"I need your help with something," Xu Ming said slowly, looking at Yuan Yu.
"Master, please tell me. As long as it's something Yuan Yu can do, I will certainly help," Yuan Yu nodded. Seeing the serious look on his master's face, Yuan Yu knew it must be something important.
This was also the first time his master had asked him for help, so Yuan Yu's expression carried a sense of solemnity.
"I noticed you also seem to have something you want to tell me?" Xu Ming's eyes fell on a letter in the palm of this golden-bodied toad. On the envelope, it read: "To the Master."
"Indeed," Yuan Yu scratched his head. "There's something I've wanted to tell you. I've written it all down, and I was just about to burn the letter so you could sense the contents through it."
"Mm." Xu Ming nodded. "There's no need to burn it now. Just tell me directly. But should you go first, or should I?"
"You go ahead, Master. If I can't help you, then I'd have no right to make any requests," Yuan Yu said with a smile.
"Alright, I'll go first then." Xu Ming clasped his hands behind his back. "Do you know how to set up formations? Or is there anyone in the Baiwa Secret Realm who can?"
Yuan Yu chuckled. "To be honest, I know a thing or two about formations. But may I ask what kind of formation you wish to set up, Master?"
"I want to kill a Golden Core realm flood dragon," Xu Ming said bluntly.
Yuan Yu froze for a moment.
"In that case," Yuan Yu said after a pause, "I do have several formations taught to me by a certain great monk back in the day. They are particularly effective against flood dragons and similar creatures. Moreover, if you don't mind, Master, I could assist you during the fight."
"Good." Xu Ming did not refuse. He released a wisp of his divine sense and sent it into Yuan Yu's mind. This wisp contained the location of Shijia Village. "How long will it take for you to leave the Baiwa Secret Realm and get here?"
Yuan Yu carefully sensed the location. "Two days. I'll be by your side within two days!"
Xu Ming nodded. "I'll leave it to you then."
"Master, there's no need to be so polite," Yuan Yu replied.
Xu Ming looked at him. "I've finished my matter. Now, you can tell me yours."
Yuan Yu smiled. "Master, I, along with Coyote, Sparrow, and Tiger, would like to leave the Baiwa Secret Realm. We wish to venture outside, search for opportunities of our own, and see if we can make further progress in our cultivation."
"You wish to leave? Then leave. The door to the outside world only requires you to be at the Dragon Gate realm. There's no need to ask for my permission," Xu Ming said.
Yuan Yu shook his head. "Master, the Baiwa Secret Realm, though small, has its own social order. There are good demons and bad demons. While we're here, the bad demons don't dare act recklessly.
"But once we leave, I fear the realm's order might descend into chaos. So, before we go, I humbly ask you to appoint a demon to manage the Baiwa Secret Realm."
Xu Ming understood what Yuan Yu meant. Once their strongest fighters were gone, it would be like the tiger leaving the mountain, and the monkeys would take over.
However, if he were to appoint a capable demon to act as the manager of Baiwa City, that chosen demon would receive the world's blessing of fortune, and their cultivation might advance by one stage.
"Do you have anyone in mind?" Xu Ming asked.
"I do," Yuan Yu replied. "The one who runs the beef stall—Xi Dalang. His strength is at the late Dragon Gate realm. He's been stuck at this level for years, unable to break through. If you appoint him, Master, the Baiwa Secret Realm will grant him fortune, and he might ascend to the initial stage of the Golden Core realm.
"If he leads the old dog constable squad, maintaining the order of Baiwa Secret Realm should be relatively easy."
"Alright."
Xu Ming wasted no time. He reached out and pointed into the air.
In the skies above the Baiwa Secret Realm, a sheet of white paper materialized.
The citizens of Baiwa Secret Realm all looked up.
At his stall, where he was chopping beef, Xi Dalang paused, lifting his head to gaze at the sky.
He had a feeling.
This sheet of white paper seemed to be directed at him.
The next moment, Xu Ming's commanding voice echoed throughout the Baiwa Secret Realm:
"From this day forth, Xi Dalang is appointed as the magistrate of the Baiwa Secret Realm County Office. He will lead the Old Dog Constable Squad to maintain the realm's order and stability."
The diners all turned to look at Xi Dalang, surprised that this man had gained the favor of the Heavenly Master.
Xi Dalang was stunned for a moment. Then, he hurriedly stepped forward, knelt down, and "accepted the decree": "This humble citizen shall not fail the mission!"
The decree transformed into a stream of light and entered Xi Dalang's body.
Xi Dalang felt his body grow warm. The bottleneck in his cultivation, which had held him back for so long, seemed to loosen ever so slightly.
Overjoyed, Xi Dalang kowtowed several more times toward the invisible "Heavenly Master."
He had a strong sense that if he retreated to cultivate for a few days, no more than five, he would be able to break through into the Golden Core realm!
After the appointment, Xu Ming withdrew his divine sense from the Baiwa Secret Realm. Using a Dao Rain Talisman, he summoned a gentle rain imbued with Dao energy to bless the land.
In the courtyard of the Shijia Village chief's home, Xu Ming opened his eyes. All he needed to do now was wait for Yuan Yu to arrive.
Meanwhile, beside a small creek, a twisted portal of light opened.
Out stepped a toad, a coyote, a tiger, and a sparrow.
"So this is the outside world?" The sparrow transformed into a young woman and looked around curiously. "Doesn't seem all that different from our Baiwa Secret Realm, does it?"
The coyote chuckled. "The laws of the greater world are far more complete than those of the Baiwa Secret Realm. In the Baiwa Secret Realm, reaching the Golden Core realm is already the limit. But in this vast world, there are higher realms: Nascent Soul, Jade Purity, Immortal Ascension, and even two legendary stages beyond that."
The tiger laughed. "Well, what can we do? Our homeland simply doesn't have enough resources."
"Everyone," Yuan Yu the toad spoke, "this is where we part ways. Please don't forget what the Master told us. Remember, do not commit evil against humans or kill the innocent."
The sparrow rolled her eyes at Yuan Yu. "You chubby toad, we're not some bloodthirsty monsters. Why would we go around killing people for no reason? Speaking of which, are you sure you don't need us to help the Master? An extra hand is an extra edge."
Yuan Yu shook his head. "The Master is dealing with a wicked flood dragon. With just me assisting him, it should be manageable. Even if we can't kill it, I can at least ensure the Master's safety. But if you all come along, I might not be able to protect everyone."
The sparrow sighed. "Fine, fine. Then we're off."
Yuan Yu nodded. "Take care, everyone. Don't get yourselves killed."
"Hahaha!" The coyote laughed loudly, waving as he walked away. "The Baiwa Secret Realm was too small. Now that we're out, we'll become demon kings in our own right, expanding the Master's territory!"