D-grade Mission

Within the Profound Nether Platform stood a large separate courtyard.

The large courtyard was made up of three smaller courtyards, and Zhao Zhi occupied one of them.

The Profound Nether Platform was vast, but it was not entirely made up of residential courtyards.

The Scripture Pavilion, Mission Hall, Artifact Tower, and a series of other specialized buildings, together with artificial hills, flowing streams, gardens, and training grounds, occupied most of the space.

There were residential quarters within the Profound Nether Platform, but anyone able to occupy an entire courtyard held no low status—at the very least, they were at the Small Banner level, perhaps even Chief Banner.

A Formal Profound Nether Guard was fortunate enough to have a room of their own, let alone Zhao Zhi, who had yet to become one.

Clearly.

This was Yan Qing's doing.

Yan Qing had quite a few means within the Jing Prefecture Profound Nether Platform—or rather, some background.

After moving into the small courtyard, Zhao Zhi found a booklet and a martial arts manual on the table in his room.

The booklet recorded matters related to the Profound Nether Guard, chiefly how to accept missions, complete them, and submit them in exchange for corresponding merit. Merit could then be used to exchange for cultivation resources in the Scripture Pavilion, Artifact Tower, and Pill Dispensary. It could also be exchanged for worldly wealth, or even the positions of Small Banner and Chief Banner.

The Profound Nether Platform's official rank system resembled that of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, yet differed from it, having nowhere near as many positions.

From bottom to top, the Profound Nether Platform ranks were Strongman, Small Banner, Chief Banner, Pacification Commissioner, Commander, and Platform Master.

Any martial artist who became a Formal Profound Nether Guard automatically received the position of Strongman.

To become a Small Banner, one needed to reach the Meridian Opening Realm and complete a C-grade Mission. To become a Chief Banner, one needed to enter the Astral Condensation Realm and complete a B-grade Mission. To become a Pacification Commissioner, one needed to advance into the Mountain-Shaking Realm and complete an A-grade Mission.

As for Commander, one could not obtain the position merely by meeting the martial realm requirement and completing missions. A report had to be submitted to the Profound Nether Platform Headquarters, and the imperial family's approval obtained before the position could be conferred.

Martial realm.

Missions.

Zhao Zhi carefully read through the booklet, light gathering in his eyes.

Promotion through the Profound Nether Platform's ranks still largely depended on strength. So long as he possessed sufficient strength and merit, he could obtain what he deserved within the Profound Nether Platform.

After finishing the booklet, Zhao Zhi turned to the martial arts manual.

It was a martial arts manual that led directly to Innate Perfection, named the Cloudsea Qi Tempering Technique.

The Cloudsea Qi Tempering Technique was of the same grade as the Innate Unity Qi Technique. Both could cultivate vast and surging inner qi, making it quite decent; it was a martial art available for cultivation to anyone who entered the Profound Nether Platform.

In the past, Zhao Zhi might have cultivated the Cloudsea Qi Tempering Technique to add another stream of inner qi to his body.

But now, through the Merit Panel, he had already deduced a Foundation Establishment martial art perfectly suited to himself: the Primordial Unity True Art: Foundation Establishment.

With the profundity of the Primordial Unity True Art: Foundation Establishment, it far surpassed the Cloudsea Qi Tempering Technique. There was simply no need to cultivate the Profound Nether Platform's standard martial art.

Moreover, having cultivated the Primordial Unity True Art: Foundation Establishment, Zhao Zhi understood the source and discerned the subtle, seeing with the seasoned eye of age. At a glance, he pierced through the core of the Cloudsea Qi Tempering Technique and felt no need whatsoever to cultivate it.

He then set the Cloudsea Qi Tempering Technique aside and settled down within the Profound Nether Platform.

Two days later.

Yan Qing came to see him.

Looking at Zhao Zhi reclining in a lounge chair with his eyes closed, calmly resting his mind, she found it difficult to connect him with the decisive, slaughtering man from Flying Cloud Stronghold. A breeze drifted past, and a lock of hair fell across Zhao Zhi's handsome face, lending him an air of tranquil years.

Such tranquil years were exceedingly rare within the Profound Nether Platform.

"Lady Yan."

Hearing footsteps, Zhao Zhi opened his eyes. Upon seeing Yan Qing, he rose to his feet.

"Just call me Yan Qing."

"Yes, Lady Yan."

Yan Qing did not dwell on the matter. She tossed a small scroll to Zhao Zhi. "This is your D-grade Mission. Once you complete this mission, you can become a Formal Profound Nether Guard."

Zhao Zhi caught the small scroll. It felt faintly cool to the touch and had been made from a special fabric.

The Mission Hall of the Profound Nether Platform displayed small scrolls for different missions. Taking down a scroll counted as accepting that mission. Once the mission was complete, the scroll would be returned to the Mission Hall to submit it.

There was a trace of apology in Yan Qing's voice. "Originally, I would have accompanied you on this mission, but the Mission Hall happened to have a C-grade Mission suitable for me. So I cannot accompany you on this D-grade Mission. Still, with your strength, a mere D-grade Mission should amount to nothing."

A C-grade Mission?

That represented entering the Meridian Opening Realm and becoming a Small Banner.

Zhao Zhi looked Yan Qing up and down. He could indeed faintly sense that she was unable to perfectly control the circulation of her inner qi. He cupped his hands and congratulated her. "Congratulations, Lady Yan, on entering the Meridian Opening Realm."

Yan Qing could not conceal the hint of a smile on her face. "With your talent and strength, I imagine it will not be long before you become a Meridian Opening Realm martial artist as well." After a brief pause, she continued, "Although I cannot accompany you on this mission, I will have He Peng go with you. He Peng has been through two missions and knows the circumstances of D-grade Missions."

Zhao Zhi had intended to refuse, but after reconsidering, he chose not to speak.

A D-grade Mission posed almost no difficulty for him. He could resolve it alone.

But this was, after all, his first mission for the Profound Nether Platform, and he did not understand its methods of operation.

With He Peng, a Profound Nether Guard who could barely be considered an old hand, assisting him, he should be able to avoid quite a bit of trouble.

"I'll have He Peng come over shortly. Tell him when you intend to carry out the D-grade Mission." As she spoke, Yan Qing looked around the small courtyard and asked lightly, "Are you accustomed to living here? Do you have any other requests?"

Zhao Zhi shook his head. "Thank you, Lady Yan. I have no requests for now."

"That's good."

Yan Qing glanced around a few times, yet did not know what else to say.

She usually followed Tang Chuxue, learning her aloof coldness and fresh elegance. Instead, she had forgotten how to communicate normally with others.

Three breaths later.

After reminding Zhao Zhi to complete the mission properly, Yan Qing left the small courtyard.

Zhao Zhi watched Yan Qing's departing figure, his eyelids lowering.

This Lady Yan seemed somewhat overly enthusiastic.

Though Zhao Zhi had saved her at Flying Cloud Stronghold, she had recruited him into the Profound Nether Platform, provided him with a small courtyard there, personally delivered the D-grade Mission scroll, and had even intended to accompany him on the mission.

He could not help but suspect Yan Qing's motives.

But what motive could Yan Qing have?

Zhao Zhi was merely an ordinary blue-clad constable from Qingfeng County. Apart from being somewhat outstanding in martial arts, he should have been beneath the notice of a Profound Nether Guard like Yan Qing, who seemed to possess considerable background.

Could it be...

Zhao Zhi thought of the True Martial Mountain-Suppressing Technique.

Only the True Martial Mountain-Suppressing Technique could have made her care so much.

Yet what was so special about this incomplete True Martial Mountain-Suppressing Technique? Zhao Zhi still needed to find out more about it.