Magical Beast Mountain Range.
In the azure sky above, intense energy fluctuations created sounds akin to muffled thunder. The sky was painted with hues of blue and red, almost covering half of the heavens. Even the white clouds were tinged with these colors, creating a breathtaking scene.
Below, on a concealed treetop, a young man in black martial attire crouched with his right hand resting on the trunk. He looked up at the sky and murmured, "Dou Qi Continent... I really did transmigrate into Battle Through the Heavens..."
(As for the reason behind the transmigration, let's skip that—it would just pad the word count.)
As an avid reader of online novels, who had read thousands of works, he was, of course, very familiar with the once wildly popular Battle Through the Heavens.
The line "Three years east of the river, three years west of the river, never underestimate the young and poor" had ignited the passion of countless youths.
Though now, the phrase "Dou Qi turns into a horse, terrifying indeed" had become a running joke about the novel.
But there's no denying that Battle Through the Heavens had accompanied us through a beautiful period of time and became a classic that many authors referenced.
It's considered the ancestor of the "canceled engagement" and "mysterious old man mentor" tropes in fantasy novels.
...
[Ding! You've triggered the hidden main quest: Save Yunlan Sect's leader, Yun Yun.]
[Completing the hidden main quest will grant you one opportunity to open a King's Treasure Chest and 100 Luck Points (which can be used to exchange for Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and King's Treasure Chests, as well as various rare materials, techniques, and Dou Skills).]
The system pulled up a menu, and a light blue interface appeared before Chen Mo's eyes.
Name: Chen Mo
Race: Human
Cultivation: Nine-Star Dou Fighter Peak
Luck Points: 0
Techniques: None
Dou Skills: None
Items: Concealment Technique, three Healing Talismans
Functions: Treasure Chest Lottery, Shop
...
"Save Yun Yun?"
"Holy crap, this is my chance!"
Seeing the system's mission, Chen Mo couldn't help but curse in excitement. This was a golden opportunity.
Anyone who knew Battle Through the Heavens would understand how pivotal it was when Xiao Yan saved Yun Yun in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, leading to their later love story.
"If I can replicate the scene where Xiao Yan saves Yun Yun, wouldn't that mean..."
"Hehehe!"
As a fan of Battle Through the Heavens, Chen Mo had been unhappy for days when the protagonist didn't end up with Yun Yun.
After all, readers often imagine themselves in the protagonist's place!
How lowly, he thought, shaking his head at his own thoughts.
Focusing back on the task, Chen Mo kept his eyes fixed on the woman in white floating in the sky, waiting for her duel with the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.
In the novel, Yun Yun was gravely injured by the lion's ultimate attack, fled into a river, and was fortuitously saved by Xiao Yan, leading to the subsequent events.
"Purple Spirit Crystal? My Purple Crystal Winged Lion clan sheds only a small piece every twenty years. Do you think you can just ask for it?" the lion king roared.
"I can exchange something you need," Yun Yun responded.
One human and one beast were negotiating in the sky.
"Exchange? Perfect! I'm currently in the process of transforming. If you can bring me a Shapeshifting Pill, I'll give you the Purple Spirit Crystal. How about that?" the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King laughed.
The lion's voice was so loud that Chen Mo could clearly hear it.
"As expected, the conversation is exactly like the novel," Chen Mo thought.
A seventh-grade Shapeshifting Pill was naturally beyond Yun Yun's capabilities as a Dou Huang.
"Next, the negotiations will fail, and the fight will begin," Chen Mo anticipated.
Sure enough.
Yun Yun raised her cyan sword and sighed, "If that's the case, I'll have to take it by force."
The battle was about to begin.
According to the novel, this battle would last quite some time, and following the story, the protagonist, Xiao Yan, should be hiding nearby, watching.
In that case...
"Concealment Technique!"
Chen Mo silently recited the incantation. As the system-bound host, there was no way he wouldn't have a beginner's gift pack.
The Concealment Technique and his Nine-Star Dou Fighter Peak cultivation were part of this beginner's gift.
[Concealment Technique: Allows the user to hide their aura and cultivation, making it undetectable by stronger beings. The technique's effectiveness increases with the user's cultivation.]
"With my current cultivation, as long as I'm careful, no one below a Dou Wang should be able to detect me."
"Time to scout the area."
After scouting and marking the waterfall from the novel to ensure he could reach it quickly, Chen Mo left to set up.
On the summit of a certain mountain, a massive cave entrance lay hidden beneath branches.
Far from the cave, Chen Mo sighed.
"As expected, there's a high-level magical beast guarding it. I thought I could steal something, but I guess not."
"With my current cultivation, even with the Concealment Technique, charging in would be suicide."
Abandoning the dangerous thought, Chen Mo returned to a bushy area near the waterfall and resumed watching the battle in the sky.
Meanwhile, Yao Lao (Medicine Elder) glanced at the distant waterfall.
"Hmm?"
"Teacher, what's wrong?" Xiao Yan asked, also turning to look.
"It's nothing. Maybe I was mistaken." Perhaps due to the intense battle, Yao Lao didn't pay much attention to the waterfall. After a second glance, he dismissed it.
The battle raged on until sunset. With a furious roar from the lion king, a purple light enveloped the area.
"Seal!" Yao Lao explained, taking on the role of a guide.
...
"Wind Extreme, Falling Kill!"
Not one to be outdone, Yun Yun unleashed her ultimate move.
Her sword trembled, and a fine beam of light shot out from it.
The entire sky seemed to shudder.
Finally, as the horn atop the lion king's head was severed, Yun Yun sustained severe injuries and fled, marking the end of the battle.
"Here it comes, she's here!"
Chen Mo paid no mind to the lion king's rage, his focus entirely on the sound of splashing water not far away, a gleeful smile spreading across his face.
"From this moment on, she's mine!"
Chen Mo dashed out of the forest, scooped up the unconscious woman in white from the river, and swiftly left the scene.
Not long after Chen Mo's departure...
Xiao Yan returned to the waterfall, inexplicably frowning as if he had lost something.
...
Chen Mo had already reached a cave far from the waterfall, one he had scouted earlier.
He had specifically chosen this location to avoid being discovered by Xiao Yan and labeled as a scoundrel, only to be beaten up.
After setting up some collected magical beast dung and covering the cave entrance with branches, Chen Mo finally turned his attention to the woman he had placed on a makeshift bed of branches inside the cave.
A single glance left Chen Mo stunned by her beauty—an indescribable, ethereal beauty, as if she had stepped out of a painting.
She was a rare beauty.
Her aura exuded both nobility and an otherworldly grace.
Chen Mo felt his heart race.
Of course, he had no intention of doing anything inappropriate, knowing that would likely get him sliced into pieces.
He could only proceed cautiously.
First, by treating her injuries.
Healing Talisman, activate... No, wait, healing her too quickly won't allow for any physical contact, which means she won't remember me deeply...
It's not that I'm lusting after her body—this is purely for better treatment...
Yes, I am a gentleman, I would never take advantage of someone... Oh, Yun Yun, you're awake...
"What do you think... you're doing?" A cold voice echoed through the cave.