62: Chapter 62 Mission Hall

Before long, he heard two Disciples wearing blue Outer Sect robes whispering nearby. Their tone was full of wariness, and their topic happened to revolve around the mission posted by Fairy Qingling.

"Look quickly, the reward for this mission is the Gale Sword Technique!"

"Are you crazy? This is a death-seeking mission!"

"What is going on?"

"That demonic Cultivator in Black Wind Valley has a powerful Magical Artifact in his hands, said to have infinite power. Many Disciples went to slay him but were killed by that Magical Artifact before they even saw the demonic Cultivator's face. Their remains couldn't even be recovered."

"I heard that several top-tier Outer Sect Disciples at Qi Refining Stage 9, unwilling to miss the reward, went to Black Wind Valley together. And the result? Not a single one returned; they all perished at the hands of that demonic Cultivator. It is said their deaths were tragic, all killed in one blow by the Magical Artifact."

"It's not just Outer Sect Disciples! After the Sect found out, they sent Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators to Black Wind Valley to suppress that demonic Cultivator. But that demonic Cultivator is extremely cunning and has unbelievably good Intelligence. As soon as he senses the aura of a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, he immediately hides deep within Black Wind Valley and refuses to come out. Even those Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators couldn't do anything to him and had to return empty-handed."

"Yes, with the terrain of Black Wind Valley as cover, a powerful Magical Artifact at his side, and his extreme cunning, Foundation Establishment Cultivators can't deal with him. If we Outer Sect Disciples go, we're just offering our heads. Who would be stupid enough to accept such a suicidal mission?"

The two Disciples' conversation gradually faded into the distance, but Qin Changsheng stood where he was, his expression grave, a ripple of emotion rising in his heart.

So, the reason this mission had no takers was because it was too dangerous.

The demonic Cultivator had a powerful Magical Artifact, possessed extreme stealth capabilities, and was incredibly cunning. Qi Refining Stage 9 Disciples were just going to their deaths, and even Foundation Establishment Cultivators found him difficult to deal with.

He slowly looked up and gazed at the pearly-white mission token again. A flash of hesitation crossed his eyes, but it was immediately replaced by determination.

While the danger was real, the reward for this mission could solve all his current predicaments: the "Gale Sword Technique" could compensate for his lack of combat Cultivation Techniques.

The Magical Artifact in the demonic Cultivator's hands perfectly filled the gap in Qin Changsheng's own arsenal.

Furthermore, his Cultivation had now reached Qi Refining Stage 7. With the blessing of numerous traits, his Cultivation Speed and strength far exceeded ordinary Outer Sect Disciples. With the assistance of traits like Exchange and Breath Concealment, his emergency response and stealth capabilities were extremely strong; it was not impossible for him to contend with the demonic Cultivator.

As for the powerful Magical Artifact in the demonic Cultivator's hands, while troublesome, if he could seize it, it would be his greatest Opportunity.

Qin Changsheng took a deep breath, suppressed the thoughts in his heart, and decided to send Hu Nan.

As for the mission itself, Qin Changsheng planned to accept it only after slaying the demonic Cultivator.

And he would hide near Black Wind Valley.

Whenever Hu Nan died, he would summon Hu Nan again.

He believed that as long as he summoned him enough times, he would be able to slay the demonic Cultivator and obtain the mysterious Magical Artifact.

Qin Changsheng turned and prepared to leave, when he suddenly bumped into an old man behind him.

"Senior Brother, I'm sorry!" Qin Changsheng said quickly.

"Junior Brother, be careful in the future!" The old man did not dwell on the matter with Qin Changsheng and instead walked under the mission board.

...

Heavenly Sword Sect. Servant Peak, Great Hall.

A man wearing red robes and a mask sat there.

Manager Ma Yingjie was standing respectfully below.

"Has the person who stole the spirit rice died yet?" the masked man asked.

"This..." Manager Ma Yingjie stammered, unsure how to answer for a moment.

"What exactly is the situation?" the masked man pressed.

"Young Lord, two more of our Sect members have died from the curse's backlash!" Manager Ma Yingjie replied.

"What?"

"How can this person have so much lifespan?" The masked man's expression was terrifyingly gloomy.

Ever since they were besieged by the Heavenly Sword Sect and other Schools several hundred years ago, there were only a few dozen Disciples left in their Blood Demon Sect.

Yet now, just to curse one person who stole spirit rice, they had lost five Disciples in succession.

And one of them was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

"Young Lord, this person must have a Magic Treasure protecting him!"

"I think we should stop the cursing!" Manager Ma Yingjie was also speechless.

He had originally thought that the person who stole the spirit rice was just a minor figure.

A casual curse would cause him to die.

But he hadn't expected it to cause their Blood Demon Sect to lose a full five people.

The masked man was silent for a long time before waving his hand.

Manager Ma Yingjie then retreated to the side.

...

Three days later. Qin Changsheng arrived at Qingshi Town outside Black Wind Valley.

This Qingshi Town was a settlement for Mortals under the Heavenly Sword Sect.

When Qin Changsheng and the others came to the Heavenly Sword Sect for the assessment years ago, they had stayed at the Yuelai Inn here.

This Yuelai Restaurant was still the same, without much change.

The waiter and the proprietor were the same ones from ten years ago, only they looked much older.

"Guest, what would you like?" The waiter hurried over to greet him.

"A superior room!" Qin Changsheng tossed ten taels of silver over.

"Guest, please follow me!" The waiter led Qin Changsheng upstairs.

Shortly after, the waiter brought Qin Changsheng into a superior room.

After the waiter left, Qin Changsheng began to ponder ways to deal with the demonic Cultivator.

The demonic Cultivator in Black Wind Valley was exceptionally cunning and had a powerful Magical Artifact at his side; even Qi Refining Stage 9 Cultivators had perished at his hands. Rushing in blindly would be no different from seeking his own death.

Qin Changsheng had already calculated his plan well.

That was to sit in the restaurant and rest, while letting Hu Nan enter Black Wind Valley to scout for Intelligence.

As long as he obtained general information, he would be able to slay this demonic Cultivator.

Qin Changsheng waved his hand, a Spirit Stone appeared in his hand, and he began to chant an incantation.

"Hum!"

The next moment, Hu Nan's figure appeared not far away.

"Greetings, Original Self!" Hu Nan bowed respectfully to Qin Changsheng.

Qin Changsheng glanced at Hu Nan and then instructed, "You are to proceed to Black Wind Valley immediately to scout the situation inside. Pay special attention to the tracks of the demonic Cultivator, the power of the Magical Artifact he wields, and the terrain layout of the valley."

"Understood." Hu Nan nodded slightly.

Qin Changsheng raised his hand slightly and waved, "Go, act with caution."

As his voice fell, Hu Nan's figure flickered like a ghost, quickly disappearing into the alleys of Qingshi Town, speeding off in the direction of Black Wind Valley.

Qin Changsheng also projected his Divine Sense onto Hu Nan to observe the movements around him.

A quarter of an hour later, Hu Nan's figure arrived inside Black Wind Valley.

The valley entrance was shrouded in mist, with visibility less than a zhang. Scattered across the ground were dense piles of white bones—some from human Cultivators, others from Yao Beasts.

Clearly, these creatures had all died at the hands of the demonic Cultivator. After death, their Spiritual Qi had been sucked dry by the demonic Cultivator, and their remains left here. Over time, it had accumulated into a land of bones at the valley entrance.

Just as Hu Nan stepped less than ten zhang into the valley, a sound of slow footsteps suddenly came from deep within the valley.

Hu Nan immediately stopped and looked ahead.

He saw a figure gradually emerging from the mist.

It was an old man wearing black robes. The old man had gray hair, a withered face, and a complexion as pale as paper.

The moment he saw the old man, Qin Changsheng recognized the person.

He was the very person Qin Changsheng had bumped into inside the Mission Hall.

At this moment, Qin Changsheng also understood why the Sect could not catch this demonic Cultivator.

It turned out the demonic Cultivator was hiding within the Sect.

Whenever he saw a Foundation Establishment expert accept the mission, this demonic Cultivator would not appear.

If some low-level Cultivators accepted the mission, he would wait inside Black Wind Valley.

The old man slowly raised his head and looked in the direction where Hu Nan was hiding. "Since you have come, come out. Why hide? Another little brat seeking death. Perfect, let this old man absorb your Spiritual Qi to nourish my blood energy."

As his voice fell, the ghost banner in the old man's hand erupted with an eerie red light, sweeping toward the direction where Hu Nan was hiding.

Hu Nan's heart tightened, and he quickly dodged.

But his Speed, in front of the old man's Magical Artifact, was ultimately too slow.

That ray of light, carrying a piercing sound of breaking air, instantly caught up to the rapidly retreating Hu Nan and accurately struck him in the back.

This strike was fast as lightning, unstoppable, and without the slightest hesitation. With just a single strike, the victor was decided.

Hu Nan's figure stiffened violently, his forward momentum instantly halted, and the Spiritual Qi around his body dissipated in an instant.

The next moment, Hu Nan's figure began to turn transparent, like mist scattered by the wind, dissipating bit by bit into the gloomy fog, leaving behind not even a trace of blood or a scrap of clothing.

The white-boned old man slowly retracted his ghost banner and stepped forward, walking toward the spot where Hu Nan had just been struck. A look of confusion appeared on his withered face, and his turbid eyes scanned the empty space before him.

There, except for a few scattered bone fragments, it was empty—nothing there at all, as if the Cultivator who had just intruded into the valley had never appeared.

The old man stopped, stared down at the empty ground, and muttered, "Strange! How come there isn't even a corpse?"

He had lived for nearly two hundred years and had slain countless Cultivators. Whether they were Physical Body Cultivators or spiritual entities, even if they were obliterated by his single strike, they would always leave some trace—whether it be blood, physical remains, or lingering Spiritual Qi. He had never encountered such a bizarre situation.

"Could it be that this old man's eyes are playing tricks on me? Did that brat escape?" The old man scanned the surrounding environment again.

But no matter how he searched, he could not find a single trace belonging to Hu Nan, as if Hu Nan had never set foot in Black Wind Valley.

Meanwhile, far away in the restaurant, Qin Changsheng's face was full of gravity.

He had originally thought that with his Qi Refining Stage 7 Cultivation, plus the Fireball Technique and a large number of Fireball Talismans, he could easily slay the demonic Cultivator.

But he hadn't expected the old man's Magical Artifact to be so powerful.

With just a single strike, it had killed his Incarnation.

No wonder he could easily slay experts at Qi Refining Stage 9.

A moment later, a glimmer of light flashed in Qin Changsheng's eyes, and a bold yet meticulous plan quietly took shape in his mind.

That was to report the matter of the demonic Cultivator being that old man to Fairy Qingling.

Fairy Qingling would definitely take action to slay him.

By then, once that old man was dead, Qin Changsheng would have completed the mission.

He would also be able to obtain the Gale Sword Technique.

As for the old man's ghost banner, Qin Changsheng didn't look highly upon it at all.

After all, one look at that ghost banner and he knew it was a Demonic Weapon.