You were put to guard a shabby mountain gate, yet all your disciples became Immortal Emperors.

The audience was silent.

Lin Zhou's words, "I'll give you a shout-out," still echo in everyone's ears, so domineering that it sends chills down their spines.

On the main stage, Lingxiaozi, the sect leader of Lingxiao Sect, finally showed a slight change in his perpetually unchanging poker face.

He looked at the young man below the arena who was still pretending to be a master of Qi cultivation, and who was still waving a tattered palm-leaf fan. He felt a mix of emotions.

Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator?

And he's even capable of instantly defeating a powerful opponent of the same level in one move?

What have you been through in the past ten years or so?

Or is this guy actually an old monster who has been reincarnated and is just experiencing life here?

Ling Xiaozi thought about it more and more and it seemed very possible.

He no longer maintained the airs of a sect leader; with a flicker of his figure, he gracefully descended from the high platform and arrived in front of Lin Zhou.

"Junior Brother Lin..."

Ling Xiaozi hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not dare to call him "senior" and instead used the title of "peer".

Lin Zhou's heart skipped a beat.

Oh no, I overdid it.

Could this old fox be trying to make me the sect leader?

No way! I just want to be the master of Salted Fish Mountain, drinking tea and raising my apprentices every day!

He remained expressionless and lazily cupped his hands in a gesture of respect.

"You're too kind, Sect Leader."

Ling Xiaozi's eyes twitched as he looked at him, but he still managed to force a kind smile.

"Junior Brother Lin is a man of great talent; we were simply blind to his abilities."

He turned around, and his voice echoed throughout the entire square.

"This concludes the Outer Sect Competition!"

"Champion, Xiao Qiongshan, Shi Yi!"

"Runner-up, Xiao Qiongshan, Xiao Fan!"

"From this day forward, Xiaoqiong Mountain shall be promoted to the number one main peak of our Lingxiao Sect!"

"Enjoy the highest level of resources offered by the sect! Half of all resources originally belonging to Qingyun Peak will be allocated, effective immediately!"

boom!

These words caused an uproar in the room!

The First Main Peak!

This is an unprecedented honor for Xiaoqiongshan since its founding!

Moreover, it's like cutting flesh directly off Qingyun Peak!

All eyes turned to Elder Li Mu of Qingyun Peak.

Li Mu's face was ashen, his body trembling like a leaf, and a foul odor emanated from his crotch.

He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Complaints?

Would he dare to have it?

It's a miracle they weren't annihilated on the spot by that Nascent Soul sword cultivator!

In the VIP section, Shen Han's beautiful eyes were fixed on Lin Zhou, her cheeks burning, and her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her throat.

The steam above was puffing out, thicker than ever before.

The little pig next to her grunted twice from the heat and moved to the side.

So... so he's that strong!

He's been hiding his true strength, hasn't he...?

Is it because of me?

He was afraid that if he revealed his strength, he wouldn't be able to use treating illness as an excuse to make me come to him every day.

This man, he really... I'm crying my eyes out!

The more Shen Han thought about it, the more convinced he became that this was the case, and his long-frozen heart completely melted.

She could no longer sit still. Lifting her skirt, she ran down from the VIP section and, under the astonished gazes of countless people, ran to Lin Zhou.

"Lin...Junior Brother Lin..."

Shen Han's voice trembled slightly, without her even realizing it, and a blush spread across her beautiful face, almost reaching her snow-white neck.

"Hmm? Senior Sister Shen, is something the matter?"

Lin Zhou looked at the "Steam Girl" in front of him, somewhat bewildered.

"I...I just wanted to say...you...you're amazing..."

Shen Han had been holding back for a long time, and only managed to utter this one sentence.

She felt like her CPU was about to burn out.

"Oh, it's alright, just so-so, third in the world."

Linzhou just spouted nonsense.

"Then...can I still come to you for treatment in the future?"

Shen Han's voice was so soft it was like a mosquito's hum; if Lin Zhou hadn't improved his cultivation level, he really wouldn't have been able to hear it.

Lin Zhou was taken aback, then suddenly realized what was going on.

understood!

This is because they're afraid I'll become arrogant and stop treating her for free!

"Of course!"

Linzhou patted his chest and guaranteed it.

"What's our relationship? We're best buddies! You can come anytime, I'm always here!"

Shen Han: "..."

Who said we're best buddies?

She felt the steam on her head getting thicker, stomped her foot, turned and ran, leaving Lin Zhou with a back view that was both ashamed and angry.

……

Amidst the awe, envy, and jealous gazes of the crowd, Lin Zhou, accompanied by his two apprentices, leisurely strolled back to Xiaoqiong Mountain.

Upon returning to those three dilapidated thatched huts, Linzhou immediately revealed his true colors.

He threw down the tattered palm-leaf fan, slumped onto the bamboo chair with a thud, and let out a long sigh.

"Oh my god, I'm exhausted."

"These days, even showing off requires physical labor, which is so unfriendly."

Xiao Fan and Shi Yi were both amused and exasperated as they watched their master switch to "salted fish mode" in an instant.

Master, where did your domineering aura go?

What happened to the promise to give you the sauce?

[Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing the main quest: Make a name for yourself in the sect competition!]

[Mission Rating: S-Rank!]

[Rewards being processed...]

[Reward 1: Sect Construction Gift Pack x1 (Contains: Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation (Simplified Version) x1, Spirit Vein Upgrade Card x1)]

[Reward Two: Host's cultivation level will be raised to the late Golden Core stage (Void Realm)!]

[Reward 3: Special item [Celestial Guide] x1 (provides clues to the next Chosen One)]

[Reward 4: 5 Trial Cards for the Eight Desolations Burning Heaven Slash (Nascent Soul Realm)!]

A series of system notification sounds instantly revived Linzhou.

He sprang up from the chair with a somersault.

"Wuhu! Take off!"

With the four remaining [One Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate] cards, he now has a total of nine Nascent Soul Realm trump cards in his hand!

Now I finally feel a bit safer and can roam freely in the Eastern Xuan Domain.

"Immediately go into seclusion to refine your cultivation!"

Lin Zhou sat cross-legged and took out the [Enlightenment Guide to the Great Dao of Salted Fish] that he had obtained earlier.

A cool sensation flooded my mind.

The bitterness of working 996 in my past life, the confusion after transmigrating, the joy after taking on disciples, the exhaustion after showing off... all these scenes flashed through my mind.

He suddenly realized.

What is the way of salted fish?

Salty fish, this isn't about giving up or lying down!

Instead of having the power to overturn the entire pond, it still chooses to lazily bask in the sun!

Not wanting to move and being unable to move are two different things!

Having figured this out, the floating late-stage Golden Core spiritual power within Lin Zhou's body began to rapidly solidify and settle!

boom!

A powerful aura erupted from his body, but he quickly suppressed it completely.

Late stage of Golden Core!

He is now a genuine late-stage Golden Core cultivator!

No longer a paper tiger that can only scare people with trial cards!

Uh… well, still.

"Hehe, now I'll have to change the three layers of disguise."

Lin Zhou was making plans in his mind.

"From now on, the first layer of disguise will be completed, and the foundation will be fully established."

"Second layer of disguise, early stage of Golden Core."

"As for the third floor... hehe, I'll never tell you!"

Having secured his own strength, Lin Zhou then set his sights on the [Sect Building Gift Pack].

"Use the [Spirit Vein Upgrade Card]!"

hum-

An invisible wave spread out instantly from Xiaoqiong Mountain!

The entire mountain trembled violently!

Deep underground, the originally thin spiritual vein suddenly expanded more than tenfold, as if it had taken a super tonic!

The spiritual energy, so dense it was almost tangible, surged forth from the ground!

Wild grasses grew wildly on the mountain, and withered trees sprouted new buds. The three dilapidated thatched huts, nourished by spiritual energy, automatically evolved into the simple and elegant Purple Bamboo Retreat!

"Holy crap! This system is awesome!"

Lin Zhou was so amazed by the transformation, which was comparable to the renovation of an old house, that he couldn't close his mouth.

Meanwhile, at the main peak of Lingxiao Sect.

Ling Xiaozi suddenly opened his eyes, sensing the surge of spiritual energy from the direction of Xiaoqiong Mountain, and a knowing smile appeared on his face.

"It seems that our Lingxiao Sect is truly about to produce a true dragon."

My Lingxiao Sect is no longer a third-rate sect in the Eastern Xuan Region!

With two Nascent Soul cultivators in charge, this should at least be considered second-rate.

Instead of stopping them, he issued an order that no disciple should approach within a hundred li of Xiaoqiong Mountain, or face severe punishment!

On Xiaoqiong Mountain, Xiao Fan and Shi Yi were also awakened by this sudden change.

Sensing the spiritual energy that was more than ten times stronger, the two looked at each other and saw the shock in each other's eyes.

Master has manifested his divine power in front of everyone again!

They dared not waste this golden opportunity and immediately sat down cross-legged.

After a series of battles, especially the final life-or-death duel, both of them reached a critical point in their mental state and cultivation.

Driven by the immense spiritual energy, they both entered a profound state of enlightenment.

Within Xiao Fan's dantian, the wisp of Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame leaped joyfully, and his understanding of cultivation and alchemy was rapidly improving.

He was taking steps toward becoming a third-grade alchemist.

Meanwhile, inside Shi Yi's body, his bones crackled and popped as the newly formed Ancestral Dragon Emperor Bone greedily absorbed spiritual energy, becoming increasingly solid!

Lin Zhou nodded in satisfaction, preparing to consolidate his cultivation as well.

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a shadowy spot at the foot of the mountain.

A figure shrouded in black robes stared intently at the mountaintop.

In the man's hand, a black communication jade talisman was quietly crushed.

A barely audible message traversed endless space and reached one of the most sinister and evil places in the Eastern Xuan Region.

"The Hall of Ten Thousand Demons... has discovered a top-grade furnace cauldron... suspected to be ancient dragon bones..."