Should I go see that guy again?

Early the next morning.

Falling Cloud Valley.

Outer Sect.

"Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the mission: [Cultivation Technique Entry], reward 100 Counterattack Points, eight High Grade Qi Gathering pills, three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones, rewards have been automatically distributed to the System space."

In the simple wooden hut, Qi Yuan rubbed his brow and tossed the wooden slip in his hand aside with a look of disdain.

This kind of simple and shallow Qi Refining Cultivation Technique, he could enter the threshold with just a casual glance, taking no effort at all.

Even so, the newly added one hundred Counterattack Points still made his somewhat depressed mood feel a bit more comfortable.

Yesterday, he successfully passed the Falling Cloud Valley assessment and became a proud Utility Disciple.

After the mission was completed, he originally thought he could leave stylishly, but he didn't expect the next mission refreshed by the System was to let him Cultivate this low-grade Cultivation Technique from Falling Cloud Valley, the "Heqi Jing," to the entry level.

Seeing the new mission, Qi Yuan suddenly realized a very serious problem:

This brain-dead System simply doesn't care about reality; it completely issues missions according to the Original Owner's counterattack trajectory.

Even if the Original Owner is dead, this mission must be done, except it fell onto his head.

This also meant that if he wanted to continue completing the subsequent missions, he had to temporarily stay in Falling Cloud Valley... The dignified Taixuan Holy Land Dao Child might really have to be a Utility Disciple in Falling Cloud Valley for a while.

It's freaking ridiculous!

Just as he was exasperated, the mission list refreshed again:

"The Host has just entered Falling Cloud Valley, with weak strength and nothing to rely on. It is too early to counterattack. Currently, you must work hard to Cultivate and improve yourself. This System will be your strong backing on the path to becoming a powerhouse."

"New Mission: Third Level of Qi Refining"

"Mission Goal: Continue Cultivating the 'Heqi Jing' and raise your cultivation to the Third Level of Qi Refining within one month."

"Mission Rewards: 150 Counterattack Points, three Top Grade Qi Gathering pills, the entry-level defensive Magical Artifact Rock Mirror, five hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones..."

Another one of these retarded missions, Qi Yuan was already beyond complaining. He relaxed his mind and quietly waited for the notification sound of completing the mission.

His current cultivation far exceeded the Third Level of Qi Refining. This kind of mission was a pure gift, like a test where the answers were already filled in.

However.

A quarter of an hour passed, and there was still no notification sound.

What's going on?

Qi Yuan was stunned. He looked closely at the mission and finally understood. Then, he pretentiously followed the cultivation route marked in the "Heqi Jing" and practiced for a bit.

"Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the mission..."

Damn!

It turned out the first sentence in the mission goal wasn't nonsense; it was actually one of the conditions for completing the mission.

This stupid System's mission descriptions are all over the place, but it's quite rigorous when making requirements.

Qi Yuan shook his head, caught between laughter and tears. To lower his blood pressure that was about to hit the ceiling, he decided to go out for some fresh air and enjoy the scenery of Falling Cloud Valley.

As one of the new Disciples who performed outstandingly in the entry assessment, he was naturally assigned a separate room as his residence.

Although this wooden hut was low and small with empty walls, it was much better than the double rooms of other Utility Disciples.

This year, Falling Cloud Valley had a great harvest, recruiting a full twenty or so qualified new Disciples, the highest number in recent years, making Outer Sect Elder Mo Zhengyang grin from ear to ear.

According to the Sect rules, this batch of new Disciples would start as Utility Disciples, and those with qualified performance after one year could be promoted to Outer Sect Disciples.

Of course, particularly outstanding Utility Disciples might be chosen by an Inner Sect Elder, taken as a True Disciple, and directly become an Inner Sect Disciple.

Stepping out the door, the cold and refreshing morning air hit his face. Qi Yuan took a deep breath, and his spirit immediately lifted as he murmured:

"It's quite fragrant here..."

Suddenly, he felt something and subconsciously looked to his side and back, only to see a beautiful female cultivator wearing a pale yellow dress standing not far from him, her fair, jade-like face slightly blushing.

"Senior Sister, why are you here?"

Only then did Qi Yuan realize where the fragrance came from. He hurriedly cupped his hands and greeted her.

Since he was a newcomer and didn't know the details of Falling Cloud Valley yet, he didn't wantonly spread his Divine Sense to avoid alerting the experts in Falling Cloud Valley, so his spiritual perception was much duller than usual.

He already knew that Bai Xirou was the daughter of the Sect Head and the head of the Inner Sect True Disciples.

In other words, as long as he still wanted to stay in Falling Cloud Valley, he must never offend her.

Bai Xirou nodded, her eyes looking at Qi Yuan with some surprise:

"It's only been a day since we last met, and you've already broken through to the Third Level of Qi Refining?"

Qi Yuan smiled modestly and said:

"The 'Heqi Jing' bestowed by Elder Mo is quite profound. I studied it all night and finally managed to break through to the Third Level of Qi Refining by luck."

After completing the previous mission, he specifically adjusted his outward cultivation to the Third Level of Qi Refining, not expecting to be discovered by Bai Xirou as soon as he stepped out.

Bai Xirou gave a light 'mm' and after a moment of contemplation, she suddenly asked with a serious expression:

"Qi Da, I wonder what your impression of Senior Formation Spirit is?"

Formation Spirit?

Qi Yuan was stunned, then spoke the truth:

"That Formation Spirit curses at everyone he sees and has a rather bad temper. Other than that, I don't know much."

Bai Xirou sighed and said:

"Senior Formation Spirit has lived in seclusion for a thousand years. Since Grandmaster passed away, you are the only one who has made Him appear."

Hearing this, Qi Yuan couldn't help but feel curious. Bai Xirou wasn't the first person to say these things.

The Sect Formation of Falling Cloud Valley is called the Illusory Life Heaven and Earth Formation. The Formation Spirit Bai Xirou mentioned is the spirit of that Formation. The illusion generated for the entry assessment was just a tiny, insignificant part of the Sect Formation.

Reasonably speaking, a Sect Formation is the Foundation of a Sect. With a Formation Spirit, its power increases manifold, and with the home-field advantage, it wouldn't be easily broken by outsiders unless the enemy's strength was overwhelming.

Therefore, Formation Spirits are generally the guardian gods of a Sect and hold a respected status.

Taixuan Holy Land naturally has a mountain-protecting Formation, and the Formation Spirit within is a Mahayana Realm Innate Divine Beast, honored as one of the Holy Land's Grandmasters.

But from Bai Xirou's words, the relationship between Falling Cloud Valley and the Formation Spirit didn't seem very harmonious... Seeing his confused expression, Bai Xirou explained:

"Originally, the spirit of the Illusory Life Heaven and Earth Formation addressed the late Grandmaster as a brother, and they had a close relationship. But for some reason, after Grandmaster passed away, Senior Formation Spirit's attitude changed drastically."

"Except for sending out some Clones every three years to test the incoming Disciples, He is completely unconcerned with other matters in the valley, which has also caused the power of the Sect Formation to decrease significantly."

"I want to ask for your help to call Senior Formation Spirit out from the Formation core and ask Him why He is behaving this way."

"Huh?" Qi Yuan was stunned. "Go see that guy again?"

"Can't you tell the Formation Spirit is very dissatisfied with me? Are you sure sending me there isn't just adding fuel to the fire?"