Chapter 6: The Mission

“Huh?”

Song Yan’s mind sharpened, splitting off a strand of consciousness to meet the fourth falling monolith, though his gaze was fixed on the glowing rings.

The fourth ring lit up…
Then the fifth…
The sixth…
…
By the time the twelfth halo shone, Song Yan’s awareness in that fragment of space was already blurring, his spiritual sense unable to divide further.

He let the thirteenth ink-black monolith crash down, blasting him out of the space.

“Phew…”

Song Yan breathed lightly; even when death’s sensation was identical, experiencing it again was still unsettling.

Yet compared to the first encounter, it felt much easier now.

There were seventeen points of light—corresponding to the seventeen monoliths?

He sat cross-legged, slowly restoring his spiritual energy, pondering endlessly.

If he could consecutively cut down all seventeen monoliths, what change would it bring?

“But why seventeen…” he murmured, rolling the stone bead in his hand. “How strange…”

Yet lacking strength and cultivation, any speculation was useless; better to focus on steady cultivation.

This year, Song Yan was sixteen, his birthday yet to arrive.

His spiritual roots were mediocre, but at least he hadn’t started too late on the path of cultivation. Now at the fifth layer of Qi Refinement, he was in the mid-stage; at this rate, he could reach Qi Refinement completion by age forty or fifty.

The Qi Refinement realm had ten layers. The first three were easy to cultivate, the middle three not difficult either. With ordinary talent, a few opportunities or sufficient resources might push one to the sixth layer in three to five years—not fast, but not slow.

But between the sixth and seventh layers lay a huge chasm.

Countless mediocre cultivators languished in the late stages of Qi Refinement, exhausting their lifespan and losing the heart to pursue the Dao.

“Cultivation resources are a major issue…”

Based on the sporadic lectures by elders and Song Yan’s own observations, Qi Refinement was divided into ten layers: the first three were the early stage, four to six the middle stage, seven to nine the late stage.

The tenth layer signified completion, and the ability to establish the Dao foundation.

“Foundation Establishment…”

To lay the Dao foundation meant truly transcending mortal bounds, spiritual energy surging, able to fly and wield objects.

No need for mundane food; even if one remained at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment forever, one could live over two centuries.

Song Yan shook his head; no point thinking so far ahead.

“Four spirit stones left…”

“As for pills… The Qi-nurturing pill’s effects are negligible now, only useful for restoring spiritual energy.”

Ever cautious, Song Yan was already planning for an expedition half a year hence.

“The world of cultivation is survival of the fittest, even more perilous than the mundane realm. Best be well prepared.”

Since entering the cultivation world, Song Yan had little experience in combat—only once, upon reaching the fourth layer, had he joined a campaign against a low-grade beast gone mad in the sect.

“Magical tools…”

Song Yan did possess a peach-wood, gold-forged sword in his spatial pouch, a standard weapon issued to outer sect disciples.

It looked decent, but barely qualified as a low-grade magical instrument—of little real use.

In battles within the Qi Refinement realm, unless a late-stage cultivator fought an early-stage one, when spiritual power was similar, magical tools and talismans often decided the outcome.

Unfortunately…

Song Yan was dirt poor; where could he find resources?

Magical tools were sect welfare; as for talismans…

Alas, he could only try his luck at the Forge Camp when the time came.

“If this keeps up, scavenging might become a habit…”

Song Yan smiled wryly.

“Buzz—”

Just as he was brooding over how to improve his combat prowess, a gentle yet penetrating voice sounded outside his cave dwelling.

It was a message talisman.

Hmm?

Song Yan paused in surprise; message talismans were rarely used by outer sect disciples except when tasks were assigned.

The last time someone contacted him this way was at the sect initiation ceremony.

He stepped outside, plucking the floating talisman from the air.

“Junior Song, the outer sect’s Miscellaneous Affairs Hall received a call for help today—apparently from a few itinerant cultivators at Shiliang Town.”

The talisman carried Senior Lin Qing’s warm voice.

“Originally, I would have handled this, but knowing you’re from Shiliang, and those cultivators are all early-stage Qi Refinement, unlikely to cause trouble…”

“I’ll leave this task to you—in fact, this is a good opportunity to visit your hometown. Details are in the jade slip I’ll give you before you leave.”

“Lin Qing, over.”

Song Yan’s eyes brightened.

The sect’s missions were varied; the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall managed the outer disciples, usually assigning tasks like tending spirit plants or sweeping the gates—rarely anything that required leaving the sect.

Hence the name “Miscellaneous Affairs,” unlike the inner sect’s “sect missions” or “commissions.”

Occasionally, an outer sect chore involved descending the mountain, usually for severe incidents among affiliated families or villages, or when, as now, unregistered cultivators appeared and needed to be shown the sect’s authority and sent away.

For outer sect disciples, such opportunities were precious.

Song Yan had thought he’d have to wait for a formal inner sect-led expedition to return home.

“Senior Lin truly takes care of me; I must thank him properly when we meet.”

Song Yan packed his things…

After a quick glance, he realized there was little to pack—he was utterly destitute.

He left his cave, heading toward the spirit plant garden.

Senior Lin Qing had spent years in the outer sect, now at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement, well qualified for the inner sect.

Yet for some reason, he remained in the outer sect, serving as an assistant in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

He handled new disciple induction and task arrangements; he and Song Yan had met when Lin Qing brought him into the sect.

Senior Lin lived near the spirit plant garden.

Spring had arrived, and the spirit plants flourished, the surrounding spiritual energy abundant—no wonder Senior Lin chose to live here.

“Senior Lin!”

“Oh? Junior Song, you’re here so quickly?”

Lin Qing emerged from his cave, smiling warmly, already holding a verdant jade slip.

“I happened to finish my seclusion—received your message talisman and rushed right over.”

“Hm? Junior…you advanced?”

Lin Qing didn’t probe with spiritual sense, but Song Yan’s entry into the fifth layer was evident: his aura long and steady, complexion radiant, and bearing transformed.

His face practically spelled ‘breakthrough.’

“It cost me everything I had.”

“Hahaha… Congratulations, congratulations.”

Lin Qing laughed heartily. “Here, the mission jade slip, and some things you might need for the task. If you have questions, ask me anytime or send a message.”

Song Yan had three message talismans, issued at entry; he’d never used them.

“Thank you, Senior Lin.”

“No need for thanks.”

After a brief exchange of gratitude, Song Yan departed.

He had no means to repay the kindness—perhaps another time.

Lin Qing watched Song Yan’s departing figure, his gentle smile fading to calm, murmuring thoughtfully, “Song Yan…”

“Song Ye Sheng…”

He turned back into his cave.

In one corner, scattered bamboo plaques bore various names.

Most names were deeply crossed out.

“Gu Qing Qing…”

“Zhou Meng Die…”

“Lu Zi Ye…”

“…”

He paid no heed to the plaques, pacing to the wall, gazing at two names hung beneath those of the inner disciples.

Song Yan.

Shao Si Chao.

“I could never mistake them…”

He drew a deep breath, eyes narrowing as a sharp light flickered within.

“In the previous life, in my sect…”

“There were never these two people.”