Chapter 114: The October Lottery

After hearing Huo Yuanzhen's words, Luo Caiyi remained silent for a long time.

This monk, indeed, had extraordinary qualities. His speech was calm and gentle, yet somehow, he had the ability to make people feel moved. No wonder Ning Wanjun had lingered at Shaolin Temple for so long that day.

If he weren't a monk...

Looking at Huo Yuanzhen, Luo Caiyi asked, "What if we can't leave this valley? What will you do?"

Huo Yuanzhen didn't immediately answer this question.

Because this possibility was not out of the question. If they really couldn't find a way out, his answer might become a reality, so he had to consider it carefully.

And looking at Luo Caiyi's expression, it seemed like she took this matter seriously as well.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "If we can't find a way out, then I will dig a path myself. This mountain is about a hundred feet high, with stone walls everywhere. I could break through one foot of stone every day, ten feet in ten days, a hundred feet in a hundred days, and after a thousand days, I should be able to create a path to the sky."

Luo Caiyi's gaze drifted. She hadn't expected Huo Yuanzhen to answer in this way.

This method, while it sounded simple, would actually be incredibly difficult to carry out.

Firstly, there was the issue of tools to break the mountain, something that could not be overlooked. Her sword was definitely not suited for such heavy work.

"This sounds foolish, and I don't think you'll succeed," she said softly, wiping her eyes. It was hard to say whether she was grieving over her own fate or moved by Huo Yuanzhen's words.

Another night passed, and the crescent moon hung like a hook in the sky.

By the water, Luo Caiyi carefully combed her long hair.

Taking advantage of the fact that Huo Yuanzhen was resting, she secretly snuck out to bathe.

As a woman who cared about her appearance, she could not tolerate being dirty. She had been in this valley for over twenty days, and most nights, she would sneak out to bathe.

Usually, the monk would go to sleep early, but tonight, for some reason, he seemed restless, tossing and turning, as if something was on his mind.

Luo Caiyi had asked him, but he said it was nothing.

By midnight, he had quieted down somewhat, and Luo Caiyi thought he was asleep, so she sneaked out.

Her colorful robes were now torn, but it was the only set of clothes she had. She had washed them, and they now hung on a tree by the water.

Currently, she wore the monk's cassock.

Letting her hair fall freely, Luo Caiyi removed the cassock.

Her delicate figure appeared somewhat ethereal under the moonlight as she tiptoed toward the water.

October was almost over, and the water had grown cold. During the day, it might have been a bit warmer, but she couldn't come in the daytime.

Quietly, she circulated her inner energy. With her profound internal power, having reached the middle stage of the innate realm, she wasn't overly concerned about the cold.

She waded into the water until it reached her chest, stopping to gently stir the water and wash herself.

"If he sees me now, I wonder if he will still be able to maintain that calm demeanor?"

Having spent so much time in the valley, Luo Caiyi had abandoned the thought of leaving. Sometimes, she would secretly daydream—if she stayed with him here for a lifetime, wouldn't something eventually happen between them?

Inside the hut, Huo Yuanzhen lay down, but he couldn't settle his mind.

After all, it was almost the 28th of October, and they had been in the valley for nearly a month without finding a way out.

The 28th of October... the day of the October lottery.

Huo Yuanzhen had great expectations for this lottery, hoping to win something extraordinary that might help him leave the valley.

He had been unable to rest or cultivate in peace, which had affected Luo Caiyi as well.

Unable to calm himself, Huo Yuanzhen pretended to sleep, but before long, Luo Caiyi snuck out.

He didn't bother with her, simply waiting for the time to come.

Finally, when it was past midnight, the long-awaited system notification sounded: "October Lottery Time has arrived. Would you like to open it now?"

"Open!"

The familiar system wheel appeared.

This time, Huo Yuanzhen carefully examined the items that appeared. The most important items he needed were those that could help him escape the valley.

So, he first looked at the miscellaneous items.

There were six miscellaneous items: a triad of glowing dots, a wooden carved bed, a string of bells, a cane, a fan, and a thin chain.

His focus landed on the chain.

The system's products were always of high quality, so there was no doubt about the durability of this chain. It appeared long and sturdy, perfect for use as a rope, which might help with climbing the mountain.

He briefly checked the martial arts section but found nothing useful. So, he set his sights on the iron chain.

After a quick glance at the distance, Huo Yuanzhen spun the wheel.

The glowing dots quickly spun and gradually approached the chain.

Huo Yuanzhen silently prayed that he would land on the chain, allowing him to leave the valley. The Shaolin monks were waiting for his return, and staying here meant he could forget about his mission to dominate the martial world. The abbot system task would never be completed if he remained here.

But fate seemed to have other plans. The glowing dot passed over the iron chain and continued further.

It missed the chain by three full steps!

When the dot landed on a martial arts manual, Huo Yuanzhen slammed his fist into the ground in frustration.

He had already looked at the manuals. There was no internal cultivation or advanced martial arts. Why was the system giving him a martial arts manual now?

The system voice continued coldly: "October Lottery has ended. Would you like to claim your prize?"

"Claim."

A martial arts manual appeared in Huo Yuanzhen's hands.

Dully, he picked it up, but when he glanced at it, his eyes lit up, and excitement filled his heart.

"Great Shift Technique!"

It was the Great Shift Technique! How had he missed it earlier?

Perhaps because he had been focused on finding something to escape the valley, he hadn't paid attention to the martial arts manuals. But now that he saw it, he realized it was just what he needed.

The Great Shift Technique wasn't the same as the renowned "Heavenly Shift," but it had similar principles.

By using internal energy, the practitioner could shift a few feet in an instant, avoiding danger with great efficacy.

Now, Huo Yuanzhen focused on how this technique might work with his "One Stem Crossing the River" skill. Could it help him perform some miracles?

Without further hesitation, Huo Yuanzhen hurriedly began learning the manual.

About half an hour later, Huo Yuanzhen had fully mastered the technique.

Not only had he mastered it, but he had also reached the highest level, able to instantly move ten feet!

At this level, it was nearly identical to the real "Heavenly Shift" in terms of evasion effectiveness.

As long as there was something to push against, Huo Yuanzhen could move in any direction.

Excited, Huo Yuanzhen immediately tried it out. He shifted from inside the hut to the doorway without changing his posture.

Thrilled, he struck a pose like a thinker and shifted from the doorway to ten feet outside while maintaining the same stance.

"Fantastic! Fantastic!" he exclaimed. "With this technique combined with my 'One Stem Crossing the River,' I can use the small protrusions on the rock walls to shift in mid-air without falling! If I perform 'One Stem Crossing the River' and then use the Great Shift Technique, I might really be able to scale this hundred-foot cliff!"

Having mastered this marvelous technique, Huo Yuanzhen couldn't hide his excitement and wanted to share the good news with Luo Caiyi.

Of course, he wouldn't tell her about the lottery. He could only say that he had gained a new skill in the midst of his predicament and might soon be able to leave the valley.

Luo Caiyi wasn't in the hut, so she must have been outside. Huo Yuanzhen, in his excitement, forgot that she might be bathing and immediately started searching for her.

Soon, he found himself by the water.

Tonight, for some reason, his reaction was slower than usual. As he arrived at the water's edge, he didn't immediately realize she was bathing.

By this time, it was already past midnight, and Luo Caiyi had finished bathing.

The crescent moon had disappeared behind clouds, and the night was dark. Luo Caiyi felt a bit tired.

Her colorful robes were hanging on a tree, and she needed to retrieve her cassock before getting her clothes.

She wrung out her damp hair, walking toward the water's edge while nude.

She remembered that the cassock was placed there, but now it was so dark, with no moonlight or starlight, making it impossible to see. She had to feel her way forward.

The water touched her delicate ankles as she walked out of the water and onto the shore.

At that moment, Huo Yuanzhen, who had also arrived at the cassock, looked down at it and saw the faint glow of the night pearl.

"What's going on? Why is her cassock here?" he wondered.

He picked up the cassock, shaking it.

The night pearls, which had been pressed under the folds, instantly released a soft glow, illuminating the surroundings.

"Ah!"

Huo Yuanzhen and a snow-white figure both gasped in surprise. The two stood less than five meters apart, staring at each other in confusion.