You call this the way of the sword?

Yang Qingfeng fled into the residential area without looking back, and only after confirming that no one was chasing him did he show his face and head towards the courtyard he had previously chosen.

He scratched his head a bit on the way, realizing he'd probably missed something.

Actually, after finishing Bamboo Shadow Mountain, he had a feeling when he first saw that the area around the instance was full of people. However, since Li Qingxuan and Deng Penghui were there, he thought something else had happened.

The second time I was besieged by my senior sisters, I didn't have time to think much. The third time, I also tried to avoid it. Who would have thought that the fourth time I came out, it would suddenly explode.

"I was originally planning to upgrade... Oh well, it's getting late anyway."

Before we knew it, night had fallen.

Yang Qingfeng arrived at the courtyard and activated the magic beads on the gatepost.

Four instances, four record-breaking achievements, totaling 4400 contribution points.

Based on the silver coin payment ratio, these 4000 points are equivalent to a huge sum of 400 million...

Yang Qingfeng's lips twitched. He suddenly thought about finding a tree to make do with, but then he remembered that Qiao Wanyi also needed a place to stay, so he gritted his teeth and decided to pay.

As the score plummeted from 4400 to just 400, the gatepost shone with dazzling light.

The previously invisible protective formation was activated, shooting out a beam of light that landed on Yang Qingfeng, completing the recognition process. Then, with several whooshing sounds, fireworks shot out from the courtyard.

Bang bang bang, the brilliant sunset illuminates the long night.

Before the official opening of the government office to welcome the new year, this sudden display of fireworks seemed particularly unusual and rather flimsy.

The whole thing lasted less than 5 seconds; Yang Qingfeng didn't even have time to appreciate it before it was over.

"Fireworks worth four million..."

Yang Qingfeng had a beast in his heart, but he was too proud to say it. In the end, he could only let out a long sigh of heartbreak and walk into his house.

Fortunately, the environment is quite nice.

Upon entering, you'll find a luxurious courtyard that is not only spacious and airy but also features a small bridge and flowing water.

The cobblestone path is lined with flowers, and swings hang on the lawns on both sides, where two fluffy little creatures perch.

Upon seeing their master arrive, the two little spirit beasts raised their heads, their four round eyes darting around curiously, meowing as if tentatively welcoming their master.

In the very center of the courtyard, a 'top-tier villa' exudes grandeur and elegance.

The two-story building features an open-air terrace, with exquisitely carved patterns on the beams, pillars, and cloud-shaped windows. The floor of the square corridor is polished smooth and reflects the moonlight. There are also cushions and tea sets provided, which can make people feel relaxed and comfortable.

The building has a spacious and open hall, with kitchens and toilets on the left and right. Behind the building is a bathhouse like the Desheng Building, and it is equipped with a protective array. You can get hot water simply by activating the array.

"Tsk... Is this where rich people live?"

Having grown accustomed to the earthen-walled courtyards of Youlong Town, Yang Qingfeng felt somewhat uncomfortable even taking off his clothes to shower after suddenly moving into this large, luxurious mansion that seemed endless.

Even though there was no one else around, it felt like someone was watching me, waiting to see me make a fool of myself.

Yang Qingfeng looked up at the night sky and felt the Divine Communication Talisman vibrate slightly.

Upon opening it, I found it was a communication initiated by Yun Sheng.

"Senior Sister Yun Sheng."

While receiving the communication, Yang Qingfeng turned around, walked out of the bathroom, and went upstairs.

Yun Sheng's voice, though thousands of miles away, lazily entered my mind through the divine talisman: "Congratulations on being the top scholar in the country! You've brought honor to Tiannan!"

Yang Qingfeng chuckled and asked, "Is Senior Sister from Tiannan?"

"No, I'm from Central Plains."

"A young lady from the capital?"

"Hmm...not really, just an ordinary family."

Yang Qingfeng went upstairs and found that although there were four rooms on the second floor, the common area was also very spacious, especially the terrace which faced the bright moon, which was quite pleasant.

"Did Senior Sister go to the battlefield?"

How did you know?

"I think I saw you in the exam hall a few days ago."

"Not bad. So, you killed the Blue Lion's clone?"

"Yeah, I'm lucky."

Yun Sheng's soft laughter drifted over, "That guy is furious. He threatened to come back and tear you all to pieces. You're going to participate in the Pingchuan Grand Competition soon, right? Be careful."

"Hirakawa Dabi?"

Yang Qingfeng walked onto the terrace, lay down on the rocking chair, took out Grandma Yu's wine gourd, took a sip, and casually placed it on the small table next to him.

Yun Sheng's laughter rang out again, "After the establishment of the manor and the welcoming of new members, the manor will open the passage to Pingchuan for you. The alien races will also send new talents there, which is a kind of tacit understanding among the five races. At that time, you will have your first battle on the Pingchuan battlefield."

Yang Qingfeng listened intently, then immediately frowned and said, "This isn't an ordinary competition, is it?"

"Of course not."

Yun Sheng patiently explained, "No matter which battlefield you're on, you have to fight to the death once you enter. The Pingchuan Grand Competition is a competition against ourselves. Last year, a few of the younger ones performed quite well. Oh, you should call them senior sisters."

Yang Qingfeng raised an eyebrow slightly and tentatively uttered a name: "Li Qingxuan?"

"Yeah, she's pretty good. Don't let her low level and difficulty in leveling up fool you, I'm actually afraid of her."

Yun Sheng spoke casually, but Yang Qingfeng listened with his heart pounding.

He recalled his first meeting with Li Qingxuan during the day, the feeling of being captivated without realizing it upon first glance, which, upon reflection, was indeed terrifying.

The main reason is that Li Qingxuan is also very beautiful. When she was captivated, she didn't feel out of place at all. If it weren't for her high level of cultivation, she probably wouldn't have been able to wake up on her own.

Yun Sheng asked curiously, "Why didn't you contact me when you weren't sure it was me?"

Yang Qingfeng truthfully replied, "I guessed you were on the battlefield, so I didn't dare disturb you."

After saying that, he changed the subject and asked, "What are the benefits of the Pingchuan Grand Competition?"

"Any activity that is well-known within the university will have a reward."

Yun Sheng seemed to be in a good mood, and her speech became lighter: "Academies give contribution points, the Empire gives rewards, and although the military does not participate directly, it will also give some rewards for bravely fighting the enemy. Each branch will also select disciples based on their performance."

"These are all official rewards, but I don't think they're very valuable. The most important rewards are those you have to earn yourself. For example, the Yangdao Palace Secret Realm, the Underworld Capital Secret Realm, and the Tushan Secret Realm all contain fragments of the Dao Inquiry Stele, which are the most important."

"The annual Pingchuan Grand Competition actually revolves around these hidden places."

Yang Qingfeng didn't know what the Dao Asking Stele was, but anything related to the Dao Asking was considered extraordinary.

He silently noted down a few secret locations, then voiced some of his questions from the day.

To everyone's surprise, Yun Sheng burst into a silvery laugh after hearing this, which immediately sparked a series of fantasies in Yang Qingfeng.

He remembered Yun Sheng as dignified and elegant, with a sharp edge between her brows, a mature and beautiful senior sister. But now she was laughing so happily, her youthful aura seemed to travel through space and rush towards him.

I only learned about Yang Qingfeng after hearing Yun Sheng mention it, that breaking records would grant a bonus in battle.

Every time he finished defeating a dungeon boss, he would first study the dropped equipment and materials, and by the time he left, it was too late.

This is one of the reasons that made Yun Sheng burst into laughter, and the second is those groups.

According to Yun Sheng, these groups were not created by the state religion. They were originally mutual aid societies spontaneously formed by some disadvantaged groups who could not keep up with the main group.

It was only later, when it proved to be useful, that the state religion tacitly allowed it to be retained and provided with group contribution points as assistance.

Simply put, whenever anyone in the group earns contribution points, the group receives additional points proportionally, known as group contribution points.

The team leader then allocates the right to use the group's contribution points based on the contribution value.

It's like joining a group where everyone works hard to complete dungeons, allowing members to take turns earning double points, which is a huge help to disadvantaged groups.

But it wouldn't be very useful for Yang Qingfeng; he might even be used as a tool by a group of older women. Whether he enjoys it or not is entirely up to him.

"Well, if you want a romantic encounter, just find a group full of senior female students, it'll keep you busy to death."

"Oh, I have to go now. I can't chat with you anymore. Goodbye."

The communication ended, and the whole world suddenly fell silent.

"Grand Tournament, Secret Realm, Azure Lion."

"Group, corporation, romantic encounter..."

Yang Qingfeng gazed at the bright moon in the sky, and after a moment of processing, he pulled himself out of his thoughts and went into the master bedroom next to the terrace to take out the token that connected to the cultivation cave.

He infused the token with magic, and the token trembled twice before projecting a door.

……