Why Are These Two Quests Still Here?

What kind of place is this sect?

Even those in the Foundation Establishment Realm can only sweep the floor and carry water?

Seeing Su Ling'er's stunned expression, Lin Qingfeng's heart skipped a beat.

No way?

Is she stuck again?

Or is she just confused by these low-level tasks?

You've only just joined, and you only reached Qi Refining Great Perfection through the Dao Seeking Ladder's baptism, but you haven't contributed anything to the sect.

Of course, the sect can only give you the most basic repeatable daily tasks!

Even if you reached Foundation Establishment or Nascent Soul through the Dao Seeking Ladder, you still have to start from the basics!

Moreover, although these basic daily tasks are simple, they have the advantage of being risk-free.

For us players, we can even leave them on auto-play, and the experience and contribution points are decent.

Once your contribution is high enough, you can naturally take on other tasks.

As for that Foundation Establishment cultivator...

Nonsense, after reaching Foundation Establishment, one can fly using their powers. Wouldn't sweeping fallen leaves and carrying water be much faster than a Qi Refining cultivator doing it?

Compared to the risks of leaving the Monster Locking Tower on auto-play to fight monsters, it's better to honestly do safe, repeatable tasks on auto-play.

This junior sister probably ascended step-by-step via the Dao Seeking Ladder to Qi Refining Great Perfection, and now she can't put aside her pride, thinking that doing these menial chores would tarnish her expert image.

No!

For the sect to upgrade, it seems I, the reliable Senior Disciple Brother, must step in again!

Lin Qingfeng coughed lightly, and a philosophical smile reappeared on his face.

"Junior Sister, are you... feeling perplexed?"

He walked over to Su Ling'er, raised his hand, and pointed at the dim jade slip.

"You see this task and only perceive its 'smallness,' but you fail to see its 'truth'."

"What is sweeping leaves?"

"It is not sweeping the leaves in your hand, but sweeping the dust in your heart.

One leaf, one world; one sweep, one enlightenment.

Only when you can sweep all the fallen leaves on this mountain clean, can your Dao heart truly be spotless."

"What is carrying water?"

"It is not carrying water in a jug, but carrying the reflection of yourself in a mirror.

See how the water is as clear as a mirror, reflecting all things in heaven and earth, and also reflecting the ripples in your heart.

Only when the water you carry can remain still, without a single ripple, can your state of mind truly be like a tranquil ancient well."

"The Great Dao is simple, returning to one's true nature.

True cultivation is not about hunting powerful Yao Beasts, but about whether you can hold onto a pure heart amidst the most ordinary monotony."

"Go, Junior Sister."

"This is the true trial the sect has bestowed upon you."

"I will be watching you!"

Su Ling'er: "..."

She stared blankly at her Senior Disciple Brother, at his eyes filled with the air of an enlightened master.

She was convinced, truly convinced!

This person's thick skin and the sheer number of his twisted logic had reached an unparalleled level!

He could actually package such blatant humiliation and torment as a Dao heart trial, and present it so sincerely, as if it contained supreme wisdom!

If her mind wasn't clear, she might have truly thanked him tearfully and gone to carry water and sweep the floor, thinking it was a gift from the sect!

Too terrifying, this man is truly terrifying!

If she were still just an outer disciple at Qi Refining Level 3, she might have actually believed him.

But she was now at Qi Refining Great Perfection, a step away from Foundation Establishment!

Even Qing Xu Temple wouldn't have their inner disciples do such time-wasting chores!

Too terrifying!

She took a deep breath, suppressing all her shock and complaints.

Then, she bowed deeply to Lin Qingfeng, a look of appropriate guilt and sudden realization on her face:

"Senior Disciple Brother, this junior sister has learned her lesson!"

Seeing this, Lin Qingfeng stroked his non-existent beard and put on a relieved expression of "a promising student."

"The path of the Great Dao begins beneath your feet.

Do not underestimate the significance of sweeping leaves and carrying water; they contain truths that you and I may never comprehend in our lifetimes.

Go now, and let me see how far your 'Dao' can travel within the mortal world."

"Remember! Your Senior Disciple Brother will always be watching you!!!"

These words were spoken in a grand and righteous manner.

Su Ling'er looked up, her face already filled with a look of profound gratitude.

Her eyes were filled with the anguish of "Why didn't I realize this sooner? I've truly let down the expectations of Senior Disciple Brother and that deceased fellow disciple."

Senior Disciple Brother, do you really need to remind me twice about monitoring me like this?!

Don't you have anything else to do?

Don't you need to cultivate either...

Fine, it seems you really don't need to cultivate.

When you made me sign that Demonic Sect contract, your cultivation increased;

When you took me to the Sword Mound, you broke through again...

Comparing myself to others is enough to kill a person!

She no longer hesitated and turned to take the jade slip from the mission elder.

As her fingertips touched the jade slip, the sensation was cool.

Her consciousness probed into it, and the location of the mission was clearly imprinted in her mind.

Su Ling'er tucked the jade slip back into her sleeve.

Whatever, isn't it just sweeping the floor and carrying water?

It's not like I haven't done it before. I'm already at Qi Refining Great Perfection, how can this little thing stump me?

And so, Su Ling'er arrived at a courtyard within the sect.

It was quiet and deserted, like an abandoned residence.

The autumn wind rustled, and golden leaves covered the ground, making a "rustling" sound underfoot.

Su Ling'er looked around. Is this what Senior Disciple Brother meant by 'sweeping the dust from one's heart'?

Then, she extended her slender fingers and gently pointed towards the center of the courtyard.

A soft vortex of Spiritual Power rose from the ground, gathering the fallen leaves and spiraling them into a pile in the corner.

In a moment, the entire courtyard was clean and spotless.

She clapped her hands, a smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

Indeed, Qi Refining Great Perfection is much faster than when I was at Qi Refining Level 3. Using Spiritual Power to clean didn't even consume much.

She turned and headed towards the back mountain, following the directions on the jade slip.

On the way, she saw a disciple carrying a large broom, walking past her.

And the direction he was heading was the courtyard she had just left.

The bluestone path wound its way upwards, and at the end, besides that secluded courtyard, there was nowhere else to go, nor any grand halls or chambers.

Su Ling'er's steps faltered for a moment, a strange feeling arising in her heart.

What... is he going to sweep?

That courtyard... I already cleaned it until it was spotless with Spiritual Power.

Could it be...

Did Elder Qian, who posted the mission, send the wrong location?

She shook her head, trying to cast away the lingering sense of strangeness.

Sigh, forget it.

This Demonic Sect is strange in every way; one more oddity isn't much.

She suppressed her doubts and continued towards the back mountain.

In the back mountain, nine giant vats were lined up at the foot of the mountain. The opening of each vat was large enough for three people to sit side-by-side, and the bottom of each vat was empty.

Su Ling'er walked to the mountain stream and looked at the clear water, then formed a hand seal again.

A water dragon rose from the stream, drawing an arc in the air before roaring into the first bronze vat.

A moment later, the first vat was full.

She repeated the process, and in less than half an hour, all nine giant vats were filled with the clear mountain spring water.

Su Ling'er looked proudly at her work, the slight displeasure in her heart quietly dissipating.

It's worthy of the Qi Refining Great Perfection realm~

Doing chores is this easy!

This so-called "torture" is nothing more than this~

Humming a little tune, she skipped back to the Transmission Hall to hand in her task.

Elder Qian, who was in charge of assigning tasks, still had that same blank expression.

Su Ling'er handed over the completed jade slip, feeling a little proud:

"Elder, are there any new tasks?"

The elder took the jade slip, gave her a few copper coins, and then handed her another jade slip.

Su Ling'er looked at the few copper coins and didn't pay them much mind.

After all, tasks like sweeping the floor and carrying water were done for free at Qing Xu Temple.

She took the new jade slip. Although it still looked dull and lifeless, she chose to accept it.

Then, two lines of text she was all too familiar with reappeared.

[Sweep fallen leaves in the sect]

[Fill the nine water vats at the back of the mountain with water]

Su Ling'er: "???"

Why are it still these two tasks?!