17: The entire sect put on a show of acting, but only the disciple took it seriously.

Hidden God Sect, dilapidated square.

The atmosphere was as solemn as a funeral service.

Li Daoxuan moved a small stool to the center, holding a bamboo strip pulled from a broom, tapping the ground from time to time.

In front of him stood the Hidden God Sect's current "entire net worth."

Besides the three Disciples who had just joined, there was Fat Aunt who was in charge of cooking, Limping Liu who guarded the gate, and Grandpa Wang who swept the floor.

Even Da Huang was forcibly pinned to the ground, forced to attend the meeting.

"I've gathered everyone today for only one thing."

Li Daoxuan's expression was grave, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, finally settling on Fat Aunt's greasy apron.

"That is—to establish our Sect's core corporate culture."

"Lay low."

"Lay low to the death."

Fat Aunt scratched her messy hair, looking bewildered: "Sect Master, what does 'lay low' mean? Is it to let Da Huang have a few more litters of pups?"

Da Huang: "..."

Li Daoxuan's mouth twitched, and he tapped Fat Aunt's big black pot, which was thicker than a shield, with the bamboo strip in frustration.

"Laying low means being low-key! It means playing the fool! It means even if you can slap the opponent to death, you must pretend to be scared to the point of wetting your pants!"

"Look at yourselves now."

Li Daoxuan pointed at Fat Aunt, "The toxic gas on you is about to overflow; any mosquito flying within ten miles would crash. Does this look like an ordinary cook?"

He then pointed at Limping Liu, "And you, you walk with the wind, your heels don't even touch the ground. People who don't know better would think you're practicing 'Lightness Skill: Water Surface Glide'. Does this look like a cripple?"

"I won't even mention Grandpa Wang; you swept the floor and produced Sword Intent, even piercing through a flying boat. Now there are rumors outside that our Sect has a peerless expert."

Li Daoxuan said with deep grief.

"Expert? Expert my ass!"

"We are a ninth-rate small Sect! We are a vulnerable group! We are a household in hardship relying on government assistance!"

"Once we are targeted, people will die!"

The three Disciples were stunned.

Although they felt something was off about their Revered Master's words, that sense of crisis was real.

Yeah, although Revered Master is invincible, it would be annoying to be harassed every day. And Revered Master said this is to temper their Heart-Nature.

"Sect Master, then what do you say we do?" Limping Liu took a swig of wine, his eyes hazy with drunkenness.

"Act."

Li Daoxuan spat out a single word, his eyes becoming incredibly deep.

"From today on, the Hidden God Sect fully enters the 'Era of Best Actors'."

"I want you to forget your cultivation, forget your identities. Treat yourselves as true Mortals, true Trash."

"Fat Aunt, you go first."

Li Daoxuan pointed to a cucumber on the chopping board nearby, "Cut it. Remember, act out that clumsy feeling of not even being able to hold a knife steadily."

Fat Aunt picked up the kitchen knife with some difficulty.

She was the previous generation's Poison Immortal of the Myriad Poison Cave; she was better with a knife than with poison. Making her pretend to be a novice was harder than making her kill someone.

"I'll give it a try."

Fat Aunt took a deep breath and restrained her entire aura.

She held the knife, her hand starting to tremble violently, as if she had Parkinson's.

"Ouch!"

A cry of surprise.

The blade "accidentally" slipped and cut Fat Aunt's finger.

Of course, no blood flowed, and not even the skin was broken. After all, it was a Great Emperor-level Physical Body; an ordinary kitchen knife couldn't break the defense at all.

Fat Aunt reacted extremely quickly, immediately pulling out a packet of ketchup from her bosom, smeared it on her finger, and then began to wail like a ghost.

"It's bleeding! Murder! It hurts me to death!"

That expression, that voice—it was enough to make anyone who heard it sad and tearful.

Li Daoxuan nodded with satisfaction: "Not bad, the expression is in place, but the ketchup smell is a bit strong. Use iodine next time."

To the side.

The trio of Xiao Chen, Leng Yanran, and Shi Tian watched in stunned silence.

In their eyes, they didn't see any flaws.

They only saw the Fat Aunt who usually cooked for them and was always smiling, actually cutting her hand while just slicing a cucumber.

And crying so miserably.

"So... Fat Aunt really is just a Mortal."

Xiao Chen's eyes turned red. He thought of the spiritual meals he ate every day; it turned out Fat Aunt made them by risking her life.

"She can't even hold a knife steadily, yet for our three meals a day, she works in the kitchen day after day."

Leng Yanran also felt a pang of sorrow. She had previously suspected Fat Aunt was a hidden Poison Venerable, but now it seemed she had really overthought it. This was just an ordinary, even somewhat clumsy, kind-hearted middle-aged woman.

"I must protect Fat Aunt!" Shi Tian clenched his fists and made a silent vow.

Li Daoxuan didn't notice his Disciples' self-rationalization and turned to look at Limping Liu.

"Old Liu, your turn."

"Take a few steps. Walk with that feeling of being in one's twilight years, ready to be hung on the wall at any moment."

Limping Liu sighed.

He hung the wine gourd at his waist, and his whole body instantly became hunched.

His originally straight back bent into a shrimp shape, and his right leg felt as if it were filled with lead; every step took all his strength to move.

"Cough, cough... cough, cough, cough..."

As he walked, he coughed violently, as if he were going to cough out his lungs.

That old face turned bright red, his eyes were cloudy and dull, and he saw double of the road ahead.

Halfway through, his body tilted, and he almost fell.

"Good!"

Li Daoxuan took the lead in applauding, "That stumble was a stroke of genius! It not only reflects the physical disability but also hints at the hardships of life. Oscar owes you a Little Golden Man!"

The three Disciples felt even more heartbroken.

Too tragic.

Really too tragic.

Gatekeeper Grandpa Liu was actually this seriously ill?

"I was wondering why that flying boat suddenly fell that day; it definitely wasn't Grandpa Liu who kicked it." Xiao Chen wiped away a tear, "Grandpa Liu can't even walk steadily, how could he possibly kick through the Void Realm?"

"Yeah." Leng Yanran also self-reflected, "I was too sensitive before. Besides Revered Master and Grandpa Wang, the Hidden God Sect really is just a group of elderly, weak, sick, and disabled."

"Revered Master takes these people in not just to hide his identity, but to give these poor people a home!"

"Revered Master's great love is simply moving!"

The three looked at each other, a raging sense of responsibility burning in their eyes.

This home cannot be supported by Revered Master alone!

Those invading enemies must not be allowed to disturb the twilight years of Fat Aunt and Grandpa Liu!

Li Daoxuan looked at the moved expressions of his Disciples. Although he didn't know what they had imagined, the effect had clearly been achieved.

Very good.

In the future, when encountering enemies, the Disciples will definitely rush to the front to protect this "vulnerable group."

This way, no one else needs to take action, and the great cause of laying low can be accomplished!

Just then.

An ill-timed snort sounded.

"Snort."

Da Huang lay on the ground, rolling his eyes grandly.

He looked at Fat Aunt and Limping Liu, who were showing off their acting skills, his dog face full of disdain.

A group of Great Emperor-level old monsters, pretending to be weaklings here to fool children?

Aren't you ashamed?

If this Emperor believed your nonsense, I wouldn't need to be a Demon Emperor anymore; I'd just go be a guide dog.

"Hmm?"

Li Daoxuan keenly captured Da Huang's micro-expression.

His eyes narrowed, and that wisp of dangerous aura belonging specifically to the "Dog Beating Staff Technique" instantly locked onto Da Huang.

"Da Huang, do you have an objection to my arrangements?"

"Or rather, do you want an extra meal tonight? I heard dog meat hotpot is quite nourishing."

Da Huang's whole body stiffened.

That familiar chill rushed from the tip of his tail straight to the top of his head.

He instantly retracted his disdainful expression and did a salted fish flip from the ground.

"Woof woof woof! (No objections! Sect Master is wise!)"

To show his loyalty, Da Huang immediately tucked his tail, curled himself into a ball, and hid behind Shi Tian, shivering.

He even purposely stuck out his tongue, making a silly, dumb expression that only a Mutt would have, drool dripping all over the ground.

A perfect rendition of a rural watchdog that had never seen the world and was as timid as a mouse.

Li Daoxuan then nodded with satisfaction.

"A teachable child."

"Alright, today's training ends here. Everyone go back and digest it well; you must integrate 'acting' into every bit of your lives."

"Meeting adjourned."

Everyone felt as if they had been granted a grand pardon and dispersed.

Fat Aunt carried her big black pot, continuing to pretend to be out of breath as she shuffled toward the kitchen. Limping Liu leaned on his cane, wobbling back to the gatehouse.

Only the Revered Master and his three Disciples remained in the square.

Xiao Chen looked at his Revered Master, his heart full of respect.

Revered Master has really gone to great lengths to protect everyone. As a Disciple, I must work harder to Cultivate and share Revered Master's burdens soon!

Just as he was feeling surged with emotion and prepared to return to his room to continue his secluded cultivation.

Suddenly.

An extremely violent surge of Spiritual Qi erupted from within Xiao Chen's body without any warning.

"Boom!"

The surrounding air was shaken until it buzzed.

Xiao Chen's expression changed; he clutched his stomach, his face showing pain mixed with a hint of bewilderment.

"What... what's going on?"

"The spiritual power in my body... why did it suddenly boil?"

He hadn't taken any pills, nor had he deliberately Cultivated.

He just felt a bit emotional after seeing everyone's "tragic" situation.

As a result of this excitement, the power of the Peerless Grade Marrow Cleansing Pill in his body, which hadn't been fully digested, was actually triggered again!

Li Daoxuan was just about to return to the main hall for a nap. Feeling the movement behind him, he turned around and was instantly stunned.

He saw Xiao Chen glowing with golden light, his hair standing on end, and his aura soaring like a rocket.

Foundation Establishment Early Stage... Foundation Establishment Middle Stage... it was still rising!

"Holy crap?"

Li Daoxuan's mouth twitched, "What kind of Physique does this kid have? He can have a Breakthrough just by watching a play?"

"Didn't we agree to lay low?"

"The commotion from your Breakthrough is even louder than Da Huang's barking!"

Xiao Chen looked innocent, wanting to suppress it, but found he couldn't suppress it at all.

"Revered Master... help..."

"I think... I'm about to level up again!"