Wait a minute, where is my master?

Jin Xu was originally worried about how to thank Jiang Xiulan for her introduction and planned to send her a few more vats of Bone Marrow Cleansing Spirit Liquid.

But now, coincidentally encountering this fruit here, it was truly like a pillow falling from heaven while dozing off.

After all, repaying kindness with something the other urgently needed was better, and this way, he could even save Jiang, the Chef God, the million high-grade Spirit Stones.

Moreover, the girl lying in the ice coffin, fragile like a porcelain doll, genuinely evoked a great deal of compassion in Jin Xu's heart.

He wondered who could be so cruel, to lay such a vicious hand on such a small child.

Thus, the little Taoist left with the two ladies at the entrance to the second layer of the Secret Realm.

In the meantime, Yu Yaoer and Little White, having nothing to do, and Jin Xu not just idly waiting in the wild, summoned Xuanxu Temple, and the three of them entered the temple together to begin their temporary wait.

...

Jin Xu and his companions exited the grand hall, passed the bronze cauldron with three sticks of Sandalwood Incense, and walked to the temple entrance.

The little Taoist lifted his hand to push the door, ready to step out and face the challenges of the second layer of the Qingmu Secret Realm.

But when he opened the door, he was taken aback.

"Brother Zhao? Why are you dressed like this?"

Jin Xu looked at the familiar face before him, full of surprise.

Although Zhao Dabao had taken off his usual golden silk robe and put on the fiery red uniform of the Blazing Sun Sword Sect, looking like a fiery persimmon at first glance,

that ever-smiling chubby face had not changed.

"Little Taoist, it really is you!"

Fatty Zhao's hand, about to knock, paused in mid-air, his tone filled with joy.

Although the little Taoist in front of him wore a dark mask and had changed his robe, Zhao Dabao still remembered Jin Xu's figure and voice.

Moreover, as the two ladies behind the little Taoist had not concealed themselves, Fatty Zhao recognized them immediately.

"Hey, you're that good person from Gusu City!"

Shiqi heard the astonished voice of her master and curiously squeezed her little head out from the gap between Jin Xu's arm and ribs.

Seeing it was Zhao Dabao, who had once given her clothes in Gusu City, Shiqi's tone also filled with joy.

After all, encountering an acquaintance in a foreign land within the Demon Realm was indeed pleasing.

"Miss White, Miss Yu."

Fatty Zhao greeted the two ladies cheerfully, stepping aside to clear the path.

He felt refreshed, his spirit, previously exhausted from 999 instances of "spiritual pollution," momentarily healed upon setting eyes on Jin Xu.

The little Taoist, with the two women, stepped out of Xuanxu Temple, shrank the temple into his sleeve, and once again inquired why Zhao Dabao was present in this place.

"Little Taoist, it's a long story..."

Fatty Zhao followed beside Jin Xu and briefly explained how he successfully obtained a Spirit Root, but it was an explosive mix of ice and fire.

He could only save his life with the essence of the sun and moon, which led him to seek the Taiyin Essence at the Great Immortal Sect. Because the Taiyin Essence required the petals of the Eternal Lotus for exchange, he had come to this Qingmu Secret Realm.

After Fatty Zhao finished, the small group of travelers had already reached the edge of the strange chessboard.

After hearing Zhao Dabao's story, Jin Xu couldn't help but use his Spiritual Eyes and the fortune-telling method to look at his first human friend he had met after arriving in the Nine Provinces Realm.

"Brother Zhao has a huge 'fortune' character on his forehead, but his experiences these few months, why do they sound so unlucky?"

The little Taoist mused internally, then spoke out, "I didn't expect such twists and turns in your experience after a few months apart, Brother Zhao. But meeting is destiny, and since you need the petals of the Eternal Lotus, when I reach the fourth layer of the Qingmu Secret Realm, I will keep an eye out for you."

Jin Xu said, looking down at the twenty-four Mystic Treasure Pearls on his left wrist.

Previously, he had only a vague understanding of the Cultivation World, and he had casually mentioned that the other party had gifted him that item.

He still had to accept this favor.

The little Taoist pondered and suddenly spoke up again, "No, that's not right, Brother Zhao.

Before I left Gusu for Qing State, I went to the Zhao family and gave Uncle Qian a Communication Jade Token. I had clearly stated that if you ever faced any difficulties, you could contact me through it.

Now that you've encountered a life-threatening situation, why didn't you tell me?"

Upon hearing Jin Xu's question, Zhao Dabao also suddenly realized this.

"That's not right. Isn't the Qingmu Secret Realm only accessible to those below the Divinity Transformation Realm? How did the little Taoist get in!?"

On the day Jin Xu had furiously smashed the imaging stone of the Demon Sect's Four Elders, Ye Wuyang, Fatty Zhao had watched it several times over, and the impression was extremely vivid in his mind.

He was thrashing someone from the Tribulation Crossing Realm like a child!

"Little Taoist Master, isn't there a rule in the Qingmu Secret Realm that says no one above the Divinity Transformation Realm can enter? My father and I thought that, given your cultivation, you must be above the Divinity Transformation Realm, so we didn't contact you through the jade token."

After hearing Fatty Zhao's explanation, Jin Xu understood why they hadn't contacted him and silently nodded.

Then he recalled the last time he and Yu Yaoer "opened their hearts" to confirm the amount of Golden Spiritual Power, and his spiritual power had surged only about three or four times, so he calmly said,

"Oh, I see. Actually, I should not have reached the Divinity Transformation Realm, which is why I could enter this Qingmu Secret Realm."

Upon hearing this, even the business-savvy and smooth Zhao Dabao didn't know what to say.

You're not at the Divinity Transformation Realm, yet in Gusu City you burst a Demon Sect Hall Master who was at the early stages of Divinity Transformation with one punch, and in Shangjing City you defeated the Demon Sect's Four Elders effortlessly.

Who would believe that if you said it!

Even mythological novels wouldn't dare to write it like that!

While Fatty Zhao was struggling to find the right words, the enlarged amber-colored Ox Demon flew down from mid-air to Jin Xu's side, wanting to introduce the specifics of the second layer's challenges to everyone.

At that moment, the Husky following behind the little Taoist spoke up.

"Wow, Niu Niu, how did you get so big!"

She had seen this amber-colored little ox when it was only three inches tall, and now seeing the Ox Demon full-sized, she exclaimed in surprise.

Upon hearing this, Jin Xu slightly furrowed his handsome brows, feeling that something about this statement was off, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what.

So, the little Taoist gave Yu Yaoer a meaningful look with his right eye.

Miss Yu, seeing the look in her master's eyes, responded with a confident expression.

She immediately conjured a water sphere and placed it over Little White's nose and mouth.

"I asked you to keep her from talking nonsense!"

Jin Xu helplessly facepalmed.

"Master, Little White indeed can't talk now. Listen if you don't believe it."

Yu Yaoer replied righteously.

"Glub glub... glub glub..."

The Husky then blew a long string of bubbles in the water.

"...Alright then."

The little Taoist admitted defeat and turned around to signal the enlarged, amber-colored Ox Demon to continue speaking.

At that moment, the Junior Master of the Blazing Sun Sword Sect, along with a few disciples, approached.

He felt inexplicably that this little Taoist looked familiar,

and he also wanted to see why the overseer of the second layer, who ignored everyone else, was so warm towards this little Taoist.