Receiving his first mission away from the Sect, Chen Jiuge didn't have any particular feelings about it; these were all inevitable experiences. Being an Inner Sect Disciple of the Myriad Beasts Sect conferred a far higher status than that of ordinary Cultivators. At least in the Myriad Beasts Domain, Disciples of the Myriad Beasts Sect were not people the average person could afford to offend.
With two days left until July fifteenth, Chen Jiuge wasn't in a hurry. After all, he had long since prepared everything necessary. This included various Elixirs for healing and restoring Mana. As for Magic Artifacts and the like, Chen Jiuge already possessed them. After all, the most important and formidable assets of the Myriad Beasts Sect were its Spiritual Beasts.
At the Myriad Beasts Sect, one's Lifebound Spirit Beast was extremely important. Therefore, typically, only those Spiritual Beasts with exceptional combat power were taken along when leaving the Sect to avoid the risk of their Lifebound Spirit Beast perishing. Thus, for this mission, Chen Jiuge only intended to take his Lifebound Spirit Beast, War Song, along with the four newly contracted Spiritual Beasts. This should provide some level of security at the Nascent Soul Stage.
「Two days passed in the blink of an eye.」
「Hundred Herbs Peak Task Hall.」
"Senior Brother Lin, do you know who the last person for this mission is?" Zhen Yan asked, her face serious.
"Junior Sister Zhen, it's not time yet, is it?" Lin Jiu, looking exhausted, helplessly pointed at the Sun Crown in the main hall.
"I know. There's still a quarter-hour," Zhen Yan replied, unmoved.
Seeing this, Lin Jiu muttered under his breath, "Why am I so unlucky to have run into Junior Sister Zhen?"
"Senior Brother Lin, I can hear you," Zhen Yan said, her face expressionless.
Upon hearing this, Lin Jiu touched the wine gourd hanging from his waist, planning to take a sip of wine to ease the awkwardness.
But before he could take a sip, Zhen Yan spoke again, "Senior Brother Lin, you are not allowed to drink during the mission."
Lin Jiu looked up to the heavens, speechless. Junior Sister Zhen has a pretty face, a good figure, high Cultivation, and a respectable family background. The only issue is her personality; it's just too rigid, even more terrifying than my own master!
Meanwhile, Chen Jiuge, who had yet to arrive, was dealing with his own situation.
"Let go," Chen Jiuge said with an exasperated look as he watched Yue Meng clinging to his thigh and acting coyly.
"Alright, stop pretending. I'll buy you that Bai Zhuo Rouge this time when we go out, okay?" Chen Jiuge said with a pained expression.
Watching Yue Meng's expression immediately change, Chen Jiuge smiled dotingly. Glancing at the time, he suddenly exclaimed, "Crap, I'm going to be late!"
Casting aside his usual low-profile style, Chen Jiuge summoned his Red Flood Dragon Li Fire, leaped onto its head, and ordered, "Full speed ahead!"
The Red Flood Dragon, now at full speed, left a crimson streak across the sky.
In the nearest cave mansion to Chen Jiuge, its master watched the agile Red Flood Dragon and chuckled. What a vibrant newcomer. I'll have to find a chance to meet him.
「Chen Jiuge, rushing frantically, finally made it to the Task Hall just within the time limit.」
"Sorry, sorry, something delayed me," Chen Jiuge apologized as he put away his Red Flood Dragon Li Fire.
"So you're the newcomer. You have a Red Flood Dragon yet didn't go to Green Dragon Peak. Interesting that you came to our Hundred Herbs Peak," Lin Jiu asked, full of curiosity. His hand naturally reached for his wine gourd, but after casting a glance at Zhen Yan, he put it down again.
"You're not late; there's still half a quarter-hour," Zhen Yan stated. "My name is Zhen Yan, early-stage Divinity Transformation Stage." Her face was serious.
Chen Jiuge, seeing Zhen Yan's stern expression, mistakenly assumed this Senior Sister was unhappy because he was late. He could only look awkwardly towards Lin Jiu.
"Lin Jiu, late-stage Divinity Transformation Stage. That's just Junior Sister Zhen's way; don't mind her," Lin Jiu said with a helpless shrug.
"Chen Jiuge, early-stage Nascent Soul Stage."
After brief introductions, the three entered the Task Hall to hand in their Tokens.
The one in charge of the Task Hall was a white-haired old man. He directly handed them the Spiritual Medicine they were to escort and a map to White Burning Immortal City. As the most senior and eldest of the group, Lin Jiu took the Storage Ring containing the Spiritual Medicine and the leather map.
Once they left the Task Hall, Lin Jiu suggested, "Let's have Junior Sister Zhen keep the Storage Ring. Her Spiritual Beast excels at defense."
"What do you think, Junior Brother Chen?" Lin Jiu asked with a smile.
Chen Jiuge expressed no objections. He was just a Nascent Soul Stage fledgling; whatever the Divinity Transformation Stage expert said, went.
"Since there's no problem, then let's use the Sect's Transmission Array to go directly to Hundred Herbs Garden. With our speed, five days is more than enough. We can even have some fun in White Burning Immortal City. The Bai Zhuo Immortal Wine there is exceptionally delicious," Lin Jiu said, licking his lips with desire.
"Senior Brother Lin, during the mission, we are not allowed to drink. We must first go to the Hundred Herbs Pavilion in White Burning Immortal City and complete the task handover," Zhen Yan stated, her tone unyielding.
"I know that, Junior Sister Zhen," Lin Jiu said somewhat dejectedly, waving his hand.
The Sect's Transmission Array—no, it should be considered Hundred Herbs Peak's own Transmission Array—was located in the largest central plaza. Sect Disciples could use it without any extra cost, which was very convenient. Watching the Hundred Herbs Peak Disciples, rarely seen in such numbers, entering and exiting the Transmission Array, Chen Jiuge wondered, Is Hundred Herbs Peak always this busy?
Perhaps noticing his junior brother's confusion, Lin Jiu rubbed his wine gourd and asked, "Curious why so many people are coming and going through the Transmission Array?"
"Could Senior Brother enlighten me?" Chen Jiuge replied.
Before Lin Jiu could speak, Zhen Yan interjected, "It's because Disciples of Hundred Herbs Peak who aren't Spiritual Plant Masters—specifically, those capable of rapidly cultivating Fifth Rank Spirit Plants—find that the rate at which they earn Merit Spirit Stones is far too slow to cover their own and their Spiritual Beasts' expenses. Thus, many Spiritual Plant Masters of average ability use the Transmission Array to go to the underground Hundred Herbs Garden to sell their produce and acquire more Spirit Plants.
"As for the others, those who are not Spiritual Plant Masters, these Disciples joined Hundred Herbs Peak simply to more easily obtain High-level Spiritual Plants. Furthermore, since their aptitude isn't sufficient to join the four major peaks, they utilize the Transmission Array even more frequently to venture out, hunt High Rank Spiritual Beasts, or undertake missions in exchange for Merit."
"That's my line, Junior Sister Zhen," Lin Jiu complained, having finally met a naive junior brother and wanting to indulge his desire to act as an all-knowing senior.
"Senior Brother Lin is one of the latter," Zhen Yan said without giving him any face.
Lin Jiu, rendered speechless, could only nod at Chen Jiuge. "What Junior Sister Zhen said is correct."
"In fact, if you're not a genius Spiritual Plant Master or a Child of Destiny blessed with incredible Luck, then you can only frequently undertake missions to earn Merit. Although it seems tiring, it's doable. Take our current mission, for example. Most of Hundred Herbs Peak's missions involve escorting Spiritual Medicine to the Hundred Herbs Pavilion branches in nearby Immortal Cities to replenish their inventory. These are considerably safer than missions from other peaks, such as guarding valuable Spiritual Ore veins," Lin Jiu said with a shrug.
"Could there actually be people in the Myriad Beasts Domain who dare to attack Spiritual Ore outposts?" Chen Jiuge asked, his eyes wide.
In his previous life, he was just an ordinary person. Since joining the Myriad Beasts Sect at the age of twelve until now, the farthest place he had ever been was the Immortal City directly beneath the Sect headquarters. Naturally, no one in that Immortal City, situated right under the Myriad Beasts Sect's nose, would dare disrespect its Disciples. That's why Chen Jiuge was so surprised.
"You're still too young, Junior Brother. Never mind attacking ore veins; those desperate, poverty-stricken Loose Cultivators are capable of anything. Otherwise, how would you explain those fellow Disciples of ours who reek of killing intent?" Lin Jiu said, pointing to a young man with a murderous aura who had just stepped out of the Transmission Array.
"When you get the chance, take more escort missions, preferably in a team, to gain more experience. Don't undertake missions alone until your Cultivation is sufficient. Those who undertake solo missions are all hardened individuals. In any case, your Senior Brother here is not one of them," Lin Jiu said earnestly.
"Based on the rumors in the Sect about Senior Brother Lin, it's not a lack of strength that prevents you from taking solo missions. Rather, it's because you provoked a Holy Daughter from the Myriad Immortal Sect a hundred years ago, which is why you daren't leave the Myriad Beasts Domain. Most team missions are primarily for nurturing new Inner Sect Disciples and allowing them to accumulate experience," Zhen Yan stated, still maintaining her deadpan expression, but Chen Jiuge thought he detected a flicker of disdain in her eyes.
Feeling embarrassed, Lin Jiu turned to Chen Jiuge. "The Transmission Array to Hundred Herbs Garden is active! Let's go quickly." With that, he swiftly stepped into the array.
Inside the Transmission Array, Chen Jiuge still looked at Lin Jiu quizzically. This Senior Brother Lin isn't particularly handsome, but his square, honest-looking face gives off an air of straightforwardness and magnanimity.
Although Lin Jiu felt a bit uncomfortable under Chen Jiuge's gaze, he decided not to speak anymore. After all, Junior Sister Zhen had a knack for startling pronouncements. If she were to reveal any more shocking secrets, he would be utterly humiliated in front of this new junior brother.
「A flash of white light, a moment of darkness, a wave of dizziness, and they had arrived at Hundred Herbs Garden.」