Chapter 10: Did He Just Smile?

[Ding! The Host has been given four options to choose from. Please select one option carefully; any mistake could lead to your death.]

Reon's steps halted just before he entered the Outer Section of Frost Mountain Cave. He wasn't expecting a mission at this moment—the System had no fixed schedule for issuing tasks, making its timing As Unpredictable As Ever.

A translucent panel appeared before his eyes, listing four options.

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[Option 1: Accept the punishment and proceed to the Outer Section of Frost Mountain Cave.

Reward: Foundation Stabilizing Pill (Common-Grade).]

[Option 2: Say "Even though I am now an Outer Sect disciple, when I attacked the junior, I was still an Inner Sect disciple, so I must proceed to the Inner Section of Frost Mountain Cave." 

Reward: Foundation Stabilizing Pill (Uncommon-Grade), A Technique Insight Ticket (Rare-Grade).]

[Option 3: Say "A disciple cannot grow stronger without taking risks in life; they must face life-and-death situations to advance. Therefore, I must proceed to the Core Section of Frost Mountain Cave." 

Reward: A Sword Technique (Rare-Grade).]

[Option 4: Say "A disciple could never become World's Strongest without courting death" and procced to the Heart of Frost Mountain Cave.

Reward: A Beautiful White Coffin (Rare-Grade).]

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Reon's face twitched as he read through the options.

The first option was undoubtedly the safest. Though the Outer Section of the cave would still be harsh, he was confident he could endure it despite being only at the Stage-1 Qi Refining Realm.

However, the reward was underwhelming—just a Grade-1 Foundation Stabilizing Pill.

The third option caught his attention momentarily. In his first mission, the third option had been the best choice, but here?

The Core Section of the cave was no joke.

Even Golden Core Formation cultivators could perish if they weren't careful. The reward was tempting, but the risk was outright terrifying.

Then, there was the fourth option.

Reon almost choked on air when he read it.

"A Beautiful White Coffin," even classified as Rare-Grade? They were bidding farewell in style! 

"This System is definitely messing with me."

The Heart of Frost Mountain Cave was a place that even Nascent Soul Realm cultivators feared.

It was a place where time twisted, and the cold itself could devour one's Spiritual cores.

Courting death? More like marrying it!

He swiftly erased the fourth option from his mind before it could tempt fate any further.

Then, his eyes landed on the second option.

While it was far riskier than the first, the reward was significantly better. The Grade-2 Foundation Stabilizing Pill alone was a rare resource, capable of assisting even a Qi Solidification Realm cultivator.

Moreover, the Technique Insight Ticket (Rare-Grade)—though he didn't fully understand its function—was undeniably Valuable.

This was a Calculated risk, and he needed to take it.

With a deep breath, Reon withdrew his foot just before stepping into the Outer Section and made his choice.

[Ding! Host has selected the Second Option. Please proceed to complete the task to claim your reward.]

The air grew tense.

The Disciplinary Hall disciples standing behind him stiffened, their gazes sharp and expectant.

They assumed he was refusing to accept the punishment—even though it had already been reduced to just three days in the Outer Section.

Knowing his notorious past, they were already prepared to force him inside.

But before they could act, Reon spoke—his voice steady and resolute.

"Senior Brother Long, although I'm now an Outer Sect disciple, when I attacked Junior Brother Yang, I was still part of the Inner Sect. Therefore, I should go to the Inner Section of Frost Mountain Cave."

Silence.

A suffocating, stunned silence.

The Disciplinary Hall disciples' eyes widened, disbelief flickering across their faces.

Of all the countless scenarios they had envisioned, this was not one of them.

Xue Taiyang—this troublemaker, this arrogant scoundrel—was voluntarily asking for a harsher punishment?

They had expected resistance.

They had prepared to drag him in kicking and screaming.

But this?

"What?!" One disciple blurted out, utterly dumbfounded.

They half-expected it to be mockery, but the look on Xue Taiyang's face said otherwise.

Long Ming, who had been silent until now, narrowed his eyes. His sharp gaze locked onto Reon, searching for any sign of deception.

"Are you serious?" he asked, his tone carrying both doubt and curiosity.

Reon met his gaze head-on, his expression firm.

"Yes, Senior Brother," he affirmed, his voice unwavering.

Long Ming's eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion.

Then, he paused.

A memory surfaced in his mind—words spoken by his master years ago:

"A man who acknowledges his mistakes and works tirelessly to correct them... that is the greatest person you will ever encounter.

If you find such a man, Make it a priority to befriend him for life."

A quiet chuckle escaped his lips. Heh… I've searched for such a person for years. Yet, not once did I find one.

Until now.

For a moment, Long Ming's lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile—so fleeting, so imperceptible, that even he seemed unaware of it.

And just as swiftly, it was gone.

But Reon saw it.

A shiver ran down his spine.

"Did he just smile?!"

He wasn't the only one.

The disciples standing behind Long Ming had also noticed, and they all felt a deep unease settle over them.

There was an unspoken rule within the Disciplinary Hall:

"If Senior Brother Long Ming smiles, something significant is about to happen."

They all prayed that it was just their imagination.

But was it?

Long Ming straightened his posture and, with a calm yet commanding tone, said:

"Alright. Very well. Come with me."

A ripple of shock spread through the disciples.

But before they could question further—

Reon nodded, his voice steady and unwavering.

"Understood."