Upon hearing this, the junior disciples of the Crimson Cloud Sect who had been listening intently to the commotion instinctively followed the direction Shen Zhaozhao pointed and stared intently at the line representing Shen Zhaozhao's name on the screen.

One of the junior brothers suddenly raised his hand, pointing tremblingly at the huge, real-time scrolling ranking screen in mid-air, his voice trembling: "Senior brother, look! Look at the number after Senior Sister Chen!"

Pei Lang subconsciously followed his junior brother's trembling finger and looked in that direction.

On the screen, the number representing the number of spirit cores after Shen Zhaozhao's name was jumping wildly at an extremely strange speed.

8…10…15…22…35…

The numbers seemed to be frantically pressing the plus sign button from behind by an invisible hand, speeding forward at an astonishing pace.

Pei Lang's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. What was going on?

Just as everyone from the Crimson Cloud Sect was petrified, their minds a jumbled mess from this bizarre scene, a golden light as swift as lightning, carrying a terrifyingly powerful demonic aura, suddenly shot out from the depths of the valley.

"A monster?!"

The junior disciples of the Crimson Cloud Sect instantly became furious. Almost instinctively, they drew their swords with a clang, held talismans between their fingers, and frantically circulated their spiritual energy, assuming a posture of fighting to the death!

Pei Lang's face turned deathly pale. The demonic aura was so thick and heavy, like a tangible mountain pressing down on him, that he tried his best to sense it, but he couldn't reach the bottom at all!

How is that possible?!

Even he couldn't detect it, so this thing must be at least at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment—

However, before these people could even form a battle formation, the golden light stopped abruptly at Shen Zhaozhao's feet. The golden light dissipated, revealing a small, yellow-skinned mouse with a golden body and glossy fur.

Shen Zhaozhao had specifically instructed Xiao Huang not to reveal its true form easily. So right now, Xiao Huang, which looked like a golden chestnut, was standing there, soft and cute. But under its claws, there was a pile of Steel Feather Chickens with messy feathers and obviously dead, silently demonstrating that this creature was not as harmless as it appeared.

Xiao Huang completely ignored the several Chixiao Sect disciples beside him who looked like they were facing a formidable enemy and were ready to draw their swords. His bright, beady eyes were fixed on Shen Zhaozhao, filled with longing: "You, you promised me that no matter how many chickens I caught, you would roast them for me!"

Pei Lang: "???"

The junior disciples of the Crimson Cloud Sect: "???"

Shen Zhaozhao wasn't surprised at all. She bent down and ruffled the little yellow, smooth fur twice: "Okay, I'll roast it for you now."

Immediately, she glanced at Pei Lang, whose expression was completely blank, and asked, "What are you standing there for?"

Pei Lang's soul seemed to still be floating in the heavens: "...Huh?"

Shen Zhaozhao: "Let's start a fire?"

Pei Lang: "..."

With an expression that seemed to say, "The world is so absurd, and I am numb to it," Pei Lang pulled out a stack of crimson talismans radiating a scorching heat from his waist.

What could he do?

He won't agree?

Glancing at the enthusiastic yellow rat that was clearly stronger than him, Pei Lang felt that if he dared to say "no," the rat would suddenly pounce and devour all his talismans.

Looking at the stack of offensive weapons he had once been so proud of in his hand, Pei Lang closed his eyes, and with an almost tragic feeling, he released a little spiritual energy from his fingertips.

"puff!"

A cluster of crimson flames emerged from the talisman, and then, drawing his sword, he looked around in bewilderment.

Shen Zhaozhao: "Is the firepower so weak? Bring a few more, make it more prosperous."

Pei Lang: "..."

"puff!"

Another cluster of confused flames.

Thus, an extremely absurd scene unfolded in Riftwind Valley: a soft, cuddly golden dumpling obediently squatted to one side, its eyes fixed on the campfire.

The few prodigies of the Crimson Cloud Sect, looking bewildered, rolled up their sleeves and went about their tasks: some fetched water, some plucked feathers, and some skewered chickens.

Meanwhile, their little tyrant senior brother Pei Lang sat cross-legged by the campfire, throwing a precious Flame Burning Talisman into the fire every now and then to maintain that outrageously luxurious "talisman campfire" that was specially used to roast steel-feathered chickens.

Little Yellow devoured the first batch of roasted chicken in a whirlwind, its glossy fur exuding a satisfied and lazy air. Its bright, beady eyes swept over the campfire with lingering enjoyment, and after confirming that not even a chicken bone was left, it looked up at Shen Zhaozhao.

"Zhaozhao, I haven't had enough to eat!"

Shen Zhaozhao was happily gathering the spirit cores that Xiao Huang had brought back to her side, counting them while mentally ranting about the bizarre logic of the original work.

That's right, the Heavenly Dao rules restrict cultivators above the Foundation Establishment stage from entering this Riftwind Valley secret realm.

But demonic beasts and spirit pets are not subject to this restriction.

In the original book, Gu Xuanchen, the "doting husband," took advantage of this loophole and gave his contracted spirit pet—a Thunder-Patterned Leopard at the early Golden Core stage—to Yun Wan'er to take into the secret realm.

That leopard may not have any other skills, but it's an expert at sneak attacks, assassinations, and looting.

Pei Lang was tricked by this thing and his cultivation was ruined. Not only was his cultivation destroyed, but the spirit cores he had worked so hard to obtain also went to Yun Wan'er.

Tragic, absolutely tragic.

Shen Zhaozhao curled her lips. Fine, the original book sacrificed logic to promote its "heartthrob" female lead, and forced this kind of Golden Core stage "cheat" to run rampant in the secret realm.

But... it doesn't matter who takes advantage of this loophole.

Seeing that Shen Zhaozhao was busy counting spirit cores, Xiao Huang nudged Shen Zhaozhao's leg with its fluffy head and said unhappily, "I want to eat more!"

"OK."

Shen Zhaozhao patted its shiny bald head: "Go ahead, catch as many as you want, I'll roast them all when you get back."

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!