178: Entering the outer sect, the first Rank A mission

At midnight, all was silent.

Qin Feng sat alone in the Quiet Room of Bamboo Rhyme Residence, his mind sinking into his Sea of Consciousness. On his first night in Medicine King Valley, he urgently needed more information to deal with tomorrow's unknown challenges.

[Ding! The zi hour has arrived! Daily intelligence has been refreshed!]

[Today's Intelligence:]

1. [Blue Intelligence]: Ghost Doctor Hall Executive Elder Duanmu Feng has a handwritten copy of the Returning Origin Guiding Heart Art hidden in a secret compartment at the head of his bed. This art is a secret of Medicine King Valley and cannot be practiced by anyone other than a Core Disciple. Cultivating this method can greatly strengthen the guidance and control of True Qi over life force, not only significantly improving the effect of healing techniques, but its "Returning Origin Heart Protection" ability can also make the True Qi contain a trace of dense and continuous protective intent, significantly enhancing defense.

2. [Blue Intelligence]: In recent years, Medicine King Valley has secretly recruited and sheltered many Artifact Refining masters who have gone into hiding due to wars or enemies, and has secretly established a workshop in the "Fire Refining Valley" in the back mountain, collecting large amounts of rare Ore and spiritual Materials. This move is intended to improve the high-end combat power and self-preservation capabilities of the valley. Among them, the Great Master Ouyang Zhi, who lives here in seclusion, has extraordinary skills and is confident in creating Heaven Rank Low Grade divine Sharp Weapons. However, he has a strange temperament, and those who seek weapons must pass his test and prepare enough core Materials to move him.

3. [Green Intelligence]: Duanmu Feng and Ling Yunzi were very close friends with Chu Tianhe in their early years. The three of them had teamed up many times to perform missions outside the valley, and after returning, they often drank and talked privately, and even... had the ridiculous past of sneaking out of the valley together to the neighboring town to "experience the romantic nightlife." Now that Chu Tianhe has been captured back, the two of them are actually quite conflicted. They plan to release a relatively "mild" class a mission suitable for Qin Feng's team in the name of the Ghost Doctor Hall in the coming days, which will both fulfill the rules and be considered a secret help, opening up the situation for you to accumulate merit.

Two blue and one green!

Qin Feng's spirits lifted. Especially the first two pieces of blue intelligence, they were of extremely high value! The Returning Origin Guiding Heart Art was practically tailor-made for Miss Xiao Chun and the entire team; the dual improvement in healing and defense was crucial for performing dangerous missions. And the existence of Fire Refining Valley was the key to improving the team's hard strength in the future—the ink plum sword, Xia Ya's shield, Ji Ruxue's short sword, and even the protective or auxiliary equipment Miss Xiao Chun might need, all had the hope of being upgraded!

As for the third piece... Qin Feng's mouth twitched slightly. He didn't expect that under Elder Duanmu's stiff and serious appearance, there were such "past events." However, this also explained why there was always an imperceptible softening in the attitudes of the two Elders. Their willingness to help secretly was undoubtedly like providing charcoal in the snow.

"Elder Duanmu's room... how to 'cleverly' obtain it?" Qin Feng pondered. Forcing his way in was definitely out of the question; an Elder's residence in Medicine King Valley must have a Restriction. Perhaps... he could start with Miss Xiao Chun? Approaching on the grounds of asking for advice on medical skills or needle techniques? Or, wait for a better opportunity?

Keeping the information in mind, Qin Feng began to plan tomorrow's actions.

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves into the small courtyard.

Elder Ling Yunzi personally came to Bamboo Rhyme Residence, followed by two Disciples carrying wooden trays.

"Young friends, did you rest well last night?" Ling Yunzi's smile was as warm as ever, but there was a hint of deeper meaning in his eyes.

"Thank you for the arrangements, Elder Ling. It was very good." Qin Feng cupped his hands.

Ling Yunzi nodded and signaled the Disciples to step forward. "Since you have decided to take on missions, according to the rules, you must first obtain identity tokens for moving within the valley. Qin Feng, Miss Xiao Chun, the two of you can be temporarily recorded as Outer Sect Named Disciples of my Ghost Doctor Hall, making it convenient to receive missions, exchange resources, and walk in certain areas of the valley."

On the trays were two sets of light green Outer Sect Disciple robes and two identity jade pendants engraved with a medicinal furnace pattern and the words "Ghost Doctor."

"As for these two young ladies..." Ling Yunzi looked at Xia Ya and Ji Ruxue, "It is not appropriate for them to enter the Outer Sect as they are not practitioners of our medicinal Dao. These are two 'Guest Elder Tokens.' Those holding these tokens can accompany you into the valley during your missions, move within restricted areas, and enjoy certain supply exchange privileges. Consider it... a special bodyguard status."

Xia Ya and Ji Ruxue took the Guest Elder Tokens; they felt warm to the touch and were clearly of fine craftsmanship.

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Elder." Qin Feng knew that this was already the best arrangement Ling Yunzi could secure for them. Although the status of an Outer Sect Disciple was low, with this layer of identity, many things would be much more convenient. The Guest Elder Tokens also gave Xia Ya and Ji Ruxue a legal reason to follow.

"You're welcome." Ling Yunzi waved his hand, his expression turning serious. "Now that your identities are set, will you take on the first class a mission now?"

"Please instruct us, Elder."

"Good." Ling Yunzi took out a mission scroll from his sleeve, unfurled it, and read: "class a mission: Dragon Soaring Life Extension. Continue to remove the remaining 'Heart-Eroding Baleful Curse' from General Long Teng Li Ju's body and help him fully recover. Mission duration: one month. Mission reward: settled by Medicine King Valley and the Northern Border Army; you will receive corresponding Sect contribution points, which can be used for sentence reduction evaluation. Mission difficulty: Class A."

After he finished reading, he handed the scroll to Qin Feng and took out a cold jade bottle from his robe. "This is the 'Nine Yang Soul-Returning Soup' medicinal essence drawn in advance from the valley. Combined with Miss Xiao Chun's needle techniques, it should have a miraculous effect."

Qin Feng took the scroll and the cold jade bottle, understanding everything in his heart. This was indeed a "relatively mild" class a mission, continuing the treatment they had already started well, with controllable risks and a high success rate. Moreover, the subject of treatment was General Li Ju; once successful, it would not only complete the mission but also further consolidate their relationship with this Northern Border commander. As for the reward being collected by Medicine King Valley... although it felt like being used as hard labor, the fact that contribution points could be directly converted into a basis for sentence reduction was what they needed most.

"Elder Ling, Elder Duanmu, this Junior is deeply grateful for these arrangements." Qin Feng bowed solemnly. He understood that this mission was specially selected by the two Elders to help them.

Ling Yunzi stroked his beard and smiled. "You have real talent; we are merely pushing the boat with the current. Do a good job. If you can complete this mission perfectly, you will not only gain a firm foothold in the valley but it will also be of great benefit to your future... I will inform Senior Brother Duanmu that the mission has been assigned."

After seeing off Ling Yunzi, the four returned to the room.

"The first mission is to continue treating General Li..." Miss Xiao Chun held the cold jade bottle, her eyes shining once more. "I can do this well! As long as I use needle techniques to guide the medicinal power and combine it with the detoxification methods my father taught me, I will definitely be able to clear the remaining poison!"

Xia Ya patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, we are all here this time."

Ji Ruxue looked at Qin Feng. "The mission deadline is one month, which seems loose, but we can't delay. The faster we finish, the sooner we get the contribution points, and the sooner we can take on the next mission."

"Exactly." Qin Feng nodded and put away the mission scroll. "There's no time to lose; let's go to the Heart-Nurturing Garden now. Miss Xiao Chun, do you need any assistance?"

Miss Xiao Chun thought for a moment. "I need a set of finer silver needles and some common medicinal herbs to help stabilize the heart pulses... These should be obtainable at the Medicine Hall with our new identity jade pendants, right?"

"It should be possible. Let’s go to the Medicine Hall first, then to the Heart-Nurturing Garden."

The four changed into their new attire—Qin Feng and Miss Xiao Chun were in light green, while Xia Ya and Ji Ruxue remained in casual clothes but wore their Guest Elder Tokens. Walking out of Bamboo Rhyme Residence into the morning mist and medicinal fragrance of Medicine King Valley, and seeing the valley Disciples gradually increasing along the way, they officially began their first day as "members" of Medicine King Valley.

Although they were brought here for "forced labor," for the sake of their master and for the goal of those three class a missions, they had to walk this path firmly.

And in Qin Feng's heart, besides the current treatment mission, he also silently noted the two blue pieces of intelligence from last night—the Returning Origin Guiding Heart Art, and that Master Ouyang who could forge Heaven Rank divine weapons.