Chapter 11: Task Hall

Since then, Lu Yang’s life became quite fulfilling. In the early mornings, he would sit atop the mountain, facing the sky with his palms and soles open, bathing in the morning light. The mornings were spent refining his swordsmanship, nurturing his sword with his heart. At noon, he would lie on a tree branch, napping for an hour or so. The afternoons saw him full of energy, sparring with puppets and getting beaten by them. After dinner, he would read late into the night by candlelight, completing the assignments his Senior Disciple Sister had given him.

A year passed like this, and Lu Yang's cultivation steadily improved.

“Look, isn’t that the Sect Master’s fourth disciple, Lu Yang, the one with the Sword Spirit Root?”

Inside the Mission Hall, Lu Yang stood in a white robe, his eyes gleaming with vitality. The hilt of the precious sword at his waist was adorned with a striking red tassel, making him particularly noticeable. Anyone who saw him would praise him as a promising young talent.

Most disciples of the Dao Inquiring Sect were familiar with each other, especially in places like the Mission Hall. Whenever someone unusual appeared, there would always be a bit of chatter, driven by curiosity. Lu Yang, being the first-place finisher in the entrance trials, possessing a Sword Spirit Root, having provoked the good-tempered River Spirit and Dai Bufan, becoming a disciple under the Sect Master, and receiving personal guidance from his Senior Disciple Sister — all these factors combined had made him shine brightly among the new generation of disciples, earning him considerable fame. Even Tao Yaoye, with her celestial beauty, couldn't match Lu Yang's renown.

“That Lu Yang, the one personally tutored by the Senior Disciple Sister? Oh, it really is him.”

“I heard he just reached the Foundation Establishment stage a few days ago, after being in the sect for only a year.”

“He’s at Foundation Establishment now, no wonder he’s in the Mission Hall. It looks like he’s here to take on a mission for experience.”

Lu Yang was already accustomed to the stares, which were like those reserved for rare animals. His fellow disciples were right; he had successfully achieved Foundation Establishment seven days prior, and then spent another seven days solidifying his cultivation. Only then did he formally emerge from seclusion, following his Senior Disciple Sister’s instructions to venture out more often.

In the Mission Hall, Lu Yang was amazed by the sheer variety of tasks available. They ranged from slaying ancient demon lords of the Integration stage, whose deeds created mountains of corpses and seas of blood, to simply helping find lost cats and dogs—everything imaginable. For instance, the mission Lu Yang was currently reading requested a legitimate dual cultivation technique. Dual cultivation techniques were categorized into two types: legitimate and illegitimate. Legitimate techniques, of course, involved mutual assistance between male and female cultivators to harmonize yin and yang. As for illegitimate techniques, there was no need to elaborate.

The mission had been posted by a fox demon registered with the Dao Inquiring Sect. While the Dao Inquiring Sect’s duties included subduing demons and devils, they did not indiscriminately slay every demon they encountered. On the contrary, for demons with a clear identity and no malicious intent towards humans, the sect would not subdue them. Instead, they would register these demons and grant them legal status. This fox demon was one such case.

The fox demon was named Su Yan. She was an ordinary little fox living deep in the mountains. While playing, she got caught in a hunter's trap. Fortunately, a disciple from an aristocratic family happened to be playing on the mountain and rescued Su Yan, effectively foiling the hunter's efforts for the day. Later, Su Yan consumed a Transformation Fruit in a hidden cave, which activated the bloodline hidden within her, turning her into a fox demon. Grateful, Su Yan transformed into human form to repay the aristocratic family disciple. By then, the aristocratic disciple had become the current family patriarch. He had seen countless women, but none could rival Su Yan's beauty. They naturally married.

Then a problem arose. Fox demons possessed a naturally alluring physique and uncontrollably absorbed Yang energy. During intimate moments, the husband would always be the one whose Yang energy was drawn away. Fortunately, Yang energy could be restored, and it wasn't fatal; simply reducing the frequency of intimacy would suffice. However, being newlywed and having to limit their intimate life was something neither of them desired. If the frequency was high, the husband would gradually become haggard, leading to gossip. For this reason, Su Yan hoped to cultivate a legitimate dual cultivation technique to control her alluring fox demon physique.

This mission had been posted for a long time, but no one had taken it. It wasn't that dual cultivation techniques were rare. It was more that whoever completed the mission would be seen as possessing a legitimate dual cultivation technique, and with that, people would inevitably wonder if they also had illegitimate ones. If fellow disciples asked you for illegitimate dual cultivation techniques, would you say you had them or not? Would you give them or not? How would your Senior and Junior Disciple Sisters view you?

“This mission isn’t bad; I’ll take it,” someone behind Lu Yang said. From the voice, Lu Yang knew it was Meng Jingzhou. Meng Jingzhou was the most suitable person for this mission. Given his family's status, he would certainly not lack dual cultivation techniques, and with his Pure Yang Spirit Root, he definitely wouldn't possess any illegitimate ones. Even if Meng Jingzhou had illegitimate dual cultivation techniques, they would be unable to use them anyway.

Meng Jingzhou had reached Foundation Establishment earlier than Lu Yang, and this was his third mission. “You’ve reached Foundation Establishment too?” Meng Jingzhou asked with a smile. Both of them possessed mutated single spirit roots, so their cultivation talents were not far apart. Lu Yang reaching Foundation Establishment a bit later than him was somewhat unexpected. Thinking of his past year's grueling training he received from his Senior Disciple Sister, Lu Yang sighed, “Finally, Foundation Establishment.”

“Once I finish this mission, let's have a good meal together; it’s on me,” Meng Jingzhou declared grandly. He had plenty of spirit stones.

After Meng Jingzhou left, Lu Yang continued browsing the missions posted on the wall.

“Traces of Demonic Cultivation rituals have been suspected in the north. Cultivators at the Golden Core stage and above are advised to investigate. The mission reward is 400 contribution points, with additional rewards for discovering further information.”

“Daoist Master Li Hong of Shanhaiguan has lost a pet. Personnel are needed to find it.”

Lu Yang paused, thinking this mission seemed good; finding a small cat or dog wouldn’t be dangerous. Then he read further.

“Lost pet: a Twin-Winged Fierce Tiger, at the Mid Nascent Soul stage of cultivation. Reward for finding: 5,000 contribution points.”

Lu Yang recoiled. A Nascent Soul stage demonic beast, and a Twin-Winged Fierce Tiger with ancient bloodline—the very source of the idiom “adding wings to a tiger.” He wouldn't even qualify as a toothpick for that creature. Next, next.

“Unusual spiritual energy fluctuations have been detected on Kunwu Mountain during the transition from day to night, possibly indicating an undiscovered Grotto-Heaven. Investigation is required. Cultivators at the Late Nascent Soul stage and above are advised to go. Mission reward: 8,000 contribution points, with additional rewards if the Grotto-Heaven is valuable.”

Another mission irrelevant to Lu Yang.

Outside the sect, a Qi Condensation cultivator could travel the jianghu and be called an expert. A Foundation Establishment cultivator could dominate a small area, bringing blessings for a hundred years. A Golden Core cultivator would dare to call themselves a True Person and establish their own sect. But in the Dao Inquiring Sect, any random passerby was at the Golden Core stage. If you threw a brick, you’d hit a whole crowd… and average disciples would simply throw the brick back.

All Dao Inquiring Sect disciples were elites, chosen one in a thousand. Before Lu Yang’s cohort of new recruits, the Dao Inquiring Sect didn’t even have Qi Condensation or Foundation Establishment cultivators; the lowest cultivation level for a disciple was Golden Core. No matter how successful you were in the outside world, you had to behave yourself once you returned to the Dao Inquiring Sect. Consequently, there weren't many missions suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators. Lu Yang looked at several in a row, all requiring either Golden Core or Nascent Soul cultivation.

He also noticed a special mission.

“Long-term Mission: Collect cultivation techniques not yet recorded by the Dao Inquiring Sect. Rewards will be determined based on the content of the technique.”

“Note: Senior Disciple Sister Yunzhi is requested not to accept this mission. The Scripture Pavilion has already opened a 'Yunzhi Section' where Senior Disciple Sister Yunzhi may directly place any cultivation techniques she has written.”