Chapter 281: Senior Brother, I'm Not Afraid of Hardship
Chapter 281: Senior Brother, I'm Not Afraid of Hardship
"Once another batch of Water Glowgrass matures, I'll be able to steadily advance to the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment."
Lu Chen, having assimilated the additional two decades' worth of cultivation, felt the abundant spiritual liquid in his dantian and intuited that he was on the cusp of attaining a new realm.
Ever since he noticed the drastic decrease in cultivation rewards from the Spirit Glowgrass, he began improving its variety, and now with the second-grade Water Glowgrass, the cultivation rewards he reaped amounted to no less than four decades' worth.
However, due to his exceedingly ordinary roots, he was still a hair's breadth away from breaking through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.
With his talent, he would undoubtedly be at the bottom of the rankings in Tianjian Sect.
For those geniuses in the sect endowed with exceptional talent, it would usually take them around one to two decades to break through from the early stage to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. Those with true-transmission-level talent might even accomplish this feat in less than a decade.
If Lu Chen were to diligently focus on his cultivation, it would still be uncertain if he could succeed in breaking through even after fifty years.
Fortunately, the presence of the light group significantly shortened the gap in talent between them and even showed a tendency to surpass those who had a head start.
From the time he started cultivating Water Glowgrass to the new batch, only three to four years had passed, and he was now just a stone's throw away from the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.
"Farming brings progress; I love farming."
Lu Chen looked at the spirit plants covering the mountains and fields and couldn't help but smile broadly.
For the remaining three dozen or so Water Glowgrass plants, he did not use the green wood source energy to force their maturation but instead let them grow naturally. He would then use them to condense spirit seeds after they had fully matured.
"With thirty-five Water Glowgrass plants, I should be able to obtain no less than a hundred and fifty spirit seeds. That should be enough. Any more, and my spiritual power might not be able to sustain the needs of the spirit plants."
Lu Chen, laden with the bountiful rewards of the light group, returned to his house.
"Lu Chen, are you there?"
After resting for half a day, a deep voice sounded from outside the array.
"Yes, I am."
Lu Chen quickly arrived at the foot of the mountain and opened the flowing light array, only to see a middle-aged cultivator with a square face and a solemn expression standing straight in front of the array.
He swept his spiritual sense over the middle-aged cultivator and sensed that his cultivation was no less than the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, causing his expression to turn more solemn.
"May I ask how I should address Senior Brother? And what brings you here to see me?" Lu Chen asked respectfully.
"You may call me Senior Brother Huang, Lu Chen," the middle-aged cultivator replied.
"I'm here to assign you a task, Lu Chen. It's been several years since you became an inner disciple, and it's time for you to undertake one of the sect's garrison missions."
"A sect garrison mission? Please elaborate, Senior Brother Huang." Lu Chen's heart tightened, and he spoke with reverence.
"Indeed, it is the duty of every Foundation Establishment cultivator to fulfill such obligations," Senior Brother Huang affirmed.
"Our sect has numerous garrisons throughout the cultivation world, serving to gather resources, guard perilous locations, and protect solitary cultivators, among other purposes. Most of these garrisons require the presence of Foundation Establishment cultivators to deter petty villains and safeguard the sect's interests."
"Senior Brother Huang, is it possible for me to opt-out of this sect garrison mission? Or perhaps postpone it for a few dozen to a hundred years?" Lu Chen asked tentatively.
"That won't do, Lu Chen. Garrison missions are typically assigned to inner disciples who have been in the sect for a few years. After all, the early stage of Foundation Establishment is already sufficient for most tasks, and deploying those at the middle stage would be a waste of resources."
"If you refuse, the elders from the Hall of Discipline might get involved, and you could face punishment as a consequence," Senior Brother Huang warned.
Lu Chen's lips twitched. Although he rarely ventured out and had limited interactions with his fellow disciples, he had heard of the reputation of the Hall of Discipline. If they were to get involved, he knew he would be in for a world of hurt.
"What kinds of punishments are typically given?" Lu Chen asked, hoping for a glimmer of leniency. He thought that if the penalty were limited to spirit stones or sword seals, it might still be bearable.
However, Senior Brother Huang's response chilled him to the core.
"There's no need for you to be so opposed, Lu Chen," Senior Brother Huang continued. "The sect won't let your years of hard work go to waste."
"During your deployment, you'll receive a subsidy of at least three hundred sword seals per year. Moreover, the locations are typically small families or solitary cultivators, with minimal risks involved. Rarely have we heard of any fellow disciples losing their lives during these assignments."
Seeing Lu Chen's reluctance, the middle-aged cultivator offered an explanation.
"Three hundred sword seals per year? That should be enough for three fourth-grade spirit seeds," Lu Chen calculated.
Since he couldn't refuse, Lu Chen had no choice but to accept. Fortunately, the number of subsidized sword seals didn't disappoint him.
"May I ask Senior Brother to provide me with more details about the deployment locations so that I may make an informed decision?" Lu Chen asked respectfully.
"Of course," Senior Brother Huang nodded.
"Currently, there are three places available for you to choose from, Lu Chen."
"The first location requires you to arrive within three months. It's a city of solitary cultivators that produces several rare minerals, less than a thousand miles from the Mountains of Torment. You'll receive a subsidy of three hundred sword seals annually."
"Although it offers the fewest sword seals, its proximity to the Mountains of Torment and the surrounding secret realms make it quite popular. There are other inner sect disciples vying for this opportunity as well. It's a hotspot for demonic beasts and evil spirits."
"The second location is in Xuanyin City, home to many large sects. Our sect holds moderate influence there, and you'll need to arrive within a month."
"Xuanyin City is over a thousand miles from the Extreme Yin Sect, and it's easy to encounter evil cultivators. It's the top choice for fellow disciples who wish to temper their combat abilities."
"Due to the higher level of danger, the subsidy is also higher, with three hundred and sixty sword seals provided each year."
"And the last one?" Lu Chen frowned and asked, not entirely satisfied with the first two options. One was too close to the Mountains of Torment, and the other was not far from the Extreme Yin Sect, both of which seemed to carry significant risks.
"The last location is near the Boundless Sea, on a large island that produces various specialty spirit objects, sea creatures, and some rare spirit herbs."
"Legend has it that one can occasionally find rare spirit liquids on the surrounding islands."
"However, there aren't many opportunities for advancement there, and it doesn't serve the purpose of tempering oneself. Plus, it's located in a bitterly cold region, so it's usually a semi-compulsory assignment. The annual subsidy is three hundred and twenty sword seals."
"Specialty sea creatures, rare spirit herbs, and the possibility of discovering spirit liquids?" Lu Chen's eyes lit up as he listened. "Most importantly, there aren't any secret realms or toxic sect cultivators nearby, making it a safer option."
"Senior Brother Huang, in that case, I choose the island near the Boundless Sea."
"I was born into a solitary cultivator's family, and I'm not afraid of hardship or toil. Senior Brother, please grant me this opportunity to train on that island for a few years." Lu Chen spoke sincerely to the middle-aged cultivator.
A safe and reliable assignment, a chance to witness various sea beasts and spirit herbs, and the possibility of finding the spirit liquid needed to cultivate the Dragon Remains Grass—where else could he find such a perfect opportunity?
"Are you sure, Lu Chen?" Senior Brother Huang asked, puzzled by Lu Chen's enthusiasm. It was uncommon for inner sect disciples to choose that island, and most tried to stay away from the bitterly cold island. Lu Chen's eagerness caught him off guard.
Usually, disciples sought out opportunities to find enlightenment or to slay demons and defend the way. Who would voluntarily head toward a bitterly cold island?
"Yes, I'm sure," Lu Chen replied promptly.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
