The sun hung lazily over the western peaks, its golden rays spilling across the dirt path that wound toward the outer sect's gathering point. The rhythmic creak of wheels broke the mountain's calm as Li Shen pushed his cart, its wooden frame laden with neatly stacked Ironwood logs that gleamed faintly in the light.
Sweat traced faint lines across his face, yet his breathing was steady — a quiet rhythm born not of exhaustion, but of focus.
He chuckled softly to himself.
"This is the first time I've returned to the gathering point not half-dead."
Usually, by the time he trudged back, the sky had already dimmed to dusk, his muscles screaming and his limbs shaking from fatigue. But today, as the sun still shone bright and the hour stood at only four and a half past noon, he felt alive. His steps were light, his body brimming with quiet energy.
The distant laughter of disciples echoed from the clearing ahead — a sound he once found irritating when his body could barely move, but now it felt strangely welcoming.
As the gathering point came into view, a familiar voice boomed through the air.
Elder Feng waved from near the weighing stand, his sleeves rolled up as he inspected a pile of freshly delivered spirit herbs. His broad grin was as infectious as ever, and his sharp eyes gleamed with pride as Li Shen pushed the cart closer.
"You're improving fast, Li Shen!" the elder said, clapping him on the shoulder with a force that nearly jolted the cart. "At this rate, I'll have to rely on you next time I go into the forest!"
Li Shen chuckled. "Elder Feng jests. I'm still a long way from being of use to you."
"Hah! Don't downplay yourself. Look at you — strong back, clear eyes, and not a hint of fatigue. You're no longer that pale twig from the Ironwood labor camp."
Elder Feng's laughter rumbled like distant thunder as he handed Li Shen a small pouch. Inside, eight neatly minted sect coins gleamed in the light — each one carved with the sect's crest, the symbol of rising mountains.
"Eight trees, eight coins. Fair and honest work!"
Li Shen turned the coins over in his hand, feeling their faint warmth. A smile tugged at his lips. With these eight, his total savings now reached ninety-eight sect coins — the combined fruit of his recent labor and what the former Li Shen had managed to save before.
"Almost a hundred…" he thought, eyes softening. "In my old world, this would be nothing, but here… it's the foundation of power."
Within the Verdant Cloud Sect, sect coins were everything.— a currency that could be exchanged for cultivation materials, herbs, and techniques. Most precious of all, they served as the only key to enter sacred places like the Spirit Spring Pavilion — a cultivation sanctuary where Qi was tenfold denser than in the outer fields.
Access, however, came at a steep cost. A single hour within required One Hundred sect coins and an approved time slot — a luxury few outer disciples could afford.
After exchanging a few lighthearted words with Elder Feng, Li Shen bowed respectfully. "Thank you for the coins, Elder. I'll continue to work hard."
Elder Feng smiled warmly. "Good. But don't burn yourself out. Remember — even the sharpest blade dulls without rest."
"I'll keep that in mind."
With that, Li Shen turned toward the distant Mission Hall, his cart now empty but his heart unusually full.
The path leading to the Mission Hall wound through the sect's bustling plaza. Disciples moved in groups, trading spirit herbs, refining materials, and idle gossip. Li Shen walked quietly through them, lost in thought.
Before, his only goal was to survive each day — to endure the exhaustion, to push his failing body until he could collapse on his straw bed. But now, with the system's aid and the strength of his newfound rhythm, a vision had begun to form in his mind.
"I can't remain an outer disciple forever."
To become an Inner Disciple, one needed to attain the Qi Condensation Realm — a stage where Qi became fluid, condensed within a stabilized dantian. But that was far from simple. Qi Condensation began at 301 qi units, and to even attempt the breakthrough, he'd need a Qi Condensation Pill — worth three thousand sect coins.
"Three thousand…" he murmured. "If I keep chopping Ironwood, I'll reach that in… maybe ten years."
The thought made him laugh softly in disbelief. "By then, Elder Feng might be a Grand Elder."
Shaking his head, he clenched his fist. "No, I'll find another path."
When he finally reached the Mission Hall, the sun had dipped lower, casting long shadows across its stone steps. The structure itself was grand — wide pillars carved from white marble, engraved with the names of countless disciples who had completed great deeds. A faint spiritual pressure lingered in the air, left behind by higher-ranked cultivators who often visited to post or oversee missions.
Inside, the atmosphere buzzed with energy. Dozens of outer disciples crowded around a massive mission board made of enchanted oak, glowing faintly with green inscriptions. Scrolls and jade slips floated midair, each one detailing available tasks.
Li Shen stepped forward, scanning through them carefully.
The Mission Hall categorized missions by difficulty and cultivation requirement. Most were menial, but a few carried risk — and far greater rewards.
After a few minutes, five suitable tasks caught his eye:
Spirit Herb Gathering
Requirement: Body Tempering – Early
Reward: 5 sect coins per bundle
Description: Collect five bundles of Spirit Mint from the outer slopes of Greenmist Valley. Beware of venomous insects.
Quarry Escort
Requirement: Body Tempering – Early
Reward: 10 sect coins
Description: Guard a transport group delivering refined stones from the eastern quarry. Occasional beast encounters expected.
Stream Purification Requirement: Body Tempering – Early or higher
Reward: 15 sect coins
Description: Eliminate Qi impurities accumulating in the sect's western stream by circulating Qi underwater for two hours.
Iron Fang Rabbit Subjugation
Requirement: Body Tempering – Early
Reward: 20 sect coins per beast core
Description: Hunt and retrieve Iron Fang Rabbit cores from the outskirts of Moonridge Hill. Known for sharp claws and swift movements.
Spirit Ore Survey
Requirement: Body Tempering – Early
Reward: 25 sect coins
Description: Explore abandoned mine tunnels near Fallen Ridge to confirm the presence of low-grade Spirit Ore. Mild risk of collapse.
Li Shen stood before the glowing board, fingers brushing his chin thoughtfully. Each task represented opportunity — and danger.
His gaze lingered on the Iron Fang Rabbit Subjugation mission. It was risky, but the reward was tempting.
"Twenty coins per core…" he murmured. "If I can handle that, three thousand might not be so far away."
He could already feel his blood stir with quiet excitement.