The three of them talked as they walked, and soon they arrived at the courtyard where Niu Yuanshan lived.
After experiencing two consecutive uproars, Chu Huaixu finally remembered that his and Han Shuangjiang's original intention was to buy groceries and cook. To this moment, they still hadn't had a hot meal.
—Well, since it has come to this, let's eat first.
After learning that the two were starving, Old Niu instructed the handyman in the courtyard to bring some food.
Through his narrative, Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang got a rough idea of the specific situation.
Liu Tianfeng had obtained the [Pill King's Token] by a stroke of luck. For some reason, only three deacons in the outer sect knew about this matter, and Old Niu was one of them. Back then, Liu Tianfeng had expended a great deal of effort to obtain this token and had even asked Old Niu for help. As the publicly acknowledged "good old boy" of the outer sect, he was asked for help with many things.
Overall, the vast majority of secret realms were in the inner sect; there weren't many in the outer sect. Therefore, this Pill King's Token was all the more precious.
As a whole, the Dao Gate's attitude towards secret realms was simple—they belonged to the fated. Because this was the original intention of the Dao Ancestor. This included the later predecessors who imitated the Dao Ancestor; they all upheld the same purpose. Perhaps in their eyes, this was the true flair of a cultivator.
As for things like fellow disciples killing each other for treasure, that was non-existent. It was absolutely not allowed, at least not openly! A secret realm was the final wish of a deceased person. One had to show them at least a minimum of respect.
Of course, the Dao Gate officials were also willing to reclaim them. If you gained something in a secret realm, you could also choose to sell it in exchange for [Sect Contribution Points]. Contribution points could be exchanged for money, cultivation techniques, spiritual pills... The vast majority of cultivation resources could be exchanged for!
When Chu Huaixu had played "Borrowing a Sword" before, he knew that among the four great sects of the Eastern Continent's Mirror Kingdom, the Dao Gate was the one that emphasized the words "fated opportunity" the most. Therefore, in the hearts of players, this sect was the one that most depended on luck, suitable for fated ones, while the unlucky ones were told to get lost.
After the meal, Niu Yuanshan continued, "Oh right, I forgot to tell you earlier. There are a total of 10 fragments of this jade tablet, which means at most ten people can enter together."
"The secret realm is in the depths of a cold pool. Even with my cultivation, under normal circumstances, I wouldn't be able to withstand that special cold energy."
"If you two, at the aperture-opening stage, go down there, you will surely die."
"But in the last two months, the cold energy seems to have dissipated a lot."
"So you've come at a good time. The gate to this legacy secret realm may be about to open."
Chu Huaixu nodded. "So that's how it is."
Niu Yuanshan looked into the distance and said with a smile, "Deacon Liu places extreme importance on this secret realm because his son, Liu Chengqi, possesses a high-grade Spirit Embryo—the Blazing Fire Spirit Embryo."
"But due to an accident, his Spirit Embryo was damaged. Since then, his cultivation has not progressed an inch, and he has been in a slump."
"This secret realm is related to the Pill King. Perhaps he hopes to find a way to resolve the damaged Spirit Embryo from within."
Hearing this, Chu Huaixu thought of a high-grade spiritual pill—the Profound Heaven Embryonic Breath Pill. But wanting to bait out more useful information, he played dumb. "Deacon Niu, a damaged Spirit Embryo can actually be restored?"
Niu Yuanshan smiled gently, full of patience. "Of course, it's just very difficult. Different situations require different methods. You have to treat the specific ailment."
"Deacon Liu hasn't found a suitable method yet."
"However, there is a high-grade spiritual pill called the Profound Heaven Embryonic Breath Pill, which was created by the Pill King. It is said that as long as the Spirit Embryo is not completely destroyed, consuming this pill can lead to a full recovery."
"If one is born with a low-grade Spirit Embryo, just a low-grade one, then consuming this pill even has a high probability of allowing the Spirit Embryo to advance in grade."
"It is said that after the Pill King created the recipe for this pill, he refined one for each of his official disciples."
"If that deceased predecessor did not consume this pill before his death, nor sold it, then it is possible that it is in the secret realm, waiting for a fated person."
Chu Huaixu and Han Shuangjiang exchanged a glance. Now they completely understood why Liu Tianfeng had been in such pain just now, and why Liu Chengqi had been even more anxious.
Niu Yuanshan seemed to want to give the two a few pointers, and said in a tone of earnest guidance:
"Since we're on the topic of pills like the Profound Heaven Embryonic Breath Pill that can improve one's innate talent, I'll take the liberty of my age and say a few more words."
"Let me ask you two, in your opinion, what is more important, talent or effort?"
Chu Huaixu didn't directly answer with his heart but said, "I've heard a saying: effort determines a person's lower limit, and talent determines a person's upper limit, but the vast majority of people can never reach their upper limit."
Niu Yuanshan looked at the young man and said with a smile, "There is some truth in what you say. However, the cultivation world is different."
"Because in the cultivation world, so-called talent can be changed."
"It can be changed through spiritual pills, through fated opportunities, through the creations of heaven and earth!"
"Although I haven't checked your blood to see your Spirit Embryos, seeing as you two have opened two apertures in such a short time, I imagine you are both exceptionally talented."
"If you were in some other sects, you would probably be cultivated with the full strength of the entire sect, directly becoming a True Disciple of the sect's upper echelons."
"But after coming to the Dao Gate, you have to start as in-name disciples and haven't received any preferential treatment. Do you feel a sense of disappointment?"
Hearing this, Han Shuangjiang shook her head. She had never considered these things.
Chu Huaixu also shook his head, because since she had shaken her head, who was he to nod?
Niu Yuanshan smiled with the satisfaction of an old man. "It is good that you don't feel disappointed."
"In the Eastern Continent, over this thousand years, the rise and fall of sects is a common sight."
"Only the Dao Gate has stood tall for a thousand years and remains one of the top sects in the world today."
"You two can try to imagine, in this thousand years, prodigies have been as common as crucian carp crossing a river. To the Dao Gate, they are not rare."
It was like saying you were the top scholar in your city's college entrance exams, a student from Qinghua or Peking University (T/N: China's Ivy League equivalent). Sorry, our company doesn't lack for Qinghua and Peking graduates.
"Moreover, from past experience, flowers raised in a greenhouse are often more likely to perish prematurely."
"Many disciples cultivated with the full strength of small sects have poor mental fortitude and are unable to grow up. Some go out for training and never return. Those who fall into demonic paths are even more numerous."
"Some people have excellent mental fortitude. Even if their innate talent is ordinary, as long as they encounter an opportunity, they can transform into a dragon upon encountering wind and clouds, and even leave their name in history," Old Niu said with emotion.
In Chu Huaixu's view, this was a bit like how some people graduate from famous schools, have outstanding abilities, and achieve great success. But there are also people who rise up from the grassroots, catch the right trend, and create great achievements. How can one's life path be determined at a single glance?
The Xuanhuang Realm also had its own "trash-to-treasure" genre!
Niu Yuanshan continued, "The Dao Gate has a thousand years of heritage. It has many resources, enough for the Sect Master and elders to cultivate many people, and also to change the fate of many people against the heavens."
"But the premise is that you must have the ability to pass through layer after layer of screening and stand before them."
After laying so much groundwork, he began to admonish the two.
"I know you were brought up the mountain by the Sixth Elder. This is a treatment that other disciples in the outer sect could not possibly have."
"I don't know the reason for it, but since the Sixth Elder chose to let you start as in-name disciples, that in itself is an attitude. He must want you to gain more experience. I hope you can understand this point."
"At the same time, I also hope you will not disappoint the Elder's expectations for you."
At this point, Deacon Niu first looked at Han Shuangjiang. The World Protagonist who had gotten the "strong female lead" script in "Borrowing a Sword" had eyes that were gradually becoming resolute.
Then, Niu Yuanshan looked at Chu Huaixu.
Chu Huaixu had originally seen today's conversation as the earnest guidance of an elder. But he suddenly realized, "Old Niu is a damn spy!"
As a member of the Moon Kingdom's [Organization], would he be so sincerely hopeful for the Dao Gate to produce talented people? You, with your thick brows and large eyes, you're a traitor!
Chu Huaixu thought again and began to understand. This was actually Niu Yuanshan, the leader in the [Organization], giving him, the newcomer in the [Organization], a mission. This was a hint, wanting him to work his way up from an in-name disciple and mix into the core circle of the Dao Gate!
"Old Niu, you really think highly of me," he muttered to himself.
But after thinking about it, Chu Huaixu still said, "Let me first express my loyalty. To this disciple, it was the Sixth Elder and the Dao Gate who gave this disciple the opportunity to cultivate. This disciple will definitely do his utmost to repay the sect!"
When these words fell into Niu Yuanshan's ears, this "highly sensitive" man immediately caught the two special words. Therefore, Chu Huaixu's words were automatically translated into another meaning in his ears.
Old Niu smiled at Chu Huaixu with gratification, understanding that this intelligent young man had already understood his hint.
They looked at each other, exchanging glances, saying nothing. At this moment, although there was no sound, it was as if two words were thundering deafeningly!
—"Loy—alty!"
Only Han Shuangjiang sat to the side, listening to Chu Huaixu's smooth talking, and couldn't help but purse her tender lips under her veil.
You're such a smooth talker!
However, neither Niu Yuanshan nor Han Shuangjiang saw Chu Huaixu lower his head slightly, a trace of confusion flashing in the depths of his eyes.
With his understanding of the quest system, he and Old Niu had already talked to this extent. It was equivalent to him receiving a quest from Old Niu, the NPC—infiltrate the core circle of the Dao Gate. Logically, a [Side Quest] related to [The Organization] should have been triggered one hundred percent.
But strangely, the quest system had no reaction at all!