9: Chapter 9: Sect Mission

When Xiao Ran stepped out of the cultivation room, he felt as if he had been completely reborn.

Foundation Establishment Mid Stage, stabilized.

The effect of that Bone-Eroding Demon Flower was truly powerful.

Now the demonic essence in his Dantian was as dense as mercury, and his Meridians had widened by a full fold.

If other Foundation Establishment Cultivators knew this, they would likely be red-eyed with envy.

"Foundation Establishment in thirty-three days, rushing to Foundation Establishment Mid Stage in seven days..."

"Is this speed impressive or what?"

Xiao Ran clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within his body.

[Ding!]

[System Prompt: Congratulations to the host for reaching the cultivation speed target, triggering the hidden achievement: Demonic Rising Star]

[Reward: Saint Physique development progress +5%, System points 300]

[Current Saint Physique development progress: Devour (20%), Transformation (0%), Derivation (0%)]

[The Point Shop has unlocked some items; the host can check them at any time]

"A Saint Physique development progress and a System shop appeared?"

With a thought from Xiao Ran, a semi-transparent shop interface appeared before him.

Glancing through, there were quite a lot of things.

From the lowest-level healing Medicinal Pills to Earth Rank Cultivation Techniques, and even bizarre things like One-time Cultivation Experience Cards.

As for the price... Heh.

Even the cheapest low-grade magic crystals cost 1 point. His entire net worth of 800 points was only enough to buy 800 magic crystals.

Converting that to the Medium Grade magic crystals he currently absorbed, it was only 80.

"So poor."

"I need to find a way to earn more points."

Xiao Ran sighed; he was somewhat interested in the One-time Cultivation Experience Cards in the shop.

This was a life-saving Divine Artifact that could instantly boost one's cultivation!

It was just a bit expensive.

While Xiao Ran was pondering, a respectful voice suddenly came from outside the door.

"Uncle Xiao, the Deacon Hall has a mission to assign."

Uncle Xiao?

Xiao Ran froze for a moment before reacting.

He was now a Named Disciple of the Grand Elder, so his seniority was indeed a level higher.

When ordinary Inner Sect Disciples saw him, they indeed had to call him Junior Martial Uncle.

Xiao Ran opened the door and saw a young Disciple in gray robes holding a black Jade Slip.

"What mission?"

Xiao Ran took the Jade Slip.

"In response to Junior Martial Uncle, this is the Sect's monthly routine mission."

"For the Sect's development, the Sect Master has ruled that all Disciples at the True Inheritance level and above must accept missions. Since you are now the Grand Elder's Personal Disciple, according to the rules... the mission difficulty will increase accordingly."

The Disciple lowered his head, fearing he might upset Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran didn't mind and pressed the Jade Slip to his forehead.

A stream of information instantly flooded his mind.

Mission: Patrol the mining area in the Northern Border's Heifeng Mountains.

Content: A Medium Grade magic crystal vein has been discovered in the Heifeng Mountains, jointly mined by our Sect and the Blood Fiend Sect. Recently, disappearances of Cultivators have frequently occurred in the mining area. It is suspected that Yao Beasts or hostile forces are at work. Please investigate and resolve the issue.

Time Limit: Thirty days

Reward: 3000 Sect contribution points, 500 Medium Grade magic crystals

Note: May bring no more than five followers

"Blood Fiend Sect?"

"Isn't that a subsidiary Sect attached to us?"

Xiao Ran frowned. During this time, he had gained a good understanding of the cultivation world's landscape.

Generally speaking, there were two major groups in the cultivation world: the Human Race and the Yao Race.

These two groups had been in constant conflict since ancient times, continuing to this day.

On the Human Race side, they were divided into Orthodoxy and the Demonic Path. The highest power of the Orthodoxy was the Eight Great Holy Lands, led by the Supreme Dao Palace where Li Changsheng was located.

The most powerful forces of the Demonic Path were likewise the Eight Great Demon Sects, led by the Eternal Night Demon Sect where Xiao Ran was located.

The Orthodoxy and the Demonic Path were also incompatible, but to collectively resist the Yao Race, large-scale wars generally did not break out.

It was mostly small-scale skirmishes between subordinate forces.

The Blood Fiend Sect was one of the many subsidiary Sects of the Eternal Night Demon Sect. Its Sect Master was said to be a Void Refinement Stage expert hundreds of years ago.

"In response to Junior Martial Uncle, the Blood Fiend Sect is indeed a subsidiary of our Sect, but..."

The Disciple hesitated.

"But what?"

"But I heard from the Sect Elder who assigned the mission that the Blood Fiend Sect has been a bit restless lately."

"I heard their Sect Master is suspected to have broken through to the Body Integration Stage and wants to break away from their subsidiary status and establish their own Sect. The Elder suspects that the incidents in the mining area... are their own doing."

The Disciple whispered.

Xiao Ran looked at the Disciple in surprise and understood instantly.

Someone had specially arranged this mission for him!

Otherwise, how could a lowly gray-robed Disciple know so many secrets?

Someone was using him to deliver a message.

This mission was ostensibly to investigate the disappearances, but in reality, it was to knock some sense into a disobedient subordinate.

This kind of mission was the most complicated; one slip-up could lead to being criticized by others.

He wondered which treacherous subject was trying to harm him this time.

"Alright, I understand."

"You may leave."

After a moment, Xiao Ran waved his hand.

The gray-robed Disciple breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly bowed out.

Xiao Ran closed the door and tapped his fingers on the table.

[Ding!]

[The Ultimate Demon Lord Cultivation System is dedicated to creating the world's number one Demon Venerable.]

[Mission Released: Demon Son's Debut]

[Content: Go to the Heifeng Mountains to investigate the frequent disappearances of Cultivators in the mining area.]

[Reward: Profound Rank High Grade Martial Skill Three-Part Return to Origin Finger, 5000 System points.]

[Failure Penalty: None]

[Accept?]

"Accept."

Xiao Ran immediately thought to himself.

One mission, two rewards—there was no reason not to accept.

Moreover, this was the first Sect mission he had received. By all rights, he had to take it and handle it beautifully.

If he did well, he could establish prestige within the Sect.

If he messed up, those waiting to see him fail would be delighted.

"I need to find a few helpers..."

"Going alone makes it easy for someone to plot against me."

Xiao Ran thought for a bit and decided to find a few subordinates first.

After all, what big boss goes out without followers?

But the problem was... in the Eternal Night Demon Sect, he didn't have a single person he could trust.

Those Disciples were respectful when they saw him, but who knew whose side they were really on?

"Should I... ask Changsheng?"

As soon as the thought occurred to Xiao Ran, he laughed.

Asking a Dao Palace Saint to help him in the territory of a Demon Sect? Was he looking for a quick death?

Just as he was thinking, Li Changsheng's voice came through the Soul link: "Xiao Ran, are you there?"

"I'm here, what's wrong?"

"I've received a mission on my end!"

"I have to go to some Heifeng Mountains to investigate Cultivator disappearances... They say Loose Cultivators have been abducted by the Demonic Path there and want me to rescue them. The System also gave me the same mission, but I'm only at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage!"

Li Changsheng spoke in a flurry, his voice sounding a bit panicked.