Building a sect from scratch.

Chapter 46 Another Hidden Mission
While most players were preoccupied with the human cubs and the village chief—the old man who kept talking to Wang Ergou—some players ventured into the village like fish in water, trying to find some "hidden quests" or "serendipitous encounters."

Zhao Qing is one of them.

She didn't like human cubs. Although human cubs did look cute when they weren't crying or making a fuss, she just didn't like them. So she chose to go deeper into the village, intending to observe this place that seemed to have been forgotten by history.

Most of the courtyards and houses she passed by had their doors slightly ajar, and Zhao Qing could sense that many villagers were secretly watching her.

After walking for a while, the houses and courtyards on both sides decreased, and in their place were large tracts of cultivated farmland.

It was past 2 a.m., and the sky began to gradually darken.

In the novel *Ten Provinces Chronicle*, whether due to the summer season or some other geographical reason, it gets dark very late, almost at 2 or 3 AM, and dawn doesn't break until 10 AM. This results in NPCs in the game generally sleeping in the early morning hours of China time.

Although it was getting dark and things were a bit blurry, Zhao Qing still managed to make out that most of the farmland was planted with various kinds of spiritual herbs and plants, while only a small portion was planted with grains.

It's strange that a village that's supposed to be in captivity would grow so many spiritual herbs and plants.

Where should we consume it?

This question wasn't just on Zhao Qing's mind; Fang Xianyu also had some doubts.

Her divine sense swept over every corner of the village. Besides the vast medicinal herb fields, there was also a village temple with several shrines enshrined inside, each inscribed with a strange title such as "Red Cloud Goddess" and "Red Robe Immortal".

Unlike the names of normal monks.

Cultivators are generally ordinary people who have achieved enlightenment. Most of them are literate and have their own names. Before they attain divine status, the names they adopt are usually quite elegant.

Titles like "Crimson Cloud Lady" and "Red Robe Immortal" are not only straightforward but also have a certain uniqueness. They don't sound like the titles of human cultivators but rather like the titles of demon cultivators who have transformed from animals.

What kind of demon cultivator would dare to pull this stunt right under the nose of the Guangcheng Sect?
Fang Xianyu frowned.

Meanwhile, Zhao Qing had already started chatting with the first villager who had dared to speak to her.

"So, there's plenty of open space here, and I can get a piece too?"

The woman smiled somewhat awkwardly: "If you're planning to stay here long-term, that's certainly possible. The land in the village was allocated by the old master, who's always been fair. But... do immortals also farm?"

“We are not immortals,” Zhao Qing explained patiently. “We are disciples of the Taiyin Sect. We are indeed cultivating immortality, but we haven’t succeeded yet, so we also need to eat grains and other foods, just like you. Naturally, we also need to eat and wear clothes.”

"So that's how it is. It's wonderful to be able to cultivate immortality. If my daughter were still alive, she would be about your age..."

The woman wiped her eyes, her expression a mixture of fear and sorrow: "I...I didn't mean that, please forgive me, Immortal, I just..."

"It's alright, don't be sad, things will get better in the future." Zhao Qing said, then abruptly changed the subject: "By the way, why do you grow so many medicinal herbs?"

The woman looked somber: "These are all offerings to the gods."

"A deity? Which deity?"

"That's hard to say. Sometimes it's the Red-Robed Immortal who comes, and sometimes it's the Crimson Cloud Goddess. The Red-Robed Immortal is fine; he just wants some spiritual herbs and plants. But the Crimson Cloud Goddess is different. She likes children, so... so she always picks out the village kids and takes them away..."

As the woman spoke, tears welled up in her eyes again.

Zhao Qing clenched her fists as she listened. Suddenly, her quest log began to flash, and a golden hidden quest appeared: 【Slay Demons and Exterminate Evil】: 【After investigating the village, you discovered that the village is not only being kept by the deceased Ximo; the mastermind seems to be someone else. You decide to investigate further. (Shareable, maximum number of participants: 5) (Rewards: 8000 Exp, Taiyin Sect Land Deed (Permanent), Limited Mysterious Item)】

If Zhao Qing's feelings for the NPCs in the game only gave her the urge to expose the mastermind, then this suddenly triggered hidden quest was the reason she took action.

"Old Han, come quick! A hidden quest has been triggered!"

Zhao Qing quickly selected a few friends to chat with privately. Except for Wang Ergou, who said he was leading a tour and would be late, the others left the group and rejoined Zhao Qing's newly started tour.

Zhao Qing glanced at the tired-looking little doll hiding behind the door and suddenly suggested, "It's too late today. I'll share the quest first, and we can do the hidden quest slowly tomorrow after the NPC wakes up, okay?"

Han Yi hurriedly said, "That's great! I'm so sleepy. I've been getting beaten up during the day and staying up all night these past two days. I'm practically numb!"

The Jade Emperor's Bagua radar immediately perked up: "Getting beaten up? Old Han, you found a girlfriend?"

Han Yi, recalling the information Wang Ergou had mentioned, mumbled, "No, um... you'll find out later!"

The Jade Emperor was speechless: "What the hell! Why have you and Dog Bro been acting so mysteriously lately!?"

"You'll find out in a few days anyway, what's the rush!"

"Okay, okay, I'll log off now. Anyway, my second senior sister has already shared the quest with me, and my dad seems to need to talk to me. I'm off!"

……

The Jade Emperor, whose real name is Song Zechuan, is a high school graduate who has just received his university admission notice.

When choosing a major, he chose Computer Science and Technology, a major that would obviously make him bald or stronger, mainly because he was indeed quite good at science—he thought he was quite good.

Of course, all of Song Zechuan's classmates knew that this guy was a top student who was so confident that he was beyond saving due to his late-stage chuunibyou syndrome—but judging from his combined science level, his confidence was quite reasonable.

But when he came out of the game pod and saw his father, who had just returned from working overtime, dressed in a suit, holding an admission letter from Peking University, and looking quite bewildered, he was also bewildered.

"Xiao Chuan, I received a call this morning from the office of the university you applied to. They said they couldn't get through to your number, so they called me instead."

Moreover, his father was unusually kind and approachable this time, to the point that his tone was a bit strange: "Well, they said that the higher-ups want to transfer you to Jinghua University, with your major remaining the same, on the condition that you participate in a project, I think it's related to that cultivation game you've been playing lately. I was so excited at the time that I agreed... Of course, I didn't say no, I still said I'd wait and ask for your opinion, but that evening, the courier delivered this thing directly to my office..."

As his father finished speaking, an admission notice appeared before Song Zechuan's eyes—something he had never dreamed of.

"No, Dad," Song Zechuan felt a little dazed, "You can transfer to a higher level?"

……

It's even later today, my period started and it's been a bit of a hassle...

Tomorrow's update will also be delayed. Dear readers, please don't wait until midnight and go to sleep early. It will probably be updated tomorrow morning!

I'm so sorry! I'm bowing my head repeatedly to my dear readers!

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(End of this chapter)