C2 Mission

Chu Yun could feel the surge of energy coursing through his body and took a deep breath to savor it.

He rose to his feet and strode over to a massive boulder by the water's edge.

With a swift motion, Chu Yun unleashed a punch at the rock's center.

In a flash, an immense force burst through the heart of the boulder, its devastating power shattering the stone instantly. The boulder cracked open from the very spot where his fist made contact.

"I'm merely at the ninth rank of the Physical Body Stage, yet I possess such incredible strength! The Blazing Sun Heavenly Dragon truly lives up to its Earthly Grade Martial Spirit status. Its enhancement to my strength and physique is manifold compared to the Earthly Demon Ape!"

Chu Yun was ecstatic!

With the Earthly Demon Ape, his strength and physique at the ninth rank of the Physical Body Stage were less than a quarter of what they were now.

But with a more potent Martial Spirit came the need for a more substantial cultivation base to foster it.

Chu Yun had awakened his Martial Spirit at the age of ten. Now at nineteen, he had only nine years of martial cultivation under his belt. His peak should have been at the fifth rank of the Critical Stage.

Having gained ten years of martial cultivation, it was only with the influence of the Earthly Grade Martial Spirit, the Blazing Sun Heavenly Dragon, that he managed to reach the ninth rank of the Physical Body Stage, still not quite crossing into the Critical Stage.

"If I could gain another ten years of martial cultivation, I would have the strength to break through the Critical Stage. Once I cross that threshold, my power will eclipse my former peak!"

Chu Yun was filled with joy.

He then took out another piece of bait and resumed fishing.

"Congratulations, you have gained the insights of the Mortal Rank martial skill Gravel Palm at the Great Perfection Stage."

As the words fell, a white orb of light entered Chu Yun's body.

Standing still, Chu Yun examined his palms, contemplating deeply.

Gravel Palm was a common martial skill known to most practitioners. Chu Yun had learned it in the past but had long since abandoned its study.

After all, there was no need.

As the Eldest Brother of the Sect, he had access to superior Spiritual Level martial skills.

But now, it seemed the situation had changed.

"Gravel Palm has reached the Great Perfection Stage."

Chu Yun stroked his chin thoughtfully. Had he truly mastered the Gravel Palm to its utmost level?

He approached a massive boulder and unleashed the Gravel Palm with a swift strike.

There was a faint noise, but the boulder remained unscathed, not even a single crack appearing on its surface.

Then, a breeze swept by, and astonishingly, the boulder crumbled into dust, dispersing with the wind.

Chu Yun scooped up a handful of the stone dust, his eyes wide with amazement. "Can this still be the Gravel Palm? It's merely a Mortal Rank martial skill, yet after refining it to the Great Perfection Stage, it possesses such formidable power?"

He then resumed his fishing.

Congratulations, you've obtained a Mortal Rank Spiritual Herb, a Nine Turns Revival Pill!

Congratulations, you have obtained a special material, a Diamond Stone.

Congratulations, you have acquired the Mortal Rank Martial Skill - Cloud Step (Great Perfection Stage) Insight.

Congratulations, you have secured a Golden Silk Soft Armor (Ordinary Grade).

Congratulations, you have gathered 10 Spirit Gathering Grass seeds.

...

Ten fishing attempts, ten different rewards.

By the end of the last attempt, Chu Yun had amassed quite a collection.

"It's a shame I didn't manage to fish up a second level of martial prowess. With my current level, I could have advanced to the Critical Stage," he lamented, shaking his head.

...

Elsewhere, under the cover of night.

Two silhouettes reached Chu Yun's dwelling, finding the door ajar and barging in.

"He's not here?"

"To think he's still alive after the Second Young Master took his Martial Spirit. He's incredibly fortunate!"

"Perhaps he's stepped out. Let's wait for him here; I refuse to believe he won't return."

Time passed, and impatience crept into their wait. One of them suggested, "Let's search for him behind the mountain. He's bound to be at Xiaoqing Peak. Today, I will end him!"

In the grassy slopes behind Xiaoqing Peak, Chu Yun was searching for something.

He had just stowed his fishing rod, intending to rest, when he stumbled upon a patch of Raising spiritual grass.

With time on his hands, he decided to pick it up. Unexpectedly, as soon as he did, a system notification sounded in his ears.

Mission triggered.

Mission Details: Pick ten Nurturing Spiritual Grasses.

Mission Time Limit: Within fifteen minutes.

Mission Reward: Three Ordinary Grade Baits.

Chu Yun was initially taken aback when he heard the notification, but his surprise quickly turned to joy.

He had just used up the last of the ten Ordinary Grade Baits initially provided by the system and was concerned about what he would do without any more to use in the future.

He hadn't anticipated triggering this quest.

On Xiaoqing Peak, he could easily find ten Nurturing Spiritual Grasses.

The Elemental River Sect was home to thirteen peaks, and Xiaoqing Peak was among them. Unlike larger peaks such as Chaoyang Peak and Mingzhao Peak, Xiaoqing Peak's Peak Master, Xu Jinsong, was a recluse who rarely took on disciples.

Other than Chu Yun, his direct disciple, Xu Jinsong had few others, resulting in a sparse population on Xiaoqing Peak.

This meant that the spiritual seeds scattered on the rear mountain could grow wildly and freely. Chu Yun could effortlessly find the grasses, pick ten, and complete the mission.

Fifteen minutes later, Chu Yun had gathered a large handful of Nurturing Spiritual Grasses, with just one more to find.

He parted the grass and spotted the final one not far off.

Filled with happiness, Chu Yun stepped forward and picked the last Nurturing Spiritual Grass.

Congratulations, you have completed the mission.

Mission reward (three Ordinary Grade Baits) has been deposited into your System Space. Please check and receive it.

Following the prompt, Chu Yun accessed his System Space and indeed found three new Ordinary Grade Baits lying there. He felt a wave of contentment wash over him.

Chu Yun thought, "Now I can go fishing three more times. Hopefully, I'll earn another cultivation level reward!"

His cultivation had plummeted from the Critical Stage. If he didn't manage to elevate his cultivation soon, it could start to undermine his foundation.

Just then, a piercing whooshing sound came from behind Chu Yun.

He furrowed his brow, ducked, and saw a black-painted throwing knife whiz over his head, embedding itself in the tree trunk ahead.

"I finally found you!"

A loud laugh echoed from behind.

Chu Yun turned to see two figures approaching him with smirks on their faces.

He recognized them as two deacons from Chaoyang Peak, one named Lee Zhi and the other Lee Yan, both relatives of the Grand Elder Li Daoran. They had crossed paths a few times but were hardly acquainted, much less entangled in any feud.

"So, you managed to dodge my flying dagger? Looks like you're not entirely useless after all," Lee Yan remarked, his sneer tinged with mockery.

Chu Yun fixed a frosty gaze on the pair and responded, "I bear no grudge against you. If it's not your own doing, then who is it that seeks my life? Could it be Li Daoran?"