21: Chapter 21 New Guidance, Zhang Peng Visits

Tang Xun walked at a leisurely pace toward the Outer Sect Disciple area.

The morning mist had not yet dispersed, and on the mountain path, one could already see young Cultivators dressed in Outer Sect Disciple attire in twos and threes. Some were hurrying toward the Mission Hall, while others were gathered together discussing their insights on how to Cultivate. Every face was filled with the youthful vigor and longing for the future that belonged to them.

Tang Xun mingled among them, his face wearing his signature [Affable and Amiable] smile, looking just like a country boy who had just guided Qi into his body and felt curious about everything.

No one knew that this seemingly harmless "newcomer" contained within his body a terrifying magical power comparable to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, and his mind was filled with the memories of an old monster who had lived for hundreds of years.

"Tsk tsk, youth is truly wonderful," Tang Xun sighed inwardly.

Following the information on the identity token given by Steward Li, Tang Xun quickly found his Immortal Cave.

Ding District, Number 1314.

Looking at this "Immortal Cave" before him, located at the most remote foot of the mountain in the Outer Sect area, with the entrance overgrown with weeds, lacking even a decent stone door, and only a dilapidated wooden fence acting as the gate, Tang Xun was not surprised at all.

"Fine, this house number is quite romantic; living in this dump for a lifetime," he grumbled inwardly while pushing open the creaking wooden fence and walking inside.

The cave was exactly the same as in his simulator; empty, damp, and cold, with a faint moldy smell permeating the air. The Spiritual Qi was pitifully thin; he estimated that meditating here for a day would not be as effective as taking a walk outside for an hour.

But Tang Xun was very satisfied.

The more dilapidated the place, the fewer people would come, and the less attention it would receive.

Wasn't this a blessed land perfectly tailored for a "Dao of Cowardice" Cultivator like him?

He didn't rush to tidy up, but instead sat down cross-legged and opened the simulator panel; what he cared about most now was the opportunity for his next simulation.

Tang Xun's gaze fell directly on the line of small text below the number of simulation attempts.

[Cooldown time for next simulation: 364 days 18 hours 23 minutes]

[Or complete the guidance task to immediately obtain one simulation opportunity]

[Current guidance task: Obtain first place in the Outer Sect Grand Competition three months from now]

"First place in the Outer Sect Grand Competition?"

When Tang Xun saw this task, he was stunned for a moment, then chuckled.

This System really knows how to assign me work.

After the first simulation ended, the task was to become an Outer Sect Disciple, a freebie.

After the second simulation ended, the difficulty was maxed out immediately; he had to take first place?

There were thousands of Outer Sect Disciples, among whom there was no shortage of experts at the Eighth and Ninth Layers of Qi Refining, and even Geniuses who had one foot in the Foundation Establishment Stage. For example, that Su Qinghan; if she participated, she would definitely be the strongest contender for the championship.

With his current disguised identity of "First Layer of Qi Refining", to take first place?

If others found out about this, they would probably laugh their heads off.

However...

"Only with a challenge does it become interesting," Tang Xun rubbed his chin, not feeling troubled at all, but rather a bit excited.

To him, the difficulty of this task did not lie in "taking first place," but in "how to take first place."

Should he just sweep through everyone, expose his strength, and shock the entire audience?

No, no, that doesn't fit my core philosophy of "hiding". The tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. As a newcomer who just joined, if I perform too much like a Prodigy, I will definitely be targeted by those with ulterior motives, and might even be captured for dissection and research.

Then... could he only rely on "luck"?

In Tang Xun's mind, the "glorious incident" from the second simulation instantly surfaced, where he had tripped over himself and fallen off the arena during the Grand Competition.

"I can't act like that this time; I need to change the script," Tang Xun calculated inwardly. "I need to strike the right balance; I need to make people think I got lucky, but not too outrageously, and then finally 'pull off an upset' at the critical moment, stunning everyone. Yes, this script is good; it has exciting points and twists. I like it."

Just as he was immersed in the fun of arranging his script, a series of arrogant footsteps and noisy voices came from outside the Immortal Cave.

"Hey! Number 1314, is this the place?"

"Who cares, just kick the door open and we'll know!"

"Bang!"

That wooden fence, which was already tottering, was kicked to smithereens with one strike.

Several young men dressed in Outer Sect Disciple attire swaggered in. The leader was tall with an arrogant expression; it was none other than the old acquaintance Tang Xun met in the second simulation—Zhang Peng.

Zhang Peng had a cultivation of the Qi Refining Fourth Layer and was quite famous among the Outer Sect Disciples. What he liked to do most was form gangs, bully newcomers, and collect "protection fees."

Behind him followed three or four lackeys, each with their necks crooked and eyes squinted, acting like ruffians; one look and you could tell they were no good.

"Yo, there's actually someone here." One of Zhang Peng's lackeys, a youth who looked like a skinny monkey, saw Tang Xun sitting cross-legged on the stone bed and let out a weird laugh. "A newcomer? Looks quite sensible, knowing to pay respects first."

Zhang Peng crossed his arms over his chest and surveyed Tang Xun from head to toe with a scrutinizing gaze. When he sensed the faint magical power fluctuation on Tang Xun, which had just reached the First Layer of Qi Refining, the contempt in his eyes grew even stronger.

"Newcomer, looking at you, you must have crawled your way up from being a Utility Disciple, right?" Zhang Peng's voice carried a sense of superiority. "Don't you understand the rules of the Outer Sect?"

Tang Xun almost laughed out loud inwardly.

Good heavens, this plot, these lines, it's exactly the same as in the simulation! Not even a punctuation mark was changed!

System, did you copy and paste this script? It's so lazy!

He slowly opened his eyes, stood up, and his face still wore that harmless, kindly smile.

"Greetings, Senior Brothers. My name is Tang Xun, and I just moved in yesterday. There are indeed many rules I don't quite understand, so I ask for your guidance, Senior Brothers."

His humble and submissive appearance was very satisfying to Zhang Peng and the others.

"Suit yourself." The skinny monkey next to Zhang Peng huffed and extended his hand. "Guidance is out of the question, but, as Senior Brothers, it is only right that we protect you new Junior Brothers. Every month, five Low-Grade Spirit Stones, one Fasting Pill; pay the protection fee, and from now on in this Ding District, no one will dare to bully you."

"Right! If anything happens, report our Brother Peng's name!" another lackey chimed in.

The smile on Tang Xun's face remained unchanged, but inwardly he was complaining frantically.

"Five Spirit Stones, one Fasting Pill? Isn't this the entire monthly allowance issued by the Sect? This is robbery! Much darker than that grandson Wang Hao!"

He feigned hesitation and said, "Senior Brother, this... I just received my monthly allowance, and it hasn't even warmed up yet. Could you... give me a few days' grace?"

"Grace?" Zhang Peng's brows furrowed, and his expression sank instantly. "Are you fucking bargaining with me? It seems if I don't teach you a lesson, you won't know how to write the word 'rules'!"

The Spiritual Qi on his body began to fluctuate, and a pressure from the Qi Refining Fourth Layer pressed toward Tang Xun.

In his view, to deal with a "trash" who had just reached the First Layer of Qi Refining, the pressure alone would be enough to make him kneel and beg for mercy.

The few lackeys behind him also revealed gloating smiles, preparing to watch Tang Xun make a fool of himself.

However, to their surprise, Tang Xun stood where he was, not moving an inch.

That pressure from the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, to him, was just like a spring breeze brushing past; it couldn't even make his clothes move.

The smile on his face didn't even change in the slightest, but in his eyes, there was a trace of amusement.

"Senior Brother Zhang, right?" Tang Xun opened his mouth with a chuckle. "I have a bad habit; I respond to kindness, not force. If you had spoken to me nicely, maybe if I were in a good mood, I would have given you the Spirit Stones."

"But the way you are now..."

Tang Xun paused, the smile on his face slowly fading, and his eyes became cold.

"You're really pissing me off."