The Hidden Moon Sect Has Always Been Like This

The rules of the Hidden Moon Sect were clear: disciples were forbidden from killing one another within the sect. Those who violated the order would be marked by yin soldiers. At best, they would be fined; at worst, they would lose their lives.

There were exceptions, however.

For instance, outside Merit Hall right now, a huge crowd of disciples had gathered together, all fighting over several dozen sect missions. It was utterly unavoidable for them to come to blows, and the sect found it extremely difficult to intervene—after all, it could hardly arrest and punish every single one of them.

Thus, over time, this place at this hour had become the only place where disciples could hone their skills.

Killing was forbidden. Crippling someone served them right!

With a whoosh, countless gray-robed figures surged forward like vultures pouncing on a corpse, swallowing up all the "flesh" above in an instant.

Yet this was only the beginning.

Just as the first batch of disciples rushed up and snatched the mission plaques, the second batch came galloping in close behind. With no more targets left on the wooden board, their gazes naturally turned toward their fellow sect members who had turned away.

Thus, dazzling spiritual light erupted once more—this time among disciples of the Hidden Moon Sect.

"Looks like the most dangerous place in the Hidden Moon Sect isn't the wilderness."

Holding one of the ebony plaques, Xu Yuan watched a burly figure charge toward him and murmured to himself.

"Kid, you're only at the third level of Qi Refining, yet you dare come snatch sect missions? Today, this senior brother will properly teach you what it means to act within your means."

The newcomer gave a savage grin. The aura of the fourth level of Qi Refining surged forth without reservation, streams of spiritual energy transforming into a great hand of black wind that seized toward Xu Yuan.

Black Mountain Wind Wielding Art, one of the most frequently rented techniques on the first floor of the Dharma Repository. Useful, cheap, and easy to cultivate, it had become the first choice of many outer mountain disciples.

Looking at the great hand reaching for him, as well as that all-too-familiar expression, Xu Yuan suddenly smiled. The scene was as it had been before, but today, the people were no longer the same!

He stretched out his right hand, curling it into the claw of an azure dragon. Red and white swirled around his fingers as he fiercely swiped forward. With a puff, the imposing black wind hand was torn apart.

"Spirit-Martial Unity."

The burly man's pupils contracted. He immediately recognized Xu Yuan's method, then abruptly realized one thing: he was far too close to his opponent.

Almost at the very moment the thought arose, that young face had already arrived before him. The eagle claw had changed as well, becoming an iron fist with all five fingers clenched tight.

"Have you ever heard the thunderous roar of the Great Fortune Tathagata?"

The smile remained on Xu Yuan's face. Then he threw a punch, which landed upon the burly man's protective black wind.

"What an arrogant brat!"

A cold gleam burst from his eyes. Seeing Xu Yuan actually dare thrust his hand into his black wind, this mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator's expression immediately shifted from shock to delight.

So what if your Spirit-Martial Unity is at a deeper level? With your mere third level of Qi Refining cultivation, did you really think you could shatter my black wind in an instant? And how long could your flesh-and-blood body endure?

With that thought, his gray robe billowed as he prepared to circulate his spiritual veins and empower the technique, turning Xu Yuan's arm useless. But at that very moment, he suddenly heard a sound like bronze striking iron, followed immediately by an explosive boom.

Several nearby outer mountain disciples felt as though something had pierced their eardrums. In their daze, they even sensed something streak past beside them at incredible speed, leaving them with the lingering relief of having survived a calamity.

As for the burly man, after that explosive boom, the black wind that could easily shred a third-level Qi Refining cultivator collapsed with a crash. His opponent's fist had already struck his lower abdomen.

The sensation was unimaginable. It was like when he had still been a mortal and was run over by a carriage on the official road. His sturdy body seemed to turn into a leaf, effortlessly sent flying before crashing heavily to the ground.

"I thought it was a speed bump."

Xu Yuan casually lowered his sleeve. From beginning to end, his left hand had remained holding that ebony plaque.

Such formidable strength—even though Xu Yuan was merely at the third level of Qi Refining—the outer mountain disciples rushing ahead all tacitly moved aside, allowing him through.

Half a month ago, he had thought he would need to wave Rong Ling's name around like a fox borrowing a tiger's might. Yet now, he had never expected to secure this mission through his own strength alone.

Seeing the fighting and killing still continuing ahead, Xu Yuan quietly stood to one side with his ebony plaque. The mission he had seized was a mid-grade C-class mission, and a group mission at that. He still needed to wait here for the other two teammates who had obtained the plaques.

During his clash with the burly man just now, he had used only his physical body's blood and qi, along with spiritual energy. Neither the blood spiritual qi of the third stage of body tempering nor his mid-grade magical artifact had been used.

Yet even so, that man, who had only recently advanced to the middle stage of Qi Refining, was still lying on the ground.

Xu Yuan estimated that if he went all out, even a fifth-level Qi Refining cultivator with rich combat experience and a magical artifact in hand would likely be no match for him.

Of course, in this great age of cultivation, there were countless methods, some overwhelmingly powerful and others sinister and unfathomable. He was far from believing he could disregard everyone at the same cultivation level. If he encountered enemies outside the sect, caution still had to come first.

Xu Yuan did not have to wait long. A quarter of an hour later, two fellow disciples holding ebony plaques approached.

The three checked the missions written on their ebony plaques and each nodded. Then the finely dressed man on the left said, "Tomorrow, two quarters into the hour of the Dragon, at the mountain gate."

After saying that, he turned and left, leaving Xu Yuan and the other woman looking at each other.

This young woman had likely gone through a fight just now and looked rather disheveled. Seeing Xu Yuan, a third-level Qi Refining cultivator dressed so splendidly, standing here, she could not help finding it strange.

But strange as it was, she did not rudely ask about it. Instead, she said, "Since that fellow Daoist has confirmed the time, why don't we follow his arrangement?"

"Mm." Xu Yuan had no objection. It was his first time leaving the mountain, and he had no experience. It was fine for someone to be more forceful; he had no desire for command himself. He only hoped the man was merely overbearing rather than brainless.

"Alright. Then I'll see you tomorrow, fellow Daoist."

The woman gave a salute, then bid Xu Yuan farewell as well.

After returning to his residence in Biyou Market, Xu Yuan did not go mining. Instead, he lay down on his bed and slept properly.

During this period, his average daily sleep had been less than an hour and a half. Most of his time had gone toward bitter cultivation. He had only endured by relying on the powerful vitality granted by the Martial Dao Sacred Embryo; otherwise, he would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago.

Since he would be descending the mountain this time, he naturally needed to restore his energy.

After sleeping for a full day, Xu Yuan had tidied himself up before the hour of the Dragon the next morning. Then he picked up the damaged magical sword he had kept hidden in his room.

He had come to this world nearly a year and a half ago. Only now was he descending the mountain for the first time.

He arrived at the mountain gate with light steps. The other two were already waiting there. Unlike Xu Yuan and the woman, who would be traveling on foot, the man was mounted on a tall paper horse. It looked bizarre, yet somewhat imposing.

"Let's go."

He seemed to glance at the two of them, though he barely turned his head. With a flick of the reins, he headed straight down into the mountains.

A trace of displeasure vanished from Xu Yuan's eyes. He exchanged another glance with the woman, then swiftly broke into a run and followed after him.