Chapter 1703: 求助

"Doesn't that just mean no?" the young monk Jiese pouted.

Master Jianhuang didn't waste any more words and gave his shining bald head a direct rap.

Next, Wang Wuxie announced that the Daoist Sect's secret realm would open the following day. The nine first-place teams, the four best second-place teams, and Chu Chuyan, as a wild card contestant, all qualified to enter the realm.

Among them, Peng Wuyan from Kongming Island replaced Qiu Honglei. Although she hadn't competed, she was, after all, the chief disciple of a sect, so everyone accepted her inclusion.

Wan Guiyi looked at Peng Wuyan's familiar face, yet felt a profound sense of unfamiliarity and confusion. Her appearance was identical, so why did he no longer perceive her as embodying the beauty of strength?

After these announcements, the crowd gradually dispersed. Each sect had to prepare their disciples for the secret realm journey the next day.

Meanwhile, many people were heatedly discussing the matter of the Demonic Sect's Leader and Saintess. Although they all spoke indignantly about justice, it was clear that Yun Jianyue and Qiu Honglei had left a very deep impression on them.

The female demon, who had slaughtered countless people, was unexpectedly so beautiful. The Demonic Sect's Saintess was also a peerless beauty, no less stunning than Immortal Chu, and her dance truly left an indelible impression...

Upon returning to his room, Zu An immediately opened his Rage Value system. He had accumulated a total of 84,593 points of Rage Value during this period. He intended to draw some healing elixirs, like the "Trust Brother Chun" type, to give to Chu Chuyan and Pei Mianman, as he couldn't enter the Daoist secret realm himself and thus couldn't look after them.

Although, with the two women's cultivation levels, they shouldn't be in significant danger, no one could predict what might happen in the secret realm, so he decided to err on the side of caution.

He pressed the lottery button. Afterward, various "Thank you for participating" messages continuously popped up, no longer stirring the slightest ripple in his heart.

Finally, the cursor stopped on the "R" button: "Congratulations! You've drawn a 'Nickname Card'." It granted the ability to temporarily change someone's name.

This wasn't the first time he had drawn this card; he'd gotten it once before. He originally thought it was quite useless, but he discovered during his last encounter with Xia Jie in the secret realm that if used properly, it could produce miraculous effects.

Previously, he would have been naturally happy to draw a skill card, but this time, he couldn't be pleased at all because he hadn't drawn the healing elixir he wanted or any other self-defense items.

For some reason, whenever he thought about this Daoist secret realm, his eyelids twitched, as if something bad was about to happen.

Just then, a gentle knock sounded at the door. Zu An looked up and saw Xie Daoyun standing timidly outside.

"Sister Ling'er, is something wrong?" Zu An asked with a smile.

Xie Daoyun hesitated, then pulled two talismans from her bosom. "Brother Zu, I have two 'Lifeline Talismans' that I drew myself. Although their effect isn't as strong as Master's, they can still help resist some dangers. Please take them and give them to Miss Chu and Miss Pei."

Zu An was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed. He had been fretting about not finding anything for the two women's self-defense, and unexpectedly, she had come to his aid like charcoal in snowy weather.

"Thank you, Sister Ling'er," Zu An suggested. "Why don't you deliver them? You know both of them."

Xie Daoyun shook her head slightly. "I came to Zishan in secret and haven't revealed my identity, so it's inconvenient for me to show my face. It's the same if you deliver them, Brother Zu. I just saw you frowning and sighing, clearly worried about them."

Zu An remarked, "Sister Ling'er, you are truly thoughtful and understanding. Whoever marries you in the future will be incredibly fortunate."

Xie Daoyun's face flushed, and she said coyly, "Brother Zu!"

Zu An chuckled. "Then I'll go now. I'll tell them it's your kind thought."

Xie Daoyun's face was slightly red, but she said nothing. Having seen how fiercely Chu Chuyan and Qiu Honglei had fought earlier, she had thought it would be good to establish a good relationship with them early on...

Zu An went directly to White Jade Capital's villa. For some reason, Yan Xuehen didn't come out to see him.

Zu An found Chu Chuyan directly and handed her the Lifeline Talisman.

Chu Chuyan was pleasantly surprised. "Thank you."

Zu An told her that Xie Daoyun had prepared it. Chu Chuyan's expression was a little strange, but she still said, "Please thank her for me. I always thought she was a very kind person back in Mingyue City, without any airs despite her official background."

The two chatted for a while, and before they knew it, the conversation turned to today's competition. "You weren't injured, were you?"

Chu Chuyan shook her head slightly. "No, although Miss Qiu and I fought fiercely, neither of us truly went for a fatal blow, so overall, it was exciting but safe."

Zu An chuckled. "That's good, that's good."

Chu Chuyan suddenly sighed with emotion. "Oh, back in Mingyue City, she used to cry and call me 'Sister,' wanting to be your concubine. But this time, she's fighting to be the 'elder sister.' If I had known, I would have just agreed back then."

Zu An immediately broke into a cold sweat. He thought that although she appeared cool and calm on the surface, she was probably displeased inside. He quickly used all his persuasion to barely manage to appease her.

A moment later, Chu Chuyan suddenly spoke. "Go to Manman's place. You must have prepared that talisman for her too, right?"

Zu An chuckled awkwardly. "I didn't prepare it; Miss Xie did."

Chu Chuyan simply said, "Heh."

Unable to withstand her ethereal and piercing gaze, Zu An ultimately fled in haste.

After he left, Yan Xuehen appeared in the room. "Is he really worth it, being such a philanderer?"

Chu Chuyan stroked the talisman in her embrace, a gentle smile gracing her face. "Who made me meet him back then? Perhaps it's just fate."

Yan Xuehen sighed deeply. "Indeed, it is fate."

Chu Chuyan glanced at her in surprise. Why did it feel like her master was even more emotionally invested than she was?

Meanwhile, Zu An went to the Biluo Palace's villa. Because of Pei Mianman's previous disappearance, Master Huoling had become even more stringent, practically inseparable from her. She scrutinised everyone who approached her disciple as if they were criminals.

Zu An had no chance to speak privately with Pei Mianman. He handed her the Lifeline Talisman and then left.

After he left, Master Huoling looked at her disciple with a scrutinising gaze. "Manman, tell me honestly, what is your relationship with him?"

Previously, Zu An's help could be explained away multiple times, but his strong support for Pei Mianman to achieve first place, coupled with sending such a precious talisman, could certainly not be attributed to mere infatuation with Manman's beauty.

Having no other choice, Pei Mianman subtly hinted at her relationship with Zu An. After all, if her master kept them apart in the future, it would be unbearable to even think about.

"Men are all useless!" Upon learning of their private relationship, Master Huoling turned pale with shock, feeling as though her carefully nurtured cabbage had been trampled by a pig. However, considering Zu An's help over the past days, she added, "This boy isn't bad; he's better than that scoundrel Wan Tongtian was back then."

Then, frowning, she continued, "But he's a bit too much of a philanderer. I heard rumours that he's involved with that Miss Chu from White Jade Capital."

Pei Mianman cautiously explained, "They used to be husband and wife..."

Before she could finish, Master Huoling exclaimed, "No, no! Are you going to be a concubine? Someone of your standing deserves a man who is devoted solely to you!"

"They've already divorced..."

"That's still not acceptable! Why would you want someone another woman didn't want?"

"You can't put it that way..."

Early the next morning, the various Daoist sects gathered on Golden Summit. An elder from Zheng Yang Sect came out to open the secret realm, and Zu An was then surprised to discover that the so-called Daoist secret realm was actually hidden within the Wordless Heavenly Tome.

The Wordless Heavenly Tome opened, and after a series of incantations from the Daoist priests, blue-black lights emanated from the tome, projecting a light-gate resembling a wormhole nearby.

The qualified contestants from each sect bid farewell to their respective masters and then stepped into the spatial gate one by one. Chu Chuyan and Pei Mianman also quietly bade farewell to Zu An. Zu An had originally wanted to suggest they cooperate inside, but he worried his advice might be counterproductive.

After all, the two women were good friends; they should know what to do if they encountered trouble.

After everyone had entered the secret realm, the light-gate vanished, and the Wordless Heavenly Tome returned to its calm state.

The spatial gate would only reopen half a month later. As for what those inside the secret realm might obtain, that would depend on their individual fortunes.

Since the Wordless Heavenly Tome was in Biluo Palace's custody for this round, Wan Tongtian and Master Huoling jointly guarded it to prevent anything from happening to the tome that could endanger the disciples inside.

Other sects were also uneasy and likewise sent their experts to guard the vicinity.

Seeing this, Zu An felt somewhat relieved. After leaving Golden Summit, he had originally intended to speak with Yan Xuehen, but she was nowhere to be found. Guessing she might be avoiding him, Zu An had no choice but to return to his room.

Upon entering his room, he found Xie Daoyun still asleep in bed. He found this a little strange and suddenly frowned, looking towards the inner room.

Just then, a woman with hair like a waterfall slowly walked out. "Tsk tsk, our Lord Zu certainly has a way with women; he can keep a beauty hidden anywhere he goes."

"Sister Yun," Zu An exclaimed with delight, then saw the beautiful woman behind her. "Honglei, you've come!"

Qiu Honglei pursed her lips and smiled. "What, do you think our return is interrupting your good time?"

Zu An laughed. "What are you talking about? You know Miss Xie's purpose for being here. I was just worried about you two being discovered by those from the Daoist sects."

Yun Jianyue snorted. "Those Daoist sect members are nothing but chickens and dogs in my eyes."

Zu An couldn't help but retort, "You might not be worried, but what about Honglei?"

Yun Jianyue rolled her eyes. "Don't you still have me? With you and me working together, I don't believe anyone can touch her."

Qiu Honglei: "..."

"Master, when you prevented me from acknowledging Ah Zu back then, you didn't seem to say that."

Zu An chuckled. "That's true."

"It's infuriating just thinking about it," Yun Jianyue said, annoyed. "Honglei originally had a chance to go to the Daoist secret realm to check things out. It would have been exciting to imagine plundering all the Daoist sect's hidden treasures. Especially since today is the day those people entered the secret realm."

Zu An asked curiously, "How exactly did those people from Kongming Island escape? Have you found out the reason?"

"I haven't had time to investigate yet. There's something more important to do now." Yun Jianyue finished speaking and coughed lightly.

Qiu Honglei, standing nearby, seemed to awaken from a daze. "Ah Zu, actually, we specifically came to find you this time because we need your help with something: we need you to save someone for us."