128: Chapter 128 High-Level Profound Rank Mission

Zhao Mingyuan nodded, handed the token back to Ye Yun, and turned to look at a middle-aged deacon beside him.

The man was lean with sunken cheeks, and his triangular eyes gleamed with shrewdness; he was Deacon Sun, the second-in-command of the Task Hall.

He was responsible for the specific details of task distribution and held considerable power among the Inner Sect Disciples.

"Deacon Sun, arrange a newcomer task for Ye Yun."

Zhao Mingyuan gave the order flatly, his tone neither cold nor warm.

Deacon Sun responded quickly, took a stack of task jade plaques from the desk, and began flipping through them with his head down.

His fingers brushed over each jade plaque before finally stopping on the one at the very bottom.

A flicker of something unusual flashed deep in his eyes, barely noticeable.

He pulled out the jade plaque and handed it to Ye Yun with a forced smile, though his tone carried a hint of deliberation.

"Nephew Ye Yun, this is the only newcomer task left. The others have all been taken, only this one remains open."

Ye Yun took the jade plaque and looked down. Several lines of small characters were carved onto it:

Task Objective.

Go deep into the Fengyun Mountains to hunt a Rank Three Late Stage Yao Beast—the Iron-backed Azure Bear—and retrieve its bear gall as proof.

Task Difficulty: Profound-Rank High-Tier.

Ye Yun's brows furrowed slightly.

A Rank Three Late Stage Yao Beast was equivalent to a human Great Martial Master at the Seventh or Eighth Stage.

Furthermore, Yao Beasts were thick-skinned and resilient, with combat strength far exceeding human Martial Artists of the same rank.

The Iron-backed Azure Bear was particularly famous for its defense and strength.

Even a Great Martial Master Eighth Stage Cultivator wouldn't dare claim a guaranteed victory.

For a newcomer, this difficulty was arguably too high.

Zhao Mingyuan also saw the contents of the jade plaque, and his brows knit tightly together.

He looked up at Deacon Sun, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure.

"Deacon Sun, newcomer tasks have always been Profound-Rank Low-Tier or Middle-Tier. Why did you arrange a Profound-Rank High-Tier one for him? The Iron-backed Azure Bear is something even veteran Inner Sect Disciples wouldn't dare provoke lightly."

Deacon Sun looked troubled and spread his hands, his voice full of helplessness.

"Elder Zhao, it’s not that I don't want to give him an easy one, there really aren't any others. Many newcomers have entered the Inner Sect these past few days, so the simple tasks were all taken, leaving only this one. How about he waits a few days? We can talk again when a simpler task comes down."

Zhao Mingyuan's frown deepened.

Waiting a few days wasn't impossible, but newcomer tasks had to be accepted within two days—that was the Sect's rule.

If he delayed, it would instead make Ye Yun seem like he was shrinking back from difficulty.

He turned to look at Ye Yun with a scrutinizing gaze, his tone flat and devoid of much emotion.

"Ye Yun, the difficulty of this task is not small. The Iron-backed Azure Bear is thick-skinned and possesses immense strength; even a Great Martial Master Eighth Stage Cultivator must handle it with caution."

"If you feel unsure, you can go back and wait a few days. I'll help you see if there are any other tasks then."

Ye Yun looked at the task description on the jade plaque and remained silent for a moment.

He had been to the Fengyun Mountains before and was fairly familiar with the outer perimeter, but the depths were indeed dangerous.

However, if he didn't take this task, he would have to wait around in the Sect. Not only would it be a waste of time, but it would also make him look cowardly.

Ye Yun took a deep breath, tucked the jade plaque into his robes, and looked up at Zhao Mingyuan with a calm and determined expression.

"Thank you, Elder. This Disciple accepts the task."

Hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Zhao Mingyuan's eyes, then he nodded slightly, his tone remaining indifferent.

"Since you have the courage, then go. The task jade plaque has the Iron-backed Azure Bear's range of activity; be careful. If the situation is impossible, come back first."

He took a Transmission Jade Talisman from the desk and handed it to Ye Yun, adding:

"Take this. If you encounter danger, you can send a message back to the Sect for help."

Ye Yun took the talisman and bowed with his hands clasped.

"This Disciple has noted it. Thank you, Elder Zhao."

Zhao Mingyuan waved his hand and said nothing more, lowering his head to flip through the documents on the table as if he no longer cared about the matter.

Ye Yun turned and walked out of the Task Hall, the sunlight falling on him with a cozy warmth.

He glanced down at the jade plaque in his hand, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

[Rank Three Late Stage, Iron-backed Azure Bear... this task came about quite suspiciously. Out of all the newcomer tasks, this one just happens to be left? Who would believe no one tampered with it?]

He put away the jade plaque and strode toward the direction of the Sect's exit.

Inside the hall, Zhao Mingyuan looked up at Ye Yun's departing back, his brows furrowing slightly with a trace of complexity in his gaze.

He turned to look at Deacon Sun, his tone flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Deacon Sun, is this really the only newcomer task left?"

Deacon Sun quickly put on a smile and spoke sincerely.

"Elder Zhao, how would I dare lie to you? There really have been many newcomers these days, and the simple ones were all taken. I am also acting according to the rules, without the slightest selfishness."

Zhao Mingyuan stared at him for a moment, his gaze as sharp as a blade, causing fine beads of sweat to seep from Deacon Sun's forehead.

Eventually, Zhao Mingyuan withdrew his gaze and said flatly.

"Dismissed."

Deacon Sun felt as if he had been granted a grand pardon and hurriedly bowed and retreated.

As he walked out of the hall doors, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief, a flash of smugness crossing his eyes before quickly being hidden away.

Deacon Sun walked quickly through the corridors, twisting and turning.

Coming to a secluded corner and confirming no one was around, he pulled a Sound Transmission Jade Talisman from his sleeve.

He injected a trace of Mystic Power.

"Tell Young Master Yun that the matter is settled. Ye Yun has accepted the Iron-backed Azure Bear task and has already set out."

There was a moment of silence from the other side of the talisman before a cold voice came through.

"Good. As for the rest, you don't need to worry about it."

Deacon Sun put away the talisman, looked left and right, and walked away quickly.

The sunlight fell on the empty corridor, leaving only the sound of his hurried footsteps, which gradually faded away.

...

The night was as dark as ink, shrouding the entire Fengyun Mountains in boundless darkness.

The moonlight was blocked by thick clouds.

Only a few silver rays occasionally spilled through the gaps, casting mottled shadows among the trees.

Ye Yun had already changed into a suit of black tight-fitting clothes.

Standing at the entrance to the mountain range, he looked at the rolling black shadows before him with a calm expression.

This was his second time stepping into this mountain range.

Compared to the unfamiliarity and vigilance of the first time, his heart was now filled with more composure.

His cultivation at the Great Martial Master Eighth Stage Middle Stage was enough for him to walk freely in the outer perimeter.

As long as he didn't go deep into the core area to provoke those terrifying Rank Four existences, his life was not in danger.

He stepped into the woods with light footsteps, following the route he had taken last time toward the depths.

After walking for about an hour, he stopped in an open space backed by a mountain wall.

The terrain here was open with good visibility, and there was a steep stone wall behind him.

There was no need to worry about Yao Beasts sneaking up from behind, making it a good place to spend the night.

Ye Yun took out a Rock Sheep he had conveniently hunted during the day from his Storage Pouch, skinned and cleaned it, and set it on a temporary campfire.

The fire lit up, its orange-red glow dispelling the surrounding darkness and stretching his shadow very long.

Fat dripped onto the flames, making a "sizzling" sound.

The aroma of meat soon permeated the air.

Ye Yun was not afraid that the fire would attract Yao Beasts.

With his current strength, he could kill as many of these Rank Two or Three Yao Beasts in the outer perimeter as they came.

It would save him the trouble of searching for them tomorrow.