Su Ming gently descended into White Lotus Peak's courtyard. The echo of his breakthrough had shaken the mountain, and Lin Yao had been waiting anxiously, her eyes fixed on the skies.
When the flying sword beneath his feet dissolved into sparks in midair and he landed gracefully, her surprise melted into joy.
She bowed. "Congratulations on your breakthrough, Master."
Su Ming nodded lightly, his expression calm as ever, but his attention immediately shifted to her cultivation. Extending his Divine Sense, he inspected her cultivation. She had progressed steadily - currently at the seventh stage of the Qi Condensation realm. A progress most disciples could only envy. Activating his Essence Sight, Su Ming looked deeper.
The lantern's gift had evolved since his breakthrough. What once showed him only silhouettes of essence now revealed far more details. The flows of qi through her meridians, her dantian glowing like embers. And at her core, the familiar dark shadow remained curled in silence, showing no sign of awakening.
Dormant. Still sleeping. But that's fine.
Disappointment never crossed his mind. Instead, he sat opposite her with a faint smile. "Come. I will show you the insights I gained."
This time, he didn't recite analogies of heaven and earth. After explaining briefly, he raised a hand. A single finger tapped forward, and a streak of white light shot from his fingertip into Lin Yao's forehead.
Her body stiffened as the streak entered her sea of consciousness, dissolving into patterns and impressions. The improved Crimson Flame Mantra unfolded within her mind.
Inside, Su Ming was ecstatic. I've always wanted to do that—flicking my finger to pass on knowledge. Even a noob webnovel reader knows it's a must in cultivation novels.
Lin Yao's eyes widened as the revelations took root. For a long moment, she was silent, then dropped to her knees. "Thank you, Master!" Her voice trembled with reverence and gratitude.
Next, Su Ming tested her progress in the sword technique.
They sparred in the open courtyard. His Cloud Chasing Sword Technique mastery was currently at the Perfected stage, while hers was at the Small Achievement stage.
She struggled to hold her ground, but the improvement was undeniable. Her movements carried resolve, her strikes were no longer clumsy, and if she pushed herself, she might touch greater mastery soon.
Su Ming corrected her mistakes with casual strikes. She listened carefully, engraving every correction into her heart. To her, each flick of his sword was a mountain of learning.
Their rhythm broke when a solemn chime rolled across the sect, echoing through the mountain ranges. Deep and clear—not an alarm, but tradition. The Sect wanted to declare something.
Lin Yao straightened her back curiously, while Su Ming turned his head toward the skies.
Golden streaks parted the clouds as a majestic eagle descended upon the White Lotus Peak. A glowing jade slip was tied to its leg.
Su Ming had a hunch. The disciple recruitment ceremony had been three months ago. Now, it was time for the tournament.
The beast circled once, then descended into White Lotus Peak's courtyard, lowering its leg. Su Ming retrieved the slip with ease, as the eagle let out a cry that shook the mist before soaring back into the skies.
Glowing letters appeared on the jade slip:
By decree of the Heavenly Cloud Sect, in one month, the Grand Disciple Tournament shall be held!
The Tournament will be held in two groups.
Group One: All disciples under twenty years of age, and below the Foundation Establishment realm.
Group Two: All disciples under thirty years of age, and below the Core Formation realm.
This is your chance to prove your worth before the Elders and the Sect Master!
Su Ming lowered the slip, silent for a moment. So it's time already.
Lin Yao's eyes displayed both nervousness and anticipation, but Su Ming only folded the jade slip into his sleeve. "Before the tournament, you need experience."
He turned toward the mountain path, his voice calm but decisive. "We'll head to the Mission Hall. It's time to earn our share of recognition."
***
The Mission Hall stood at the heart of the outer sect, a towering structure of black stone carved with endless patterns of beasts, rivers, and mountains. Each carving shimmered faintly, as though alive, feeding qi into the massive jade pillars that supported the hall.
As Su Ming and Lin Yao stepped inside, the bustle hit them like a wave. Outer disciples in plain robes queued before counters, clutching bamboo slips and jade plaques. Inner disciples moved with more confidence, pointing at glowing mission boards, their tones sharp and assured. Several deacons in dark-blue robes patrolled the hall, their stern gazes enough to quell any squabbles before they could erupt.
The pair drew glances almost immediately.
"White Lotus Peak?" someone whispered.
"I thought that place was abandoned."
"Why's he here, for missions?"
"Still… maybe he's here just for the show."
The murmurs carried little weight, but Lin Yao's hands clenched at her sleeves. Su Ming, on the other hand, only found it mildly amusing. He ignored them, walking steadily toward the center of the hall.
Four great mission boards loomed there, each one crafted of jade and shimmering with light:
White Jade Board – Missions for outer disciples. Herb gathering, odd jobs, and low-level beast culling. Mostly suited for Qi Condensation cultivators.
Green Jade Board – Missions for inner disciples, Foundation Establishment level. More dangerous, higher rewards.
Blue Jade Board – Reserved for Core Formation disciples and Outer Elders. Dangerous beasts, complex assignments.
Red Jade Board – Also known as the Elder's Board. Golden Core and above. The air around it radiated pressure. Few dared even look directly.
Each mission displayed its details, along with the rewards: spirit stones, sometimes rare items from the Sect's vault. Spirit stones were the most common—both currency and cultivation resource in the sect.
They stopped first at the White Jade Board. Rows of missions scrolled past their vision:
Gather Moondew Flowers from Jade Hills – Reward: 50 Low-Grade Spirit Stones
Escort caravan to North Ridge Mine – Reward: 80 Low-Grade Spirit Stones
Cull Spirit Rats in the Eastern Storehouse – Reward: 100 Low-Grade Spirit Stones
Lin Yao studied them with curiosity, but Su Ming shook his head. "Escort missions waste time. Too much waiting, too little fighting."
Her eyes flickered with disappointment, but Su Ming's gaze had already shifted—higher, to the Green Board.
Two missions caught his attention,
Collect Moon-Bloom Petals – Reward: 180 Low Grade Spirit Stones
Cull the Red-Furred Wolves – Reward: 200 Low Grade Spirit Stones
Su Ming gave a slight nod. "This will be a good warm-up for you."
From there, he moved toward the Blue Jade Board. Here, the missions were entirely different levels.
Hunt the Crimson-Horned Rhino – Reward: 1,100 Spirit Stones (Dangerous: Its hide is nearly impervious to blades, and its charge can shatter stone.)
Subdue the Bone Serpent – Reward: 1,200 Spirit Stones (Dangerous: Several disciples have already perished attempting it.)
Cleanse the Fallen Orchid Grove – Reward: 1,350 Spirit Stones (Dangerous: Thick poisonous miasma that corrupts the land and warps weaker minds.)
Slay the Thousand-Eyed Centipede – Reward: 1,400 Spirit Stones (Dangerous: It induces mental illusions to hunt its prey.)
Survey the Withered Valley – Reward: 1,500 Spirit Stones (Unknown: Qi anomaly detected in the surrounding area; the cause remains unknown.)
Seal the Whispering Tomb – Reward: 1,600 Spirit Stones (Extremely Dangerous: Ghostly apparitions spotted.)
The Rhino mission seemed to be a competition of strength, and Su Ming was not ready to deal with Poison or Illusion at this moment. Handling ghosts, Su Ming never even considered it.
Su Ming read them carefully, his expression calm. Some were clearly suicidal for most cultivators at his level, but only two of them seemed somewhat doable, and both were within a reasonable distance. A flicker of curiosity stirred in him.
If needed, he could always retreat. Missions allowed it; for this type of failure, where disciples fled from the mission, they had to pay a small fine. Still, he couldn't ignore the itch to test himself against something powerful.
His eyes drifted further, to the Red Jade Board—the Elder's Board. Unlike the others, the missions listed there weren't simply dangerous; they were the kind that had a bigger impact.
Purge the Demonic Cult Outpost near Falling Ash Mountain – Reward: 2,500 CP
Recover missing Nascent Soul Elder in the Western Seas – Reward: 3,000 CP
Purple Moon Kingdom Requests Aid – Golden Core cultivators needed to stop rebellion. Reward: 2,500 CP + royal treasures
The weight of the tasks pressed even from a distance. Most disciples did not even dare look into them.
A demonic cult… a missing Nascent Soul elder… kingdoms in rebellion, Su Ming thought, lips quirking faintly. Nope! Not my concern. Not yet.
Stepping forward, he handed over four jade slips at the counter.
"These four," he said calmly. "These two for my disciple, these two for myself."
The deacon, an old man with sharp eyes, studied him carefully. "Are you certain? Two of these missions are not that easy, and your disciple does not even seem to have stepped into the Foundation Establishment realm."
Beside him, Lin Yao lowered her head. She felt disappointed in herself, even ashamed.
I have to work harder… I must not bring shame to my master.