"The Scarlet Secret Realm, I've heard Second Senior Sister mention it," Ling Yun murmured thoughtfully.
"The Scarlet Secret Realm is unique to Sword Sect and has existed since the sect's founding," Ma Xuedong explained. "It's fraught with danger, but it's filled with earthly treasures and opportunities. The most valuable item in there is the Ying Fruit, a primary ingredient for refining Foundation Establishment elixirs."
Ling Yun nodded, and Ma Xuedong continued, "Indeed, the Ying Fruit is precious, but it's not the rarest thing within."
"Oh?"
"It's the inheritance of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator," Ma Xuedong said. "According to legends, a supreme cultivator known as the Scarlet Ancestor, or Dou Ku, met his end in the realm, leaving behind his legacy."
"So why hasn't the sect sent people to retrieve it?"
Ling Yun was no longer the naive newcomer he once was. An inheritance from the Nascent Soul stage would be something the Sword Sect should spare no effort to acquire.
"The realm's ancient and unstable rules allow only those below the Divine Soul stage to enter. Anyone above this level is instantly ejected."
"So, Master… you're saying…" Ling Yun was puzzled. Sword Sect had searched for this inheritance for thousands of years without success. Was he expected to find it?
"The realm is exceedingly perilous, and I hope you won't participate in this cycle. The realm will be flooded with Cave Heaven disciples, and although they're from the same sect, the casualties are still high every year."
Ma Xuedong's tone was filled with concern.
'Not participating isn't an option.' Ling Yun thought to himself. The Soul Devourer Art and the Blood Refining Technique allowed him to absorb souls and blood to enhance his own strength. For him, the more lives lost in a place, the better.
"Master, though I'm just a man, I understand the duty of serving the sect. This time, I may have to defy your command and enter the Scarlet Secret Realm."
Ling Yun wore a look of determination, almost moving himself with his own resolve.
"System alert! Random mission issued: Kill Ma Xuedong within three hours. Accept?"
Ling Yun: "…"
"Decline."
This was absurd. Ma Xuedong had been at the ninth level of the Divine Soul stage for years, making him terrifyingly powerful. Even if Ling Yun used a Thunderstorm Pill for a sneak attack, it'd be nothing more than a tickle to his master. Besides, Ma Xuedong had treated him well, bestowing many benefits. Ling Yun wasn't one to betray kindness.
"System task is being revised."
"Mission updated: Enter the Scarlet Secret Realm and slay 100 people. Accept?"
This task was much more reasonable.
"Accept."
"Good! That's the spirit of my disciple. Since you're determined, then I support you," Ma Xuedong said with a smile.
He gave Ling Yun some life-saving tools and a few words of advice before dismissing him.
"Is this really worth the heavy investment?" A figure appeared after Ling Yun left; it was Mo Litian.
"Absolutely. He has the innate Peach Blossom Body. Nothing in that realm is more valuable than he is," Ma Xuedong replied, lying back on Mo Litian's lap. "If we cultivate him well and present him to the family, it will be a major achievement."
"Ah, you're so clever," Mo Litian said, planting a kiss on his cheek, making Ma Xuedong yelp in surprise.
"Are Cui Huahua, Jianmei, and everyone who accompanied him on the flying spirit beast taken care of?" Ma Xuedong asked.
"Don't worry, those poor souls are long gone. Pathetic, really—they died without even knowing why."
Mo Litian's hands began to roam, caressing Ma Xuedong. "You know, it's been a while since we…"
"Oh, look at you! Lie down, then."
On his way back, Ling Yun had a nagging feeling that something was off, though he couldn't put his finger on it.
"Forget it," he thought. "The Scarlet Secret Realm opens next month. I should prepare."
Back at his residence, he found a young woman waiting outside, looking around restlessly.
"Fellow Daoist, are you waiting for someone?" Ling Yun asked, patting her shoulder.
She turned around, her face lighting up with joy. "Junior Brother Ling, you're back!"
Ling Yun paused, taken aback. The voice was familiar. "Senior Sister Fang Jia?"
Her cheeks flushed as she nodded. "Yes."
The woman before him wore a green dress, her skin fair and delicate, with two strands of hair falling beside her face, tied at the ends with white ribbons. She looked completely different from the person he'd met seven months ago.
"Are you participating in the Scarlet Secret Realm next month, Junior Brother?" Fang Jia asked shyly.
"Of course. Are you going too?" Ling Yun replied.
"Yes! Don't worry, Junior Brother—I'll protect you," she said, clenching her fists with a confident smile.
Ling Yun chuckled, "Then I'll be counting on you, Senior Sister."
That smile hit the young maiden like an arrow. Fang Jia stood there, dazed, before quickly excusing herself and leaving in a fluster. Upon returning to her peak, she was lost in daydreams, occasionally breaking into silly grins.
"Senior Sister, if you like Junior Brother Ling so much, why not slip him some… medicine?" a sly-looking female disciple suggested.
Fang Jia's face grew cold.
"Please, Senior Sister, have mer—!"
Boom!
The disciple was struck and sent flying, instantly dead. The other inner disciples fell silent, as if they had seen this many times before.