Handover

Traveling through the lake with the Water Escape Technique.

Su Bai lowered his head and saw a type of spirit grass at the pitch-black lakebed, emitting a faint yellow glow.

They flickered across the lakebed like stars in the night sky, quite mysterious and wondrous.

These were Spirit Moon Lake's specialty, Spirit Moon Grass.

According to the mission instructions he had received upon arrival, one of Su Bai's daily tasks was to use the Water Escape Technique to dive to the lakebed and gather mature Spirit Moon Grass.

Before long, the three of them approached Lake Heart Isle and leaped out of the lake together.

Once they reached land again, they had arrived on Lake Heart Isle.

The tiny Lake Heart Isle had been arranged by the Jade Mist Sect Disciples to resemble an immortal realm: a small bamboo forest, several thatched huts, and two cranes preening their feathers by the lake. Even at the sight of strangers, they were unafraid.

The Spirit Gathering Array gathered the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy onto Lake Heart Isle. Though it was not as dense as the Jade Mist Sect's mountain gate, it still possessed seventy or eighty percent of that spiritual energy's character.

"Senior Brother Zhao, the Outer Disciples newly assigned by the sect to guard Spirit Moon Lake have arrived!" the Round-faced Senior Brother called toward one of the thatched huts.

As his voice fell, a tall youth Cultivator wearing the Inner Sect's black sect robes walked out of the thatched hut.

The Short Senior Brother quietly introduced him to Su Bai. "This is the Senior Brother primarily responsible for the Spirit Moon Lake resource point, Senior Brother Zhao Shanhe. He has cultivation at the eighth level of the Qi Refining Stage!"

Jade Mist Sect missions often involved Outer Disciples and Inner Disciples carrying them out together.

Just like now.

Of course, the sect mission rewards for the two were Completely Different.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Zhao. This Disciple is Su Bai, here to take over the Spirit Moon Lake duty mission!" Su Bai said, cupping his hands toward Zhao Shanhe.

Zhao Shanhe gave a slight nod and extended his hand.

Su Bai presented the Jade Talisman.

Zhao Shanhe accepted the Jade Talisman and lightly brushed it. "All right, the information has been updated."

"You may set out and return to the sect."

The latter sentence was directed at the short Cultivator.

The short Cultivator's face lit up with delight. "Junior Brother Su, I'll leave this place to you!"

"Senior Brother Zhao, Senior Brother Wang, I'll be off first!"

The short Cultivator activated the Water Escape Technique and plunged into the lake, swiftly vanishing from everyone's sight.

Only later did Su Bai learn from the Round-faced Senior Brother that the fellow had remained at Spirit Moon Lake for a full three years and had long wanted to change locations.

That was why he had left so decisively and swiftly.

Zhao Shanhe spoke at this moment. "Wang Jue, over the next few days, you'll be responsible for showing Su Bai the daily routines at Spirit Moon Lake."

The Round-faced Senior Brother named Wang Jue cupped his hands. "No problem, Senior Brother. Leave everything to me."

"Mm." Zhao Shanhe nodded slightly. "Su Bai, if there is anything you do not understand, simply ask Wang Jue."

After saying that, Zhao Shanhe returned to one of the thatched huts.

"Senior Brother Zhao cultivates very diligently. Unless something comes up, he generally stays inside cultivating in seclusion."

Wang Jue then handed Su Bai something the size of a palm. "Junior Brother Su, this is an Accessory Magical Tool for the Warning Array."

Su Bai accepted it.

The so-called Accessory Magical Tool was palm-sized, with a circular beam of light in its center.

Its sole purpose was to send a notification through it at the First Moment when the Warning Array was triggered, while also marking the exact location where it had been triggered.

That made it convenient for the Disciples to rush to the target location at the First Moment.

Following Wang Jue's example, Su Bai hung it from his chest.

This way, he would be able to detect changes in the Warning Array at the First Moment.

Wang Jue then led Su Bai to choose a thatched hut as his daily residence.

Su Bai briefly arranged his living supplies.

Then, at Wang Jue's invitation, the two sat beside a Stone Table beneath the bamboo forest.

Wang Jue took out a teapot, gathered flames at his fingertips, and skillfully brewed a pot of Spirit Tea for Su Bai.

"Junior Brother Su, let me tell you about our daily routine."

"Under normal circumstances, those that break into the Warning Array are merely small Demonic Beasts."

"One Fireball Technique is enough to deal with them. They are practically here to add another dish to our table."

"Demonic Beast Meat tastes quite good... and it can also strengthen the physique and one's strength to some extent..."

"If we truly encounter something we cannot handle, Senior Brother Zhao will act," Wang Jue said.

"Then there is the gathering of Spirit Moon Grass. It happens once a month, and we gather enough mature Spirit Moon Grass."

"The sect will send Disciples over to collect the Spirit Moon Grass."

"When gathering it, the two of us act together. We can finish in one shichen."

"That is roughly the daily task."

Su Bai nodded.

Guarding Spirit Moon Lake and gathering Spirit Moon Grass—those were the only two cores of this mission.

He took a sip of Spirit Tea and found that it was refreshing and fragrant upon entering his mouth. Even the Spiritual Power Within Body became somewhat more active, and his eyes could not help but brighten slightly.

This stuff was beneficial to cultivation!

"Hehe, this Spirit Tea is one of the benefits of Spirit Moon Lake!"

"Junior Brother Su, come with me!"

Wang Jue led Su Bai to the other end of Lake Heart Isle, where three Spirit Tea Trees stood growing shoulder to shoulder.

"These are three Spirit Tea Trees that grew naturally at Spirit Moon Lake."

"We call it Spirit Moon Tea."

"Disciples on duty at Spirit Moon Lake can pick the leaves freely and brew them into tea."

That truly was a fine benefit.

However, there were no Labor Disciples at Spirit Moon Lake to cook Spirit Rice daily. These Spirit Tea Trees Can Be Considered something that Made Up For it.

Wang Jue spoke again at this moment. "Junior Brother Su, you only arrived today."

"So I'll let you try another benefit!"

Wang Jue activated the Water Escape Technique and plunged headfirst to the lakebed.

Roughly several minutes passed.

Wang Jue emerged from the lake, holding two White Fish as long as forearms. Their bodies kept wriggling, and they emitted faint Spiritual Light.

Wang Jue flipped ashore, skillfully cleaned the White Fish, conjured fire with a spell, threaded the two fish onto skewers, and placed them over the flames to roast.

"These are White Fish, the Spirit Fish specialty of Spirit Moon Lake. They usually eat Spirit Moon Grass."

"But their droppings stimulate the growth of Spirit Moon Grass."

"Thus, we need to keep the number of White Fish within a certain range, yet we cannot wipe them out entirely. This forms a symbiotic relationship."

"By calculation, as long as we eat three to five White Fish a day, we can maintain the normal White Fish population."

"The effects of this White Fish meat are even stronger than Spirit Rice!"

"Junior Brother Su, you must give it a proper taste later!"

Wang Jue patted his Storage Bag, took out seasonings, and evenly sprinkled them over the White Fish.

A moment later, an enticing fragrance rushed into their noses.

Su Bai had not eaten anything besides Spirit Rice for a long time, and he could not help swallowing lightly.

"All right, give it a try."

Wang Jue handed one of the roasted White Fish to Su Bai.

Su Bai took a gentle bite. The Spirit Fish meat melted in his mouth, turning into essence that flowed down his throat.

There were no bones in the flesh.

Its flavor surpassed Spirit Rice by three parts.

It truly was a rare Spirit Food and Delicacy.

Especially after the fish meat transformed into Spiritual Energy, its effects were indeed far stronger than ordinary Spirit Rice.