The blazing sun hung high overhead, heat waves rolling in.
On a small mountain path, two girls walked side by side beneath a single Green Oil-Paper Umbrella.
The girl holding the umbrella on the left had snowy skin, raven hair, and a tall, graceful figure. The girl on the right, who occasionally let out a soft laugh, had a face like a silver platter, eyes like watery apricots, lips red without rouge, and brows green without paint.
Such a beautiful sight made even the Young Disciples hurrying off to practice stop and stare a few more times.
"Sister Zi Jin, didn't Senior Brother Kong promise to accompany us down the mountain for our trial? Why do we have to come all the way to Blue Heart Hall to find an Iron Seal? Won't people laugh that Water Mirror Hall has no one capable?"
The violet-robed girl called Sister Zi Jin gently shook her head. "This is our first time going down the mountain for a trial, so everything must be foolproof. Senior Brother Kong is indeed formidable, but he spends most of his time cultivating within the sect and rarely goes down the mountain. He has served as an Iron Seal even fewer times. Once we leave the mountain, many matters cannot be resolved by strength alone."
"Oh~" The girl in green nodded after listening. "Then is the Iron Seal we're going to find in Blue Heart Hall very experienced?"
"Don't ask about that. Just trust me."
"Alright, I believe listening to Sister Zi Jin can't be wrong."
"That's more like it~ Let's go."
Achoo!
Honestly, who's talking about how handsome I am behind my back this time?
On a pebble path, Jiang Beiran rubbed his nose and continued forward. When he reached a fork in the road, he suddenly heard a commotion ahead.
"Hey, you bumped into me and think you can just leave?"
"Senior Brother, I'm truly sorry. I was thinking about the mental cultivation method Master tested us on this morning and didn't notice for a moment."
"I think you deliberately ran into me! Tell me, how are you going to compensate me?"
"Huh? But I..."
Jiang Beiran looked up and saw a burly Qi Refining Stage disciple acting aggressively, constantly shoving a junior disciple who had clearly only entered the sect not long ago.
At the same time, four options appeared before Jiang Beiran.
[Option One: Go over and reprimand the wicked Senior Brother, teaching him that he should care for his Junior Brother. Completion Reward: Primal Chaos Body (Mystic Middle Grade)] [Option Two: Go over, pull the Junior Brother behind you, and tell the wicked Senior Brother, "How much do you want? I'll compensate you for him." Completion Reward: Thunder Dart (Yellow Rank Middle Grade)] [Option Three: Shout, "Law Enforcer Lin is here!" Completion Reward: Purple Smoke Sword (Yellow Low Grade)] [Option Four: Pass by. Completion Reward: Random Basic Attribute Point +1]
Not bad. Reprimanding a wicked Senior Brother who just stepped into the Qi Refining Stage earns a Mystic Rank body cultivation technique. This reward is really generous.
Option Three is pretty good too. Hiding in the crowd and shouting that Master Lin is here gets me a Yellow Low Grade treasure. That cost-effectiveness... is high!
Hmm... Option Two works too. I heard Uncle-Master Xu mention this Thunder Dart last time. It can take a life from eight hundred li away—a true weapon of murder!
Nice, they're all great, so I choose... Four.
After making his choice, Jiang Beiran walked past without looking sideways. At the same time, an all-too-familiar voice sounded beside his ears.
[Option mission completed. Reward: Strength +1]
Strength again? That makes six times in a row. Why is it like I've been eating hormones...
After grumbling to himself, Jiang Beiran continued up the stone steps and arrived beside a small lake.
Mm~ Comfortable.
Feeling the breeze blow against his face, Jiang Beiran sat on the stone steps by the lake and comfortably closed his eyes.
Just as he enjoyed the waves of breeze carrying a faint scent of lake water, he suddenly heard intermittent sobbing from nearby.
Opening his eyes, he saw a Junior Sister who had clearly only just entered the sect hugging her knees by the lake and wiping away tears, her pretty face full of grievance.
At the same time, three options appeared before Jiang Beiran.
[Option One: Take the Mozi Pastry from your pocket and hand it to Junior Sister. Completion Reward: Eight Treasures Exquisite Ruler (Mysterious Grade High Rank)] [Option Two: Gently ask Junior Sister what happened. Completion Reward: Sixth Grade Heart Cleansing Pill] [Option Three: Turn around and leave. Completion Reward: Random Skill Point +1]
Damn!? What kind of demoness is she? Handing her a snack earns a Mysterious Grade High Rank weapon!?
Startled, Jiang Beiran hurriedly chose Option Three, then rose and turned to leave. He walked faster and faster, only finally breathing a sigh of relief after getting completely away from the lakeside.
[Option mission completed. Reward: Painting Skill +1]
"Phew..."
With a sigh of relief, the alarm was lifted. Jiang Beiran continued along his usual fixed route, circling the mountain once. In the end, he triggered options seven times in total, receiving Strength +2, Constitution +1, Zither Skill +1, Alchemy +1, Formation Technique +1, and Gu Refining +1.
Today is another peaceful day in the Returning Heart Sect.
With that thought, Jiang Beiran, laden with gains, strolled into the dining hall. He ordered his favorite Jade White Jade Set Meal and casually found a seat.
A bite of steamed bun, a bite of Chinese cabbage, with a few drops of Fragrant Oil now and then—Jiang Beiran ate with immense relish.
"Hey, did you hear? Senior Brother Luo Bei from True Martial Hall was beaten so badly yesterday that Hall Master Song invited Master Bu from Heart Cleansing Hall over in the middle of the night."
"Senior Brother Luo Bei!? I heard his Wind Breaking Saber Technique had already reached Dacheng. How could he still be injured so badly? Did he encounter some formidable member of the Demonic Sect?"
"No. I heard Senior Brother Luo Bei was severely injured within True Martial Hall itself."
"Huh!? Inside!? Then wouldn't that mean it was a fellow disciple..."
"Shh! Keep your voice down."
Listening to the two disciples at the neighboring table whispering, Jiang Beiran shook his head and could not help sighing inwardly. Jealousy breeds hatred of genius~
He tossed the last small piece of steamed bun into his mouth, wiped his mouth, gathered his bowls and plates, and walked out of the dining hall.
Where should I wander this afternoon? Going to Little Xiong Peak all the time is getting a little tiresome.
Just as Jiang Beiran stood at the dining hall entrance, torn over where to go, a voice he knew very well rang out from nearby.
"Beiran?"
Jiang Beiran immediately looked up and cried out in surprise, "Senior Apprentice Brother Lu!?"
"What a coincidence. I ran into you as soon as I got back." Lu Bogui smiled and waved at Jiang Beiran. "Have you eaten?"
"Mm, I just finished." Jiang Beiran jogged over to Lu Bogui as he answered.
"Keep Senior Brother company and eat a little more?"
"Sure."
After returning to the dining hall, Lu Bogui ordered a pot of Cold Spring Wine and a large plate of beef, then led Jiang Beiran to a table by the window.
"Senior Brother, you were out on this trial for so long. Did you run into some trouble?" Taking the Cold Spring Wine Lu Bogui had poured for him, Jiang Beiran asked curiously.
"Mm, I ran into a little trouble. War has broken out again in the Jiangbei Region."
"War again?" Jiang Beiran's hand holding the wine cup paused. "I wonder how many forces will be dragged into it this time."
Pouring himself a cup as well, Lu Bogui looked at Jiang Beiran and smiled. "Don't worry about the common people just yet. What about you? Have you found a master?"
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