Hold Steady, Don't Get Carried Away—Couldn't Hold It Together!

Hold Steady, Don't Get Carried Away—Couldn't Hold It Together!

"It's time to run."

After the excitement faded.

Jiang Li quickly got up and left.

He did not want anyone from the Holy Land to find out that, with Qi Refining Layer 3 cultivation, he had reached the end of the Heart Questioning Forest and stayed there for an entire day.

If that were exposed, his undercover career would be over.

Worth mentioning was that perhaps because the cultivation technique, the Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art, had already cleared the Heart Questioning Trial on his behalf, the Heart Questioning Forest judged the technique passing as equivalent to him passing.

The Heart Questioning Forest had already lost its effect on him.

Otherwise, he might not have been able to make it out.

How embarrassing.

Why did he feel like he had held his cultivation technique back?

Jiang Li wiped away cold sweat that did not exist.

Then he darted out of the Heart Questioning Forest in a flash.

The moment he stepped outside.

A graceful figure entered his sight.

It was Murong Qing.

This was Jiang Li's first time looking directly at this Heavenly Proud Daughter. She had the classic cool, pale complexion; beneath the sunlight, her tender white skin seemed to glow.

Her temperament leaned toward the aloof and chilly type.

She gave off the feeling that strangers should stay away.

And Jiang Li noticed one detail.

This Heavenly Proud Daughter seemed to be waiting for someone.

She simply stood silently at the entrance to the Bamboo Forest.

Letting the cool breeze lift the hair at her temples.

Who is she waiting for? Who could make someone with a Heavenly Spiritual Root wait around like this?

Jiang Li wondered inwardly.

He prepared to slip away quietly.

One of the three great rules of being an undercover agent: do not stand out, and do not stay with people who stand out.

Murong Qing was the kind of person who came with her own spotlight.

Just as he thought that.

The next second.

Murong Qing's cherry lips parted slightly. "What's your name?"

Jiang Li:?

Was she calling him?

As though doubting his own judgment, Jiang Li looked to either side.

He discovered that this Heavenly Proud Daughter really was looking at him as she spoke.

Grass—a kind of plant.

Could she have been waiting for him?

Jiang Li faintly felt a headache coming on.

Had she seen what he did in the Heart Questioning Forest?

He had indeed noticed Murong Qing seemingly glance at him back then.

But the Damn System had immediately taken control of his body and walked away, so he was not sure whether it had been an illusion.

"Jiang Li."

Jiang Li cupped his hands and replied.

"Mm."

Murong Qing pressed her lips together.

Then silently nodded.

She actually had many questions she wanted to ask him.

For example, how had he, with Qi Refining Layer 2 cultivation, gotten ahead of her? And just how far had he gone?

But she was naturally aloof. She could not bring herself to press someone for answers.

So she merely kept those questions in her heart.

"Is there anything else, Senior Sister?"

Jiang Li asked tentatively.

His desire to leave became even more obvious.

If the other disciples saw Murong Qing talking to him, then before a day had passed, his name would resound throughout the entire Heavenly Mystery Holy Land.

That was the spotlight an unparalleled beauty brought with her.

He could not enjoy such a blessing.

"No."

Murong Qing's expression remained chilly, though a trace of surprise could be heard in her tone.

Jiang Li did not care about any of that.

After hearing the answer he wanted, he immediately took his leave.

Wind seemed to rise beneath his feet as he departed this place of trouble.

Seeing this.

Murong Qing was briefly stunned.

He was the first man who had looked at her as though he had seen some monstrous flood or savage beast.

Jiang Li, I'll remember you.

She spoke in her heart.

To put it in one sentence—very well, man, you have successfully caught my attention.

A moment later.

Jiang Li returned to his Cave Residence.

After turning on Do Not Disturb mode, he let out a long breath.

What a thrilling day.

The Damn System was also an unstable factor.

One session of hosting had sent him straight into the Heart Questioning Forest, a place undercover agents regarded as a monstrous flood and savage beast.

Fortunately, it had not caused too much of a stir.

He decided to learn from his pain and reflect on his mistakes.

He would no longer rely on Cultivation Technique Hosting and would instead cultivate on his own.

After all.

The evolved Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art came with Cultivation Speed +100%. Even without medicinal pill assistance, his cultivation speed would not be too slow.

At most, he would advance to Qi Refining Layer 4 within half a year.

Although it was far inferior to Cultivation Technique Hosting, it was safe.

Jiang Li silently recited the Art of Cowardice several times.

Then.

He opened the system panel.

Name: Jiang Li.

Identity: Outer Sect Disciple of the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land (Myriad Desire Demon Lord's 630th Possession Body).

Realm: Qi Refining Layer 3.

Primary Cultivation Technique: Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art.

Activate Cultivation Technique Growth Plan?

"No."

Jiang Li refused.

His gaze settled on the refreshed hidden identity.

After advancing to Qi Refining Layer 3, he had changed from the 666th Possession Body to the 630th Possession Body.

His ranking had moved up.

That was not something to be happy about.

Because the higher his rank, the greater his chances of being possessed.

It was like raising gu insects—only the Gu King that survived to the end had a chance to become the Myriad Desire Demon Lord's new body.

All the others were sacrifices.

The only thing worth celebrating was that these Backup Possession Bodies were safe for the time being.

Because even when raising gu, the Gu King had to reach a certain standard before it could possess a body.

He still had time.

"Cultivate, cultivate. Lying low and cultivating is the most comfortable."

Over the following days.

Jiang Li's life returned to peace.

Every day, he weeded, farmed, and worked from ten to six.

In his spare time, he went to the Phantom Sound Pavilion, Tea Tasting Room, and Dao Discussion Arena to record intelligence on the Holy Land's disciples and elders. His days passed quite pleasantly.

This was the right rhythm.

Full and secure.

On this day.

Jiang Li got up early.

He headed to the Sermon Hall in groups with the other Outer Sect Disciples.

Every three months, the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land arranged for an elder to preach the Dao to the Outer Sect Disciples.

This included, but was not limited to, explaining the core cultivation methods of the Qi Refining Method, discussing precautions for spells, and recounting strange tales and unusual events from the Cultivation World.

Naturally, Jiang Li would not miss it.

The second rule of being undercover: never make yourself seem unusual.

Being unusual meant being memorable.

That was a major taboo for an undercover agent.

The Sermon Hall.

A circular, unusual structure.

It resembled an arena from ancient Rome.

Jiang Li found a seat in the middle, toward the back.

This spot would not attract excessive attention, nor would it make him seem too solitary.

The one preaching was a Golden Core elder from the Law Enforcement Hall.

His name was Zhang Song.

He looked middle-aged, with a stern face and an intensely murderous aura about him. Even more eye-catching was his completely empty right sleeve.

"Today, I will not preach the Dao. Instead, I will tell you about the Ten Great Demon Lords of the Cultivation World. Every one of them has countless lives stained upon their hands. They are fiends whom all may execute."

Jiang Li listened attentively.

Before long, he heard content related to the Myriad Desire Demon Lord.

"The Myriad Desire Demon Lord ranks third among the Ten Great Demon Lords. He stands at the peak of the Void Refinement Realm, only one step away from Dao Integration. This demon excels in the art of demonic thoughts, and his Spiritual Sense can be called the greatest among those of the same realm. With a single thought, he once slaughtered an entire mortal city, massacring a million living beings. This provoked a joint crusade by the Nine Great Immortal Sects. In the end, he escaped pursuit at the cost of exhausting his lifespan and vanished without a trace."

Jiang Li remained expressionless.

He had gathered this intelligence long ago.

In fact, if he did not know that the Myriad Desire Demon Lord was about to die and had less than one-tenth of his strength remaining, the thought of I can kill him instead would never have arisen in his mind.

Of course.

If not for that, he probably would not have been chosen as a Backup Possession Body either.

Jiang Li's thoughts churned.

He could not muster much interest in what came next.

It was nothing more than passionate talk about upholding the righteous path and Slaying Demons and Eliminating Monsters.

He had heard it all too many times.

As an undercover agent of the Demonic Cult, he would have to be insane to answer such a call.

In the end.

Elder Zhang concluded today's sermon with a topic: "Should demonic cultivators who abandon darkness and turn toward the light still die?"

Jiang Li's balls ached just listening to it.

What hurt even more was that a sudden "ding" rang out in his mind.

The cultivation technique "Profound Yellow Heart Refining Art" has begun contemplating this topic and deeply analyzed its own heart. You have triggered the following choices.

Option One: Publicly shout, "Upholding justice begins with me," then expose an undercover agent of the Demonic Cult on the spot. Completion reward: ten High-Grade Qi Gathering Pills.

Option Two: Publicly declare, "Demonic cultivators deserve to die," then reveal yourself and expose your undercover identity. Sacrifice yourself for righteousness. Completion reward: Cultivation Speed +300%.

Option Three: Explain your righteous principle: "Once a demonic cultivator, always a demonic cultivator," then expose three undercover agents of the Demonic Cult on the spot, making them repent and mend their ways. Completion reward: new cultivation technique trait—Shield of Justice.

Jiang Li:??!

Fuck.

System, don't fucking mess with me!