"Fairy, where is this place?"

"Hasn’t Immortal already told you? In the Heavenly Vault Holy Land, only two at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage are qualified to listen to Yingtian Immortal’s lectures. Besides sharing his cultivation experience, Yingtian Immortal mainly talks about how to maintain composure and style," the Fairy explained.

"After the lecture, one must complete the assignment. People from a few other Holy Lands in the Heavenly Vault Holy Land have teamed up to create this Secret Realm, which only Cultivators below the Foundation Establishment Stage can enter."

"They pretend to be Cultivators at the Qi Cultivation Stage and enter the Secret Realm as well, but once inside, they do not use their own power but rather rely on the Realm’s power to pass through."

"Then, what was the original name of this Secret Realm?" Lu Yang asked.

"Assignment One."

.....

"Just as I thought, I’ve been separated from them." Xin Ding appeared all alone in the dense forest of the Chi Xiao Ancient Realm, unable to even discern directions.

"According to Junior Brother Xin Chen’s words, the locations after entering the Chi Xiao Ancient Realm are random. If lucky, some acquaintances might be transported to the same place. It seems my luck wasn’t good."

"The Chi Xiao Ancient Realm is divided into an outer layer and an inner layer. The outer layer has some ordinary opportunities, while the inner layer has a higher chance of encountering special opportunities. However, the inner layer is also more dangerous."

"There are two methods of departure: automatic departure after three days, or choose to leave after obtaining an opportunity... Who’s there!"

Xin Ding, sensing something, turned and demanded loudly. After cultivating Lion Roar, his voice naturally carried a commanding presence.

"This little monk has quite the sensitive perception. Is it that you have specially cultivated your Spiritual Sense?"

Accompanied by the rustling of the bushes, a young girl in white appeared, like a Youlan orchid in a secluded valley, completely out of sync with the surrounding atmosphere.

Yu Youlan looked at Xin Ding with a smile that was not quite a smile, finding the coincidence quite amusing.

"So it’s the Benefactor Yu Youlan from the Heavenly Vault Holy Land," Xin Ding greeted with palms together, feeling relieved. He had heard that this Holy Daughter was whimsical and quirky but had no bad intentions; she was someone he could associate with.

Yu Youlan quietly observed Xin Ding’s reaction to her presence and discovered that the little monk’s gaze was clear, and when looking at her, there was no trace of impure thoughts—a rarity indeed.

"Alright, little monk, I have something to do, so take care of yourself."

Yu Youlan hadn’t forgotten her mission; she came to the Ancient Realm fully prepared, with a thirty percent chance of entering the inner layer to find the other half of the Holy Land’s heritage.

"Amitābha."

Yu Youlan smiled sweetly at Xin Ding and then went on her way.

As she weaved through the jungle, running for a while, she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was following her. She stopped and hid in a treetop, on guard for the newcomer.

Before long, Xin Ding passed by.

"Little monk, are you following me?"

Yu Youlan was surprised, having thought this monk was virtuous; why would he resort to tailing her?

"Benefactor, you misunderstand. I’m merely heading toward the inner layer, and it only happens that our paths coincide," said Xin Ding.

"Coincide?" Yu Youlan eyed him skeptically, not believing his words. The shortest and safest route from the outer to the inner layer was a secret their Holy Land had only recently unraveled. How could Western Paradise Temple possibly have figured it out?

"You go ahead."

Without any hesitation, Xin Ding continued onward, and Yu Youlan followed him.

Could it really be the same route I intend to take?!

After following for a while, Yu Youlan began to believe what Xin Ding had said.

"Little monk, how did you know to take this route?"

"The Buddha said, ’Not to be spoken of,’" replied Xin Ding, who dared not reveal anything about Tofu Heavenly Venerable, as it involved matters of great causality and the potential destruction of Western Paradise Temple.

"Tell me," pressed Yu Youlan with a sweet, coaxing voice that could easily make any weak-willed cultivator bow to her demands.

"Not to be spoken of."

"An interesting little monk," Yu Youlan commented, her interest in Xin Ding increasing. She had been born with a silver spoon and chosen by the Patriarch to be the Holy Daughter, unmatched in talent and background. She had never failed to get what she wanted.

She was eager to see what other abilities this little monk had!

The two shared the same route, chatting and laughing along the way.

Mainly, it was Yu Youlan who talked and laughed on her own, while Xin Ding rarely responded.

The more Yu Youlan interacted with him, the more she felt that this little monk was quite extraordinary. No matter how she tried to probe and hint, he remained tight-lipped about the accurate insights he held about Lu Yang.

"Youlan, I didn’t expect you to be here as well," said the newcomer.

As the two were chatting, a group of people emerged from the forest. The leader was dignified and majestic-looking. The only imperfection was that the hem of his clothes was slightly torn as if he had been through a fierce battle recently.

The situation outside was not entirely peaceful. The presence of demon beasts and malevolent spirits would cause disturbances. The reason Xin Ding and his companion had not run into any so far was that they had been following the safest route.

Xin Ding recognized the leader; it was Gao Tianxiu, the Holy Son of Tuo Luo Holy Land. The others must be his followers.

"Greetings to Benefactor Gao."

Gao Tianxiu frowned slightly. He hadn’t expected Yu Youlan to be accompanied by someone. While Yu Youlan appeared affable and approachable to outsiders, upon interaction, one would discover that she kept everyone at a great distance, allowing no one to come close to her.

Why was this ordinary-looking, averagely-cultivated little monk so close to Yu Youlan?

"Who among you knows this little monk?" he asked one of his followers.

"Holy Son, this monk should be Xin Ding from the Western Paradise Temple. I heard he was originally a Servant Monk who fortuitously entered the Martial Monk Institute."

"So he is just a Servant Monk." Gao Tianxiu sneered, having thought the monk had some impressive background.

"Gao Tianxiu, I’ve told you many times before, we aren’t that close, and you shouldn’t address me by name!" Yu Youlan said, somewhat annoyed. Gao Tianxiu was like a clingy plaster that she couldn’t shake off.

"Youlan, I’m just worried about you. This Ancient Realm is fraught with dangers. We’ve already encountered more than one batch of demon beasts and malevolent spirits. It wouldn’t be good if someone alone like you got deceived or ran into some danger," he said.

As he spoke, Gao Tianxiu’s gaze drifted towards Xin Ding, his implication clear.

"The concern of Holy Son Gao is appreciated, but my affairs are really none of your business!"

"It seems Benefactor Gao has some misunderstandings about me."

"Little monk, beat it. You have no place here!"

"Benefactor Gao, I’m afraid that would be asking too much of me."

"It seems you prefer punishment over a toast!"

Gao Tianxiu let out a sinister chuckle as the full aura of his Consummation of Qi Refinement erupted. The group of followers behind him also released their auras, revealing themselves to be on the eighth or ninth levels of Qi Refinement. Any of them alone was more highly-cultivated than Xin Ding!

"What are you all trying to do!" Yu Youlan exclaimed angrily, stepping forward to protect Xin Ding. She was no match if all these people were to rush them at once.

"Youlan, this is a battle between men. You shouldn’t interfere!"

Gao Tianxiu, confident of victory, pressed forward towards Xin Ding. With more than a dozen people at the Qi Cultivation Stage, he believed it impossible for Xin Ding to escape!

"Benefactor Gao, neither toasts nor penalties are for me to consume."

"Brave kid, let’s all go at him together!"

As the crowd moved to surround him and there was no escape, Xin Ding clasped his hands together and sighed. Spiritual Energy surged, the space around twisted, and the trees seemed to come to life, roots drilling out and branches growing wildly, entangling Gao Tianxiu and his men like a demonic dance.

"What sorcery is this!" the crowd exclaimed in shock. How could the trees transform? Since the discovery of Chi Xiao Ancient Realm, they had never heard of such a thing!

To them, with their cultivation levels and their numbers, the suddenly animated ancient trees were meaningless.

Xin Ding placed one hand on his chest and gently pressed down with the other. Space obeyed his command as an invisible giant hand pressed down, pinning Gao Tianxiu and the others wrapped by the trees to the ground with a thud!

Xin Ding remained calm and unruffled, approaching Gao Tianxiu.

Gao Tianxiu struggled to lift his head, his eyes filled with immense fear. The light shining on Xin Ding’s head obscured his features, making him appear both divine and demonic.

"Benefactor Gao, I am a monk; I do not drink alcohol."

"Benefactor Yu, let us continue on our way."

"Ah, oh." Yu Youlan snapped out of her daze. She hadn’t expected such a turn of events either.

Xin Ding’s performance just now was akin to him being the master of the Ancient Realm!

Within the Green Blade Sword Small World, the Tofu Heavenly Venerable was half delighted and half vexed.

He was pleased with Xin Ding’s performance.

"The problem is, when I went to the Ancient Realm before, why didn’t I encounter such opportunities?"