The fist has hardened!

"Dad, you're awake."

"Sect Head, you've finally woken up. Everyone has been waiting for you to come out and take charge of the big picture!"

"That devilish brat earlier dared to cry 'thief' while being the thief, slandering you for colluding with the Demonic Path. I resolutely opposed it at the time. My loyalty to you is as clear as the sun and moon..."

"Reporting to the Sect Head, there is a traitor among us!"

Hearing the noisy chatter around him, Bai Qingwu, whose mind was already in a state of confusion, asked with a bewildered expression and a dazed tone, "What happened? Why are so many people gathered here?"

"Also, what did you just say was among you?"

"A traitor..."

Just as everyone was crowding around Bai Qingwu to express their concern, the Formation Spirit walked up to Qi Yuan with hands behind its back and praised him:

"Kid Qi, you did well. You didn't disappoint this old one."

Then, it shook its head slightly and muttered to itself:

"I don't know what kind of dog-shit luck this Falling Cloud Valley had to recruit a Prodigy like you. It seems its fate has not yet run out."

"Hehe..."

Qi Yuan gave a dry laugh and replied humbly, "This Junior is merely relying on your influence, Senior Formation Spirit. As the saying goes, a family with an Elder is like having a treasure. You are the true anchor of Falling Cloud Valley."

"Don't try that on me, kid."

The Formation Spirit glanced at him, "This old one still wants to live a few more peaceful years. To put it bluntly, it doesn't matter who is the Sect Head. If it weren't for wanting to return a favor to you, I wouldn't have bothered to come out and deal with this mess."

"I'm leaving. Don't come bother me in the future if there's nothing going on."

As it spoke, the Formation Spirit's figure flickered and vanished from the spot in an instant.

That's right!

Those two Crouching Dragon and Fledgling Phoenix are still on their way...

Remembering this, Qi Yuan hurriedly took out the communication talisman from his bosom. Just as he was about to activate it, he saw the Counterattack Points System's task list appear before his eyes again, with a new task notification refreshed inside.

"New Main Quest Released: Your Falling Cloud Valley has encountered a catastrophe. Inner Sect Elder Yin Qingyuan has colluded with Demonic Cultivators to murder Sect Head Bai Qingwu and launched a rebellion. After a fierce battle, Yin Qingyuan successfully usurped the position and took control of Falling Cloud Valley."

"Because you discovered in advance that Yin Qingyuan and his son were spies for the Demonic Sect, and because you were already on guard, you not only successfully survived the crisis but also took advantage of the chaos to rescue the severely injured Senior Sister Bai Xirou. After a narrow escape from death, you fled Falling Cloud Valley with her."

"However, you discovered that a wisp of Nether Devilish Qi is lurking within Senior Sister Bai Xirou, and her life is in imminent danger..."

"Task Objective: Before Senior Sister Bai Xirou dies, the Host must use the 'Yin Yang Transformation Scripture' to save her, and simultaneously raise your own cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Realm."

"Task Difficulty: Three Stars (Average)"

"Task Rewards: 1,000 Counterattack Points, 15 top-grade Yuan-Condensing Pills, top-grade Magical Artifact Dark Light Qilin Sword, Personal Space expanded to 500 cubic meters, Awakening Talent [Eating Soft Rice by Force] (You can choose any Dao Companion with a higher cultivation level than you as the binding target. After binding is achieved, you can freely use the strongest Divine Ability possessed by that Dao Companion) (Note: The binding target must be your Dual Cultivation Dao Companion. Only one Dao Companion can be bound at a time. After unbinding, you will no longer be able to use this Divine Ability)."

"??????"

After a long moment of bewilderment, Qi Yuan's fist hardened... his fist hardened!

F***!!!

Damn it, System, you listen to me!

Is this something a normal System could come up with?!

What kind of decent System makes its Host do such an insane task!

Forget about the absurd task description; after all, my own presence as an anomaly in Falling Cloud Valley caused significant changes to the outcome of this crisis, which is understandable. But what the hell is this task objective?

Right now, Senior Sister Bai Xirou is perfectly fine, without a single scratch on her. If I go pestering her for Dual Cultivation treatment, I'll probably be treated as a perverted hooligan immediately, and the glorious image I worked so hard to build will be destroyed in minutes.

Even if Bai Xirou herself was willing, it wouldn't be good!

I was just cozying up to a Demonic Sect enchantress not long ago, and now I'm turning around to discuss Dual Cultivation with a pure and innocent Righteous Path girl. Wouldn't that make me a scumbag?

What's even more f***ed up is that, just like the last task, this one isn't marked as [Abandonable], meaning it's a mandatory task. If I don't complete it, subsequent tasks won't refresh!

Fortunately, the deadline for completing the task is before Bai Xirou dies. Right now, Bai Xirou is still alive and kicking, nowhere near death, so I have plenty of time to think of a solution.

At the very least, I need to properly cultivate our relationship first, otherwise I'll really become a scumbag.

There is also relatively good news: according to the dog system, the current task progress has moved beyond Falling Cloud Valley, so I won't have to stay holed up in this small Sect playing undercover anymore...

Just as his thoughts were drifting, Falling Cloud Valley Sect Head Bai Qingwu had already been helped by the crowd to sit on the chair at the very head of the hall. He looked at Qi Yuan with a kindly gaze, his tone filled with gratitude:

"Qi Da, this time the Sect has suffered a great disaster, and it is all thanks to you that you turned the tide. You have performed such a great service; it is only reasonable that you be heavily rewarded. If you want anything, just speak up. As long as I can give it, this Sect Head will not be stingy!"

Hearing this, everyone in the hall immediately showed expressions of intense envy and chimed in one after another:

"Martial Nephew Qi's contribution is clear for all to see; he should indeed be rewarded well."

"That's right, the Sect will never forget this kindness."

"With such a Prodigy in the Sect, in time, our Falling Cloud Valley will surely be revitalized..."

Amidst the chorus of praise, Qi Yuan rubbed his nose a bit sheepishly and said in a relaxed and casual tone:

"Everyone is too kind. However, I only want Senior Sister, I don't want anything else."

Huh?

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent, and everyone looked at him with blank expressions.

"What did you say?!"

The smile on Bai Qingwu's face froze. Always quite confident in his hearing, for the first time in his life, he wondered if there was something wrong with his ears.

Bai Xirou, who was the person involved, also trembled, her fair, pretty face instantly turning bright red...