22: Chapter 22: Doing the Mission

Xiahou Yun looked up at the sky.

To her, romantic feelings were merely obstacles on the path of Cultivate; only by standing at the pinnacle of strength could she control her own destiny.

"Little Yun, don't think that becoming a powerhouse is destined to be lonely." Xiang Tian stepped forward, his tone firm. "I don't think it will be long before my strength surpasses yours."

Xiahou Yun turned her head, just about to speak, when she felt a warmth on her wrist; Xiang Tian had grabbed her hand at some unknown moment.

"Oh? You seem quite confident in yourself." Xiahou Yun raised an eyebrow, her gaze falling on their joined hands. "But what are you trying to do by holding my hand?"

Xiang Tian quickly let go, scratched his head, and chuckled, "Haha, misunderstanding, misunderstanding, this is called being unable to restrain myself."

"No next time." Xiahou Yun withdrew her hand, her tone returning to coldness.

"Understood, understood!" Xiang Tian nodded hurriedly and asked cautiously, "Then... have you forgiven me?"

Xiahou Yun was silent for a moment before slowly opening her mouth: "I am not angry, Brother-in-law."

She emphasized the last two words, "Brother-in-law," particularly heavily.

Xiang Tian knew clearly that although Xiahou Yun said she was not angry, how could she be truly calm after being "cuckolded"?

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the task "Obtain Xiahou Yun's forgiveness", reward: one lottery chance!]

The System prompt sounded suddenly, and Xiang Tian felt a surge of excitement: "I can actually draw again!"

He suppressed the urge to draw immediately; there were more important things at hand.

"Xiang Tian, I am going into seclusion for a few days to think over what you said." After Xiahou Yun finished speaking, her figure flickered and disappeared into the bamboo forest.

Xiang Tian looked at the direction she left in, let out a sigh of relief, and turned to walk quickly towards the two women's cultivation room.

Just as he reached the door, a voice came: "Master, I am here! I have finally seen you!"

A white figure flew out from inside the room and pounced into Xiang Tian's arms.

It was Bai Yu!

Xiang Tian held the fluffy little white fox and smiled: "Bai Yu, I remember you used to be a great beauty, how did you turn back?"

"Does Master want me to turn into a beauty?" Bai Yu's voice carried excitement.

"Of course!"

As soon as the words fell, a flash of light appeared on the little white fox, and instantly a woman in a white gauze dress appeared on the spot.

A pair of fox ears were faintly visible, beautiful enough to make one unable to look away.

"This fox can actually transform!" Duanmu Hongdie walked out of the hall and opened her eyes wide in surprise upon seeing this scene.

Xiahou Yu also followed her out, her eyes full of curiosity.

Xiang Tian patted Bai Yu's shoulder and said: "Bai Yu, there is nothing for you to do now, I am going to have a 'deep discussion' about some problems with them."

"Master, that won't do! I also want to have a 'deep discussion' with you all!" Bai Yu said hurriedly.

Xiang Tian was stunned, then helplessly said: "You are a fox, it's not appropriate."

"I know the problems you want to discuss are not serious! Isn't it just Dual Cultivation?" Bai Yu blinked.

Xiang Tian was completely speechless; it turned out this fox knew everything and couldn't be fooled at all!

"That has nothing to do with you either, you go stay on the side first." Xiang Tian pushed Bai Yu to walk outside.

"Master, don't think I am a little fox who doesn't understand anything!" Bai Yu stopped and said seriously: "I am actually a white fox that has lived for thousands of years, just because of some reason, my cultivation is stuck at the Supernatural Realm."

"Oh? So, you have a great background?" Xiang Tian was somewhat surprised.

"Of course! But I can't tell you yet." Bai Yu kept him in suspense.

"Alright, let's talk later." Xiang Tian stopped dwelling on it, brought Xiahou Yu and Duanmu Hongdie into the cultivation room, and closed the door behind him.

Bai Yu looked at the tightly closed door and snorted: "Hmph! Little lecher, isn't it just Dual Cultivation?"

After speaking, she turned back into the appearance of a little white fox, jumped onto the side bed, and curled up.

Inside the cultivation room, an ambiguous atmosphere gradually permeated...

Two days later, Xiang Tian walked out of the inner hall with high spirits, followed by Xiahou Yu and Duanmu Hongdie.

Their faces were slightly flushed, with fatigue and tenderness in their eyes.

"I am going to the Inner Sect Task Hall to accept tasks, you wait for me to return on the peak." Xiang Tian said.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Xiahou Yu was a bit worried.

"No need, I'll just take Bai Yu with me." Xiang Tian walked over and held Bai Yu in his arms, "She has the strength of the Supernatural Realm, more than enough to deal with petty villains."

Xiahou Yu and Duanmu Hongdie nodded and stopped blocking him.

Xiang Tian held Bai Yu and soon arrived at the Inner Sect Task Hall.

He was a bit puzzled; logically speaking, as an Outer Sect Disciple, being able to enter Xiahou Peak was already very special, and now he could freely enter and exit the Inner Sect without anyone questioning him, clearly Xiahou Yun had given word.

"Bai Yu, my task this time is to catch 10 second-tier Spirit Beast, no problem, right?" Xiang Tian looked at the task panel and asked.

Bai Yu poked her head out from his arms and said disdainfully: "Only second-tier? Who are you looking down on?"

"I just accepted the task, I don't have permission for high-tier tasks." Xiang Tian said helplessly, "I plan to accept more low-tier tasks to save up some points first."

According to the rules of the Haotian Sect, newcomers can only accept at most 10 tasks at the same time.

Xiang Tian accepted 10 second-tier Spirit Beast capture tasks in one go, and just as he turned to leave with Bai Yu, he heard a burst of discussion behind him.

"Was that person who just left Xiang Tian?"

"It should be him! Didn't expect him to dare come to the Inner Sect to accept tasks!"

"This kid is really courting death! Xiahou Yun can't protect him forever, let's follow him and find a chance to deal with him!"

Several people lowered their voices, but didn't notice.

Bai Yu's ears twitched, and she heard their conversation clearly.

"Master, someone is following us." Bai Yu transmitted her voice to Xiang Tian.

Xiang Tian's mouth curved into a cold sneer: "Just right, saves me from having to find them."

He pretended not to notice, rented a carriage at the foot of Haotian Sect, and slowly headed towards the task location.

Inside the carriage, Bai Yu suddenly spoke: "Master, do you want to have Dual Cultivation with me?"

Xiang Tian almost choked on his saliva: "I don't want to!"

"You are lying! You clearly want to!" Bai Yu was relentless.

Xiang Tian sighed helplessly; this fox had become more and more improper since transforming.

"By the way, Master, how did you save me back then and teleport me to such a far place?" Bai Yu suddenly asked curiously.

Xiang Tian's heart skipped a beat. How would he know? It was all the System's doing!

He could only be vague: "Bai Yu, that you can be my spirit pet is fate. Don't worry, when I become strong, I will definitely help you avenge your previous grudges!"

"Master, you are so kind!" Bai Yu kissed him on the face in a touching manner, "I feel especially safe being by Master's side!"

"Of course, who made me your Master!" Xiang Tian straightened his back.

Just then, the carriage stopped suddenly.

An arrogant voice came from outside: "Xiang Tian, where are you going?"

Xiang Tian lifted the curtain and saw a group of people wearing Inner Sect Disciple uniforms blocking the middle of the road. The leader had a sinister look, staring fixedly at him.

He didn't recognize any of them.

"Master, do you want me to go and solve them?" Bai Yu rubbed her hands, a hint of killing intent flashing in her eyes.

"No need, these small fries are not worth you making a move." Xiang Tian jumped off the carriage, his mouth curving into a cold sneer.

These people were all at the Opening Aperture Realm, exactly the "experience packs" for his leveling up!

"Who sent you?" Xiang Tian asked.

The leader sneered: "When you die, go ask the King of Hell!"

As soon as the words fell, his figure moved, and the long sword in his hand pierced straight at Xiang Tian's chest, the speed extremely fast.

Xiang Tian didn't dodge or evade, instead rushing towards a Disciple on the side.

"Slap!"

With a crisp sound, that Disciple hadn't even reacted before being slapped to the ground by Xiang Tian.

Everyone was dumbfounded; who fights without following the rules like this?

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully slapping a face, cultivation level raised to Opening Aperture Realm, reward 100 face-slapping points!]

A massive amount of spiritual power surged into Xiang Tian's body instantly. He could clearly feel that his strength had increased several times!

"I actually broke through to the Opening Aperture Realm directly!" Xiang Tian felt a surge of excitement.

The leader was also stunned, then roared: "So what if you broke through temporarily? Attack me! Kill him!"

The other Disciples reacted and swarmed towards Xiang Tian.

Xiang Tian's eyes turned cold, his figure moving through the crowd like a ghost.

"Slap!"

"Slap!"

"Slap!"

Three more loud slaps, and three Early Stage Opening Aperture Realm Disciples fell one after another.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully slapping a face, cultivation level raised...]

Three consecutive System prompts sounded, and Xiang Tian's cultivation level soared all the way to the fourth level of the Opening Aperture Realm.

The remaining Disciples were all below the Opening Aperture Realm, so even if they were slapped, they couldn't provide any cultivation bonuses.

"You are useless." Xiang Tian's eyes were cold, his right hand raised, "Nine Lotuses, come out!"

Nine golden short swords condensed instantly and flew towards the remaining Disciples.

"Swish swish swish..."

In the blink of an eye, except for the leader, all other Disciples fell into a pool of blood, their foreheads pierced by the short swords, losing their breath.

The leader was shaking with fear, looking at Xiang Tian with eyes full of terror: "You... how did you do it?"

"You don't need to worry about how I did it." Xiang Tian walked towards him step by step, "Tell me, who sent you to assassinate me?"

The leader gritted his teeth and held on, saying: "Since I fell into your hands, do whatever you want!"

"Oh?" Xiang Tian smiled, his eyes becoming sinister, "Death is easy, but I can make you wish you were dead."

He raised his hand and waved; the nine golden short swords turned in the air, aiming straight at the leader's lower body.

The leader's face turned pale instantly, cold sweat dripping: "I... I will speak! It was Senior Brother Cheng Li! It was him who asked us to kill you!"

"Cheng Li?" Xiang Tian's eyes turned cold.

It really was him! After breaking one of his arms last time, he still wouldn't give up!

"System, the conversation just now was recorded, right?" Xiang Tian asked in his heart.

[Host, rest assured, this System handles things very reliably!]

Getting the System's reply, Xiang Tian didn't hesitate anymore and said coldly to the leader: "You know too much."

"Pfft!"

The nine short swords pierced through simultaneously. The leader didn't even have time to scream before falling to the ground.

Xiang Tian looked at the corpse on the ground and snorted coldly: "Damn it, this Cheng Li really isn't that easy to give up. After I finish the task, I will settle the score with him!"

After speaking, he held Bai Yu, jumped back onto the carriage, and headed towards the task location.

Three days later, Xiang Tian had completed 5 tasks and caught 5 second-tier Spirit Beast.

Inside the carriage, Bai Yu started pestering Xiang Tian again: "Master, Sister Xiaoyu and Sister Hongdie haven't been here for these five days, how about letting me serve you?"

Xiang Tian waved his hand hurriedly: "No, no, we are still doing tasks, what if we get disturbed, or you get scared, what then?"

He found a lame excuse to brush it off.

He didn't dare to have Dual Cultivation with a white fox who had lived for thousands of years.