[Ding! Your friend "Yun Tianzhong" is heading to "Tianji Sacred Land" to participate in the "Hidden Dragon Ranking Selection Competition"]
[Ding! Your friend "Yun Tiankong" is heading to "Tianji Sacred Land" to participate in the "Hidden Dragon Ranking Selection Competition"]
...
Yun Tianzhong, Yun Tiankong, Yun Zhaozhao, and the Little Monkey King, the four of them together, are heading to "Tianji Sacred Land" to participate in the "Hidden Dragon Ranking Selection Competition."
In addition to them, there are over five hundred elite disciples from the "Eastern Barren Mountains."
These elite disciples are all the cream of the crop among the younger generation from the major sects.
Each of them is eager to prove themselves and sworn to bring glory to the "Eastern Barren Mountains."
Their strength indeed matches their "ambition."
These elite disciples had all heard Hao Ren's "Preaching" three months ago.
The eight phenomena of the Preaching brought immense benefits to all these elite disciples.
Originally, the total number of elite disciples planned to be dispatched by each sect was not just five hundred, but a full eight hundred.
Among them, two to three hundred, with the help of the power of the eight phenomena, successfully broke through their bottlenecks, passed the "Golden Core Heavenly Tribulation," and became "Golden Core cultivators."
"Golden Core cultivators" are not allowed to participate in the "Hidden Dragon Ranking Selection Competition."
Although the number of elite disciples has decreased, each of them has undergone a transformation, possessing extraordinary strength.
This time, they are determined to win the "Hidden Dragon Ranking Selection Competition"!
Along the way, the young elite disciples were excited, chattering and discussing incessantly.
"The Hidden Dragon Ranking Selection Competition is a grand event in the cultivation world, it will surely be incredibly lively!"
"Hahaha, this time, with the guidance of our predecessors, our strength has greatly increased, and we will definitely shine in the selection competition and make a name for ourselves!"
"Let's all be a bit low-key. This is nothing compared to what we've achieved. The truly formidable ones are Yun Tianzhong and the others... Alas, what do you think Yun Tianzhong and the others will get this time?"
"If I estimate conservatively, it should be first place, second place, third place, fourth place... Hmm, sweeping the top four!"
Yun Tianzhong and the four of them sweeping the top four of the "Hidden Dragon Ranking," hah, your estimation is truly "conservative."
Everyone chatted and laughed, feeling very relaxed.
The few Golden Core cultivators responsible for escorting them smiled knowingly.
Heh heh.
It's good to see the young disciples full of vigor!
This "Hidden Dragon Ranking Selection Competition," the "Eastern Barren Mountains" will surely take center stage, and they will regain their honor, which will be satisfying!
...
Inside the cave.
Hao Ren pouted.
Yun Tianzhong, the monkey, and the others are still going to participate in the "Hidden Dragon Ranking Selection Competition." Some things are destined and cannot be stopped.
Hao Ren had subtly reminded Yun Zhenting several times, urging him to abandon the plan to participate in the "Hidden Dragon Ranking Selection Competition."
Yun Zhenting, this "old master of self-deception," with his disappointing intelligence, always misunderstood Hao Ren's intentions. He even felt that Hao Ren was encouraging him, and he solemnly promised Hao Ren that he would not let him down, and that he would definitely compete with style and achieve results!
Hopeless!
Hao Ren was speechless.
This kind of "martial arts competition" is precisely where "protagonists from all walks of life" appear, and where all sorts of "fancy performances" take place.
Showing off and then being slapped, pretending to be weak to trick others...
Such "martial arts competitions" are too prone to similar clichés; they're already overused in online cultivation novels!
Hao Ren hoped that Yun Tianzhong and the monkey and the others would have a smooth journey and not encounter any overly heaven-defying "protagonists from all walks of life"!
Worrying is useless, Hao Ren continued to browse his "Friend Dynamics."
Suddenly, a message caught Hao Ren's special attention.
[Ding! Your eldest disciple "Liu Xiuer" has become restless. While cultivating, he has left the cave and is heading to the foot of the mountain for a stroll...]
This...
Hao Ren's heart skipped a beat; he had a very bad premonition.
"Azure-Eyed Vermilion Golden Howler!"
Hao Ren called out loudly.
Roar!
The Azure-Eyed Vermilion Golden Howler dropped the cards in his hand. It was going to lose this round anyway, so it was perfect timing!
He would play again next time!
The Azure-Eyed Vermilion Golden Howler nimbly swept up all the spirit stones on the table, ignoring the resentful gazes of Elder Tao Ming and Zhong Xuanzi, and rushed into the cave.
Elder Tao Ming: "Hey, hey, hey, don't go, let's finish this round!"
Zhong Xuanzi: "I have a king bomb left, and the game is over. Are you going now because you can't afford to lose?"
Azure-Eyed Vermilion Golden Howler: ...
I won't listen, I won't listen, it's like a toad chanting scriptures!
Say whatever you two old guys want, my boss called me, I have to go, I'm not playing anymore!
Elder Tao Ming and Zhong Xuanzi were furious but helpless.
The Azure-Eyed Vermilion Golden Howler is truly an ungrateful creature!
The Azure-Eyed Vermilion Golden Howler is truly an ungrateful creature!
These two "old adversaries" felt a sense of camaraderie for the first time!
The Azure-Eyed Vermilion Golden Howler quickly returned to the cave and came before Hao Ren.
"Roar! Boss?"
Boss, what are your orders?
Hao Ren frowned and said solemnly.
"You immediately go to the foot of the mountain and help me find Liu Xiuer! If he's unwilling to come back, you tie him up and bring him back!"
Since Liu Xiuer became his disciple, he had been cultivating steadily in the cave and had never left.
Today, he suddenly had a whim to go for a stroll at the foot of the mountain; there must be something wrong, absolutely something wrong!
Hao Ren's intuition told him that Liu Xiuer was about to cause trouble!
The principle of a sneaky cultivator: "nip the trouble in the bud"!
Therefore, Hao Ren ordered the Azure-Eyed Vermilion Golden Howler to go and find Liu Xiuer immediately!
He thought about it and still felt uneasy, so he asked Little Dragon Girl to go with him.
No matter what, there must be no trouble today!
However, it was all too late!
Before the Azure-Eyed Vermilion Golden Howler and Little Dragon Girl could set off, the trouble arrived.
[Ding! Your eldest disciple "Liu Xiuer" has encountered a "hero saving a beauty" event: While Liu Xiuer was strolling at the foot of the mountain, he discovered a group of bandits chasing after a luxurious carriage... "Help me," "Help me," a delicate and beautiful young lady inside the luxurious carriage is desperately calling out to "Liu Xiuer" for help]
Damn it!
This is going to be bad!
Hao Ren's heart leaped into his throat.
He prayed silently: Xiuer, Xiuer, hold on, you must hold on! Think about how your master usually taught you, "The Dao heart is like a tortoise shell," you must be stealthy, don't be impulsive!
At the foot of the mountain.
Liu Xiuer's sense of justice was bursting. How could he stand by and watch a group of bandits kill a beauty?
A hero saving a beauty!
He must save the beauty!
Liu Xiuer took out the "Nine Dragon Imperial Seal," ready to fight!
At this critical juncture, Liu Xiuer's eyes trembled; he hesitated and struggled.
Because at this moment, a divine book appeared in his mind – "The Self-Cultivation of a Sneaky Cultivator."
Question: What should you do when you encounter a "hero saving a beauty" event?
(A) Draw your sword and help the beauty, and from then on live a "shameless" happy life with her.
(B) Turn around and run, pretending you saw nothing.
What is the correct answer? B! It must be B!
Liu Xiuer trembled all over, and Hao Ren's stern voice echoed in his mind...