Returning to his residence, Ling Chen immediately started his cultivation.
Sitting cross-legged on the wooden bed, Ling Chen swallowed the Qi Gathering Powder in one gulp.
In an instant, he felt as if a cool stream had entered his body through his mouth, disappearing inside him. The next moment, he clearly sensed the True Qi within his body starting to condense at an alarming speed. It was as if it was being pulled by some force, traveling through his meridians and rapidly flowing towards his Dantian.
The medicinal power of the Qi Gathering Powder quickly took effect. His True Qi rapidly converged from his meridians to his Dantian. Simultaneously, the medicinal power within his meridians swiftly transformed entirely into True Qi.
Inside the Dantian, his True Qi surged like a tempestuous tide. Beyond the original three rings of Qi, a fourth ring was slowly forming.
Martial Warrior Fourth Realm!
Opening his eyes and exhaling a murky breath, Ling Chen felt the overwhelmingly potent True Qi within him. A smile touched the corners of his lips. "As expected, the Qi Gathering Powder is an exceptional elixir for enhancing cultivation. In just one night, I’ve reached the Fourth Realm."
With his cultivation progressing so significantly in such a short time, Ling Chen’s confidence soared. The rapid improvement was partly due to his innate talent and partly to his foundation as a former Nine Heavy Realm warrior. Since he wasn’t starting from scratch, his swift progress was natural. However, even with this speed, it was still a process of re-cultivation. To shorten the time further, he would have to rely on Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, and potent Elixirs.
If I had enough Qi Gathering Powder, my cultivation could advance even more rapidly.
Qi Gathering Powder, a rare supplement for warrior cultivation, couldn’t be used indefinitely. For ordinary warriors, its effects diminished after one or two uses. Ling Chen, however, didn’t experience this. If I could obtain more Qi Gathering Powder, my cultivation would undoubtedly reach a higher level.
Ling Chen’s expression grew contemplative. Qi Gathering Powder is exceedingly rare. Given my current status in the Divine Intent Sect, I have no chance of acquiring it. The Qi Gathering Powder was expensive; within the Divine Intent Sect, only disciples of Xiao Muyu’s standing might possess it. He, on the other hand, stood no chance.
He had already been stripped of his True Disciple status and could no longer receive any benefits from the sect.
After considering all options, Ling Chen realized that earning Sect Contribution Points was his only remaining path. To obtain more resources from the Divine Intent Sect, I can only exchange them for Contribution Points. And to get Contribution Points, I must complete missions assigned by the sect. I don’t have much time left; it’s best to start taking on missions sooner rather than later.
The Deacon Hall was located in the southeast of the Divine Intent Sect. It was typically a bustling place, with many Divine Intent Sect disciples arriving daily to handle various tasks and accept missions.
The sun had just risen the next day when Ling Chen arrived at the Deacon Hall.
Stepping into the grand hall, Ling Chen looked around. The vast hall, capable of holding hundreds, was still relatively empty. The floor was paved with large bluestone slabs. Near the walls on both sides stood nine towering stone pillars, bluish-green tinged with red, each intricately carved with a dragon soaring through clouds and mist.
Further in from the stone pillars, a Jade Tablet was positioned every thirty paces, each covered with sheets of paper. Every sheet detailed various missions.
Ling Chen scanned the area and quickly found the most eye-catching mission, displayed on the largest Jade Tablet in bold characters:
"Exterminate the Demonic Sect’s Saintess, Liu Xiling. Reward: 500,000 taels of silver and 100,000 Contribution Points."
Ling Chen read the mission details clearly.
However, even if such a mission is posted, who would dare to accept it?
Ling Chen walked towards the Inner Hall. The Jade Tablets there were also covered with mission postings. A glance revealed they were generally divided into three distinct areas. The Bronze Level Missions were in the outermost area, followed inwardly by Silver Level Missions, and then Gold Level Missions.
Besides these three levels, the sect also issued some special high-level missions, ranked above Gold Level Missions. The bounty for Liu Xiling, for instance, fell into this category.
Ordinary disciples usually chose Bronze Level Missions based on their strength. Missions at each level were further divided by one to five stars; the more stars, the greater the difficulty. Among the Bronze Level Missions, one and two-star tasks were mostly collection or escort missions. Three-star missions and above were considerably more challenging, often targeting individuals or factions notorious in the Jianghu.
After a brief review, Ling Chen selected two missions, intending to choose one of them.
The first mission: Eliminate the nefarious Black Mountain Horse Bandit Gang.
Difficulty: Four-star Bronze.
Mission Details: The Black Mountain Horse Bandit Gang are highway robbers who plague the region, preying on merchants and committing all manner of atrocities.
Strength Analysis: The gang leader is a Sixth Layer Realm Martial Warrior. He commands forty to fifty men, including seven or eight warriors.
Mission Reward: Six hundred Sect Contribution Points.
Suggestion: Recommended for a team of three or more sect disciples.
The second mission: Kill the Evil Blood Blade.
Difficulty: Three-star Bronze.
Mission Details: The Evil Blood Blade is a renegade warrior from the Fire Country. He is lawless, assaults women, slaughters the innocent, and is currently active near the Demon Forest.
Strength Analysis: The Evil Blood Blade’s strength is estimated to be equivalent to a Fifth Level Martial Warrior.
Mission Reward: Five hundred Sect Contribution Points.
Suggestion: This individual is cunning and treacherous. Recommended for disciples at the Fifth Level or higher with extensive combat experience.
Eliminating the Horse Bandit Gang is a bit too difficult, and it would take too much time. The second task is also challenging, but it can be accomplished in one decisive strike.
After a moment of contemplation, Ling Chen prepared to take down the mission notice.
Just as Ling Chen was about to reach for the notice, a distinctly mocking voice suddenly sounded, "Well, well, Young Sect Master Ling, here again? You truly are ubiquitous."
Ling Chen glanced sideways, his brow furrowing slightly. The voice belonged to none other than Meng Yuan and his cronies, who had troubled him just the other day.
"You’re the one who seems to be everywhere," Ling Chen replied calmly.
Hearing this, Meng Yuan’s eyes turned cold. However, a smile quickly returned to his face. He glanced at the mission notice Ling Chen was considering and sneered, "Killing the Evil Blood Blade? Young Sect Master, such courage!"
"You can’t be serious! The Evil Blood Blade is a Fifth Level Martial Warrior! A cripple wants to kill the Evil Blood Blade? Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous!"
"Exactly! If you’re looking to die, there are better ways! This is like a moth to a flame—pure foolishness!"
The two Divine Intent Sect disciples behind Meng Yuan jeered.
"That’s none of your concern," Ling Chen said, ignoring them. He took down the mission notice and turned to walk towards the Inner Hall.
"This trash dares to be so insolent!" one disciple seethed, his eyes turning cold, looking ready to strike Ling Chen. However, another disciple stopped him.
"Pah, why bother with this trash?" the second disciple said. "He won’t live long anyway. Daring to provoke the Evil Blood Blade? He’s as good as dead."
Meng Yuan stared at Ling Chen’s retreating figure, then waved his hand. "Get ready. Keep an eye on him. This time, I’ll make sure he doesn’t return alive."
"But, Senior Brother Meng," one disciple hesitated, "didn’t Senior Brother Yun Tianhe instruct us not to touch him for the next three months?"
"HUMPH!" Meng Yuan scoffed. "As long as we don’t act within the sect, how would Senior Brother Yun Tianhe find out? Go and prepare."
A hint of viciousness glinted in Meng Yuan’s eyes. In his view, Ling Chen was as good as dead for daring to accept this mission. Still, to be absolutely sure, he decided he should personally oversee things. If the Evil Blood Blade couldn’t eliminate Ling Chen, he would deliver the final blow himself.