He looked at the Attribute Panel:

Profound Yin Technique (Proficiency 0/1000+Moonlight Dew)

The crucial item needed for the Profound Yin Technique to advance is this Moonlight Dew.

Lou Yi had searched for several years without success; little did he expect it could be found in the Ancient Cultivator's Secret Realm.

"So, what do you think, should we go?" Bi Yaoyao blinked her large eyes, staring intently at Lou Yi.

Even You Qingyi beside him, who hadn't spoken, looked full of anticipation.

"Let's go." Lou Yi immediately made up his mind, "But this cave mansion task requires the cooperation of three True Inheritor Senior Brothers to accept it..."

"Isn't that simple?" Bi Yaoyao giggled and looked at You Qingyi standing quietly beside her.

Soon, Lou Yi understood why Bi Yaoyao was so confident.

When the three of them arrived at the Task Hall, and Bi Yaoyao casually mentioned that her good friend You Qingyi was going to the Ancient Cultivator Cave Mansion...

"Fairy Bi, regardless of the potential dangers of the Ancient Cultivator Cave Mansion,

while traveling in the secret realm, there's a chance we could be ambushed by the Red Sun Sect's youths, so we must have reliable people for protection!"

"I'm Liu Dashan, placed thirteenth in the last sect competition.

If I escort Fairy Bi and Fairy You this time, I can certainly deliver you to the cave mansion safely. I'll kill as many Red Sun Sect thieves as show up!"

"Shoo, shoo, shoo, a thirteenth place trying to show off? I'm ninth and haven't even spoken yet!"

One by one, True Disciples wearing dark blue Daoist Robes pushed forward eagerly, actively volunteering to team up with Bi Yaoyao and You Qingyi, leaving Lou Yi utterly dumbfounded.

You Qingyi stood silently at one side, while Bi Yaoyao acted as her 'manager', picking and choosing until she finally selected the following three individuals:

Shu Jian, Qi Cultivation Ninth Level, seventh in the last sect competition, Lifebound Corpse is a Copper Corpse...

Hu Jiawei, Qi Cultivation Eighth Level, thirty-third in the last sect competition, proficient with a Flying Sword...

Han Taomeng, Qi Cultivation Eighth Level...

Shu Jian was the strongest cultivator present and could ensure the team's safety.

While Han Taomeng and Hu Jiawei weren't the most powerful among the eager True Disciples,

their prior collaborative experience proved their reliability, so Bi Yaoyao decided to take them along.

"Fairy Bi, Fairy You, this time with old Shu taking action, you can rest assured.

I will definitely deliver you safely to the cave mansion, and for every Red Sun Sect youth that comes, I'll kill them!" Shu Jian promised, pounding his chest.

He was a mature-looking man with dark skin, appearing to be in his forties or fifties, contrasting sharply with the usually paler complexion of the Corpse-Driving Sect members.

This also signified his deeper cultivation, with less erosion from yin energy.

The six of them entered the Task Hall for registration, encountering a minor hiccup in the process.

The Task Hall disciple in charge of assigning tasks deemed Lou Yi's cultivation too low, only at Qi Cultivation Third Level, and staunchly refused his participation.

"Isn't it said that any disciple below the post-cultivation stage can take this task? Could it be violating sect rules?" You Qingyi asked.

"In principle, yes, but I must be responsible for the junior brother's safety," the disciple responded with a patronizing tone, leaving everyone speechless.

"Fine, I'll ask the elders of the Law Enforcement Hall if blocking tasks is against sect rules!" Bi Yaoyao fumed.

The blocking disciple remained unfazed until someone quietly informed him, "This fairy is the daughter of Elder Bi from the Law Enforcement Hall."

"Hiss..."

His expression changed instantly, and he swiftly changed his tune, "If you insist on taking an Outer Disciple along, there's nothing I can do—take responsibility for your own safety."

Others: ....

Shortly, Lou Yi's group of six successfully registered and formed a temporary team.

Among them, Shu Jian, Han Taomeng, and Hu Jiawei were responsible for escorting Lou Yi and the others safely to the True Cave Mansion, while Lou Yi, You Qingyi, and Bi Yaoyao ventured into the cave mansion to seek opportunity.

Regarding the distribution of spoils, Lou Yi initially wanted to mention it, but Shu Jian continued to assure them, pounding his chest, "It's just a two-day escort, a mere trivial task; why talk about distribution?"

Beside him, Han Taomeng and Hu Jiawei nodded earnestly, leaving Lou Yi to swallow back the words he wished to say.

'Having someone to curry favor with, how nice.' Lou Yi marveled at their good fortune.

Especially You Qingyi's admirers.

Not only are their services attentive, but their nature seems reliable, without the risk of betrayal.

...

Early the next morning, Lou Yi's group of six set out from the sect.

The Ancient Cultivator's Secret Realm was located a thousand miles away from the Corpse-Driving Sect. Even riding a Wind Spirit Horse took a full three days to reach.

Along the way, Lou Yi also casually slew many wild beasts and fierce birds, feeding the increasingly ferocious Blood Shadow in his palm.

Yet with a tumor suppressing it nearby, the Blood Shadow dared not make the slightest move.

The Corpse-Driving Sect set up a temporary camp near the Ancient Cultivator's Secret Realm, approximately an acre in size.

Arrays surrounded the area, inside of which stood many wooden cabins for resting sect disciples who came.

Inner Sect Disciples guarded the exterior, checking tokens.

Elders stood within the camp to assist disciples emerging from the secret realm, preventing enemy sects from ambushing them.

"Let's go find the Teleportation Array," Bi Yaoyao urged, unable to contain her eagerness.

"If there's a Teleportation Array, why did we travel such a distance?" Lou Yi puzzled.

"Long-distance teleportation is costly and requires Space Stones, Spirit Stones, and similar treasures.

But short-distance teleportation is much more economical, needing only a Teleportation Array and some elders' spiritual power," Bi Yaoyao explained with a giggle.

The group made their way to a wooden cabin in the deepest part.

In the center, a Hexagram Array glowed faintly white, with a somber-looking elderly man dressed in black, his aura unfathomable.

"Elder." Lou Yi and the others bowed to the man in black.

Bi Yaoyao produced a cyan bamboo slip, which served as their task voucher.

Without any visible movement from the man in black, the bamboo slip flew into his hand.

He glanced over it with a nod, advising, "The battle in the secret realm will be fierce; if it becomes untenable, disperse and escape, safeguarding yourselves as a priority."

"Understood!" the group responded in unison.

Following that, Lou Yi and the others stood atop the Hexagram Array.

With a wave of the elder's hand, the star array shone brightly, and those standing on it vanished.

After a bout of vertigo, Lou Yi and his companions found themselves in a new environment.

The sky had no sun, no clouds, only an endless sea of fiery red.

The air felt extremely dry, burning as they inhaled, and all around was a vast expanse of dark red sand.

Everything was eerily silent, with not even an insect chirping, as if they had arrived at a lifeless land.

"My body feels heavy. The gravity here is different; moving around will probably be quite cumbersome," Bi Yaoyao complained.

"Why does it feel like nothing is alive?" Shu Jian pondered aloud.

Beside him, Lou Yi silently activated his Breathing Technique, channeling True Strength into his eyes, which emitted a faint purple glow.

The world before him changed, turning into a grey wasteland of stillness.

Looking underground, he noticed faint yellow glows representing life, buried at least a yard beneath the surface.

'Whoosh!'

Faint purple True Strength shot from his left index finger, striking the ground and creating a deep pit, from which emerged a mass of dark red, mud-like organism.

About two feet long and half an inch thick, it had no eyes or limbs, just a body full of wrinkles continuously writhing, leaving a wet trail on the ground.

"Ugh, how disgusting." Bi Yaoyao turned her head in disdain.

"Such power... it doesn't seem like magic?" Shu Jian observed with a hint of gravity, looking at Lou Yi.

Realizing this Outer Disciple brother wasn't as simple as he appeared.

...

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