Chapter 38: Doing a Mission Together and the Zhao Family's Past Turmoil

Shen Mo arrived on the second floor of the Mission Pavilion.

Before he could look at the stone tablet to find the task, the Mission Pavilion steward hurriedly approached him, "Is that you, Junior Brother Shen? What task would you like to take on? I'll help you find it!"

Shen Mo looked at her. It was the same round-faced woman who was always dozing off before.

But now, she was full of energy. Shen Mo smiled.

The status of a true disciple really had its perks.

The last time he came to the Mission Pavilion, this steward had been quite indifferent towards him.

"Hunting the Amethyst Lion," Shen Mo nodded.

The round-faced woman quickly found the task.

"A five-star task, hunting the Amethyst Lion, with a reward of sixty low-grade spirit stones and a bottle of Foundation Pills."

After saying this, she immediately praised, "With Junior Brother Shen's strength, completing this task will surely be easy."

Five-star and six-star tasks were meant for Foundation Establishment realm disciples and stewards.

The difficulty of a five-star task was roughly suited for entry-level to great accomplishment Foundation Establishment realm.

Shen Mo smiled and nodded. This task seemed simple, only five stars.

In reality, it would provoke the Lion King and attract rogue cultivators' attacks.

The actual difficulty was definitely six stars. However, he wouldn't reveal this to anyone. After all, he saw it on Xiao Fan's life panel.

"Eh? Senior Brother Shen, you're here too?"

A familiar female voice sounded behind him. Shen Mo turned to see a slender and agile woman. It was Zhao Rou.

Zhao Rou said with surprise, "Senior Brother Shen, are you here for a task too? How about we do it together?"

Shen Mo was about to refuse but subconsciously glanced at her life panel.

[Name: Zhao Rou.]

[Realm: Peak Qi Refining Realm]

[Fate: Family Disciple, Surprisingly Lucky, Short-Lived, Skilled in Spears and Staffs, Pure Water Condensation Body.]

[Destiny: Today, she will take on a task to steal an Amethyst Lion cub, but will be caught by the Lion King provoked by Xiao Fan. While escaping, she will be attacked by Xiao Fan and used to stall the Lion King. Despite her desperate attempts to flee, she will be unable to escape and will ultimately be devoured by the Lion King.]

[Recent Opportunity 1: Today, she will find a mutated Amethyst Lion cub in the Lion's den.]

[Recent Opportunity 2: Today, while escaping, she will accidentally find a top-grade Profound rank treasure, the Everlasting Vine, by a small pool in Lion Roar Valley but will be unable to take it.]

Shen Mo felt a twinge of pity after reading this. Zhao Rou was a decent person. She was attractive, with a slender waist like a water snake.

Moreover, when he was soaking in the medicinal pool, she had always sided with him, believing he was a strong ally.

"Originally, she would have obtained the mutated Amethyst Lion cub and, if she didn't die this time, her strength would greatly improve. What a pity."

Shen Mo also noticed the Everlasting Vine.

The Everlasting Vine contained a vast amount of life energy and was one of the treasures mentioned in the Flame Hell Destruction Manual.

If refined into a pill, it would be even more effective. This item was rare and had to be secured.

"Since I'm taking her opportunity, I'll save her life as well. It's only fair."

With this thought, Shen Mo nodded slightly, "Alright, let's do the task together."

Zhao Rou beamed with a bright smile, "Thank you, Senior Brother Shen!"

The two then left the Mission Pavilion, heading straight for the area in the Qingcang Mountains where the Amethyst Lion resided.

Many disciples in the Mission Pavilion saw them so close and looked on with envy.

Zhao Rou was one of the top beauties among the inner disciples. But usually, she was indifferent to everyone.

Even the handsome Liu Yunxuan, Song Junjie, and the charming Xiao Fan had not stirred her heart.

Many male disciples thought she preferred women. Unexpectedly, she admired Shen Mo.

More than an hour after the two left the Mission Pavilion, Xiao Fan also arrived.

He planned to take on a high-difficulty task to test his strength.

After all, having just entered the Foundation Establishment realm, he was itching for action.

The round-faced woman saw the handsome Xiao Fan and immediately beamed with joy.

"Junior Brother Xiao, what task would you like to take on? I'll help you find it."

Xiao Fan discreetly glanced at her ample chest, then smiled gracefully, "Thank you, Senior Sister Steward. I just entered the Foundation Establishment realm and would like to take on a five-star task to test my skills."

"A five-star task..." The round-faced woman checked her records, "Unfortunately, the most suitable task for you, hunting the Amethyst Lion, has already been taken by Junior Brother Shen Mo and Junior Sister Zhao Rou."

A flicker passed through Xiao Fan's eyes. Shen Mo again! Why is this person always ahead of him?

Moreover, Shen Mo was doing a task with Zhao Rou. That slender-waisted girl had long been the object of his desires. Yet, Zhao Rou never gave him a chance.

Now, she had easily been taken by Shen Mo.

"Well, there's this task of stealing an Amethyst Lion cub. It has a good reward, and Junior Brother Xiao might find some lone Amethyst Lions to practice on." The round-faced woman smiled.

"Alright, I'll take this one." Xiao Fan nodded, took the task, and left the sect, heading towards the Qingcang Mountains.

...

On the other side.

Shen Mo and Zhao Rou were advancing through the dense forest.

Foundation Establishment cultivators could fly on swords, though the term "sword" could refer to any type of spiritual weapon.

However, sword flight was more stylish, so it was commonly referred to as such.

The two were not flying on swords because it consumed spiritual power too quickly and was unnecessary.

At the Core Formation stage, cultivators could truly fly using their spiritual energy, which consumed mostly the ambient spiritual energy, with only a small portion coming from their own reserves.

That was the best way for cultivators to travel.

As they walked, they chatted.

"...By the way, what happened recently that forced you and your brother to rush back to Gufeng City?" Shen Mo suddenly asked, recalling something.

Zhao Rou sighed, "There have been rogue cultivators forming a bandit camp around Gufeng City, frequently attacking the city's merchant caravans, severely harming the business interests of the Gufeng City Chamber of Commerce."

"Three years ago, our Zhao family led several small families and hired experts at great expense to flatten the bandit camp. Almost all the bandits were killed, except for their leader."

"Recently, somehow, that bandit leader reached the Foundation Establishment realm and obtained a Profound-grade spiritual weapon. He gathered a group of Qi Refining rogue cultivators and attacked our Zhao family's assets."

"My second uncle was killed, my third uncle was severely injured, and my father lost a hand."

"The situation was dire, so the family had no choice but to send letters asking us to hurry home and help."

Zhao Rou shook her head, "Who knew that as soon as we got home, there were signs that Qingxuan Cave was about to open here in the sect."

Shen Mo pondered. These events seemed too coincidental.

Considering Liu Yuanfeng's dealings with the Divine Sword Sect and Song Chaofeng's connections with the Green Vine Sect, it became clear.

He could guess that one of them had secretly instigated these events.

Given their abilities, it wasn't difficult for them to help a rogue cultivator at the peak of Qi Refining reach the Foundation Establishment realm and arm him with some Profound-grade spiritual weapons.

"You must have guessed something, right? My brother did too, but he didn't want to tell me. He said it would be worse for me to know." Zhao Rou sighed.

Shen Mo nodded slightly, "It's better not to know for now. The mastermind behind this will reveal themselves eventually. Just wait."

"Alright, I trust Senior Brother Shen." Zhao Rou nodded repeatedly, having great confidence in Shen Mo.