Chapter 88: Descending the Mountain

“You can choose a divine ability from another peak.”

Upon hearing this reward, Chen Luo immediately made his decision.

Such an opportunity to learn openly was rare and far safer than attempting it alone. The Divine Lake Immortal Sect, being a large sect with strict internal regulations, punished those who secretly acquired divine abilities from other main peaks by expulsion.

As for the potential dangers of the mission, Chen Luo had no concerns.

In joint missions, participants work as part of a team, not individually. Moreover, Wu Dao Peak’s role primarily involved assisting the group by countering psychic attacks and enchanting spells, positioning them as support members.

Having made up his mind, Chen Luo promptly headed towards the main hall where missions were assigned.

Large-scale missions were typically announced at the central hall, while Huang Butong oversaw smaller tasks within the sect.

Upon entering the hall, Chen Luo saw over a dozen individuals already present.

They were all there to compete for missions.

Chen Luo didn’t express any concern; everyone relied on their own capabilities after all. He found a quiet corner and patiently waited.

Some of the people ahead glanced at Chen Luo, noting his cultivation level at the mid-stage of Qi Refinement before paying him no further attention.

The requirement to accept this joint mission was at least Mid-Stage Qi Refinement; those weaker were advised not to embarrass themselves.

A burly man with a bare chest entered, his bald head gleaming brightly and face marked by a determined expression, bearing a scar on his left cheek. His muscles seemed as solid as steel, exuding an aura of fierce aggression.

This newcomer was from Divine Fire Peak, the designated leader for this mission!

“I am Yuan Gang, head disciple of Divine Fire Peak, responsible for this joint mission.”

Yuan Gang’s gaze swept across everyone in the hall, releasing the formidable presence characteristic of Late Stage Qi Refinement. The title of head disciple is earned through the sect’s grand competition. Unfortunately, Chen Luo hadn’t participated, so he couldn’t gauge the true significance of this achievement.

Late Stage Qi Refinement! At least the ninth layer of Qi Refinement.

Sensing the aura emanating from Yuan Gang, all the disciples present in the main hall displayed expressions of utmost seriousness.

The cultivation path becomes increasingly challenging with each step forward. Starting from the fourth level of Qi Condensation, which acts as a watershed, nearly seventy percent of practitioners are eliminated. Another batch fails at the seventh level, leaving only the elite behind. Achieving Foundation Establishment is even more arduous. In a large sect like the Divine Lake Immortal Sect, there are barely over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators, each holding the status of elders, commanding respect and authority, feared by all.

If such individuals were to establish their own cultivator clan, they would become local overlords.

A single Foundation Establishment cultivator could safeguard a clan for five hundred years without decline. With proper training and succession of disciples, this protection could even extend to a thousand years. Many subordinate cultivator clans within the Divine Lake Immortal Sect were precisely of this nature.

“I require eight people. Compete amongst yourselves, and let the weaker ones voluntarily step aside.”

Yuan Gang’s tone left no room for dissent, clearly accustomed to being authoritative on Divine Fire Peak. Even at Wu Dao Peak, he maintained this commanding demeanor. Unfortunately, this generation lacked exceptional talent; there were only a few in Late Stage Qi Refinement, most already preparing for Foundation Establishment. Some might not even be present on the mountain.

“I claim one spot.” A stern-faced disciple stepped forward, unabashedly displaying his sixth-layer Qi Refinement aura.

“Count me in as well.”

Two more disciples emerged subsequently, both with sixth-layer Qi Refinement cultivation bases.

After these three, another five followed suit, quickly nearing the required count of eight.

“Include me—”

“You may stand down.”

Just as the eighth person began speaking, a hand gently rested on his shoulder. Turning back, he saw Chen Luo’s unfamiliar face.

A newcomer?

Recalling past interactions, he instantly recognized Chen Luo’s identity, as older disciples knew each other well.

Realizing this, the disciple felt a surge of annoyance and instinctively prepared to teach the newcomer a lesson.

However, just as he began circulating his spiritual energy, it was swiftly suppressed by a far stronger force. Unable to resist, he meekly complied like a quail.

Qi Refinement fifth layer?!

This revelation caused several Wu Dao Peak disciples’ expressions to change dramatically. They never anticipated finding such a genius among the newly promoted.

But…

What is his name?

“Alright, you eight will take on this mission.”

Unaware of the situation and not recognizing Chen Luo, Yuan Gang simply noticed that the group size was finalized. He promptly issued a mission mark to each of the eight individuals before hastily departing.

As the task required coordination across all four main peaks, he still had two more peaks to visit, leaving him with a tight schedule.

“‘Glory of the Immortal Sect, shall not be infringed. Xixia Market, spare none!’”

Chen Luo activated the mission mark, revealing these chilling words. He could already envision the fate awaiting Xixia Market; clearly, the Divine Lake Immortal Sect had no intention of discerning right from wrong. Their purpose was solely to instill fear.

In the eyes of cultivation sects, rogue cultivators were akin to wild dogs—eliminate one batch, and another would quickly emerge. The true priority was to establish the rules.

The true purpose was to enforce the rules.

Those who did not receive tasks departed individually.

The disciple from whom Chen Luo had taken the mission specifically stopped and walked up to him, not out of defiance but curiosity. In his recollection, this junior brother had never visited the Mission Hall before, nor had anyone seen him accept any tasks.

“Excuse me, Shixiong, have you just entered the sect this year? Why haven’t I seen you before?”

“I was busy with cultivation and only recently completed seclusion,” Chen Luo replied vaguely, then turned to leave.

With only one day given for preparations, he needed to make arrangements promptly. The other disciples who received missions also left shortly after.

“You’ve reached the fifth level of Qi Condensation?!” Outside the Mission Hall, Fu An watched as Chen Luo emerged and couldn’t help but exclaim.

Despite hearing it from others already, he still found it hard to believe. While he struggled with advancing through the third layer of Qi Refinement, Chen Luo, who had joined the sect at the same time, had become a cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Condensation, surpassing even veteran shixionsg.

How could there be such a vast gap? What went wrong along the way?

Fu An fell silent.

In that moment, the ambitious Fu An, who had eagerly entered the immortal sect, died within himself. His arrogance vanished, replaced by a newfound understanding.

He realized now that he was not a genius, merely an ordinary individual lost among many.

“Lucky breakthrough,” Chen Luo said, unaware of Fu An’s internal turmoil. Seeing his acquaintance, he seized the opportunity to ask for a favor. “If you encounter Junior Sister Huang Ying, please let her know I need a spirit talisman tracing copybook.”

“Sure.” Fu An nodded.

“Thanks.”

Chen Luo patted him on the shoulder and hurriedly departed.

There was only one day to prepare, which couldn’t be wasted.

He needed to exchange Fasting Pills, Detoxification Pills, and other essentials beforehand.

The night passed uneventfully.

Early morning sunlight filtered through the forest, casting dappled patterns as it pierced between tree branches. The stone steps leading down the mountain still glistened with dewdrops from dawn.

After half a year, this was Chen Luo’s first time descending these stairs.

At the former cliff edge, Immortal Crane Chengfeng stood on one leg atop a peculiar rock, its head tucked under its wing, asleep amidst the breeze.

As Chen Luo passed by, he特意 brought some food for the crane. For quite some time, he had relied on offering provisions to Immortal Crane Chengfeng just to get by. Unfortunately, the crane paid him no heed throughout, deeply engrossed in sleep. Even when Chen Luo’s figure disappeared completely up the steps, there was no response whatsoever.

“I’m heading down the mountain.”

Standing at the foot of the hill, Chen Luo took a deep breath.

Having not ventured off the mountain for half a year, he almost forgot what the outside world looked like.