The sun was setting beyond the horizon, painting the sky in streaks of crimson, gold, and deep violet. A soft breeze carried the fragrance of wildflowers that bloomed around the Sanatan Flame Sect’s mountain peaks. The courtyard shimmered under the twilight glow, quiet yet brimming with an undercurrent of energy.
Shaurya stood tall in the center of the sect courtyard, his hands tucked casually into his pockets. His posture was relaxed, almost indifferent, yet there was a subtle weight in the air around him—as though he had planned something extraordinary. Not far from where he stood, the sect’s elders gathered together, their gazes fixed on him with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.
The disciples, exhausted from the grueling mission earlier that day, had long retreated into their dorms to rest. Laughter and weary murmurs could be faintly heard from inside their rooms, a reminder of their human frailty after enduring Shaurya’s relentless regimen.
Yet two figures defied the peace of rest.
In the training grounds not far from the courtyard, the infamous brothers of destruction, Wang Tian and Luo Chen, were still immersed in brutal practice. Their bodies trembled under the immense burden of three-ton weights strapped to them, and yet they balanced on their right-hand index fingers, performing handstand pushups. Each movement was steady but strained, beads of sweat falling like rain onto the stone ground beneath them. Their breaths came heavy, ragged, but their eyes burned with determination that refused to yield.
Elder Wu, noticing the brothers, allowed himself a rare smile. He admired their persistence, then shifted his gaze back to Shaurya, who remained the center of attention.
Elder Liya leaned toward Lin Shu, her brows arched in curiosity.
"Elder Lin, do you have any idea what Master is doing now?"
Lin Shu shook her head gently, her long sleeves swaying in the evening breeze.
"Nope," she replied with honesty.
Shaurya’s lips curved into a sly smile. Inwardly, he thought, The elders are watching. It’s the perfect time to create a majestic image.
He slowly drew his hands out of his pockets, raising them in a dramatic gesture as if channeling divine forces. His voice echoed across the courtyard, filled with exaggerated reverence.
"Oh my masters, give me powers! Essence of Heaven and Earth!"
The elders exchanged puzzled glances, watching intently.
Shaurya brought his palms together in a praying position, bowing his head as though in worship.
"Lord Vishnu, give me your blessings!"
Then, raising his right hand toward the darkening sky while lowering his head, he declared loudly:
"Sect Structure Build!"
At first, there was only silence. The elders frowned, some whispering among themselves in confusion.
Then, without warning, a blinding golden light erupted from the empty ground in front of Shaurya. It shot upward like a radiant pillar, so dazzling that the elders shielded their eyes. The courtyard trembled faintly, the very air vibrating with energy.
When the light faded, the elders slowly opened their eyes—only to be struck dumb with shock.
Before them stood a majestic building, vast in scale, almost the size of the sect’s grand main hall. Its walls gleamed with polished jade stone, glowing faintly under the twilight sky. Two enormous dragon statues coiled proudly on either side of its entrance, their eyes carved with lifelike intensity, as though guarding the structure.
A massive wooden gate marked the entrance, its surface carved with two sacred emblems—on the right side, a chakra, and on the left, a trident. Above the gate hung a wide wooden board, upon which bold calligraphy proclaimed:
Sanatan Flame Sect Mission Hall.
The elders froze, their jaws slack, as if struck by divine revelation.
Shaurya, sensing their astonishment, cast them a fleeting glance. A cunning smile tugged at his lips as he thought smugly, By looking at their reaction, I’ve once again succeeded in creating the image of my great, superior master. Hahahaha.
The elders began to step forward, still reeling in disbelief. Quickly, Shaurya straightened his posture, his cunning expression melting into a warm, composed smile.
Lin Shu’s eyes widened as she studied the magnificent building. She asked softly, almost in awe,
"Shaurya... what is this? Mission Hall?"
Hands once again resting in his pockets, Shaurya replied with calm composure, his voice steady.
"Oh. This is our sect’s Mission Hall. Disciples will receive missions here. Once they complete those missions, they will earn points. With those points, they can purchase items such as techniques, weapons, pills, and more."
The elders listened intently, their awe deepening.
"Come with me," Shaurya said, leading them forward.
The massive wooden gate of the Mission Hall creaked open, revealing a grandeur that rivaled even the sect’s most sacred halls. Inside stretched a vast chamber lit by an ambient golden glow. The polished jade floors reflected the flickering lamplight, while intricate murals of battles and celestial beings adorned the walls.
At the far end, in front of the wall, stood a long wooden desk curved in a semi-circle. Four stone tablets rested upon it, each glowing faintly in different colors—yellow, blue, red, and black.
On the right wall hung a massive empty board, waiting to be filled. Its surface shimmered faintly as if anticipating future inscriptions.
"The disciples’ ranking board," Shaurya explained casually as they approached.
When they reached the desk, Shaurya gestured toward the tablets with a smile.
"So, as you can see, there are four stone tablets. Each represents a mission level. Yellow for beginner-level missions. Blue for intermediate. Red for elite-level. And black for legendary-level missions."
He pressed his palm gently against the black tablet. Immediately, the tablet pulsed with light, and above it a golden holographic screen flickered to life.
Shaurya continued, his tone smooth and confident.
"Here, disciples can select their missions. Once they complete them, they will earn Contribution Points, calculated according to the mission’s difficulty. With those points, they can buy items from there."
He turned and pointed toward the left side of the hall. Embedded in the wall was a massive black stone tablet, etched with a glowing blue circle at its center. Shaurya stepped forward and placed his hand upon it. The tablet hummed softly, and another holographic screen appeared, displaying neatly organized categories—Techniques, Weapons, Artifacts, Pills.
"From here," Shaurya explained, "they can buy their items using Contribution Points."
Then he gestured toward the towering ranking board on the right.
"That is the disciples’ ranking board. It will display the top hundred disciples, based on the Contribution Points they’ve gathered."
Satisfied, Shaurya stretched lazily.
"Elder Jian, tell Meow Mao that from now on, he is the elder of this Mission Hall. He will sit here and manage the hall."
Jian Fan bowed respectfully.
Shaurya then turned to Elder Wu.
"You will explain everything to the disciples. From tomorrow, this hall will open."
Elder Wu nodded solemnly.
"Very good," Shaurya said, his tone softening. "I am tired now. I’ll take my rest. You all should also focus on your work—or rest if you wish."
The elders bowed and dispersed.
Lin Shu and Elder Liya walked together, smiling. Elder Liya chuckled lightly.
"We’ve done too much work. Let’s take some rest."
Lin Shu nodded in agreement.
"You’re right. Let’s have a long, well-deserved beauty sleep."
Elder Wan stretched his arms and turned toward Elder Wu and Elder Jian.
"Well, I’m going to my alchemy hall. I still have some work left."
The three exchanged bows before going their separate ways.
Shaurya lingered for a moment, glancing back at the Mission Hall. A smile touched his lips before he walked away toward his room. Passing through the main courtyard, he paused at the training hall.
There, under the pale moonlight, Wang Tian and Luo Chen still trained, their bodies trembling yet unwavering as they performed handstand pushups balanced solely on their right-hand index fingers. Sweat fell in rivulets, soaking the stone floor.
Shaurya raised his brows, genuinely surprised.
"These two are really too hardworking," he whispered to himself. "No wonder they are the strongest disciples of this sect."
Opening his system interface, he checked their cultivation levels.
Wang Tian – Golden Vein Stage, Level 3.
Luo Chen – Golden Vein Stage, Level 2.
Shaurya’s eyes widened slightly, impressed.
"Whoa... they are truly impressive. My only two disciples in the Golden Vein Stage. I should give them a reward for their hard work."
With his hands slipping back into his pockets, Shaurya quietly departed, leaving the brothers to their rivalry.
Wang Tian gritted his teeth, pushing through each repetition.
"Just stop already! You can’t defeat me!"
Luo Chen’s face twisted with determination, sweat dripping from his chin.
"If you’re tired, then why don’t you just stop?"
"Tired, my foot. I still have energy left to defeat you."
"Oh, let’s see," Luo Chen retorted, a grin forming despite his exhaustion.
"9546... 9550..." Luo Chen counted, his voice strained.
"9564... 9567," Wang Tian shot back confidently. "I am clearly winning. I’m closer to ten thousand pushups. Just give up."
Luo Chen inhaled deeply through his mouth, his gaze sharp.
"Never. I will never give up."
Meanwhile, inside the male dormitories, Xiao Rui, Lee Bie, Cheng Fang, and Zong Bu sprawled lazily across their beds, still recovering from the day’s mission.
"Those two still aren’t back in their rooms."
Zong Bu muttered, "Last time I saw them, they were still training."
Cheng Fang shook his head in disbelief.
"I can’t believe they’re really disciples like us."
Xiao Rui stared at the ceiling thoughtfully.
"No matter how good you are, there will always be someone who will humble you. And in our sect... they both humble everyone else."
The room fell into silence, broken only by the sound of their collective sighs.