Sect Mission

On Wang Ding's second day at the Wongchuan Sect, the blazing sun hung high in a clear sky that stretched for ten thousand li without a single cloud. Wang Ding slept for an entire day, not getting out of bed until the sun was three poles high.

After rising, Wang Ding took out the storage pouch the sect had issued the day before and removed the contents. There were two sets of blue Daoist robes, a foot-thick tome with the three large words Great World written on it, and a thin booklet bearing the two words Sect Rules. Wang Ding carefully flipped through both books. Great World was an enhanced version of the Rare Treasures Manual in Wang Ding's hands, while the sect rules mainly detailed the various regulations of the Wongchuan Sect.

After Wang Ding finished reading, he went alone into the courtyard. Zhang Hua had already been waiting for quite some time, but because Wang Ding had not yet risen, he had not dared disturb him and had been standing quietly to one side.

Now, seeing Wang Ding come out, his face immediately lit up with joy. He stepped forward and handed over a stack of thin booklets. "Senior Brother, written here are all the things I have seen and heard in the Wongchuan Sect over the past several years. Please have a look."

Wang Ding took the thin booklet and began reading carefully. "The Wongchuan Sect is composed of elders, the Sect Master, true disciples, inner disciples, and outer disciples. There are many factions within it, and each force occupies different interests. Among them, there are forty-nine true disciples, each and every one a cultivator above the Qi Training Realm. Each occupies an island, and together with the whole of Nine Nether Island, they can form a great array to defend against external enemies. Any disciple who cultivates to the Qi Training Realm can become a true disciple, or can choose to become an elder. After becoming an elder, all resources can be provided by the sect, but one loses the qualification to contend for the position of Sect Master. Conversely, true disciples have the opportunity to inherit the Sect Master's great seat. The Wongchuan Sect as a whole is composed of the Hall of All Things, Law Enforcement Hall, Dharma Transmission Hall, Cauldron Hall, Sovereign Hall, Merit Hall, and Elder Hall. Among them, this Merit Hall is where disciples of the sect receive missions. For every mission completed, one can obtain corresponding merit, and at that time one may go to the various great palaces to receive medicinal pills, cultivation methods, and treasures. Among the true disciples are three great giants: Zhen Heshan, Wei Jingchi, and Shuiyuan Jinhua. Their cultivation has all reached the Spirit Transformation stage, and each has their own sphere of influence. That Li Yiqi, who provoked me in the Welcoming Hall, has an imperial elder brother, the Ice Prince, and he is the person Wei Jingchi has his eye on."

Seeing this, Wang Ding frowned slightly and thought, Right now I still haven't stepped into the Qi Training Realm, so I still can't clash head-on with the Ice Prince. If I kill him here, I'm afraid it will draw the Law Enforcement Hall into action, and then I'll be the unlucky one. I have to think of a way to get rid of him openly and justifiably. Wang Ding considered for a long while and came up with an idea. Now that he had offended Li Yiqi, that man would definitely stir up trouble in front of the Ice Prince. Perhaps someone was already monitoring him now. As long as he went to accept a mission that required execution outside the sect, it would certainly lure the Ice Prince into coming to kill him. When the time came, he only had to secretly eliminate him, and no one could do anything to him.

"Now that I've stepped into the Innate Realm, if I want to break through to the Qi Gathering stage, I have to blast open the heavenly gate and open the bridge between heaven and earth. Only then can I gather the essence of the sun and moon and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and thereby forge the path of longevity. But right now, just cultivating mental power and condensing divine sense will take me who knows how long. Ordinary medicinal pills can no longer increase my Innate Qi. I'm afraid only medicinal pills at the Qi Gathering level will be useful to me now. And the most urgent matter is that I need a cultivation method to cultivate mental power."

Thinking this, he could not help but feel somewhat of a headache. "Looks like I can only do more missions to earn medicinal pills and cultivation methods." After Wang Ding set his goal, he rewarded Zhang Hua with a bottle of pills he had no use for, then went through the teleportation array to the Merit Hall.

At this moment, a voice came from the side.

"Is that Brother Wang?" Wang Ding turned his gaze sideways and saw that it was Huang Tutian. He had also successfully entered the Wongchuan Sect.

"So it's Brother Huang. In the haste of that day, this little brother had no time to inform you before going up onto the arena. I hope you will forgive me," Wang Ding said, cupping his fists.

"No matter. Now that both of us have entered the Wongchuan Sect, we must look after each other from now on."

"Of course, of course. Brother Huang has also come to accept a mission?"

As the two spoke, they entered the Merit Hall and arrived at the mission board, where they began choosing their missions. The board had every kind of mission imaginable: gathering herbs, seeking items, exterminating bandits, searching for treasure clues—everything was there. The missions were divided into four levels: one, two, three, and four. Level-one missions corresponded to cultivators of the Spirit Refining stage, level two to Spirit Transformation cultivators, level three to Qi Training cultivators, and level four to Qi Refining cultivators. Level-four missions were worth ten merit points, level-three missions one hundred merit points, level-two missions one thousand merit points, and level-one missions ten thousand merit points. Wang Ding chose a permanent mission to hunt West Sea Mad Sharks. This mission required collecting a bit of lifebound scale from between the mad shark's brows; the more, the better. Legend had it that the West Sea Mad Shark possessed true dragon bloodline. Though it was very thin, its scales were where the essence of its whole body gathered. Once a certain quantity was reached, it could even be refined into a trace of true dragon blood. Whether used to strengthen the physical body or to refine pills, it was a top-grade material. Moreover, the West Sea Mad Shark was a species so numerous it had flooded the seas, impossible to kill to extinction. Every fifty of them counted as one level-four mission. This was precisely the best mission for Wang Ding, who urgently needed merit points.

"Brother Huang, I've already chosen my mission. How about you?" Wang Ding asked Huang Tutian beside him.

"I've chosen mine as well. Let's go accept the missions together."

The two came before one of the attendants there. Wang Ding handed over his name token and said, "I'll accept level-four mission number one seven eight."

Then Huang Tutian also accepted a mission, and the two chatted as they left the Merit Hall.

"Brother Wang, actually, this little brother has a major mission here that needs several people to complete together. I wonder if you have any interest. I've already brought in Dongfang Riyue and Long Lingyu; the two of them will both participate. If we add Brother Wang, then with your strength, you will definitely be able to scoop up some benefits. When the time comes, advancing into the Qi Gathering Realm may also be possible," Huang Tutian said to Wang Ding in a mysterious tone.

When Wang Ding heard that there was hope of entering the Qi Gathering Realm, his heart immediately stirred. After considering for a moment, he said to Huang Tutian, "Fine, I'll participate, but it has to wait until after I complete this mission."

"Seven days from now, we will head to the Heavenly Void. That place is a separate dimension. It opens once every hundred years, but due to the mighty force of nature, only those with cultivation at the Qi Refining Realm can enter. If anyone else tries to enter, it will definitely trigger disaster, and they'll die an incomparably miserable death. It is a grand occasion that comes only once in a century. Legend says no one knows how many ancient cave abodes, miraculous pills, and wondrous medicines are inside. It's just far too dangerous. All sorts of bizarre demonic beasts and Demonic Beasts run rampant within, and of those who enter, not one in a hundred survives."

Hearing this, Wang Ding's heart moved slightly. Looks like the plan has to change. There's no hurry to kill the Ice Prince first. The opening of the Heavenly Void will definitely be known to everyone, and when the time comes, the people on the Moon Ranking will certainly go as well. If I kill the Ice Prince then, no one will associate it with me.

After the two arranged a time and place, they each went their separate ways. Wang Ding left Nine Nether Island through the teleportation array and headed for the region where West Sea Mad Sharks were most densely concentrated—Changshan Island, controlled by the Wongchuan Sect—beginning his hunting journey.

At the same time, on Crouching Dragon Island, inside the Cold Light Pavilion where the Ice Prince resided, someone was reporting Wang Ding's whereabouts to the Ice Prince. Li Yiqi was sitting below the Ice Prince at this moment and said, "Imperial Brother, you must help me. This Wang Ding is far too arrogant. He doesn't even put you in his eyes. You have to kill him."

The Ice Prince's entire person was like a block of ice. His blue eyebrows were extremely unusual and different from ordinary people's. Waves of cold energy permeated his whole body, clearly showing that he cultivated some wondrous art. He emanated an aura of freezing all under heaven and extinguishing all things. Concealed spiritual fluctuations radiated outward with him as the center.

He only said, "He is merely a tiny ant. I can pinch him to death at any time. Right now, I have to prepare for the great opening of the Heavenly Void seven days from now and cannot divide my attention. After the trip to the Heavenly Void is over, I will go capture him. At that time, you may deal with him however you wish."

At this moment, flashes of venomous malice passed through Li Yiqi's eyes. Wang Ding, let's see if you survive. You actually dared look down on me and call me a dog. When the time comes, I'll make sure you beg for death but cannot die.