Task Hall
"I have some doubts in my mind, and I hope young friend Jing can clear them up," Song Wen said.
"Please speak, senior," Jing Kai.
"Limitless Island harvests a large number of 'two-legged sheep' every year, resulting in the disappearance of a large population. How could the 'two-legged sheep' be completely unaware?"
Jing Kai explained, "We have a solution to this. We've used various natural barriers, man-made terrain features, or mazes to divide the entire Sheep Island into hundreds of areas of varying sizes."
"When the number of 'two-legged sheep' in a certain area reaches its peak, the harvesting season begins. After all the 'two-legged sheep' in that area have been harvested, 'two-legged sheep' will be transferred from other areas to populate that area. Then, after they reproduce and multiply, the next harvest will take place."
"On Sheep Island, only two-legged sheep are allowed to practice mortal martial arts; cultivation methods are strictly prohibited. Shepherds are not only responsible for harvesting the two-legged sheep but also for monitoring Sheep Island. If any exceptionally talented two-legged sheep are found on Sheep Island who seek enlightenment through martial arts, they must be nipped in the bud. The possibility of two-legged sheep cultivating is eliminated."
Song Wen nodded. "Thank you for your explanation, young friend Jing."
Jing Kai, "Senior, there's no need to be so polite."
Pointing to the nautical chart, he continued, "You may choose any of these vacant islands, senior."
Song Wen did not rush to choose, but asked, "What are the differences between the three types of islands: Heaven, Earth, and Man?"
Jing Kai, "The Spiritual Qi is most concentrated on Heaven-level islands, followed by Earth-level islands, and then Human-level islands."
"What do I need to give in return?"
Song Wen didn't believe there was such a thing as a free lunch.
Limitless Island wouldn't just give him an island for no reason.
Jing Kai, "Occupying an island naturally means serving Limitless Island. Each year, you must complete a certain number of sect missions to earn enough contribution points. Human Island requires 1,000 contribution points, Earth Island requires 10,000, and Heaven Island requires 100,000."
"What if we can't finish it?" Song Wen asked.
"The difference will be made up with Spirit Stones. One contribution point will be exchanged for one Spirit Stone. If you have a surplus of contribution points, you can also exchange them directly for Spirit Stones."
Song Wen nodded slightly; it wasn't too expensive.
"Then I'll choose a celestial-level island."
"The black islands on the nautical chart are Heavenly-level islands; you may choose any one," Jing Kai said.
Song Wen stared at the nautical chart for a moment, then pointed to an island and said...
"I'll choose this one."
The island chosen by Song Wen is crescent-shaped, with a maximum length of no more than 100 li, and is about 40,000 li away from Limitless Island. The surrounding islands are all human-level islands, so if Song Wen does something secretive on his own island, it will not be easily detected.
Jing Kai, "Alright, this junior will register you for the senior's information immediately."
As he spoke, he raised his hand and shot out a weak stream of spiritual energy, which entered the sea chart.
The nautical chart suddenly changed, and the island Song Wen had chosen had a new name— Extreme Yin Island!
Jing Kai took out a jade plate the size of a millstone, along with nine small silver Squad Commander.
"Senior, this is the Starline Formation, a second-tier array. You set this array up on Extreme Yin Island, so outsiders will naturally know that the island already has an owner and dare not trespass. At the same time, this array also has communication capabilities, capable of transmitting messages over long distances. If the sect has any missions assigned, it will send a message to you through this array."
Song Wen nodded and accepted the jade plate and the Squad Commander.
Jing Kai then handed Song Wen a token the size of a palm.
"Senior, this is your identity token. After leaving your aura, you can use it. From now on, you are the Golden Core Offering of Limitless Island."
Limitless Island is a group of Rogue Cultivators, and the relationship between Rogue Cultivator and Limitless Island is similar to that between an employer and a long-term worker.
Rogue Cultivator like Song Wen would have no loyalty to Limitless Island. Limitless Island would not Rogue Cultivators as its core members, and many secret techniques Cultivation Methods would not be taught to Rogue Cultivator.
Therefore, Limitless Island will not verify Song Wen's identity, nor will it require Song Wen to leave behind any trace of his soul.
Song Wen asked, "Young friend Jing, where can I receive sect missions?"
Jing Kai, "The Mission Hall is located three miles east of the External Affairs Hall."
Just as Song Wen Wenzheng was about to take his leave, he suddenly heard Jing Kai ask a question.
"Senior, are you Alchemist?"
As Song Wen just mentioned, he refined the Five-Element Pill himself.
Song Wen replied, "Indeed, young friend, what advice do you have for me?"
Jing Kai, "I wouldn't presume to offer guidance. If you are Alchemist, senior, you could look into Alchemy tasks; the rewards are generous, and there's no danger involved."
"Thank you, young friend. Farewell."
"Take care, senior."
Song Wen left the External Affairs Hall and went directly to the Mission Hall.
The Mission Hall is not a building, but an open-air plaza.
In the center of the square, nine giant scrolls float in mid-air.
The scroll records a series of tasks.
These tasks were divided into nine levels.
Level 1 is the simplest; cultivators in the early to mid-stages of Qi Refinement can complete it.
Level nine is the most difficult, requiring at least Golden Core cultivation level to be qualified to take it on.
Each task is accompanied by a description of the corresponding reward and contribution points.
The reward is not necessarily Spirit Stones; it can also be elixirs, spiritual herbs, Law Artifacts, and so on.
The Mission Hall not only allows users to accept missions but also to post them, though this requires payment in the form of rewards or contribution points. However, Limitless Island takes a cut of those rewards.
The square was bustling with people, numbering in the thousands.
Song Wen stood at the edge of the square, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the three scrolls on the seventh, eighth, and ninth levels.
The tasks in these three scrolls are relatively few, and they mainly involve items needed by Golden Core cultivators. Some of the level nine tasks even include tasks for fourth-tier spiritual materials.
Song Wen carefully reviewed each task. Although he couldn't complete most of them, it was still an opportunity to broaden his horizons.
The tasks are incredibly varied, ranging from those seeking to purchase elixirs and spiritual materials, to those searching for Cultivation Method and secret arts, to those forming teams to go treasure hunting, and even those seeking to purchase furnaces and cauldrons.
Some of these tasks have been posted for decades and have remained unattended.
Song Wen saw several tasks that particularly appealed to him, namely:
Seeking to purchase 100 Golden Jade Pill, reward: 40,000 low-grade Spirit Stones, plus 10,000 contribution points.
Seeking to Golden Core Pill; reward: 35 Superior Spirit Stones, plus 100,000 contribution points.
Seeking to purchase Yellow Springs Tainted Flame, reward: fifty Superior Spirit Stones; or Ksitigarbha Lotus.
Seeking to purchase Blood Jade Coral. Reward: 100,000 low-grade Spirit Stones, plus 20,000 contribution points.
Seeking to purchase a pupil technique, reward: thirty Superior Spirit Stones; or the Three-Yin Fire Baleful Intent.
Song Wen was interested in these tasks because he could complete the first two, the Ksitigarbha Lotus was a spiritual material needed to refine the Blood Sea Seal, and the Blood Jade Coral was spirit medicine needed for the Corpse Curse Water.
However, Song Wen did not possess the Yellow Springs Tainted Flames, so he naturally could not exchange them for the Ksitigarbha Lotus.
Blood Jade Coral is something that others are eager to buy, and it is impossible to obtain.
As for the last task, it was because he had never refined any special Sha Qi, which caused the power of the <Baleful Path Ghost Scripture> he cultivated to be ineffective.
The Three-Yin Fire Baleful Intent is perfectly suited to Song Wen's current cultivation level.
However, he also lacks pupil magic, making it impossible for him to complete the mission.
These tasks reminded him that he could use the rare items he didn't need to exchange for the spiritual materials he required.