Chapter 9 Assessment Tasks

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"With a solid foundation built up over time, I've finally made a breakthrough to the Dao Palace realm. Elder Brother, you flatter me."

"Now that you've reached the Dao Palace realm, according to our Mount Shu's rules, as long as you complete the Dao Palace realm assessment, Dao Palace realm elders can receive even more resources necessary for their cultivation every month."

"Please elaborate, Elder Brother."

Lu Changsheng knew that Mount Shu elders who reached the Dao Palace realm needed to pass an assessment.

By passing the assessment, as a Dao Palace realm elder, one could obtain more cultivation resources from Mount Shu every month.

Indeed, it was survival of the fittest, even in a world of cultivation; resources were limited, and the strong were entitled to more because Dao Palace realm elders could make greater contributions to Mount Shu and protect the sect for a longer time compared to Nascent Soul realm elders.

The assessment task for the elder should have been announced by Sect Leader Taiyuan, but since Taiyuan was in seclusion, it was instead assigned by Elder Brother Li Changye.

"You have cultivated at Mount Shu for a hundred years without experiencing the secular world. To stay behind closed doors can lead to deviation. It would be good to use this assessment as an opportunity to gain some experience. Do you know about Huang State?"

"Hmm. Huang State is located to the far south, with a million great mountains, all dense forests and wild tribal lands. The territories of the Huang Tribe and Demon Race crisscross there, its size not inferior to our Xia State."

"Exactly. Fifty years ago, there was turmoil in Huang State. The Huang Tribe and Demon Race were in constant conflict, which could potentially extend to our Xia State. Do you know about Liang Kingdom?"

"Are you referring to the Liang Kingdom in the southern part of Xia State?"

"Liang Kingdom is one of the top ten populous vassal countries in Xia State, bordering Huang State, and is also within the sphere of influence of the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, one of the six Orthodox Sects. Recently, a branch set up by the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion on the border of Huang State was attacked. Three Nascent Soul realm elders and several hundred disciples... none survived."

"Since it is within the territory of the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, the matter should be resolved by them."

Lu Changsheng was secretly shocked.

The Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, one of the six Orthodox Sects, although not as profound in heritage as Mount Shu, had existed for two hundred thousand years. And yet, someone dared to massacre one of their branches?

"That's the rationale, but the turmoil in Huang State affects not just the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion. Therefore, they requested that Mount Shu dispatch an elder to join their elders and investigate the matter on the borders of Huang State. This is both the wish of the Fairy Pavilion Master and my own."

"Elder Brother is truly the disciple that the Sect Leader values most, with such foresight. So you intend for me to go there?"

"That's right, it's an excellent opportunity for you to gain experience now that you've reached the Dao Palace realm. Inquiry Immortal Pavilion will send three Dao Palace realm elders, with Elder Ku Mu leading the team. If I remember correctly, his cultivation is around the fourth level of the Dao Palace realm. This shows how seriously Inquiry Immortal Pavilion is taking this matter. With the fourth-level Dao Palace realm Elder Ku Mu leading the team, and with you joining them, totaling four Dao Palace realm elders, it should not be too dangerous. Of course, caution is paramount when traveling."

Li Changye briefly explained the content of the assessment task.

Lu Changsheng understood that the main effort to resolve the issue would come from the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion.

As for his own role, it was akin to that of an observer.

As Xia State's foremost Orthodox Sect, Mount Shu had to guard against potential threats.

A fourth-level Dao Palace realm expert leading the team should prevent any mishaps, right?

After Mount Shu's disciple induction ceremony, Lu Changsheng had not yet found another suitable disciple.

This journey could be an opportunity to scout for a potential disciple.

Lu Changsheng had the Disciple Apprenticeship Simulator, which could automatically search for suitable disciples nearby, saving him the trouble.

"Then when do we depart?"

"Within ten days, rush to Zhen Nan Pass in Liang Kingdom."

"Understood."

"After returning, report to me the occurrences on the borders of Huang State, and you will have completed your assessment."

After assigning the assessment task, Li Changye left through Sword Flight.

With the Disciple Apprenticeship Simulator in hand, Lu Changsheng truly wasn't concerned about the monthly stipend provided by Mount Shu.

Nevertheless, completing the sect's missions could accumulate points to exchange for rare treasures, cultivation techniques, and elixir pills in the Treasure Pavilion.

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Moreover, Lu Changsheng descended the mountain once to see if there were any naturally gifted individuals he could take on as disciples.

Before leaving, Lu Changsheng did not forget to fleece the system once more.

Lu Changsheng summoned his disciple Lin Qingzhi and continued the power-infusing initiation.

This time, Lu Changsheng expended three hundred days of Heavenly Cultivation, Lin Qingzhi actually gained sixty days of cultivation, and Lu Changsheng received an eightyfold reward, returning four thousand eight hundred days of Heavenly Cultivation.

Lu Changsheng felt that the spiritual energy within his Dantian had increased by a fair amount, and his Dao Palace became more stable.

"This third-grade Elixir Pill 'Soul-Returning Pill' can consolidate your Dao heart after your soul has been attacked. I award it to you to save your life," he said.

Lu Changsheng took out a third-grade Elixir Pill.

"Thank you, Master."

In these past days, Lin Qingzhi had been given various magical treasures, Elixir Pills, and cultivation techniques by Lu Changsheng to the point of becoming numb to it.

If he did not accept the rewards, Lu Changsheng would be furious.

In Lin Qingzhi's eyes, his master was undoubtedly a strange person.

[Ding, you have awarded your disciple 'Lin Qingzhi' a third-grade Elixir Pill and obtained a ten-thousandfold return reward from the Disciple Apprenticeship Simulator: a seventh-grade Elixir Pill 'Nine Nether Soul Gathering Pill.']

[Ding, the number of rewards you can give today -1.]

A seventh-grade Elixir Pill?!

Lu Changsheng was also startled by the return from the Disciple Apprenticeship Simulator this time.

This time, he had actually triggered a ten-thousandfold reward, returning a seventh-grade Elixir Pill!

A seventh-grade Elixir Pill, even in Mount Shu, was a rare treasure.

The Nine Nether Soul Gathering Pill, even for cultivators at the Dao Palace Realm, if their souls were attacked and weren't completely scattered, could restore their soul upon consuming it.

"I need to go down the mountain in the coming days; meanwhile, you refine the spiritual energy I have transferred to you," he instructed.

"Your disciple will cultivate with diligence."

Lin Qingzhi knew that Lu Changsheng did not want to elaborate, so he did not ask more and took serious effort in cultivation as the best way to repay his master.

Having bid his farewell, Lu Changsheng, with the Nine Heavens Imperial Thunder Sword on his back and dressed in the Taiyi Daoist Robe, prepared to descend the mountain.

Even though this mission seemed easy, for the sake of caution, Lu Changsheng still brought along various magical treasures and Elixir Pills.

The matter of Huang State, which attracted the attention of both Shu Mountain Sect and Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, two of the Orthodox Sects, and required four Dao Palace Realm experts to investigate the truth, was certainly not so simple.

A man drifting in the rivers and lakes cannot avoid getting slashed.

Lu Changsheng understood this truth, which applied in any world without exception.

Xia State was vast and boundless, but with Lu Changsheng's cultivation level, Sword Flight would only require a few days to arrive at Liang Kingdom.

Mount Shu was located in the central part of Xia State, while Inquiry Immortal Pavilion was in the southern part, and Liang Kingdom was within the sphere of influence of Inquiry Immortal Pavilion.

The original owner of the body that Lu Changsheng now possessed had cultivated for a total of two hundred and fifty years, mostly spent in Mount Shu, so his memories of the world outside Mount Shu were limited.

On this trip down the mountain, Lu Changsheng took the opportunity to connect with cultivators outside of Mount Shu.

With some luck, perhaps he could take on one or two more exceptional disciples.

"Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, among the six major Orthodox Sects, ranks fifth in strength. The Pavilion Master visited Mount Shu one thousand five hundred years ago and was defeated in three bouts against the Taiyuan True Immortal..."