Newbie Mission

Fang Chen immediately organized the information in his mind. After reviewing it, he realized it was a mission issued to him by the Merit Hall of Qingyun Mountain's Outer Sect.

The Merit Hall was the place within the Sect responsible for distributing various rewards, evaluating achievements, and issuing and assigning various tasks. Both Inner and Outer Sects had a Merit Hall.

This time, the Merit Hall had issued three missions to Fang Chen.

The first mission was to mine at Cold Iron Ridge, requiring the excavation of 100,000 jin of high-grade cold iron ore within one month.

The second mission was to capture golden cicadas at Ox Horn Mountain. These golden cicadas were cicada nymphs before molting, golden and shimmering all over, and he needed to capture one hundred of them within a month.

The third mission was to chop fire spirit sword bamboo at Spirit Flame Valley, requiring one thousand stalks of fire spirit sword bamboo within a month.

If any of these three missions were not completed on time within the month, he would not receive the stipend issued by the Sect.

Li Yanshan looked at Fang Chen and asked, "What's going on?"

Fang Chen immediately explained the information he had seen.

Li Yanshan frowned slightly and said, "You've only been at Dog Head Ridge for two days, and they've already assigned you missions. That's a bit unusual!"

Elder Yun also chimed in, "Exactly. Normally, newly promoted Outer Sect Disciples wouldn't be assigned any missions in their first month; it's meant as a consideration for them!"

Li Yanshan continued, "Moreover, these three missions are very difficult for a newly promoted Outer Sect Disciple. Even Outer Sect Disciples who have been promoted for a year would struggle to complete them!"

Fang Chen's expression immediately turned grim, and he asked Li Yanshan, "Uncle Li, is someone trying to set me up?"

Li Yanshan nodded slightly and said, "Besides Zhang Tielin, have you offended anyone else at the Glazed Sword Sect?"

Fang Chen immediately shook his head. "No!"

Li Yanshan's expression became serious. "Then it must be Zhang Tielin causing trouble behind the scenes!"

Li Yanshan's guess was spot on. This was indeed Zhang Tielin causing trouble. He had found someone in the Merit Hall, offered them some benefits, and had them issue missions to Fang Chen in advance.

At the Glazed Sword Sect, both Inner and Outer Sect Disciples had to complete missions assigned by the Sect every month, or they would face corresponding punishments.

Zhang Tielin wanted to make a move against Fang Chen, so he approached someone in the Merit Hall to assign Fang Chen missions. This way, Fang Chen would be forced to leave Dog Head Ridge.

Once Fang Chen left Dog Head Ridge, it would be much easier for Zhang Tielin to deal with him.

The three missions issued by the Merit Hall to Fang Chen, whether to Cold Iron Ridge, Ox Horn Mountain, or Spirit Flame Valley, were all very far from the Outer Sect of Qingyun Mountain. Cold Iron Ridge was the furthest, over two thousand li away. Spirit Flame Valley was the next furthest, at fifteen hundred li, while Ox Horn Mountain was still a thousand li from the Outer Sect of Qingyun Mountain.

The reason Zhang Tielin had the Merit Hall assign Fang Chen missions to such distant locations was that these three places were remote and also bordered the territory of the Misty Sect. The Misty Sect was a top-tier force in the Southern Barrens, much stronger overall than the Glazed Sword Sect currently was, and their relationship wasn't very good. Even if Fang Chen were killed in such a place, it would be difficult for the Enforcement Hall to investigate.

"Damn Zhang Tielin!"

Fang Chen gritted his teeth. He hadn't expected Zhang Tielin to be so despicable, willing to go to any lengths to kill him.

After obtaining the Floating Immortal Sword, he had intended to lie low quietly, slowly chopping bamboo and trees, and gradually growing stronger. But Zhang Tieniu had appeared and tried to snatch his Floating Immortal Sword, which crossed his bottom line. Forced to resist, he had ended up killing both Zhang Tieniu and Tian Hu.

Now that he had arrived at the Outer Sect, Zhang Tielin was seeking revenge again, intending to put him to death.

"I just want to cultivate peacefully, why is it so difficult?"

Fang Chen roared inwardly. He suppressed his anger and looked at Li Yanshan and Elder Yun, asking, "Uncle Li, Elder Yun, what should I do now?"

Both Li Yanshan and Elder Yun were veteran Outer Sect Disciples with extensive experience. Fang Chen hoped they could offer him some guidance.

Li Yanshan looked at Fang Chen and frowned slightly. "Once a mission is issued, you must be in place by tomorrow, otherwise, you will be punished. You are still burdened with debt; if you violate the rules, the punishment could be severe!"

Elder Yun looked at Fang Chen and said, "You don't need to be too afraid. You've not only learned the Misty Turtle Step but also the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique. Many cultivators at the second level of Qi Refining are no match for you, and even those at the third level can't do anything to you. You've just broken through, and that Zhang Tielin definitely wouldn't expect your strength to have increased so much. If he tries to deal with you then, you can catch him off guard! I have a piece of spirit jade here, take it. This spirit jade should be able to withstand a full-power strike from a cultivator at the fourth level of Qi Refining!"

Elder Yun took out a jade pendant from his robes. The surface of the pendant was covered with cracks.

"Thank you, Elder Yun!"

Fang Chen didn't stand on ceremony. This was something that could save his life. He knew the jade pendant must be very valuable and felt deeply grateful to Elder Yun, remembering this kindness and vowing to repay it tenfold in the future.

Seeing Elder Yun give Fang Chen the spirit jade, Li Yanshan smiled slightly and said, "With the spirit jade Elder Yun gave you, combined with your already considerable strength, and your great talent, if only you had a few more days! Elder Yun and I could teach you more self-defense skills, but time doesn't permit! Which of these three missions do you want to accept?"

At the end of his sentence, Li Yanshan couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. Fang Chen had learned the Misty Turtle Step and the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique within just two days of arriving at Dog Head Ridge, and his strength had soared.

If Fang Chen had a few more days, he believed Fang Chen would be able to learn even more skills.

"I'll go chop bamboo at Spirit Flame Valley!"

Fang Chen answered without hesitation. After all, chopping things was his forte. The spirit bamboo growing in Spirit Flame Valley, he guessed, would allow him to absorb more spiritual energy from the Floating Immortal Sword when he used it to chop the spiritual bamboo.

Upon hearing Fang Chen's words, Li Yanshan couldn't help but frown.

Seeing Li Yanshan frown, Fang Chen immediately asked, "Uncle Li, is there a problem?"

Li Yanshan said, "Spirit Flame Valley is fifteen hundred li from Dog Head Ridge. There's a fire element spirit vein underground, and the climate is hot, suitable for disciples with fire spiritual roots to cultivate. Moreover, that fire spirit sword bamboo contains sword intent and is very tough, making it difficult to chop. However, the other two missions are not simple either! Capturing golden cicadas at Ox Horn Mountain, the golden cicadas are still hidden deep underground. If someone with an earth spiritual root goes there, it might be easier to complete the mission!"

Fang Chen said, "Uncle Li, then I'll still go chop bamboo. I'm more proficient at that!"

Li Yanshan nodded. "Alright, since you've made your choice, use your identity token to reply to the Merit Hall."

"Okay!"

Fang Chen nodded and, under Li Yanshan's guidance, selected the third mission from the information sent by the Merit Hall.

Li Yanshan said to Fang Chen, "This mission is quite urgent. Go pack some things, and bring a few spirit stones. If you encounter any difficulties, you can use spirit stones to resolve them. I'll take you to the Merit Hall! There will be someone there to escort you to Spirit Flame Valley."

"Alright!"

Fang Chen nodded, then turned and left.