Mission

Three months later.

Su Yu had gained a foothold in alchemy, successfully refining low-grade Rank 1 Qi Refining Pills with a success rate above thirty percent. He had met the entry standard for a low-grade Rank 1 alchemist.

On the second floor of a splendid restaurant two streets away from the Alchemy Pavilion, Su Zhi hosted a banquet for Su Qingyi and Su Yu.

Two Cloud Sword Sect novice disciples had come along as well, a man and a woman. They had entered the sect later than Su Zhi, making them her junior brother and junior sister.

Compared to more than two years ago, Su Zhi's cultivation had already reached the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining.

The two Cloud Sword Sect novice disciples were both at Qi Refining Stage Five.

Su Qingyi took a somewhat gloomy sip of wine and said, "Although Brother Yu's cultivation talent is a little lacking, his talent in alchemy is outrageously high. Even the Second Elder was startled by his alchemy talent and has been overjoyed these past few days."

"Three months—just three short months—and Brother Yu has truly entered the path of alchemy, becoming a low-grade Rank 1 alchemist."

As soon as those words were spoken, the two Cloud Sword Sect disciples, who had not been particularly interested in Su Qingyi and Su Yu before, immediately looked at Su Yu in surprise.

One should not underestimate an alchemist's status in the world of immortal cultivation!

Though he was merely a low-grade Rank 1 alchemist, to Cloud Sword Sect novice disciples who had only just reached Qi Refining Stage Five, he was someone worthy of respect.

Not to mention that he was a genius who had become a low-grade Rank 1 alchemist in only three months.

Su Qingyi had arrived at Cloud Mountain Market a year earlier than Su Yu, and his cultivation was even at Qi Refining Stage Five.

Yet after a whole year, he still had not grasped the essentials of alchemy and remained only an alchemy apprentice.

Ordinarily, an alchemy apprentice should become a true Rank 1 alchemist within two to three years.

If one still could not become a Rank 1 alchemist after three years, their talent was lacking, and they might as well give up early.

Su Zhi listened, her beautiful eyes filled with surprise as she looked at this younger clansman of hers. Then she hesitated.

A genius alchemist. Father had also said he intended to nurture him and see whether he could take over the burden of supporting the family—but his cultivation is rather weak.

Should I take such a younger clansman with me on an adventure?

Su Yu waved a hand at Su Qingyi, stopping him from continuing. Su Qingyi was not saying those things out of jealousy or to expose his background.

Rather, it was because the two Cloud Sword Sect novice disciples the young miss had brought along had looked at the two of them with somewhat frivolous, lofty attitudes.

Once they heard that he had become a true alchemist in three months, the way they looked at Su Yu changed, gaining sufficient respect and warmth.

Su Yu looked at the pair. The man was named Li Shinan. He was quite handsome and was said to be the heir apparent of a mortal kingdom.

The woman was named Chen Sisi. Her looks could be rated an eight out of ten, especially those alluring eyes of hers, though her temperament was more like an iceberg.

Su Yu smiled. "Sister, what is the mission for your promotion to Inner Disciple of Cloud Sword Sect?"

Su Zhi hesitated for a moment before saying, "Hunt a Mountain Carving—a late-stage Rank 1 Mountain Carving."

The moment she said this, Su Qingyi and Su Yu both grew solemn. Mountain Carvings were notoriously ferocious avian demonic beasts and possessed some intelligence.

The Black Rock Mountain Yu Family had first made its name through Mountain Carvings as spirit beasts. Later, they had even raised an early-stage Rank 2 Mountain Carving, allowing the Yu Family to leap up the ranks of cultivation families. One after another, powerful members of the clan had broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Hunting a Mountain Carving was extremely difficult. Not only did the Mountain Carving possess a rather powerful demonic beast bloodline, it was also highly vigilant and would flee at the first sign of danger.

It was, after all, a demonic avian beast. Even cultivators flying on magical artifacts could not catch up to it.

Yet this mission for promotion to the inner sect had to be completed.

Once Su Zhi became an Inner Disciple of Cloud Sword Sect, the resources available to her within the sect would increase enormously.

With Su Zhi's talent, she had a strong chance of successfully establishing her foundation in the future.

Becoming an inner disciple a year earlier or a year later made a tremendous difference.

Su Zhi said, "I can bring four cultivators at Qi Refining Stage Five or below to complete the mission with me. I have already found the exact location of a late-stage Rank 1 Mountain Carving. All that remains is to go there."

"If we can hunt the Mountain Carving, I only want its head. The rest of the gains will be divided among the four of you."

"I will also provide twelve high-grade Qi Refining Pills."

Low-grade Rank 1 Qi Refining Pills were very cheap, with one pill costing only a single Low-grade Spirit Stone.

High-grade Qi Refining Pills were much more expensive. One pill cost more than ten Low-grade Spirit Stones, making them fairly good cultivation resources for cultivators in the middle and late stages of the Qi Refining Realm.

After some hesitation, Su Yu still agreed.

It was not because of those resources, but because Su Zhi's promotion to inner disciple would benefit both him and the Su Family.

This favor had to be done.

Otherwise, with his temperament, he would rather cultivate in the market until Qi Refining Stage Nine, or even break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, before venturing out.

Li Shinan and Chen Sisi both agreed readily. They too were not doing it for the resources.

They were investing.

If their senior sister Su Zhi could become an inner disciple, she would be able to look after them to some extent in Cloud Sword Sect.

Li Shinan looked at Su Yu and said warmly and boldly, "Brother Yu, don't worry. Once we encounter the Mountain Carving, I'll look after you and won't let you get hurt."

They agreed to meet outside the outer sect gate of Cloud Sword Sect three days later, and Su Zhi's group departed.

Su Yu bade Su Qingyi farewell and considered his current resources.

The proficiency of the Crocodile Demon's 108 Forms Body Refining Technique had already reached ninety-three percent. He was not far from breaking through to the sixth layer.

If Su Zhi had not been unable to bring someone at the sixth layer of Qi Refining to help complete the mission, he would have preferred to join the hunt for the Mountain Carving only after his Body Refining Technique broke through to the sixth layer.

The Azure Wood Age Wheel Art was at First Cycle Fourth Turn, equivalent to the fourth layer of Qi Refining.

His mana was not powerful, but it was enduring and excelled at healing injuries.

He had one Low-grade Magical Artifact, the Crimson Luo Blade. It could pierce armor and could also inflict damage on a Mountain Carving.

"I still have more than eight hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones."

"I'll buy another piece of magical artifact armor."

Su Yu pondered in secret. He valued his own safety above all else. It had been one thing when he did not leave home or fight, but now that he was about to face a fierce late-stage Rank 1 demonic bird, he could no longer sit still.

After assessing his resources, Su Yu hurried to the trading house operated by Cloud Sword Sect within the market.

After making his selection, he chose a Mid-grade Magical Artifact, the Azure Gang Robe, worth two hundred and thirty Low-grade Spirit Stones. It contained a defensive formation and could activate the Azure Gang Shield at a critical moment, enough to withstand at least one or two attacks from a late-stage Rank 1 demonic beast.

He also bought an exquisite set of Low-grade Magical Artifacts, the Ice Soul Needles. The set consisted of five Ice Soul Needles, which would cause freezing and slowing effects once they entered the target's body.

Magical artifacts like the Ice Soul Needles excelled most at piercing armor.

If the Ice Soul Needles entered the target's body, Su Yu could also use them as a medium to cast the Spirit Devouring Art.

Even if he could not draw away the opponent's life essence, it would still greatly deplete their mana, spirit, and more.

The set cost one hundred and eighty Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Besides magical artifacts, Su Yu also bought several High-grade Rank 1 Talismans from the trading house: two Golden Light Incantations for defense, two Divine Movement Talismans for speed, and two Cloud Breaking Arrows for attack, spending one hundred and ninety Low-grade Spirit Stones.

I'll go back and refine the two magical artifacts, then adjust my condition.

It was Su Yu's first time heading into the wilderness to hunt, and he was somewhat nervous. He converted most of his Spirit Stones into means of increasing his strength.

If Su Zhi and the others knew about his preparations, however, they would probably be shocked.

This was far too extravagant.

PS: The past two days were too exhausting. Yesterday I slept for most of the day to recover, then woke up in the middle of the night and hurriedly wrote another chapter. I plan to update three more chapters tomorrow. Please spare some monthly votes.