2: Chapter 2 The Red Grand Prize

The System's voice had just faded as it transformed into a wisp of pink light and vanished. Xiang Tian snapped back from the mental exchange.

“Xiang Tian, what’s wrong with you? Why was the time so short?”

Xiahou Yu had already neatly donned her sect uniform. She glanced at him sideways, her almond eyes beneath long lashes filled with disgust, and her lips curled into a cold arc—the previous flirtatiousness was completely gone.

He had originally thought Xiahou Yu would cry and make a scene.

Seeing her so calm now, he was actually a bit dazed. “Xiao Yu, you aren't angry?”

“Why wouldn't I be angry? I haven't had enough fun yet!” Xiahou Yu raised her hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her tone still pungent.

Xiang Tian massaged his temples; this woman's bluntness truly made him unable to handle her. “You know what I mean—after what happened between us, how will I explain this to your sister in the future?”

“Isn't that simple?” Xiahou Yu suddenly leaned in, her nose almost touching his chest. “The childhood betrothal between our families isn't strictly tied to my sister. I'll just marry you instead!”

“Huh? That’s unfair to you!” Xiang Tian abruptly took half a step back.

“What do you mean unfair?” Xiahou Yu took a step forward to press him, poking his chest with considerable force. “You’ve already slept with me. Don't tell me you want to back out?”

“Of course not.” Xiang Tian grabbed her wrist and said seriously, “You aren't inferior to your sister at all. Your appearance and cultivation are both top-tier in the Outer Sect.”

“Good that you know.” Xiahou Yu pulled her hand back, her tone softening slightly. “Don't worry, I'll cover you in the Outer Sect from now on. No one will dare call you a waste again.”

Her response caught Xiang Tian by surprise—this was not at all the Xiahou Yu who usually loved to find trouble with him.

At the entrance of the Secret Realm, he had deliberately pinched her buttocks, wanting to get revenge for her usual provocations. Unexpectedly, it backfired and instead brought the two of them together.

“Xiao Yu, thank you.” Xiang Tian stepped forward and said softly, “Once I become strong, I will definitely ensure your safety.”

Since things had come to this, he could only roll with it and take on this unexpected responsibility.

“Don't be in such a hurry to talk big about protecting me.” Xiahou Yu suddenly turned her head. “You should take some kidney-tonifying medicine first. That little bit of ability just now won't satisfy me.”

These words accurately struck Xiang Tian's sore spot, nearly driving him crazy—this was simply a man's greatest humiliation!

Just as he wanted to retort, Xiahou Yu changed the subject. “I fell from such a height and was seriously injured. What kind of Spirit Pill or Spirit Medicine did you actually use?”

“It was just some Spirit Medicine from the bottom of the pit.” Xiang Tian pointed to the patch of Spirit Medicine not far away.

Xiahou Yu looked in the direction of his finger, her face stiffening slightly. “This is hehuan grass. A small amount in medicine can increase blood Qi and accelerate healing, but an excess will act as an aphrodisiac... You didn't know its use?”

“I really didn't know.” Xiang Tian raised an eyebrow.

“Forget it, let’s harvest these Spirit Medicines first.” Xiahou Yu pulled Xiang Tian along to gather the herbs.

Once the two of them had finished harvesting the Spirit Medicine...

“The problem now is, how do we get up?” Xiahou Yu stared blankly at the pit wall.

The pit wall was steep; she could rely on her own cultivation to climb up, but what about Xiang Tian?”

Xiang Tian looked at Xiahou Yu. “Xiao Yu, your cultivation is high, you should be able to climb out.”

“Mm, I can barely manage it.” Xiahou Yu looked up at the mouth of the pit. “But I can't carry you. What will you do?”

“I have my ways.” Xiang Tian silently called out “System” in his mind. With the System by his side, such a small matter would certainly not stump him.

[What are the host's orders? This System is on standby 24/7~]

The System's voice rang in his mind.

“Give me a rope.”

[Please purchase it yourself in the System Mall, host. 1 Face-slapping Point can be exchanged for a 500-meter rope.]

“Where is the Mall?”

[At the bottom right of the System panel. The host can see it by concentrating.]

Xiang Tian concentrated as instructed, and the System panel appeared in his Sea of Consciousness. In the bottom right corner, there were indeed the words “Mall”. The bottom left was the character panel, and in the bottom center was the “Draw” button.

He clicked on the Mall and spent 1 point to exchange for the rope.

The next second, a rope as thick as a wrist appeared in his hand. It felt rough but was exceptionally tough.

“Xiao Yu, here’s a rope.” Xiang Tian shook the vine rope in his hand.

Xiahou Yu looked at the approximately 500-meter long rope, her eyes narrowing slightly as she stepped forward to tease him, “Why do you usually carry such a long rope? Could it be that you want to play some bondage games?”

Xiang Tian was stunned. This sister-in-law's mind was actually so erratic that she could even say such things!

He coughed twice. “Hurry up and go. If you want to play, I'll accompany you next time.”

“Really?” Xiahou Yu raised an eyebrow.

“I'll go up first. Stay down here and don't run around.” Realizing she was overexcited, she snatched the rope from Xiang Tian's hand with a red face and walked quickly to the base of the pit wall.

Xiang Tian watched her back with a meaningful look.

He opened the character panel and carefully checked his status:

Name: Xiang Tian

Gender: Male

Physique: Poor

Aptitude: Yellow Rank Low Grade Spiritual Root

Cultivation: Qi Condensation Realm Level One

Cultivation Technique: None

Skills: None

Weapon: qingling sword (Aperture Opening Grade)

Treasures: None

Pets: None

face-slapping points: 99

“What the heck? Not even giving me a Cultivation Technique or skills?” Xiang Tian couldn't help but complain.

[Don't be anxious, host. Don't you still have one draw chance? The first draw has a newbie protection mechanism.]

“Hurry up and draw for me!” Xiang Tian's eyes sharpened as he clicked the “Draw” button.

A giant wheel instantly appeared in front of him.

The surface was divided into several areas: Red area “0.1% probability”; Golden area “1% probability”; Purple area “10%”; Green “20%”; Blue “40%”; White “28.9%”.

Each area was covered with question marks, making it impossible to see what was hidden inside.

“Spin!” Xiang Tian took a deep breath and pressed the button in the center of the wheel.

The pointer spun rapidly, and as time passed, it gradually slowed down.

“Purple is fine too; anything is better than white or blue.” Xiang Tian stared intently at the pointer, his heart pounding.

The pointer stopped steadily at the edge of the purple area, but it didn't stay there, slowly moving toward the golden area—

“Gold?!” Xiang Tian raised an eyebrow, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

But the pointer was still moving, actually heading toward the red area!

“Could it be red?” Xiang Tian held his breath.

The pointer approached the red area bit by bit, crossed the edge, and stopped steadily in the red area.

[Congratulations to the host for obtaining one top-tier Cultivation Technique!]

“A top-tier Cultivation Technique!” Xiang Tian shouted in wild joy, nearly jumping up.

Red light flashed on the wheel, and a package slowly emerged.

Xiang Tian clicked “Open”. The package fell away, and a booklet with the words “Huntian Technique” came into view. As soon as he touched the booklet, it instantly turned into a stream of light and surged into his mind.

After a few breaths.

“Huntian Technique? Why is it incomplete?” Xiang Tian frowned.

[Don't be anxious, host. This is a growth-type Cultivation Technique. Its current stage is Yellow Rank.]

“Will it automatically upgrade as my cultivation increases?”

[No.]

“Damn! I knew the System was a scammer.” Xiang Tian immediately began grumbling.

[If the host consumes 1,000 face-slapping points, this System can help upgrade it to the Profound Rank.]

“In that case, I'll just practice it for now!” Xiang Tian was helpless but also satisfied—even the worst reward from the red area was better than the Haotian Sect's techniques.

The Haotian Sect's Outer Sect techniques weren't even qualified to be recorded on the System panel.

The mnemonic for the Huntian Technique was directly imprinted in his mind. As he circulated the mnemonic, the Spiritual Qi at the bottom of the pit slowly gathered toward him and drilled into his Meridians.

A moment later, he only felt that his Physique had strengthened significantly. Every limb and bone was filled with power, and even his chest, which had been hit by Xiahou Yu earlier, no longer hurt.

He thought to himself: If I do Dual Cultivation with Xiao Yu again, I'll definitely be able to satisfy her.

Just then.

“Xiang Tian，Come on up！” Xiahou Yu's voice came from the pit entrance..

“Coming!” Xiang Tian grabbed the rope firmly, kicked off the pit wall with his feet, and climbed up easily.

“Hold on tight, I'll pull you up.” Xiahou Yu's hand tightly gripped the other end of the rope.

Xiang Tian used her strength to successfully flip over the edge of the pit.

The sunlight outside the pit was exceptionally dazzling, and he narrowed his eyes.

“Xiao Yu, I will definitely take responsibility for you.” Xiang Tian took a step forward, wanting to put his arm around her waist, but Xiahou Yu stepped aside to avoid him.

“It's true that I've done Dual Cultivation with you, but the rules must be set.” Xiahou Yu straightened her somewhat messy sect uniform, her tone serious. “Only I am allowed to take the initiative; you are not allowed to act recklessly. Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite.”

Xiang Tian could only give up and withdrew his hand, but a trace of warmth rose in his heart.

“Since we're up, let's go hunt Spirit Beasts quickly.” Xiahou Yu clenched her fists, a determined light flashing in her eyes. “In this Outer Sect Grand Competition, I will definitely seize a spot in the top ten!”

“Top ten? That's hard.” Xiang Tian shook his head, knowing the situation in the Outer Sect. “There are at least a dozen Disciples at the Peak of the Qi Condensation Realm in the Outer Sect. Getting into the top ten won't be easy.”

“You dare look down on me?” Xiahou Yu glared at him. “Once I hunt a few second-grade Spirit Beasts, my points will definitely break into the top ten!”

Saying that, she led the way deep into the forest.

Xiang Tian looked at her back, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly. He gripped the rope in his hand and followed quickly. With the Huntian Technique in his possession and Xiahou Yu's help, perhaps he really could make a name for himself in this Outer Sect Grand Competition.