7: Set out to subdue the demon and protect everyone in front of you!

"This is bad, Yang Kai. We're in big trouble now. A Core Formation Stage Yao Beast! For cannon fodder like us, just getting a little too close means we'll die without even knowing how!" Meng Yun couldn't help but say as they walked out of the Ji Shi Pavilion.

"Let's go. We're already here, so let's explore this market properly." After this inquiry, Yang Kai had a clear understanding of the mission's background, as well as the various rules and restrictions of School missions. Yang Kai already had a plan in mind; he just needed to see if the corresponding items were available in this market.

"Oh, right. Let's see if the points store has the Materials for Heavenly Foundation Establishment." As he was browsing, Yang Kai silently thought to himself, and the scene of the points store once again appeared in his mind.

"As expected of the System, it really has these three items! But the price..." Yang Kai was stunned as he saw the Phoenix Feather, which cost a staggering eighty thousand points, and the other items were also quite expensive. He had only received one hundred thousand points after sacrificing a Jade Marrow Mine. Even if he hadn't exchanged for luck to save his life back then, he still wouldn't have enough Materials for Heavenly Foundation Establishment now.

"System, are there any missions that can grant points?" Yang Kai asked through gritted teeth, looking at his balance of one thousand points.

Yang Kai's mind was silent, as if silently mocking his poverty.

Yang Kai felt helpless and began to browse the points store again. Besides the high-priced items, the words "luck value" caught Yang Kai's attention.

"It actually costs ten thousand points to exchange now. Didn't it only cost one hundred points before? Could it be that the price of luck value gradually increases with the number of exchanges?" Yang Kai speculated, then his gaze moved downwards, and an item entered his sight.

"Elementary Talisman Pack, can be exchanged for one thousand points." Yang Kai looked at this currently the only redeemable item, thought for a moment, and then exchanged for it.

"System, open the Elementary Talisman Pack." After the exchange was completed, the Elementary Talisman Pack entered his inventory as before. Yang Kai gave the System a command in his mind.

"Elementary Talisman Pack, containing five hundred random types of Elementary talismans, has been opened." The System's cold voice echoed in Yang Kai's mind. Immediately, the gift pack in the inventory transformed into dozens of different types of talismans. The number of talismans of each type varied, with some types even having only one. From the surface, these talismans did not reveal their profound mysteries, but the purpose of each talisman penetrated into Yang Kai's mind when the gift pack was opened, saving a lot of trouble.

"Yang Kai, what are you doing? Watch where you're going!" Just as Yang Kai was immersed in the information of various talismans, Meng Yun suddenly pulled Yang Kai, preventing him from walking into someone else's stall.

"Meng Yun, I have a plan! Let's go back now and formulate a strategy!" Yang Kai was somewhat excited. Clearly, among those talismans, there was a key to resolving this crisis. After speaking, he pulled Meng Yun and left the market without looking back.

The Flowing Cloud Sect's territory was vast. The area occupied by halls and pavilions was only a small portion, with most of it consisting of resource points like the Jade Marrow Mine.

Seven days passed in a flash. Amidst the bushes, a young man sat cross-legged on a thick tree trunk, while another young man anxiously gazed into the distance. They were none other than Yang Kai and Meng Yun.

"Yang Kai! Someone's coming!" After a while, Meng Yun saw a small team of seven or eight people slowly approaching the designated meeting point for the mission. He exclaimed excitedly in a low voice.

"Let's go. Remember not to reveal any information. For subsequent actions, follow my lead." Yang Kai turned his head and instructed Meng Yun, then slowly slid down the tree trunk.

"Oh! You're finally here. Now everyone's accounted for." The group, who had been waiting idly at the mission's meeting point, perked up when they saw Yang Kai and Meng Yun approaching.

"Kid, you look new, eh? Just became an Outer Sect Disciple, right? Why aren't you hurrying over to greet your Senior Brother? Later, us Senior Brothers will help you out a bit!" As soon as Yang Kai and Meng Yun approached the meeting point, a thin young man stood up and reached out to put his arm around Yang Kai's shoulder, intending to intimidate the two.

"Huh? Isn't that kid the idiot who used to hang out at the Martial Arts Arena all the time?" Among the crowd, an Outer Sect Disciple recognized Yang Kai at a glance.

"Is that the overconfident Mortal, that good-for-nothing who used to challenge us every day at the Martial Arts Arena? He actually Breakthrough to the Qi Refinement Stage?"

"Cao Rui, take a look, is it this kid? You were the last one to have a big fight with that idiot. After that idiot disappeared from the Martial Arts Arena, it became much harder to easily earn Martial Arts Arena points." Upon hearing this, the thin young man turned to look at someone in the crowd and said teasingly.

"Hey! Liang Heng, it really is this kid! This kid really got lucky. He can Cultivate even with a screw loose?" Cao Rui came before Yang Kai, sizing him up from head to toe, clicking his tongue in wonder.

"Have you said enough?!" Yang Kai listened to Cao Rui and the others' insults with an expressionless face. Meng Yun, who was beside him, couldn't hold back and shouted loudly.

"Oh! This good-for-nothing even has a Junior Brother now? Interesting. Liang Heng, it seems we need to teach these newly initiated Junior Brothers some rules." Cao Rui's fleshy face trembled slightly, revealing a ferocious smile. The others also gathered around upon hearing this, surrounding Yang Kai and Meng Yun tightly.

"Kid, hand over your Spirit Stones and qi gathering pills willingly. If your Senior Brothers are in a good mood, we might even spare you some physical pain." Liang Heng stepped forward, threatening them.

"Fellow Senior Brothers, our Spirit Stones and qi gathering pills are all used up. I'm afraid we'll have to disappoint you." Yang Kai, who was beside them, spoke calmly.

"Used up? Do you know how precious Spirit Stones are? You just squandered them so casually? Seeing as you're both at Qi Refining Stage Layer One, you definitely didn't use them for Cultivation. What did you buy?" Cao Rui, who was nearby, had an expression of outrage.

"Yesterday, as we were strolling through the market, we accidentally discovered this talisman. Although we don't know its exact function, we felt from the bottom of our hearts that this item was extraordinary. So, we emptied our pockets and pooled our resources to buy it." Yang Kai unhurriedly took out a gray talisman from his Qiankun Bag, holding it between two fingers.

"Hmph! Talismans of unknown efficacy are the most dangerous. Let your Senior Brother keep it for you!" Liang Heng, who was nearby, was quick-witted and snatched the talisman into his hand, drawing glares from Cao Rui and the others.

Everyone's attention immediately shifted to Liang Heng. Yang Kai subtly gave Meng Yun a look. Meng Yun suppressed his smile and walked to the side with Yang Kai to sit and wait.

"Is everyone here?" Just as the crowd was fiercely arguing over the unknown talisman, a cold glint flashed in the distance. A person dressed as a secular servant, stepping on a Flying Sword, flew through the air.

"Reporting to Milord, all ten of us are present, just waiting for the Inner Sect Senior Brothers." Upon seeing this person arrive, Liang Heng quickly approached to answer, avoiding the encirclement of the others.

"Hmm! Follow me to meet the master. Be quick on your feet!" The person on the Flying Sword snorted, then controlled the Flying Sword to slowly ascend, leading the way by flying slowly in the sky.

"Hmph! He's just a house servant, what's he so Divine Qi about? We are Disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect!" An Outer Sect Disciple, seeing how arrogant this person was, couldn't help but mutter softly.

"Silence! This person can fly with a sword, so his Cultivation is at least at Qi Refinement Stage Layer Four or above. Not to mention the power of his master, even he alone could easily kill us. If you want to die, don't drag me into it!" Cao Rui glared fiercely at the person who had spoken earlier, who immediately shut his mouth, afraid of disturbing the person above.

Yang Kai and Meng Yun controlled their speed, quietly positioning themselves in front of the others. The group slowly hastened into the distance, and soon they were enveloped by the vast jungle.