Chapter 60: Chapter 60 Sect Mission
“Daoist Li, we entrust this matter to Mount Shu. Next year, the offering of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures from Great Xia to Mount Shu will increase by fifty percent,”
In the grand hall of Mount Shu, the Seventh Prince of Xia Kingdom bade farewell to Li Changye with a deep bow, respectfully leading a group of Imperial Guards and followers down the mountain.
Song Wuchuan, the second senior brother, appeared, “Eldest senior brother, what has happened in Xia Kingdom?”
“Recently, more than ten cities in Xia Kingdom have been attacked by elders of the Demon Sects. Some cities have even been refined by these elders using Blood Formations, leading to devastating losses of life. The royal family, Literary Court, and Imperial Guards of Xia Kingdom are worn out from dealing with the crisis. Therefore, they have requested our Shu Mountain Sect to dispatch troops to eliminate the Demon Sect’s branches within Xia Kingdom. Those from the Demon Sects dare to use the against-heaven Blood Formation so recklessly because they are desperate to enhance their cultivation. As Mount Shu has always been known for upholding justice, we cannot stand idly by.” “Eldest senior brother, this is an opportune time to assign the task of purging the Xia Kingdom of Demon Sect strongholds to our newly promoted elders as an assessment.”
“That would be feasible under normal circumstances. However, the Demon Sects have become excessively bold this time, refining cities within the influence of our Mount Shu. There’s likely a Great Demon Head overseeing their operations. It would be a death sentence if the newly promoted elders encounter a Demon Chief on their own.”
“Then it’s better if the more experienced elders from the Dao Palace Realm head the mission, accompanied by a group of newly promoted elders and Golden Core Realm disciples, forming twelve teams to descend the mountain and eliminate demons.”
“That’s a workable plan. Should we discover any trace of a Demon Chief, I’ll go down the mountain personally.”
Li Changye clenched his fist, his firm gaze filled with strong self-confidence.
Even if he were to face the Supreme Elders of the Demon Sects, he would still possess the strength to fight.
“My disciple, Xiao Xiangdao, has the Spirit Sword Physique, and his comprehension of the Sword Dao has made tremendous leaps in recent years. His cultivation has reached the ninth level of the Golden Core Realm. If there’s trouble in Mount Shu, my disciple cannot remain indifferent. Let him also descend the mountain for training. Perhaps through this experience, he may find the opportunity to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm.”
On Qingyun Peak, Lu Changsheng was training using the battle simulation feature of the Disciple Apprenticeship Simulator.
This time, the simulator’s opponent was the formidable Eldest senior brother, Li Changye.
Lu Changsheng, fighting against the simulated “Li Changye,” quickly found himself overpowered and defeated.
Yet, Lu Changsheng gleaned numerous insights from the simulation.
There s something off about the eldest senior brother’s cultivation,”
Lu Changsheng had simulated several battles, and it wasn’t that he hadn’t been “matched” against other ninth-level Dao Palace Realm adversaries, but the Eldest senior brother, Li Changye, was inexplicably much stronger than the others, seemingly beyond the category of the Dao Palace Realm.
A Golden Core Realm disciple of Mount Shu arrived at Qingyun Peak, “Elder Lu, according to our sect’s rules, newly promoted elders must complete an assessment mission at least once. Eldest senior brother has announced an assessment mission, and your disciple, Elder Lian, is among the chosen. Additionally, Eldest senior brother hopes that you will lead a team of disciples down the mountain for training, to vanquish demons and eliminate evil.”
An Elder assessment?
Lu Changsheng was aware of such matters.
Nascent Soul Realm elders, Dao Palace Realm elders, Supreme Elders-upon each promotion, they must complete an assessment mission, since Mount Shu provides abundant cultivation lands enriched with nature’s spiritual energy, and each month, they receive Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. As an elder, one must contribute to Mount Shu.
Lian, having become a Nascent Soul Realm elder, also needed to complete an assessment mission.
For this assessment mission, the eldest senior brother actually wanted him to lead a team down the mountain for training, which was unexpected for Lu Changsheng.
Lu Changsheng’s publicly recognized cultivation level was still at the fifth level of the Dao Palace Realm from three years ago.
The necessity of a Dao Palace Realm fifth-level elder to lead the team spoke volumes about the difficulty of this assessment mission.
“Why does the assessment mission require a Dao Palace Realm elder to lead?”
The Demon Sects are wreaking havoc. Many cities in Xia Kingdom have been refined by Blood Formations. The royal family of Xia Kingdom has requested our aid from Mount Shu, and the mission for this training is to eradicate the Demon Sect’s footholds within Xia Kingdom.”
“I see now. Understood.”
“So what is your decision, Elder Lu?”
“lean lead the team.”
Lu Changsheng, having simulated numerous life-and-death battles over three years, possessed rich experience. Even when facing adversaries of higher realms, he had acquired some life-saving techniques and experiences. Leading a team down the mountain for training was not a major problem.
“Excellent. This time, twelve teams of elders and disciples will descend the mountain, each led by a Dao Palace Realm elder. I take my leave now.” After receiving Lu Changsheng’s confirmation, the Golden Core Realm disciple left on a Flying Sword.
“Twelve teams…”
Lu Changsheng knew that the competition between the six Orthodox Sects and the four Demon Sects had begun, and this was merely a probe.
The Xia Kingdom was within the sphere of influence of Mount Shu, and the four Demon Sects were brazenly refining the cities of the Great Xia, using millions of lives as a blood sacrifice, which was nothing short of rampant.
Mount Shu dispatched twelve teams in one breath to descend the mountain and eradicate demons, with each team led by an Elder of the Dao Palace Realm, also including Nascent Soul Realm Elders and Golden Core Realm disciples descending the mountain—a rather grand gesture.
“Lian, as a newly promoted Elder, you need to complete an assessment mission.”
“Given your special identity, you’ll be in the same team as your mentor and I will make arrangements to protect your safety, but I hope you can try to resolve issues on your own.”
“During the period of your training outside the mountain, you’ll go by the name Lu Qinglian.”
Lu Changsheng called over three disciples and explained the situation.
Lu Changsheng would have to leave Qingyun Peak for some time, and as a newly promoted Elder, Lian also needed to descend the mountain to complete her assessment task.
Lu Changsheng applied to join the same team as Lian with the eldest disciple. Firstly, Lian’s identity was special, and other Elders might not be able to protect her, while Lu Changsheng’s cultivation level was not as simple as it seemed on the surface, plus he had the Disciple Apprenticeship Simulator to simulate Lian’s future and avoid misfortune.
Secondly, with Lu Changsheng leading the team, even if they left Mount Shu, having disciples around would still allow him to exploit the system’s loopholes. The eldest disciple agreed to it readily.
Among the younger generation of Elders in Mount Shu, aside from a few people like Li Changye and Song Wuchuan, no one was more suitable than Lu Changsheng to lead the team and protect Lian.
“That’s great!”
Lian was overjoyed to hear she could descend the mountain.
This was her second time descending the mountain to personally face various difficulties, no longer just hiding behind her master.
‘Master, your disciple is now at the ninth level of the Golden Core Realm and I feel I have hit a bottleneck, can I participate in this training?”
Lin Qingzhi self-recommended.
“If you wish to seek a breakthrough, you cannot stay by your master’s side, as it will lead to dependency. I will assign you to Elder Zhao’s team.”
“Thank you, Master.”
“Hmm.”
Lu Changsheng had high hopes for his eldest disciple.
The eldest disciple Lin Qingzhi was truly the practitioner walking the same great path as Lu Changsheng. Once Lin Qingzhi broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm, Lu Changsheng would be able to bestow upon him higher-level cultivation techniques and a Flying Sword, and his Power-infusing Initiation would be able to bear more Spiritual Energy.
Lin Qingzhi’s cultivation had reached the pinnacle of the Golden Core Realm just one step away from the threshold. This life-and-death training was an ’ opportunity.
Otherwise, if Lin Qingzhi remained at the ninth level of the Golden Core Realm, Lu Changsheng would not be able to perform the Power-infusing Initiation for’ him, as the excess Spiritual Energy would cause Lin Qingzhi’s body to explode and die.
“Zhi’er, you stay behind at Qingyun Peak.”
Lu Changsheng arranged for his third disciple, Mo Huazhi, to stay behind and guard the cave dwelling.
Mo Huazhi was immersed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and even if she was alone, with books for company, she wouldn’t feel lonely.
Furthermore, Mo Huazhi had only entered the Golden Core Realm not long ago, making this training mission too dangerous for her.
“Your disciple will bear this in mind.”
Mo Huazhi agreed.
At Zhiyue Peak, Shu Mountain Elder Zhao Wuyan was requested by the eldest disciple to lead a team to descend the mountain and eliminate demons. Seeing the roster for his team, Zhao Wuyan’s expression immediately drooped like a withered chrysanthemum: “Eldest disciple, Lu, the Supreme Elders have all shoved their disciples into my little team. If we get wiped out… the pressure on me, Zhao Wuyan, would be way too huge…”