Xiao Mu grumbled inwardly, forcefully suppressing his thoughts to prevent them from spreading, lest they be captured by the thunder.

But he heard Lei continue, "The leader's care for you is targeted at your advancement to the True Realm."

"In our Great Tang Ruins, every Mutated Being, once they enter the True Realm, has three choices."

"First: Stay in the ruins and handle internal affairs, such as joining the Task Hall, Reward and Punishment Hall, Logistics Department, guarding the Treasury, and so on. You may choose to join one of these departments."

"Second: Be stationed elsewhere. Our Great Tang Ruins has a total of eighteen domains in the core area and thirty-nine in the non-core area, including nine large and small ruins like the Song Relics and discoveries of ancient relics left by the Divine Spirits, all of which require personnel to be stationed there. You may choose to be stationed at any one of those places."

"Third: Execute tasks, wage wars outwardly, protect the Alliance, and defend the human world. What exactly this entails, I think, doesn't need a special explanation from the leader, does it?"

"Ordinary Mutated Beings, after stepping into the True Realm, have no choice but to obey orders, without the right to choose."

"But as a special care for you, Xiao Mu, you can freely choose one of these three options."

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Mu asked Chen Fengshen, "May I ask Leader Chen, what are the advantages and disadvantages of these three choices?"

Chen Fengshen revealed a slight smile and explained, "Of course, each of these three choices has its advantages and disadvantages."

"The first choice, staying in the ruins to handle daily affairs, is the safest among the three. However, at the same time, there is little room for future development."

"After all, in the Alliance, if you want to acquire resources, you must contribute to the Alliance and exchange for them with contribution points. Staying in the ruins is safe, but it also weakens the ability to acquire resources."

"Without resources, the enhancement of strength will also slow down."

Xiao Mu said nothing, for Lei's words made him outright reject this option.

He did not want to indulge in comfort and end up constrained in his strength's advancement.

With the entrance of powerful Evil Absurdities, the human world is becoming more and more dangerous, and without corresponding strength, self-preservation would be a problem.

Stationing in the ruins may seem safe now, but it carries great hidden risks for the future.

He then asked, "What about the second one?"

Chen Fengshen said, "The second choice, being stationed somewhere, is certainly more dangerous than the first one. At the same time, due to the responsibilities of being stationed, one's daily range of activities will inevitably be limited."

"Additionally, acquiring resources is usually limited to where you are stationed."

"Compared to the other two options, the second choice is riskier than the first but safer than the third. However, the ability to acquire resources is not as strong as the third option but stronger than the first."

"Oh!"

After thinking for a while, Xiao Mu made his decision on the spot, "Then I choose the third option, to execute tasks."

Among all factors, Xiao Mu first considered the ability to acquire resources.

To him, the most important thing was to maximize the strengthening of his own power.

Lei himself was stationed somewhere, but what was the result? Not to mention the lack of resource acquisition ability, he was directly used by the Undying Evil Ancestor, who took advantage of his list of life and death.

Chen Fengshen did not make any judgment about Xiao Mu's choice and nodded, "That's fine! Once you step into the True Realm, you can directly go to Bai Shanjun to complete the procedures."

"Many thanks to Leader Chen for the care, Xiao Mu is immensely grateful!"

Xiao Mu bowed to thank Chen Fengshen, with a sincere expression on his face.

Chen Fengshen neither agreed nor disagreed and did not say anything more, returning to the back of the Grand Hall.

"Xiao Mu, you may leave now."

Bai Shanjun spoke to dismiss him, signaling Xiao Mu to leave.

"I'll leave the task procedure to Mr. Bai."

Xiao Mu uttered a polite phrase and withdrew from Chen Fengshen's Taoist Temple.

※※※

No sooner had Xiao Mu left than Bai Shanjun paid his respects to Chen Fengshen's divine likeness, "Leader, is there anything you need me to do?"

On the altar table, Chen Fengshen's divine likeness stood like a Divine Spirit, revealing not a trace of mortal emotion but commanding instead, "Take the Yama Seal to our great leader and say it's a gift from me for him to comprehend."

The divine likeness on the altar table slowly extended its palm, the Yama Seal flew out, and Bai Shanjun gently reached out to catch it, landing in the palm of his hand.

Bai Shanjun did not ask further, "Yes, Leader!"

He took the Yama Seal and left.

※※※

Xiao Mu did not immediately return to his residence but first went to the Task Hall to submit his task. Elder Zun, seeing Xiao Mu return safely, sincerely praised him and reminded him to come to him once he stepped into the True Realm.

Leaving the Task Hall, Xiao Mu went to the Reward and Punishment Hall to collect his reward.

"I'm here to collect my reward."

At the counter of the Reward and Punishment Hall, Xiao Mu gently knocked on the window.

The worker behind the window took Xiao Mu's Identity Badge, and after checking it, alarm bells immediately rang out.

The worker looked at Xiao Mu, stunned.

Xiao Mu pursed his lips, having guessed this would happen.

How could the Reward and Punishment Hall willingly give him the Breaking Reality Pill?

However, Xiao Mu wasn't afraid of them playing tricks, with the genuine task reward under strict supervision, even Zhou Pudu couldn't tamper with it.

As soon as the alarm bell rang, Yang Yun walked out from the back.

"Greetings, Respected Envoy!"

Xiao Mu bowed to Yang Yun, a smile on his face.

Yang Yun glared at Xiao Mu without a pleasant expression, "Xiao Mu, did you really complete the task?"

"Thanks to good fortune!"

Xiao Mu chuckled, but then purposely said, "The Respected Envoy wouldn't purposely make it difficult for me to receive my reward, right?"

"Make it difficult for you? Who do you think you are?"

Yang Yun snorted coldly and glared fiercely at Xiao Mu, angrily saying, "I am to verify whether you cheated during the task."

Xiao Mu smiled, "That might disappoint the Respected Envoy, but feel free to check if I cheated during the task."

"Hmph!"

Yang Yun snorted coldly once more, paying no further attention to Xiao Mu, looking instead to the young worker, instructing, "Check thoroughly to see exactly what rewards he can receive, and make sure there are no mistakes."

"Haha!"

Xiao Mu suddenly laughed, glaring at the young Early Stage Fifth Realm worker, "Brother, you better check carefully. If there's a mistake, don't blame me for complaining to the Third Leader about you."

The forehead of the young worker immediately broke out in cold sweat, on one side was his direct superior Yang Yun, and on the other was Xiao Mu who seemed no easy target. The worker felt great pressure.

"Small-minded!"

Yang Yun glared coldly at Xiao Mu and disdainfully said, "Do you think everyone is like you? Check properly, do not be influenced by him, he dares not do anything to you."

The last part of this sentence was addressed to the young worker.

"Yes, Envoy Yang."

The young worker couldn't help wiping off his sweat.

Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Mu again said to the young worker, "Brother, I can't do anything to you, but if you deliberately withhold my reward, do you think the Third Leader will turn a blind eye?"

"Don't listen to him."

Yang Yun sternly shouted at the young worker, then turned to Xiao Mu, his gaze sharp with anger, "A dog takes advantage of people's influence, Xiao Mu. Don't think just because you've sided with the Third Leader that you can act unbridled. If you didn't complete the task well, even if I openly withheld your reward, the Third Leader couldn't do anything to me."

Damn it!

Xiao Mu cursed inwardly, his face darkening.

You're the one taking advantage of people's influence, your whole family is!

Cold sweat dripped from the young worker's forehead, and under the great pressure, he finally verified the reward result, looking back at Yang Yun, "Leader, Xiao Mu has explored the Netherworld Spring passageway and successfully completed the task. He is entitled to the basic reward of one Breaking Reality Pill."

Xiao Mu was inwardly pleased, his expression unchanged. With the Breaking Reality Pill, there would no longer be any accidents in his ascension to the True Realm.

"What else?"

Yang Yun's expression became even uglier as he pressed, his voice lowered.

The young worker wiped his sweat, feeling immense pressure as he said, "Additionally, Xiao Mu completed an extra part of the task."

"Firstly, he killed a Peak Fifth Realm Mutated Being from the Curse Gate. According to the rules, he can receive a reward of 2000 Energy Fruits."

"Furthermore, Xiao Mu has thoroughly investigated the Netherworld Spring passageway, bringing back accurate information. It is equivalent to the discovery of a Land God Mansion, warranting an additional reward of 3000 Energy Fruits."

"Only 3000 Energy Fruits as a reward for discovering a Land God Mansion, are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"

This time, it was Xiao Mu who suddenly spoke up, staring down the young worker, angrily questioning.

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