All of It

Only by facing adversity head-on and walking against the heavens could one cross myriad tribulations and ascend.

The Child of Destiny was favored by the Heavenly Dao, so she would insist on walking against the heavens.

"True Person, I choose the third Wooden Box."

After loading the save again, Bai Lan decisively chose the Azure Dragon Spear Art, that earth-rank divine ability.

"So decisive?" Ji Feng raised a brow beside her. "Aren't you afraid it's empty inside?"

"True Lord Lingxiao and Martial Uncle Ji are both kind people who keep their promises. Since you promised this junior generous gifts, you naturally would not deceive me." Bai Lan placed a lofty hat on each of their heads.

Ji Feng shook his head with a soft laugh. "Sharp-tongued."

Ling Xiao, however, nodded, his expression proud. "Mm, you're right. I am indeed a kind person who keeps his promises. Little girl, your words are far more pleasing to hear than your martial uncle's."

Ji Feng, who had inexplicably been used for comparison: "Master, do you want to listen to what you're saying? I'm still right here!"

"This old man knows you're here. What are you shouting for? Hmph. Little girl, I'm in a good mood today, so I'll give you all three Wooden Boxes. No need to fret over which one to choose." With a sweep of Ling Xiao's long sleeve, the three Wooden Boxes landed neatly in Bai Lan's hands.

Looking down at the three Wooden Boxes lined up neatly in her hands, Bai Lan's brain crashed for a moment.

So...

He was giving all of them to her?

Then why had she just wasted so many brain cells repeatedly loading saves and carefully weighing her choice?

"Thank you, True Person! You truly are the best Core Formation True Person in all of Azure Sect!" Bai Lan broke into a smile and decisively handed him a good-person card.

Since she could have all of them, of course she was happy.

Carrying the three Wooden Boxes out of the Law Enforcement Hall, Bai Lan felt refreshed and decided the trip had been well worth it.

She had fought Long Aotian, only for the Law Enforcement Hall's HR to take a liking to her.

Though the hiring requirements were somewhat harsh... they were not impossible to fulfill.

She would turn around and find some lucky Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator to borrow a head from.

Just based on the value of these three Wooden Boxes in her hands, Bai Lan's favorability toward True Lord Lingxiao had already been pulled to maximum.

Rich! Generous!

Was he the kind of game character who, once you raised his favorability enough, would start showering you with Spirit Stones?

"Martial Niece, wait." Ji Feng's voice came from behind her.

Bai Lan turned around. "Does Martial Uncle have business with me?"

Ji Feng raised a brow. "Nothing major. I merely wished to ask Martial Niece for a small favor."

"Please speak freely, Martial Uncle. This niece is all ears."

With the coldest expression, she spoke the most polite words. Ji Feng smiled at the sight, then flipped his hand and took out a map.

"Martial Niece, do you know that half a month from now will be the opening day of the Nine Yin Secret Realm?" Ji Feng waved the map in his hand. "It is a secret realm only Qi Refining stage disciples may enter. It is filled with peril, but there are also many opportunities within. Some once claimed to have obtained a supreme inheritance inside, though whether that was true or false remains unknown."

Bai Lan's expression tightened.

Of course she knew this secret realm. She was even intimately familiar with it.

As the saying went—

When Long Aotian entered a secret realm, all who died were teammates, and all who lived were members of his harem.

There was another saying—

When Bai Ling entered a secret realm, it would surely be beset by danger on all sides, yet opportunities would never cease. All the danger belonged to her teammates, while all the opportunities belonged to Bai Ling.

There was also a certain chance of randomly triggering self-sacrifice events—female supporting characters blocking blades for Bai Ling, harem members blocking blades for Long Aotian, and other such melodramatic nonsense.

In the Nine Yin Secret Realm, both Bai Ling and Long Aotian had obtained quite a few opportunities.

Therefore, she naturally had to go.

But she absolutely could not reveal her intentions directly. First, she would hear what Ji Feng actually wanted to do.

"So, Martial Uncle wishes to...?"

"There is a medicinal herb Martial Uncle needs, one that can only possibly be found in ancient secret realms. If Martial Niece is interested in this secret realm, you and I can make a deal."

"This is the small matter and small favor Martial Uncle mentioned?" Bai Lan spoke unhurriedly. "This ancient secret realm is so dangerous and terrifying. Countless sect disciples have died within it over the years. This niece is only at Qi Refining level three. How would I dare venture into such danger?"

This old fox Ji Feng was far too dishonest with his words.

He only called it a secret realm without clearly stating how dangerous it was, yet he wanted to trick her into risking her life.

"Martial Niece defeated an inner sect prodigy while being an outer sect menial. How could you be an ordinary person? Martial Uncle believes in you!" Ji Feng patted Bai Ling's shoulder, looking every bit the good martial uncle of the cultivation world.

"Long Aotian is merely a small fry at Qi Refining level four, nothing to fear. But more than half the people traveling to the Nine Yin Secret Realm will be late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, won't they?" Bai Lan refused to buy his nonsense.

Far away on the inner peak, Long Aotian sneezed three times in a row.

Ji Feng continued to sweet-talk her. "Ah, that is not quite right. Defeating a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator with early-stage Qi Refining cultivation—is that not also killing an enemy across levels? Before taking the head of a Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator, Martial Niece can use this to practice first."

"It is not that this niece is unwilling to help, only... it is still lacking something." Bai Lan made a gesture with her hand.

Ji Feng: "...Tsk. I thought Martial Niece was a warmhearted and helpful kind person. Who would have thought you also had a temperament that never rose early without profit?"

"I thought Martial Uncle was a generous and good martial uncle. Who would have thought you were a ruthless person trying to catch a white wolf with empty hands?" Bai Lan's expression was regretful.

Ji Feng gave a light snort. "Naturally, there will be benefits. So long as Martial Niece finds the spirit herb, Martial Uncle certainly will not treat you poorly."

This little girl really was...

At first, on the dueling platform, when Long Aotian suggested using Spirit Stones as the wager, this little girl's eyes had lit up at once.

Later, when she broke through the maze, it was only after hearing the words "generous gift" that her fighting spirit had risen.

"If you find that spirit herb, Martial Uncle can give you one of the pills ultimately refined from it." Ji Feng explained the reward to Bai Lan.

A pill refined from an ancient spirit herb? It was definitely a good thing!

Bai Lan decisively nodded. "Deal."

Ji Feng handed over the map in his hand. "This is a simple map drawn from memory by disciples who entered the Nine Yin Secret Realm in previous years. Martial Niece may take it. The spirit herb's location has already been marked on it."

Bai Lan accepted the map and gave it a rough look before nodding. "Rest assured, Martial Uncle. I will do my utmost to find it."

"Come back alive. If you die in the secret realm, Martial Uncle's Youth Preserving Pill will not be refined."

Bai Lan's expression froze.

A Youth Preserving Pill?

"The pill you want to refine is a Youth Preserving Pill!?"

Ji Feng looked puzzled. "Is there a problem?"

She had thought it was some ancient pill formula that enhanced cultivation, broke through realms, or strengthened one's vitality and blood.

So it was merely a Youth Preserving Pill?

That kind of pill that did nothing besides beautify one's appearance and preserve one's looks?

In the cultivation world, people with high cultivation did not suffer from appearance anxiety, because cultivation made people beautiful.

People with low cultivation had even less need for appearance anxiety, because before worrying about their looks, they should first worry about how long they could survive in the cultivation world.

So rather than spend effort swallowing pills, it was better to cultivate to Core Formation as soon as possible. At that point, one could remain youthful forever without taking any pills.

...That was not quite right either. Though the Youth Preserving Pill was useless to her, that did not mean others would not like it. A pill that could preserve one's youth forever should be worth quite a few Spirit Stones, right?

"So, Martial Uncle, you have the formula for the Youth Preserving Pill?"

Between fish and a fishing net, she would rather choose the fishing net.