Lin Fei murmured to himself about the need for contribution points, which were essential not only for acquiring the second layer of the Great Dream Heart Sutra but also for his preparations to cross the Thunder Tribulation.

To understand the power of the Thunder Tribulation, experiencing it firsthand was crucial, and the dream world provided the perfect environment for such simulations.

Here, Martial Gods who had personally experienced the Thunder Tribulation could recreate it almost exactly, offering Lin Fei a chance to gauge his readiness for the ordeal.

Such preparatory simulations were common practice among the Martial Gods of the Great Dream Sect. However, hiring a Martial God who had undergone the Thunder Tribulation, even just for a simulation, would cost at least a hundred contribution points. Without these points, one's options in Great Dream City were severely limited.

Determined to earn contribution points, Lin Fei decided to head to the Task Hall, where members of the Great Dream Sect exchanged and issued personal tasks.

While the Great Dream Ancestor rarely posted tasks, members often sought assistance for various missions, many of which involved conquering minor worlds. These tasks were high in rewards but fraught with danger, as conflicts with powerful beings were common in such worlds.

Knowing his current lack of understanding of the overall strength of other Martial Gods and Deity Transformation experts in the Divine Realm, Lin Fei wisely chose not to engage in such risky endeavors. Then, a particular task caught his eye:

"Employment of a Martial God who has not yet crossed the Thunder Tribulation. Task: To protect the employer on a journey to Black Moon City, duration of one month. Reward: One thousand contribution points!"

This task immediately stood out to Lin Fei, offering a substantial reward that would cover his immediate need for contribution points. It seemed like an opportunity not to be missed.

Lin Fei's eyes brightened at the thought of earning a thousand contribution points, a substantial amount that was neither too high nor too low for a task like this. The mission was to journey to Black Moon City, a place known for its chaos but not particularly dangerous for a Martial God.

For many Martial Gods, such places posed little risk. A trip to Black Moon City for a month could earn Lin Fei the points he needed to experience the power of the first and possibly the second Thunder Tribulation, helping him decide whether to continue strengthening his abilities or to undergo the tribulation.

"I'll take this task," Lin Fei decided, approaching the attendant at the Task Hall to claim the mission. The process was smooth; Lin Fei had not yet crossed the Thunder Tribulation, an undeniable fact.

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However, he was curious about why the task specifically required a Martial God who had not undergone the Thunder Tribulation. Even a Martial God who had could be hired for a thousand contribution points, which seemed odd. Nonetheless, the employer must have had their reasons.

After receiving the task, Lin Fei got the location from the employer and left Great Dream City. He headed to the specified spot in the Ancient City, an ordinary street corner with no one around. Waiting quietly, about an hour later, a woman in a black robe approached him.

"Martial God Lin Fei?"

"Employer?"

"I am not the employer; I am the person you are tasked to protect," the woman in the black robe clarified.

Lin Fei was surprised to find that she was a Martial King, a rank not particularly noteworthy in the Ancient Covenant, but it was unusual in Great Dream City, where most were Martial Gods. The fact that she denied being the employer, yet there was no other Martial God around to hire someone for the protection of a mere Martial King, made Lin Fei suspect that she was, indeed, the employer, being cautious and careful to conceal her identity.

Lin Fei quickly surmised that the woman in the black robe was likely one of those legendary "lucky ones" rumored about in Great Dream City. She had managed to obtain the Great Dream Heart Sutra despite her low realm and had successfully cultivated it to gain access to the city.

Using the resources and information available in Great Dream City, she had risen rapidly. Once perhaps just a mortal or martial saint, she had now found herself among Martial Gods and even True Monarchs, leveraging even the slightest resources to her great advantage.

"From now on, I'll call you Uncle Lin," the woman said. "You can refer to me as 'Young Master'. Aside from necessary communication, try not to speak. The task is to accompany me to and from Black Moon City within a month. Once that's done, you'll have completed the task."

Lin Fei found her conditions intriguing but simple enough for a hiring mission. Yet, he was cautious, "If you're pursued and I have to intervene, the cost is a hundred contribution points for opponents below Martial God level and a thousand for those above."

"Regardless, you must ensure my safety," she insisted.

Lin Fei understood her fears. Black Moon City was chaotic, and a Martial King like her was vulnerable to danger. However, accompanied by a Martial God, her safety was considerably more assured. Her specific request for a Martial God who hadn't crossed the Thunder Tribulation might indicate she wanted someone strong but not overwhelmingly so, in case they harbored ill intentions.

"Agreed, I'll do it," Lin Fei responded, and the woman nodded in satisfaction, declaring an immediate departure for Black Moon City.

Lin Fei quickly adapted to his new "role". He was curious about the woman's intentions in hiring him and the nature of her mission, especially considering her pretense and the effort to hide her identity. She seemed affluent, possibly possessing magical treasures, and was familiar with the Divine Realm, unlike Lin Fei, who was venturing outside the Ancient Covenant for the first time.

The journey was quiet, with little conversation between them. As they neared Black Moon City, the sky darkened under the shadow of the Black Moon, a sign of entering the domain of the Supreme Black Moon.

"We are now within the domain of the Supreme Black Moon," she explained. "Wherever the Black Moon hangs in the sky, that's his territory. Black Moon City isn't far now."

True to her words, Lin Fei soon saw the massive city bustling with people, many of whom cast wary and sharp glances at them, sensing the presence of outsiders.