Seventh Gate

The next morning, Liu Tianfeng led everyone to find Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang at the crack of dawn.

It was obvious that with the Secret Realm opening, the Liu father and son, who had been plotting for so long, had long since been unable to wait.

Niu Yuanshan had also been brought along by Steward Liu.

He planned to call this good-natured man along as well, so he could protect them outside the Secret Realm.

If anything really happened, he could lend them a hand, right?

Old Niu readily agreed to this request.

In Liu Tianfeng's eyes, this Willing Ox was as easy to negotiate with and warmhearted as ever.

Little did he know that everything had gone exactly as Niu Yuanshan wished.

There was no helping it. Old Niu was immensely curious about Chu Huai Xu.

But he did not want to get slapped again.

However, me taking the initiative to pry and someone else calling me over to help were two entirely different things.

Besides, when it came to this Dao Sect Secret Realm, he naturally hoped that Chu Huai Xu would successfully claim it.

Wouldn't that mean all the benefits inside would fall into our organization's hands?

Therefore, today I am neither deliberately approaching this fellow Daoist nor satisfying my personal urge to pry. This is an operation!

My first operation inside the Dao Sect with this newcomer!

Having made all his preparations the previous night, Chu Huai Xu stretched lazily under everyone's watchful eyes.

His so-called preparations were actually just stocking more food, water, and daily necessities in his Storage Token, as well as bringing along the tool person Han Shuangjiang.

Today, I'll see just how useful you, a World Protagonist, really are, he thought.

"I'm leaving the house in your care." Chu Huai Xu turned around and instructed the little servant.

Xu Ziqing nodded and respectfully replied, "Yes."

He had not expected that he would be the only one left here right after arriving.

The little servant was immensely envious that they could go explore the Secret Realm.

I wonder if I'll ever have such an opportunity one day, he thought, burning with envy.

The group arrived at the Cold Pool just like that.

Along the way, Chu Huai Xu had been observing the Registered Disciples following beside Liu Chengqi. They had also been secretly sizing him and Han Shuangjiang up.

Liu Tianfeng even gave a brief introduction, then continued flattering them relentlessly, instructing these peak Aperture Opening Stage Registered Disciples to protect the two of them as well.

But only he himself knew what this old bastard was truly thinking.

After reaching their destination, everyone began observing the Cold Pool before them.

Some cold-natured Spiritual Herbs grew nearby. In the past, they would absorb the chill emanating from the Cold Pool.

Under normal circumstances, everyone would feel an icy chill assault them as soon as they approached the Cold Pool.

Today, however, it was like an ordinary pool of water.

That frightening cold had already vanished without a trace.

Liu Tianfeng took ten azure-blue beads from his Storage Token and handed them to everyone. "These are Water Repelling Beads. Take one each."

Han Shuangjiang's and Junior Sister Chen's eyes lit up slightly.

After all, if women dove straight in like this, they might soon end up putting on a wet-clothes seduction show.

After seeing everyone tuck the Water Repelling Beads into their clothes, Steward Liu began giving his final instructions.

"No one knows what mysteries lie within each Dao Sect Secret Realm."

"But you can rest assured about one thing. Although the sect's Secret Realms may contain dangers, they are also trials set by our predecessors. They will not take your lives."

"Also, everyone must remember the Sect rule. All opportunities go to those with the affinity for them. Do not break the rules or turn against your fellow disciples!"

His words were actually hinting to Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang not to rely on their backing and run amok!

After all, this was a grave taboo. If they were discovered, even the Sixth Elder would not be able to protect them!

As for the seven Registered Disciples he had sent in, they were all carefully selected confidants.

Every one of them had been cultivated by him, and he had promised them many benefits this time.

Under normal circumstances, after Registered Disciples reached Nine Apertures Fully Opened, they would certainly hurry to the Scripture Pavilion. Who would still be like them, refusing to try breaking through?

They were waiting for the Secret Realm to open under Liu Tianfeng's orders!

Once inside, they were to assist Liu Chengqi with all their strength and give him a helping hand.

"All right, go on in." Liu Tianfeng waved his hand grandly.

Niu Yuanshan stood to the side, smiling the whole time and barely saying a word.

But his gaze was almost always fixed on Chu Huai Xu.

The fifth aperture?

He has already opened his fifth aperture?

Niu Yuanshan could not understand how he had done it.

Moreover, he remembered clearly that Elder Six had sought him out again later that night, asking where the Jade slip for the "Sword Refining Art" had come from and calling it a Heretical Cultivation Technique.

He had been worried for a while at the time.

Now that I think about it, could it be that his progress is so fast precisely because it is a Heretical Cultivation Technique?

This broad-browed, gentle middle-aged man began to feel faintly worried.

Without realizing it, he had truly begun treating Chu Huai Xu like a younger member of his family.

At that moment, under Liu Tianfeng's watch, a slightly plump Registered Disciple leaped into the Cold Pool first.

The Water Repelling Bead was quite miraculous. Despite jumping in like that, he barely caused any splashes.

Everyone entered the Cold Pool in turn, with Chu Huai Xu being the last.

The Cold Pool was very deep, and they swam for a long time.

After everyone gathered at the bottom, they took out the Pill King Token Fragments together, following Liu Tianfeng's instructions.

The faintly glowing fragments began floating in the water on their own before gathering together.

The weak light grew brighter and brighter, and a huge vortex suddenly appeared at the bottom of the pool!

The ten people had no time to react before the vortex sucked them all inside.

A sensation of the world spinning struck them, making them want to vomit.

Everyone's vision blurred, and they could not see anything around them clearly.

Some of the Registered Disciples with weaker nerves already felt their hearts rise to their throats.

Only Chu Huai Xu struggled to hold on, remaining calm.

The reason was simple. The instant the vortex appeared, he heard the System prompt sound beside his ear.

Ding! Entering Dungeon: Pill King Token!

Dungeon opening in progress

So it was loading.

Nearly a minute later, everyone finally fell heavily to the ground from a height of roughly a meter.

Most of the Registered Disciples cried out in pain.

Han Shuangjiang merely let out a muffled grunt.

Only Chu Huai Xu did not make a sound, though he felt a little nauseous.

It barely even hurts. What are you all screaming about?

He was the first to climb to his feet and look forward.

He did not know whether this was the space beneath the Cold Pool or somewhere else.

At that moment, there were ten entrances before Chu Huai Xu.

They looked like ten caves.

"Does this mean the ten of us have to split up and each choose an entrance?" Liu Chengqi frowned.

For some reason, after speaking, he subconsciously looked toward Chu Huai Xu.

He wanted to hear his opinion.

Unexpectedly, Chu Huai Xu called Han Shuangjiang over to the side, and the two began whispering, ignoring him completely.

"Which one do you want to choose? Follow your own instincts." He spoke softly to this iceberg.

The Cold-faced girl did not know what he intended to do. She raised her eyes and swept her gaze across the Ten Entrances.

"The seventh from the left," she said.

There was no other reason. She simply liked seven the most out of the numbers one through ten.

"All right." Chu Huai Xu nodded.

Then he turned to Liu Chengqi and the others and called out, "Senior Brothers and Sisters, haven't you chosen yet?"

"How about letting Junior Brother choose first?"

"We'll take these two entrances." He pointed at the seventh and eighth.

Liu Chengqi's eyes darkened when he heard this, and displeasure rose in his heart.

Fortunately, he himself favored the ninth.

Nine is the extreme of numbers!

His expression shifted, but in the end, he merely smiled and said, "All right. Then numbers seven and eight will go to Junior Brother Chu and Junior Sister Han."

Before long, everyone had chosen their entrances.

"Shall we go in?" Liu Chengqi once again took it upon himself to preside over the group.

This time, Chu Huai Xu finally answered him. "All right."

Everyone moved forward, somewhat impatiently.

Just as Han Shuangjiang was about to enter the entrance, her arm was suddenly seized by a large hand.

"What is it?" She glanced at Chu Huai Xu in confusion.

Even through their clothes, she could feel that this large hand was rather hot.

Chu Huai Xu simply held her arm like that and looked into her eyes.

"We're not splitting up. I'm going in with you."