"Go to the Fire Cloud Mountain Range to collect a hundred pieces of Fire Cloud Ore. Reward: 1500 Contribution Points, 100 Lower Grade Spirit Stones. Suggestion: One Fifth Layer Transcendence Realm, or two Fourth Layer Transcendence Realm!"
This was a Second Level Silver Level task. The rewards were good, but the Fire Cloud Mountain Range was on the westernmost side of the Great Yan Kingdom, while the Cyan Yang Mountain Range was on the easternmost side. The distance between the two was thousands of miles. Even riding a Cyan Pheasant Horse, a round trip would take twenty days. If delayed by other matters, it might take a month.
Chu Ming skipped this task and continued to look, but the tasks he saw were either too time-consuming or had too few rewards.
"This one is not bad!" Chu Ming saw a task and suddenly stopped.
"Escort the Medicine Collection Team of the Li Family into the inner region of the Cyan Yang Mountain Range for one day and one night. Reward: 1200 Contribution Points, 70 Lower Grade Spirit Stones. Suggestion: Must be above Fourth Layer Transcendence Realm. Note: This task requires a total of fifteen people, with other sects sending the rest!"
This one!
Chu Ming took the task and walked towards the Task Elder.
"This task... be careful." The Task Elder glanced at Chu Ming's task and said lightly. If anyone else took this task, he would definitely stop them. A Ninth Layer Postnatal Martial Artist taking on a Fourth Layer Transcendence Realm task would be courting death, but Chu Ming was an exception.
After registering the task, Chu Ming rented a Cyan Pheasant Horse from the sect and rushed towards the Li Family. He didn't notice a sneaky figure who turned and left, entering a courtyard.
"Are you sure? He really left Cyan Yang Sect?" The blue-robed young man asked the short figure in front of him.
"Absolutely, I saw him take the task and leave on horseback. Judging by the direction, he should be going to Li Family Town!" The sly-faced disciple said, full of flattery.
"You did well, here's your reward." The blue-robed young man took out a cloth bag from his waist and tossed it at the disciple, speaking lightly.
The disciple picked up the bag with joy and left the courtyard.
"Chu Ming, the Chu Family can't rise!"
After the disciple left, the blue-robed young man looked at the sky and murmured, then put on a black robe and disappeared into the courtyard.
Chu Ming left Cyan Yang Sect and headed west. The task's location was at Li Family Town. Apart from the level classification, tasks were categorized in many ways. The task Chu Ming took required collaboration with other sect disciples, making it harder. During the task, one had to be on guard against other sect disciples. If ambushed, the task wouldn't be completed, and one might lose their life. Such incidents had occurred previously. Although the five sects appeared harmonious, they'd been secretly fighting for years.
In fact, the sect even had a bounty list, with the prices of other sects' talents clearly marked. Killing them would earn substantial rewards.
From a distance, Chu Ming saw the outline of Li Family Town. Suddenly, a huge sense of danger rose in his heart, his entire skin screamed.
Danger!
Before Chu Ming dismounted, a sound of a sword cutting through flesh echoed. He turned and felt a chill.
His Cyan Pheasant Horse had been cleft in two by a Sword Qi. If he had been slower, he would have been the one on the ground.
"Who?"
Chu Ming looked around and fixed his gaze on a thick tree branch. Though the foliage hid the scene inside, he keenly felt a faint spiritual power fluctuation from there.
"Haha, didn't expect you'd survive!" A clear voice rang out, then the tree branches shattered into ash, revealing a blue-cloaked figure.
"It's you, Yang Hongbo!"
Seeing the figure, Chu Ming furrowed his brows, seemingly understanding something. Yang Hongbo was from the Yang Family, the most powerful of the Great Yan Kingdom's four great families. With many geniuses emerging, the Yang Family was subtly becoming the leader of the four families. To maintain their position, they naturally suppressed the talents of other families.
"Chu Ming, why not be mediocre? Why seek trouble?" Yang Hongbo said lightly, having no intention of letting Chu Ming leave safely. Although he had seen Chu Ming defeat Zhao Hu, a Third Layer Transcendence Realm, he was no Zhao Hu. His strength was Fourth Layer Transcendence Realm, and he had cultivated a low-tier profound swordsmanship, which even Fifth Layer Transcendence Realm couldn't match.
"No need for so much talk!" Chu Ming said calmly. Yang Hongbo was already among the top Inner Sect Disciples in Cyan Yang Sect. The Yang family had many outstanding members in the sect, with Yang Zong ranked 15th on the Cyan Yang List, while Chu Family ranked at 46.
"I wanted to let you live a bit longer, but since you want to die, I'll grant you!"
Yang Hongbo sneered, his sword transformed into a blue shadow, shooting toward Chu Ming. Instantly, Chu Ming drew his Refined Iron Sword, his aura changed drastically. Around him, numerous small Sword Auras spun, adding to his sharpness.
Clang
A sound of metal clashing rang out, Yang Hongbo's sword shadow shattered, his expression changing slightly.
"Starfire Extinction!"
A red Sword Aura burst from Chu Ming's sword, exploding with numerous Fire Sword Essence, leaving a red afterimage in the air, threatening to engulf everything.
Before Yang Hongbo could react, he was hit by Chu Ming's Starfire Extinction, his body flew back, his blue cloak turned black, vomiting blood. Injured, he managed to stabilize but decided to retreat, realizing Chu Ming's strength matched his own, and now he was wounded.
However, Chu Ming wouldn't miss such an opportunity. Swinging his Refined Iron Sword, countless tree powder floated around him, making the space dark and damp, filled with Rainfall Sword Intent!
"Rainfall Kill!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Countless tree branches whistled through the air, attacking Yang Hongbo. Sensing the fierce attack behind him, Yang Hongbo's face changed.
"Chu Ming, you go too far!"
Yang Hongbo roared, a blue water ripple emanated from his sword, spreading around, becoming sharp Sword Qi, colliding with the incoming branches.
"Water Ripples Shining Sun!"
Sword Qi filled with sharpness flew out, but Chu Ming could see its weakness. If Yang Hongbo had used this profound martial technique at the start, Chu Ming might have taken it seriously. Now, injured, Yang Hongbo's spiritual power was slow, weakening the technique's power.
Crack
Though weak, the branches contained Chu Ming's Rainfall Sword Intent, easily shattering the Sword Qi, reaching Yang Hongbo.
Puff! Puff! Puff!
Yang Hongbo was pierced through, dead as could be.
Chu Ming panted lightly. Though their strengths were similar, Yang Hongbo's carelessness gave him the upper hand.
Collecting all items from Yang Hongbo, Chu Ming headed to Li Family Town, now on foot as the Cyan Pheasant Horse was dead.
From Yang Hongbo, Chu Ming found fifty Spirit Stones and a few thousand silver pieces, storing them in his Storage Ring. Yang Hongbo's sword was better than his Refined Iron Sword, so he kept it.
After an hour, Chu Ming reached Li Family Town, inquiring about the Li Family's residence.
Upon entering, he was startled as many sect disciples were already there, about ten at a glance. Chu Ming's arrival drew attention, but seeing he was only a Ninth Layer Postnatal, they turned away, even fellow Cyan Yang Sect disciples scoffed at him.
Ignoring them, Chu Ming found a quiet spot, closed his eyes, and waited.
"Everyone, quiet! I have an announcement!"
An elderly figure entered, coughing, reluctantly speaking. Beside him, a young girl supported him, her beauty standing out though she hadn't cultivated.