External Assignment

"Brother Xuan, they're all handing over money. Should you..."

Chen Shitou frowned as he watched, lowering his voice.

"No need to worry. I know what I'm doing."

Chen Xuan remained calm, his gaze sweeping over those disciples handing over money without stirring a single ripple in his heart.

He possessed the Zhaoxi Bizheng Fate Pattern. Each day, his cultivation increased by a year.

He had already broken through to the Sixth Stage of Body Tempering yesterday. When the sun set today, he could gain another point of Zhaoxi Value and break through to the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering. One realm a day—what was there to be anxious about?

Good positions or bad positions, they were all temporary to him.

With this cheat.

Forget the Body Tempering Realm—even reaching the Zhuqi Realm, or realms beyond that... was only a matter of time.

Before long.

Steward Qian put away the roster, cleared his throat, and called out, "Quiet down, everyone!"

The square immediately fell silent.

Steward Qian swept his gaze around, then said loudly, "Today is the day of your external assignment. The sect recognizes that your cultivation has not come easily, so it has specially arranged posts for you. This is both a rule and an opportunity. Once you arrive at your assignments, work diligently and serve the sect well. In the future, you may yet have a chance at promotion."

As he spoke, Steward Qian opened the roster and began reading names. "Zhao Yuan, Sun Li, Li Chengye... the twenty-two of you are assigned to the Constabulary of Pingyang City, Cangwu Prefecture. Your specific duties will be arranged by the local constable chief. You must faithfully fulfill your responsibilities and protect the peace of the region."

"Thank you, Steward!"

The twenty-two disciples whose names had been called beamed with delight and repeatedly cupped their hands in thanks.

Pingyang City of Cangwu Prefecture was a prosperous place, and the Constabulary was rich with lucrative opportunities. Clearly, the silver they had given had done its job.

"Luo Fan, Pan Ning, Tang Shang... the eighteen of you will proceed to the Balin Mine in Anyuan City, Cangwu Prefecture."

"Wei Zhan, Tian Mu, Yin Ping... proceed to Dingtao City, Yingshui Prefecture..."

Name after name was called. The disciples whose names were read were either pleased or worried. Those who had given lavish gifts were all assigned to decent places, while those who had given little money were sent to remote, barren regions.

After all, there were only so many good positions. It was impossible for everyone to receive one. If you had offered silver, at most you would not be assigned somewhere overly dangerous. But if you wanted one of those fat, lucrative posts, you could forget it.

Chen Xuan listened without changing expression.

Very soon, only the last few names remained on the roster.

Steward Qian closed the roster, raised his head, and let his gaze fall on Chen Xuan and Chen Shitou. He said blandly, "Chen Xuan, assigned to Lianshan City, Tiannan Prefecture. Your specific duties will be determined by the local steward."

"Lianshan City in Tiannan Prefecture? Isn't that at the border where the Three Great Sects meet?"

"Nominally, it's jointly governed by the Three Great Sects, but precisely because of that, their disciples refuse to bow to one another and often clash in bloody fights."

"The mortality rate for disciples sent to Tiannan Prefecture is as high as ninety percent."

"This Chen Xuan must have offended Steward Qian!"

"..."

The moment those words were spoken, low murmurs spread across the square.

"Tiannan Prefecture?"

Chen Shitou's expression changed upon hearing this.

Though he had never been to Tiannan Prefecture, after three years in the Guiyuan Sect, he had long heard of that place.

Tiannan Prefecture lay at the border shared by the Guiyuan Sect, the Blood Fiend Devil Sect, and Ten Thousand Sword Villa, and was jointly administered by the Three Great Sects.

Yet it was precisely because of this that disciples from the Three Great Sects frequently erupted into fierce conflicts over resources and territory. Bloody battles were as commonplace as daily meals.

The mortality rate of disciples sent to Tiannan Prefecture was shockingly high.

Every month, Outer Disciples were dispatched there, yet the place was always short of manpower.

"Brother Xuan, you..." Chen Shitou had barely opened his mouth when Chen Xuan interrupted him. "Shitou, don't worry. I have my own plans."

Chen Xuan's gaze was calm, without the slightest trace of panic, as though he had long expected such an outcome.

"Brother Xuan, once you reach Lianshan City, be extra careful."

With matters having reached this point, Chen Shitou knew that nothing he said would help.

Positions assigned by the sect could not possibly be changed.

At the very least, they would not be changed for a tiny Outer Disciple like him, someone with no background whatsoever.

"Once you arrive at your posts, no matter what position you are given, perform well. If you render meritorious service, the sect will naturally reward you."

After saying that, Steward Qian waved his hand, signaling that they could leave.

The Outer Disciples dispersed in different directions.

Chen Xuan did not delay and immediately returned to his residence to pack.

There was not much to pack, really. A few changes of clothes and several dozen taels of silver were all his possessions.

The sect gave each person only one horse, along with a letter of recommendation.

When Chen Xuan led his horse out of the South Courtyard, Chen Shitou accompanied him all the way to the mountain gate.

"Brother Xuan, remember to send me word when you arrive."

Chen Shitou's eyes were slightly red.

"Don't worry." Chen Xuan swung onto his horse and patted him on the shoulder. "Cultivate well. When it's your turn to be sent out, your brother will come pick you up."

"Mm!"

Chen Shitou nodded vigorously.

Chen Xuan squeezed his legs against the horse's belly and rode down the mountain.

Behind him, the mountain gate of the Guiyuan Sect gradually vanished into the morning mist.

The journey from the Guiyuan Sect to Tiannan Prefecture was long, spanning several thousand li.

Chen Xuan traveled south alone along the official road.

Time passed.

Before long, the setting sun sank beneath the horizon.

[Zhaoxi Value +1]

At a thought, the panel appeared before him.

Host: Chen Xuan

Destiny: Zhaoxi Bizheng (Whenever the sun rises or sets, one point of energy can be accumulated. It can be used to accelerate martial arts cultivation, gaining one year of cultivation each day.)

Realm: Sixth Stage of Body Tempering (Anjin)

Martial Arts: Giant Whale Body Refining Technique / Sixth Layer, Mountain Crushing Fist / Mastery

Zhaoxi Value: 1

"Upgrade the Giant Whale Body Refining Technique."

Chen Xuan chose to allocate the point without hesitation.

Buzz—

Another year of arduous cultivation.

The Giant Whale Body Refining Technique broke through from the Sixth Layer to the Seventh Layer, and his cultivation also broke through to the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering, the Yangzang Realm.

His five viscera and six bowels were tempered, his blood and qi brimmed with vitality, and his life force surged.

Chen Xuan sensed the changes within his body and nodded in satisfaction. Having reached the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering, his internal organs had been strengthened and tempered, greatly increasing his endurance and allowing him to sustain battle for longer.

Since arriving in this world.

In just two days, Chen Xuan had broken through from the Fifth Stage of Body Tempering to the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering. Even traveling from the Guiyuan Sect to Lianshan City in Tiannan Prefecture would take at least eight days at the fastest.

Excluding today, there were still seven days left.

That meant seven points of Zhaoxi Value and another seven years of cultivation he could gain.

"No rush. The road is still long. Take it slowly."

Chen Xuan withdrew his thoughts and focused on traveling.

On the evening of the third day of his journey to Tiannan Prefecture.

Chen Xuan spent two points of Zhaoxi Value to upgrade the Giant Whale Body Refining Technique, and his cultivation broke through from the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering to the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering.

The Eighth Layer of Body Tempering, the Shenyong Realm, marked the completion of Body Tempering. The flesh became tough beyond ordinary understanding, reaching four or five times the limit of a normal person. With a single swing of one arm, one could unleash a thousand jin of force and wrestle bears and tigers to the death.

If such strength struck a person, a casual blow could shatter bones and snap tendons, sending flesh and blood flying. With divine might, one was invincible.

In the eyes of ordinary people, reaching the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering meant one was no longer mortal.

Chen Xuan felt the surging power within his body, his heart filled with lofty ambition. Such strength might be nothing within the Guiyuan Sect, but in some small cities, it already counted among the very best.