Profound Heaven Realm.
Southern Domain, Fire Kingdom.
A remote Small Mountain Village outside Liyang City.
Li Fan stepped out of the simple Small Courtyard, carrying a bowl of Corn kernels. He called out a few times, and a flock of local chickens came running over.
He scattered the Corn for the chickens, then went to the pond and tossed feed to the golden carp. Only then did he head to the vegetable patch, where he weeded and loosened the soil.
After a while, a sheen of sweat had appeared on Li Fan's face. He sat beneath a peach tree to rest.
Li Fan looked at the fruit on the peach tree and smiled with satisfaction.
Actually, Li Fan wasn't a native of the Profound Heaven Realm.
He was a young man from the twenty-first century who had somehow crossed over into this world.
In this world, cultivators reigned supreme. Legends spoke of countless powerful beings, even immortals!
As a transmigrator, Li Fan naturally yearned to cultivate immortality. He had once visited a sect in the Southern Domain to seek a master, but after being tested, he was found to have a Wasted Body.
Just when he'd fallen into despair, Li Fan unexpectedly awakened a system!
He was overjoyed, ready to soar to the heavens with the system's help—only to discover that the system was a real piece of work!
He had to complete 666 tasks before it would open up an invincible path of cultivation for him. And once he completed them, he would become the strongest person in the world.
Over the past three years, the system's tasks had included, but weren't limited to:
Raise Chickens: Capture two wild chickens and successfully domesticate them, then breed them until there were at least twenty.
Feed Fish: Raise a group of fingerlings until they reached adulthood.
Plant Trees: Plant a peach pit, carefully tend to it, and wait for the peach tree to bear fruit.
Dig a Well: Dig a usable well with his own hands.
Plant Vegetables: Clear a patch of land and grow a thriving vegetable garden.
In short, he hadn't missed a single thing a farmer might do!
Of course, there had been other tasks too. For instance, the system had forced him to practice calligraphy for three months and paint for another three...
From time to time, the system also gave him basic daily necessities, such as hoes, Wood-cutting Knives, and seeds, along with simple books like Postpartum Care for Sows, How to Get Chickens to Start Eating, and 304 Ways to Chop Firewood...
After three years, Li Fan had grown numb to it all.
"System, the peach tree has borne fruit. What's the next task?"
Looking at the peaches on the tree, Li Fan asked.
"Be helpful. Chop firewood for Old Man Wang, who is disabled."
The system's voice sounded.
The system often issued all sorts of bizarre tasks, like taking some fruit to Aunt Zhang or hoeing Uncle Li's fields... He'd done this one before, too.
He strapped on his axe, grabbed a rope for bundling firewood, and headed out.
He had barely stepped outside when the entire simple courtyard suddenly changed. The Great Dao thundered, and dragons roared through the skies!
In the pond, dragon-shadows surged into the heavens. One glorious golden dragon after another fought over the feed Li Fan had just scattered!
"Those clumsy fools from the Dragon Clan, settle down! The master hasn't gone far yet. Are you looking to die?!"
An Old Mother Hen pecking at Corn suddenly lifted her head and glared toward the pond!
In an instant, a rainbow-colored glow poured down behind her like a waterfall, and the vast phantom of a Divine Phoenix blotted out the sky!
Across the pond, countless dragon-shadows vanished in an instant, and everything returned to calm. A school of golden carp swam about.
"Phoenix Mother, it isn't that my Dragon Clan is afraid of you!"
A dignified voice rang out faintly.
"Phoenix Mother is trying to save you."
Even the peach tree suddenly spoke, in a voice so sweet it was almost intoxicating. "I feel like the Lord is getting more and more terrifying. He sat beneath me for a little while just now, and the peaches nearly ripened on the spot..."
The courtyard fell silent for a moment.
Once he was out, the villagers all greeted Li Fan warmly.
This place was isolated, and the villagers were simple and honest. They were all grateful for the help Li Fan had given them over the years.
"Xiao Li, be careful when you head out today. I saw cultivators around here when I came back this morning!"
"Those people are really powerful!"
Aunt Zhang warned him with concern.
"Okay, Aunt Zhang."
Li Fan replied, then left the village.
The village was remote, and no one usually came here. Why had some cultivators suddenly shown up?
Thinking of cultivators, Li Fan couldn't help longing to be one.
But that had nothing to do with him now.
Before long, Li Fan arrived outside Red Leaf Valley.
Perhaps because of its geography, the valley looked as if it had been scorched by fire from a distance, its leaves all a fiery red.
Li Fan was about to enter the valley when he suddenly noticed a group of people up ahead.
They were dressed in finery, their clothes clearly luxurious, and they rode tall, snow-white steeds. At that moment, they were discussing something.
"Saintess, are you really going to risk entering in person? This is a Forbidden Land! Even the Progenitor perished inside..."
A middle-aged man looked worriedly at the young woman leading the group.
The girl wore a green dress that outlined her stunning figure. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, her nose delicate and high, her eyes limpid, and her long lashes fluttered as she gazed at the valley ahead. She took a deep breath.
"There is no other way. Whether we can obtain what's inside the valley concerns the survival of my sect!"
"As the Saintess, I, Mu Qianning, cannot shirk this responsibility!"
"Besides, we've prepared thoroughly this time. We may still have a chance!"
"Ren Hong, if you're afraid, you can wait for me outside."
Hearing the resolve in Mu Qianning's words, the middle-aged man puffed out his chest. "I am willing to follow the Saintess and give my life for the survival of Lihuo Sect!"
Mu Qianning nodded in satisfaction and said, "Everyone, dismount!"
The dozens of people dismounted, preparing to enter the valley.
"This Forbidden Land certainly lives up to its name. Just standing near it makes my heart pound!"
Ren Hong's expression changed drastically. He was a cultivator at the early Golden Core Realm, after all.
Yet his instincts told him this place was dangerous—extremely dangerous!
Mu Qianning took a deep breath as well. "Everyone, put on your Dao Protecting Clothes. Once I use Dao Patterns to break through this barrier, we will enter!"
She stepped forward and took out an ancient, unadorned formation plate covered in cracks!
"Open!"
She gave a low shout. Instantly, sand and stones whipped through the air ahead!
Ren Hong's eyes widened in shock. He saw a chaotic energy that could destroy everything—a terrifying threat powerful enough to annihilate a Golden Core cultivator...
"Move!"
He led his people after Mu Qianning, and they charged inside!
Behind them, Li Fan watched, confused.
What were those people doing?
They were making such a fuss, and now there was dust everywhere. Didn't they know how bad that was for the environment?
So uncivilized.
Still, he didn't want to get involved. He headed forward, preparing to enter the valley.
Ahead.
"Ah—"
"No!"
Under the impact of countless chaotic surges of Great Dao energy, the Dao Protecting Clothes worn by Ren Hong and the others all shattered!
One by one, they collapsed to the ground in agony.
Even Ren Hong couldn't hold on. He sank to the ground, utterly defeated.
Mu Qianning managed to take a few more steps forward, but at that moment, the formation plate in her hand split into two!
Countless surges of Great Dao energy crashed against her. Waves rippled across her green dress as it shielded her, but in less than three seconds, it was riddled with holes, revealing her snowy-white skin!
"No..."
A teardrop fell from Mu Qianning's beautiful eyes!
This Forbidden Land was even more terrifying than they had imagined.
They couldn't even get past the first barrier!
And now they were going to die here!
Was she going to die...
"Saintess, look!"
Just then, Ren Hong suddenly cried out.
Mu Qianning looked in the direction he pointed. In the distance, amid the chaotic surges of Great Dao energy, a figure was walking as if on level ground, utterly at ease!
The energy could easily destroy even someone in the Golden Core Realm, yet it had no effect on him at all!
Mu Qianning's eyes widened.
She had carefully chosen the weakest spot in the Great Dao energy to break through, yet they were still in this pitiful state. But that person had walked straight through the most terrifying, most chaotic part without suffering a scratch?!
As if seeing her salvation, she hurriedly shouted:
"Senior, save us!"
Li Fan, who had been about to walk around the group and enter the valley, froze.
He looked left, then right.
There was no one else around.
Puzzled, he asked, "Miss, are you calling me?"
Senior?
Before you continue