The sound of rustling abruptly echoed.

At the moment Su Jingyao activated the array, countless insects and ants crawled out from the ruins of the deserted village and the undergrowth.

Black beetles, dark red ants, and centipedes a foot long...

These creepy crawlers seemed to have met their nemesis, fleeing towards the nearby forest at a frenzied pace, swarming densely across the grassland.

Next, a few spotted venomous snakes darted out of their burrows in panic.

This went on for a whole half-teacup of time before the area affected by the array in the deserted village returned to calmness.

Zhang Yuan hadn’t anticipated there being so many little creatures lurking in this region.

He was very curious about the array laid out by Su Jingyao.

"This is the Five Elements Circle Array."

Su Jingyao clearly saw through Zhang Yuan’s thoughts and proactively explained, "It’s a lower-tier array."

Though a lower-tier array, the Five Elements Circle Array is very practical, and because it isn’t complicated, it can be quite easily set up using the array plate and array talisman.

It’s most suitable for use in the wild.

The Five Elements Circle Array possesses functions of alert, defense, insect repellence, wind protection, and exorcism.

Of course, its power is limited and cannot deal with deceitful monsters and fierce beasts.

But with the Five Elements Circle Array, the two could guard the deserted village much more safely, avoiding disturbances from snakes, insects, mosquitoes, and ants.

For the Nine Peaks Grand Competition this time, Su Jingyao’s plan was actually quite simple.

It’s to use this deserted village as a base to conduct searches in the nearby areas.

The presence of the two would also attract some deceitful and monstrous creatures.

Su Jingyao could fight by relying on the array, fully utilizing her abilities, which also benefits Zhang Yuan’s protection.

It is indeed killing two birds with one stone!

Following this, Su Jingyao gathered some stones and set up a small altar in the middle of the array.

Then she placed a deity statue on it.

Primordial Celestial Venerable!

According to Daoist teachings, the Primordial Celestial Venerable resides above the thirty-five heavens in the Jade Pure Sacred Realm of Upper Scene Celestial, ruling and symbolizing the initial appearance of universal chaos and the undivided yin and yang of the first grand century, called the "Hunyuan" era by the Daoist Sect.

And the Primordial Celestial King worshiped in Xia Ruins Celestial King Hall is precisely one of the incarnations of the Primordial Celestial Venerable.

After inviting the statue to preside, Su Jingyao solemnly bowed, and pasted eight talismans respectively on the four sides of the altar.

Zhang Yuan stood within the array, sensing a very subtle change in the surrounding space.

He couldn’t quite articulate the specific change.

But there was a vague sense of security.

Su Jingyao, having completed the ceremony, stood up, gave Zhang Yuan a charming smile, and said, "With the Celestial Venerable established, there’s no need to fear specters and monsters anymore!"

She appeared full of confidence.

Zhang Yuan smiled without speaking.

By this time, the sky had completely darkened; he had gathered firewood nearby the deserted village and kindled a bonfire.

The warm and bright flames quickly dispelled the darkness and chill.

Zhang Yuan hung a small pot over the bonfire, pouring in clear water, chopped jerky, and rice.

Preparing the first dinner since arriving at the Cyan Profound Secret Realm.

The sect competition held within the secret realm does not restrict the equipment and supplies of participating disciples and guardians.

As long as you’re willing, even carrying a big bed in is fine.

Of course, no one would be so foolish.

But the essential tools, weapons, and food for outdoor adventuring should be brought as abundantly as possible.

Zhang Yuan carried quite a comprehensive array of items, including even a tent.

In fact, his storage space contained a large amount of supplies.

Unfortunately, it could not be exposed.

After all, such spatial abilities are incredibly defying of norms, and Zhang Yuan wasn’t sure if the Daoist Sect possessed similar storage magical artifacts, but he definitely wouldn’t risk revealing it.

Even when only Su Jingyao was present at the moment.

This was not a matter of trust, but an avoidance of testing human nature!

The water in the small pot quickly boiled, with rice and dried meat tumbling up and down, gradually releasing the fragrance of food.

Zhang Yuan added some dried mushrooms as well.

Finally, when the rice turned into porridge, he sprinkled in salt and cumin.

Cumin was very expensive.

But Zhang Yuan wasn’t short on gold and silver, having bought several pounds at Lin Xian Manor and stored them in his storage space.

This time, he had also brought a bottle with him to the Cyan Profound Secret Realm.

In Su Jingyao’s eyes, Zhang Yuan seemed quite particular about his food.

Bringing salt was reasonable, but even bringing spices—

Was he planning to create a grand feast?

Yet her emotional intelligence wasn’t low enough to directly mock; especially, while drinking the porridge, she found Zhang Yuan’s approach totally understandable.

On this chilling night, being able to drink such a hot bowl of meat porridge was soothing to the body and mind!

"Junior Brother Zhang, your cooking skills are quite impressive!"

Su Jingyao beamed, giving Zhang Yuan a big thumbs-up.

Zhang Yuan just smiled without speaking.

His cooking skills were only average, but he knew how to use ingredients and wasn’t afraid of trouble—it seemed good here, though unremarkable in Lin Xian Manor.

The two finished off the entire pot of porridge.

The small pot was simply washed, and the bowls and chopsticks were thrown directly into the bonfire.

Because the bowls and chopsticks were temporarily whittled from wood.

This was Zhang Yuan and Su Jingyao’s first day in the Cyan Profound Secret Realm. To be safe, they decided to keep watch together without resting, to adopt a shift strategy for night watch starting the following evening.

In truth, with Zhang Yuan’s current cultivation strength, he could endure without sleep for seven days and nights.

But not sleeping for a long period would indeed affect mental awareness.

It would undoubtedly increase the difficulty of hunting deceitful monsters, even bringing danger!

Thus, idle and bored, Zhang Yuan chatted with Su Jingyao.

Although their relationship was good, they barely understood each other.

Zhang Yuan narrated his background to Su Jingyao, leaving out certain secrets.

Then, Su Jingyao also shared quite a bit about herself with him.

Only then did Zhang Yuan learn that Su Jingyao’s father was the head of Mingxiu Peak, and she was born, grew up, and cultivated in Upper Scenic Celestial.

Saying she was a second-generation cultivator.

Su Jingyao wasn’t really willing to mention her father, briefly touching on the subject before shifting the topic.

She spoke to Zhang Yuan about amusing incidents and anecdotes related to Upper Scenic Celestial.

As the long night wore on, neither of them felt sleepy, and Zhang Yuan was engrossed in her tales.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t take out the fine wine from his storage space to drink, or it would be even more delightful.

He also inquired with Su Jingyao about the matters concerning Daoist cultivators.

Su Jingyao, knowing how to answer, shared openly with Zhang Yuan.

This allowed Zhang Yuan to gain quite a bit of knowledge.

"Initially, the Eight Great Secret Realms and Mo Yuan had no deceitful creatures and monsters."

Su Jingyao suddenly said, "But hundreds of years ago, the Celestial Beings came to Upper Scenic Celestial, and deceitful monsters appeared."

"Thus, now the Upper Scenic Celestial doesn’t allow any Celestial Beings to enter."

So that’s how it is!

Zhang Yuan stroked his chin, thoughtfully asking, "Do you know the origin of the Celestial Beings?"

Su Jingyao hesitated for a moment, not answering right away.

Evidently, this question wasn’t easy to answer!