Chapter 201 : Free Points
The Canglán Secret Realm had been open for a year, with only one month remaining before it closed. Perhaps because time was running short, or perhaps because the demonic cultivators had suffered heavy losses on the Ice Plain, they had been in a state of constant pursuit since Yun Qingyue awoke.
After yet another escape, Yun Qingyue finally couldn't help but ask: "How can there be so many demonic cultivators?"
This was a question everyone had wondered about for a long time. Compared to their earlier concerns about changes at Mingzong Mountain, what Yun Qingyue really wanted to ask now was how there could be so many Nascent Soul stage demonic cultivators. Cultivators under fifty who had reached Nascent Soul weren't as common as cabbages—even the three major righteous sects with their profound foundations couldn't gather more than two handfuls, yet these Nascent Soul demonic cultivators kept appearing as if they cost nothing.
In the recent chaotic battle, Su Hao had been injured unintentionally and was currently taking medicinal pills to refine their efficacy. Without him to explain, the others hesitated, unsure where to begin.
Seeing this, Tanming voluntarily stepped forward: "We don't know either, but at this point, we have some conjectures." After saying this, Tanming paused briefly, glancing at Senior Brother You Yi and his sister: "First, the secret realm might have more than one entrance, with another entrance controlled by demonic cultivators, who may have discovered the secret realm earlier than our Tiandao Sect companions."
This would explain why Tan Xin had been deliberately ambushed by demonic cultivators on his way to Foguang Temple, and why the Demon Monk later clearly targeted the Glass Lamp—they had been heading for Foguang Temple all along.
You Yi and his sister exchanged glances without objection, clearly having considered this possibility themselves.
Then Tanming continued: "Second, the demonic cultivators may have controlled this secret realm entrance for years and have already figured out its rules. Though Wuxiang's age exceeds the secret realm's limit, he managed to enter through soul division and possession, and somehow maintains Void Crossing stage cultivation while in the Nascent Soul boundary. If he can exploit loopholes, other demonic cultivators might as well."
Yun Qingyue understood, pondering: "So the demonic cultivators we've encountered might not necessarily be the younger generation under fifty?" She paused, then added: "Or perhaps they've used some method to rapidly increase their cultivation?"
This wasn't impossible. If the Canglán Secret Realm had long been in demonic cultivators' hands, who knew what benefits they might have gained. Yun Qingyue leaned toward the latter theory. She had doubted this before—despite being at the Nascent Soul stage, their ambushes against those demonic cultivator teams had seemed too easy. Even during the months of pursuit, none of their lives had been threatened.
Everyone harbored various speculations, but unfortunately, they couldn't verify any of them.
The White Tiger listened to everyone's discussion while curling herself around her Senior Sister to keep her warm, without interjecting a single word. Privately, she had asked the system, but the system obviously wasn't omnipotent and couldn't provide a definitive answer.
However, these months of constant encounters with demonic cultivators had been a good thing for the White Tiger—she hadn't completed the previous task of killing 32 demonic cultivators, but now with demonic cultivators pursuing them again, the system had opened a new elimination task. Moreover, because demonic cultivators continuously flooded into the Ice Plain, this time there was no specific quantity requirement; points were calculated per kill, settled on the spot.
Even more delightful than earning points was having others earn points for her, allowing her to win while lying down!
This elimination task was still a team effort, with surrounding companions designated as teammates by the system. Since Yun Qingyue remained unconscious, the White Tiger naturally couldn't join the battle, so the other eight people fought on the front lines killing demonic cultivators while the White Tiger followed behind collecting free points.
Those wonderful days made not only the White Tiger, but even the system nearly laugh like an idiot watching the continuously rising points.
Now, as everyone discussed the demonic cultivators, the White Tiger had no interest in joining the conversation and only half-listened, taking the opportunity to habitually ask the system: "System, how much did we earn from that last batch?"
The system immediately answered: "Host, we just eliminated 12 Nascent Soul demonic cultivators and 8 Golden Core demonic cultivators, earning a total reward of 1,600 points. Congratulations, host, your points have once again exceeded 20,000."
Accumulating another 20,000 points over several months wasn't particularly fast or slow, but most importantly, none of these points were earned through her own efforts—they came from being carried by teammates, which couldn't be more satisfying for a salted fish. The tip of the White Tiger's tail curved with pleasure, though the system felt somewhat regretful: if it hadn't been fired from the mall, it would definitely recommend that the host go shopping, as free points wouldn't hurt to spend.
Yun Qingyue noticed the White Tiger's tail movement but didn't understand her sudden happiness, turning back with a curious glance. The White Tiger made a pleased "purr" in her throat, nuzzling her fluffy head against her.
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On the vast Ice Plain, frozen for thousands of miles, a red-robed monk rode a demonic elephant leading a group trudging forward, looking like a colony of ants slowly advancing when viewed from above.
The Ice Plain's climate was extremely cold, and almost no one except those with Ice Spiritual Roots could easily resist it. The typically unrestrained demonic cultivators now wore identical thick cloaks, but unfortunately, these cloaks seemed to offer limited protection against the cold. Especially in this blizzard, the demonic cultivators battled the wind and snow with each step forward, as if expending all their energy.
Someone looked ahead and immediately spotted the massive form of the demonic elephant, then raised their gaze with a hint of envy—traversing the Ice Plain was truly exhausting; how wonderful it would be if they too had such a demonic pet for transportation!
Beyond envying the demonic pet, they also admired strength. The severe cold that Nascent Soul cultivators could barely withstand seemed insignificant to the Demon Monk.
However, that person only dared to cast an envious glance before quickly averting his gaze. Unlike righteous cultivators with their good tempers, most demonic cultivators were described as eccentric at best, and more often cruel and bloodthirsty. Killing someone over a mere glance was commonplace in demonic cultivator cities, and no one wanted to risk it, even under these special circumstances.
Wuxiang sat cross-legged with closed eyes on the demonic elephant's back, his thin monk's robe flapping loudly in the cold wind, yet he hadn't even furrowed his brow from beginning to end, seemingly impervious to the bone-chilling cold.
He naturally noticed someone secretly watching from behind, but since the observer quickly restrained himself, Wuxiang couldn't be bothered to address it.
Just then, someone walking beside the demonic elephant suddenly looked up and spoke: "Lord Wuxiang, the Young Master ordered us to follow you to eliminate the righteous disciples. Those people may be like stray dogs, but they truly run fast. Does my lord have any method to track them?"
Hearing this, Wuxiang opened his eyes and cast a cold, indifferent glance, immediately frightening the speaker with the profound coldness in his eyes. The man's expression slightly stiffened, but recalling the Young Master's instructions gave him some courage. So, under Wuxiang's gaze, he stiffly tugged at the corners of his mouth into a rigid smile, daring not to say anything more.
After coldly glancing at him, Wuxiang expressionlessly withdrew his gaze and patted the demonic elephant's head without answering—he wasn't originally a member of the Nine Abyss Sect. After falling into the demonic path and betraying the Buddha Sect, he hadn't joined any other sect. His presence here now was merely a cooperation for mutual benefit, and no one had the right to question him.
Of course, having agreed to help, he wasn't without confidence. He had previously seen Yun Qingyue and Tan Xin, and his demonic elephant remembered their auras, as well as that of the Little White Tiger. The elephant could track them by these auras.
Just as now, though they seemed to wander aimlessly across the Ice Plain, the demonic elephant was actually approaching Yun Qingyue and the others.
No one dared question the Demon Monk with his supreme cultivation, so everyone silently followed behind him. Occasionally they encountered beasts living on the Ice Plain, and if the beasts didn't give way, neither would Wuxiang, ultimately resulting in the demonic cultivators rushing forward to mob the beasts. During these times, Wuxiang typically wouldn't intervene, not only standing aside but even chanting Buddha's name and reciting sutras.
The demonic cultivators were extremely exasperated but had no choice but to follow him. After traveling across the Ice Plain for days, nearly frozen by the extreme cold, they suddenly heard Wuxiang speak: "We're almost there, one day at most. Get ready."
When they heard this reminder, the demonic cultivators momentarily didn't react, then began rubbing their hands in anticipation—regardless of how many people had died pursuing those righteous disciples (after all, they wouldn't grieve for their companions no matter how many died), they were truly tired of traveling through the wind and snow. Everyone just wanted to quickly deal with those stubborn righteous cultivators and return to claim their reward from the Young Master.
This group of demonic cultivators was numerous and powerful, with the Demon Monk leading them, so they weren't worried about handling a few righteous disciples. They began howling eagerly, wishing to drag the demonic elephant along immediately without waiting even a day.
Unfortunately, the demonic elephant's pace remained unhurried, completely oblivious to the demonic cultivators' anxious mood.
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Hundreds of miles away, the White Tiger reclining on the ice suddenly raised her head, looking toward the southeast. Her movement was so abrupt and obvious that it immediately alerted everyone, with Yun Qingyue asking: "What's wrong?"
The White Tiger hadn't actually sensed anything, but having been continuously hunted by demonic cultivators these days, she had requested the system to activate alert mode, constantly scanning the surroundings. Enticed by the prospect of free points, the system had agreed without concern for energy consumption. Just now, the system had suddenly issued an alert—not only were numerous demonic cultivators heading toward them, but the leader was actually Wuxiang!
The White Tiger naturally couldn't conceal this and immediately said: "Someone's coming, and it seems the Demon Monk is leading them." She paused, looking at everyone: "They're still hundreds of miles away from us and won't arrive anytime soon. Should we prepare to confront them?"
Su Hao, his injuries healed, immediately stood up, resisting the outrageous urge to knock on Jianbing's head, and said: "Confront what? Since they're still hundreds of miles away, we should leave immediately." He struck his right fist against his left palm: "Perfect timing—since the Demon Monk has come out, we can go to the Ice Plain entrance to meet this legendary Young Master!"
With these words, everyone exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.