It's Time to Send the Intelligence Back to Qing Xu Temple

Chapter 46: It's Time to Send Intelligence Back to Qing Xu Temple... (Seeking Monthly Votes! Seeking Follow-up Reads! Seeking Book Recommendations!)

I don't know how much longer passed.

When Su Ling'er completed her thousandth task, the task elder gave her a new jade slip.

It contained a new task related to the Monster Locking Tower!

[Slay the evil spirits on the thirteenth floor of the Monster Locking Tower ten times]

Su Ling'er looked at the new jade slip in her hand, her eyes, weary from repetitive labor, lit up once more!

Finally!

Finally, she wasn't stuck with the menial tasks that made her feel like she was rooted to the ground!

Although tilling the medicinal fields yielded Spiritual Grass and the rewards were tempting, the endless repetition was slowly eroding her spirit.

She kept trying to convince herself with the rewards she gained, but she still felt weary.

And now, a brand new task lay before her!

The Monster Locking Tower!

She could almost hear the clinking of spirit stones and smell the unique aroma of materials!

Finally, she could legitimately farm spirit stones and materials!

At the very least, regardless of the final reward, the act of challenging the tower itself would grant spirit stones.

Last time she was unlucky and didn't get any materials, but maybe this time she'd get some!

Su Ling'er sought out the transmission elder again and exchanged Spiritual Grass for a new incantation—Explosive Flame Art.

It was an introductory offensive spell. While not as profound as more advanced techniques, it was simple, direct, and quite powerful.

Even though it wasn't the decisive, kill-or-be-killed spell she ideally wanted, she accepted it.

Su Ling'er's thoughts raced.

She realized this sect was like a magnificent palace built atop the Nine Nether Abyss.

It held dazzling, endless treasures, yet it was also filled with deadly miasma that could devour one's soul.

At this moment, she finally understood.

No wonder the Sect Master of Qing Xu Temple had sent her to go undercover here.

It probably wasn't just about the Heavenly Furnace Sect's "tithe."

A Demonic Dao sect with such a foundation was indeed a sword hanging over the heads of the Righteous Path sects.

Furthermore, their disregard for human life posed a grave threat to all living beings.

It was a pity...

She was but a lone boat, and the longer she stayed in this Demon Den, the greater the danger of capsizing.

She could only find an opportunity herself, send back some intelligence, and use the remaining information as a bargaining chip to seek the Sect Master's protection and find a way to escape like a Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell!

With these anxious yet excited feelings, she headed for the Monster Locking Tower.

Inside the Monster Locking Tower, it was just as before.

After obtaining a token from Elder Qian, she stepped through the pitch-dark entrance.

This time, she was no longer a disciple who could only rely on mundane martial arts.

Since she had already cleared the first four floors last time, she chose to challenge the fifth floor this time.

The Rock Armor Scorpion appeared again. The behemoth that had once heavily injured her was no longer an unbeatable foe in her eyes.

Her figure flickered, employing the newly learned Star Treading Steps, easily dodging the Rock Armor Scorpion's pounce.

She didn't even need to engage in close-quarters combat like last time. She simply channeled Spiritual Power into her wooden sword, and with a wave of her sword, she could finish off the Rock Armor Scorpion.

Could this unremarkable wooden sword truly be a treasure?

The Demonic Sect even distributed such treasures freely to new disciples!

Coupled with the generous rewards after completing tasks, Su Ling'er's mind suddenly became clear.

No wonder, no wonder this Demonic Sect, despite its dangers, still had so many disciples, even willing servants!

She understood once again!

First, they used repetitive labor for brutal psychological control, grinding down all the newcomers' edges and sharpness, making them recognize their own insignificance and powerlessness.

Then, they offered these generous rewards that ordinary sects could never match.

Whether it was the universally distributed treasure-grade wooden sword, or the easily obtainable Spiritual Grass and incantations.

These were the carrots dangled before the donkey, making it willing to pull the millstone!

After all, how could such a foundational great sect take in disciples with poor spiritual roots and terrible talent?

Where would any sect be willing to give such precious treasures to someone with poor aptitude?

Even if your talent was acceptable, why would they so easily give you these resources?

You're not some heaven-favored child, nor a direct disciple of the sect. What's their motive?

This Demonic Sect, no matter its intentions, has indeed given those who were denied the immortal path by the righteous sects a visible, tangible glimmer of hope!

Even if the end of this hope is an endless purgatory;

Even if it means they will be completely drained of their value by the sect before willingly dying, becoming sustenance for others...

By then, they would have been thoroughly brainwashed by this method, and would even feel supreme honor for becoming "sustenance"!

First, you despair, then you are given hope, and in this constant back-and-forth, you completely lose yourself!

Finally, you will regard the sect's will as your only guiding star!

Su Ling'er shook her head, suppressing the deductions in her mind.

Although she was deep within the Demonic Sect, her heart yearned for the Righteous Path, and the most important thing now was to start grinding!

Thus, she broke through like a hot knife through butter, passing through several floors consecutively.

The various demonic beasts she encountered turned into wisps of smoke under her increasingly proficient spells and sword techniques.

Soon, the surrounding scene changed again.

When her vision cleared, she found herself in a gloomy mass grave.

[Monster Locking Tower · Thirteenth Floor]

Suddenly!

A fierce ghost with a green face and fangs appeared before her!

It let out a roar, and three streaks of ghastly green claw energy howled towards her face!

Explosive Flame Art was unleashed at will!

"Boom--!"

Flames exploded, and the ghost's body stiffened under the blast. A subsequent sword energy strike turned it into a pile of black smoke, which dissipated without a trace.

After repeating this floor for the eighth time.

Clang.

A crisp sound.

On the spot, a piece of soul bone lay quietly.

Su Ling'er quickly stepped forward and collected the spoils.

After leaving the tower, Elder Qian gave her the spirit stone reward for the thirteenth floor, and completing the sect mission yielded several dozen more spirit stones.

For someone at Qi Refining Great Perfection, just one trip into the tower could earn so many spirit stones, which made her work even harder on the tower-grinding missions.

These past few days, Su Ling'er's life had fallen into a cycle.

Go to the medicinal fields to work, drain her Spiritual Power, and exchange it for Spiritual Grass.

Go to the Monster Locking Tower to fight, exhaust her mind, and obtain spirit stones and materials.

Use the resources obtained to draw more exquisite magic spells at the Transmission Hall, and forge sturdier magic tools at the Artifact Refining Pavilion.

Then, continue to the medicinal fields, continue to challenge the Monster Locking Tower. Although it was still tedious and boring, it was far, far better than the endless sweeping and water-carrying she did before, which only earned her a few copper coins.

Her storage bag had become fuller than ever before.

Spiritual Grass, spirit stones, materials...

These were things that, at Qing Xu Temple, required desperate effort or a vast amount of time to exchange for. Here, all it took was some odd jobs and monster-slaying.

She even felt a little reluctant to leave this Demonic Sect.

But for the sake of the Righteous Path!

For the sake of all living beings under heaven!

For the Great Dao of Foundation Establishment after purification and marrow cleansing!

She had to resist the temptation!

At the same time...

It was also time to send the intelligence she had selected back to Qing Xu Temple