Li Wei stood at the top of the small hill, gazing at the dense forest he had just passed through. He was still panting, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He had just escaped the clutches of the Demon Sect followers, but Li Wei knew this was just the beginning. Before him lay a vast valley, with a series of majestic buildings located at the foot of the mountain. That must be the headquarters of the Demon Sect, he thought.
"So, I have to complete the main mission to get out of here," Li Wei muttered, looking around.
Suddenly, the System Window appeared in his peripheral vision, providing a description of his location:
[System Window]
Location: Black Dragon Valley
Description: The main headquarters of the Demon Sect, one of the largest and most feared sects in the cultivation world. Founded by the Demon King Bai Long, this sect is notorious for its cruel and merciless cultivation methods.
Li Wei read the information carefully. He didn't know much about the cultivation world, but one thing was certain: this was no place to relax.
"Okay, now what?" he muttered, looking down at the majestic buildings in the valley.
Li Wei decided to remain vigilant and explore the surroundings before making any decisions. He followed a trail that cut through the forest, hoping to find more clues about how to survive in this world. Meanwhile, his mind raced, trying to figure out what he should do. If he had to complete the main mission to get out of here, he needed to understand his enemies better.
After walking for a few minutes, Li Wei heard the sound of running water and smelled the sweet scent of wet leaves. He followed the source of the sound and found a small, clear stream. The thirst that had been plaguing him led him to approach and wash his face with the fresh water, trying to calm his mind. As he looked up, his eyes fell on the shadow of a figure standing on the other side of the river.
"Who's there?" Li Wei shouted, his voice as firm as he could make it.
The figure didn't move for a few moments, but then slowly walked towards him, crossing a small wooden bridge over the stream. As the figure got closer, Li Wei saw that it was an old man with long white hair and tattered clothes. His face was wrinkled but serene, like someone who had seen a lot in his life.
"You're not from around here, young man," the old man said in a raspy but authoritative voice. "What brings you to this dangerous valley?"
Li Wei hesitated for a moment before finally answering, "I'm lost... and I'm looking for a way out. Do you know how to leave this place without attracting the attention of the Demon Sect members?"
The old man observed Li Wei carefully, as if assessing his honesty.
"Getting out of this valley isn't easy," he finally said. "But there might be one way. Follow me."
Li Wei weighed his options for a moment. He wasn't sure if he could trust this old man, but he had no other choice. He nodded and followed the man, who began walking along the river towards the north.
Along the way, Li Wei tried to learn more about the mysterious old man.
"Who are you, sir?" he asked.
The man smiled thinly. "You can call me Lao Chen," he replied. "I'm just an old wanderer who happens to live in this valley. It's been a long time since I've met an outsider like you."
Li Wei continued to follow Lao Chen, who led him to a simple wooden hut hidden behind dense trees. When they entered, Li Wei saw various herbs and medicine bottles neatly arranged on the wall shelves.
"Are you a healer?" Li Wei asked, staring in wonder at the various herbal ingredients and medical equipment.
Lao Chen nodded slowly. "Yes, I've spent most of my life studying the art of healing and using herbs to cure people," he said. "But don't be mistaken, my knowledge isn't limited to herbs. I also know a lot about cultivation and the dark secrets of this sect."
Hearing that, Li Wei felt a surge of hope.
"In that case, you might know something about that secret exit?"
Lao Chen sat down on a wooden bench and sighed.
"There is a secret passage used by the sect elders to escape in case of emergency. It's hidden deep within the mountains, but to access it, one must have a special key."
Li Wei listened intently. "A special key? Is it some kind of object or artifact?"
Lao Chen nodded. "Yes, the key is actually an ancient amulet kept by one of the sect elders. Getting it won't be easy. You'll have to infiltrate their headquarters and take it, or perhaps... find another way to obtain it."
Li Wei was silent for a moment, pondering. He realized this was a very dangerous mission, but he also knew that it was probably the only way to escape this world and return to reality.
"Alright," he finally said. "I'll try."
Lao Chen smiled. "I like your courage, young man. But you must be prepared. The Demon Sect is not a place that welcomes outsiders, and they certainly won't greet you with open arms."
Li Wei nodded. "What can you teach me to prepare myself? I need all the help I can get."
Lao Chen smiled faintly. "I can teach you some basic cultivation techniques that might be useful for infiltration. Besides that, I'll give you healing potions and some secret tools you can use to survive."
That night, under Lao Chen's guidance, Li Wei learned basic cultivation breathing techniques and how to use internal energy to strengthen his body. Although not as strong as trained cultivators, at least these techniques gave him a slight advantage over ordinary people. After a few hours of training, Li Wei felt a little lighter and his energy more focused.
Lao Chen also gave him several bottles of healing potions and some secret tools like smoke pellets that could be used to escape in an emergency. "This might save your life," he said, handing the small pellets to Li Wei.
Li Wei accepted them with gratitude.
"Thank you, Lao Chen. I don't know how to repay all your help."
Lao Chen shook his head. "You don't have to repay anything, young man. I just hope you can get out of here alive and tell me what's happening out there."
The next morning, Li Wei prepared to leave. He memorized a rough map drawn by Lao Chen and thanked the old man again before departing. With his new knowledge and a better understanding of this world, Li Wei walked towards the Demon Sect headquarters, sneaking through the shadows and trying to avoid patrolling guards.
As he got closer to the headquarters, the System Window appeared in front of him again, informing him:
[System Window]
Main Mission Updated: Find the Secret Exit Key
Description: The key to the secret exit is kept by Elder Zhang, one of the Five Elders of the Demon Sect. You must infiltrate the sect headquarters and obtain the key.
Li Wei took a deep breath and focused his mind. He knew this would be difficult, but he also knew he had no other choice. If he wanted to survive and return to the real world, he had to take the risk.
He crawled along the stone wall surrounding the main complex of the Demon Sect, hiding in the shadows and observing the movements of the guards. He saw a large building in the center of the complex, which seemed to be the residence of the sect elders.
With a firm resolve, Li Wei decided to infiltrate it. He knew this was just the beginning of a long and dangerous journey, but he wouldn't give up so easily. If he had to survive in this violent world and complete his mission, he had to move forward with courage.
He waited for the right moment. He observed the guards' patrol patterns for several minutes, noting the pauses between their patrols. When he was sure this was the right time, he ran nimbly towards the side wall of the large building, sneaking quickly between the shadows. His breath was held, every step felt heavy, but he managed to reach the wall without attracting anyone's attention.
The building was made of thick wood and had small windows at the top. Li Wei looked for a secure grip and started climbing the wall, trying not to make a sound. He held onto the cracks in the old wood and some ropes hanging along the wall. It took him a few minutes to reach the window, and when he looked inside, he could see several figures sitting inside, apparently holding a meeting.
Li Wei observed one figure sitting in the middle, an old man in a black robe adorned with red dragon patterns. His face looked stern and full of authority – that must be Elder Zhang. On the table in front of him, Li Wei could see a small wooden box that looked very old and decorated with intricate carvings. His instinct told him that was where the secret key was kept.
He waited patiently, observing the situation inside the room. The elders seemed to be discussing something serious, their voices tense even though Li Wei couldn't catch all their words. However, he heard a few sentences that made him wary.
"...don't let anyone know about this secret exit. Only we have full control here," Elder Zhang said sharply. The others nodded in agreement, seemingly agreeing with the statement.
Li Wei held his breath. The exit was real, and the key was indeed in this room. Now he just needed to find a way to get in and take it.
When the meeting ended, the elders started leaving the room one by one. Elder Zhang was the last to leave, carrying the small wooden box with him. Li Wei decided to follow him from the rooftop, moving slowly while keeping his steps silent. He followed Elder Zhang to a smaller, more secluded building.
When Elder Zhang entered, Li Wei jumped down from the roof, approaching the small window and peeking inside. He saw Elder Zhang placing the wooden box on a table, then opening the lid. Li Wei could get a glimpse of the shining golden key inside before Elder Zhang closed the box again and put it in a locked drawer.
Li Wei knew this was his chance. He searched for a back door or a gap he could enter, and after searching for a while, he found a slightly open side door. Carefully, he sneaked inside, feeling his heart pounding.
He moved quietly, every step filled with caution. When he reached the table where the wooden box was placed, he could hear Elder Zhang's footsteps getting farther away. Quickly, Li Wei opened the drawer using some small tools given to him by Lao Chen. The drawer opened with a soft click, and he saw the wooden box inside.
Carefully, he took the wooden box and closed the drawer again. There was no time to open the box here. He had to leave before Elder Zhang noticed something was missing. With the wooden box in his hand, Li Wei snuck out through the same door he had entered and ran back into the forest as fast as he could, trying not to arouse suspicion.
When he reached a safe spot in the forest, he sat down under a large tree and carefully opened the box. Inside, he found the shining golden key, an artifact that felt cold and heavy in his hand.
[System Window]
Main Mission Updated: Secret Key Obtained. Find the Hidden Exit Gate in the Black Dragon Mountains.
Description: You have successfully obtained the secret key. Use this key to open the hidden exit located within the Black Dragon Mountains.
Li Wei sighed in relief. Even though his journey had just begun, he had successfully completed the first step. With renewed determination, he stored the key in his pocket and prepared to continue his journey towards the Black Dragon Mountains, where he would find the desired exit.