The Mission and Fellow Disciples

Upon entering the cave abode, Xu Yang immediately swept his gaze around and was surprised to find that its decorations were simple and extremely plain. However, the hidden areas were covered in layers of Restrictions, of which Xu Yang's cultivation allowed him to see only the barest surface.

The three followed the two maids straight through the main hall of the cave abode and arrived at a side hall in the rear chamber. Xu Yang looked up to see Qing Yuanzi sitting on a wooden chair inside, while two men and a woman stood below him.

When Qing Yuanzi saw the three of them arrive, he laughed and said, "Good! My disciples have finally gathered together." As he spoke, he looked over Xu Yang and the others, his face filled with gratification. Xu Yang and the other two immediately stepped forward, bowed, and saluted Qing Yuanzi.

Qing Yuanzi waved his hand. "There's no need for such courtesy. I summoned all of you this time because I have something for you to handle. I hope you'll work hard to complete it and not disappoint me." Xu Yang and the others hurriedly assured him that they would do their utmost to complete their master's mission.

Qing Yuanzi nodded and informed Xu Yang and the others of the mission's full details. At the end, he turned to Huo Lian and said, "Huo Lian, you won't be participating in this matter. I have an even more important task for you." Huo Lian's expression shifted slightly at this, and after glancing at the brocade-robed man opposite him, he hurriedly bowed to Qing Yuanzi and acknowledged the order.

Qing Yuanzi then turned to a handsome man in brocade robes with fair features and said, "Liu Yuan, you're the second senior brother among everyone here, and you're also a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator. You'll lead this mission. Take your junior brothers and sisters with you."

The brocade-robed man, Liu Yuan, immediately bowed excitedly to Qing Yuanzi. "Yes, Master! This disciple will certainly do his utmost to complete the mission you've entrusted to me."

Standing to one side, Xu Yang suddenly noticed that after Liu Yuan became the mission leader, Huo Lian and Xu Shaoyang's expressions turned extremely ugly. His thoughts stirred, and he realized that the two were probably at odds with Liu Yuan. Xu Yang's heart sank at once. It seemed that his situation was far from good, because in the eyes of the others, he was also one of Huo Lian's faction.

Hearing Liu Yuan's assurance, Qing Yuanzi smiled and said, "Very good. You may withdraw. Hurry to the capital of Wu Kingdom." At this point, he suddenly looked toward Xu Yang. "The sixth disciple's cultivation progress is quite good, far beyond my expectations. This mission may be somewhat dangerous, so this Sky-Severing Sword is a high-grade Flying Sword without an elemental attribute. Take it to protect yourself."

As he spoke, Qing Yuanzi waved his hand, and a silver Flying Sword flew toward Xu Yang. Xu Yang took the sword with an excited expression and bowed to Qing Yuanzi. "Thank you for this generous gift, Master. This disciple will certainly not fail your expectations."

Qing Yuanzi wore a broad smile at his words. He then waved Xu Yang away. Seeing this, Xu Yang bowed, saluted, and walked over to the other fellow disciples. Liu Yuan led everyone in bidding farewell to Qing Yuanzi before leaving his cave abode. Only Huo Lian remained inside to listen to Qing Yuanzi's instructions.

After leaving the cave abode, several of them looked one another over. Liu Yuan spoke first. "Junior Brother Xu Yang, this is your first time meeting the rest of us, isn't it? How about I introduce everyone to you?"

Xu Yang hurriedly said with a grateful expression, "Thank you, Senior Brother. I'm deeply grateful." Liu Yuan then introduced everyone one by one, and Xu Yang hurriedly saluted each of his fellow disciples.

Among them, Liu Yuan was the second senior brother and a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator. He was exceptionally handsome, but his pair of narrow, elongated eyes detracted somewhat from his bearing.

The third senior sister, Li Qingqing, was at the late stage of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. She had delicate features, clear brows, and beautiful eyes, but her face was expressionless and as cold as frost. She completely ignored Liu Yuan's attentiveness.

The fourth senior brother, Liu Hao, was at the early stage of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. He had a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks, while his large eyes darted about restlessly. He was extremely respectful toward Liu Yuan. The remaining one was the fifth senior brother, Xu Shaoyang. He was at the middle stage of the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining and looked honest and simple, but he was one thing on the outside and another within, being quite shrewd.

After exchanging greetings, Xu Yang finally became familiar with the basic circumstances of these fellow disciples. Liu Yuan then ordered everyone to meet outside the sect early the next morning and spend the day preparing properly. After hearing this, everyone exchanged farewells and dispersed.

Xu Yang returned to the loft, took out the Qiankun Bag, and checked through his belongings. Once he confirmed that nothing was missing, he took out the Sky-Severing Sword and refined it.

The Sky-Severing Sword was an elementless Flying Sword and a high-grade Dharma Artifact. It could be said to be the Dharma Artifact most suited to Xu Yang. It had only two basic functions: sharpness and speed. Compared with other high-grade Dharma Artifact Flying Swords, it was even faster and sharper.

The entire sword body had been forged from Sky-Severing Stone. It had originally been intended to become a top-grade wind-element Flying Sword, but an accident had occurred during the forging process, turning it into this Sky-Severing Sword instead—and benefiting Xu Yang.

A short while later, Xu Yang finished refining the Sky-Severing Sword and familiarized himself with it. Only then did he put it into the Qiankun Bag. Xu Yang secretly calculated, "This mission shouldn't be difficult, strictly speaking, yet I feel vaguely uneasy. It seems there may be some unforeseen change hidden within it. I'll have to be extra careful."

This mission was to travel to the capital of Wu Kingdom and suppress a rebellion. It had begun when Wu Kingdom's king, Wu Ming, sent a plea for help to Qing Yuanzi. Ordinarily, Qing Yuanzi was a dignified Golden Core elder and would not have paid attention to Wu Ming's plea. However, Wu Ming's ancestor, Wu Changfeng, had been a friend of Qing Yuanzi.

Qing Yuanzi had also been brought into Bailian Pavilion by Wu Changfeng. However, Wu Changfeng had remained trapped in the Foundation Establishment Realm for his entire life. When his lifespan was nearly exhausted, he applied to the sect for permission to establish his own cultivation Household.

As it happened, the previous royal family of Wu Kingdom had committed a grave error. Wu Changfeng led his family members to become Wu Kingdom's new royal family. Before he died, he specifically entrusted Qing Yuanzi with looking after his descendants.

Remembering their many years of friendship, Qing Yuanzi agreed to his request and had watched over Wu Changfeng's descendants all these years. Since Wu Ming had now sent a letter asking for help, Qing Yuanzi naturally could not refuse him outright, so he sent Xu Yang and the others to provide assistance.

Most of the cultivation Households within Wu Kingdom had been established by disciples of Bailian Pavilion. These disciples had failed to achieve anything in cultivation and had no choice but to form their own Households, hoping that their descendants might accomplish something.

The sect was happy to see this happen. These cultivation Households would all become the sect's peripheral forces, and the sect could also recruit disciples with exceptional spiritual roots from among them. It could be said to accomplish two things at once.

Thinking of this, Xu Yang sighed inwardly. The path of cultivation was far too rugged. One had to face not only every kind of intrigue, vicious demon beasts, and perilous terrain, but also the limits of one's lifespan. If one failed to break through to a higher realm before one's lifespan ran out, then all would come to an end.

After shaking his head and sighing for a while, Xu Yang stopped thinking about it. He quietly circulated his cultivation art and entered a state in which self and the outside world were both forgotten.

Early the next morning, Xu Yang left the loft and arrived outside the sect. When he reached the meeting place, he was surprised to find that third senior sister Li Qingqing was already waiting there, so he hurried forward to greet her.

Li Qingqing merely nodded at Xu Yang with an icy expression, counting it as a greeting. Xu Yang felt helpless inwardly. Senior Sister Li was far too cold, and he could not joke around with her, so he could only walk to one side and wait for the others to arrive.

A short while later, Xu Shaoyang arrived. When he saw Xu Yang standing to one side, he immediately approached and said in a low voice, "Junior Brother Xu, we'll have to be careful during this operation. Liu Yuan may very well use this opportunity to make trouble for you and me."

Xu Yang understood inwardly, but he put on a puzzled expression and asked Xu Shaoyang, "How could that be? Neither of us has offended Second Senior Brother, have we? Why would he make trouble for us?"

"Alas! Senior Brother and Liu Yuan have always been at odds. Since we're relatively close to Senior Brother, Liu Yuan naturally doesn't like the sight of us. So during this operation, you and I must be careful and cautious. Also, fourth senior brother Liu Hao is on Liu Yuan's side, so you need to be wary of Liu Hao as well." Xu Shaoyang spoke to Xu Yang with a bitter expression.

Xu Yang said gratefully to Xu Shaoyang, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother. I'll certainly be extra careful. You must also pay attention to your safety!" Xu Shaoyang nodded at Xu Yang and was just about to continue speaking when he saw Liu Yuan and Liu Hao arriving one after the other.

Xu Yang and Xu Shaoyang immediately stepped forward to salute Liu Yuan and Liu Hao. Liu Yuan waved his hand and said to the four of them with a cheerful expression, "Junior brothers and sisters, I'll be leading this operation. I hope you'll all heed my orders, give it your all, and complete the task assigned by Master."

Xu Yang and the others all acknowledged the order. Liu Yuan was greatly satisfied. He waved to Xu Yang and the other four. "Very well, I won't say more. Let's set out." After saying this, Liu Yuan released his Flying Sword, rose onto it, and flew toward Wu Prefecture.

Seeing this, Xu Yang and the other four released their Flying Swords and chased after Liu Yuan. Since Xu Yang's cultivation was the lowest, his fellow disciples slowed down to accommodate him instead of flying at full speed. Thus, after spending an entire day traveling, they finally arrived at Wu Kingdom's capital, Wu City.

After reaching Wu City, the group of five headed straight for the imperial palace. Before the palace gates, Liu Yuan took out a Cyan Jade Pendant and handed it to the palace guard. "Please hurry and inform them that an old friend has come to pay a visit."

The guard took the pendant and suspiciously glanced at the five of them before turning around to deliver the message. Beside him, Liu Hao said to Liu Yuan with an expression of disdain, "Senior Brother, couldn't we just go straight in? Do we really need to report our arrival?"

Liu Yuan glared at him. "Foolish. Wu Ming's ancestor was a friend of Master, and there is still some incense of friendship between them. As Master's disciples, how could we disregard his dignity?"

Hearing this, Li Qingqing suddenly nodded. "Second Senior Brother is right. Fourth Junior Brother, don't be reckless. Besides, Wu Ming isn't an ordinary mortal. He's also a Qi Refining Realm cultivator." Hearing Liu Yuan and Li Qingqing's words, Liu Hao's expression changed, and he immediately fell silent.

Just then, the palace gates creaked open inward. A middle-aged man wearing a bright yellow dragon robe walked out of the palace gates. Laughing heartily, he came before Xu Yang and the others and clasped his hands. "Wu Ming greets all the seniors. I've been waiting for you for quite some time. Please, seniors, come inside at once."

Liu Yuan replied with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, you're too polite. We have come at our Master's command and await your instructions."

Wu Ming's expression changed, and he hurriedly said, "Not at all, not at all. You flatter this junior far too greatly. Please, seniors, come inside so we can discuss the matter in detail."

Liu Yuan turned back to glance at Xu Yang and the other four. "Very well. We'll enter with Fellow Daoist and discuss the matter in detail. Please tell us everything that happened." As he spoke, Liu Yuan led Xu Yang and the other four into the imperial palace.