Luo Xiu lay sprawled on his office desk, staring across at Lu Nianjiao, who was engrossed in some documents, and felt a growing sense of boredom.

"Senior Sister, when exactly will you be done?"

With a helpless sigh, Lu Nianjiao shook her head and said in a charming voice, "You little rascal, can't you wait a bit longer?"

As she spoke, she kicked off her crystal high heels. She lifted her legs from under the desk, stretching her sheer stocking-clad feet onto Luo Xiu's lap.

"Since you're idle anyway, give your Senior Sister a massage. I've been running around every day recently, and my feet are sore from all the walking."

Luo Xiu reached for her feet and, using professional techniques, pressed on the acupoints of her soles. "Why do you insist I participate in the Shi Wu Great Reef?" he asked.

Lu Nianjiao countered, "Do you know about Divine Skills?"

"You mean a type of Taoist Art that surpasses all other Taoist and Demon Arts?" Luo Xiu replied.

"Exactly," Lu Nianjiao nodded. "Deep within the Lop Nor Secret Realm lies such a Divine Skill."

Luo Xiu pondered for a moment. "I remember in the *Classic of Mountains and Seas*, Lop Nor is called the 'Childlike Marsh.' And because it looks like a human ear on a map, it's also known as the 'Ear of the Earth.'"

"And through the ear, one can enter the brain," Lu Nianjiao said.

Luo Xiu raised an eyebrow. "So the Divine Skill you mentioned is in the brain?"

"I believe that with your capabilities and perception, you will eventually find it," Lu Nianjiao stated. "The Lop Nor Secret Realm has been covered by Formations since ancient times and is further strengthened by its own independent Laws. Anyone older than thirty cannot enter.

"This shows the Secret Realm has an extraordinary origin. It may well be a blessed land cultivated by some prehistoric powerhouse. It is precisely to explore this Secret Realm that I've set the venue for this Shi Wu Great Reef there."

With that, she took out a Rule Manual for the Shi Wu Great Reef and handed it to Luo Xiu.

After looking at it for a while, Luo Xiu asked, "What grand plan are you cooking up?"

Lu Nianjiao said, "After this Shi Wu Great Reef, the nations will join forces to establish the Martial Alliance and form a Martial Combatants Coalition. Therefore, any Magical Treasures found by competitors like you will be turned over and then put to use in the war."

"I see. So we're basically just contract workers for the Martial Alliance," Luo Xiu remarked as he let go of her foot and stood up. "However, I probably won't have enough time to participate in this war.

"Once the Shi Wu Great Reef is over, I plan to take a long journey back to the Shanhai Territory. First, to find a way to survive, and second, to search for my relatives and learn about my origins.

"So, Third Senior Sister... I'm very sorry, but I won't be able to accompany you and First Senior Sister."

Lu Nianjiao shook her head gently, her voice soft. "It's good that you have your own pursuits. You haven't let anyone down, nor do you owe anyone anything. You don't need to feel sorry for a thing."

"But don't worry," Luo Xiu said. "I'll do my best to help Hua Country win the Shi Wu Great Reef championship and make it the leading nation in the Martial Alliance."

"Mhm, I believe you can do it."

Luo Xiu stared at Lu Nianjiao's exquisitely beautiful face and, after a moment's hesitation, said, "Also, Second Senior Sister is gone."

Her expression changed instantly. "What do you mean?"

Looking out the window at the sky, Luo Xiu spoke slowly, "I'm not sure if she died or went to another world, but she's no longer in this one.

"The same goes for Master. When I returned to Ghost Valley Mountain, he had also left, leaving only a letter for me."

Lu Nianjiao nodded slightly. "I see." She then added, "Actually, I heard Master say long ago that he and Second Senior Sister don't belong to this world. I suppose they've simply returned to where they came from."

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

Lu Nianjiao gathered her thoughts, her expression returning to its usual cool detachment. "Come in."

A Palace Maid entered the room, bowed, and said, "Mr. Chen, Long Shuai requests your immediate presence at the training field."

Luo Xiu blinked in surprise. "The training field? Is he going to train me?"

Lu Nianjiao gave him an odd look. "Given your current state, you're probably not a match for the second-ranked fighter on the Celestial List. Would you like your Senior Sister to refuse for you?"

"Of course," Luo Xiu replied without hesitation. "I have no interest in training with anyone."

Lu Nianjiao looked at him mysteriously. "However, just the day before yesterday, Lin Xiyue was beaten severely by Long Shuai. Although he was helping her assimilate the power of the Holy Origin Golden Pill, his methods were very rough.

"Her face was black and blue, and she was covered in blood... It broke my heart just to look at her."

Upon hearing this, Luo Xiu's face darkened instantly. "Xi Yue is here too? She's also participating in the Shi Wu Great Reef?"

"She left for Lop Nor this morning."

Luo Xiu turned and strode out of the room, his voice cold. "I'm going to meet this Long Shuai and see if he's even qualified to lay a hand on Xi Yue."

* * *

「Training Field.」

Luo Xiu looked at the one-armed, middle-aged man and asked, "Are you Long Shuai?"

Lin Jianlong sized up Luo Xiu. "I don't know why, but I appreciate the killing intent in your eyes."

A black aura flared around Luo Xiu, immediately followed by an emission of cyan Spiritual Energy. The intertwining black and cyan light made him appear quite eerie.

"Long Shuai, please offer your guidance!"

"Dual cultivation," Lin Jianlong noted. "Quite interesting."

Without another word, black lightning erupted around Luo Xiu, condensing into a Thunder Halberd in his hands.

Wild Thunder God Annihilating Halberd!

Lin Jianlong's gaze sharpened. This Chen Shuisheng's strength far surpasses that of the five main team members.

"Your move already carries a hint of the Great Dao's essence," he commented.

Luo Xiu's figure flashed as he swung the halberd.

However, in the next moment, he found his speed had slowed inexplicably, as if space itself had solidified. Lin Jianlong moved like a dancer in a forest, calmly taking a few steps forward before slowly raising his remaining left hand. With just a casual punch, he sent Luo Xiu flying.

"Your strength isn't bad. Within the same realm, you could be called invincible," Lin Jianlong said. "But you're too impatient. Your every move is riddled with openings. Make use of the time before the Shi Wu Great Reef begins. I shall guide you properly."

Luo Xiu performed a backflip and landed steadily, holding the Thunder Halberd with his fighting spirit overflowing.

"The Leisurely Fish and Dragon Dance? It's nothing special. I perfected the Free Traveling State when I was just ten and couldn't be bothered to practice it further. Yet you seem to treat it like some priceless treasure."

Lin Jianlong's face remained impassive. "I hope your strength is as arrogant as your mouth."

Luo Xiu chuckled. "You want to guide me? You're not qualified."

"It seems that arrogant flame of yours needs to be extinguished," Lin Jianlong stated flatly.

"If you can suppress your cultivation to my level and still defeat me, then you can talk to me in that tone of an elder," Luo Xiu retorted.

"As you wish! I will make you accept your defeat, utterly and completely!"

Lin Jianlong's aura fluctuated, and he did as he said, suppressing his cultivation to the Core Formation Realm.

"Come!"

Luo Xiu treated the halberd like a sword and dashed forward. This time, however, he closed his eyes and even retracted his Divine Sense. He didn't look at Lin Jianlong, nor did he try to sense his aura.

Lin Jianlong was startled to find that Luo Xiu was completely unaffected by the Leisurely Fish and Dragon Dance, his speed undiminished. Before he could react, Luo Xiu's Thunder Halberd was already resting against his neck.

Luo Xiu opened his eyes and looked at him indifferently. "As a commander who will one day defend the nation, this level of strength simply isn't enough," he said slowly.

"Fortunately, you met me today. I'll do a good deed and consider it training a pillar of the nation on behalf of Her Majesty the Empress."

At these words, Lin Jianlong finally lost his composure. Gritting his teeth, he launched a sudden punch at Luo Xiu.

Luo Xiu sidestepped with ease and once again placed the Thunder Halberd on Lin Jianlong's neck.

"You yourself said it. In the same realm, I'm invincible."

Lin Jianlong's face turned a deep crimson. He suddenly felt as if he was being toyed with.

"If Hua Country's Celestial List is filled with self-righteous characters like you, then I'm truly disappointed," Luo Xiu said.

"Long Shuai, let me teach you a lesson today. Don't fucking think that just because you're a senior, you get to be self-righteous and 'help' people in a way they can't accept."

As his words fell, Luo Xiu kicked Lin Jianlong into the air.

"There are many ways to help someone! It doesn't have to be through brute force!"

Luo Xiu pursued him like a shadow, kicking him back down to the ground.

"You wanted to show her how cruel this world can be, but what you don't know is that *I* want to show *you* how cruel *I* can be!"

...

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