System Possession, One Sword Shocks the Gods

16: Integrals and UndercurrentsReturning to the Tianfeng Academy Mission Hall, Ye Chen handed over the quest items, including the Wind Wolf pelts and fangs, as well as the Earth Scale Rhinoceros horn.

When the Deacon in charge of verification saw the intact Earth Scale Rhinoceros horn, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he couldn’t help but look at Ye Chen a few more times. Although the Earth Scale Rhinoceros was relatively common among Rank Two Yao Beasts, it was still an extremely difficult existence for Quenching Body Realm Disciples to deal with.

”Wind Wolf hunting mission, fifty Points. Earth Scale Rhinoceros horn... perfect quality, can be exchanged for two hundred Points. A total of two hundred and fifty Points has been transferred into your identity jade token.” The Deacon operated skillfully, recording the Points into Ye Chen’s jade plate.

Watching the numbers inside the jade plate flicker and change to ”250,” Ye Chen felt slightly relieved. This amount of Points was enough for him to exchange for some much-needed cultivation resources.

He did not leave the Mission Hall immediately; instead, he walked to a light screen on one side to check the Points exchange list.

[Low-Grade Spirit Stone: 1 point/piece]

[body tempering pill: 5 Points/pill]

[Qi Gathering Pill (suitable for Kaiyuan Realm): 20 Points/pill]

[Yellow Rank Low Grade Martial Skill Rubbing: 100-300 Points]

[Yellow Rank Medium Grade Martial Skill Rubbing: 500-1000 Points]

[Low-level Talismans, Artifact Refining Materials...]

The list was dazzling, but the Points required for slightly better resources were staggering.

”The priority is to improve my cultivation and sword skills.” Ye Chen pondered for a moment and spent a hundred Points to exchange for ten body tempering pills. Although their effectiveness had weakened for him, their quantity was high enough to provide a stable boost. He also spent fifty Points to exchange for fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones for emergencies.

He kept the remaining hundred Points for the time being, just in case.

Carrying the exchanged resources back to Courtyard Ding-981, Ye Chen began his secluded cultivation.

Taking a body tempering pill and holding a Low-Grade Spirit Stone, he operated the Basic Qi Guiding Art with all his strength. Pure spiritual energy continuously poured into his body, washing through his flesh and blood, nourishing that damaged Hand Shaoyang Meridian, and steadily pushing his cultivation toward the Peak of the Eighth Level of Body Tempering Realm.

During this time, he also took out time to continue practicing and perfecting the Wind Shadow Sword Art, while comprehending the subsequent Moves of the Wind Chasing Sword Art. The battle with the Earth Scale Rhinoceros had given him a deeper understanding of the use of power, especially how to break through a surface with a single point.

Five days later, the ten body tempering pills were exhausted, and the fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones had also turned to dust.

Ye Chen opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing through them momentarily.

Peak of the Eighth Level of Body Tempering Realm!

Just one opportunity away from stepping into the Ninth Level!

”Resources are consumed too quickly.” He frowned slightly. Two hundred and fifty Points seemed like a lot, but for his bottomless demand, it was just a drop in the bucket.

”I must find a way to earn more Points.”

He opened his identity jade token again and browsed the mission list. The efficiency of ordinary Yao Beast hunting missions was too low; he needed missions with richer rewards or... more special ones.

His gaze finally settled on a mission marked in bright red with the word ”Urgent.”

[Urgent Mission: Investigate the Black Wind Stockade]

[Mission Description: Recently, several academy Disciples who went out to perform collection and hunting missions have mysteriously disappeared in the area near Black Wind Cliff in the Myriad Beast Mountain Range. It is suspected to be related to the Black Wind Stockade Bandit Cultivators entrenched there. According to descriptions from Disciples who escaped, the bandit leader ’Heisha’ is suspected to have reached the Kaiyuan Realm Third Level, with dozens of bandits under his command, all ruthless and cruel.]

[Mission Requirements: Find out the truth behind the disappearance of the Disciples. If it is indeed the work of the Black Wind Stockade, suppress them or obtain key evidence as the situation allows.]

[Mission Reward: Base reward of 500 Points. Depending on the mission completion degree and the results of the bandit suppression, extra rewards can reach up to 1500 Points!]

[Warning: This mission is extremely dangerous. It is recommended for Kaiyuan Realm Disciples to go in teams. Quenching Body Realm Disciples should not accept it lightly!]

”Black Wind Stockade... missing Disciples...” Ye Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly. The maximum reward of two thousand Points was extremely tempting. But a bandit leader at the Kaiyuan Realm Third Level, along with dozens of bandits, was indeed dangerous.

He pondered for a moment and did not accept it immediately. Going there rashly would be no different from seeking death.

”I need more detailed information, and... possible helpers.” He thought of Su Wanqing and the others. Their strength was decent, and they seemed to be relatively familiar with the outskirts of the mountain range.

Just as he was thinking, the courtyard gate was lightly knocked.

Ye Chen’s Divine Sense swept out; two people were standing outside the door, precisely Su Wanqing and that Disciple named Wang Meng. Wang Meng’s arm seemed to have recovered.

Opening the courtyard gate, Su Wanqing’s pretty face carried a bright smile: ”Senior Brother Ye, sorry for the intrusion.”

”Is something the matter?” Ye Chen’s tone was flat.

Su Wanqing seemed used to his coldness and didn’t mind. She smiled and said, ”First, to thank Senior Brother again for saving our lives that day. Second... we have taken a mission to investigate the distribution of herbs near Black Wind Cliff and would like to invite Senior Brother to go with us. Senior Brother’s strength is high; with you there, we will feel more at ease. We can split the mission rewards equally.”

Black Wind Cliff? That was exactly near the activity area of the Black Wind Stockade!

Ye Chen’s heart stirred; this was quite a coincidence. He happened to need to go there to investigate.

He looked at Su Wanqing and Wang Meng. Su Wanqing was at the Peak of the Ninth Level of Body Tempering Realm, and Wang Meng was also at the Ninth Level of Body Tempering Realm. Their strength was not weak.

”I can,” Ye Chen nodded in agreement, ”but I have one condition.”

”Please speak, Senior Brother.”

”If we encounter Black Wind Stockade Bandit Cultivators, everything must follow my command.” Ye Chen looked at them sharply. He didn’t want to be dragged down by pig teammates when the time came.

Su Wanqing and Wang Meng exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of hesitation in each other’s eyes. But thinking of the terrifying strength Ye Chen had shown that day and the potential dangers of Black Wind Cliff, they both eventually nodded heavily: ”Alright, we will listen to Senior Brother!”

”When do we set out?”

”Tomorrow morning, meet at the academy’s mountain gate.”

”Good.”

After seeing off Su Wanqing and the other, Ye Chen returned to the Quiet Room, his eyes deep.

Black Wind Stockade... missing Disciples... Was there the shadow of Lin Batian behind this? He always felt that this matter was not that simple.

However, no matter what, he had to go this time. For the Points, and to find out the possible threats.

He sat cross-legged, adjusting his state and raising his essence, energy, and spirit to their Peak. At the same time, his consciousness sank into the System.

[Elementary exploration permission for the Myriad Worlds Sword Tomb has been refreshed. Enter?]

”Enter!”

The scene before him changed as he once again stepped into that desolate and dead tomb of swords. This time, he was even more careful, avoiding those areas with terrifying auras and focusing on absorbing those relatively mild and weak remnants of Sword Intent, constantly accumulating his comprehension of the Dao of the sword.

[Sword Intent Comprehension +1... +1...]

Although each improvement was minuscule, many small bits made a lot. He felt that his control over the Wind Shadow Sword Art and his understanding of that trace of ”Explosion” Sword Intent were both deepening slowly but surely.

When the exploration time ended and his consciousness returned to reality, the bright moon was already high in the sky outside the window.

Ye Chen opened his eyes, feeling the few extra strands of Sword Intent comprehension in his Divine Soul and the increasingly clear connection with the qingfeng sword. His confidence increased by a bit.

He gently stroked the qingfeng sword lying across his knees. The cold touch of the sword blade came back, as if responding to him.

”Old partner, tomorrow, perhaps we will have to fight side by side again.”

The night deepened, and the courtyard was silent. However, the undercurrents in Tianfeng Academy and even the entire Qingyun City never stopped surging.

A vortex centered around the Black Wind Stockade was quietly drawing Ye Chen into it.