Chapter 478: Upgrade

A proper grand celebration needs more than just a beautifully decorated venue.

Especially for competitions, there must be professional judges, generous rewards, a fair competition environment, and detailed, meticulous rules.

Having suffered greatly from poorly written instructions before, Jiang Ke’er decided to carefully draft a competition contract to ensure fairness in both events and protect the interests of both participants and organizers.

“Shifu? Why are you working so hard this time? You didn’t even sleep in?”

Pei Zheng blinked curiously.

Those words triggered a painful memory for Jiang Ke’er.

“Shoo, shoo, go play somewhere else!”

The System always managed to make her lose her memories.

Just as she was despairing over the ridiculously difficult training dummies, after dying once more, a massive notification window popped up.

[Achievement unlocked — one million deaths — Protagonist System has entered Phase Two]

Jiang Ke’er’s eyes welled up with tears. Without even realizing it, it had already been a million times?

The upgrade method was really through dying? Ugh!

Then her second thought was — wait! This System’s—

[New feature — bounty mission has been unlocked]

[Bounty missions are released periodically. You may choose to accept them. Upon completion, you will receive generous rewards.]

[Current mission one: Give birth to a little fox — Reward: SSS-level item ×1]

Jiang Ke’er selectively went blind and automatically failed to see the first mission.

[Current mission two: Host a fishing competition with more than 1000 unfamiliar participants — Reward: Random Word Spirit Technique ×1]

This second mission was precisely why Jiang Ke’er was pouring all her efforts into hosting the dragon boat festival.

The unlocking of the bounty mission feature solved a huge concern for Jiang Ke’er.

Namely, as time passed and the world gradually forgot about her, where would she get the Points she needed?

The System’s cash-grab mechanics were multiplying, the Knowledge Pool was getting more and more expensive, and her savings were in constant danger of being drained dry.

Moreover, the public’s memory was very short. Especially for things that were far removed from them, they would be forgotten completely in no time… and she hadn’t yet reached the level of “being written into textbooks.”

Of course, feelings of gratitude would quickly fade after one or two instances, eventually being taken for granted. When people got used to the neighborhood committee’s help—of course, that was for long-term problem-solving—

Combined with the fact that people’s positive emotional memories of being helped were often very short-lived, while bad things were remembered ten times longer, acquiring Orthodox Points was destined to become increasingly difficult.

The bounty missions perfectly solved this worry.

Complete a mission and get a reward. Missions run parallel to Points farming. This was the true long-term path of the Protagonist System.

Of course, now that the Protagonist System had upgraded to 2.0, the Villain System wouldn’t be outdone either.

The Villain System quickly upgraded to version 2.0 as well, opening its bounty mission system, with the reasoning being to prevent the Host from being led around by the nose by malicious missions from the Protagonist System.

The Villain System also had two missions.

[Mission one: Get Qiao Xiaoxian pregnant — Reward: Seven Luminaries Realm Perfect Dao Foundation ×1]

“Get her! — How could we evil gods ever bow to others?! Go! Use any means necessary!”

That was what the Villain System said when releasing the mission.

[Mission two: Host a dragon boat race with more than 1000 people falling into the water — Reward: Theft distance doubling]

Jiang Ke’er loved the Villain System’s style. As expected of a product of our great Ancient God Camp! It truly understands my heart!

Ah! Getting Qiao Xiaoxian pregnant was the only meaning of my fox life!

And look at the reward? A Seven Luminaries Realm Perfect Dao Foundation!

The Villain System placed such a crucial reward in this mission, clearly full of confidence in her! Believing she could complete this mission quickly!

Hmph, Qiao Xiaoxian had used so many despicable tricks on her back then—swindling, disguises, drugging… Now it was time to turn the tables and use her own methods against her! Returning every ounce of pain she had inflicted!

Now, it’s my turn, Jiang Ke’er’s!

Once the dragon boat festival celebration is over, that will be the moment Qiao Xiaoxian’s dignity is utterly shattered!

The atmosphere in Southern Zhan was recently quite heated.

It wasn’t just the heat from soaring temperatures; the entire mood was permeated with a strange, restless fervor.

Even on snow-covered mountain peaks, inside unremarkable snow huts at the summits, an impatient, magnificent yet coquettish “baaabe~” could occasionally be heard.

News of strapping young men going missing was popping up all over.

Female disciples of the Ten Great Sects were also having a rough time lately. When their boyfriends came home at night, they always seemed exhausted.

They couldn’t even sit down; they could only shift their hips and lie on their stomachs on the bed to cultivate.

When asked, they would panic and cover their heads with pillows, mumbling—training partner duty.

But these were considered lucky.

Many training partner disciples returned home barely conscious, some even suffering permanent brain damage. A trip to the Medical Hall, and the Doctor would say it was due to excessive drug use.

What on earth was happening in Southern Zhan…

The Ten Great Sects were competing with each other in bizarre ways like madmen.

Upon learning of the other sects’ unusual behavior, they only intensified their efforts.

Female cultivators across Southern Zhan were beginning to suppress their fury no longer.

They had reached their limit!

Was I not seductive enough? Or have your standards just gotten higher?

Throughout the world, only we female cultivators of Southern Zhan were the most open and alluring. If that’s not enough, what kind of thrilling antics do you want?

Sorry! This old lady is done with you all!

The men of Dongsheng Shenzhou were gentle, considerate, and knew romance. With a little training, they could become excellent partners. Besides, the two regions had recently opened up communication…

…Why should I stay here looking at your stuck-up behinds?

Goodbye!

Meanwhile, amidst the fervent training, the management of the Ten Great Sects hadn’t exactly been without doubts about their information source.

But Luo Han swore to it confidently.

“He showed me the Chief Seat token of the Tribulation Immortal Hall!” Luo Han guaranteed.

“With power as formidable as one who has entered the immortal realm, and holding the Chief Seat token, who else could he be if not the Chief?”

“Besides, any immortal walking the mortal world is under the Tribulation Immortal Hall’s banner. They’d have no reason to mess with our minds.”

That made sense. Nothing to find fault with.

The ensuing boring life? Maybe I should just go talk to Empress Houtu. Perhaps the life of ghosts and spirits might be a bit more normal. But the immortals really do have heavy tastes… Is this what Eternal Life is about?

Lady Houtu is also working hard to turn over a new leaf today!

To get Qiao Xiaoxian, one must first work hard to grow stronger; to grow stronger, one must complete missions.

So Jiang Ke’er devoted herself wholeheartedly to the preparations.

Every prop in the venue was made by her own hands, from the Formation Arts to the buoys, and then to the dragon boats.

Although they looked simple, they all utilized the Inner Engraving crafting technique. None of the props were as simple as they appeared on the surface.

She wondered if this would make things much harder for Mr. Huang to explain… Maybe she should warn him in advance?

In any case, Jiang Ke’er believed this was absolutely going to be a spectacular competition.