Free Web NovelChapter 2: Chapter 2: Mission
Zone A Mission:
1. A suspected Spiritual Martial Level Demon Fiend has appeared in East Mountain County of the Great Yan Dynasty. Slaying it will grant an additional reward of 200 Spirit Stones.
Base Mission Reward: 200 Contribution Points per person
(Note: This is a three-person team mission.)
Seeing the words "Demon Fiend," Gu Yun’s eyes narrowed and his heart stirred.
He had heard that in this world, there were Demon Fiends that delighted in destruction and devouring humans. These Demon Fiends were unfazed by blades and swords. Their Life Force was so tenacious that they could still escape even after suffering a grievous wound to the head.
They were beings that were incredibly difficult for mortals to overcome and were the common enemy of the entire Human Race.
However, Demon Fiends were so rare that an ordinary person might go their whole life without ever encountering one.
’But this reward is quite generous,’ Gu Yun thought. ’An extra 200 Spirit Stones. Split between us, that’s still 50 Spirit Stones each.’
Spirit Stones contained abundant Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, making them ideal for Cultivation. They could also be used for trade. To put it simply, Spirit Stones were the hard currency among Cultivators.
Considering Gu Yun’s previous rank in the hundreds within the Sect, he only received a monthly stipend of two Spirit Stones.
"Junior Brother, this mission is great, but how will we handle a three-person task?" Gu Yun asked calmly.
"Haha, don’t worry, Senior Brother. I’ve already used a Sound Transmission Stone to invite another friend," Li Xingyue said with a smile.
About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a figure appeared before the Miscellaneous Affairs Tower.
He was a tall, powerfully built young man dressed in an ink-wash profound robe. His features were sharp and well-defined, exuding an air of stern integrity. He had thick, black hair and brows that slanted upward toward his temples, and his eyes held a calmness as steady as Mount Tai. This was Xiao Chen of the Ninth Institute.
"Senior Brother, this is Xiao Chen from the Ninth Institute," Li Xingyue introduced.
Gu Yun observed that although Xiao Chen’s Cultivation was only at the Spiritual Martial Eighth Layer Peak, he gave off a faint sense of danger.
"Brother Xiao! It’s true what they say, seeing is believing," Gu Yun said, cupping his fist.
Gu Yun had already heard about this Xiao Chen from the Ninth Institute from other disciples. He was said to be the third young master of the Xiao Family from Wangjiang City in the Great Yan Dynasty.
He had been a true genius since childhood, but at the age of twelve, his Spiritual Power began to regress for some unknown reason. In just one year, he fell from the Spiritual Martial Seventh Layer all the way down to the Spiritual Martial Second Layer.
Later, his fiancée from the Capital City came to break off their engagement, bringing humiliation upon his father.
The young man had shouted, "Thirty years the river flows east, thirty years it flows west. Don’t you dare bully a young man for his poverty!"
He made a five-year pact, then later recovered his talent and began a meteoric rise, joining the Profound Celestial Sect two and a half years ago.
Hearing this, Gu Yun was completely stunned. ’Now *this* is what you call a goddamn Child of Destiny! What is a Child of Destiny? This is it!’
At that thought, Gu Yun glanced subconsciously at Xiao Chen’s fingers. ’Too bad he’s not wearing a ring, otherwise the resemblance would be too damn uncanny.’
When Xiao Chen saw Gu Yun, his eyes narrowed slightly. ’This man exudes an aura that I find dangerous. His strength must be extraordinary. Li Xingyue’s senior brother is indeed no simple character.’
With the team assembled, the three of them quickly gathered their things and set off immediately.
The trio descended the mountain. Along the way, Gu Yun continuously used the Wandering Dragon Step to travel.
They journeyed a thousand li north to the border of the Great Yan Dynasty, then headed east for another eight hundred li.
[You used Wandering Dragon Step to travel. Continuous use has made you more proficient. Your Wandering Dragon Step Skill Level +1%.]
[After a period of practice and application, your understanding of Wandering Dragon Step has deepened. You feel a sense of sudden enlightenment. Your Wandering Dragon Step Skill Level +3%.]
...
Watching the updates on his panel, Gu Yun felt a trace of joy in his heart.
Name: Gu Yun
Realm: Spiritual Martial Ninth Layer Early Stage
Cultivation Technique: Celestial Thunder Technique (3rd Layer 69%)
Martial Techniques: Wind and Thunder Saber Technique (Great Success 89%)
Mountain-Breaking Fist (Great Success 50%)
Wandering Dragon Step (Great Success 72%)
Technique: Celestial Thunder Technique (Minor Success 19%)
Saber Momentum: Minor Success Saber Momentum (2%)
Three days later, the group arrived at East Mountain County in Molin City.
The County Magistrate of East Mountain County and his entourage had been waiting at the city gates for some time. Beside him stood the county’s Chief Constable, Chief Zhao, who was at the Spiritual Martial Seventh Layer Early Stage.
Chief Zhao was around thirty years old, tall and muscular, with an imposing and powerful build. He had a rectangular face, bright, piercing eyes, and a righteous expression.
The County Magistrate of East Mountain County was a slightly plump, amiable-looking middle-aged man in his forties or fifties with small eyes. He saw the three of them approaching in the robes of the Profound Celestial Sect’s Outer Sect.
He hurried forward. "Might you be the three Immortal Masters from the Profound Celestial Sect who have accepted the mission to eliminate the Spiritual Martial Level Demon Fiend?
"You three are truly talented young heroes, worthy of being disciples of an immortal sect. I am Song Dehou, the County Magistrate of East Mountain County. Forgive me for not welcoming you from further away on your arrival. A banquet has been prepared at my humble residence. Please, Immortal Masters, grace us with your presence."
Song Dehou was all smiles, his voice overflowing with enthusiasm yet tinged with humility, his words dripping with flattery.
The Great Yan Dynasty was, after all, a vassal state of the Profound Celestial Sect.
Hearing Song Dehou’s fawning flattery, Gu Yun and the other two couldn’t help but blush slightly.
Li Xingyue stepped forward and clasped his hands together. "Lord Magistrate, you jest. We can’t be called talented young heroes, much less bear the title of Immortal Master. Please, just call us by our names."
’I know my place,’ Li Xingyue thought. ’Until I enter the Inner Sect, I am nothing more than an insignificant ant.’
Only Inner Sect Disciples of the Profound Celestial Sect, those who had broken through to the True Martial Realm—able to fly through the sky, traverse the earth, and live for three hundred years—were truly qualified to be called "Immortal Master" by outsiders.
"You are more than worthy! To have reached the Eighth and Ninth Layer of the Spiritual Martial Realm at such a young age, your entry into the Inner Sect is practically a sure thing. How could you not be called talented young heroes?"
Song Dehou was a smooth operator, adept at navigating social situations and pleasing everyone.
After some more pleasantries, however, Gu Yun stepped forward and said seriously, "Lord Magistrate, there is no need for such ceremony. We are here on a commission to deal with the suspected Demon Fiend. Please take us to see the relevant files on it."
Song Dehou’s smile remained. "Of course. If the Immortal Masters say so, then it shall be done. Please, follow me."
As the topic shifted to the Demon Fiend, Song Dehou’s expression grew heavy, a look of resentment clouding his features.
The group then proceeded to the Government Office.
Upon entering the Government Office, they were met with the sight of a spacious hall. Dozens of mahogany chairs were arranged neatly inside, and a tall desk stood at the very center.
A few moments later, Gu Yun and the others were led to the confidential records room.
"Inside are the case files related to the Demon Fiend. Please, my lords, take a look." Song Dehou handed a stack of scrolls to the three of them.
The three of them took turns reading through the files.
Li Xingyue said, "I’m afraid this Demon Fiend is no simple matter." Gu Yun nodded gravely.
"Lord Magistrate, how many constables are left in the Government Office?" Gu Yun asked Song Dehou.
"We only have a few dozen constables now. The number has shrunk considerably."
Chief Zhao immediately stepped forward. "The total number of constables in the county is now just fifty-eight. Some of them are injured or disabled. In truth, we have fewer than forty who are fit for duty."
Most of those forty were low-ranking constables at the Second or Third Layer.
The corner of Xiao Chen’s mouth tilted up slightly. "This Demon Fiend usually appears at night. In that case, we should make preparations in advance."
The places the Demon Fiend was most likely to attack next were the County Magistrate’s Office in the city, the area near the Wang Family estate in the north, and the Yingchun Tower in the south. These three locations had the highest foot traffic at night.
Li Xingyue tapped his fingers on the table and said slowly, "Then we should split into three groups and set up an ambush in advance."
Hearing this, Gu Yun nodded.
Then, Xiao Chen said in a low voice, "Night is falling. Time is of the essence. We must set out now."
