Opportunity: Frostfall Fragmentary Scripture

"This cultivation speed was even faster than the time it took me to go from the second to the third stage of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm!" This unexpected delight left Kong Jiao dumbfounded.

As for his spirit crystal income, the total earnings over these three months had reached a staggering five hundred spirit crystals.

More than half of the entire Cangwu Sect's outer sect disciples probably could not amass that many spirit crystals even after years of hard work.

"Unfortunately, there won't be this kind of business again. After all, the Cangwu Sect doesn't suffer insect infestations every year." As he counted his gains, Kong Jiao shook his head with considerable regret.

That made sense. If such a good thing happened every year, those senior brothers and sisters with profound cultivation who practiced the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture would have swarmed over long ago.

How could it ever have fallen to him?

Still, it was enough. In just these three months, Kong Jiao had earned wealth that others could not earn in years.

Yet the opportunity Kong Jiao had been waiting for these past three months had shown no sign of appearing.

The insect infestation was clearly about to end.

The opportunity had yet to arrive, and the Cloud-Pattern Stele had shown no reaction either. This left Kong Jiao in something of a dilemma.

"Could it be that I'll have to wait another year or two? Will there be another insect infestation next year?" Kong Jiao lay gloomily on the broken bed in the thatched hut.

Since spirit farmers had continually come looking for him over the past three months,

Kong Jiao had spent most of his days inside the thatched hut in order to protect the secret of the underground Spirit Spring.

These past two days were the busy farming season, so fewer people had come looking for him.

Just as Kong Jiao hesitated over whether to keep staying in this thatched hut or head underground to cultivate,

a string of faint footsteps sounded outside.

"Aren't they all busy harvesting spirit rice? Why is someone still looking for me?" Kong Jiao's ears twitched slightly as he focused on the sounds outside.

Just as he was about to open the door,

Mu Tian's eager voice came from outside. "Manager Bai, it's here. Junior Brother Kong usually stays at his residence."

There seemed to be someone beside him. A calm female voice then answered Mu Tian.

"Thank you for the trouble, Senior Brother Mu."

Then the woman who had come with Mu Tian called out brightly toward the thatched hut, "Dan Baifeng is here to visit. May I ask whether Junior Brother Kong is available to meet?"

"Dan Baifeng? The spirit field manager, Dan Baifeng?" Kong Jiao raised a brow.

Over the past three months, he had traversed more than half of the Cangwu Sect's spirit fields and moved among all kinds of spirit farmers. Having heard her name often enough, he was naturally no stranger to Dan Baifeng.

If he remembered correctly, this woman was the manager in charge of the outer sect's spirit fields.

It was only that Kong Jiao's whereabouts had been elusive these past three months, so he had never met her.

"Why has she come looking for me?" After going over his memories, Kong Jiao was certain that he had never had any dealings with this woman.

But since she was already at his door, Kong Jiao could hardly turn her away.

Filled with doubt, he pushed open the crude wooden door of the thatched hut.

Outside, in the open space before the door, stood a woman in gray robes beside Mu Tian. Her expression was restrained, and she looked to be around thirty.

Dan Baifeng was not beautiful by appearance, yet she gave off an immediate sense of familiarity and warmth.

As for her cultivation, Kong Jiao could not judge it. She was at least three or four minor stages above him.

While Kong Jiao assessed her, Dan Baifeng was also examining the youth before her.

Because Kong Jiao had been leaving early and returning late these past months, constantly bathed in sunlight, the sickly pallor his skin had once possessed had long faded.

He was tall and slender, with long eyelids. His black hair was casually tied up and fell over his back, making him fairly handsome.

What caught Dan Baifeng's attention most, however, was Kong Jiao's gaze. His eyes were lively, as though he were always pondering something.

"You must be Junior Brother Kong Jiao. I have long heard of your name, and seeing you today, you truly are a promising young talent." Dan Baifeng spoke first, revealing a rather amiable smile.

"Senior Sister Baifeng's name is the one that has thundered in my ears." Kong Jiao cupped his hands and returned her smile politely.

He did not ask why Dan Baifeng had come. Instead, his gaze flicked toward Mu Tian at her side, carrying an unspoken question.

Still holding the pipe he had smoked for who knew how many years, Mu Tian chuckled. "Manager Bai heard about Junior Brother Kong Jiao's contributions to the sect's spirit fields this year, so she came personally to thank you."

After saying that, Mu Tian put away his pipe and cupped his hands toward the two of them. "I've brought her here. You two have a good talk."

After watching Mu Tian leave, Kong Jiao turned to explain to Dan Baifeng, "You flatter me. I was merely doing work for payment."

He did not claim credit, since he truly had been doing work for payment. At most, it had been a transaction.

Dan Baifeng's intentions were unclear, so Kong Jiao felt it was best to remain cautious. He could not simply rush forward because others said something, only to fall into a pit with nowhere to cry.

Yet Kong Jiao's cautious refusal made Dan Baifeng reveal a rare look of admiration. She said softly,

"It is true that Junior Brother Kong worked for payment, but you also solved the great problem of the insect infestation for me. After all, I oversee the outer sect's spirit fields. If the harvest were poor and the sect held me accountable, I would not be able to escape blame."

"Junior Brother Kong did me a great favor, so I have come to repay you with one."

Dan Baifeng had circled around the matter until Mu Tian had gone far away before finally getting to the true purpose of her visit.

"A favor?" Kong Jiao raised a brow, still unable to figure out what medicine this woman was selling in her gourd.

He could only follow her lead.

"I would like to hear the details."

Dan Baifeng pondered briefly, seeming to arrange her words.

After a short pause, she spoke frankly. "I heard that Junior Brother Kong practices the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture?"

"Yes!"

Dan Baifeng had actually known this long ago. Her question was merely a prelude to what came next. She nodded, then said slowly, "Then does Junior Brother Kong know that this technique is actually incomplete?"

"Incomplete?" No matter how well Kong Jiao controlled his expression, his brows could not help but furrow at this news.

The Wheel-Nourishing Realm was the beginning of cultivation. The more foundational something was, the more important it became.

A Wheel-Nourishing Realm technique was all the more closely tied to how far one could go in the future.

If the technique was incomplete, continuing to cultivate it would be exceedingly dangerous.

Yet the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture he cultivated had been selected for him by the Cloud-Pattern Stele. It suited him extremely well, and he had felt no discomfort during cultivation.

In other words, if he had not cultivated the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture, he would probably still be like most disciples who had opened two spirit apertures, struggling bitterly at the second stage of the Wheel-Nourishing Realm.

Having witnessed the Cloud-Pattern Stele's wonders, Kong Jiao did not believe that cultivating the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture would truly cause any problems.

What exactly is Dan Baifeng's purpose?

Kong Jiao could not help suspecting Dan Baifeng's motives. But he had nothing worth coveting, and she had no reason to harm him.

"I know this may sound too abrupt. But since I owe Junior Brother Kong a favor, I do not want you to stray onto the wrong path. It would be best for you to switch to another technique as soon as possible. Do not let it ruin your future."

Dan Baifeng did not know that Kong Jiao's thoughts had already raced through so much. She simply continued telling him what she had heard.

"What I am saying can withstand scrutiny. I happened to overhear it when sect elders were chatting years ago. You may also ask the sect's elders yourself; one question will reveal whether it is true or false."

Kong Jiao remained silent. He did not refute her because what Dan Baifeng said made sense.

A clever person would not lie about something that could be exposed so easily.

Seeing that Kong Jiao had not stated his position, Dan Baifeng had no choice but to offer an important clue in order to win his trust.

"The Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture Junior Brother Kong cultivates should be a copied version. The true original scripture is still in the Outer Sect Technique Pavilion."

"You can make a trip to the Outer Sect Technique Pavilion. Once you see that fragmentary scripture, you will understand."

Kong Jiao's thoughts were in disarray.

If the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture is incomplete, why did the Cloud-Pattern Stele regard it as an opportunity and have me cultivate it when I first entered the sect?

And I have cultivated this technique for more than two years without any mishap.

Just as he was about to ask further about the rumors surrounding the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture,

the Cloud-Pattern Stele, which had remained dormant for a long time, changed within the depths of his consciousness.

'Help the Cangwu Sect's spirit farmers eliminate the insect infestation: Opportunity Value +2'

'The Cangwu Sect's insect infestation has been eliminated: Opportunity Value +2'

'Exchange for the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture fragmentary scripture in the Outer Sect Technique Pavilion: Opportunity Value +5'

If Kong Jiao had been only half-convinced by Dan Baifeng's words, the change in the Cloud-Pattern Stele made him believe completely.

After all, even the Cloud-Pattern Stele referred to the Frostfall Wheel-Nourishing Scripture as a fragmentary scripture.

I understand now. The opportunity of eliminating the insect infestation was actually meant to bring Dan Baifeng here.

Through her words, it led me to the next opportunity.

The true opportunity is hidden within that fragmentary scripture!