Field Patrol Mission

Duang!

At daybreak the next morning, when a streak of fish-belly white had just appeared on the horizon, the resonant toll of bells drifted through the air.

Yang Chen sprang up, refreshed in both body and spirit.

The first thing he did upon waking was confirm whether the system still existed. When the panel appeared before his eyes again, he finally set his mind at ease.

As he washed up, he suddenly looked at the realm section on the panel, delight flashing through his eyes. "My Punching Force actually increased by thirty-one kilograms."

The Qi Martial Realm was within reach. This greatly encouraged him and filled him with confidence for the future.

Once he finished washing up, he heard a chaotic patter of footsteps outside. Opening the door, he saw quite a few new disciples hurrying into the distance.

"A wonderful day begins!"

Yang Chen was in high spirits. After closing his door, he went to Zhu Xi's residence and knocked. Before long, Zhu Xi opened the door and came out. Unlike Yang Chen, who was glowing with vitality, a trace of exhaustion lingered in his eyes.

"Brother Zhu, you can't overtrain."

After yesterday's complete fusion of memories, Yang Chen had accepted his own identity. Zhu Xi was also from Fulong County. Though they had not interacted much before, now that they had come to the Sun Moon Sword Sect, they naturally shared a layer of closeness.

The Sun Moon Sword Sect was a holy land for cultivation, but it was no children playing house. Competition on the martial path was unavoidable, and huddling together for warmth was the best choice.

"You saw through me?" Zhu Xi gave a bitter smile. "The Eight Directions Body Refining Technique is truly formidable. I cultivated until deep into the night before resting."

Yang Chen understood. Even in this short while, he had already seen more than one person looking exhausted. Without question, they too had overtrained.

"Brother Zhu should know the proper balance in cultivation, so it is not my place to say more. We have tasks today as well. Let's hurry over."

Zhu Xi rubbed his face, shut the door, and left with him.

When the two arrived at the place where supplies had been distributed yesterday, a long queue had already formed. Wang Kui and the other two supervisors sat behind a table, assigning tasks to several hundred newcomers.

A large box sat before the three men. Whenever a disciple stepped forward, Wang Kui and the others would ask for their name before drawing a task.

"Liu Quan, Ironwood Forest, tend the ironwood trees in Area 18."

"Xu Qingyan, Jade Crystal Mountain, mine three hundred kilograms of jade crystal ore every day."

"Li Xingtang, dining hall, assist the dining hall disciples with transporting ingredients..."

"..."

The task drawing proceeded in an orderly fashion. Some rejoiced while others worried. The disciples who drew easy tasks beamed with delight, while the rest wore faces full of gloom.

Yang Chen and Zhu Xi exchanged looks, a shared understanding passing between them without a word.

Under their observation, those assigned to easy posts all possessed an unusual bearing. Clearly, they had pulled strings and secured good jobs.

At this moment, wealth took tangible form, and the gap between people began to widen from here.

About a quarter of an hour later, Yang Chen arrived before Wang Kui. The latter said flatly, "Name."

"Yang Chen."

Without expression, Wang Kui quickly scanned the roster, yet did not find Yang Chen's name. He gave a slight nod and reached into the box, pulling out a gray ball after a moment.

He opened the ball, revealing a slip of paper inside.

"Yang Chen, Spirit Field No. 8. Patrol your assigned area daily."

Hearing this, Yang Chen was secretly delighted. "Yang Chen accepts the order!"

"This is proof of identity for patrolling the spirit fields. Once you get there, hand it over to the senior disciple. He will tell you what to do."

After giving him that reminder, Wang Kui quickly returned to his expressionless manner. "Next!"

Yang Chen respectfully stepped back. Vaguely, he sensed many unfriendly gazes. Looking around, he found envy in quite a few people's eyes.

He paid them no mind and stood outside the crowd to wait.

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"Zhu Xi, Medicine Garden No. 23..."

A moment later, Zhu Xi came over beneath the envious gazes of the crowd. The two did not speak as they headed into the distance. Only when no one was nearby did they smile at each other.

"These five spirit crystals were worth it."

Zhu Xi smiled. "Indeed. It is only a pity that you and I are not assigned to the same place."

"That is nothing. We only need to watch out for and support each other."

"That is true. From today onward, we can be considered to have officially set foot upon the martial path. Brother Yang, keep it up!"

"Alright!"

Yang Chen smiled.

Just as the two were speaking, a gust of wind swept over, followed by a familiar laugh. "Junior Brothers, can Wang be considered a man who keeps his word?"

Before the voice had even settled, Wang Feng appeared beside them.

"Senior Brother Wang!"

Yang Chen and Zhu Xi immediately bowed.

"Ah, no need for such courtesy." Wang Feng waved his hand, beaming as he said, "I came today because I wanted to leave a way for us to contact each other. If you need any help in the future, just come find me. I dare not boast too much, but in Area 8 of Labor Peak, I have a few connections."

"Thank you for thinking so highly of us, Senior Brother Wang, but how might we contact you?"

Wang Feng's smile deepened. With a touch at his waist, two jade-green bamboo segments, each as long as an index finger, appeared in his hand. "These are first-tier Sound Transmission Bamboos. Their effective range is a hundred li in every direction, and each can transmit sound ten times."

Yang Chen was taken aback, as was Zhu Xi. So this was what he had been waiting for.

Zhu Xi asked, "Senior Brother truly is thoughtful. May I ask what price these Sound Transmission Bamboos are?"

"Excellent question!" Wang Feng beamed. "These first-tier Sound Transmission Bamboos sell for 1.2 spirit crystals in Nineteen Peaks Town. But the two of you please me greatly, so I will give you the cost price—just one spirit crystal each."

"One spirit crystal..."

Hearing this, a conflicted look appeared in Zhu Xi's eyes. His family background was comparable to Yang Chen's. When he had passed the preliminary selection, his family had also given him twenty spirit crystals. That was the foundation upon which he could widen the gap between himself and others.

Using five spirit crystals yesterday to exchange for an easy task had naturally not been a loss, but he did not wish to spend money on this Sound Transmission Bamboo.

Yang Chen did not make a decision immediately either. Instead, he asked, "Senior Brother Wang, why not introduce yourself first?"

Wang Feng's eyes shifted, and he replied with a smile, "Very well. You already know my name, so let me speak of the scope of my business."

"First, I can speak to all the supervisors in Area 8. If you encounter any problems in the future, you may consult me. Second, I have some connections in Nineteen Peaks Town and can obtain resources below market price, such as pills, weapons, and even cultivation techniques. I can also get hold of certain raw materials."

"Furthermore, my younger sister has some influence over in the Outer Sect. If you need any high-tier resources, I can purchase them on your behalf as well."

A look of surprise appeared in Yang Chen's eyes. The information revealed by Wang Feng's words was thought-provoking. To possess such connections in the Labor Peak of the Sun Moon Sword Sect, his background was clearly far from simple.

But the most crucial part was his final statement—his younger sister was actually an Outer Sect disciple!

Wang Feng had only entered the sect three years ago. Even if his younger sister were the same age as him, her talent would still be terrifying. Moreover, she had some influence in the Outer Sect, which meant the younger sister he spoke of was absolutely among the finest talents.

Having thought through the key point, Yang Chen immediately said, "Senior Brother Wang's methods reach the heavens. I am impressed. I will take one Sound Transmission Bamboo."

A faint flash of pride passed through Wang Feng's eyes, but it quickly returned to a smiling expression as he handed one of the Sound Transmission Bamboos to Yang Chen.

"Give me one too!"

For some reason, Zhu Xi also seemed to have reached an understanding and decisively took out one spirit crystal.

Wang Feng accepted their spirit crystals and instructed them to leave their respective auras on the Sound Transmission Bamboos. "Junior Brothers, I think highly of you. When we have time in the future, we shall certainly drink and make merry together. You both have tasks today, so I will take my leave first. Keep in touch!"

Wang Feng waved and quickly departed.

Yang Chen and Zhu Xi saw clearly that Wang Feng had not gone far. He had merely set his sights on several other youths of extraordinary bearing.

"It is time to carry out our tasks."

Zhu Xi sighed for no apparent reason, and the two went their separate ways, each heading toward a different task location.