Huai City is thousands of miles away from the Corpse-Driving Sect.
Lou Yi, Bi Yaoyao, and You Qingyi returned together, traveling day and night without stopping, and it took them more than two days to return to the sect.
Upon arriving at Ten Thousand Dao Peak, at Elder Biâs cave dwelling, they found that indeed, he was no longer there, and Bi Yaoyaoâs eyes turned red once more.
"Miss, this is what the master left for you," the elderly servant from the Bi family, who had followed Elder Bi to the sect since childhood, with gray hair and a face full of wrinkles, tremblingly handed Bi Yaoyao a storage bag.
Bi Yaoyao took out a black semi-transparent stone about the size of a palm from it.
After infusing it with spiritual power, a bright light shot into the air and transformed into a familiar colorful apparition.
The apparition of Elder Bi, dressed in a black robe, appeared life-sized, hands behind his back, exuding an imposing presence.
The once stern face showed a rare hint of affection.
"Yaoyao, I am going to Tianyuan to seek fortune, you donât need to worry. At the shortest, I will be back in a few years, and at the longest, in two or three decades.
For us cultivators, this is just the effort of a retreat... In the storage bag, Iâve left some resources for your future cultivation... If thereâs an emergency, you can go find Elder Qin, he and I have a life-and-death friendship..."
At the end, Elder Bi suddenly paused and continued, "Boy Lou, I know youâre next to Yaoyao... In the days Iâm not around, you must take care of Yaoyaoâs safety..."
Lou Yi listened and was stunned.
He didnât expect Elder Bi to have been watching over him all along.
But he respectfully bowed to Elder Biâs apparition: "Elder Bi, please rest assured, I will take this on myself."
"Dad, you must come back alive!" Tears welled up in Bi Yaoyaoâs eyes, and she became even sadder upon hearing this.
You Qingyi then stepped forward, gently supporting Bi Yaoyaoâs somewhat wavering body.
Unable to hold back, Bi Yaoyao hugged her close friend tightly, tears streaming down her face.
âIs Tianyuan really that dangerous? Elder Biâs departure is almost as if it is a separation of life and death,â Lou Yi couldnât help but think.
He had heard the thunderous reputation of Tianyuan. But to venture into Tianyuan, one must have the backing of a sect.
With his current apparent status and cultivation, it seemed like it would take a long time before he could reach there.
âThere might be a shortcut...â Lou Yi thought of a rumor, and a faint idea emerged in his mind.
He and You Qingyi managed to finally comfort Bi Yaoyao, and then headed to the Task Hall on Feishi Peak.
Inside the Task Hall, lanterns of different colors floated up and down, wandering back and forth, with each lantern having different tasks written in small black characters.
"Elder Xu from Ten Thousand Dao Peak needs a disciple skilled in talisman making, requiring proficiency in the âLing Shu Brush Technique,â with cultivation at Qi Cultivation Fifth Level or above, for a period of two months.
Afterward, based on evaluation, one could receive one hundred to three hundred contribution points."
"Guarding the city of Pan City, clearing out demonic creatures, requiring disciples of Qi Cultivation Seventh Level or higher, for a period of three months, participants can earn a minimum of five hundred contribution points afterward..."
Lou Yiâs eyes swept slightly and spotted a task related to the Qian Yuan Small World:
âQian Yuan Small World, acquire the emerald prayer beads carried by the national master of Wanma Country, limited to those with a cultivation of Qi Cultivation Eighth Level or higher, and those who have been to this small world.
Duration: one month, after which five thousand contribution points can be earned...
This task is a solo mission. Additionally, after accepting the task, confirmation from the respective elder is required before proceeding.â
âFive thousand points?â Lou Yi was shocked.
Such a high contribution for this task, how has it not been taken by others?
The various chat sounds from people around resolved his confusion.
"Senior Brother Xia, I remember you have been to the Qian Yuan Small World before, did you take on this task?"
"Junior Brother Jiang, I applied but was quickly rejected. Several acquaintances around here didnât pass either."
"Indeed, Iâve stayed at the Task Hall for several days now and havenât seen anyone successfully take on this task!"
"The national master of Wanma Country, one can tell by the title that their status is extremely noble. Getting something personal from him is as difficult as killing him.
The power limit of the small world always has the level of Foundation Establishment, which indeed is not something we can easily touch."
Lou Yi listened, his heart stirred.
It seemed as though this task was tailor-made for him?
Qi Cultivation Eighth Level, having been to the small world, and possessing combat power at the Foundation Establishment level, unlikely anyone else in the Corpse-Driving Sect would match that.
He subconsciously operated his fortune-telling talent, suddenly understanding the cause and effect, shaking his head with a smile.
Obviously, it was Elder Qian Yuan, the Fake Pill Giant, who wanted him to help, possibly embarrassed to ask directly, thus resorting to such a roundabout method.
Five thousand contribution points, quite generous, equivalent to Lou Yiâs payment for doing his task, beneficial for both sides with no debts owed.
Coincidentally, he sensed that the Grandmasterâs fate was also tied to this journey, having no resistance toward it.
Lou Yi extended his hand with aæ.
The purple lantern with the task related to the Qian Yuan Small World flew into his hand.
The next instant, the lantern radiated light, with a large âćŻâ character floating from the top.
"Holy crap, someone got the task!"
"This junior fellow looks a bit unfamiliar, never seen him before?"
"You donât know Lou Yi? With Qi Cultivation Eighth Level, he killed an elementary Demon General, making history, the only Qi Cultivation rank from the four nations listed on the demon extermination list!"
"Wow...itâs him, no wonder he gained the favor of the Fake Pill Elder."
Amidst the exclamations of the crowd, Lou Yi took on the Qian Yuan Small World task.
Soon, he arrived at one of the sectâs Thirteen Peaks, the Dao Guardian Peak.
Itâs rumored that a variety of transmission arrays are set up on the Dao Guardian Peak.
There are arrays leading to small worlds, arrays for various Ancient Cultivatorâs Secret Realms, and even rumors of arrays leading to Tianyuan are here.
The teleportation array to the Qian Yuan Small World is located in a Daoist temple halfway up the mountain.
Lou Yi followed a Peak Guardian Steward into the Daoist temple.
As the hexagram-shaped teleportation array inside activated, a flash of white light, and he vanished from the spot.
...
After Red Hero led a group to kill the Howling Moon Celestial Wolf, Green Sheep Demon, and many high and mid-level Demon Generals, the forces of the Demon Clan suffered an unprecedented blow.
The border regions of the Zhao Kingdom enjoyed a rare peace.
For some time, there were no demonic attacks on the cities.
However, the absence of war means no trials and challenges, leading many disciples from other countries to consider returning.
Yet, some disciples from the four sects, inspired by Red Hero and the Demon Clan, decided to remain in the Zhao Kingdom.
"Senior Brother Jin, since the war has calmed, should we head back to the sect?"
Several men and women in various styles of leather armor nervously looked at a man sitting cross-legged beneath a massive tree in the courtyard.
The man was exceptionally robust, wearing golden armor, dazzling in appearance, with a commanding aura.
He was Jin Tingfeng, the prodigy of the True Blood Sect who previously claimed the top spot on the demon extermination list the most times.
Jin Tingfeng suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp red light flickered through them.
"Return? No!"
"Not until my disgrace is washed away, I will not return. If I canât surpass a loose cultivator, and canât even kill the same-ranked Wolf Clan at Cyan Wolf Ridge, what future is there to advance to Golden Core and reach higher peaks?"
"You all can return first.
If my master asks, tell him that I will not return until I defeat Red Hero and kill ten wolf prodigies!"
Upon hearing Jin Tingfengâs declaration like a roar,
The disciples of the True Blood Sect looked at each other, but none dared to question or oppose.
Some cultivators decided to stay, but more prepared to return to the Chu Kingdom sect.
At another location, the cultivators of the Red Sun Sect faced a similar situation.
The sectâs genius Foundation Establishment cultivator, Xia Hong, also declined the suggestions of Wang Anning and other fellow sect members, determined to stay in the Zhao Kingdom to cultivate for some time.
"Whatâs the point of living ignobly if I canât avenge Uncle Master Lu?" Xia Hong murmured, "I must use the blood of the Wolf Clan to commemorate Uncle Master Lu and polish my Dao Foundation, forging my invincible path..."
...