Chapter 31: Secret Realm and Mission
The three walked and chatted, and soon arrived at the courtyard where Niu Yuanshan lived.
After experiencing two such upheavals, Chu Huaixu remembered that he and Han Shuangjiang’s original intention was to buy groceries and cook, and they hadn’t eaten anything warm yet.
“Since things have come to this, let’s eat first.”
Upon learning that the two were starving, Old Niu instructed the handyman in the courtyard to bring some food.
From his explanation, Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang learned the general situation.
Liu Tianfeng obtained the [Pill King’s Token] by chance. For some reason, only three deacons in the outer sect knew about this matter, and Old Niu was one of them.
In order to obtain this token back then, Liu Tianfeng put in a lot of effort and even asked for Old Niu’s help.
As the universally acknowledged good old man of the outer sect, he was asked to help with many things.
Overall, the majority of secret realms are in the inner sect; there are very few in the outer sect.
Therefore, the Pill King’s Token became even more precious.
From a macro perspective, the Daoist Sect’s attitude towards secret realms is simple: those with destiny shall obtain them.
This was the Dao Ancestor’s original intention.
Even the seniors who imitated the Dao Ancestor later adhered to the same purpose.
Perhaps in their eyes, this was the true spirit of a cultivator.
As for intra-sect conflict, killing for treasure, that is nonexistent and strictly forbidden on the surface!
Secret realms are the last wishes of the deceased.
One must show them the minimum respect.
Of course, the Daoist Sect’s official channels are also willing to repurchase items. If you obtain something in a secret realm, you can also choose to sell it for [Sect Contribution Points].
Contribution Points can be exchanged for money, cultivation techniques, Spirit Pills…
Most cultivation resources can be exchanged!
When Chu Huaixu played “The Borrowed Sword,” he knew that among the four major sects in the Eastern Continent’s Mirror Country, the Daoist Sect valued destiny the most.
Therefore, in the hearts of players, this sect relied most on luck, suitable for the lucky, and unfit for the unlucky.
After the meal, Niu Yuanshan continued, “By the way, I forgot to tell you just now that there are 10 fragments of this jade token, which means that at most ten people can enter together.”
“The secret realm is at the bottom of a cold pond. Even with my cultivation level, under normal circumstances, I cannot resist that peculiar cold qi.”
“If you go down in the Meridian-Opening Stage, you will surely die.”
“However, in the past two months, the cold qi seems to have dissipated a lot.”
“So you have come at a good time. The gate to this inheritance secret realm may be opening soon.”
Chu Huaixu nodded: “I see.”
Niu Yuanshan looked into the distance and smiled, “Deacon Liu attaches great importance to this secret realm because his son, Liu Chengqi, possesses a high-grade Spiritual Embryo – the Fiery Spiritual Embryo.”
“But due to an accident, his Spiritual Embryo was damaged, and his cultivation has been unable to advance since then, causing him to fall into despair.”
“This secret realm is related to the Pill King, and perhaps they hope to find a way to resolve the damage to his Spiritual Embryo.”
Hearing this, Chu Huaixu thought of a high-grade Spirit Pill – the Profound Heaven Fetal Respiration Pill.
But he wanted to extract more useful information, so he feigned ignorance and said, “Deacon Niu, can a damaged Spiritual Embryo be recovered?”
Niu Yuanshan smiled gently and patiently replied, “Of course, it’s just very difficult. Different situations require different methods and targeted treatment.”
“Deacon Liu has not yet found a suitable method.”
“However, there is a high-grade Spirit Pill called the Profound Heaven Fetal Respiration Pill, created by the Pill King. Legend has it that as long as the Spiritual Embryo is not completely ruined, taking this pill can lead to complete recovery.”
“If one’s innate Spiritual Embryo is of low grade, or even a low-grade Spiritual Embryo, taking this pill can even greatly increase the chance of the Spiritual Embryo advancing.”
“It is said that after creating the recipe for this pill, the Pill King refined one for each of his formal disciples.”
“If this deceased senior did not consume this pill during his lifetime, nor did he sell it, then it is possible that it is waiting for someone with destiny in the secret realm.”
Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang exchanged a glance. Now they fully understood why Liu Tianfeng was so heartbroken just now, and why Liu Chengqi was so anxious.
Niu Yuanshan seemed to want to give them some advice, and said with an earnest tone:
“Since we are talking about pills like the Profound Heaven Fetal Respiration Pill that can improve talent, I will be presumptuous and speak a few more words.”
“Let me ask you two: in your opinion, is talent more important, or effort more important?”
Chu Huaixu did not directly answer his true feelings, but said, “I have heard a saying: effort determines a person’s lower limit, and talent determines a person’s upper limit, but most people cannot reach their upper limit.”
Niu Yuanshan looked at the young man and smiled, “There is some truth to what you say. However, the cultivation world is different.”
“Because in the cultivation world, so-called talent can be changed.”
“It can be achieved through Spirit Pills, destiny, and the creation of heaven and earth!”
“Although I haven’t tested your blood to examine your Spiritual Embryos, seeing that you have opened two acupoints in such a short time suggests that you are both exceptionally talented.”
“If you were in some sects, you would likely be trained with the full force of the sect and directly become true disciples of the sect leadership.”
“But after coming to the Daoist Sect, you have to start as registered disciples without receiving any preferential treatment. Do you feel any disparity?”
Han Shuangjiang shook her head upon hearing this. She had never considered these things.
Chu Huaixu also shook his head, because since she shook her head, he felt unworthy to nod.
Niu Yuanshan smiled with relief and said, “It is good that you do not feel any disparity in your hearts.”
“In the Eastern Continent, over these thousand years, the rise and fall of sects are everywhere.”
“Only the Daoist Sect, standing for a thousand years, is still one of the top sects in the world.”
“You two can imagine that during this thousand-year period, prodigies were as numerous as carp crossing a river, and it was not uncommon for the Daoist Sect.”
This is like saying you are the top scorer in your city’s college entrance examination? A student from Tsinghua or Peking University? Sorry, our company is not short of Tsinghua or Peking University students.
“Moreover, from past experience, flowers grown in greenhouses often wither more easily.”
“Many disciples cultivated with all their might by small sects have poor character and cannot develop. Some go down the mountain for training and never return, and those who suffer qi deviation are even more numerous.”
“Some people have excellent character, and even with ordinary talent, as long as they encounter destiny, they can transform into dragons upon encountering the right circumstances, and even leave their names in history,” Old Niu sighed.
In Chu Huaixu’s opinion, this was somewhat like some people graduating from prestigious schools, possessing outstanding abilities, and achieving great success. But there were also those who rose from humble beginnings, caught the right momentum, and achieved great deeds.
How can life’s encounters be determined at a glance?
The Profound Yellow Realm also has its own genre of wasted talent!
Niu Yuanshan continued, “The Daoist Sect has a thousand years of heritage and abundant resources, enough for the Sect Master and elders to cultivate many people and to change the fate of many against all odds.”
“But the premise is that you must have the ability to pass through layer after layer of selection and stand before them.”
After so much groundwork, he began to admonish the two.
“I know you were brought up the mountain by the Sixth Elder, which is a treatment that other outer sect disciples cannot have.”
“I don’t know the reason for this, but since the Sixth Elder chose for you to start as registered disciples, this in itself is an attitude. I believe it is to give you more experience, and I hope you understand this.”
“At the same time, I also hope you will not disappoint the elder’s expectations.”
Saying this, Deacon Niu first looked at Han Shuangjiang.
He saw that the world’s protagonist, who had taken the “female lead” script in “The Borrowed Sword,” had eyes that gradually became resolute.
Then, Niu Yuanshan looked at Chu Huaixu again.
Chu Huaixu had initially regarded today’s conversation as a senior’s earnest guidance.
But he suddenly realized: “Old Niu is a mole, for crying out loud!”
As a member of the Moon Country’s [Organization], would he sincerely hope for the Daoist Sect to produce talents?
You, with your seemingly honest face, are a traitor, aren’t you!
Chu Huaixu thought again and began to understand that this was actually Niu Yuanshan, a leader in the [Organization], assigning a mission to me, a newcomer in the [Organization].
This is hinting at me, wanting me to work my way up from a registered disciple and infiltrate the core circle of the Daoist Sect!
“Old Niu, you really think highly of me,” he muttered to himself.
But after thinking about it, Chu Huaixu said, “Let me pledge my loyalty first. For a disciple, it is the Sixth Elder and the Daoist Sect that have given this disciple the opportunity to cultivate. This disciple will certainly do his utmost to repay the sect!”
When these words fell into Niu Yuanshan’s ears, this “sensitive” person immediately caught those two special words.
Therefore, Chu Huaixu’s words were automatically translated into other meanings in his ears.
Old Niu smiled reassuringly at Chu Huaixu, understanding that this intelligent young man had grasped his hints.
They looked at each other, exchanged glances, and remained silent.
Although there was no sound at this moment, it was as if two words were resonating deafeningly!
——”Loyalty!”
Only Han Shuangjiang sat on the side, listening to Chu Huaixu’s eloquent words. The tender lips under her veil couldn’t help but purse slightly.
You’re so good with words!
However, neither Niu Yuanshan nor Han Shuangjiang noticed Chu Huaixu slightly lowering his head, a flicker of confusion flashing in his eyes.
Based on his understanding of the mission system, he and Old Niu had talked to this extent, which was equivalent to him receiving a mission from NPC Old Niu – to infiltrate the core circle of the Daoist Sect.
Logically speaking, it should have triggered a [Side Mission] related to the [Organization] with 100% certainty.
But strangely, the mission system showed no reaction at all!
