Mocked

The sect missions had been posted.

Although Jiang Hao did not show it, he cared deeply about this, so after collecting the bubbles, he immediately headed to the foot of Law Enforcement Peak.

A short while later.

He stood before the noticeboard and found his name.

Heartbreak Cliff, Jiang Hao: clear out the Demon Grotto.

Clear out the Demon Grotto? A team mission. Who are the others, then?

He soon found the other four names.

Heavenly Joy Pavilion, Qing Xue.

Heavenly Joy Pavilion, Lou Feng.

Thunderfire Peak, Xin Yuyue.

Frozen Moon Valley, Zheng Nineteen.

Two from the Heavenly Joy Pavilion. I wonder what their cultivation levels are.

Looking at the names, Jiang Hao began to ponder.

He had barely interacted with Thunderfire Peak or Frozen Moon Valley, so he probably had not made any enemies there.

But the two from the Heavenly Joy Pavilion put him under immense pressure.

Finally, he checked the date. It was scheduled for the end of next month.

He still had a month and a half.

Forty-five days.

Looks like I can only advance to the late stage first, then consolidate my cultivation and save up spirit stones for another month to buy a powerful offensive magic treasure.

I'll use the remaining half month to get familiar with it.

As for techniques, the Primordial Chaos Heart Scripture doesn't have anything suitable, so I'll ask Master.

Although his master did not think much of him, he would still offer some help.

The Heavenly Joy Pavilion would certainly try something during this trip to the Demon Grotto. His master understood that too, so there was a chance he would help him.

The Demon Grotto was a blessed grotto-heaven where quite a few of the sect's powerful cultivators practiced.

It was said that the Demon Grotto had once been Demonfolk territory. Now, the Demonfolk were sealed in its deepest reaches, and even those who escaped were only at foundation establishment.

The sect's powerful cultivators paid no attention to these little flies, so Inner Sect Disciples were needed to go in and clear them out.

The clearing generally took one to three months.

It all depended on their progress.

Once they came out, they would receive rewards based on their results in battle.

It was actually a good place to gain experience.

If he had not offended the Heavenly Joy Pavilion, Jiang Hao would have been quite willing to go.

Killing Demonfolk would not only give him practical combat experience, but also yield bubbles.

He then turned to leave, planning to ask about these people's strength first.

That would let him prepare early.

"Junior Brother, we meet again."

As Jiang Hao was leaving, a young woman in green bounded over in front of him.

"Senior Sister Mingyi," Jiang Hao said politely.

She was a candidate holy maiden of the Heavenly Saint Church, with early-stage golden core cultivation.

She was also an undercover agent.

An extremely dangerous one.

Fortunately, the last purge of traitors had made these people behave themselves considerably more.

Moreover, the appearance of the Heavenly Fragrance Dao Flower had made them afraid to act rashly.

They had even grown more worried.

Everyone knew this was bait on a hook.

Apart from that woman, not a single one dared bite.

"You're so polite, Junior Brother. I just saw your name. Are you heading to the Demon Grotto?" Fairy Mingyi asked with a smile.

Senior Sister Mingyi had sweet features and a smile as warm as sunshine, but Jiang Hao knew she was ruthless, hiding a blade behind that smile.

He had best avoid offending her if he could.

Her early-stage golden core cultivation weighed on him like an insurmountable mountain. He was no match for her at all.

"Yes." Jiang Hao stopped dwelling on it and nodded.

"I'm going to the Demon Grotto on a mission at the end of next month."

"Here, this is for you. I just happened to get it. Consider it my thanks for your help a little while ago.

"Oh, and next time I run into trouble, I'll come to you again. I hope you won't turn me down.

"Bye." With that, Fairy Mingyi placed a slip of paper in Jiang Hao's hand and strode away.

She said nothing more.

After a moment of puzzlement, Jiang Hao unfolded the paper, and delight lit up his face.

The undercover agents really did treat him well.

The slip listed those four people's strengths, along with brief introductions.

"Heavenly Joy Pavilion, Qing Xue: foundation establishment late stage, nearing a breakthrough. Primarily practices the Heavenly Joy Celestial Immortal Dao. The more coldly alluring she appears to you, the more easily you will fall under her charm."

"Heavenly Joy Pavilion, Lou Feng: foundation establishment middle stage, nearing a breakthrough. Primarily practices the Heavenly Joy Fallen Immortal Dao. Can imperceptibly throw a person's mind into chaos."

"Thunderfire Peak, Xin Yuyue: foundation establishment early stage. Primarily practices the Heavenly Fire Thunder Sword. Excels at drawing down heavenly lightning, which counters the Heavenly Joy Pavilion's Fallen Immortal Dao."

"Frozen Moon Valley, Zheng Nineteen: foundation establishment late stage. Primarily practices the Thousand-Mile Ice Seal. Decisive and ruthless in battle. Looks down on the Heavenly Joy Pavilion."

Looking over these four people, Jiang Hao felt something was odd.

The first two would certainly target him, but why did the latter two seem specifically chosen to counter them?

Is someone helping me?

His master was the first person Jiang Hao thought of.

Although he was not valuable enough, he still had some value.

Thus, this balance had been struck: it would neither cause a falling-out with the Heavenly Joy Pavilion nor make it difficult to protect his master's own disciple.

As for the hatred the Heavenly Joy Pavilion's pavilion master bore him, it all depended on whether he could find a new cultivation vessel.

If he found one, he probably would not do anything more. If he failed to find one and his breakthrough failed, then...

Jiang Hao would have to flee for his life, because the man would go mad.

Even if he revealed his cultivation, his master might not be able to save him.

Even if his master did save him, the danger would still be immense.

If his secrets were exposed then, it was hard to say whether the Demonic Sect would tolerate him.

Yet he could not be certain how substituting another death for his own would actually turn out.

There was some risk involved.

"Well, if it isn't Junior Brother Jiang Hao from Heartbreak Cliff?"

A voice suddenly rang out.

He looked up to see a man approaching from the opposite direction, mockery written all over his face.

The man's hair was disheveled, his eyes bloodshot, and he radiated an inexplicable viciousness.

His cultivation was at the foundation establishment middle stage.

"You are, Senior Brother?" Jiang Hao came back to his senses and asked politely.

"We'll be traveling together to the Demon Grotto next month. I hope you'll come fully prepared, Junior Brother." Lou Feng walked up beside Jiang Hao, patted his shoulder, and sneered.

"With that frail body of yours, one careless moment in there and you'll be dead.

"Don't blame your senior brother for not saving you when the time comes."

With that, he walked away, laughing loudly.

Jiang Hao lowered his eyes. He now knew who the man was.

Lou Feng of the Heavenly Joy Pavilion.