"It really is you!" Just then, a very pleasant female voice rang out from the air.
Immediately afterwards, a streak of light descended.
A tall woman wearing a dark green dress appeared before the four of them.
" Zhuang Yuerong, it's you?" Gao Lan's face initially showed disgust, but then her eyes lit up.
"Come on, let's have a fight first!"
Zhuang Yuerong ignored Gao Lan, but instead glanced at the group and exclaimed in shock, "You guys are all at the Golden Core Realm?"
"How is this possible!"
She could barely accept that Gao Lan had reached the Golden Core Realm.
However, Shen Qingyue had only been a member of the sect for three years, and before that, she was only at the Foundation Establishment, Early Stage Establishment.
Mengli is even more outrageous. Everyone knows this little devil who is mischievous and naughty every day. She doesn't know anything about cultivation and is only at the Qi Refining, Fifth Level at the age of nineteen.
Just a few days ago, Zhuang Yuerong had seen Mengli, back when the little devil was still at the Qi Refining, Fifth Level.
But now, he's actually reached the Golden Core Realm.
For cultivators, each minor realm presents a new threshold, and they are also prone to developing inner demons that can hinder their cultivation.
Each step forward is extremely difficult.
Just like her, with her superior Heaven Pin Wood Spiritual Root, it took her five years to reach the Foundation Establishment, Eighth Layer.
This is still due to his relatively high Spiritual Root talent.
Without any special opportunities, it would take her two more years to reach the Foundation Establishment, Ninth Level, and at least eight to ten years to advance to the Golden Core stage.
That's fast enough.
But have these creatures in front of us been fed fairy pet food?
Finally, Zhuang Yuerong fixed her gaze on Ling Yi.
"You are my Karma Heart Demon, Ling Yi?" Zhuang Yuerong frowned.
The three women Gao Lan, exchanged glances and instantly understood: Zhuang Yuerong Ling Yi for Karma Heart Demon?
No, it should be that they mistook the system for a demon in their heart.
"I am Ling Yi, but I am not your Karma Heart Demon, nor is that a demon."
Before Zhuang Yuerong could refute, Ling Yi continued, "Three senior sisters, it's all because of your so-called inner demons that you have reached your current cultivation level."
"Moreover, their cultivation level will only improve faster and faster in the future; they'll be at least at the Nascent Soul in a month."
Do you think an inner demon could do that?
At that moment, the system's voice sounded in Zhuang Yuerong's mind.
[Ding! I told you, I'm not a demon, but you just wouldn't believe me!]
[Ding, these three women, like you, possess a system, and the system is already activated.]
"Really?" Zhuang Yuerong blinked and asked.
"Whether it's true or not, we'll find out by verifying it," Ling Yi said, opening his arms to Zhuang Yuerong.
The system can be activated by physical contact for ten breaths.
These are the conditions for system activation, Zhuang Yuerong naturally knew.
Should we give it a try?
Zhuang Yuerong Perception Mengli and the others' cultivation levels again, gritted her teeth, and decided to give it a try.
It was the fact that the women's Golden Core Realm cultivation level really spurred her on.
If it's true, then if I keep being hesitant and indecisive, won't I always fall behind Gao Lan and the others?
That's absolutely unacceptable.
Gao Lan, Mengli, and Shen Qingyue exchanged a glance, and then all chuckled in perfect unison.
Physical contact is actually limited to a handshake.
Ling Yi, this is clearly him taking advantage.
Zhuang Yuerong took a few deep breaths, then hugged Ling Yi.
The moment Ling Yi hugged her, Zhuang Yuerong blushed instantly; it was the first time she had ever been so close to a man.
She desperately wanted to push Ling Yi, but the system had already started its activation countdown.
Leaving now would mean all our previous efforts were wasted.
Being held like this, while Gao Lan and the other two women watched the drama unfold, Zhuang Yuerong extremely embarrassed.
Once the countdown ends, the system will sound a notification.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have activated the Binding Check-In System!]
[Ding! New player gift pack issued. You can silently say "open".]
[Ding! Today's check-in coordinates have been updated. Please head to the depths of the Centipede Forest, to the Demon King's Nest, to check in. A generous reward will be given upon completion.]
"Let's open the newbie gift pack first!" Zhuang Yuerong said with some anticipation.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have acquired the Divine Ability: Wood Domain!]
In an instant, a flood of memories rushed into Zhuang Yuerong's mind, and Zhuang Yuerong quickly grasped the usage of the Wood Domain.
One word: Awesome!
The system is not a demon; everything is real.
"Hey, how long are you going to keep hugging me?" Ling Yi laughed.
Zhuang Yuerong had been focused on the system and had forgotten that she was still in Ling Yi's arms.
"No, I'm sorry!"
Zhuang Yuerong jumped away like a startled Rabbit.
"Junior Brother Ling Yi, you're quite something! I thought you were indifferent to women!" Shen Qingyue rolled her eyes and said.
"Are you jealous? Why don't you let Ling Yi hug you too?" Gao Lan teased.
"Senior Sister Gao Lan, I think you're the one who wants Ling Yi to hug you, aren't you?"
Mengli raised her hand and said, "What's a hug? I've already slept with Ling Yi."
Upon hearing this, everyone stared at Mengli in disbelief.
Then he looked at Ling Yi.
They shouted in unison, "Beast!"
"Hey, don't talk nonsense. What do you mean by 'slept with'? You just fell asleep by the bed, okay?" Ling Yi quickly explained.
Seeing that Mengli was about to say something, Ling Yi quickly changed the subject. "Alright, let's talk about serious matters."
Seeing that the girls were all looking at him, Ling Yi continued, "First of all, the existence within your bodies is a secret, and it will never be told to anyone except us."
Even those you consider closest to you are no exception.
"However, our current advancement in cultivation cannot be hidden from the experts in the sect," Gao Lan said, shaking her head.
Their rapid advancement could easily arouse suspicion in others.
If they are targeted by someone with ulterior motives, they will likely never have peace in the future.
In the Immortal Cultivation Realm, even a single spirit herb can trigger a life-or-death battle, let alone the secrets behind their rapid advancement in cultivation.
"I possess a Breath Concealment Technique!" Ling Yi said.
"This Breath Concealment Technique is impervious to even Nascent Soul Realm expert, as long as you don't actively reveal your cultivation level."
Over the past seventeen years, Ling Yi has deduced quite a few cultivation techniques.
To make traveling the Jianghu easier, Ling Yi put a lot of Kung Fu Hustle into mastering the Breath Concealment Technique, Disguise, and Illusory Form Technique.
"Really? Even Nascent Soul Stage can't see through it?" Mengli asked with some skepticism.
"Of course, otherwise do you think a martial artist at the Great Heavenly Master level like me would be sent to the menial labor area to be a menial disciple?"
The Great Heavenly Master is comparable to Golden Core cultivator among immortals.
In the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, becoming a steward or a retainer is no problem at all.
"With the Breath Concealment Technique, your true cultivation level is easily concealed."
"Secondly, since you have come to me and started this journey with me, then we are a community of shared interests. We need to trust each other and grow together."
"We share common interests and secrets; betrayal is the most foolish thing to do."
The girls nodded, naturally understanding the reasoning behind it.
"Finally, there's the issue of profit sharing. If you're willing to share some of your rewards with me, I won't mind; I'll keep what I need."
"If you don't want to share with me, you can keep it yourselves. Nobody will say anything."
"I have no problem," Shen Qingyue shrugged.
"I have no problem either. No, Shen Qingyue, the way you're saying this makes it sound like we'd disagree. I didn't expect someone with thick eyebrows and big eyes like you to be so Yin and Yang," Gao Lan said, rolling her eyes.
"I agree," Mengli said, raising her hand again.
Then Mengli asked, "So what do we do next? It seems like all the centipede Xiaoyao here have been killed."
"Is there anything you absolutely have to do?" Ling Yi thought that since they all had systems, they must have missions, right?
That's why this question was asked.
Zhuang Yuerong had just joined the team, raised her hand and said, "I have!"