Task

Watching Yan Song leave, a cold glint flashed in Li Gan's eyes.

Yan Song really was a schemer. As an Official Disciple, he had actually launched a sneak attack.

Luckily, Li Gan was no weakling. Otherwise, the consequences would have been hard to predict.

Though the other man wouldn't dare actually kill him, he could certainly injure him.

That was why Li Gan's sword had only sliced through the skin of the other man's throat. He hadn't truly gone for the kill; it had been a warning.

He only wanted to cultivate in peace and didn't want to get caught up in trouble.

With a mere Seventh Layer of Postnatal Realm Cultivation Base, he wasn't strong enough to protect himself in the Divine Sword Sect.

Even with a master, he still didn't want to bring trouble upon him.

Another half month passed in the blink of an eye.

Song Yingying came up the mountain again and told him she had been reassigned to the Hundred Herb Garden, where she had gotten a much better job.

Li Gan told her to focus on her work and cultivation.

Song Yingying also knew that the little favor Grandpa had left behind had been used up.

Li Gan's cultivation life returned to its peaceful routine.

Chenzhong Terrace was very quiet.

Almost no one came by.

Only Chen Yong came up the mountain from time to time, bringing news about the Menial Disciples.

Time flew by.

Winter was already deep.

The plants on the mountain stood bleak and bare, and the wind cut like ice.

Yet Li Gan still wore only a thin layer of clothing. After ringing the bell, he began cultivating the Heartless Sword Art again.

A long while later, he finished his cultivation.

He summoned the System Interface and checked it.

Host: Li Gan.

Cultivation Base: Postnatal Realm (Eighth Layer 43/100).

Sacrificial Tool: Chen Bell (Dharma Tool 168/10000).

Martial Arts: Sword Piercing Fist (Perfection), Heartless Sword Art (Great Accomplishment 99/100).

His Cultivation Base had already reached the Eighth Layer of the Postnatal Realm.

As for the Heartless Sword Art, it had reached ninety-nine points of progress at Great Accomplishment.

In fact, he had reached this point several days ago.

But no matter what, he couldn't break through that final point of progress.

It was as if he'd hit a snag.

It was exactly the same as with the Sword Piercing Fist before.

It had taken several whole months before the Sword Piercing Fist finally broke through its limits in one fell swoop and reached Perfection.

The Heartless Sword Art would probably take even longer.

So he wasn't in a hurry.

At dusk,

Li Gan arrived in front of the wooden house.

"Disciple, how long have you been an Official Disciple?"

Zhou Buping asked.

"Master, one year and one month."

Li Gan replied.

"According to the Inner Sect's rules, it's time for you to start taking on the duties expected of an Official Disciple."

Zhou Buping nodded.

Li Gan had learned about the Inner Sect's arrangements. Official Disciples generally had a one-year transition period, after which they would be assigned tasks, usually once a year.

After all, the Inner Sect couldn't hand out cultivation resources to Official Disciples for free.

Besides, once a task was completed, the Inner Sect awarded Contribution Points based on its rank.

Official Disciples earned far more Contribution Points from their tasks than Menial Disciples did from their work.

"Please give me your instructions, Master."

Li Gan hurriedly replied.

"Go to the Inner Sect Mission Hall tomorrow and take a task. Under normal circumstances, tasks in your first three years are relatively simple and not very dangerous."

Zhou Buping said.

"Yes."

Li Gan hurriedly replied, "Master, if I go off to do a task, who'll ring the Chen Bell?"

"It'll be fine if the Chen Bell isn't rung for a few days. Of course, it would be best if you found a Menial Disciple to ring it for you."

Zhou Buping waved a hand.

For Menial Disciples, failing to ring the Chen Bell would be a serious incident. But Li Gan was an Official Disciple, so it didn't matter.

The Chen Bell's purpose was simply to mark the time.

Then Zhou Buping tossed Li Gan a book.

"This True Explanation of Heartless Sword Art was written by a deceased senior. It should help you gain some insight into the Secret Technique."

Li Gan took it and leafed through it carefully.

Though he had cultivated the Heartless Sword Art to Great Accomplishment 99, he still hadn't comprehended a Secret Technique.

According to his master, one usually comprehended the Secret Technique first, then used it to grasp the Heartless Sword Intent.

Li Gan suspected that he couldn't bring the Heartless Sword Art to Great Accomplishment because he hadn't comprehended a Secret Technique.

"Thank you, Master."

Li Gan hurriedly replied.

"Don't rush it. Comprehending a Secret Technique isn't that easy."

Zhou Buping said.

He didn't know Li Gan's current Cultivation Base or swordsmanship progress, and he had never asked.

Besides, after the Chen Bell advanced into a Dharma Tool, it gained the ability to conceal Li Gan's aura and mental sword force. Zhou Buping couldn't see through him, either.

After returning to the Bell Tower, Li Gan took out the book and read it by the oil lamp.

After finishing it, Li Gan shook his head. Most of what the book said wasn't suitable for him.

Once you comprehended the Heartless Sword Art to Great Accomplishment, you should basically be able to grasp a Secret Technique. By all rights, he should have comprehended one long ago.

But he hadn't.

He suspected it had something to do with cultivating through the sound of the bell rather than relying on his own insight.

The next day,

After ringing the Chen Bell, Li Gan went down the mountain to the Inner Sect.

Since his master had said it wouldn't matter if the Chen Bell stopped for a few days,

then he'd let it stay silent.

As for finding a Menial Disciple to ring the bell for him, he decided against it.

After all, a Menial Disciple ringing it wouldn't add to the Chen Bell's Refining Progress.

Only when he, its Sacrificial Master, rang the bell did it count.

This was Li Gan's first time entering the Inner Sect.

Unlike the tucked-away corner where the Chore Hall stood,

the Inner Sect had the Seven Main Peaks and many other mountains, with magnificent buildings spread throughout in orderly fashion, displaying the full grandeur of a great sect.

The Mission Hall.

It was an impressive complex of buildings. Compared to it, the Chore Hall looked like a little thatched hut.

And aside from Menial Disciples doing the menial work, the Mission Hall also had Official Disciples on staff.

Li Gan glanced over the many tasks posted on the task board.

They were divided into Inner Sect tasks and assignments outside the sect.

Tasks within the sect naturally included things like working at the Mission Hall. Such tasks had set durations, usually at least a month and sometimes as long as a season.

They took a long time, and the Contribution Points were low.

Their advantage was that they were safe.

These kinds of tasks within the sect were usually snapped up as soon as they appeared.

So the task board was mostly filled with assignments outside the sect.

There were all kinds: suppressing bandits, hunting down notorious pirates and Black List fugitives, Guard Missions, Escort Missions, gathering spirit herbs, supervising mines. They were a mixed bag, and nearly all carried some degree of risk.

The higher the Contribution Points, the greater the risk.

Li Gan had just one requirement for a task: a short duration.

After all, every extra day he spent away meant one fewer day ringing the Chen Bell, delaying its Refining Progress by the same amount.

"Escort Mission. Duration: about ten days. Recommended Cultivation Base: Fifth Layer of Postnatal Realm or higher. Contribution Points: 300."

Li Gan's gaze settled on a task.

He walked over to the registration window.

The staff member soon handed him a temporary task token and a small booklet.

The temporary task token showed that he had accepted the task and served as proof that he was working on it.

The booklet, meanwhile, contained the details of the task.