The cultivation master

"Sect leader, was it the right decision to include Lu Zheng in the competition?"

"Elder Su, aren't you curious to see how that boy escaped from the mountains? You can only understand what he has hidden through action."

"But was revealing the existence of the spirit energy concentration zone necessary?"

"You can only catch big prey with a big bait."

"But if he's a zombie, then the spirit area holds no significance for him..."

"That's true, but even if he is a zombie, he can't reveal himself like that. He has to pretend to be the prey..."

On the other side of the sect, three venerable elders were assessing the current situation. Since they would be staying for a few more days due to the sect tournament, they needed to send a report about their delay to their sect. Their reason for accepting the proposal from the mist sect was not merely a matter of courtesy; they were also curious about Lu Zheng's abilities and true identity. If they intended to turn him over as a zombie, they needed to be somewhat certain first.

Initially, they intended to test him along the way, but now that the tournament issue had arisen, they could carry out this task without much effort. One of the three elders took a crystal ball from his storage ring and whispered an incantation into the air. The other two elders stood behind him, waiting for the connection to be established.

Suddenly, the crystal ball glowed white. It was a momentary brightness, so intense that it appeared like the moon for an instant.

"Greetings, Elder!"

The three elders bowed.

"What progress has been made?!"

"Elder, unfortunately, Suyun sustained serious injuries during the mission; the damage has been assessed and confirmed by us."

"What about the Titan?"

"Successfully subdued, and the spirit veins in the mountainous region have been restored."

"Very well, then why are you still there?"

"Elder, we have discovered a matter that requires further investigation."

"What matter? You have responsibilities that require your presence in the sect..."

"We understand, Elder. We will complete our investigation at the earliest and return to the sect."

"Very well, may the moon shine upon your path." And their communication was cut off.

In the mission hall, a spirited atmosphere prevailed. Fang Yuan seized the opportunity to review the missions. Sometimes, cultivators accepted missions under pseudonyms, in which case they were referred to as "freelance mercenaries."

Freelance mercenaries were, in fact, heroes who had helped cultivators and people anonymously during the emergence of anomalies thousands of years ago. In honor of them, cultivators who took on missions without wishing to reveal their names were called freelance mercenaries.

One elder who was lighting his long wooden pipe glanced at Fang Yuan and used his fingertips to ignite the dried spiritual herbs inside. He took a heavy puff and coughed several times before meticulously exhaling the smoke in the shape of a cumulonimbus cloud.

Fang Yuan picked up one of the missions, which involved suppressing a group of thieves, and approached the elder. The mission was engraved on a piece of enchanted wood, which confirmed the mission's completion when a few drops of the target's blood were spilled on it.

This was also one of the common methods for assassination and suppression missions in the world of cultivation. Of course, newer methods like mana gems and others were also prevalent, but this method was more favored among the cultivators of Murim and the Immortal society.

The elder glanced at Fang Yuan and muttered something to himself. Then, he pointed to a map drawn on the skin of a human, which was hanging on the wall behind him. Suddenly, a point in the eastern regions lit up.

"This mission is in the eastern regions. It takes three days to reach the target from here on foot. If you head southeast, you can catch a train and reach one of the surrounding cities in a day. From there, it's only a few hours to the target area. The specified mission duration is four days due to the distance. If you participate in the sect tournament, it's better to return before the competitions start. Let me see... hmmm... can it be in two days? Maybe three... eh... I don't know, but it's in your best interest not to prolong it too much."

"Understood, Elder."

The elder waved his hand in the air and said, "Alright, go quickly."

And he resumed smoking his pipe.

Fang Yuan immediately stowed the piece of wood into his collar and headed towards the exit. He passed by Yuno and Yan'er, who were selecting their missions, without a care, occasionally glancing at their chosen task but leaving the mission hall rather quickly.

The three venerable elders watched Fang Yuan as he exited the sect from a distance. In fact, if they didn't want him to, he wouldn't have been able to proceed with anything. They had allowed him to undertake a mission for the sect before the competition began in exchange for some spirit stones, helping him prepare for the tournament.

Moreover, they had made a pact with Fang Yuan to introduce him as a zombie and place a bounty on him if he attempted to escape. The three venerable elders had no reason to oppose this proposal. Whether Fang Yuan fled or returned, they would benefit from either outcome. If he escaped, the blame would fall on the mist sect for suggesting Fang Yuan's participation in the tournament, and the venerable elders would have agreed to this request out of respect.

If he returned, they could uncover his true power and secrets. It was a win-win deal for them.

One elder asked: "What do you think that kid will do?"

"Brother, I believe he will return."

"Hmm, I have a similar feeling. He won't just easily take the bait."

As the three elders watched Fang Yuan depart, they silently contemplated the decision he would make during this mission, but none of them knew what exactly was going through his mind.

Fang Yuan also noticed the intense gaze of the three venerable elders; he had even spotted Elder Su, who was following him from a distance through the Art of origami.

But the main question lingered: with so many eyes on him, could he safely gather his thoughts needed for the tournament, especially with only three days left before it began?

Fang Yuan smirked wickedly, as if eagerly awaiting this moment.

[Hahaha... A grand show is on the way! No matter how hard you struggle, in the end, it's me who will be laughing...]