"Fellow Daoists, it's about time. Those who have not arrived on time will be considered to have forfeited the mission. I would like to thank everyone in advance for showing up as promised," Huan Shi courteously delivered some pleasantries.
"There's no need for formalities. We're not here to sightsee, so you really should get to the point and explain the details of this mission," a burly man, seated cross-legged on a giant stone, called out impatiently.
"Leave those formalities for the Sect disciples to enjoy. We Loose Cultivators don't have time for this nonsense! We're here for the Spirit Stones, so let's get down to business!"
"Yes! These Scatter Alliance activities are always so secretive, and we still don't know what we're supposed to do even as we're about to set out!"
As the burly man spoke, others quickly echoed his sentiments.
"Very well, very well. Seeing that all fellow daoists are frank and straightforward, I'm quite relieved," Huan Shi responded, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with a gentle demeanor, seemingly unbothered by their impatience.
"Fellow daoists, our White Night Scatter Alliance has summoned you all here to cross the Ghost Cry Gorge behind us and enter the Snake King Valley to hunt the Golden Flower Poison Python King."
As Huan Shi declared this, most were visibly confused, not understanding what the Snake King was.
Yuan Ming already knew their objective, having done thorough research after returning to the Biluo Cave.
An ordinary Golden Flower Poison Python is just a Level 1 Intermediate-stage Fierce Beast, roughly equivalent to the fourth to sixth levels of the Qi Refinement Realm.
However, do not be deceived by their seemingly modest strength. These types of snakes reproduce rapidly, prefer to live in groups and, due to their aggressive nature, when hunting, often attack en masse, relenting only upon death.
Thus, encountering them can become quite troublesome.
This is likely why the White Night Scatter Alliance had recruited a large number of temporary members.
"May I ask the Alliance Hierarch what exactly is this Golden Flower Poison Python King and does it have any special offensive capabilities?" he asked proactively.
"The Golden Flower Poison Python King is a Second-level Middle Stage Fierce Beast, roughly equivalent to the early to mid stages of Foundation Establishment. This beast is robust, extremely strong, and highly venomous," Huan Shi replied following Yuan Ming's gaze, then went on to explain to the others.
Yuan Ming nodded inwardly at this; the information was consistent with what he had researched.
Hearing that the Golden Flower Poison Python King was a Second-level Middle Stage Fierce Beast, everyone's expressions, demeanors, and movements unanimously underwent subtle changes.
Some even openly showed a tinge of retreat.
"Alliance Hierarch, hunting a Second-level Middle Stage Fierce Beast… You're overestimating us, we can't take on such a task," a tall, thin middle-aged man spoke up first.
"Even with many Qi Refining Stage Cultivators, hunting a Second-level Middle Stage Fierce Beast would inevitably lead to heavy casualties. We're only here to make some Spirit Stones, not to risk our lives," another person immediately added.
Doubts continued to fill the air.
"Fellow Daoists, please stay calm. I haven't finished. Your main task will be to eliminate any Fierce Beasts and poisons blocking the path and spread out to track the Snake King. If anyone can find the tracks of the Snake King, we will offer an additional reward of three hundred Spirit Stones. Those who participate in killing the Golden Flower Poison Python King will receive a reward not less than one hundred Spirit Stones, and depending on your contribution, up to five hundred Spirit Stones," Huan Shi gestured with his hands in front of him, calming their objections. The ori+gi@n#a#l+ s#ou-r^ce+ is *.&
With the promise of a hefty reward, the voices of dissent slightly diminished.
"Why were you vague earlier and unwilling to disclose this risk, waiting instead until we were all gathered here to speak?" However, some still questioned.
Most had already figured out the answer—it was to deceive them into coming here first.
"This matter involves a covert operation by the White Night Scatter Alliance, not suitable for prior disclosure. But rest assured, those who now wish to withdraw can still do so in time, and appropriate compensation will be offered," Huan Shi stated.
At the mention of compensation, those who were apprehensive relaxed their expressions and immediately asked about the compensation details.
Huan Shi extended two fingers and said, "Those who choose to give up now can receive two Spirit Stones and leave immediately."
For ordinary Qi Refinement Stage Loose Cultivators, two Spirit Stones were actually not insignificant, but compared to the maximum potential reward of five hundred Spirit Stones for participating in the mission, they seemed trivial.
The extreme contrast in the number of Spirit Stones aroused some insatiable desires among the crowd.
If they hadn't known the rewards for participating in the mission or if the rewards had not been so substantial, they might have readily accepted the two Spirit Stones as compensation.
After all, they had merely spent some time traveling here, and receiving two Spirit Stones as compensation was hugely profitable by any calculation.
But the reference to the five hundred Spirit Stones made it quite hard to bear.
Yuan Ming couldn't help but admire internally; the White Night Scatter Alliance had played their hand brilliantly, precisely gauging the minds of these people. He wondered whether it was Bai Ye or Huan Shi's idea.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense, as all the temporary members were torn, contemplating whether to take the risk and gamble.
Setting aside the highly risky part of participating in the killing of the Snake King, just finding its traces could yield as many as three hundred spirit stones!
"I have another question. If we enter Snake King Valley and the situation is more severe than we anticipated, can we withdraw midway?" the tall, thin middle-aged man asked again.
"Once you enter Snake King Valley, your life and fortune are decreed by fate. You become comrades tied to our cause. Any person's sudden retreat could likely cause harm or death to others, so fundamentally, withdrawal is not an option," Huan Shi stated.
Fundamentally not an option, but what about in practice?
As expected, Huan Shi added:
"However, considering the complexity of the situation, before finding the Snake King, everyone will have one opportunity to withdraw, and we will compensate each person with ten spirit stones."
Upon hearing this, those present once again fell into a moral dilemma.
"Having money is great, but one must also have a life to spend it," yet voices of doubt still existed.
"At least there's an additional chance to withdraw, and ten spirit stones as compensation isn't too little..." a Loose Cultivator pondered aloud.
"It's worth a try," someone decided.
"Sorry, I'm out of this task," another chose to withdraw.
With one person withdrawing, soon after, seven or eight more voices of withdrawal were heard, though it was much fewer than at the beginning.
After the few who decided to leave stepped out of the crowd, the White Night Alliance people indeed did not make it difficult for them.
"To each their own. Since several Fellow Daoists have chosen to withdraw, we will not force you. We'll give each of you two spirit stones as a compensation for your troubles," Huan Shi spoke.
After saying this, he glanced at the young man clad in white standing beside him and called out, "Tuozhe."
The young man in white heard him and immediately stepped forward to distribute spirit stones to the seven or eight members who withdrew temporarily.
Seeing the open and generous actions of the White Night Alliance, those temporary members who originally had doubts and feared being deceived had all their anger and concerns dissipated.
Among them, two even felt that the actions of the White Night Alliance were so transparent and generous that they changed their minds on the spot and decided to continue participating in this beast-hunting mission.
Those still determined to leave, after receiving the spirit stones, also took their leave with a respectful salute.
"Fellow Daoists, we of the White Night Alliance have no other demands, just hope that after you leave, you do not disclose the affairs here. At least do not spread it around for the coming days. Should it bring us unnecessary trouble, you too might find yourselves in difficulties," Huan Shi stated after giving the sweet dates to soothe them, he then used the stick to intimidate.
The people who had just received the spirit stones all understood this was a method of both kindness and severity, and they promised not to disclose anything.
After they all had left, Huan Shi then continued speaking to the remaining people:
"You all are peers of strong will, and I believe our cooperation will certainly go smoothly. Inside Snake King Valley, poison miasma pervades everywhere; ordinary anti-poison pills are ineffective against it. We have already prepared anti-plague pearls in advance to dispel the poison miasma."
After saying this, he had several official members of the White Night Alliance step forward to distribute anti-plague pearls to everyone.
Yuan Ming received a fist-sized glazed bead, which had flowing light shimmering on it, making it look just like a treasure bead.
"This is the anti-plague pearl, no need to refine it. You all only need to transfer some mana into it, and it will emanate a cleansing light that forms a safe area with a hundred feet radius around you," Huan Shi said.
After saying this, he let Tuozhe and several others distribute a blue jade talisman to everyone.
"This is a sensing jade talisman, keep it carefully. Once inside the poison miasma, if you get lost, you can crush this item. People nearby will sense it and find your location. Among you, if anyone finds the location of the Golden Flower Poison Python King, you can also crush this item to send a signal," Huan Shi continued.
Upon hearing this, everyone lowered their heads to inspect the jade talisman in their hands.
Yuan Ming rubbed the jade talisman, feeling the rune patterns on it, examined it for a moment, then stored it away.
"To facilitate orderly exploration and mutual support, we will divide everyone into seven teams, each assigned a different area to explore," Huan Shi stated.
After finishing his explanation, he directed the twenty-seven remaining temporary members, grouping them into seven teams of four members each.
The first person assigned to Yuan Ming's team was a burly iron giant, his body wrapped tightly in a cloth robe, almost no skin exposed except for his face.
The second person was one of the few women in the team, dressed in tight black clothing that perfectly outlined her slender figure, a thin black gauze covering half of her face, yet her exquisitely perfect contours were faintly visible.
Especially at the corner of her eye, a rosy-colored tear mole naturally endowed her with a pitiable charm.
The last person, also dressed in black, wore a short, sharp outfit, with a belt around his waist hanging several delicately small bottles and pots and a dark gourd.
This led Yuan Ming to speculate that he was very likely a person from the Hundred Poison Cave.