Mission Hall

Outer sect disciples were taught by outer sect elders, while outer sect deacons managed outer sect affairs, and menial disciples handled odd jobs.

Inner sect disciples were taught by inner sect elders, while inner sect deacons handled inner sect affairs.

Core disciples were taught by supreme elders, while affairs on the core peaks were handled by core deacons.

As for the Dao Child, the peak where he resided was also home to the sect master and the old ancestors.

Generally speaking, the sect master held the greatest authority, followed by the old ancestors, and then the Dao Child.

Old ancestors were generally supreme elders or former sect masters who had ascended another step. They sealed themselves beneath the First Peak, the sect's most central peak, preserved in Blood-Sealing Stones and detached from worldly affairs.

Unless the sect faced a life-or-death crisis, they would not appear in the world.

Although the Dao Child had no elder to teach him, he was equivalent to the sect master's disciple and was usually taught directly by the sect master.

This was the same as in divine dynasties. Take the Qianyuan Divine Dynasty, for instance: aside from Gu Changge's ten quasi-Emperor elder sisters known to the public, four quasi-Emperor maidservants, over a dozen quasi-Emperor divine ministers, divine generals, princes and marquises, and the heads of affiliated lineages, there were also several hundred old ancestors at the peak of the quasi-Emperor realm sealed within the imperial city's underground palace.

Unlike other factions, Tianyuan Academy did not care whether one's background was spotless or whether one had joined other factions. As long as one was successfully admitted on the day of enrollment, one could enjoy the academy's cultivation resources and elder guidance. After achieving success in their studies, they could choose to remain at the academy as a deacon, or leave and return to their original faction.

Tianyuan Academy's broad-mindedness alone had earned it the goodwill of many people, and it had also forged good ties with many former Young Emperors.

Furthermore, academy disciples were not required, as they were in other factions, to serve the sect. Tianyuan Academy's foremost purpose was to nurture the disciples who came to it, rather than demand that they work for it.

Moreover, Tianyuan Academy was unlike other Divine Dynasty Sacred Lands or Eternal Families, which ruled over numerous minor sects, small lineages, and little kingdoms.

On Tianyuan Academy's outskirts stood a mountain peak called Ren Peak. As the name implied, it was the place where missions were issued.

Gu Changge arrived at Ren Peak.

On Ren Peak, a towering grand hall stood before him. A gilded plaque hung above it, bearing the three words: "Mission Hall."

Within Tianyuan Academy, aside from the secret treasury where precious items were stored and the Mission Hall where missions were issued, there was also the Alchemy Hall for alchemists to refine pills, the Artifact Refining Hall for artifact refiners to forge artifacts, the Formation Hall for Formation Masters to set formations, and so on.

However, none of those places were somewhere Gu Changge needed to consider visiting at present.

Gu Changge went straight into the Mission Hall.

Though it was called a hall, the Mission Hall was in fact an enormous pavilion, majestic and imposing, truly extraordinary.

People came and went within the Mission Hall. Many disciples could be seen; some had come to accept missions, while others had completed missions and come to collect their rewards.

Inside the Mission Hall stood an enormous silver screen forged from Star Secret Silver, a rare Emperor Grade spiritual material. Rows of golden characters shimmered and flowed across it.

One mission after another was written on the silver screen.

The missions in the Mission Hall were divided according to cultivator realms: Blood Refining Level Missions, Bone Forging Level Missions, Tendon Lengthening Level Missions, Skin Stripping Level Missions...

Gu Changge looked over the dazzling variety of missions and selected a Tendon Lengthening Level Mission.

Tendon Lengthening Level Mission: Hunt three Vajra Apes, extract their Demonic Cores, and deliver them to the employer.

"This mission suits me fairly well at the moment. I'll choose this one."

Gu Changge looked at the mission and spoke.

Thus, he took out his identity token and placed it against the silver screen. Then, using his Spiritual Power to connect with the screen, he chose to accept the designated mission. His identity token refreshed, spiritual light flowing over it, indicating that he had successfully accepted the mission.

Just as Gu Changge was about to leave the Mission Hall after accepting the mission, a rather discordant voice suddenly rang out.

"Stop. You're the Dao Child the Palace Master has newly appointed, aren't you?"

"That's right. And who are you?"

Gu Changge said.

"You should have heard my name. Huo Yuzhe."

The newcomer spoke with an unfriendly expression.

"So you're that turtle hiding in its shell, too scared to come find me."

Gu Changge said indifferently.

"Kid, are you looking to die?"

Huo Yuzhe narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke in a stern voice.

"So what if you broke through? A mere piece of trash at the first level of the Tendon Lengthening Realm dares to spout such brazen nonsense?"

"That's right, that's right."

Several disciples who had challenged Gu Changge at Hidden Peak last time stood behind Huo Yuzhe.

"I'm speaking to your master. Is it your place, a pack of defeated underlings, to speak?"

Gu Changge said coldly.

"Hmph, you sharp-tongued brat. Remember this: every core disciple can challenge for the position of Dao Child. As long as I defeat you, the position of Dao Child will be mine."

Huo Yuzhe said.

"I'll be ready whenever you are."

Gu Changge said.

"If there's nothing else, then please make way, junior brothers."

Gu Changge placed particular emphasis on the words "junior brothers."

According to academy rules, disciples one rank higher were senior brothers to lower-ranked disciples, regardless of how long either had been in the academy. That was why Gu Changge spoke this way.

"Hmph, let's go."

Huo Yuzhe said with a grim face.

Gu Changge shrugged, strode out of the Mission Hall in a few steps, and prepared to complete the mission.

If I want to hunt Vajra Apes, it seems I'll have to look around the other peaks of the Tianyuan Mountain Range.

Gu Changge thought.

Thus, he left Ren Peak and headed for the other peaks of the Tianyuan Mountain Range. Apart from Tianyuan Academy's sixty-one main peaks, the other peaks of the Tianyuan Mountain Range had neither Tianyuan Academy disciples and elders nor clusters of palaces, making them the most likely places to encounter Demonic Beasts.

Roar!

The moment Gu Changge climbed onto this nameless mountain peak, he heard a tiger's roar.

Gu Changge quietly made his way upward and focused his gaze. It turned out that two Forest Tigers were fighting over territory.

"Ah, it seems that no matter where they are, Demonic Beasts fight over territory."

Gu Changge could not help but say upon seeing this.

The two Forest Tigers were roughly equal in strength to Gu Changge, both at the first or second level of the Tendon Lengthening Realm, so Gu Changge easily saw through their cultivation.

They fought back and forth. Not only did one bite the other while the other swept with its tail, they even used the demonic arts that Demonic Beasts were born knowing.

One of the Forest Tigers gathered a green light in its mouth and fired it at the Forest Tiger opposite it, somewhat similar to the Dao arts used by human cultivators.

The other Forest Tiger was not to be outdone. It drew upon the wood spiritual energy between heaven and earth, attached it to its tiger claws, and swung them at the Forest Tiger before it.

The tiger claws collided with the green light, erupting with a powerful aura.

Just then, Gu Changge heard a human voice.

"Ha ha, I was just about to refine Jade Spirit Pills. Who would have thought I'd find them without lifting a finger? I ran into two Forest Tigers—excellent. I'll take your Demonic Cores and bodies."