63: Master's instructions: Fight if you can win, call for backup if you can't.

"Ahem."

Li Daoxuan cleared his throat, pulling the attention of his five Disciples away from that pile of "junk."

He paced back and forth in the main hall with his hands behind his back, a rare expression of seriousness appearing on his exceptionally handsome face.

"You've all taken your things, so pull yourselves together for your Revered Master."

"This trip to the Central Plains is not like playing house in the Eastern Wasteland."

"The waters there are very deep, and there are many old monsters. Although you all have some equipment, your cultivation is still low after all, and it is very easy to come to grief over something trivial."

"Therefore, before you leave, your Revered Master will teach you a few life-saving mantras. Keep them in your hearts; do not forget a single word!"

Seeing their Revered Master so solemn, the five Disciples put away their playful expressions and stood straight, as if they were listening to a Saint preach.

Li Daoxuan walked to the center of the hall and held up one finger.

"First."

"The first rule of the 'Hidden God Sect Jianghu Survival Guide': Regarding Opportunity."

"When you are out and about, whenever you see a glowing cave, a Secret Manual falling from the sky, or a Divine Beast offering its loyalty... do not hesitate, do not be polite, just snatch it all for your Revered Master!"

"That's not called stealing; that's called 'this item has an affinity with me'!"

"Cultivation is inherently a Heaven-Defying act—competing with people, competing with the heavens! If you don't even dare to fight for such an Opportunity, then why cultivate at all? You might as well go home and farm!"

"Yes!" Xiao Chen and the others, their blood boiling, replied in unison.

Li Daoxuan nodded in satisfaction and held up a second finger.

"The second rule: Regarding villains."

"You all have protagonist templates, naturally carrying a 'taunt Aura,' and are prone to attracting some blind idiots wherever you go."

"For such people, your Revered Master has only one requirement."

Li Daoxuan paused, his gaze suddenly becoming sharp.

"Cut the weeds and dig up the roots; grind their bones to dust and scatter the ashes!"

"Not only must you kill them, but you must also loot their corpses—don't even spare their underpants!"

"Not only must you silence them, but you must also deal with their entire Family, down to the chickens, dogs, cows, and sheep, to ensure there are no future troubles!"

"This is what it truly means to eliminate demons and uphold the Dao! Understand?!"

Leng Yanran and Su Mo's eyes lit up as they listened, feeling that their Revered Master was simply their soulmate.

Although Xiao Chen, Shi Tian, and Ye Fan felt like something was not quite right, what their Revered Master said made so much sense that they couldn't even refute it.

"This Disciple understands!"

"Very good."

Li Daoxuan retracted his two fingers, the decisive Aura of slaughter on his face instantly vanishing, replaced by an unprecedented gravity.

He walked in front of his five Disciples, his gaze sweeping over each of their faces.

"The next rule, the third one, is also the most important one."

"Listen well to your Revered Master."

Li Daoxuan took a deep breath, his voice low and powerful.

"If—I mean if—"

"You are outside and encounter a tough nut that even an Emperor Weapon cannot handle, or you encounter those old monsters who have lived for tens of thousands of years and crawled out of their coffins..."

"What do you do?"

The five Disciples looked at each other.

Shi Tian scratched his head and said foolishly, "Run?"

"Run?" Li Daoxuan scoffed. "Can you outrun them? They have lived for tens of thousands of years, eaten more salt than you have eaten rice, and their escape techniques are more varied than the number of women you have ever seen. Where can you run to?"

"Then... what do we do?" Ye Fan also became nervous.

Li Daoxuan looked at their nervous little faces and suddenly smiled.

He took out five ordinary-looking Jade Slips from his robes and gave one to each of them.

"Take this."

"Remember your Revered Master's words."

"Fight if you can win, and hit them until they die."

"If you can't win..."

Li Daoxuan paused, his expression becoming incomparably serious, even carrying a hint of rogue-like attitude.

"Don't try to tough it out! Don't try to be a hero! That's what idiots do!"

"Immediately, right now, crush this Jade Slip!"

"Call for backup!"

"Call for backup?" The five Disciples were stunned.

"Yes, call for backup!"

Li Daoxuan patted his chest, with an expression that said, "I've got you covered."

"As long as you crush the Jade Slip, no matter where you are—even at the ends of the earth or in the Nine Netherworlds—"

"Your Revered Master will arrive within three breaths, following the... ahem, following the spatial channel, and I will scatter the ashes of that blind guy and his Family's ancestral graves!"

"Remember, you are not fighting alone!"

"Behind you stands the entire Hidden God Sect, and stands your Revered Master!"

"Whoever dares to touch a Disciple of mine, Li Daoxuan, even if the Heavenly King himself comes, I will break his legs!"

Boom!

These words were like a thunderbolt from the Nine Heavens, striking deeply into the hearts of the five Disciples.

They stared blankly at their Revered Master, who was clearly teaching them to "run if you can't win" while being incredibly overbearing.

Their eyes instantly reddened.

Moved.

Unprecedentedly moved.

From childhood to now, when had they ever been protected so firmly by anyone?

Xiao Chen thought of his Family's coldness, Shi Tian thought of the betrayal by his closest relatives, Leng Yanran and Su Mo thought of the despair of being hunted by the whole world, and Ye Fan thought of the loneliness of being mocked as a waste body.

And now.

There was someone willing to hold up the sky for them.

"Revered Master..."

Shi Tian was the first to lose control, wailing, "Wah!" and hugging Li Daoxuan's thigh with tears and snot running down his face.

"You are too good to us..."

The others also had red-rimmed eyes, and the sadness of departure and fear of the unknown in their hearts were instantly replaced by a warm current.

With such a Revered Master as their backing, what is there to be afraid of?

"Alright, alright, how old are you all? Still crying like babies, aren't you ashamed?"

Li Daoxuan disdainfully pulled Shi Tian off his leg, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.

Winning over hearts is paramount.

If he didn't give these little brats some motivation, how would they have the drive to go out and fleece sheep for him?

"Have you all remembered?"

"Remembered!" the five replied in unison, their voices loud and full of confidence.

"Good."

Li Daoxuan nodded in satisfaction and waved his large sleeve.

"Then what are you standing there for?"

"Set off!"

Hidden God Sect, back mountain Forbidden Ground.

An ancient and weathered teleportation Formation stood quietly there.

This was an ultra-long-distance teleportation Formation that Li Daoxuan had exchanged for with System points, capable of spanning the entire Eastern Wasteland.

The five Disciples had now shouldered their bags (which were actually Storage Rings).

They stood in the center of the teleportation Formation, looking at Li Daoxuan, who had come to see them off, their eyes full of reluctance.

"Revered Master, we are leaving. Please... take care of yourself." Xiao Chen, as the Senior Brother, was the first to speak.

"Yes, Revered Master, remember to eat on time, and don't always fob yourself off with Bigu Pills." Shi Tian wiped his tears.

"Revered Master, when I return, I will build you the most magnificent palace in the world." Leng Yanran said with a determined look.

"Revered Master, we will miss you." Su Mo and Ye Fan also said in unison.

Li Daoxuan watched this touching scene of separation, but he was somewhat impatient.

"Alright, alright, it's not like you're never coming back; why are you acting like you're at a funeral?"

He waved his hand as if shooing away flies.

"Go quickly, go quickly."

"Go to the Central Plains early and get some local specialties for your Revered Master."

"Remember, they must be valuable."

Saying this, he directly activated the teleportation Formation.

"Hum—!"

Blinding light shot up into the sky.

In the center of the Formation, the figures of the five began to become illusory.

"Revered Master! Take care——!!"

"Revered Master! Remember to feed meat to Da Huang——!!"

Accompanied by their Disciples' fading, heart-wrenching shouts.

A flash of light.

The teleportation Formation was now empty.

Li Daoxuan looked at the empty platform, and then looked at the Sect that had instantly become much quieter.

In his heart, a trace suddenly welled up...

Reluctance?

No.

It was excitement!

"Hahaha! The Divine Beasts have finally been released from their cages!"

"Go! My children!"

"Go and cause trouble to your heart's content!"

"Go and poke a hole in the sky, and turn the earth upside down!"

"Your Revered Master cannot wait to see what kind of 'surprises' you can bring back for me this time!"