The chubby guy hummed a tune as he made his way back to the base. The guard at the gate saw him, chuckled, and said, "Button Bro, what makes you so happy? Did you find some money?"

"Even better than finding money, I sold my rare little flower demon," the chubby guy said with a chuckle.

"Someone actually wanted that broken pet? How much did you sell it for, don't tell me you had to pay them?" the soldier teased.

"Pay them? When has your Button Bro ever lost money in a deal? I sold that little flower demon for eighteen hundred and eighty-eight," the chubby guy boasted, grinning widely.

"Who would spend over a thousand on something like that?" the soldier was a bit surprised.

"Someone with a hole in their head, collecting little flower demons at the market in town. He actually bought ordinary flower demons for 20 bucks each. Isn't that plainly a big sucker?" Button Bro chuckled gleefully.

"Ordinary flower demons for 20 bucks each? That's not just a big sucker; it's a mega-sucker. Those broken pets are everywhere in the Beimang Mountain Secret Realm. Even if they were somewhat useful, they wouldn't be worth 20 bucks," the soldier sighed and said, "Too bad it's my turn to stand guard today, otherwise I would have gone to get some flower demons to sell to him."

"Too late, by the time I found out, it was already late. Many old-timers at the market were already going door-to-door collecting little flower demons, buying them for a few bucks and turning them around for 20 to that sucker. Now it's too late to collect them anymore, otherwise, how would I let this opportunity slip by?" Button Bro remarked with a pout.

"You sold your flower demon for 1888, you've already earned enough. Why would you need the hassle of collecting flower demons for profit?" the soldier commented again.

Button Bro was even more pleased. After chatting for a while, they suddenly saw someone wearing a high officer's uniform coming in from outside. The chubby guy quickly stepped aside and saluted when he saw the person.

The soldiers on guard also saluted the officer, who returned their salute, then looked at Button Bro and said, "Fat Button, come with me."

"Yes, Commander," Button Bro followed the commander into the base, making a wry face at the soldiers as he left.

When they reached the commander's office, Commander Lin sat down, took a sip of tea, and said, "Fat Button, there's something I need you to do."

"Please give your order, Commander Lin. I guarantee to complete the task," Button Bro said, standing tall and proud.

"Recently, some mysterious phenomena have been appearing over by Cuiyun Mountain. It's been taken very seriously at the top, and they've sent people to investigate. You go and guide them," Commander Lin said.

"No way, that spooky place on Cuiyun Mountain is so unsafe. Why do I have to be the one to lead the way every time? Can't we send someone else?" Button Bro complained.

"This time, the team sent down is led by Commander Xiu Jieming. If you don't go, I'll recommend someone else," Commander Lin said calmly.

"Commander Xiu Jieming is coming?" Button Bro's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this: "No, don't replace me. Commander, I was wrong, I'll go and lead the way."

"You little..." Commander Lin shook his head helplessly. "I know Xiu Jieming is a benefactor to your family and your role model, but Cuiyun Mountain is not like other places. Be careful not to let your emotions get the better of you."

"Don't worry, Commander. It's not my first time there. I'm familiar with the place, nothing will go wrong," Button Bro chuckled, "Not to brag, but when it comes to Cuiyun Mountain, even a Third Awakening cultivator isn't as familiar as I am."

"Don't be overconfident, this time something is different about Cuiyun Mountain. Otherwise, they wouldn't have sent Xiu Jieming. Be careful," Commander Lin advised a few more times before letting Button Bro go prepare.

Button Bro quickly packed his things and set off for Xiu Jieming and his team's temporary base.

"Commander Xiu, my name is An Ping. Commander Lin sent me to guide you," Button Bro said, feeling a bit nervous when he saw Xiu Jieming.

Xiu Jieming looked dignified, sitting there with an air that compelled respect without anger, exuding the authority of a superior.

He was only about twenty-four or twenty-five, but he had the demeanor of a middle-aged official in his thirties or forties, appearing much more mature than his peers.

His features were square and not exactly handsome, but his presence surpassed that of ordinary young men.

Moreover, his stature was so tall and robust that others seemed small beside him.

Even someone of Button Bro's build appeared as a small chubby next to Xiu Jieming, suddenly looking almost adorably cartoonish.

Button Bro's nervousness wasn't just due to Xiu Jieming's aura; part of it stemmed from when he first entered the Beimang Mountain Secret Realm. His father took him to hunt Secret Spirits, but they encountered a level-27 red-clad ghost instead. His father was nearly killed protecting him, but Xiu Jieming, passing by like a deity descending from the heavens, defeated the red-clad ghost in one move and saved them.

Since then, Button Bro had regarded Xiu Jieming as his goal, or his idol, continuously working hard, cultivating, and growing.

Now he was an 18th-level cultivator, just two levels away from the Third Awakening.

"Peace Pendant, Button Bro, I've heard of you. Your talent is very special. There aren't many who have been up Cuiyun Mountain and come back alive; you're the most formidable among them, and I heard you can traverse the mountain gate," Xiu Jieming said with a smile.

Button Bro was flattered, and to his surprise and delight, he quickly replied, "You can just call me Fat Button or Button, Commander Xiu. I did reach the mountain gate, but I almost didn't make it back, and it took me half a year to recover."

"That's impressive. You're the only one who's managed to reach the mountain gate and return; you unsurprisingly deserve the title of Button Bro. For this trip to Cuiyun Mountain, everyone's safety rests on your shoulders," Xiu Jieming said, without any hint of putting on airs.

"Rest assured, Commander Xiu. As long as we don't enter the mountain gate, I can guarantee everyone's safety," Button Bro assured, thumping his chest.

Beside him, Xiu Yingmei maintained a smile. Only after Button Bro was shown to his rest did she speak: "Brother, back then King of Zhang had ventured up Cuiyun Mountain, and it's said he stayed there for several years. Soon after descending, he achieved his Fourth Awakening and ascended to the Grotto Heaven. Yet, what exactly he did there and what he encountered remains unknown. What exactly is up there?"

Xiu Jieming said solemnly, "This question has troubled many for hundreds of years. Before climbing Cuiyun Mountain, King of Zhang was ordinary. Coming down, it was as if he attained enlightenment, quickly rising as a grandmaster legend, ultimately standing at the peak of the Divine Land as one of the Ten Celestial Kings."

"In nearly a thousand years, many have tried to explore Cuiyun Peak to uncover King of Zhang's secrets from back then, but over the years, no matter how powerful the person, those who climbed Cuiyun Peak rarely returned. Among those still alive, Fat Button is the only one who's made it out alive."

"The Master specifically had someone analyze why Fat Button was able to come back alive from the mountain gate, concluding it was due to his Lifebound Talent of being a Guardian," Xiu Jieming continued, "Later, the Master specifically sought people with similar talents to probe it, finally uncovering some secrets of Cuiyun Mountain: within it is a pill furnace like the mountain itself, with an Infinite Fire refining some kind of elixir, drawing in the Heaven and Earth Energy like a bellows. Such means are beyond human capabilities."

"Hence, the Master suspects that the pill furnace within Cuiyun Mountain may be connected to the Immortals in the Celestial Secret Realm, and the elixir being refined there is no ordinary one, but an Immortal Pill."

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