Three-Star Mission

For the next seven days, Red Cardinal Lang Taihui and Lei Xiang both vanished without a trace.

Even Hu Liena, who had often come to see Zhu Zhuqing, stopped showing up. She had likely been sent on a mission.

Only Li Moyue, Lang Taihui's second disciple, came by twice. She specifically told Zhu Zhuqing:

There was a three-star mission in three days, led personally by Lang Taihui, and Zhu Zhuqing was required to go with them.

Time flew by.

On the morning of the eighth day, Zhu Zhuqing woke and habitually called softly into her sea of consciousness, "Teacher?"

Her sea of consciousness was silent. There was no response.

She sighed softly. "I can't keep relying on Teacher forever."

After washing up, Zhu Zhuqing headed for the meeting point Li Moyue had designated, quickly recalling the mission rankings at Martial Soul Academy.

The academy ranked missions from one to five stars by difficulty. One-star missions were for Soul Masters from level 11 to 20 and mostly involved odd jobs like gathering common herbs or organizing the library.

Such missions might be common at other academies, but at Martial Soul Academy, where strength was revered, only students who couldn't form teams and were weak in combat took them.

Even among those with the aptitude to become "future cardinals," some were born with Martial Souls unsuited for fighting.

Two-star missions were for Soul Grandmasters from level 21 to 30.

And so on. Five-star missions were supposed to be reserved for Soul Kings level 51 and above.

But many prodigies in the academy who were already in their forties had begun challenging five-star missions.

By that reckoning, three-star missions were meant for Soul Elders level 31 and above.

For the three students, who were only Soul Grandmasters, it would undoubtedly be a tough battle.

Still, knowing that a Red Cardinal at the Soul Saint level would lead them personally eased Zhu Zhuqing's worries a little.

But when a cardinal personally accepted a mission to put their disciples through their paces, the students had no right to refuse or withdraw.

Zhu Zhuqing clenched her fist slightly.

Without Gu Chensha there to guide her, facing unknown dangers and undercurrents within the team alone made her feel as if she had returned to the days when she had been all by herself, bearing every doubt and pain on her own.

When she arrived at the meeting point, Lei Xiang and Li Moyue were already there.

Li Moyue's eyes lit up as soon as she saw Zhu Zhuqing. A shy smile appeared on her face, and she opened her mouth, but it took her a long while to force out a few words.

"Zhu, Zhuqing, you're here."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded and went to stand beside her.

When they were alone, Li Moyue could speak more fluently.

But whenever there were more people around, she got so nervous that she stammered.

Lei Xiang, on the other hand, seemed strangely out of sorts.

He kept his head down and his eyes averted, not even daring to glance Zhu Zhuqing's way. He looked as though he were avoiding some terrifying beast.

Had losing to her last time left him traumatized?

Zhu Zhuqing wondered to herself, then shook her head.

Surely it wasn't that bad. Or was he simply fragile by nature?

Either way, it had nothing to do with her.

Zhu Zhuqing only gave him a quick glance before looking away.

She had no interest in caring about the feelings of someone she had already defeated.

The three stood there in silence, the awkwardness thick enough to wring water from.

Li Moyue anxiously rubbed her fingers together, her gaze darting back and forth between Zhu Zhuqing and Lei Xiang as she tried to think of something to break the ice.

But her mind was a blank. She couldn't get out a single word.

She had thought they would grow familiar over time, since they would be going on missions together and taking part in assessment competitions.

But the situation now was completely beyond her expectations.

Just as Li Moyue was about to turn red from holding it in, steady footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor.

All three looked up at once.

A hunched figure in the red robes of Spirit Hall approached at an unhurried pace.

A faint smile hung on his withered face, but his eyes held a chill that made one's blood run cold.

Lang Taihui's gaze swept slowly over the three of them.

"Everyone's here. Let's go. I'll explain the mission on the way."

The four traveled in silence toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

Only after they had left Spirit City did Lang Taihui speak.

"This three-star mission is to hunt five thousand-year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpents in the outer reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest. The main objective is to retrieve the intact crest atop their heads."

"Many people think that only a Soul Beast's Soul Ring and Soul Bone are valuable. That isn't the case."

"Every part of a Soul Beast is a treasure. Different parts are immensely useful for alchemy, medicine, forging, talisman-making, and other crafts."

"The fur of an ordinary Hundred-Year Soul Beast can be made into protective gear for lower-ranked Soul Masters. Its scales can be forged into lightweight weapons. Its blood and organs, once refined, are ingredients in most basic pills."

"Materials from thousand-year Soul Beasts are even more precious. Their glands, horns, crests, and other special parts often contain dense Soul Power and unique properties, making them essential ingredients in high-grade pills."

"Take our target, for example. The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's scales are hard yet flexible, making them excellent material for close-fitting soft armor."

"Its blood is mild in nature and can gently strengthen a cultivator's physique when used in medicine."

"Its intact shed skin can be used to make Calming Pills and Primary Detoxification Pills."

"But its most precious part is the bright red crest on its head."

Lang Taihui swept his gaze across his three disciples and continued.

"The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's crest is where it stores the Soul Power and nutrients it has accumulated throughout its life. It can provide a sudden burst of speed in an emergency, and it's also the key ingredient in Wind-Walking Pills."

"Wind-Walking Pills greatly increase the user's movement speed for a short time. For agility-type Soul Masters, they're as good as an extra trump card for saving their lives."

"A Wind-Walking Pill made from the crest of a thousand-year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent can fetch over a thousand Gold Soul Coins on the black market, and demand is always greater than supply."

"The one we're looking for is around fifteen hundred years old."

"This Soul Beast is easy to recognize. It's a rare flying, non-venomous snake that flies about three meters above the ground."

"It has a bright red fleshy crest larger than its head, a tail that spreads out like a fan, and pale red wings."

"It's not venomous, and its means of attack are relatively limited. It mainly kills its enemies by wrapping around and squeezing them to death. It can also spew a dense, rainbow-colored mist to obscure your vision, along with physical attacks like circling low, whipping its tail, and swooping into you."

"But don't let that make you careless."

"The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's most frightening trait is its speed. With its crest's boost, it can move at a terrifying pace."

"Once it wraps around you, with your current cultivation, you'll have a hard time breaking free."

Lang Taihui's voice held no trace of emotion.

"I'll only step in if your lives are in danger."

"Otherwise, you'll have to rely on yourselves."

"Remember, in the Star Dou Great Forest, even the slightest lapse in judgment could cost you your lives."

Zhu Zhuqing's heart tightened. It seemed her first mission would be far more difficult than she had imagined.

Once again, she couldn't help murmuring inwardly:

Teacher, when will you wake up...