Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!

As she spoke, Elder Lu flicked her finger, and a set of writing tools appeared on the table in front of her. She picked up the brush and quickly wrote the letter with bold strokes.

Then she folded the letter into a butterfly, blew on it gently, and the paper butterfly fluttered out of the window, disappearing into the distance.

Having said this, Jiang Yuan no longer paid attention to the countdown of the side mission. He took out the Mandarin Duck Swords and said, "There's one last thing. Besides picking some peaches during the trip to Wo Hu Mountain, I also found these swords. They seem to bear the emblem of Qingfeng Hall, so I wanted to ask if any sect disciples have recently disappeared without a trace?

After all, Demon Monk Guang Hui has cultivated the Cannibal Peach Tree more than once. Judging from the situation where I found these treasure swords, they were likely lost at Wo Hu Mountain over a thousand years ago, right when the peaches matured..."

He spoke out the details identified by the system in a speculative tone, causing a sudden silence among the three elders in the quiet room upon seeing the Mandarin Duck Swords.

"So that's how it is!" After a long while, Elder Qi sighed, "The Mandarin Duck Swords are indeed Spirit Swords worn by the disciples of Qingfeng Hall. Wei Zhi and Ai Qing Bamboo were recognized as their owners by the Spirit Swords.

Back then, Qingfeng Hall hadn't closed its gates, and the sect's disciples frequently traveled outside, often getting into skirmishes with Demon and Evil Cultivators. Many lost their lives as a result. Thus, we later decided to completely focus on cultivation within the sect, and their disappearance had a direct impact on this decision. They were outstanding talents among the children of the sect, a rarity only seen once every few hundred years.

They met, knew each other, and fell in love, becoming a legendary pair within the sect.

The Hall Master personally bestowed this pair of Spirit Swords to them, acknowledging their abilities. However, at that time, Wei Zhi's master, the Third Elder of Qingfeng Hall, failed to advance and was nearing the end of his lifespan. The two of them went out to search for earth treasures that could extend lifespans, and were never heard from again."

"After those two children vanished, we sent people to look for them everywhere. The Sect Leader of Cloud Concealment Sect helped calculate the situation. He feared the two had likely perished, but never could determine the specific reason or their exact location.

At the time, everyone thought they must have encountered a powerful Demon or Evil Cultivator, otherwise, with their swordsmanship, they should have been able to send out a distress signal."

Jiang Yuan sighed with a pang in his heart: "That peach tree root is incredibly strong, capable of devouring all Spiritual Power. If there were no other communication methods apart from sending distress signals, it's not that they couldn't send out a signal, but knowing they were doomed, they wouldn't want others to fall into the same trap of being devoured alive."

[Countdown: 00:00:03]

[...02]

[...01]

[Side Mission: The Generation of Two Geniuses - Task 1: Carry the Mandarin Duck Swords to Qingfeng Hall to sense the aura of old acquaintances, completed. Reward: A blueprint for high-quality Mandarin Duck Swords has been issued]

[Task 2: Please remove the sect emblem from the Mandarin Duck Swords to make them truly ownerless. Reward: Mandarin Duck Sword Manual +1]

Seeing the task that popped up, Jiang Yuan's eye twitched, thinking to himself that he would not complete this task.

Having the blueprint for the Spirit Swords is good enough. After all, these items belonged to sect disciples, and with a Sword Spirit being very precious, whether kept as mementos or passed on to other disciples within the sect, it's their matter, not his.

"Since it's confirmed to be the swords of your sect's disciple, today I'm returning them to their rightful owner. Although unfortunate, since we know of their whereabouts and the experiences of the sword owners during their lifetime, they didn't die in vain without leaving a trace." Seeing that the hour was late, he stood up to take his leave, "As requested by Senior Lin, I still have to deliver peaches to other sects, so I won't trouble you seniors any further."

Elder Qi looked at the swords for a moment, then held up a hand to stop him: "Hold on a second. This sword longs to commemorate its former owner and has no intention of staying behind for closed-door cultivation; it prefers to hone its edge in battle instead. So..."

As a Ninth Grade Artifact Refiner, Qi Xiu sensed the desire of the Spirit Swords and erased the sect emblem engraved on the sword body before handing the pair of swords back to Jiang Yuan, "I'll trouble you to find them a new pair of owners."

[Side Mission: The Generation of Two Geniuses - Task 2: Remove the sect emblem from the Mandarin Duck Swords, task completed, reward: Mandarin Duck Sword Manual has been issued]

[Task 3: Please find a pair of humans cultivators with deep affection and high talent to whom the Mandarin Duck Swords can be given as a gift. Reward: Skill Points +1]

Jiang Yuan: Meow Meow Meow?

No way... Do you really cooperate with the system to issue tasks like this?

Such perfectly good Spirit Swords, and you just give them away like that?! Truly befitting one of the ten ancient sects, so extravagantly wealthy!

The completion of the side quest was unexpectedly smooth, and even after leaving Qingfeng Hall, he still couldn't quite believe it.

Only when a gentle whirlwind lifted him to the mountain peak did Jiang Yuan remember Elder Qi's parting words, "Although the Sword Spirit seems gentle, it has its own temper. If provoked, it will seal itself. Finding it a new owner must be done carefully to prevent the Spirit Sword from acting out."

"So you could indeed act out?" he knocked on the exquisite sword body and asked, "Since you possess a spirit, can't you tell me what kind of owner you desire?"

The Mandarin Duck Swords remained motionless, as quiet as a chicken.

He pressed on: "Without giving any clues, you want me to wander aimlessly looking for people? Besides, if you could act out, could you at least help me when I get into trouble while searching for your new owner?"

Still no response, probably its temperamental self-ignoring him.

"Well, if you don't speak, I'll consider it as consent!" Jiang Yuan strapped the Mandarin Duck Swords on his back, and looked at his reflection in the lake on the mountain peak, "I have to say, I do look quite dashing!"

Carrying a pair of impressive Spirit Swords, he opened the Teleportation Scroll and headed for the next destination.

He used to hate map-running tasks in games, exhausting and unfulfilling, often involving a few trivial dialogues once he got there, with little reward.

But now he absolutely loved map-running!

Delivering warmth from door to door, whichever elder saw him had to give a courtesy gift to a junior. Making rounds through the top ten sects, not only could he solve the issue of surplus peaches but also become familiar with notable figures, and collect some prizes along the way.

Ultimately, he was seeing Supreme Elders of the deeply rooted ancient top ten sects, each having lived for millennia and seen countless treasures. Even the smallest bounty slipping through their fingers would be hard to come by for him.

The only surviving Supreme Elder of Chenxi Valley appeared to be a dashing young man who seemed at most in his thirties, though the overwhelming sense of antiquity in his eyes indicated his vast experiences.

Even with Jiang Yuan carrying a title that increased affinity, the elder merely sized him up and asked coldly: "Lin Yao wants to take you as a closed-door disciple. Why did you refuse?"

Jiang Yuan: ???

Truly curious about how Senior Lin Yao worded her letter?

Why did she make sure to mention this failed apprenticeship attempt in messages to every old friend?

The disdainful tone suggested unhappiness, and indeed, the elder before him appeared rather displeased.

Before Jiang Yuan could respond, the elder questioned him sternly, "Do you know how many people yearn to take her as their master, crying out for such a great opportunity, and just how could you, a young lad, turn her down?"