On Thousand Silk Peak.
"He's out... he's out... he's out..."
"Let me see, who is it that can make Elder Hu stop roaring..."
"I'm not happy not hearing Elder Hu curse people..."
...
...
As soon as Jiang Li emerged from his cave dwelling, he heard a hubbub of voices from afar.
Several disciples approached Jiang Li with curious expressions.
"Junior Brother, why was Elder Hu satisfied with the Thousand Year Drunk you bought?" a disciple beside him asked.
Jiang Li pondered for a moment, a thoughtful look on his face.
The disciples around him watched Jiang Li with great curiosity.
They were clearly eager to know why Jiang Li had managed to complete the task.
"Perhaps it's because I'm handsome!" Jiang Li then said with a serious expression.
After speaking, Jiang Li left directly, leaving everyone behind in a daze.
Can being handsome truly allow one to do anything they please???
Some began to stir, thinking, "What if I find a good-looking disciple to hand in the mission, and we split the rewards together?"
If Jiang Li knew their thoughts, he would surely pity them.
They no longer had a chance to complete the mission, as all the remaining Thousand Year Drunk in the world were stored in Jiang Li's spatial ring.
It would be useless no matter who they found to submit the mission...
...
Mission Hall.
The Mission Hall was still bustling with people.
Occasional bursts of noise could be heard.
Jiang Li walked directly into the Mission Hall, preparing to submit his mission.
"Junior Brother Jiang, did Elder Hu scold you severely? Don't worry, it's just a small setback. I'll find you a better mission!" Zhao Tian said reassuringly.
Jiang Li smiled, "No need, I'm here to submit the mission. It's already completed!"
Zhao Tian's expression was startled, "Junior Brother Jiang isn't joking, are you?"
It wasn't Zhao Tian's fault for being surprised. So many inner disciples, core disciples, and even true disciples had failed that mission.
Jiang Li, a newly admitted inner disciple, had actually completed it.
It was simply unbelievable... too unbelievable...
Seeing Zhao Tian's disbelief, Jiang Li then produced the mission token. It indeed bore Elder Hu's seal, proving that Jiang Li had truly completed it.
Zhao Tian looked at Jiang Li with a peculiar expression. This junior brother was quite something. A mission that true disciples failed, he had completed.
It seemed necessary to forge a connection with Junior Brother Jiang.
Following this, Zhao Tian issued Jiang Li the mission rewards.
"Junior Brother Jiang, please wait!" Zhao Tian suddenly called out to Jiang Li as he was about to leave.
"Junior Brother Jiang, after you accepted the mission last time, Senior Brother Su Ming inquired about the mission you took. He seemed quite interested in you..." Zhao Tian continued.
Jiang Li's eyebrows twitched. Had that Undying Demon Lord noticed him?
However, it didn't matter. That Su Ming was only at the sixth heaven of Dan Yuan realm. With a few more opportunities, he would catch up.
Jiang Li thanked Zhao Tian and left the Mission Hall directly.
After submitting his mission and scouring for more opportunities, Jiang Li returned to his Xu Yang Peak to cultivate.
The Saintess should be coming to take him treasure hunting soon. Jiang Li hadn't forgotten that Lin Dong had previously had an opportunity to obtain a spiritual treasure by going on a mission with the Saintess.
Elder Liu Shuang had also mentioned that the Saintess would assign him a mission, likely related to spiritual treasures.
...
A forest outside the Outer Sect of the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect.
A tall, pale-faced young man with a cold expression walked with a slight tremor. There were faint crimson marks on his neck.
Following behind the young man were five cultivators wearing inner disciple attire.
These disciples were all at the eighth level of Qi Gathering.
"Junior Brother Lin, do you really need so many people to deal with a mere outer disciple?" a youth behind the young man asked.
Lin Shan snorted, "What do you trash know? Lin Dong got second place in the outer sect assessment. After so long, who knows how much his strength has increased!"
An unshakeable coldness hung on Lin Shan's face. Thinking of his experiences these past few days, despair filled his heart.
That true disciple was simply inhuman...
He had actually... actually done that to him...
It was all Lin Dong and that Jiang Li's fault. If they hadn't suddenly risen in strength, first place would have been his.
If he had gotten first place and been favored by the Saintess, he wouldn't have suffered such humiliation.
That Jiang Li had the Saintess backing him, so he couldn't deal with him for now. But that Lin Dong, just you wait...
I will make you experience all the pain I have endured.
As Lin Shan spoke, the inner disciples behind him looked displeased.
This mere trash at the first level of Qi Gathering dared to call them trash. It was outrageous.
"Junior Brother Lin, show some respect. We are only here to help you on Senior Brother Li's orders. Don't think you can insult us just because you're close to Senior Brother Li!" one of the disciples said coldly.
The other disciples' eyes flickered with ferocity. This Lin Shan was merely relying on Senior Brother Li's favor... he was just Senior Brother Li's plaything... he truly thought too highly of himself.
If it weren't for Senior Brother Li's face, based on his words just now, this Lin Shan would have deserved to die thousands of times over.
"Ah..."
"It hurts so much, no... Junior Brother Lin, spare me..."
"I was wrong, I will never dare to question Junior Brother Lin again. Please, Junior Brother Lin, let us go..."
...
As soon as that disciple spoke, he felt extreme pain coursing through his body.
It was as if millions of insects were gnawing at him from within.
It was like the torment of ten thousand insects devouring the heart.
Lin Shan watched coldly as the disciples writhed on the ground, his face devoid of emotion.
A bunch of trash, talking to me about respect?
Senior Brother Li had actually told this Lin Shan the method to control the Demonic Heart Gu...
The disciples rolling on the ground were filled with regret. If only they hadn't provoked Lin Shan.
"This is just a small lesson for you. If you say anything I don't like to hear again... you know the consequences!" Lin Shan said coldly.
After speaking, Lin Shan stopped channeling the Demonic Heart Gu in their bodies.
The disciples looked at Lin Shan with no trace of contempt, but rather with deep fear.
Mastering the control of the Demonic Heart Gu meant mastering their very existence.
Following this, the group continued towards Lin Dong's location in the outer sect.
...
Not long after, Lin Shan and his group finally arrived at the outer sect area.
After some inquiries, the disciples learned of Lin Dong's current whereabouts.
A valley with a deathly chill on the outskirts.
Overwhelming demonic energy permeated the air everywhere.
Lin Shan frowned. Was Lin Dong out of his mind?
Why would he run to such a strange place instead of staying in the outer sect?
"Senior Brother Lin, Lin Dong seems to be just ahead!" an inner disciple said respectfully, his eyes gleaming with a strange light.
...
ps: Thank you to "关爱智障人员" for the one like and three "for love of the cause" donations.
Thank you to "炸天帮冬泳怪哥" for one like and one flower.
Thank you to "杂物殿的利迦" and "爱吃蜜柚烤翅的村野博各" for two flowers each.
Thank you to "how一只小叶子," "喜欢浮萍的龙非龙," "用户37203853," and "用户28143672" for one flower each.
Thank you to "爱吃酢辣椒的张子陵质" for the encouragement at the end of the chapter.
[It's Saturday today, I've released 5 chapters for you... How about... some "for love of the cause" donations... to recharge my batteries?]