System·Toolman·System: 『You can.』
Shen Xiuyun still wasn’t entirely sure. 『Being this casual about it… is it really okay?』
The System said calmly: 『It’s fine.』
It would never tell the Host that the book would switch to different versions depending on the identity of the person touching its cover… and the contents would be worlds apart.
That was the true “smuggled goods” tucked away inside the book.
Since the System had assured him again and again, Shen Xiuyun saw no need to keep agonizing over it, so he simply agreed to Zhu Xingyao’s request.
“Alright, your master promises you.”
At the same time, a notification from the System rang in Shen Xiuyun’s mind: turn villain value cleared.
Hmm? It seemed that every time Zhu Xingyao’s turn villain value inexplicably rose, as long as he agreed to one of his requests, it would be cleared.
So last time, was it really just a matter of keeping him company for one night?
And in the future, if Zhu Xingyao made a request that he refused… or couldn’t fulfill… what would happen then?
A few days whisked by, and in the blink of an eye, the day to enter the secret realm arrived.
Shen Xiuyun went through all the precautions with Zhu Xingyao one more time, telling him to be extraordinarily careful in the demon realm, and only then did he fly with the boy to the Xuanwu Great Hall on his sword.
The Xuanwu Great Hall was an open-air plaza capable of holding over a thousand people at once.
When Shen Xiuyun and Zhu Xingyao arrived, nearly a hundred disciples had already gathered in the plaza.
Most of the disciples were around Zhu Xingyao’s age… youthful, brimming with energy, and glowing with pride. The sight of them carried a thriving, rising momentum.
Shen Xiuyun landed in front of his own seat on the high platform, met the eyes of Yun Siqing, who sat upright in the head seat, acknowledged him with a slight nod, and took his seat with a sweep of his sleeve.
Today, as ever, he wore white robes of brocade-cloud patterns. A jade crown bound his hair, and a silver belt cinched his slender waist until it seemed even finer. His lotus-like face was as cool and aloof as ever. With his phoenix eyes slightly lowered, every shifting glance he cast gave off the unmistakable flavor of “strangers, keep your distance.”
Quite a few disciples in the plaza had never laid eyes on Shen Xiuyun before, having only heard of his breathtaking beauty. They were so stunned they couldn’t snap back to reality for a long time.
That whole Top Ten Most Handsome Men ranking of the cultivation world… if the Immortal Venerable were put on it, the current first place would have nothing going for them anymore. Unfortunately, no one dared to joke about the Immortal Venerable.
Zhu Xingyao swept an icy gaze over the people staring at Shen Xiuyun, wishing in his heart that he could drag Shen Xiuyun away this very second and hide him somewhere.
“The teleportation array leading into the demon realm will send you all to random locations within.
In the demon realm, you may team up to hunt demonic beasts, and you may seize other people’s resources… but you may not cripple or maim anyone, much less take the lives of fellow disciples.
Any serious offender discovered will be expelled from the sect.
Now, each of you will be given a jade token. If you find yourselves in mortal peril, you may crush it to be teleported out of the demon realm. Of course, coming out also means your trial has come to an end.
Those who understand may step forward and enter the teleportation array.”
An Elder briefly explained the rules, then cast a spell to activate the teleportation array.
From the high platform, Shen Xiuyun watched Zhu Xingyao and the other disciples vanish within the teleportation array, and an unnameable wistfulness rose in his heart.
It had been nearly a year since he’d reincarnated back, and this was the first time Zhu Xingyao had left his side. He found it a little hard to get used to, and he couldn’t help worrying about the boy’s safety.
Still, fortunately, he would be sneaking into the demon realm himself before long.
A person could only be set at ease if watched with his own eyes.
Shen Xiuyun was just about to rise and tell Yun Siqing that he was heading back when he overheard the nearby Peak Masters and Elders discussing whose disciple stood the best chance of taking first place this year.
“I think Zhang Chengzhi, Peak Master Liu’s disciple, is quite promising. He’s only been in the inner sect for three years, and he’s already at late Foundation Establishment. His future achievements are bound to be extraordinary.”
“I’m quite fond of that child as well. He cultivates diligently and has an excellent temperament.”
Peak Master Liu’s wrinkled old face wobbled with laughter, looking quite comical, as he cupped his hands to thank his fellow cultivators for their praise.
“You flatter me, you flatter me. Speaking of which, if the Immortal Venerable hadn’t refused to take him as a disciple back then, this old man would never have gotten such a fine seedling.
What’s more, the Immortal Venerable’s disciple is also joining the trial this time. I hear Zhu Xingyao has likewise reached late Foundation Establishment, so as for how things will turn out… hard to say, hard to say, hehe.”
Dragged into the conversation for no reason, Shen Xiuyun lifted his eyelids and cast a chilly glance at Old Liu.
“That is indeed a ‘fine seedling.’ This Venerable simply has no destiny with him. Peak Master Liu has taught him well… I hope his performance in the secret realm will be just as fine.”
The disciple I took in is the most badass figure in the entire book… one of him tops ten of anything. Who the hell is your Zhang Chengzhi compared to him?
Besides, back then, it was Zhang Chengzhi who had insisted on taking him as his master. After being rejected, his face full of resentment, he’d flung that saying straight at him: “Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river… do not bully a youth for being poor.”
In that instant, Shen Xiuyun almost thought he had transmigrated into one of those Dianjia Long Aotian counterattack novels.