The hurricane roared through the mountains, and above the Dragon Roar Mountains, space tore open. A figure stood in the sky, Chen Tian gazing down at the Dragon Roar Mountains below. The mountains, as their name suggested, formed a vortex-shaped valley, with a howling tornado at its center. Ordinary people would find it impossible to proceed, and even cultivators would struggle to endure. Yet, this was a trial ground.
Chen Tian appeared here for no other reason than a mission issued by the system. He had no choice but to deal with the Black Demon and accept the task. Chen Tian activated his perception of heaven and earth, scanning the entire Dragon Roar Mountains. He spotted a woman being battered by the tornadoes within the valley. She was a mortal without any cultivation, yet she stood firm as she walked through the valley. Her resilience was far greater than that of ordinary martial artists. Chen Tian opened his divine eyes, and the woman's information appeared before him. Chen Tian spoke, "That's right, it's you."
Chen Tian's figure flickered, a phantom appearing. Within the Dragon Roar Mountains, tornadoes raged and winds howled. The entire valley formed a vortex. Anyone entering would be killed by the wind blades. The woman's clothes were torn to shreds by the wind. Each wind blade that struck her caused intense pain, but she continued to walk, moving along the outer edge of the valley. This was merely the periphery; she gritted her teeth and persevered. To find her daughter, she was willing to die.
The woman's body was continuously ravaged by the wind blades. Her snow-white skin was splattered with blood, and her aura diminished with each passing moment. Ultimately, she was just a mortal, and traversing the Dragon Roar Mountains was too arduous. However, just as despair began to set in, a figure appeared beside her. A nine-colored barrier materialized around her, and countless wind blades shattered against it, deflected away.
Xue Qingyou stared at the scene, her eyes wide. Just as she was about to rise, Chen Tian extended a finger, channeling a powerful life force into her body. Her injuries healed instantly. Xue Qingyou could hardly believe it; was this young man a god?
With a single touch, all her injuries vanished.
As Xue Qingyou stood stunned, Chen Tian spoke indifferently, "Miss, is there anything I can help you with? I am but a wanderer."
"Lord Shenling, are you willing to help me?"
After Xue Qingyou said this, an interface appeared before Chen Tian. He clicked "yes" without hesitation, as this was a mission, a continuous storyline. He was quite excited about the first part of the plot and wondered about the rewards for completing the entire quest.
"Thank you, Lord Shenling. Xue Qingyou is deeply grateful."
Xue Qingyou bowed her head in gratitude. Chen Tian felt a little strange. Although she was a programmed NPC, he had long since regarded them as human. All beings were equal, and there was no need for humility or a sense of superiority before anyone.
Those were merely hypocritical courtesies that humans pursued. Chen Tian naturally disliked that kind of thing and said, "It's nothing. Also, please call me Chen Tian. All beings are equal."
"Yes, Chen Tian."
"Is there anything I can do to help you, Miss?"
Chen Tian began to inquire about the system mission. Xue Qingyou spoke softly, "Please, Chen Tian, help me find my daughter who has been missing for many years. My daughter is in another region. I hope you can take me there and help me find her."
Chen Tian looked at Xue Qingyou and agreed without refusal. An interface popped up, displaying: "Rescue Xue Qinglin Tian, Step One: Lead Xue Qingyou to another region, pass through the Dragon Roar Mountains, and enter behind the sealed barrier. Mission Reward: Level +5."
"Note: When passing through the Dragon Roar Mountains, you are not allowed to use your own strength. Xue Qingyou must cross it herself. The host can provide assistance from the side."
Chen Tian looked at the system mission. The first task was this difficult. However, the reward was indeed substantial – a +5 level boost, which was equivalent to a whole realm. Chen Tian did not want to miss out. But if Xue Qingyou had to cross it herself, who knew how long it would take? Chen Tian had to find another way.
Chen Tian pondered how to help Xue Qingyou cross. Suddenly, he thought of something above and was speechless. "How could I forget this? I can't take action, but doesn't mean I don't have anything to protect her with? As long as Xue Qingyou holds something of mine, those fierce winds wouldn't dare approach her."
Chen Tian had forgotten his own identity. Whether he was the Divine Lord or a High God, the items around him possessed immense power. Chen Tian's fingers moved, and a green jade pendant appeared, along with a nine-colored emblem. The green jade pendant exuded a scholarly aura, and the Dragon-shaped jade pendant carried fearsome power, as if a true dragon were emerging from the sea. The nine-colored emblem was beyond the comprehension of heaven and earth. It was plain and simple, yet the moment the emblem appeared, heaven and earth began to tremble as if in fear.
Chen Tian put away the emblem and scoffed at the world's origin. It was nothing. How could such a petty Heavenly Dao fear an emblem? It was laughable, but Chen Tian accepted the reality.
Chen Tian presented the Dragon-shaped jade pendant to Xue Qingyou and said kindly, "This is the Azure Dragon Jade Pendant, imbued with the power of a true dragon. Take this pendant and walk freely through the valley. I will wait outside the valley."
Xue Qingyou accepted the jade pendant with immense gratitude, placing it at her waist. Chen Tian nodded, and his figure disappeared. As he left, the barrier also dissipated. Countless winds howled, but before they could strike Xue Qingyou's body, the jade pendant glowed, and a green shield enveloped her.
Xue Qingyou rejoiced, "This, this is truly divine!" She bowed her head repeatedly, her movements fluid. Chen Tian stood in the sky, watching, when an interface popped up. It was a call from his sister. As for Chen Ling, Chen Tian truly couldn't control her; she did whatever she pleased, and her words were like law due to her immense power.
"Brother, where are you? The Wind Lightning Secret Realm has ended. I didn't see you and Bing Tianning come out. Did something happen?"
Chen Ling's urgent concern. Chen Tian explained that there was no danger. Only then did Chen Ling calm down. However, what surprised Chen Tian was that the Wind Lightning Secret Realm had ended. He hadn't even completed his Guardian Hall mission yet.
"Ling'er, did something unexpected happen in the Wind Lightning Secret Realm, or was it time to leave?"
Chen Tian curiously asked Chen Ling. As Chen Ling explained, Chen Tian learned everything about the Wind Lightning Secret Realm. The time had not yet come, but an anomaly occurred in the Wind Lightning Secret Realm, forcing Chen Ling and the others out. The secret realm was rejecting them. As for what the anomaly was, Chen Ling did not know.
Chen Ling only knew that within the Wind Lightning Secret Realm, there was a powerful aura. Although it had not yet awakened, that aura was the culprit.