Enemy Attack

"Just as I thought, Inner Disciple missions paid three hundred Contribution Points each. Back when I was a Menial Disciple, it would've taken me three hundred months to save that much."

Li Gan sighed inwardly.

This mission required a Cultivation Base of at least the Fifth Layer of Postnatal Realm. It was moderately difficult, had a short duration, and suited him quite well.

Some missions required a lower Cultivation Base, but often took much longer.

Others offered more Contribution Points and didn't take long, but required a higher Cultivation Base.

A higher Cultivation Base meant greater risks.

He didn't want to take any chances.

If he weren't required to take missions as an Inner Disciple, he really wouldn't want to take any risks.

"The mission begins in Linjian City, where you'll escort a shipment of goods to Baibi City in Zhanghe Prefecture, three hundred kilometers away. You'll depart in five days and gather one day in advance."

"Baibi City?"

When Li Gan saw the destination, his brow furrowed slightly. His predecessor had come from the Li Family in Baibi City, Zhanghe Prefecture.

He hadn't been back in more than three years, not since he'd left home.

If not for this mission, he would've almost forgotten that this body had a family.

That's my predecessor's past. It has nothing to do with me. I'll just return as soon as I've delivered the goods.

He had no affection for this body's family.

Even his predecessor had hated that household enough to run away.

After reading the booklet, Li Gan handed it back and left the Mission Hall.

There were still a few days, so there was no need to hurry.

Still, he had to prepare properly.

Even if the mission was low-risk, he couldn't afford to be careless. He had to give it his all.

A few days later.

Li Gan descended the mountain. After registering at the checkpoint by the Divine Sword Sect's mountain gate, he rode off.

It was his first time riding a horse.

Both in this life and his previous one.

But his predecessor had known how to ride, so he had those memories.

On top of that, he was now a martial artist at the Eighth Layer of Postnatal Realm. He was a little rusty at first, but soon got the hang of it.

It was his first time leaving the Divine Sword Sect in more than three years.

Linjian City was only a dozen or so li from the Divine Sword Sect.

It was a sizable city, with a population of over a hundred thousand, most of whom had some connection to people in the Divine Sword Sect. It was said that a large portion of the Menial Disciples and Official Disciples recruited by the sect came from Linjian City.

After entering Linjian City, Li Gan had no interest in wandering around. He headed straight to the mission's meeting place.

The Yongcheng Firm.

"Young Hero Li, you're here awfully early!"

The firm's steward, Steward Lin, greeted him with surprise.

"Early? Steward Lin, didn't the mission say to arrive at the meeting place one day in advance?"

Li Gan asked curiously.

"Actually, you just need to arrive before we depart. I expect the other Inner Disciples who accepted the mission won't get here until tomorrow morning."

Steward Lin smiled.

He wondered if this Young Hero Li was taking a mission for the first time.

But that didn't seem right. The mission required a Cultivation Base of at least the Fifth Layer of Postnatal Realm, and a first-time Inner Disciple wouldn't accept it.

"Oh, there are others?"

Li Gan asked curiously.

"Our firm's mission requires five to eight martial artists to escort the shipment."

Steward Lin chuckled.

"Then I'll head back and come by again tomorrow morning."

Li Gan nodded. With Steward Lin staring in bewilderment, he mounted his horse and rode away.

If he wasted a day, he'd miss a day of ringing the bell, delaying the Dharma Tool, Chen Bell, from advancing by a day.

What's more, it would affect his cultivation.

The next day.

After ringing the bell at Mao Hour, Li Gan practiced the Heartless Sword Art twice before arriving at the Yongcheng Firm in Linjian City, feeling refreshed.

He was still the first to arrive.

It wasn't until Si Hour that the other Inner Disciples who had accepted the mission began to show up.

He was still too young.

He should've known to ring the Chen Bell before coming.

If he practiced the Heartless Sword Art a few more times, wouldn't his Cultivation Base improve a little more?

Including Li Gan, there were eight Inner Disciples in total.

Five men and two women.

Li Gan hadn't seen any of these Inner Disciples before.

"Junior Brother, you're a new face. How about introducing yourself?"

The speaker was a woman in white with a silver mask covering half her face. Judging by the shape of her face, she had a classic oval visage, and a very alluring figure.

A long sword was strapped to her back, and her hair was tied in a ponytail, giving her a dashing, heroic air.

"I'm Li Gan. Greetings, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters."

Li Gan cupped his hands.

"Which peak are you from?"

Another person asked.

"I'm just an ordinary Inner Disciple."

Li Gan replied.

"Heh, you wouldn't take this mission without some real strength."

The man gave a chuckle.

A Cultivation Base of at least the Fifth Layer of Postnatal Realm was enough to make many Inner Disciples think twice.

For many Inner Disciples, the Fifth or Sixth Layer of Postnatal Realm was as far as they would get.

Only a handful of talented disciples could reach the Seventh Layer of Postnatal Realm or higher. At the very least, they could become disciples of an Ordinary Elder on one of the Seven Main Peaks.

The more exceptional ones could become Personal Disciples of a Power-holding Elder or a Peak Master, giving them the chance to compete for the title of True Disciple.

Generally speaking, the Divine Sword Sect's Power-holding Elders, Peak Masters, and even Sect Leaders all came from among the True Disciples.

"May I ask what your Cultivation Base is, Junior Brother Li?"

The woman in white asked. "Don't take this the wrong way, Junior Brother Li. We're just getting to know one another so we can divide up our duties more effectively during the mission. My name is Ji Su, and I'm at the Seventh Layer of Postnatal Realm."

"Senior Sister Ji, I'm at the Sixth Layer of Postnatal Realm."

Li Gan said.

There was no way he would reveal his true strength.

The others then shared their Cultivation Bases as well. Most were at the Fifth or Sixth Layer of Postnatal Realm, while Ji Su was the strongest on the surface.

It wasn't until noon that the merchant caravan set out.

Li Gan noticed something odd: the caravan itself had no dedicated escorting martial artists. Aside from the steward in charge of the shipment, the rest were just drivers and helpers.

He only learned from the others that the Yongcheng Firm had been established by an elder of the Divine Sword Sect and worked with the sect's Inner Disciples. Whenever it needed people to transport goods, it would post an Escort Mission among the Inner Disciples.

This meant the Yongcheng Firm didn't need to hire and train its own escorting martial artists year-round, saving a hefty sum.

Although hiring Inner Disciples from the Divine Sword Sect wasn't cheap, it was still far more cost-effective by comparison.

Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

The merchant caravan entered Zhanghe Prefecture.

It was now less than a hundred li from Baibi City. At their current speed, they'd arrive within a day.

They hadn't encountered any trouble along the way.

Since the caravan had hired Inner Disciples of the Divine Sword Sect, it flew not only the Flag Banner of the Yongcheng Merchant Caravan, but also one bearing the Divine Sword Sect's mark.

That alone was a powerful deterrent.

The Divine Sword Sect's influence was immense, its might shaking three provinces and twelve prefectures.

Ordinary bandits wouldn't dare target the caravan.

Night fell.

The merchant caravan stopped to rest in a small town.

They would reach Baibi City by tomorrow afternoon at the latest.

As usual, the eight of them kept watch beside the goods, sleeping in their clothes and taking turns standing guard.

Tonight was no different.

The other drivers and helpers had all gone to rest.

Listening to the night watchman's calls outside, Li Gan knew it was already a quarter past Chou Hour.

He was still feeling fairly alert.

Whenever sleepiness washed over him, he would ring the Shadow of the Chen Bell in his mind. Its chime kept his spirits up.

The farther the bell's sound was from the Chen Bell in the Divine Sword Sect, the weaker its effect became.

Once it was far enough away, the effect would settle at a fixed level.

Suddenly, Li Gan faintly heard something approaching from a distance.

It was moving fast.

His eyes snapped open.

It didn't sound like a stray cat or anything of the sort.

At that very moment, the hairs on his body stood on end. He sprang up and spun around.

Pfft!

A flash of cold light struck the spot where he had just been sitting cross-legged.

A crossbow bolt.