Lan Wuying

After spending more than twenty days, Lu Ming learned both [Whirlwind Sweeping Leaf Leg] and [Great Demon Punishing Palm].

At the same time, with the help of low-grade Origin Stones, his cultivation reached the Peak Early True Qi Realm.

He had yet to sense any sign of a breakthrough, so he planned to head out and take on more missions.

Arriving at the Mission Hall, he intended to challenge a more difficult mission this time.

After looking around, he found nothing suitable among the first- and second-level missions. They either took too long or offered rewards that were too low.

In the end, he chose a three-star, third-level mission. It was a guard mission.

Mission details: Lan Wuying, a famed thief of the Jianghu, had set a date and would soon steal the Liu Family's inherited cultivation art. He had left a message: if he failed, he would not touch so much as a blade of grass; if he succeeded, he would wipe out their entire Lineage.

Content: Protect the Liu Family's inherited cultivation art. If the protection failed, assist in fending off Lan Wuying.

Information: Lan Wuying was the successor of Xiao Zan, the great thief who had roamed several kingdoms unopposed decades ago. He was currently in the Mid True Qi Realm and excelled in movement arts.

Recommendation: To be accepted by those in the Mid True Qi Realm who excelled in movement arts.

Reward: three hundred contribution points, one hundred and fifty thousand taels of silver, and one hundred low-grade Origin Stones.

Lu Ming considered himself fairly swift. Besides, he was confident that he could defeat, or even kill, someone in the Mid True Qi Realm.

So he accepted it outright.

"Look! He's only in the Early True Qi Realm, yet he dares accept a third-level mission meant for Mid True Qi Realm cultivators."

Lu Ming's action immediately drew the attention of those nearby.

"Fending off Lan Wuying? I've seen that mission. I heard his movement art is so fast that not even his shadow can be seen. Against that kind of speed, even being a little slower can get you killed."

"If he chose this mission, then he's either confident or courting death."

Lu Ming turned a deaf ear to their opinions and went straight to the counter to register.

"Are you sure you want to accept this mission?"

The registration elder looked at Lu Ming in some surprise. Clearly, he had also received instructions from above to keep an eye on Lu Ming.

A warning had to be given where one was due.

Lu Ming nodded firmly. "In reply to Elder, I am sure."

The registration elder still hesitated. He knew Lu Ming was no weakling; Lu Ming had been able to fight across realms and kill enemies even in the Inner Qi Realm.

But he had also heard that Lu Ming relied on speed, while this Lan Wuying was clearly no slouch in that regard either.

There might be an accident.

"Let him go."

At that moment, however, a voice transmission from afar suddenly sounded in his ear. He recognized it as the Sect Master's.

He could not help but wonder why the Sect Master was constantly paying attention to this place. Was this brat before him valued to such an extent?

But with an order from above, he did not dare disobey, and began the registration.

"Watch your safety."

"Thank you, Elder."

After offering his thanks, Lu Ming quickly departed.

The Liu Family was an unranked minor family in the southwestern region of the Zhao Kingdom. Though its patriarch was in the Late True Qi Realm, he was already aged, and it was difficult to say how much strength he could still wield.

Thus, the moment they received the letter from the great thief Lan Wuying, they immediately sent people to the major sects to request aid by issuing missions.

The Liu Family was not large, but it did have some savings.

Besides, this was a crisis of extermination. If they did not use their wealth now, they would never get another chance.

Thus, Old Patriarch Liu did not begrudge the expense in the slightest.

Old Patriarch Liu did not mind, but his son, Liu Qing, felt the pain in his flesh.

Liu Qing asked, "Father, it would have been enough to issue missions to those three seventh-rank sects. Why send them to some eighth- and ninth-rank sects as well?"

"Isn't that simply wasting money?"

"Foolish!"

"No matter how those eighth- and ninth-rank sects fall short of the great seventh-rank sects, they are still stronger than unranked families like ours. You must never utter such disrespectful words again."

The man immediately lowered his head. "Father's rebuke is justified."

Seeing that he was still somewhat unconvinced, Old Patriarch Liu added a few words of guidance.

"Qing'er, you must understand that this is a crisis of extermination. The disciples of those seventh-rank sects may not necessarily think our little offering is worth their time."

"So we must cast a wide net. As for money, once the family is destroyed, we will have nothing anyway. We may even lose our lives."

"Father, do you think this letter that appeared out of nowhere is truly real? If someone is deliberately playing a joke, won't we have been busy for nothing?"

Old Patriarch Liu shook his head. "There can be no mistake. The letter bears a plum blossom secret mark, the symbol of the great thief Lan Wuying."

"Last time, one family refused to believe it and was tragically wiped out by him."

"In short, there is no harm in being careful."

Liu Qing continued, "Didn't the letter say he was coming to steal our inherited cultivation art? Why don't we destroy it, leaving him nothing to steal? Wouldn't that mean he failed?"

After he finished speaking, no response came for a long while. When he looked up, he saw his father staring at him as though he were an idiot.

This left him somewhat embarrassed. "Father, did I say something wrong again?"

Old Patriarch Liu sighed, lamenting only that the Liu Family had no worthy successor, then explained.

"Then he will seize whoever knows the inherited cultivation art. You are the sole heir of our family, and though your father is old, I am still in the Late True Qi Realm. So he can only take you away."

Liu Qing was frightened out of his wits upon hearing this and hurriedly waved his hands. "Then we can't destroy it. We absolutely can't destroy it."

He knew his own limits. He was nearly thirty already and had only just broken through to the Early True Qi Realm.

He was absolutely no match for Lan Wuying.

Seeing his son act this way, Old Patriarch Liu became even more disappointed. Even if Liu Qing had merely put on a fierce front and spoken a few tough words, he would have felt somewhat better.

Who would have thought he would be so useless?

Just as he sighed, a servant suddenly ran in. "Reporting to the Patriarch, a young hero has arrived outside, claiming to be an Inner Sect disciple of Kaishanmen."

Old Patriarch Liu immediately rose to his feet. "Quick, invite him in!"

As time passed, in the blink of an eye, only one day remained until the date Lan Wuying had set for the theft. He would make his move tomorrow.

What pleased the Liu Family Patriarch was that, of the three seventh-rank sects, both Nine Heavens Sect and Jade Luo Sect had sent disciples who accepted the mission, with only Wuji Sect absent.

Five people had also arrived from the other eighth- and ninth-rank sects.

The visitor from Nine Heavens Sect was a tall youth clad in yellow robes, in the Mid True Qi Realm.

At that moment, he was flirting frivolously with the female disciple from Jade Luo Sect.

"Junior Sister Jiang, if Lan Wuying truly dares come tomorrow, just hide behind me. I'll settle him with a single palm."

The Jade Luo Sect female disciple wore a fitted martial outfit and looked exceptionally valiant. She held a longsword, and her cultivation was likewise in the Mid True Qi Realm.

"Thank you for your kindness, Brother Chen, but I do not need your protection. Furthermore, we belong to different sects, so it is inappropriate for you to address me as Junior Sister."

"Then I'll call you Miss Ruoshui."

"You must not underestimate Lan Wuying. According to the intelligence of our Nine Heavens Sect, his master Xiao Zan is very likely a remnant of the Demonic Cult's Ghost Vein, and his movement arts are extraordinarily formidable."

"So you would be better off hiding behind me. Otherwise, like these disciples from lowly sects, there is a great chance you will not make it back."

"What did you say?!"

His words immediately provoked the dissatisfaction of the disciples from the other sects.

These people came from various eighth- and ninth-rank sects. Upon hearing him insult both them and their sects, they were instantly enraged.

"What? You refuse to accept it?"

The Nine Heavens Sect disciple stepped forward. A surge of qi suddenly burst from his body and spread outward like ripples over water, forcing everyone back again and again.

"This is the Primordial Gold Jade Art!"

Feeling the immense True Qi suddenly erupt from within him, everyone was startled. They clearly knew how formidable this cultivation art was.

And judging by the display, he had already cultivated this art to a considerable level.

Even Jiang Ruoshui, the Jade Luo Sect disciple behind them, revealed a look of surprise.

As far as she knew, this cultivation art was far from simple. Though it was only Human-grade Peak Stage, in some respects it stood shoulder to shoulder with Earth-grade initial level cultivation arts.

The True Qi it cultivated was especially tyrannical and heavy.

When fighting others, it not only lasted long, but also gave every move and stance tremendous power.

Quite a few sect disciples, including those of Jade Luo Sect, had suffered at the hands of this cultivation art from Nine Heavens Sect.

That was why this cultivation art was extremely famous.

"You have some knowledge, at least."

The Nine Heavens Sect disciple smugly withdrew his True Qi and swept his gaze over the crowd. Everyone averted their eyes, not daring to meet his gaze.

Only one among them lowered his head, his eyes deep and unfathomable, as though he were pondering something.

"Everyone, everyone, the banquet has been prepared. Please follow me to the feast."

At that moment, Old Patriarch Liu hurried over. With so many sect disciples arriving at once, he was both delighted and worried.

His delight went without saying. His worry was that these sect disciples were all young and hot-blooded, eager to compete and outdo one another.

If they fought and something went wrong in his home, it would be difficult to account for.

Thus, when he heard that a conflict had arisen, he rushed over to mediate.

Yet he had not expected that, upon arriving, he would find they had not fully come to blows. Instead, they had all been cowed by that Nine Heavens Sect disciple.

This delighted him even more, for the stronger those who had come were, the better their chances against Lan Wuying.

But he certainly would not show that delight, or he would offend the other sects.

So he found an excuse to invite them to the banquet.

Though everyone looked displeased and felt they had lost face, they did not start another conflict.

Following the guide, they headed toward the banquet hall.

At that moment, however, another household servant led someone inside.