The Warden

Three days later, early morning.

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

He opened his eyes, felt the slight increase in his blood and qi, and nodded faintly.

After deducing the Basic Body Forging Art, my cultivation speed has increased significantly. It's also what allowed me to break through to the fourth level of Body Tempering so quickly.

The fourth level of Body Tempering could only be considered lower-middle tier among the more than three thousand outer sect disciples.

"It's time to take on a mission."

Lin Ye rose, washed up briefly, changed into his outer sect disciple robes, and pushed the door open.

Aside from cultivating over the past three days, he had spent his time familiarizing himself with the outer sect, clearly mapping out the locations of the disciple living quarters, the training grounds, the Instruction Hall, and the Mission Hall.

The Qingyun Sect had over three thousand outer sect disciples, divided into four grades—A, B, C, and D—based on their cultivation level and contribution points.

Grade A disciples required at least the seventh level of Body Tempering and lived in private courtyards.

Grade B disciples were at the fifth or sixth level of Body Tempering and shared a courtyard between two people.

Grade C disciples were at the fourth level of Body Tempering and lived four to a room.

As for his current status, D-73, it belonged to the lowest Grade D, where they lived in a large dormitory shared by ten people.

However, their room currently only housed three people—himself, Zhou Ming, and a youth named Chen Feng.

Zhou Ming had been leaving early and returning late these past few days, busy taking on missions and currying favor with senior disciples, trying every possible way to improve his status.

Chen Feng was a homebody who rarely went out except to cultivate and hardly ever spoke.

For Lin Ye, this was a good thing.

With less interaction, it was harder for others to see through his secrets.

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

On the massive white jade wall, various mission details scrolled by in dense rows.

"Tend to the herb fields, five contribution points per day, requires knowledge of basic medicinal herbs."

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

"Sparring mission, requires disciples at the fourth level of Body Tempering or higher, ten contribution points per day, requires rich combat experience."

"Sweep the mountain paths, three contribution points per day."

Lin Ye stood on the periphery of the crowd, carefully examining the mission list.

He currently only had ten contribution points and couldn't do much; he had to earn more as quickly as possible to exchange for cultivation techniques.

Sparring is too risky.

I don't know anything about herbs for the fields.

Sweeping the paths offers too few points.

Finally, Lin Ye's gaze landed on one mission:

"Collect ten fangs from Iron-Backed Wolves, five contribution points per fang. Note: The Iron-Backed Wolf is a first-rank demonic beast, equivalent to the third level of Body Tempering. They are pack animals; it is recommended that disciples at the fourth level of Body Tempering or higher form a team. Mission location: Black Wind Forest, fifty miles northwest of the outer sect."

Fifty contribution points.

If completed, it would be enough to cover half the cost of a low-grade mortal technique.

These Iron-Backed Wolves were pack animals. Although a single one only had the strength of the third level of Body Tempering, a pack consisted of at least a dozen, and the pack leader could potentially have the strength of the fourth or even fifth level.

With my current strength, as long as I don't run into the pack leader, it shouldn't be a problem. Even if I do, I should be able to run if I can't win.

Lin Ye calculated in his mind.

He was currently at the fourth level of Body Tempering, but the optimized Basic Fist Manual and Basic Body Forging Art gave him actual combat power far exceeding his peers.

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.

Teaming up might lead to his strength being exposed.

Are there any missions I can do alone?

He continued to look down the list.

"Guard the mine, eight contribution points per day, requires stationing at the mine for three days. Note: Low-level demonic beasts occasionally appear in the depths of the mine; it is recommended that disciples at the fourth level of Body Tempering or higher take this mission."

Stationing for three days would earn him twenty-four contribution points.

Although it was half the points of collecting wolf fangs, it had the advantage of being safe. The mine was Qingyun Sect territory and protected by formations; demonic beasts generally dared not approach.

"This is the one."

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

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

Lin Ye handed over his token.

The deacon disciple took it, swiped it across a jade tablet, and then returned the token to Lin Ye: "Area Ding, number seventy-three, Lin Ye. Guarding the mine mission, duration three days, report to the mine at the hour of the rabbit tomorrow morning. Failure to arrive on time will result in a deduction of ten contribution points."

"Many thanks, Senior Brother."

Lin Ye put away his token and turned to leave.

He did not return to his living quarters, but instead went first to the Miscellaneous Goods Hall of the outer sect.

Guarding the mine for three days required preparing a few things.

"Senior Brother, I need three days' worth of dry rations and a flask of water."

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

The senior brother at the Miscellaneous Goods Hall glanced at him and pulled a rusted iron sword from under the counter: "This 'iron sword', low-grade mortal tier, five contribution points. Do you want it?"

Lin Ye looked at the iron sword.

"I do."

He handed over his identity token.

The deacon senior brother deducted five contribution points and tossed the iron sword to Lin Ye: "Use it well, and don't go dying out there."

"Many thanks, Senior Brother."

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

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

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

Lin Ye shook his head: "I've taken the mission to guard the mine, and I'm leaving first thing tomorrow morning."

"Guarding the mine?" Zhou Ming was stunned, then scoffed, "That kind of mission only pays eight contribution points a day, twenty-four for three days. My mission pays five points per fang; ten fangs is fifty contribution points! If we kill a few more wolves, a hundred contribution points won't be a problem!"

"Right, good luck to you." Lin Ye said indifferently, walking to his bed to start packing his things.

Zhou Ming felt rebuffed and stopped trying to persuade him, only muttering, "Truly unappreciative."

Lin Ye ignored him.

After packing his things, he sat cross-legged on the bed and began to cultivate.

He was going to the mine tomorrow; although the mission was simple, he could not afford to be careless.

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

The next day, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Lin Ye arrived at the mine.

At the entrance of the mine, a middle-aged man was already waiting there.

The man was burly with dark skin, wearing coarse cloth clothing and carrying an iron pickaxe in his hand.

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

"Yes, disciple Lin Ye, I've taken the mission to guard the mine." Lin Ye handed over his identity token.

The man took the token and looked at it, "I am the foreman of the miners here, you can call me Foreman Wang. You stay by the entrance, don't let any unauthorized people get close, and don't let any demonic beasts from inside run out. Understand?"

"Understood." Lin Ye nodded.

"Alright, this is your spot." Foreman Wang pointed to a small wooden shack next to the mine entrance, "There's a bed inside. You stay nearby during the day, and you can go inside to rest at night. Remember, don't sleep too soundly; occasionally, demonic beasts from deep within the mine will run out."

"Yes."

After Foreman Wang finished his instructions, he led a team of miners into the cave.

Lin Ye walked into the small wooden shack.

The room was very simple: a wooden bed, a broken table, a chair, and some miscellaneous items piled in the corner.

He put down his luggage, then walked out of the shack and found a spot with a good view near the entrance, sitting down cross-legged.

Guarding missions were actually quite boring.

Most of the time was spent sitting, occasionally getting up to patrol a circle to ensure there were no anomalies.

Lin Ye took this opportunity to cultivate in peace.

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

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

"The cultivation speed has slowed down."

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