Early morning the next day.
Falling Cloud Valley.
Outer Sect.
“Ding! Congratulations, Host, on completing the mission: 【Basic Mastery of a Cultivation Method】. Reward: 100 Reversal Points, 8 High-Grade Qi Gathering Pills, 300 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Rewards have been automatically deposited into the system space.”
Inside a simple wooden hut, Qi Yuan rubbed his temples and tossed the wooden slip in his hand aside with a look of disdain.
He could grasp the basics of such a rudimentary Qi Refining method with a glance. It took no effort at all.
Even so, the newly added hundred Reversal Points slightly improved his somewhat gloomy mood.
He had successfully passed Falling Cloud Valley’s assessment yesterday and become a glorious Servant Disciple.
After completing the mission, he originally thought he could leave with style. Unexpectedly, the next mission refreshed by the system was to cultivate this low-level technique from Falling Cloud Valley, the “Harmonizing Qi Scripture,” to a basic mastery level.
Seeing the new mission, Qi Yuan suddenly realized a very serious problem:
This brain-dead system simply didn’t care about reality; it issued missions completely according to the intended host’s reversal trajectory.
The intended host was dead, but the missions still had to be done. They had simply fallen to Qi Yuan instead.
This meant that to continue completing the following missions, he had to temporarily stay in Falling Cloud Valley…
A Holy Scion of the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary might actually have to spend some time as a Servant Disciple in Falling Cloud Valley.
How utterly ridiculous!
Just as he was fuming with rage, the mission list refreshed again:
“Host has newly entered Falling Cloud Valley. Weak in strength and without support, it is too early to stage a reversal. Currently, you must diligently cultivate to improve yourself. This system will be your steadfast support on the path to becoming strong.”
“New Mission: Qi Refining Third Layer”
“Mission Objective: Continue cultivating the ‘Harmonizing Qi Scripture’ and raise your cultivation to Qi Refining Third Layer within one month.”
“Mission Reward: 150 Reversal Points, 3 Top-Grade Qi Gathering Pills, Low-Grade Defensive Magical Artifact ‘Unmoving Rock Mirror,’ 500 Low-Grade Spirit Stones…”
Another idiotic mission like this. Qi Yuan was already too exhausted to complain. He relaxed his mind and quietly waited for the notification sound signaling mission completion.
His current cultivation far exceeded Qi Refining Third Layer. This kind of mission was purely free points, with the answers already filled in.
A quarter of an hour passed, and still no prompt sound came.
What’s going on?
Qi Yuan was taken aback. He carefully looked at this mission and only then did he suddenly understand. He then put on an act and cultivated for one cycle according to the energy circulation route marked in the “Harmonizing Qi Scripture.”
“Ding! Congratulations, Host, on completing the mission…”
Damn!
So the first sentence in the mission objective wasn’t just filler; it was actually one of the conditions for completing the task.
This stupid system—its mission descriptions were all over the place, but when it came to requirements, it was surprisingly meticulous.
Qi Yuan shook his head with a mix of amusement and exasperation. To lower his blood pressure that was about to shoot through the roof, he decided to go out for some fresh air and incidentally enjoy the scenery of Falling Cloud Valley.
As one of the new disciples who performed outstandingly in the entrance assessment, he was naturally assigned a separate hut as his residence.
Although this wooden hut was low, narrow, and its walls bare, it was still much better than the double rooms other Servant Disciples got.
This year, Falling Cloud Valley had a bountiful harvest, recruiting over twenty qualified new disciples—the highest number in recent years—which made Outer Sect Elder Mo Zhengyang grin from ear to ear.
According to sect rules, these new disciples must start as Servant Disciples. Those who perform satisfactorily after one year can be promoted to Outer Sect Disciples.
Exceptionally promising Servant Disciples might instead be chosen as Legacy Disciples by an Inner Sect Elder, allowing them to enter the Inner Sect directly.
Stepping outside, the cool morning air greeted him. Qi Yuan took a deep breath, feeling much more invigorated, and murmured:
“It’s quite fragrant here…”
Suddenly, he sensed something and instinctively looked sideways behind him. There stood a beautiful female cultivator in a pale yellow dress not far from him, her fair, jade-like face slightly flushed.
“Senior Sister Bai? What are you doing here?”
Only then did Qi Yuan realize where the fragrance came from. He quickly cupped his hands in greeting.
Being new to Falling Cloud Valley and unsure of its hidden strength, he had avoided extending his Divine Sense lest he alert its experts. His awareness was therefore much less acute than usual.
He already knew Bai Xirou was the Sect Leader’s daughter and also ranked first among the Inner Sect Legacy Disciples.
Bai Xirou nodded slightly. Her gaze at Qi Yuan held some surprise.
“It’s only been a day since we last met, yet you’ve already broken through to Qi Refining Third Layer?”
Qi Yuan smiled modestly. “The ‘Harmonizing Qi Scripture’ bestowed by Elder Mo is quite profound. I studied it all last night and finally managed by luck to break through to Qi Refining Third Layer.”
After completing the previous mission, he had deliberately adjusted his outwardly displayed cultivation level to Qi Refining Third Layer. He didn’t expect Bai Xirou to notice as soon as he stepped out.
Bai Xirou murmured an acknowledgment. After a moment’s thought, her expression turned serious.
“Big Qi, what do you think of the venerable Formation Spirit?”
Formation Spirit?
Qi Yuan was taken aback for a moment before answering truthfully.
“That Formation Spirit curses at anyone it sees; its temper isn’t very good. Beyond that, I don’t know much.”
But then Bai Xirou sighed.
“The venerable Formation Spirit has remained in seclusion for a thousand years. Since our ancestral master passed away, you are the only person who has brought it out.”
Hearing this piqued Qi Yuan’s curiosity; Bai Xirou wasn’t the first person to say something like this.
Falling Cloud Valley’s protective array was the Illusory Life Universe Formation, and this was its spirit. The illusions used in the entrance test were only a small part of the full formation.
A protective formation was the foundation of any sect’s defenses. A spirit greatly increased its power, and on its own ground it should be difficult to breach unless the attackers possessed overwhelming strength.
Therefore, usually, such spirits serve as guardian deities for their sects, holding revered status.
The Supreme Mystery Sanctuary had a protective formation of its own. Its spirit was an innate divine beast at Great Ascension, revered as one of the sanctuary’s ancestors.
Yet judging by Bai Xirou’s tone, relations between Falling Cloud Valley and its Formation Spirit seemed somewhat strained…
Seeing his puzzled expression, Bai Xirou explained:
“The spirit of the Illusory Life Universe Formation and our late ancestral master were as close as brothers. But for some reason, its attitude changed completely after our ancestral master died.”
“Apart from sending out avatars every three years to test new disciples, it takes no interest in the valley’s affairs. Even the protective formation has grown much weaker.”
“I would like your help bringing it out of the formation’s core so we can ask why.”
“Huh?” Qi Yuan stared. “Go and see that fellow again?”
“Didn’t you notice the Formation Spirit is very dissatisfied with me? Sending me over—wouldn’t that just be adding fuel to the fire?”