"All set," Su Fan muttered, checking his bag one last time before leaving the hut. "Time to head out."
【Host, directly below the Azure Cloud Sect lies Qingyun Mountain, where countless spirit beasts roam. While the sect barrier keeps them out, the mountain is the primary hunting ground for disciples. You can accept tasks at the Martial Hall to earn contribution points and pills, or you can complete system missions for far greater rewards.】
"Understood," Su Fan said, nodding as he took in the information. "So I just need to head up to the Martial Hall and accept a beast extermination task?"
《Weekly Mission: Great Mountain Beast Subjugation》
《Objective: Hunt the designated targets within the Qingyun Mountain territory.》
Hunt 0/500 Titan Ape Monkeys
Hunt 0/500 Man Face Demon Spiders
Hunt 0/500 Phoenix Tail Crested Serpents
Hunt 0/1 Golden Roc Emperor》
Failure to complete within the time limit will result in severe backlash to the host's spiritual meridian.》
"Are you out of your mind, Xiaoyu? I am only at Qi Condensation Level 10! How am I supposed to kill thousands of beasts and a Golden Roc Emperor? Do you think I'm the reincarnation of Fang Yuan? I can't just fight a mountain horde of beasts!"
【Host, please calm down. Xiaoyu knows your exact strength level. This mission was made specifically for you. It is the perfect chance to train your body, improve your instincts, and become stronger by fighting these spirit beasts.】
Su Fan frowned, still not convinced. "Train my body? I'm going to get killed. And what even is a spirit beast anyway?"
【Spirit beasts are the original natives of this world. They existed long before cultivators ever appeared. Instead of cultivating techniques like humans, they naturally absorb the energy of heaven and earth into their bodies as time passes.】
【Their power depends on how long they have lived and absorbed energy:】
【Ten Year Spirit Beasts are equivalent to early Qi Condensation. They are weak and easy to handle.】
【Hundred Year Spirit Beasts match mid to late Qi Condensation cultivators. They are much faster and stronger.】
【Thousand Year Spirit Beasts are as strong as Foundation Establishment experts.】
【Ten Thousand Year Spirit Beasts can fight Golden Core masters.】
【Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beasts are terrifying creatures with human intelligence and absolute power.】
【Since you are at Qi Condensation Level 10, fighting Ten Year and Hundred Year beasts will force your physical body to grow stronger without putting you in dangerous risk.】
Su Fan rubbed his chin, looking back at the mission screen with a thoughtful look.
"So as long as I don't run into a Thousand Year beast right away, I actually have a chance to survive and train?"
【Correct, host. This is the fastest way for you to build a powerful physical foundation before your next breakthrough.】
Su Fan looked at Xiaoyu with a suspicious look, but he just sighed heavily.
He packed his bag and left the hut, making his way toward Tianyu City, where mortals and immortals lived together.
This city was the largest place in the region, bringing in visitors from far away. Merchants constantly arrived to sell their goods, and many even started their own businesses here. Because of all this trade, Tianyu City served as the main source of passive income to run the entire Azure Cloud Sect.
Directly above Tianyu City floated two upper islands. On the left was the Martial Hall, where disciples accepted tasks and trained. On the right was the Sky Port, filled with floating ships. The grandest of them was the Green Jade Cloud Boat, which the Azure Cloud Sect used to travel back and forth between the mortal realm and the immortal realm.
At the very top floated the main branch of the Azure Cloud Sect. This was where the inner disciples, core disciples, and sect elders lived.
Below the city was Qingyun Mountain. It was a massive landmass where all the wild spirit beasts roamed. The honorary disciples lived on the outer edge of this mountain island, safely away from the dangerous monsters inside.
Su Fan boarded the small sky boat, handing over three silver coins to the operator before taking his seat.
The boat was on the smaller side, operated by a single driver who navigated the ship using a small formation core. Aside from Su Fan, there were six other passengers on board. Once everyone was seated, the driver activated the spiritual formation, and the boat smoothly lifted off, gliding through the clouds toward Tianyu City.
As they flew, the passengers began chatting to pass the time.
A middle-aged man sat next to a cute seven-year-old girl. He smiled warmly at the group and spoke up first. "Greetings, everyone. I am Liu Feng, a trader from the Golden Lion Merchant Association. I specialize in buying and selling ancient antiques and relic artifacts. This is my daughter, Xiao Ling."
Liu Feng patted the girl's head with a gentle, slightly tired look. "My wife passed away from an illness a few years back, so it is just the two of us now. My biggest dream is to earn enough money to give Xiao Ling a proper future. A wandering cultivator once told me she has great cultivation talent, but without money or a powerful background, it is impossible to get noticed. That is why I work so hard. I want to save up enough to pay her entry f*e and get her accepted into the Azure Cloud Sect."
Hearing his story, a pair of young siblings nodded in deep sympathy.
The brother spoke up next with a friendly smile. "That is a noble goal, brother Liu. I am Lin Chen, and this is my younger sister, Lin Yue. We are just starting as traveling merchants ourselves. Our dream is to save up enough capital to open our own restaurant right in Tianyu City. We still have a long way to go, but everyone has to start somewhere."
Beside them sat an old man who kept to himself. He had a scarred face, a stern expression, and kept one hand resting on the hilt of a worn sword. Sensing the eyes on him, he grunted softly. "Name's Lao Wei. Just a mercenary martial artist hired by the Golden Lion Association to guard Liu Feng's antique cargo. I don't have grand dreams like opening restaurants or joining sects. I just have a wife and three kids at home to feed, and this blade is the only way I know how to do it."
With everyone finished, the entire group turned their heads toward Su Fan, looking at him with expectation, waiting for him to introduce himself.
Su Fan cleared his throat and spoke up. "My name is Zhao Ye. I am an honorary disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect."
The moment the words left his mouth, a quiet shock swept over the small boat. The five passengers stared at him in complete disbelief. They had assumed he was just another ordinary traveler, not an actual immortal master associated with the dominant sect in the region.
Liu Feng immediately stood up, grabbing his young daughter's hand and bowing deeply toward Su Fan. "Forgive my lack of manners, Immortal Master Zhao! We had no idea we were sitting in the presence of someone from the sect!"
Xiao Ling blinked her big eyes and quickly bowed alongside her father. The two siblings, Lin Chen and Lin Yue, gasped in surprise and rose from their seats to offer respectful bows as well. Even the scarred old mercenary, Lao Wei, let go of his sword hilt, stood up, and lowered his head in silent respect.
Seeing everyone bending over backward for him, Su Fan quickly raised his hand to wave them off.
"Please, there is no need to bow," Su Fan said, nudging them to sit back down. "I am just passing through on my way to a mission. Besides, I am only an honorary disciple, so there is really no need for all this formality."
Liu Feng let out a light laugh, shaking his head. "You are far too humble, Immortal Master. Even as an honorary disciple, that is a position that millions of people can only dream of reaching. Seeing my daughter become an immortal master like you is my ultimate wish."
The little girl, Xiao Ling, looked up at Su Fan with wide, curious eyes. "Are you really an immortal master?"
Su Fan could see the subtle fear and hesitation in everyone's eyes. In this world, cultivators held absolute authority. They could end a mortal's life without facing punishment from mortal law. While righteous sects had strict rules against harming the innocent, rogue cultivators rarely cared for such rules. Most mortals were used to seeing immortals who were cold, arrogant, and ruthless.
Su Fan smiled warmly and answered honestly. "Yes, I am."
Xiao Ling tilted her head. "Are you super strong?"
Having taken care of younger kids in the orphanage back in his past life, Su Fan knew exactly how to handle children. Though they weren't blood-related, those kids had been his real family, so talking to a seven-year-old came completely natural to him.
"Strong enough to protect myself, but I still have a very long way to go," Su Fan replied softly, giving her a reassuring grin.
Liu Feng watched the interaction in quiet surprise. He had expected an immortal master to treat them like ants, yet Zhao Ye was gentle, kind, and completely lacking the usual arrogance of a cultivator. A wave of relief washed over the entire group, the tense atmosphere inside the small flying boat instantly melting away.
After a few hours of pleasant conversation with the passengers, the sky boat finally arrived at its destination in Tianyu City.
Su Fan prepared to leave the boat, offering his goodbyes to the group. Just as he turned to step off, Liu Feng quickly called out to him.
"Wait, Immortal Master!" Liu Feng said, rushing forward. "Please take this as a small souvenir gift. I hope you like it."
Liu Feng clearly wanted to build a personal connection with someone from the Azure Cloud Sect. Su Fan didn't mind at all. After all, who would refuse a gift?
Liu Feng opened a small display box containing three old relics he had collected. "Please, Immortal Master Zhao, choose any one item you like."
Su Fan looked over the items. The first was a small, detailed miniature pagoda. The second was a polished piece of green jade that faintly glowed with energy. The third was an ugly, rusted piece of broken black glass that looked like worthless junk.
Before Su Fan could make up his mind, Xiaoyu's voice echoed directly in his mind.
【Host, no matter what happens, pick that broken piece! It originates from ancient times and holds tremendous value!】
Su Fan casually used his system inspection on the object.
《Unknown Artifact Fragment》
Nodding silently to himself, Su Fan reached out and picked up the black fragment. "I will take this one."
Liu Feng stared at him in complete surprise. He had fully expected the young cultivator to pick the valuable jade or the golden pagoda. Seeing that Su Fan showed no greed whatsoever, Liu Feng's respect for him grew even higher.
"Immortal Master Zhao, your heart is truly noble," Liu Feng said, feeling inspired. He reached into his merchant bag and pulled out another item wrapped in cloth. "I do not know if you will like this, but please accept this as an additional gift."
He unwrapped the cloth to reveal a sleek, single-edged ancient sword with a slightly curved blade and a circular handguard.
Su Fan's eyes widened in genuine shock the moment he saw it.
How on earth is there a Katana in a cultivation world? Su Fan thought, staring at the familiar Japanese sword design in disbelief.
Su Fan stared closely at the weapon in Liu Feng's hands. The weapon had the sleek, unmistakable design of a classic Muramasa blade. When he focused his gaze on the long sword, the system interface instantly popped up with its stats.
《Effect: Extreme Sharpness, Infinite Durability, Undefined Power》
Su Fan's eyes narrowed. This was not just a strange weapon from his old world; it was a ridiculously powerful sword with infinite durability. An item like this was practically priceless. Why would a simple traveling merchant hand over a legendary weapon for free?
Su Fan stepped closer, his demeanor instantly changing. He looked coldly at the middle-aged man, releasing a slight pressure from his Qi Condensation aura.
"Why are you giving this to me?" Su Fan asked coldly. "A sword like this is priceless. Tell me, what is your motive?"
The air around them grew heavy. Liu Feng felt the sudden spiritual pressure pressing down on his chest, making it hard to breathe. Yet, instead of panicking, a spark of realization flashed in the merchant's eyes. His business instincts were right on the mark. This young man was not just a random low-level cultivator; he had terrifying potential. If he could hold this much presence as an honorary disciple, he had a real chance of reaching the inner sect or even higher in the future.
Before Liu Feng could explain himself, a small voice broke through the tension.
"Please... please don't hurt my dad!" Xiao Ling cried out, tears welling up in her big eyes as she shielded her father with her tiny arms.
Seeing the little girl crying, Su Fan immediately reined in his spiritual aura, the cold look on his face vanishing. He knelt to her level, gently patting her head with a soft smile to comfort her.
"Don't worry, little girl. I promise I will never harm your dad," Su Fan reassured her softly.
Xiao Ling sniffled, wiping her eyes with her sleeve as she looked at him timidly. "Promise?"
"Promise," Su Fan nodded, giving her a gentle, reassuring grin.
2026-08-12 21:00:17
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