This was the highest point in the entire Lingxiao Sect, and even in the entire Central Province. The biting Astral Wind raged here year-round without rest, polishing the surrounding boulders until they were smooth as new, yet it could not dispel the thick fog that made it impossible to see one’s hand in front of one’s face.
Lingxiao Sect, Yinjianping.
And in this harsh environment, a sharp Sword Chi tore through the sea of clouds.
Ji Xuerou wore a white and gold fitted combat outfit. Bixiao traced a dazzling sword light through the air. The clouds were torn apart by it, and the surrounding boulders turned to powder under that single strike.
Ji Xuerou frowned deeply.
No. This still wasn’t enough.
Her sword was indeed fast, and its power was among the strongest. But compared to her battle with Wu Yan that day, she always felt that something was missing.
“An unsettled heart makes for an unstable sword.”
A lazy voice drifted into Ji Xuerou’s ears.
Ji Xuerou quickly turned around. A woman in a purple-gold palace robe had silently appeared behind her. Her robe was half-open, revealing a dazzling expanse of snowy skin. Her black hair was scattered casually over her face, chest, and back. In her hand, she carried a pot of tea and a cup.
The visitor was none other than the Sect Master of the Lingxiao Sect, Ji Xuerou’s master, and one of the strongest cultivators on the continent—Shen Qingzhou.
“Master.”
Shen Qingzhou poured herself a full cup of tea and brought it to her lips.
“Still thinking about the Grand Competition?”
Frustration clouded Ji Xuerou’s exquisitely beautiful face. “I am. I lost fair and square. Now I train hard just to surpass her… but no matter what I do, I can’t find the feeling of being able to beat her. Especially that move she used in the Illusionary Realm. If I had to face it, I’m afraid I would be helpless even if I used everything I had.”
Ji Xuerou paused, as if considering how to phrase her next words.
The remaining tea splashed out and collided with the violent Astral Wind, actually causing it to stop.
“Heh.” Shen Qingzhou let out a soft laugh, shaking her teacup. “Do you really want to beat that girl from the Piaomiao Sect that badly?”
“Yes.”
Shen Qingzhou waved her hand. The thick fog on Yinjianping instantly condensed into water droplets, falling onto the dry land of the villages near the Lingxiao Sect, causing the villagers to cry out in awe of a “miracle.” Her figure vanished.
“The Lingxiao Sect is too high.”
Shen Qingzhou’s voice became ethereal and elusive.
Ji Xuerou understood what Shen Qingzhou meant.
As far back as she could remember, she had always lived in the Lingxiao Sect. Whether it was training, combat, or demon hunting, she had abundant resources and connections.
She was silent for a moment, then sheathed Bixiao. Her eyes were filled with determination.
“Master, I need to leave.”
“Oh? Where to?” Shen Qingzhou asked knowingly.
“According to protocol, I can apply for an external training assignment. I want to go to the Piaomiao Sect.”
“The Piaomiao Sect.” Ji Xuerou answered without hesitation.
“Tsk tsk tsk. That backwater place? The Spirit Chi density there is only half of ours. And I heard that Xia Lingshuang is fiercely protective of her people. Are you going there to suffer?”
“I’m going.”
Ji Xuerou did not back down. She held firm to her decision.
“I want to see what kind of place could raise a Sword Cultivator like Wu Yan.”
As she finished speaking, the space before Ji Xuerou twisted abruptly. From the twisted space fell a purple-gold token engraved with the characters “Lingxiao.”
“Go. I hope that when you return, I’ll see your progress. At least let me know what it is you’re swinging your sword for.”
Ji Xuerou took the token and bowed solemnly toward the empty air.
“Thank you, Master.”
—
Piaomiao Sect, Affairs Hall.
Unlike the tranquil cultivation grounds, the Affairs Hall was far livelier.
Whether they were Outer Sect Disciples, Inner Disciples, or Core Disciples, if they wanted to earn sect points, they had to accept and complete tasks here.
After obtaining the enormous sum of 200,000 High-grade Spiritual Stones, the originally ordinary Affairs Hall had been upgraded and renovated.
The task jade slips that used to be posted on the walls now hung from the ceiling. A filtering function had also been added, allowing disciples to more quickly select suitable tasks.
When Wu Yan entered the Affairs Hall, it was bustling with activity. Even though she was the winner of the Five Sects Tournament, she didn’t attract much attention.
The white sword tassel swung at her waist as she moved. Wu Yan quickly walked up to a light screen.
After her slender fingers pointed and swiped across the screen, a task jade slip suited to her floated before her.
“Filter: Golden Core Stage. Exclude: Search.”
“Sweep the Qi Refining Beast Tide. Capture Demonic Cultivator A01…”
The tasks were overwhelming, but Wu Yan spotted one that piqued her interest.
Investigate the Truth of the Tong Family Massacre.
Bai Zhiqiu had mentioned this Tong family during their earlier conversation. Wu Yan remembered that it was a mortal family that relied on a second-tier sect under the Tianyan Sect. According to Bai Zhiqiu, the family had been a legend in the mortal world—rising from nothing to become a local hegemon in just over a decade.
To think they had been wiped out?
Wu Yan’s mind stirred. She reached out to take the jade slip.
But the moment her hand touched the jade slip, something strange happened.
The jade slip suddenly became scorching hot, causing Wu Yan to throw it away on reflex.
A dazzling golden light pierced through the clouds, through the doors, crossing the entire hall. It struck the jade slip Wu Yan had tossed with pinpoint accuracy. The words “Investigate the Truth of the Tong Family Massacre” on the jade slip were erased by that domineering golden light. In their place appeared new lines of golden characters.
[Passing the Torch.
Task Content: Serve as sword technique instructor for Outer Sect Disciples
Task Requirements: At least one session per week, responsible for teaching basic sword technique theory and practical combat
Task Duration: Unlimited
Issuer: ???
Recipient: Wu Yan]
Within the Affairs Hall, hundreds of disciples were startled by the commotion. They stared blankly at the radiant golden jade token.
They thought that after accepting tasks for so long, they had seen everything. But today, they realized that some things still surprised them.
As expected of the Senior Sister. Truly different.
“Tch. All that flashy nonsense. At its core, it’s just a trash Soul Transformation clone.”
Wu Yan (Inner) curled her lips and muttered in disdain.
Who else could cause such a spectacle if not that trash Sect Master with her Soul Transformation clone?
“But it’s kind of interesting.”
Her tone shifted. Wu Yan (Inner) suddenly changed her expression and tugged at Wu Yan’s arm with interest. “I want to see what kind of teaching you, this block of wood, can manage. Let’s hope you don’t lead the students astray~”
Wu Yan took down the jade token and placed it into her Storage Bag. Since the task had already been assigned, there was no need to look for others.
There might be more troublesome things waiting for her. First, the strangely behaving Yu Qingyao, then Xia Lingshuang coming to her frequently, and now even the Sect Master had gotten involved.
A hint of unease surfaced in Wu Yan’s heart. Her intuition told her that the coming days would not be peaceful.
—
Jinmo Island, Demon-Lock Cave.
A man in a black robe and ghost mask who had come for the handover asked his companion.
“Did they talk today?”
“Talk, my ass! These people are like they’ve been brainwashed. No matter what you ask, they don’t answer. They just sit there babbling nonsense.”
“Sigh. Take it easy. It’s a long-term job anyway. Take it slow. Someone will eventually break.”
“Hope so.”
Outside the dungeon, the sound of their conversation faded. The surroundings gradually fell silent.
Lin Xiao’s eyes snapped open. A pair of blood-red pupils gleamed with savagery. Even though his hands and feet were bound, he still appeared composed.
“Hah—calm down, calm down! It’s not time yet!”
He breathed deeply, dispersing the bloodlight from his eyes. Only the barely concealed sneer at the corner of his mouth was especially prominent.
“Wu Yan, Xia Lingshuang, Piaomiao Sect… just you wait! The Great Darkness will devour all of you!”
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