Seventh Gate

The next morning, bright and early, Liu Tianfeng brought his group to find Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang.

Clearly, with the secret realm opening, the Liu father and son, who had been scheming for so long, could barely contain their impatience.

Niu Yuanshan had also been dragged along by Liu Steward.

He planned to bring this good-natured man along to serve as their protector outside the secret realm.

If anything went wrong, he could lend a hand, couldn't he?

Faced with such a request, Old Niu agreed readily.

In Liu Tianfeng's eyes, this willing ox was as easy to deal with and warm-hearted as ever.

Little did he know, this played right into Niu Yuanshan's hands.

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

But he didn't want another slap to the face.

However, me prying on my own, versus someone else calling me to help—those were two different things.

What's more, with this Dao Sect secret realm, he naturally hoped Chu Huai Xu would succeed in claiming it.

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

So today wasn't about deliberately approaching this fellow cultivator, nor satisfying my personal nosiness—it was an operation!

My first operation with this newcomer within the Dao Sect!

Having prepared everything the night before, Chu Huai Xu stretched lazily under everyone's gaze.

The so-called preparation was really just stocking up on extra food, water, daily necessities in his Storage Token, and bringing along the tool person Han Shuangjiang.

"Let's see today just how useful you are as a World Protagonist," he thought.

"The house is in your hands." Chu Huai Xu turned his head and instructed the little servant.

Xu Ziqing nodded and replied respectfully, "Yes."

He hadn't expected that, having just arrived here, he'd be left alone.

He was immensely envious that they could go explore the secret realm.

"I wonder if I'll ever have such fortune one day," he thought, burning with longing.

The group walked all the way to the Cold Pool.

Along the way, Chu Huai Xu observed the Registered Disciples beside Liu Chengqi; they were also sneaking glances at him and Han Shuangjiang.

Liu Tianfeng even gave a brief introduction, persistently buttering them up, and ordered these peak Aperture Opening Stage Registered Disciples to protect the two of them as well.

But what that old fox really had in mind, only he knew.

Upon reaching the destination, everyone studied the Cold Pool before them.

Nearby, some cold-natured spirit herbs grew, normally absorbing the chill emanating from the pool.

On ordinary days, getting close to the Cold Pool would make one feel a biting cold.

But today, it was like ordinary pond water.

That bone-chilling cold had vanished without a trace.

Liu Tianfeng took out ten azure-blue beads from his Storage Token and handed them to the group: "These are Water Repelling Beads. Take them with you."

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

After all, for women, diving straight in like that might lead to a wet-clothes temptation scene.

Seeing everyone tuck the Water Repelling Beads into their bosoms, Liu Steward gave his final instructions.

"Every Dao Sect secret realm holds its own mysteries—no one knows what's inside."

"But rest assured, while the sect's secret realms may have dangers, they are tests left by our predecessors, not meant to take your lives."

"Also, remember the Sect rule: all fortunes go to those fated to find them. Do not break the rules and harm fellow disciples!"

His words were a veiled warning to Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang not to throw their weight around just because of their backing!

After all, that was a major taboo—if discovered, even the Sixth Elder couldn't protect them!

As for the seven Registered Disciples he'd sent, they were all carefully chosen confidants.

Every one of them had been groomed by him, and this time, he'd promised them plenty of rewards.

Normally, once a Registered Disciple had all nine apertures open, they'd rush off to the Scripture Pavilion without delay—unlike these ones, who hadn't attempted to break through.

They were waiting, on Liu Tianfeng's orders, for the secret realm to open!

Once inside, they'd go all out to assist Liu Chengqi and give him a hand.

"Alright, go on now." Liu Tianfeng waved his hand grandly.

Niu Yuanshan stood to the side, wearing a faint smile the whole time, barely speaking.

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

"Fifth aperture already?"

"He's already opened the fifth aperture?"

Niu Yuanshan couldn't figure out how this was possible.

And he remembered clearly—that night, the Sixth Elder had come looking for him again, asking where the jade slip for the Sword Refining Art came from, and calling it a heretical cultivation technique.

He'd been worried about it back then.

"Thinking about it now, could it be that because it's a heretical technique, his progress is so fast?"

This warm, mild-mannered man with thick brows and big eyes began to feel a faint unease.

Without realizing it, he'd truly come to see Chu Huai Xu as a junior in his own household.

At this moment, under Liu Tianfeng's watchful gaze, a slightly plump registered disciple was the first to leap into the Cold Pool.

The Water Repelling Bead was quite miraculous—when he jumped in, barely a splash was raised.

Everyone entered the Cold Pool one by one, Chu Huai Xu last.

The pool was deep, and they swam for a long time.

Once they gathered at the bottom, following Liu Tianfeng's instructions, they all took out the Pill King Token Fragments.

The faintly glowing fragments floated up on their own in the water, then converged together.

The dim light grew brighter and brighter, and suddenly a massive whirlpool appeared at the bottom of the pool!

Before the ten of them could react, they were all sucked in by the whirlpool.

A dizzying, spinning sensation hit them, making them want to vomit.

Their vision blurred, unable to see anything around them.

Some registered disciples with weaker mindsets felt their hearts leap into their throats.

Only Chu Huai Xu held on, his mindset steady.

The reason was simple—the moment the whirlpool appeared, a system prompt sound rang in his ears.

"Ding! Entering dungeon—Pill King Token!"

"Dungeon is loading."

So it was just a loading bar.

After nearly a minute, they all crashed heavily to the ground from about a meter high.

Most of the registered disciples cried out in pain.

Han Shuangjiang let out a muffled grunt.

Only Chu Huai Xu stayed silent, though he felt a bit nauseous.

Just this little bit of pain—what were they screaming about!

He was the first to get up from the ground, then looked ahead.

He wasn't sure if this was still the underground space of the Cold Pool or somewhere else.

Right now, there were ten entrances before Chu Huai Xu.

They looked like ten caves.

"Does this mean we ten have to split up? Each pick an entrance?" Liu Chengqi frowned.

For some reason, after he said that, he instinctively looked at Chu Huai Xu.

He wanted to hear his opinion.

But Chu Huai Xu simply called Han Shuangjiang aside, and the two started whispering, ignoring him entirely.

"Which one do you want to pick? Follow your own instinct," he said softly to this iceberg.

The cold-faced girl didn't know what he was up to. She lifted her eyes and scanned the ten entrances.

"Starting from the left, the seventh," she said.

No other reason—out of one to ten, she liked seven the most.

"Good." Chu Huai Xu nodded.

Then he turned his head to look at Liu Chengqi and the others, and said loudly, "Senior brothers and sisters, haven't you chosen yet?"

"How about Junior Brother goes first?"

"We'll take these two entrances." He pointed at seven and eight.

Liu Chengqi's eyes darkened slightly at this, displeased.

But fortunately, he himself was leaning toward nine.

—Nine was the ultimate number!

So his expression shifted, and in the end he just smiled and said, "Alright, then numbers seven and eight go to Junior Brother Chu and Junior Sister Han."

Soon enough, everyone had picked their entrances.

"Then shall we go in?" Liu Chengqi took the lead in managing things again.

This time, Chu Huai Xu finally deigned to acknowledge him. "Fine."

The crowd surged forward, unable to contain their eagerness.

Just as Han Shuangjiang was about to step through the entrance, a large hand suddenly clamped onto her arm.

"What's wrong?" She shot a puzzled glance at Chu Huai Xu, who had grabbed her.

Even through the fabric of her clothes, she could feel the heat radiating from that hand.

Chu Huai Xu simply held her arm like that, locking eyes with her.

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

(ps: Second update. Request monthly votes.

From now on, I'll just post both chapters together at noon.)