Moon Worship Cult

It had been over a month since the true disciple selection.

On the mountain.

The air was fresh, and the mist was vast.

Suddenly, a clear, resonant bell chime pierced through the fog, echoing across the towering mountain ranges. It startled a flock of birds into flight, but after circling in the air for a moment, they settled back down.

After releasing the striking beam, Li Gan began practicing the immaculate sword body.

His daily training was now divided into two main parts.

First, practicing the immaculate sword body.

Second, practicing the heartless sword technique to comprehend the heartless sword intent.

After finishing one cycle, Li Gan stopped. His meridians throbbed with a slight, dull pain; this was the aftereffect of circulating his internal qi in reverse.

Compared to when he had first started practicing the immaculate sword body, the situation had improved significantly.

As for the meridian nourishing pill given by his master, Zhou Buping, he only took one every three days.

The effect? It was there, just a little.

What truly made a difference was the sound of the chen bell. Without the chen bell, the cultivation of the immaculate sword body would have been exceptionally difficult.

Suddenly, Chen Yong's voice drifted up from below the bell tower.

"Brother Gan."

Li Gan had sensed someone approaching long ago. He stood up immediately and saw Chen Yong climbing up the hillside. He chuckled, "Chen Yong, it looks like you gained something from the combat ranking list this time, right?"

Chen Yong had come up the mountain a few days ago to ask Li Gan for advice on the sword piercing fist, saying he needed to prepare for the combat ranking list.

Chen Yong was the only friend Li Gan could really talk to within the divine sword sect, so he was always willing to provide whatever help he could.

"Hehe, I made the list, though I'm ranked last."

Chen Yong said happily.

He had rushed over the moment the final results of the combat ranking list were revealed.

"Congratulations," Li Gan said.

"Brother Gan, my little achievement is nothing," Chen Yong said, scratching his head.

They had entered the Divine Sword Sect as menial disciples in the same batch. While he was still struggling to open his eight extraordinary meridians, Li Gan had already become a ranked martial artist.

"Take your time. As long as you keep making progress, there is still hope for you to become an official disciple."

Li Gan said encouragingly.

"Mm, I will definitely work hard."

Chen Yong nodded, feeling full of motivation.

Time flew like an arrow, and in the blink of an eye, another half a year passed.

During this period, he had even found time to go on a simple escort mission.

It went very smoothly.

Unlike the first time, he did not encounter any trouble.

At the top of the bell tower.

After finishing his practice of the immaculate sword body, Li Gan summoned his system interface to check the latest information.

Host: Li Gan.

Cultivation: Postnatal realm (9th layer 99/100).

Sacrificial Vessel: Chenzhong Terrace (Dharma 821/10000).

Martial Arts: Sword piercing fist (perfected), heartless sword art (perfected), immaculate sword body (minor success 46/100).

Martial Intent: Heartless sword intent (virtual image 58/100).

Secret Technique: Myriad transformation sword qi.

After the immaculate sword body reached minor success, it basically took three days to gain a single point of progress.

It was only at minor success now; once it reached major success, the cultivation progress would be even slower.

However, he was in no rush.

Ringing the bell at Chenzhong Terrace every day to cultivate, with no one to disturb him, was actually quite nice.

In the evening, he arrived at Yanmen Valley.

He now only came by once every half a month or so.

Unless there was something going on, he generally wouldn't come over.

His master, Zhou Buping, did not spend most of his time here either.

Once, Li Gan had asked his master why he insisted on staying in Yanmen Valley. Surely, it would be more efficient to go out and find a disciple with better aptitude and higher comprehension?

Zhou Buping had answered like this: bone structure and aptitude are easy to measure, but comprehension is mysterious and elusive. It only reveals itself slowly during the process of cultivation. It is not the case that good bone structure guarantees high comprehension; there is simply no certainty to it.

Therefore, trying to find someone with high comprehension is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

On the contrary, among the over ten thousand menial disciples in the Chore Hall, who come and go in batches, there might just be one hidden with extremely high comprehension.

"I will be leaving for a period of time, and I don't know when I will return. So, take all the medicinal pills and resources for the next few months with you now. Also, take this jar of medicinal wine back with you, lest someone else makes off with it."

Seeing Li Gan arrive, Zhou Buping spoke immediately.

"Master, where are you going?"

Li Gan was very surprised.

Judging by his master's tone, it seemed he would be gone for several months.

"A rebellion by the Moon Worship Cult has broken out in the eight southeast prefectures. The imperial court needs to mobilize a group of high-level martial artists from various sects to participate in the suppression, and I have just been drafted."

Zhou Buping said calmly.

"Master, will it be dangerous?"

Li Gan asked.

He had stayed in the Divine Sword Sect for a long time and rarely interacted with others, so his sources of information were very limited.

"There is certainly danger, but it shouldn't be a major issue. You don't need to worry about me. Also, if you intend to take on inner sect missions, try your best to avoid suppression missions."

Zhou Buping warned.

With him not in the sect, if any accidents were to happen while Li Gan was on a mission, he would be unable to look after him.

"Master, I will be careful."

Li Gan nodded.

Afterward, Zhou Buping gave a few more instructions.

By the time he returned to Chenzhong Terrace, Li Gan was carrying a bamboo basket on his back, filled with bottles, jars, and a large jug of wine.

This medicinal wine was meticulously brewed by Zhou Buping, infused with various precious spiritual herbs; it was an excellent tonic.

After drinking a small cup of the medicinal wine, Li Gan lay down in a state of mild intoxication.

The night was deep and quiet.

A full moon cast its silver glow, shrouding the earth in a hazy veil.

Suddenly, a black shadow streaked silently past the vicinity of the bell tower. It did not linger, instead following the mountain path toward the darkness behind the mountain.

Inside the bell tower, Li Gan, who had been fast asleep, opened his eyes.

He remained extremely vigilant even while sleeping.

Even after drinking alcohol, this remained the case.

He could perceive even the slightest disturbance.

Someone is there?

He could vaguely sense that something had passed by Chenzhong Terrace.

However, he had no intention of going out to take a look.

Perhaps it was some expert from the Divine Sword Sect traveling late at night?

It was best not to meddle in affairs that didn't concern him.

A few days later.

Li Gan descended the mountain and arrived at the inner disciple mission hall.

He intended to complete this year's required mission.

There were quite a few people inside the mission hall.

He scanned the mission wall, which was covered in tasks.

"Huh, why are these all suppression missions?"

Li Gan was very puzzled.

He had originally hoped to find a simple task to get it over with.

"Senior brother, why are these all suppression missions?"

He suddenly asked a young inner disciple standing nearby who was also looking at the board.

"Junior brother, have you been in secluded cultivation the whole time?"

The young inner disciple asked in surprise.

"How did you know, senior brother?"

Li Gan played along.

"It's been spreading for a while now. Because of the Moon Worship Cult rebellion, the eight southeast prefectures are in complete chaos. Although the prefecture where our sect is located is still relatively stable, the Moon Worship Cult has been very active."

The young inner disciple explained.

Li Gan had already heard about the Moon Worship Cult rebellion from his master, Zhou Buping, a few days ago.

He had assumed it was limited to the eight southeast prefectures, but he hadn't expected the Divine Sword Sect to be affected as well.

It was clear that the rebellion incited by the Moon Worship Cult was no small matter.

"I see. Senior brother, besides suppression missions, are there no other types of tasks available?"

Li Gan asked again.

"Heh. Any other type of task gets snatched up the moment it appears. See those people? Many of them are waiting here specifically for tasks."

The young inner disciple gestured with his lips toward the many inner disciples standing nearby.

Many suppression missions required fighting to the death against fierce Moon Worship Cult members; while the reward in contribution points was high, the risks were equally great.

They were not the first choice for many inner disciples.

"Then, doesn't that mean no one does these suppression missions?"

Li Gan asked.

"Once the deadline for a task approaches, they get assigned mandatorily. Besides, there are some inner disciples who enjoy taking risks and love the thrill of combat," the young inner disciple said.

Li Gan realized he was right. Although there were quite a few other types of tasks, the number of inner disciples was simply too high—it was a case of too many monks and too little gruel.

Inner disciples could choose not to take on tasks.

However, the consequences were severe.

The inner sect would cut off their supply of cultivation resources.

Their access to exchanging martial arts manuals and using special cultivation grounds would also be revoked.

It would be equivalent to holding the title of an inner disciple in name only.

There wouldn't even be a chance to make up for it.