The Watch

Three days later, at dawn.

Lin Ye woke from his cultivation and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

He opened his eyes and felt the qi and blood in his body had strengthened a little. He nodded slightly.

After the Basic Body Forging Art was extrapolated, my cultivation speed increased a lot. That's why I broke through to the fourth level of Body Tempering so quickly.

Among the Qingyun Sect's more than three thousand outer disciples, the fourth level of Body Tempering was only middle to lower rank.

Time to take a mission.

Lin Ye got up, washed up quickly, changed into his outer disciple uniform, and left.

Over the past three days, aside from cultivating, he had familiarized himself with the outer sect. He now knew the locations of the disciple residences, training grounds, Chuangong Hall, and Mission Hall like the back of his hand.

The Qingyun Sect's outer sect had more than three thousand disciples, divided into four ranks—A, B, C, and D—according to cultivation and contribution points.

A-rank disciples had to be at least at the seventh level of Body Tempering, and each lived in their own courtyard.

B-rank disciples, at the fifth or sixth level of Body Tempering, shared a courtyard in pairs.

C-rank disciples, at the fourth level of Body Tempering, shared quarters four to a room.

As for Lin Ye's current room, D-73, it belonged to the lowest rank, D. It was a large room with ten beds.

However, only three people currently lived in their room: him, Zhou Ming, and a young man named Chen Feng.

These past few days, Zhou Ming had been coming and going from dawn till dusk, busy taking missions and currying favor with senior disciples, doing everything he could to improve his standing.

Chen Feng, on the other hand, was a homebody. Aside from cultivating, he rarely went out and hardly spoke at all.

That was a good thing for Lin Ye.

The less they talked, the less likely anyone was to see through him.

When he reached the Mission Hall, it was packed with people.

All sorts of mission notices scrolled across the enormous white jade wall.

"Look after the medicinal fields. Five contribution points per day. Basic knowledge of medicinal herbs required."

"Collect ten Red Flame Grass. One contribution point per stalk. Red Flame Grass grows in Red Flame Valley, behind the outer sect."

"Training partner mission. Disciples at the fourth level of Body Tempering or above. Ten contribution points per day. Extensive combat experience required."

"Clear the mountain paths. Three contribution points per day."

Lin Ye stood at the edge of the crowd, carefully studying the mission list.

He only had ten contribution points. He couldn't afford to do anything, so he had to earn more as soon as possible to exchange for a cultivation art.

Training partners are too risky.

I don't know anything about medicinal herbs.

And clearing the mountain paths pays too little.

In the end, Lin Ye's gaze settled on one mission:

"Collect ten Iron-Backed Wolf fangs. Five contribution points per fang. Note: Iron-Backed Wolves are first-level demonic beasts, equivalent to the third level of Body Tempering. They live in packs. Disciples at the fourth level of Body Tempering or above are advised to form a team. Mission location: Black Wind Forest, fifty li northwest of the outer sect."

Fifty contribution points.

If he completed it, he would have enough to cover half the cost of a low-grade mortal-level cultivation art.

Iron-Backed Wolves lived in packs. Though each one was only as strong as a cultivator at the third level of Body Tempering, a pack had at least a dozen wolves, and the wolf king might even be at the fourth or fifth level.

With my current strength, I should be fine as long as I don't run into the wolf king. And even if I do, I should be able to run if I can't beat it.

Lin Ye considered his options.

He was at the fourth level of Body Tempering, but the optimized versions of the Basic Fist Manual and the Basic Body Forging Art made him far stronger than others at the same level.

If he went all out, he could even contend with someone at the fifth level of Body Tempering.

But this mission requires a team...

Lin Ye frowned.

He didn't want to team up.

If he did, he might have to reveal his strength.

Are there any missions I can do alone?

He kept reading.

"Guard the mine. Eight contribution points per day. Requires a three-day posting in the mine. Note: Low-level demonic beasts occasionally appear in the depths of the mine. Disciples at the fourth level of Body Tempering or above are advised to take this mission."

Three days on duty, twenty-four contribution points.

Though it paid only half as much as collecting wolf fangs, it was safer. The mine was on Qingyun Sect territory and protected by an array. Demonic beasts generally wouldn't dare approach.

This one, then.

Lin Ye walked up to the Mission Hall counter and said to the disciple on duty, "Senior Brother, I'd like to take the 'Guard the Mine' mission."

The disciple looked up at him, expressionless. "Identity token."

Lin Ye handed it over.

The disciple took it and swiped it across a jade tablet, then returned the token to Lin Ye. "D-73, Lin Ye. Guard the mine for three days. Report to the mine at mao hour tomorrow morning. If you fail to arrive on time, ten contribution points will be deducted."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Lin Ye put away his token and left.

Instead of going back to his quarters, he first went to the outer sect's Miscellaneous Goods Hall.

He would need to prepare a few things for three days in the mine.

"Senior Brother, I'd like enough dry rations for three days and a jug of water."

"Also, do you have any weapons for self-defense? The cheapest one will do."

The senior brother at the Miscellaneous Goods Hall glanced at him, then took a rusty iron sword from beneath the counter. "This iron sword is low-grade common stock. Five contribution points. Do you want it?"

Lin Ye looked the sword over.

"I'll take it."

He handed over his identity token.

The senior brother deducted five contribution points and tossed Lin Ye the sword. "Use it carefully. Don't get yourself killed out there."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Lin Ye took the iron sword and strapped it to his back.

When he returned to his quarters, Zhou Ming was packing his things.

"Lin Ye, you're back?" Zhou Ming's eyes lit up when he saw him. "I took a big mission! Collecting Iron-Backed Wolf fangs, five contribution points per fang! Want to team up? It'll be safer."

Lin Ye shook his head. "I took the guard-the-mine mission. I'm leaving first thing tomorrow morning."

"Guard the mine?" Zhou Ming was taken aback, then scoffed. "That kind of mission pays only eight contribution points a day. Twenty-four for three days. My mission pays five points per fang, and ten fangs make fifty contribution points! If we kill a few more wolves, a hundred contribution points isn't out of the question!"

"Good luck," Lin Ye said flatly. He went to his bed and began packing.

Zhou Ming got nowhere with him and stopped trying to persuade him. He merely muttered, "You really don't know what's good for you."

Lin Ye ignored him.

After packing, he sat cross-legged on his bed and began cultivating.

He was going to the mine tomorrow. The mission seemed simple, but he couldn't afford to let his guard down.

The demonic beasts in this world were far more vicious than the wild animals of his previous life.

The next day, just as dawn began to break, Lin Ye arrived at the mine.

A middle-aged man was already waiting at the entrance.

He was burly, dark-skinned, dressed in coarse cloth, and carried an iron pickaxe.

"New disciple?" The man looked Lin Ye up and down.

"Yes. I'm Lin Ye, and I took the guard-the-mine mission." Lin Ye handed over his identity token.

The man took the token and inspected it. "I'm the mine foreman here. You can call me Foreman Wang. Stand by the entrance and keep loiterers away. Don't let any demonic beasts inside get out, either. Understand?"

"Understood." Lin Ye nodded.

"Good. This is your post." Foreman Wang pointed to a small wooden hut beside the entrance. "There's a bed inside. Stay nearby during the day, and you can rest in the hut at night. Remember, don't sleep too soundly. Demonic beasts occasionally wander out from the depths of the mine."

"Yes."

After giving his instructions, Foreman Wang led a group of miners into the mine.

Lin Ye stepped into the small hut.

The place was bare: a plank bed, a battered table, a chair, and a pile of odds and ends in the corner.

He set down his luggage, then went outside and found a spot near the entrance with a good view. He sat cross-legged.

Guard duty was actually quite dull.

Most of the time, he just sat around, occasionally getting up to make a round and check that everything was in order.

It was the perfect opportunity for Lin Ye to cultivate in peace.

He circulated the extrapolated Basic Body Forging Art, guiding his qi and blood to temper his body.

An hour later, he opened his eyes and frowned slightly.

"My cultivation speed has slowed down."

"I need to find a way to get some pills."