Wait a minute, where is my master?

Zhao Dabao, slumped on the ground, thought he must have hallucinated from missing Taoist Jin Xu too much.

Bearing the discomfort of being spiritually contaminated 999 times, he struggled to his feet and staggered to the side of the Taoist temple, scrutinizing it carefully.

"This is the Taoist temple on the small platform, even the position of the moss on the wall hasn't changed. But how did this nameless little Taoist temple, far outside of Gusu City, suddenly appear in the secret realm of Qing State?"

Fatty Zhao mumbled to himself, hesitating and unsure whether to knock on the temple door.

...

On Junior Master Hong Mei's side.

After he emerged from the light screen, he also saw the Taoist temple; although curious, he did not pay it much attention for the time being.

Junior Master pinched the bridge of his nose to dispel the fatigue in his spirit, and strode towards the temporarily constructed pavilion.

Before they entered the Qingmu Secret Realm, Zhu Yangzi, the leader of the Blazing Sun Sword Sect, had squeezed in some time to reiterate to them the precautions for each layer of the secret realm.

According to Zhu Yangzi, the amber-colored little ox lying on the table in the hall should be the watcher of the second layer of the secret realm.

And the challenge of the second layer of the Qingmu Secret Realm is said to change every time it opens, so Junior Master wanted to take the initiative to see if he could get some useful information from the watcher.

"This junior comes from the Blazing Sun Sword Sect, and has seen the esteemed watcher of the second layer of the secret realm."

The young Junior Master Hong Mei stepped up to the table, folding his arms in salute, and introduced himself with a respectful demeanor.

The three-inch tall amber-colored little ox glanced at him and remained silent.

Instead, it stood up from the table, stretched its four hooves, and flicked its tail out of habit.

Then Junior Master saw the three-inch tall little ox turn around, heading towards the back of the pavilion and from its mouth, it expelled a strangely shaped chessboard.

It appeared that the watcher of the second layer of the secret realm had no interest in dealing with someone from the Blazing Sun Sword Sect.

As for that uniquely shaped chessboard.

After being spat out by the amber-colored little ox, it flew into mid-air. The board grew as it met the wind, expanding to cover several hundred miles in just a few moments, before slamming down onto the ground below, sending out a strong gust of wind.

Around the pavilion, some unsuspecting disciples of the Blazing Sun Sword Sect were toppled over by the blast.

And inside the pavilion, Junior Master, still folding his arms in salute, felt a bit embarrassed.

He had not expected the watcher of the second layer of the Qingmu Secret Realm to be so dismissive. After all, the Blazing Sun Sword Sect and Qingmu Academy were both among the Four Great Immortal Sects. Even if you wouldn't give me any special treatment, at least acknowledge me!

The little ox inside the pavilion watched as the chessboard crashed down, then glanced back towards Junior Master Hong Mei.

Junior Master thought the other party was about to speak to him, and hastily stepped half a pace forward.

"Watcher..."

Just before he finished speaking, the amber-colored little ox glanced back and then swiftly averted its gaze, tapping its hooves lightly on the table surface, and in the blink of an eye, flew above the bizarre chessboard.

After flying above the chessboard, it first lowered its head to examine the extraordinary chessboard that covered a hundred miles on the ground, then its body flashed with an amber glow.

The size of the three-inch little ox transformed instantly into that of a regular Ox Demon.

Shortly after, the grand voice of the watcher of the second layer boomed in the ears of all the cultivators.

"The number is sufficient; the challenge of the second layer of the Qingmu Secret Realm shall commence immediately. Please, the first three cultivators who arrived, come out from the Taoist temple."

Only then did Junior Master belatedly realize that the amber-colored little ox had not been looking at him, but had been counting the number of cultivators outside the pavilion.

He finally lowered his arms, that he had been holding up all along, and turned his head to look curiously at the Taoist temple.

He, a disciple from the Four Great Immortal Sects, couldn't exchange even a few words with the Watcher of the Second Layer of the Secret Realm, yet those three individuals in the Taoist temple could interestingly coax even the three-inch ox to call out. He had no idea who they could be.

Then, he saw his own nephew, Zhao Dabao, standing in front of the temple gate, his hand raised as if he wanted to knock but seemed unsure.

...

Within Xuanxu Temple.

The little Taoist, Jin Xu, who was sitting cross-legged and cultivating in the great hall, heard the call of the amber-colored ox and calmly opened his eyes.

He stood up serenely, a flash of golden light disappearing from his eyes.

This brief period of cultivation had unexpectedly given the little Taoist the long-missed sensation of spiritual power swelling within him.

It seemed as if he had broken through.

Jin Xu touched his nose and walked to the side door of the great hall. He called out to the two women in the backyard before muttering to himself again.

"Although I don't know my exact realm, this sensation of breakthrough was taught to me by my master, and it couldn't be wrong. Since that's the case, if I could defeat someone in the Tribulation Crossing Realm before, now shouldn't I try challenging the Mahayana Realm?"

A feeling of eagerness rose within the little Taoist's heart.

In the backyard, the two women ran out from the kitchen upon hearing the call. Little White no longer had a water orb on her head, whether it was consumed by her or intentionally dissipated by Little Fish Demon, we have no way of knowing.

In Yu Yaoer's hands, however, was a white porcelain plate, with several glossy, round pills on it. Judging by the sauce, they seemed to be made using sweet and sour techniques.

"Young Master, have the people outside finally assembled? Oh, by the way, do you want to try the sweet and sour pork I made? The meat in this came from a Wood Spirit Beast that I cut from in the Secret Realm's first layer."

Little Fish Demon proudly presented the plate to Jin Xu as if offering a treasure.

The husky followed closely behind, seemingly eager to taste that "sweet and sour pork."

"emmmmm...not now, I heard the little ox calling for us. Let's surpass the challenges of the Second Layer first and secure the pass token for the Third Layer before anything else," Jin Xu decided.

Truth be told, the little Taoist felt a pang of guilt when he heard the words sweet and sour pork; his heart was unexpectedly tempted.

Jin Xu in his previous life adored this dish, never expecting to find its equivalent in the Nine Provinces Realm.

However, as soon as he heard that it was made from the flesh of a Wood Spirit Beast, that faint temptation disappeared without a trace.

That thing is entirely wooden!

Moreover, after having its Heavenly Talent and Earthly Treasure removed, a Wood Spirit Beast would return to the Qingmu Secret Realm in less than ten breaths. How did you manage to preserve its meat!

The little Taoist internally ranted while maintaining a poker face as he led the two women towards the great hall.

...

When the three of them first emerged from the pond, they had planned to head straight for the entrance to the Third Layer. However, the astonished three-inch ox quickly reacted and stopped them.

It told them that entering the Third Layer required passing its test and obtaining a token.

Then the ox informed Jin Xu and the two women about the rewards and rules for the challenge, among other things.

Thus, the little Taoist halted their progress and returned with the two women.

He knew he could probably enter the Third Layer of the Secret Realm without a token, but who made him, Jin Xu, a polite and rule-abiding good Taoist.

Besides, the amber ox had revealed that among the rewards for the Second Layer's challenge,

There was a precious spiritual material called the Seven-orifice Exquisite Heart Fruit.

It was the prize for the first place in the challenge.