185: Task Selection

The night was deep, and the candlelight flickered within the Bamboo Rhyme Residence.

Qin Feng sat cross-legged in silence, his mind sinking into his Sea of Consciousness. Tomorrow's mission selection was crucial, the final hurdle on the path to saving his master; he needed the System to provide guidance.

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

[Today's Intelligence:]

1. [White Intel]: Due to the Empress Dowager's displeasure, the Bai Family of the Imperial Capital has been suppressed by various parties such as the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Household Department. Their overt profits have decreased by nearly thirty percent, and their reputation and connections have also been affected. They will adopt a contraction strategy in the near future.

2. [Blue Intel]: If you choose to accept the class a mission that the Spirit Medicine Hall may release tomorrow (likely related to cultivating or treating some kind of endangered/frenzied top-tier Spirit Plant), during the execution process, it is highly probable that the Spirit Plant's extreme thirst for and keen perception of pure vitality will force Xiaochun to use deeper levels of the Myriad Medicine Body's Origin power, leading to a sharp increase in the risk of exposure.

3. [Blue Intel]: The guardian Spirit Beast of the Medicine King Valley, the Late Stage Martial Emperor Xuantian Turtle, suffered an unknown hidden injury in its early years. Its slumber deep within the Cold Pool is also for the purpose of slow healing. This matter is one of the highest secrets in the Valley. If Xiaochun's Myriad Medicine Body is unfortunately exposed and she falls into crisis, you can attempt to use this intelligence as a bargaining chip to propose treating the Xuantian Turtle's injury, which may exchange for the protection and a turning point from this supreme existence.

These three pieces of intelligence made Qin Feng's mood feel like a rollercoaster.

The first piece was irrelevant to the present, but it confirmed General Li Ju's influence and the Empress Dowager's attitude, which was an unexpected boon. It also meant that if he went to the Imperial Capital in the future, the direct threat from the Bai Family might be reduced.

The second piece was a glaring warning! The mission from the Spirit Medicine Hall must not be touched! At least not until they had sufficient self-preservation capabilities or complete certainty. The consequences of the Myriad Medicine Body being exposed would be unimaginable.

The third piece... was like a faint glimmer of hope hidden behind a desperate situation. The Xuantian Turtle's hidden injury! If he could treat this ultimate guardian of the Medicine King Valley, the rewards and protection he could obtain would likely exceed his imagination. But this was also a risky move; knowing this secret itself could bring danger, let alone proposing a treatment. Unless... it truly reached a point of last resort.

Qin Feng took a deep breath and etched the intelligence into his mind. Tomorrow's choice must be made with extreme caution.

The next morning, at the Ghost Doctor Hall.

Elders Duanmu Feng and Ling Yunzi were rarely both present at the same time, and the atmosphere in the hall was solemn. Besides them, there were five middle-aged or elderly individuals with extraordinary temperaments and varying attire, clearly representatives of other halls. Their gazes toward Qin Feng's group of four contained curiosity, scrutiny, and expectation.

"Qin Feng, Xiaochun, and you two young ladies," Ling Yunzi, as the introducer, spoke first. "After your outstanding performance in the first two missions, many halls in the Valley have recognized your abilities. According to the rules, those who complete two class a missions with excellent evaluations can independently choose subsequent high-level missions within a certain range. Today, besides my Ghost Doctor Hall and the Spirit Beast Hall, five other halls have brought class a missions they urgently need to resolve. You may choose one to accept."

He gestured, and a Disciple immediately presented five Jade Slips of different colors, carved with different hall insignias, onto the long table in front of Qin Feng.

The five representatives also spoke in turn, giving brief introductions:

A burly man with a crimson face and a faint aura of heat cupped his fists and said, "I am the Vice Hall Master of the Fire Refining Hall, Ouyang Lie (sharing the same surname as Great Master Ouyang Zhi). My hall urgently needs three catties of 'earth core flame marrow'. This item only exists deep within the 'Molten Core Secret Realm', the most active of the southern volcanic groups, accompanied by a large number of fire-attribute Yao Beasts and natural hazards. The mission is dangerous, but the reward includes an opportunity for a Great Master of my hall to forge or upgrade a weapon (Materials provided by yourself)." His gaze swept over Qin Feng's ink plum sword and Xia Ya's great shield.

A cold-faced old man wearing the attire of the Law Enforcement Hall said deeply, "Law Enforcement Hall, class a mission: Pursue and eliminate three renegade Outer Sect Deacons of the Medicine King Valley. These three individuals stole an Incomplete Manual of the 'Soul-Shaping Pill' Pill Formula and fled to the 'Black Wind Region', a chaotic land in the northwest, suspected of having ties to the periphery of the Yin Demon Sect. They must be captured or killed, and the Pill Formula recovered. The mission contribution points will be increased by an additional thirty percent."

A middle-aged woman with a gentle temperament and a fresh fragrance of medicine permeating her surroundings smiled and said, "Deacon of the Spirit Medicine Hall. A 'Seven-Apertures Spirit Jade Tree' carefully cultivated by my hall has seen its growth stagnate for nearly three years, its spirituality withering. It is suspected that its root System has contracted an unknown 'Spirit-Wither Disease', and ordinary medicines are ineffective. We need someone proficient in the spirituality of plants and the way of vitality nourishment to go and diagnose it. This tree is related to an important research project of my hall. If the mission is successful, you will receive one fruit from the Jade Tree and the permanent friendship of the Spirit Medicine Hall."

A stocky man with skin as dark as an ironworker's spoke with a voice like a booming bell, "Outer Armor Hall! We need a large amount of 'Nether Dark Iron' Ore. The production site is a deserted ancient mine deep within the 'Burial Plains' at the border between the Northern Frontier and the Barbarian Tribes. The Yin Qi and Death Qi there are heavy, breeding all kinds of evil creatures, and there are even barbarian scouts roaming about. Mining and escorting are not easy, but Nether Dark Iron is a top-tier material for strengthening defensive armor. The reward is generous and can be exchanged for top-tier defensive treasure armor."

The last one was an elegant old man wearing a single-sided crystal lens. "Pill Refining Hall. We need ten drops of 'Thousand-Year Wood Heart Essence'. This item can only be nurtured under specific conditions by ancient trees that are over a thousand years old and have developed a faint intelligence. Obtaining it requires going deep into the ancient forest to communicate with the guardian Wood Spirits or face their trials; one must not take it by force or harm the foundation of the ancient trees. The mission tests patience, communication skills, and understanding of wood-attribute spiritual objects. The reward includes choosing any one high-level Pill Formula."

Five missions, five completely different directions: searching for Materials in dangerous lands, pursuing criminals for law enforcement, healing Spirit Plants, dangerous mining, and communicating with Wood Spirits. Each had its own difficulties and its own temptations.

Qin Feng frowned slightly and did not choose immediately. He looked at Xiaochun, Xia Ya, and Ji Ruxue, asking in a low voice, "What do you all think?"

Xia Ya stared at the missions from the Outer Armor Hall and the Fire Refining Hall, her eyes lighting up. "Nether Dark Iron and earth core flame marrow! Those sound like good things! And we can upgrade our shield and weapons! Although it's dangerous, it feels more direct!" She preferred straightforward combat and tangible material gains.

Ji Ruxue's gaze coldly swept over the Law Enforcement Hall's mission. "Pursuing renegades has a clear goal, with no need to deal with unfamiliar environments or unknown existences. Although the Black Wind Region is chaotic, it's more suitable for acting in the shadows. The contribution points are also high."

Xiaochun timidly looked at the Jade Slips from the Spirit Medicine Hall and the Pill Refining Hall. She was naturally close to plants and was instinctively interested in the missions to heal Spirit Plants and communicate with Wood Spirits. But remembering Qin Feng's previous instructions and seeing the gentle smile of that female Deacon from the Spirit Medicine Hall, she felt conflicted. Finally, she whispered, "I... I'm fine with anything. I'll listen to Brother Qin Feng."

Qin Feng himself was rapidly weighing the options.

For the Fire Refining Hall mission, the danger lay in the environment and Yao Beasts, but Ouyang Lie mentioned a "Great Master in the hall." Could that be the Ouyang Zhi from the intelligence? This was an opportunity to make contact with and potentially request help from that Artifact Refining Great Master! The earth core flame marrow was also a rare material.

For the Law Enforcement Hall mission, the danger lay in the strength of the renegades and the factions they might be colluding with. The contribution points were high, but they might directly face the periphery of the Yin Demon Sect, and the situation in the Black Wind Region was complex.

The Spirit Medicine Hall mission... excluded immediately! The Blue Intel warning was highlighted!

For the Outer Armor Hall mission, the danger lay in the sinister environment and the barbarians, but Nether Dark Iron was a genuine top-tier defensive material, which would be a huge boost to the team's overall defense.

The Pill Refining Hall mission seemed peaceful but actually tested comprehensive abilities. Dealing with ancient trees that might possess intelligence involved many variables, but the Thousand-Year Wood Heart Essence was definitely an extraordinary treasure, and the choice of any Pill Formula was even more precious.

Every choice could lead to different results, affecting the speed at which they could rescue their master and even the future development of the team.

Duanmu Feng and Ling Yunzi did not rush them, simply drinking tea in silence while observing the reactions and discussions of these four young people. The other hall representatives also had their own thoughts, some expectant, some scrutinizing.

The small team of the Bamboo Rhyme Residence was facing the most significant strategic choice since entering the Medicine King Valley.