"So this is the Luodu Squad's base, Luodu Island?"
Zhang Jing instinctively compared Luodu Island with the islands he had seen earlier and discovered that the difference between them was like heaven and earth.
It was not merely the size of the island.
It was also the number of powerful presences he could sense on the island with his Mind's Eye.
"Senior Brother Yangchu, are all the top ten Mission Teams in the Outer Court like this? And why don't the top ten teams have the same rule as the others, taking a cut of our Dao Merit for five years?"
Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Jing simply poured out all the questions in his heart at once.
Hearing this, Zhang Yangchu did not answer directly, but asked in return:
"Junior Brother, we've seen quite a few Mission Teams on our way here. Now, how do you think they compare to our Luodu Squad?"
"They're not even in the same league!"
Zhang Jing answered sincerely.
Zhang Yangchu nodded, then explained, "There are stronger and weaker squads among the top ten, but even the tenth-ranked squad far surpasses those behind it in overall strength and accumulated foundations."
"As for the reason?"
A trace of pride appeared on his face.
"Naturally, it's because every squad has produced more than one Inner Academy disciple, without a break from one generation to the next. With the support of our senior brothers in the Inner Academy, our squads lack no resources. What we lack is talent!"
"Of course, everything has its advantages and disadvantages. Enjoying those benefits naturally comes with corresponding responsibilities."
"What responsibilities?" Zhang Jing asked curiously.
"There are some extremely dangerous and difficult demon-suppression missions in the Outer Court that other squads can choose to refuse, but we cannot. At the same time, we shoulder the heavy responsibility of nurturing the next generation of Inner Academy disciples."
Zhang Yangchu's voice suddenly grew somber.
"Countless members have fallen on missions, including no small number at the tenth level of Qi Refining. Junior Brother, you've only just entered the Outer Court. You must be cautious when you go out on demon-suppression missions."
At this, Zhang Jing could not help asking in puzzlement:
"Senior Brother, does everyone have to accept and carry out demon-suppression missions?"
"Of course. The Dao Academy stipulates that every Outer Court disciple must carry out at least one demon-suppression mission a year. Besides, you need Dao Merit for your cultivation, Junior Brother. Demon-suppression missions are both the fastest and the main way to earn it."
"The mission reward is one sum of Dao Merit. Selling materials from demons and the various natural treasures you obtain during the mission to the Thousand Techniques Pavilion brings in another substantial sum."
So that was it.
Zhang Jing nodded in understanding.
As they spoke, the two had already arrived above a sprawling cluster of buildings at the very center of Luodu Island.
The flying sword slowly descended, finally stopping before a magnificent pavilion.
"Junior Brother," Zhang Yangchu said with a smile as he leaped lightly off the flying sword, "this is our Luodu Squad's Merit Hall. I'll take you inside to register on the roster and give you the cultivation cave abode and the opportunity to redeem a middle-grade inheritance that I promised earlier."
"All right. Thank you, Senior Brother."
Zhang Jing jumped off the flying sword and spoke with gratitude on his face.
"Haha, it's what I ought to do."
As he spoke, Zhang Yangchu led Zhang Jing into the Merit Hall.
The moment they entered, Zhang Jing saw a senior sister in white Daoist robes approach them, all smiles.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Zhang."
Seeing her, Zhang Yangchu said cheerfully, "So you're on duty today, Junior Sister Tong. It looks like your mission went quite smoothly."
"Ah, Senior Brother, don't even mention it. With Senior Brother Ding leading us, the four of us found that Three-Headed Pheasant easily enough. But it wasn't until we attacked that we discovered how extraordinary that demon's flying technique was. It forced Senior Brother Ding to use a middle-grade talisman, and even then, he barely managed to wound it severely."
"He's still aching over it now."
At his words, the female cultivator he had called Junior Sister Tong knitted her delicate brows and spoke indignantly.
Then she noticed Zhang Jing behind Zhang Yangchu and asked curiously:
"And this junior brother is?"
"Junior Sister, this is Junior Brother Zhang Jing, who has just joined our squad. I brought him here to register on the roster," Zhang Yangchu introduced.
With that, he turned to Zhang Jing and introduced her:
"Junior Brother, this is Senior Sister Tong Yao, who entered one intake before you. If I remember correctly, she ranked fourth back then."
He had barely finished speaking when Tong Yao rolled her eyes and corrected him:
"Senior Brother, I was third. Third!"
"Oh, perfect. You and Junior Brother Zhang both placed third in the assessment. Isn't that fate?" Zhang Yangchu teased, waggling his eyebrows.
"Senior Brother, you're always making fun of me!"
The next moment.
Tong Yao glanced at Zhang Jing, a trace of mischief flashing through her lovely eyes. Clasping her hands behind her back, she made a show of circling him and looking him over.
"Oh, so you're my junior brother."
"Greetings, Senior Sister Tong!"
Looking at the senior sister standing so close to him, Zhang Jing greeted her with an awkward expression.
Then.
A crisp smack rang out.
Tong Yao jumped up and slapped Zhang Jing on the shoulder, a flicker of excitement shining in her bright eyes as her silver-bell voice suddenly rang out:
"Haha, don't worry, Junior Brother. From now on, your senior sister will look out for you!"
Across from them, Zhang Yangchu could not help looking a little strange at her words.
But he said nothing about it, merely reminding her:
"Junior Sister, how about registering him on the roster first?"
"Ah, right, right, right. I almost forgot. Sorry, Junior Brother. Please give me your identity jade pendant."
Only after his reminder did Tong Yao seem to come back to her senses.
At her words, Zhang Jing took out his identity jade pendant and handed it to the senior sister before him.
She took the pendant, then quickly walked farther inside.
Watching her retreating figure, Zhang Yangchu smiled helplessly. "Don't mind her, Junior Brother. This Senior Sister Tong of yours really can be a little... lively sometimes. You'll get used to it."
"It's no trouble, Senior Brother."
Zhang Jing replied calmly.
Before long, Tong Yao came back out and handed Zhang Jing his jade pendant and a jade slip, saying softly, "Junior Brother, congratulations on joining the Luodu Squad. This jade slip contains some information about the Dao Academy and our Luodu Squad. It should be useful to you."
"Thank you, Senior Sister."
But just then.
Zhang Yangchu spoke again. "Junior Sister, sorry for the trouble, but please fetch the jade key for West No. 23 Cave Abode for him. Oh, and get him a middle-grade inheritance redemption voucher too."
What?!
The instant she heard him, Tong Yao froze. Thinking she had misheard, she turned to Zhang Yangchu and asked in confusion:
"Senior Brother, aren't only the squad's stewards allowed to apply for cave abodes? And a middle-grade inheritance redemption voucher-are you sure?"
Meeting her gaze, Zhang Yangchu nodded firmly.
"Junior Sister, the captains have already agreed to this. Go on."
Seeing that Tong Yao still looked astonished and bewildered, he explained with a smile:
"Hahaha, Junior Sister, you've only just returned from your mission, so you might not know. The difficulty of Junior Brother Zhang's Dao Academy assessment was nothing like that of your intake."
"There were two First Grade prodigies, and nearly thirty people received Grade B evaluations. During the ranking assessment, sixteen were already at the Qi Refining Second Layer."
"And this Junior Brother Zhang of yours swept into third place like a force crushing rotten wood, displaying strength only a hair below those two First Grade prodigies and far surpassing the other Grade B talents."
Standing there.
Tong Yao was stunned, and with every sentence Zhang Yangchu spoke, a trace of disbelief flashed through her eyes.
When he finished, she stared at Zhang Jing as though looking at a monster and said:
"Wait a moment, Junior Brother. I'll go get them now."
A short while later.
Tong Yao returned and walked up to Zhang Jing, carefully holding a jade key and a voucher in her hands as she explained:
"Junior Brother, send your spiritual sense into the jade key, and you'll learn the location of West No. 23 Cave Abode. As for this inheritance redemption voucher, just take it to the Inheritance Pavilion, and you can redeem it directly for a middle-grade inheritance."
Zhang Jing accepted the jade key and voucher.
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister."
Beside them, Zhang Yangchu seemed to think of something else and spoke directly to Tong Yao:
"Junior Sister, remember to choose a suitable mission sometime soon and take Junior Brother Zhang Jing along. He has only just begun cultivating, so his various methods are still incomplete, and his cultivation is not high either. Sorry for the trouble, but please look after him. I'll speak to Junior Brother Ding about it in a little while."
"Understood, Senior Brother. Don't worry. I'll take very good care of Junior Brother Zhang."
Hearing this, Tong Yao clenched her delicate fists and gave her assurance with complete confidence.
"Junior Brother Zhang Jing," Zhang Yangchu said, turning toward him, "remember to come to the Merit Hall on the first of every month to collect your Purple Spirit Pills. I still have things to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
With that, he strode outside.
"Take care, Senior Brother!"