Purified Lotus Demon Fire Residue Image

"Well, I'm back. Are you here again?" Lu Yunxiao asked in a straightforward tone, looking at the woman before him.

The woman was dressed in a tight red dress that accentuated her figure. While she wasn't as elegant as Yun Yun, she exuded a seductive charm of her own.

"Yes, I'm here again. I wanted to see if Master Bing needed any help," the woman in red replied with a smile, her demeanor calm and gentle.

"Oh, in that case, you can continue helping. I just came back from outside covered in dust. I need to clean up. We won't chat for now," Lu Yunxiao nodded and spoke softly.

"Brother Yunxiao, go ahead then," the woman in red said with a smile, her large, watery eyes fixed on Lu Yunxiao. Admiration gleamed in her gaze.

With a slight nod, Lu Yunxiao glanced at Hai Bodong, who was busy drawing a map, and walked toward the inner room.

After spending two months in the desert, one of the most challenging things for him had been maintaining hygiene without water. Washing with sand every day wasn't a pleasant experience. Now that he was back, he looked forward to cleansing himself from head to toe.

Entering the inner room, Lu Yunxiao made his way to the bathroom. After taking a refreshing bath, he filled a large basin with water and comfortably soaked in it.

"Ah, this feels great. Taking a bath is so much more comfortable," Lu Yunxiao stretched his body with a contented expression.

"Host, you seem to have quite a connection with women," the system's voice suddenly echoed in Lu Yunxiao's mind.

"You mean the woman outside?" Lu Yunxiao narrowed his eyes and responded in a calm tone.

"Can you see it, host?" The system's voice was tinged with surprise.

"I'm not clueless. I might not pick up on subtle signs, but I can see that. However, she's not my type. I prefer Yun Yun's kind," Lu Yunxiao retorted, splashing water slightly as he spoke.

"You could just say you like beautiful women and be done with it," the system responded with a hint of disdain.

"Well, if I don't like beautiful ones, should I like ugly ones?" Lu Yunxiao rolled his eyes, his irritation evident.

"That's true, too!" the system conceded.

Lu Yunxiao then continued, "Moreover, that woman seems to have a thing for the old man. You probably don't know, but she wants to be accepted as his disciple. She's taken an interest in me because I'm handsome and talented. On top of that, I'm just a junior to the old man, which lightens the burden."

"Don't let her current demureness fool you. She's quite the rebellious character in Mocheng, known for her capriciousness. How could I be interested in someone like her? I might like beautiful women, but I also value character and temperament," Lu Yunxiao explained.

"You're right," the system responded, seemingly agreeing with Lu Yunxiao's viewpoint.

Lu Yunxiao tilted his neck and said, "Enough about that. Let's get down to business. I've already seen the system's achievement function, but what about the sign-in function? It's been so long, and I've yet to receive a sign-in task. Can you explain that?"

"The sign-in function hasn't been activated until now because the host hadn't triggered it before," the system explained.

"Is it activated now because I'm considering going to Canaan College?" Lu Yunxiao grasped the implication in the system's words.

"Yes, once the host made the decision to attend Canaan College, the sign-in function was triggered."

"Ding, the sign-in task is now available. Sign-in location: Canaan College. Sign-in time limit: within three months. Sign-in reward: unknown," the system announced, relaying the task details.

"Finally, the task is here," Lu Yunxiao sighed softly, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips. Having tasks to complete was a good thing; it would expedite his growth.

"By the way, can you give me a hint about the rewards?" Lu Yunxiao asked with a grin, his eyes shifting playfully.

"Revealing that isn't allowed by the rules. You'll find out when you complete the task. However, the rewards will undoubtedly benefit the host. While I, as a system, can't show favoritism or offer additional rewards, I can choose rewards that best suit the host within the permitted scope of the rules. I'll do my best to ensure that each reward is valuable for your advancement," the system explained warmly.

"That's great. Thanks, system," Lu Yunxiao said with a smile.

"No need to thank me. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. After all, the host and I are on the same path. The stronger you become, the higher the likelihood of breaking through restrictions in the future. My own interests align with yours," the system stated calmly.

Hearing this, Lu Yunxiao shrugged and responded with a smile, "Well, I'm sure that day will come sooner or later."

"I hope so," the system replied before falling silent.

...

After his relaxing bath, Lu Yunxiao donned a fresh robe and stepped out. He wore a pale blue shirt that matched his long, flowing hair and gave him a refined aura. With his natural charisma, the blue shirt only enhanced his charm.

He walked leisurely toward Gutu Shop, his footsteps steady and calm.

As he approached the shop, he noticed an unusual quietness. The woman in red had apparently left at some point, and only Hai Bodong remained, engrossed in his map-making.

"Gone?" Lu Yunxiao asked casually as he glanced around.

"Yeah, she left. Seemed like something urgent came up," Hai Bodong replied without raising his head, focused on his task.

"I see," Lu Yunxiao nodded slightly. He walked to the shelf, picked up a map, and began examining it.

"Master Bing, the Canaan College admissions seem to have started today," Lu Yunxiao mentioned casually, still focused on the map.

"Are you considering going?" Hai Bodong paused, looking up from his work.

"Yes, I want to go and see," Lu Yunxiao nodded, his decision clear.

"Alright, go ahead. Don't worry about me. I can manage on my own," Hai Bodong replied, his voice calm.

"Okay." Lu Yunxiao responded, his attention wandering. He then took out the small, torn piece of a map hidden within another map.

He'd been curious about this fragment for some time, but due to a lack of free time, he'd set it aside. Today seemed like a good opportunity to explore it further.

"Master, could I have this half of the torn map?" Lu Yunxiao asked, raising the fragment in his hand.

"What do you need it for?" Hai Bodong questioned with a hint of doubt. While he believed the torn map was significant, he'd been unable to decipher its meaning despite his best efforts.

Curious about Lu Yunxiao's interest, he'd questioned him today, sparking his own intrigue anew.