Protagonist Template, Emperor Flame Saint Physique!

Awesome!!!

Wang Mu's eyes blazed as he threw back his head and let out a long howl, utterly exhilarated.

Sure enough.

In this Cultivation World, where Protagonists walked everywhere and peerless geniuses were cheaper than dogs, cultivating diligently only made you a supporting character. Cheats were the hard truth!

But exhilarated as he was, Wang Mu did not feel the slightest bit complacent or lax.

After all.

Several Swords of Damocles in the form of Protagonists still hung over his head, ready to fall at any moment!

With the growth rate of those Children of Luck.

Who knew when they would master divine arts and come knocking at his door!

He did not dare gamble!

He could not afford to gamble!

At that thought, Wang Mu swiftly suppressed the joy that had just risen in his heart.

Spend money!

Invest!

This Young Master had to grow stronger as quickly as possible.

"Not enough!"

Watching the Golden-Winged Peng soaring excitedly through the sky, Wang Mu muttered, "Relying on Wang Fugui alone to carry me is far from enough. I need to find more people to invest in."

But who should he look for?

Wang Mu gently stroked his chin, sinking into thought. "There really aren't many suitable targets to buy in at the bottom!"

Right!

How had he forgotten about him?

Given the current situation.

The most suitable investment target should be Lin Yan, the one whose Dao Companion had been stolen by his Previous Body and who had been demoted to a Miscellaneous Duty Disciple.

After all.

This opening template was far too classic—he was absolutely a Protagonist!

"It's just that, given the grudge between him and me, he'll probably find it hard to accept my goodwill!" Wang Mu felt a headache coming on.

Forget it, whatever!

He would try first and talk later!

Even if he could not complete the investment, he still had to weaken the other party's hostility as much as possible!

At a time like this.

It was best to treat others kindly first. If he could resolve a strand of karma, then he would resolve it.

Otherwise, once all the Protagonists joined forces and descended upon him, even with the system protecting Wang Mu, he might not be able to withstand them!

"According to my Previous Body's memories, Lin Yan should be in the outer district right now!"

Wang Mu pondered briefly, then immediately set off.

Northern Darkness Sacred Ground.

It was one of the Three Great Sacred Grounds of the Northern Region.

It governed an expanse of sea stretching hundreds of millions of li.

It was divided into the core district, inner district, outer district, and fringe district.

The core district contained thirty-six immortal islands. Its spiritual energy was the densest, and it was where the Sacred Ground's high-level executives lived and cultivated.

Wang Mu also lived within this area.

The inner district.

It contained several hundred islands, where the Sacred Ground's Inner Sect disciples usually lived and cultivated.

The outer district.

It had several thousand islands and consisted of the Northern Darkness Sacred Ground's sect properties. Most were herb islands and mine islands, with outer sect disciples and registered disciples responsible for mining and harvesting them.

As for the outermost fringe district, strictly speaking, it was no longer part of the sect's grounds, but territory governed by the Sacred Ground.

The fringe district.

It contained tens of thousands of islands scattered across the North Sea like stars. Countless Human Race civilians lived there, and some islands had even developed into situations where multiple nations vied for supremacy.

These islands.

All submitted to the Northern Darkness Sacred Ground, offering tribute and paying taxes to it.

The gifted youths among the various powers on those islands all took pride in joining the Northern Darkness Sacred Ground and becoming Sacred Ground Disciples.

In fact.

Lin Yan had originally been the son of a noble family on an island in the fringe district. Only after becoming an Inner Sect disciple of the Sacred Ground did he move into the inner district.

However.

Afterward, he offended Wang Mu's Previous Body, had his cultivation crippled, and was demoted to a herb island in the outer district to water, fertilize, weed, and catch insects for spirit herbs.

At this moment.

On Azure Cloud Island in the outer district.

"Trash!"

"The watering and fertilizing of these fifty mu of spirit herbs are all yours today."

"The recording crystal is monitoring everything you do. If you dare slack off and This senior finds out, you'll learn what cruelty means!"

The fat, big-eared steward held a magic artifact whip as he strutted arrogantly atop the high platform.

In the herb fields.

A youth in a tattered sleeveless shirt carried buckets of manure, watering the herb fields beneath the blazing sun.

On his arms.

On his calves.

Everywhere on his exposed skin were marks left by whippings, looking savage and terrifying enough to make one shudder.

"Bastard!"

"Beasts!"

As the youth ladled manure water over the herb fields, he cursed under his breath, "One day, I'll kill all of you."

"Kill you!"

Buzz~

Just as the youth seethed with indignation, the ancient ring on his right index finger trembled gently. A stream of pure spiritual energy, like a clear spring, surged throughout his entire body.

"Yan'er."

A kind old man's voice sounded in Lin Yan's mind. "Do not let hatred affect your Dao heart. You have already awakened your Saint Physique. Once you grow strong, what is a mere Wang Family worth?"

"Right now, your top priority is to cultivate in peace and reach Foundation Establishment as soon as possible."

"Only by breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm will you have a chance to escape Azure Cloud Island, escape the territory governed by the Northern Darkness Sacred Ground, and roam free beneath boundless skies and seas from then on."

Lin Yan closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When he opened them again, the hatred that had filled his eyes was completely hidden. "Rest assured, Teacher. This Disciple understands."

"Hehe."

"Wang Mu, Wang Mu, you never dreamed that I would meet Teacher, did you!"

"With Teacher's help and guidance, not only did I successfully heal my Dantian injury, I also awakened my Saint Physique. In just two months, I have recultivated back to the ninth level of Qi Refinement."

"I truly look forward to it!"

"When you, a useless piece of trash unable to cultivate, see me as I am now, what kind of expression will you make?"

"Jiejiejiejie~"

The youth sneered softly.

Whenever he imagined the day he would stand at the summit and trample Wang Mu beneath his feet, he could not help but feel incomparably excited.

Motivation!

Unprecedented motivation for cultivation left him full of drive every single day!

Screech~!

Just then.

The herb fields, once bright beneath the sun, darkened.

A piercing Peng cry split clouds and shattered stone, striking fear into countless hearts.

Lin Yan instinctively looked up.

He saw an enormous divine Peng spread its wings as it flew over Azure Cloud Island, and atop its head stood a youth in flowing white robes.

A gentleman by the roadside was like jade; no young lord in the world could compare.

The youth's otherworldly bearing was like an Exiled Immortal descending to earth, enough to captivate countless women and make countless men feel inferior.

However.

At the sight of him, Lin Yan could not help gritting his teeth, his eyes turning red.

It was him!

It was him!

It was him!

It was this beast who had stolen his beloved Yan'er three years ago.

He had even crippled Lin Yan's cultivation, turning him from a glorious Sacred Ground Inner Sect disciple into the herb farmer now bullied by everyone.

This beast!

What was he doing on Azure Cloud Island again!

Had humiliating me not been enough? Was he planning to uproot the grass and eliminate the roots?

No!!!

If he truly intended to uproot the grass and eliminate the roots, then with me only at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, I would have no power to resist at all.

Even if Teacher acted and controlled my body, it would still be hard to defeat that giant bird beneath him!

Endure!

I must endure!

Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—do not bully a poor youth!

I'll endure!

At that thought.

Lin Yan forcibly suppressed the fury filling his chest, squeezed out a smile, and knelt with the fat, big-eared steward toward the Golden-Winged Peng.

"Welcome the Holy Son's arrival!"

Whoosh~!

The Golden-Winged Peng rapidly shrank in size, carrying Wang Mu as it landed steadily on the ground.

And at that moment.

Wang Mu finally got a clear look at the young man before him with the Protagonist template.

Good grief.

This kid was way too miserable, wasn't he!

He wore a tattered sleeveless shirt, was sunburned black, and had scars all over his body.

What kind of Protagonist treatment was this? It was practically a human tragedy!

However.

When the system interface appeared before him, Wang Mu was certain: this guy really was a Protagonist template!

Not only was his talent extraordinary, but he had even gotten an old grandpa as a buy-one-get-one-free bonus!