100: Unable to complete the task, continue the task.

On the way to the Main Peak, Liao Yuan looked at his former Junior Brother, feeling very envious in his heart, because Su Chen had already reached a height he could only hope to attain.

"Don't you regret it?" Jiang Yan was the first to break the silence.

"There's nothing to regret; it's all fate." Liao Yuan showed a helpless expression, his tone melancholy. "Sometimes, to survive, one can even abandon the lives of their kin, right?"

Jiang Yan nodded. For the Blood Cloud Sect, perhaps that was indeed the case; after all, as long as one lived, there was hope.

Liao Yuan continued, "Since I made my choice, I understand the principle that 'possessing a treasure makes one guilty,' so I have no regrets."

"True. After all, as an Iron Slave, no one will dare touch you. However, your future choices might show you hope," Jiang Yan reminded him intentionally.

Liao Yuan didn't understand the meaning of the latter half of Su Chen's words, but he was very clear about the first half.

Before long, the two arrived at the Sect Master Hall.

After bowing again, Jiang Yan led Liao Yuan into the hall.

The young man glanced at Liao Yuan and nodded with satisfaction. "Go to the foot of the Main Peak first and choose a residence. Someone will be there to teach you the rules."

"Yes, Iron Slave takes his leave." After bowing, Liao Yuan slowly backed out.

Just as Jiang Yan was about to leave with Liao Yuan, the young man spoke up. "Su Chen, stay. This seat has something to ask you."

Jiang Yan stopped in his tracks, turned around, and knelt on one knee, waiting for the young man's questioning.

As Liao Yuan completely left the Sect Master Hall, the young man stood up and walked over to Jiang Yan. He leaned down and scrutinized Jiang Yan closely, as if examining a loyal dog.

"Elder Tie recommended you to me, so you must have some extraordinary qualities." The young man's face was cold, and his tone was flat. "But I have no favorable impression of you. I don't know if it's because you hide yourself too well or if my suspicion is too heavy."

Hearing the young man mention Elder Tie, Jiang Yan knew that the so-called Sect Master was surnamed Tie. However, the Saint's suspicion of him left him feeling quite helpless, as he was indeed hiding himself.

However, there were some things he couldn't say; he could only play dumb. After all, with his current strength, even if he could escape the pursuit of the four Peak Masters, he couldn't escape Elder Tie's lethal hands.

Seeing Su Chen remain silent, the young man gave a disdainful smile and continued, "I have a mission here. If you complete it, I will allow you to be a dao protector. If you can't, you will understand the consequences."

"Please rest assured, Saint. Your subordinate will certainly complete the mission," Jiang Yan said firmly.

"Very good. I like dogs that obey me." The young man sneered, his tone indifferent. "I heard you've been targeted by Heartless. In that case, bring back his head."

Hearing the Saint give him an impossible task, Jiang Yan truly wanted to stand up and kill him. He felt this wasn't a mission, but a death sentence.

Seeing Su Chen not rising to accept the order, the young man sneered, "What? Why are you still dazed? Didn't you say you could complete this mission?"

"May I ask the Saint if there is a time limit?" Jiang Yan asked.

"It must be completed within one month. If you fail, you will bear the consequences!" the young man said.

"Yes, your subordinate will strive to complete it." Jiang Yan accepted the order, stood up, and slowly withdrew from the Sect Master Hall.

Watching Jiang Yan's departing figure, the red-robed Elder Tie slowly walked out from the side.

"Does the Saint not want Su Chen?" Elder Tie asked.

"Just a dog. There are many dogs in the Sect more powerful than him. If he can complete this mission, I will consider taking him in. If he fails, you help me kill him," the young man said flatly.

"Yes, this old slave understands," Elder Tie complied.

In Elder Tie's view, it was indeed a bit of a pity, but as he was only a dao protector, he had to obey his master's words.

"Alright, send word to the main Sect. Tell them that before long, I will be uniting with the Glazed Jade Body. Have them open the Teleportation Array in one year," the young man ordered with a wave of his hand.

"Yes, this old slave will report it immediately." Elder Tie acknowledged and disappeared from the Sect Master Hall.

Inside the Spiritual Object Hall.

Jiang Yan didn't take that bullshit Saint's words to heart. After all, once he completed another mission to hunt a Fourth Realm Demonic Beast or an Evil Spirit, he could sever his connection to the soul lamp. This was his primary objective.

As for that one-month deadline—heh, who knows who will be killing whom by then!

On the way, he had already devised a plan. Anyone with a functioning brain would know how to choose.

After accepting the mission, Jiang Yan did not linger in the Blood Cloud Sect. After all, time was very precious to him now.

After disguising himself, he hid among the Disciples going out and left the Blood Cloud Sect.

Just as he followed a few Disciples out of the Blood Cloud Sect toward the Marketplace entrance, Heartless was standing in mid-air, gazing toward the direction of the Blood Cloud Sect.

Ever since Jiang Yan's Buddha Seal was erased by Su Qingyan, Heartless had been waiting here.

Initially, Heartless felt that a mere Blood Cloud Sect Disciple couldn't possibly detect his methods, but after the Buddha Seal was erased, he regretted it.

Because only now did he suspect that Jiang Yan was not an ordinary Disciple at all, but likely someone of an Elder's status. After all, Blood Sons were always followed by Servants, yet Jiang Yan was alone.

Heartless used his Divine Soul to observe every Blood Cloud Sect Disciple. When he observed Jiang Yan, he felt a sense of familiarity, though the appearance was different.

Feeling the Divine Soul observation sweep past him, Jiang Yan felt a sense of relief. He was truly afraid of being targeted by this Buddha Son.

After renting a horse from a horse dealer with several other Disciples, he headed toward Bright Moon Mountain.

Once he had completely left the Marketplace, Jiang Yan found a deserted place, released the horse, and instantly flew toward the Hundred Beasts Mountain Range.

'This bullshit cultivation world has no good people.'

Jiang Yan grumbled as he flew. He felt this pit was impossible to escape. On one side was the Saint who wanted to kill him, on another was the Buddha Son who wanted to "transcend" him, and on the others were Li Yi and Su Qingyan.

At night, Jiang Yan arrived at Bright Moon Mountain. He didn't go to the Blood Cloud Sect outpost; after all, his mission was to enter the Hundred Beasts Mountain Range and hunt a Fourth Realm Demonic Beast, so taking the Bright Moon Mountain passage was the safest choice.

After greeting the Stationed Elders from other Sects there, he flew toward the Bright Moon Mountain passage.

The Hundred Beasts Mountain Range in the dark of night was very silent; not even the chirping of insects could be heard.

After passing through the Formation Restrictions, Jiang Yan began to move forward cautiously. After all, there were demonic beasts here exceeding the Sixth Realm, so he had to restrain his aura to the extreme.

Just as he passed through a patch of shrubs, a Fourth Realm Phantom Shadow Leopard on a tree slowly opened its beastly eyes.

Feeling the killing intent, Jiang Yan turned and rolled quickly. Immediately after, the Phantom Shadow Leopard landed exactly where he had just been standing.

Looking at the Phantom Shadow Leopard, which was the size of a van, Jiang Yan hurriedly drew his longsword and became vigilant.

"Swish!"

The Phantom Shadow Leopard's sharp claws glinted with a cold light under the moonlight, instantly tearing through the afterimage Jiang Yan left behind.

The moment he rolled to the side, the longsword in his hand slashed out horizontally. The blade swept across the leopard's claws, but only a string of sparks erupted.

'Good grief, this beast's speed is truly fast enough!'

Jiang Yan had originally wanted to slice its underbelly, but its sharp claws blocked the vital spot.

Just as he was thinking about how to kill this fellow, the Phantom Shadow Leopard suddenly pounced again.

Jiang Yan's pupils constricted, and he immediately changed his move. Before the sword momentum could fade, it turned into an upward thrust, aiming directly for the Phantom Shadow Leopard's most vulnerable spot—the tip of its nose. The beast retreated in pain, a thunderous low growl coming from its throat.

Even worse, six more pairs of eerie green beastly eyes lit up in the shrubs!

Jiang Yan switched his sword to his left hand and quickly pulled out a talisman pouch with his right. At the moment three Phantom Shadow Leopards pounced simultaneously, he threw out five Thunder-Fire Talismans... "Boom!"

In the firelight of the explosion, the first leopard to pounce was overturned onto the ground, but the other two actually knew to flank him. One of them circled to Jiang Yan's back, its sharp claws reaching straight for his heart!

"Clang!"

At the critical moment, Jiang Yan flipped his hand and pressed the back of his sword against his own back, precisely blocking the sneak attack. However, the massive impact still sent his blood and Qi churning, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

'Damn it, Fourth Realm Demonic Beasts are indeed not easy to deal with.'

Wiping away the blood, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes. He took out nine Flying Sword Talismans with his right hand and threw them out quickly.

The Flying Sword Talismans weren't very powerful—they couldn't even kill a Second Realm Demonic Beast—but Jiang Yan intended to use these nine talismans to buy himself time.

As the nine Flying Sword Talismans shot out in a triangular Formation, Jiang Yan gripped his sword with his right hand. Within a three-zhang radius, fallen leaves began to move on their own without any wind.

"Sword Rain: Condense!"

Countless fallen leaves transformed into sharp sword blades and shot violently toward the three Phantom Shadow Leopards!

Taking advantage of their evasion, Jiang Yan's figure moved like lightning, his longsword aiming straight for the throat of the first injured leopard!

"Pfft!"