My father is the main character, but the female leads want to kill me.

It wasn't until noon that Lin Ran slowly opened her eyes and couldn't help but stretch. Lin Ran looked around the cave and saw everyone busy with their own things.

Shangguan Mengqing was meditating nearby, while Wen Qianyi was refining pills in a small cave that had been opened up inside the main cave. The blue flames that could be faintly seen were surging there.

Lin Ran shifted her position, finding a more comfortable one, and looked towards Shangguan Mengqing. A question gradually surfaced in her mind: "Since this is the Mirror Moon Saint Emperor's secret realm, what happens next? What will happen to Shangguan Mengqing?"

In the original novel, this storyline involving the Mirror Moon Saint Emperor is a very important part, determining the future of Shangguan Mengqing and Lin Chong. In fact, it mainly affects Shangguan Mengqing. Lin Chong seems to have obtained a very crucial power from Shangguan Mengqing, as well as the opportunity given by the Mirror Moon Saint Emperor, both of which provided important help to Lin Chong later on.

The plot of this world is already a complete mess, so it doesn't matter if this important plot is messed up. But what Lin Ran is worried about is that even with that bronze cube, this key item in the inheritance of the Mirror Moon Saint Emperor, he can't help much.

If Shangguan Mengqing fails the test, she will not be able to obtain the inheritance of the Mirror Moon Saint Emperor, which will greatly affect her future. Lin Ran cannot imagine what the renowned Sword Sect Fairy will be like without the inheritance of the Mirror Moon Saint Emperor...

Because he came into this world without a system or amazing talent, he only knew a little bit about some key plots and important points in the original work, but these were already mostly messed up.

It's like dealing with Jemodo; he ended up fighting with Chang Wei and the others on his own. Without Shangguan Mengqing, if Jemodo hadn't helped out at a crucial moment, he probably wouldn't be sitting here comfortably resting in the cave right now.

Without these prescient original plot details, what he could rely on, to put it bluntly, was probably just being a kept man. "A time-traveling kept man," Lin Ran couldn't help but laugh when he thought of this term. It seemed that he really had been a kept man all this time.

Shangguan Mengqing seemed to sense a gaze upon her, her eyelashes trembled, and a pair of bright, star-like eyes descended upon the world.

Lin Ran immediately met those eyes. He forced himself not to look away and stared into Shangguan Mengqing's eyes, then, like a child, he transmitted his voice, saying, "Whoever runs away from my sight first will be punished!"

"boring!"

Shangguan Mengqing said something indifferently, but her eyes did not leave Lin Ran's eyes. The two stared at each other, and Lin Ran felt a little flustered by those calm and unwavering eyes.

This panic was a sign of his helplessness at the feeling that he was about to fall into a trap. The other person's eyes, without any bewitching magic, were simply a pair of beautiful and bright eyes, yet they possessed such terrifying destructive power.

In the end, Lin Ran gave in. He couldn't bear to look anymore, lowered his head, rubbed his nose awkwardly, and said, "Let's talk about our goals and plans for the future."

“You lost. I’ll punish you when I think of a punishment!” Shangguan Mengqing glanced at Lin Ran and continued, “Tell me about what happened to you last night, in detail!”

Seeing that they were getting down to business, Lin Ran sat up straight and recounted her experiences from the previous night in chronological order.

As they spoke, the disciples of the Sword Sect or the students of Tianli Academy inside the cave all crowded around after hearing the voices, wanting to hear what had happened last night.

When they heard that Lin Ran and Chang Wei had been trapped in a dangerous place the night before and had even encountered the immortal Void Evil Clan, they couldn't help but feel worried for them. When they saw that Lin Ran finally destroyed the Void Evil Clan, the Sword Sect disciples, who all knew how difficult the Void Evil Clan was to deal with, all applauded.

This made Lin Ran a little embarrassed, but Shangguan Mengqing, seeing this, suppressed her embarrassment. She knew Lin Ran very well. Judging from the retelling of the story, ignoring Lin Ran's boasting, what intrigued Shangguan Mengqing the most was how Lin Ran found a way to deal with Jemodo.

After all, such a bold move—directly breaking the seal and attacking Gemodo's sealed body—doesn't seem like something Lin Ran would do. This guy is incredibly daring when he's playing pranks on her, but his fighting style is quite… composed…

Shangguan Mengqing didn't ask directly. After Lin Ran finished bragging, she pulled Lin Ran away from the cave, and the two found a quiet place outside to chat.

Upon seeing the two leave the cave side by side, some gossipy Sword Sect disciples couldn't help but ask curiously, "Does Mr. Lin and Senior Sister have some kind of relationship? They seem quite intimate. There aren't many men in the Sword Sect who can be this close to Senior Sister!"

"I don't think so. I feel like it's just a simple discussion. Besides, who is Senior Sister? She's going to take over as the Sword Sect Master in the future and lead the Sword Sect against the Void Evil Clan. Maybe Senior Sister is just learning from Mr. Lin!"

Another Sword Sect disciple explained, seemingly a Sword Sect disciple who admired her senior sister and believed that her idol would definitely not have any problems.

While the many Sword Sect disciples were whispering amongst themselves, inside the small cave that had been cleared, Wen Qianyi listened to the conversation outside. The previously steady fire in the alchemy furnace suddenly began to fluctuate, becoming extremely unstable…

Unaware that they were being the subject of endless gossip, the two found a secluded spot in the bushes and sat cross-legged on the ground. Shangguan Mengqing stared at Lin Ran and asked directly, "How did you come up with the plan to deal with Jiemoduo? And has Chang Wei and the others found out that you're practicing the Azure Emperor Technique? And..."

Shangguan Mengqing's questions came out like a barrage of beans, leaving Lin Ran momentarily overwhelmed. After a while, she finally replied, "You should have played a part in that solution, right..."

"How did I get any credit?" Shangguan Mengqing asked.

"Um... because I was thinking about you, and then... I came up with this idea, right?" Lin Ran couldn't very well say, "Because that's how you did it in the original novel, I'll do the same thing, right?"

Seeing that Lin Ran was stammering and unable to give a coherent answer, Shangguan Mengqing figured that Lin Ran had probably just stumbled upon the answer by chance. She stopped being curious about the question and asked a few more key questions. When she was sure that Lin Ran had not revealed that she was practicing the Azure Emperor Technique, she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Shangguan Mengqing continued, "You need to be more careful in the future. Your existence is the most annoying thing for the Void Evil Clan. They can tell at a glance that you are cultivating the Azure Emperor Technique. If there happen to be any human people nearby, those guys may turn their guns on you immediately."

You were lucky this time. The evil race was careless. If Chang Wei and the others had heard it, we probably would have had to use force to erase their memories…”

The tragic incident at the Azure Emperor's ruins is still talked about by many people on the mainland. If it is discovered that the missing Azure Emperor's legacy has been cultivated by Lin Ran, the patriarch of a small family, then they will face annihilation. If they don't want to report to the King of Hell, they must be extremely careful.

Lin Ran was also awakened by Shangguan Mengqing's words and was filled with gratitude towards her. She couldn't help but lean forward and say softly, "Thank you, Mengqing. If it weren't for your help, I might have died countless times already..."

"you…"

Shangguan Mengqing was taken aback when Lin Ran suddenly hugged her, and her body stiffened and tensed up for a moment. But she quickly relaxed and wrapped her slender, fair hands around Lin Ran's back, saying calmly, "You're taking advantage of me again. Are you prepared to bear the consequences?"

"What consequences will we face?" Lin Ran asked with a smile.

"We'll talk about it later..."

Shangguan Mengqing paused, then placed her hands on Lin Ran's chest and gently pushed her away. A complex light flashed in her eyes as she looked at Lin Ran, and she continued, "So, have you decided what your next goal is?"

Lin Ran sat back down, frowning as he pondered. Recalling the ancient city wall he had seen last night, he vaguely felt that there might be some secret inside, and that he could explore it while it was still daytime.

"Why don't you come with me to explore that ancient city wall later? That's where I got into trouble last night. I have a feeling there might be a big secret behind that ancient city wall," Lin Ran said.

His notebook only contained the plots he could remember. Although there were many plots about the Mirror Moon Holy Emperor's Secret Realm, Lin Ran had already read quite a few. Most of them were plots experienced by the protagonist, while the ancient city wall plot was only briefly mentioned. His notebook only had one sentence written on it: "Seems very important."

Even he himself was almost baffled by his own abstract notebook. If he had memorized more back then, he wouldn't be staring at his notebook in confusion now.

"Shall we go to that ancient city wall?"

Shangguan Mengqing frowned, thought for a while, and finally nodded, agreeing to accompany Lin Ran for a stroll over there.

She wasn't really willing to go to such a place, because it meant there were many dangers, but also unexpected opportunities. Perhaps it wasn't that she was unwilling, but rather that she was afraid of encountering problems she couldn't solve, and causing someone else to die along with her.

……

Chapter 144 Mysterious Square

The daytime in the secret realm is extremely quiet, a stark contrast to the bloody violence of the night. The ancient city wall also lacks the eeriness seen at night, instead exuding a sense of desolation and loneliness.

Lin Ran and the others stood in front of the ancient city wall, which was covered in moss and was in ruins. Shangguan Mengqing was worried that the same problem as last night would occur, so this time she brought Wen Qianyi and a team member who was good at various restriction formations, so that they could be notified immediately if any danger was discovered.

“This is the ancient city wall you mentioned. It’s quite suspicious that there’s an ancient city wall in a place like this…” Shangguan Mengqing nodded. She also felt that entering this place would likely lead to some significant discoveries.

"Shall we go in now?" Lin Ran asked.

“Then let’s go in!” Shangguan Mengqing replied.

Just as Lin Ran and the others were about to enter through the city gate, a voice came from the nearby woods: "Can we go in and explore with you?"

A group of people emerged from the woods, all dressed in dark blue Taoist robes embroidered with various mysterious patterns. Lin Ran quickly recognized their attire and telepathically transmitted a message to Shangguan Mengqing: "They're from the Xuanfu Sect..."

"I can see it!"

Shangguan Mengqing never expected to encounter people from the Xuanfu Sect, especially a team led by the sect leader's closed-door disciple, Chen Zixuan, who was hailed as a super genius in runes and arrays, a talent that appeared only once in a thousand years in the Xuanfu Sect.

Lin Ran didn't recognize the Xuanfu Sect group, but he did notice the pretty boy at the front of the group. He was the most handsome and charismatic among them, resembling a well-read young nobleman from a prestigious family.

Then, this young nobleman said a few words to his teammates, and then walked straight up to Shangguan Mengqing. With a gentle smile on his face, he stared at Shangguan Mengqing and said, "Miss Shangguan, Zixuan greets you!"

"Ah hello!"

Shangguan Mengqing responded calmly.

Chen Zixuan was not angry at Shangguan Mengqing's attitude. Everyone in Zhongzhou knew that Shangguan Mengqing had such a cold and aloof demeanor. If she were treated warmly, people would doubt whether it was really her.

Shaking his sleeves, Chen Zixuan cupped his hands and said, "I wonder if Miss Shangguan would be willing for our Xuanfu Sect to join us in exploring the secrets behind this ancient city wall?"

Shangguan Mengqing didn't rush to agree. She glanced at Lin Ran beside her, while the two of them discussed the pros and cons on a spiritual level. After a while, Shangguan Mengqing calmly said, "We can explore together. With the elites of the Xuanfu Sect joining us, our exploration will surely go very smoothly."

"Okay, thank you, Miss Shangguan!"

Chen Zixuan noticed that Shangguan Mengqing glanced at the man beside her, seemingly asking for advice. This puzzled Chen Zixuan, but he managed to conceal it well.

He said loudly, "Why don't we, the Xuanfu Sect, take the lead? We know a little about various restriction formations, so if we clear the way, everyone will be much safer."

"Then I'll have to trouble you!" Shangguan Mengqing replied politely.

Chen Zixuan wanted to say something more, but seeing that Shangguan Mengqing didn't want to talk, he turned around and went back to his own team.

Lin Ran looked at the group from the Xuanfu Sect, who, after Chen Zixuan returned, had their backs to the Sword Sect and were gathered together as if discussing something. She then transmitted her voice to Shangguan Mengqing and said, "This kid is so attentive, is he interested in you? He's even clearing the way for us."

“If they’re interested in me, it means I’m very charming, but I don’t quite agree with what you’re saying. I think they, like the Holy Land of Spiritual Purity, have also sensed something. Maybe they’re after the inheritance in the secret realm, or perhaps some other treasures…” Shangguan Mengqing said.

"Doesn't your Sword Sect have any news?" Lin Ran asked curiously.

He definitely knows where the treasures are in this secret realm, including the ultimate inheritance and what the trials of the inheritance are, but these are all based on the original story, and who knows if there will be any changes now.

Moreover, some of these treasures were his son's good fortune. What if he took them? He didn't have the means to preserve them and deliver them to his son. He would have to keep them for himself. He was still struggling with the bronze cube issue. Thinking about what happened in the original story, he couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

"I know a little, but not entirely sure. It's said that there's a rare and extinct treasure called the Spirit Dragon Holy Water here. I don't know where it is, but it's said to be very beneficial for physical cultivation. If I find it, I can get you some."

"You only know the name, and nothing else, yet you say you'll find it and give it to me. How can you be so good at making empty promises?" Lin Ran said helplessly.

“I learned it from you!” Shangguan Mengqing said.

While the two were bickering, the Xuanfu Sect had also finished their discussion. The Xuanfu Sect took the lead, and the rest of them followed behind.

After entering through the city gate, the scene inside surprised Lin Ran and the others. There were ruins everywhere, skeletons and corpses, as well as rotten and broken swords and spears, which could be seen almost every step they took.

Looking up, you can see blurry pictures carved on the rock walls on both sides, and even higher up there are some white-gold buildings built on the vertical rock walls.

After walking for about ten minutes, the group arrived at a vast central square. The square seemed to have two forks leading into it. In the northwest corner of the square, there was a silver waterfall cascading down. Below the waterfall was a pool of water, and in the center of the pool was a platinum rock statue, but most of its body was missing, leaving only a lonely base.

This plaza, carved from platinum-gold boulders, must have been a magnificent sight in its time, but now it is nothing but ruins. The exquisitely carved ground has been shattered and is full of cracks, some even with large holes punched in it, and some tenacious plants are growing on it.

Xuanfu Sect arrived here first, but stopped at the entrance without going in, which puzzled Lin Ran and the others. When Lin Ran and the others arrived at the entrance, Chen Zixuan looked at Shangguan Mengqing and said, "Miss Shangguan, there is a solid barrier blocking our way. We are wondering if we can break through this barrier."

"Is there a barrier in front of us?"

Upon hearing Chen Zixuan's words, Lin Ran curiously reached out to touch what was in front of him. His outstretched hand was blocked, and the plaza in front of him was only passable by his line of sight. It was as if there was an invisible wall of air blocking him. The hard and cold touch made Lin Ran pause in surprise, and he subconsciously said, "A spatial barrier?"

"Hmm, it's still a very advanced spatial barrier, very difficult to break through..."

Shangguan Mengqing also reached out to sense the spatial barrier blocking her way, and after a while, she made this assessment.

Chen Zixuan also walked over and said to Shangguan Mengqing, "Although it's difficult to crack, with us and Miss Wen's Yin-Yang Chessboard working together, we should be able to crack it in a few days, perhaps even sooner..."

Seeing that all eyes were on her, Wen Qianyi moved closer to Lin Ran. She didn't like being stared at like that. Lin Ran shielded Wen Qianyi behind her and said with a smile, "Qianyi is too tired and hasn't recovered yet. I'm afraid she can't participate in this operation."

Upon hearing Lin Ran's words, Chen Zixuan's eyes flashed with a strange light. He clearly hadn't expected this situation and was momentarily at a loss. Seeing this, Shangguan Mengqing said, "Why don't we mark the area ahead and explore it later? We still need to find our other team members, so we'll take our leave now!"

After Shangguan Mengqing said that, Chen Zixuan didn't say anything more and could only watch Lin Ran and the others leave. After they left, someone in Chen Zixuan's group couldn't help but say, "Senior brother, what should we do now? If the other side doesn't get involved, we can't break through this barrier on our own..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Zixuan couldn't help but sigh and said, "We should be honest with them and tell them the truth. Otherwise, they might still get involved. Our concealment only makes them more wary."

Chen Zixuan wasn't stupid. He knew that the other party must have realized their intentions. The excuse that their bodies hadn't recovered was just a plausible pretext.

Looking back at the platinum-white square, Chen Zixuan placed his hand on the spatial barrier. He could only sigh in despair. The level of this spatial barrier was so high that only their Xuanfu Sect could not break it. The Sword Sect, on the other hand, had the owner of the Yin-Yang Chessboard, so perhaps there was still some hope.

Thinking of what the sect had previously instructed him to do, Chen Zixuan was conflicted. After a while, he suddenly said loudly, "Let's go. We'll go back and be honest with the Sword Sect and formally invite them."

……