On the way back from the Star Observing Platform to the Sword Courtyard, Ye Chen’s mind remained immersed in the deduction of the nameless sword technique.
It was a peculiar state, as if his soul had been split in two—one half walking on the stone-paved road of reality, the other engaged within the boundless space of his Sea of Consciousness, constantly disassembling and reconstructing the rhythm of sword moves with a blurred figure representing the “Primordial Sword Sovereign”.
This immersion was interrupted by a figure as he reached the entrance of the Sword Courtyard.
It was a young man dressed in dark blue martial attire, evidently a disciple of the Sect’s Disciplinary Hall.
His posture was upright and his aura steady, clearly not weak in cultivation.
He stood in the middle of the road, as if he had been waiting for some time.
Upon seeing Ye Chen, he did not display any arrogance; instead, he clasped his hands and bowed respectfully.
“Junior Brother Ye Chen.”
Ye Chen returned from his thoughts, stopped, and looked at him calmly.
“Senior Brother, is there something you need?”
“I am Zhao Dong, a disciple of the Disciplinary Hall.”
The young man introduced himself and got straight to the point.
“I came today regarding sect regulations. According to inner sect rules, every disciple above Foundation Establishment must complete at least one sect task or accumulate one thousand contribution points every two years to prove their value to the sect.”
He paused, observing Ye Chen’s expression.
Seeing that he remained unperturbed, he continued.
“The records show that you’ve been in the sect for over two years, but your contribution points… remain at zero. According to the rules, the Disciplinary Hall must issue you a warning.”
“If you fail to make up the one thousand points within the next year, this matter will be reported to Sky Sword Peak. At that time… your registered disciple status may be revoked and downgraded to an ordinary inner sect disciple.”
Ye Chen touched his chin, a look of understanding in his eyes.
So there was such a rule.
It was reasonable—after all, the sect was not a charity.
They could not support a disciple who only took without giving back.
Seeing Ye Chen silent, Zhao Dong assumed he was displeased and hurried to add.
“Please do not be angry, Junior Brother Chen. I am only following orders—there is nothing I can do.”
He lowered his voice, a cautious kindness in his tone.
“In fact… for you, this is but a trivial matter. If you simply send a message to Senior Sister Xiao Xiao, those on Sky Sword Peak will handle these minor issues for you.”
This was the “optimal solution” known throughout the sect.
Inner sect rules did not apply to the seventy-two main peaks, and each main peak had its own regulations.
Ye Chen, however, slowly shook his head.
Between him and Xiao Xiao, their relationship was no longer a simple master-servant bond.
That heavy emotion—one that threatened to drag him into the abyss—made him subconsciously wish to keep his distance.
For the past two years, he had regarded the monthly communications as a “responsibility” necessary to maintain a fragile balance.
He was already striving to minimize unnecessary contact.
How could he stir those seemingly calm waters over such a trivial matter?
Worldly ties should flow like water, not be dammed and forced to stay.
“Thank you for informing me, Senior Brother.”
Ye Chen also clasped his hands and returned the gesture, his tone sincere.
“As a member of the sect, enjoying its protection, I must contribute my share. To hold a position and not fulfill its duties is not the way of a cultivator. Please, Senior Brother, take me to the Task Hall.”
Zhao Dong was stunned.
He had prepared a stomach full of arguments and was even ready to be coldly rebuffed and return to report in disgrace.
There were too many rumors about Ye Chen within the sect—some said he was aloof and unapproachable, others that he only survived on Sky Sword Peak thanks to Senior Sister Xiao Xiao.
None of them painted him as someone so reasonable.
He did not expect the other party to not only show no anger but also accept the matter calmly, speaking with a sense of righteousness.
“Ah… Yes, of course!”
Zhao Dong’s tense nerves relaxed instantly, and his impression of Ye Chen quietly changed.
“Please, this way, Junior Brother.”
On the way, he muttered inwardly: It seems the rumors were greatly exaggerated.
This Senior Brother Ye Chen is not only polite, but likely didn’t rely on external means for his ranking at the Lake of Dao Inquiry.
—
Inside the Task Hall, the place was bustling.
A huge light screen hung in the center of the hall, scrolling with hundreds or thousands of tasks.
The air was mixed with the faint scents of ink, spirit stones, and the herbal fragrance carried by the disciples.
Ye Chen’s arrival instantly caused a stir.
Whispers rose almost immediately, and countless curious, respectful, and jealous gazes converged from all directions.
Ye Chen ignored it all.
After bidding farewell to Zhao Dong, he walked straight to the task light screen and began browsing seriously, like any other ordinary inner sect disciple.
[Escort Task: Escort the Tianbao Pavilion caravan to the Hundred Yue Nation. The journey is long and there may be demonic beast attacks. Recommended cultivation: Late Foundation Establishment. Reward: Three hundred contribution points.]
Too time-consuming.
Pass.
[Hunting Task: Head to the Black Mist Mountains, hunt a third-rank Cang Wolf, and retrieve its Demon Core. Recommended cultivation: Late Foundation Establishment. Reward: Five hundred contribution points.]
Too little reward, too much trouble.
Ye Chen’s gaze swept swiftly, filtering rationally in his mind.
To him, these tasks were reduced to a few key data points: time, distance, and reward.
His gaze finally settled on a task most people instinctively ignored.
[Commission Task: Travel to Zixiao City and resolve the commission of the mortal Lin Clan. Details to be discussed in person. Recommended cultivation: Early Golden Core. Reward: One thousand contribution points.]
This one.
The reward was just right—one thousand points.
The location was at Zixiao City at the foot of the mountain, and round-trip via teleportation array would take only a day.
As for the task content… How troublesome could a mortal clan’s commission be?
That “Early Golden Core” recommended cultivation seemed more like a deterrent to reduce competition.
As for himself, condensing a Golden Core was but a thought away.
However, the Divine Will deep in his Sea of Consciousness always sent a warning whenever he intended to break through—“The time is not yet ripe. The foundation is still unstable.”
So he simply stopped forcing it and let things take their course.
Without hesitation, Ye Chen reached out and lightly tapped the task light screen.
A flash of spiritual light, and a jade token representing the task slid out from the slot below the screen.
In that instant, all the whispers in the Task Hall ceased.
Every gaze focused on Ye Chen and the jade token in his hand, filled with disbelief.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator taking a Golden Core level task?
Was he insane?
Ye Chen merely picked up the jade token calmly, turned, and walked out of the Task Hall under countless shocked gazes.
He wanted to see just what secret was hidden in the commission from the mortal Lin Clan.