
[Group 11111: Average strength at Gasification Layer 7.]
[Strength gap over six tiers. If Group 11111 accepts, they can choose the location and event.]
[Accept/Reject?]
A ripple of water appeared before the three.
Lin Shuang checked her schedule, quickly sending out a divine consciousness to decide.
Meng Zi also sent his out without hesitation, rolling his eyes. “Do you think we’re stupid? Who would agree?!”
Huangpu Yuan’s brow twitched slightly, his finger resting on his lip.
[Group 11111, two members accept.]
[Challenge confirmed!]
Meng Zi: “???”
He couldn’t believe it, turning around.
Lin Shuang shrugged.
Huangpu Yuan lowered his eyelashes. “Junior apprentice-brother, maybe you clicked the wrong button.”
Meng Zi: “?！Can I click the wrong button twice by myself?!”
Choking.
“If we lose, our barely-warmed-up cultivation technique—and my 8000 spirit stones—will be gone!”
Lin Shuang pointed behind him.
Meng Zi turned around, shocked.
When had this rest cave dwelling, meant for disciples below layer 3000, become so crowded?
The tea tables that had been empty moments ago were now occupied.
Some disciples hastily looked away when he turned.
“Many disciples who can’t ascend to higher layers can only linger around layer 1000.”
“They’re probably eyeing us.”
Huangpu Yuan chuckled lightly.
Lin Shuang nodded helplessly. “We’re all at the lower stage, and we seem weaker than them. With three layer lords’ opportunities and newly acquired techniques, we’re probably the weakest and richest lambs under layer 3000 now.”
“Robbing us means spirit stones, Yindu Leaves, cultivation techniques, contributions… we have it all.”
Meng Zi pressed his forehead.
“So, junior apprentice-sister’s idea is,” Huangpu Yuan popped a pill into his pale lips, “rather than rejecting them once, we should fight? Crush them all at once?”
“Yes.”
Lin Shuang immediately gave him a look of understanding.
“Exactly. We’ve only reached layer 1200. There are still 1800 layers left. We expect to stay here for at least two or three more days.”
“Rather than being disturbed repeatedly, stolen from, or robbed, we should settle it quickly.”
How to settle it quickly?
Of course, make an example of them!
Strike fear into them, make them hurt, make them afraid, make them dare not come again!
Eliminate all disruptions to the schedule, and everything will be peaceful.
Below layer 3000, they could focus on their own plans.
Meng Zi’s expression shifted, having to admit that this was indeed the correct approach.
Normally, he would act the same alone, but now he had these two—
“There’s another reason I chose to accept.”
Lin Shuang smiled shyly. “It’s almost Shen period. My next schedule is precisely today’s final task.”
It’s 5 PM. Time to go home.
“After finishing this Pomodoro, I’ll be done for the day.”
“I’ll chat with junior apprentice-sister a bit, bond, but no more visitors.”
“?”
“Senior apprentice-sister, how does accepting the challenge relate to that?”
“Of course it does! I noticed neither senior apprentice-brother seemed ready to say goodbye, so I decided to kill three birds with one stone.
Complete the challenge, bond with you two for our final Pomodoro today. Afterward, you won’t miss me anymore, and you won’t waste time thinking about me tonight.”
“???”
Who wants to bond with you?! Who would think about you?
“Third, I’ll finish today’s final schedule.”
Lin Shuang activated her Xiaoa Auto-Reply Talisman.
In the round, dog-shaped eyes of Xiaoa the lion, two words were written.
— Defense.
“My next Pomodoro is defensive training. What about you two, senior apprentices?”
…
Meng Zi and Huangpu Yuan fell silent together.
They didn’t have Pomodoro timers.
Lin Shuang nodded, pulling out her Excel sheet. “Then let’s pick a Zhenchuan defense training floor as the challenge location. How about that?”
The exam predictor strikes again!
Meng Zi and Huangpu Yuan’s eyes simultaneously lit up.
[Group 11111: Huangpu Yuan, Meng Zi, Lin Shuang accept the challenge!]
[Opponent Group 235: Dao Dong, Dao Xi, Dao Bei.]
[The winner may take one personal cultivation technique from the loser.]
[This match costs 500 spirit stones for viewing, with additional fees for tea and participation. Ten percent of the income goes to the winning side!]
“!”
“Dao Dong and Dao Xi? The ten Dao Mountain apprentices who cultivate the Ten Arts of Cultivation separately? I heard they specialize in different areas, and once coordinated, ordinary cultivators can’t match them!”
“Yes, they’ve lived together in Dao Mountain Cave for years, like ten brothers.”
“Uh, so East, West, North… what about the other six?”
“You don’t even know that? There’s Zhong, Fa, Bai, Tiao, Tong, Wan!”
…
“Meng Zi has really stepped up! Taking on the Dao Mountain trio with two low-stage disciples.”
“They just came out of the scroll room! I thought they’d soar straight to layer 3000, but maybe they’ll stumble here?”
“Hmph, Meng Zi hasn’t even mastered the third strike of ‘Shanhai Thirteen Knife.’ He can’t unleash the multiplied power of the thirteen strikes. He might lose it.”
[Group 11111, currently selecting the battlefield and content of the duel, approximately 12 breaths remaining—]
[Group 11111, requesting an additional 12 breaths, currently deciding the content of the duel—]
“…”
“It’s indeed worth serious consideration.”
“Regarding the three juniors from the Eastern, Western, and Northern Paths, aren’t their cultivation disciplines formation, saber, and sword?”
“These three together can attack and defend, supported by formations, their offense and defense seem united, continuous and endless.”
Disciples within the resting cave murmured among themselves.
But soon another ripple-like notification popped up.
[Group 11111, selected challenge content: Zhenchuan Trial Level 1720.]
[Level 1720: Girl, will you come with me tonight?]
“???”
“?”
“…!”
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