บท 8: First Mission~
"This mission is quite good."
Upon seeing the mission, Ning's hesitation vanished, and he promptly tore the paper from the wall.
"Excuse me, I would like to undertake this mission," Ning addressed the clerk. With a nod, the clerk jotted down the mission name and Ning's information. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary to him, as the mission was considered easy and suitable for a first-stage Qi cultivator.
The reason this particular mission was assigned to disciples rather than servants was the presence of dangerous animals near the black snake forest, the closest wilderness to the city.
Having accepted the mission, Ning wasted no time and ventured out to locate a familiar servant from whom he could purchase some gloves. After handing him a few silver coins, he began preparing for the mission.
When Ning had entered the sect, he had brought only a single weapon with him—an ordinary pair of daggers, skillfully crafted but unremarkable. 'Ji Ning's' decision to specialize in the Fist techniques, focusing on Bone Forging Fists, left him rather ill-equipped. Even these daggers were not intended for combat but rather served as tools for looting the corpses of fallen beasts.
In addition to his modest weaponry, he carried a few gold and silver coins, but their worth was minimal. While a few gold coins could sustain mortals for a year, they held little value for cultivators. Spirit stones were the universal currency among cultivators, but Ning found himself without any.
He was broke. Currently, his purse was like an onion, when he opens it, it makes him cry.
That was another pressing reason why Ning was determined to swiftly complete the mission at hand. Within the sect, missions played a crucial role in sustaining its wealth, and it was primarily the outer sect disciples who undertook these tasks.
Outer sect disciples were essentially "Glorified servants", these disciples received the strength and training necessary to carry out the missions, all in exchange for an endless pursuit of spirit stones, which, in turn, further enriched the sect.
On the surface, this arrangement might appear fair, but in reality, it was far from equitable. From what Ning had gathered, outer sect disciples were often undervalued for their efforts, receiving meager compensation that paled in comparison to the true value of the materials they obtained.
Despite this inherent disparity, each outer sect disciple was obliged to complete two missions every month; failure to do so would result in a strike against their name. If they accumulated three strikes, expulsion from the sect would be their unfortunate fate.
In stark contrast, inner sect disciples enjoyed a different status and treatment. They were the "true disciples", receiving better rewards, opportunities, and recognition within the sect's hierarchy. So, Ning wanted to have enough strength to be promoted to the inner sect.
But that was for later. After receiving the gloves Ning walked out of the cave.
...
Ning first went towards the guard and told them about the mission. They weren't present when he had first arrived at the sect with the elder, who knows why.
The guard, seemingly unperturbed by the interruption, glanced at Ning and casually handed him a wooden amulet bearing the character of "Pure."
"Here, take this wooden amulet. It signifies that you are a disciple on an authorized mission," the guard explained before swiftly returning their attention to their duties.
"The security is really lax" Ning thought as he looked at the amulet in his hand. After all, couldn't someone just kill a disciple and take the thing?
It was just a passing thought so Ning swiftly asked a nearby citizen for the direction.
Pure Qi sect was located in Blackthorn City and the entire city was under their jurisdiction, so Ning was able to acquire the information without any hindrance. Especially, when they saw his sect robe, they became much more respectful, almost like they feared him suddenly lashing out at them.
Finally, after a while, Ning reached the black snake forest. It was a magnificent expanse of lush greenery, its towering trees reaching skyward as if attempting to touch the heavens themselves. The scale of the forest was much larger than he imagined.
Wasting no time, Ning swiftly employed the Turtle Breathing technique, harnessing its power to diminish his presence within the forest. Days of dedicated practice had honed his skills, allowing him to use this technique in an instant.
Guided by an acute sense of caution, Ning trod lightly through the dense foliage, his senses attuned to the subtlest of movements and fluctuations in the environment.
Whenever he detected the presence of an animal nearby, he instinctively sought refuge, concealing himself amidst the natural cover until the perceived threat had passed. His movements were deliberate, ensuring that no disturbance betrayed his presence to the creatures of the forest.
The search for the required herbs commenced, Ning methodically combing through the forest's labyrinthine paths. Step by step, he scoured the undergrowth, his eyes scanning for the distinctive foliage and vibrant colors that would signify the presence of the elusive plants he sought.
Time seemed to blur as minutes ticked by, but Ning still carefully searched each and every place. And then, amidst a patch of verdant foliage, his eyes caught sight of what he had been searching for—a cluster of ten poisonous lilies, their petals glistening with a sinister allure.
With delicate precision, Ning plucked each poisonous lily. Mindful of their toxic properties, he took great care to avoid any accidental contact with their dangerous essence. Once he had collected the precious flowers, he retrieved a simple sac from his belongings, carefully placing the lilies within its protective confines.
Lacking a space pouch, Ning had to make do with the sack to safeguard his bounty. Though it was a humble solution, he recognized the importance of preserving the integrity and potency of the poisonous lilies.
But finding ten poisonous lilies was quite lucky. It was not an easy task to locate these elusive flowers, and the additional lilies he had found were a welcome surprise, exceeding his initial expectations.
Since he only needed to present five of the poisonous lilies as part of the mission's requirements, Ning could keep the other five.
A gleam of curiosity sparkled in his eyes as he considered the possibilities.
"It seems I need to conduct some experiments," Ning mused, his gaze shifting toward the gathered lilies.
...
Thanks for reading~
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