Jun Tianmeng quietly observed the large board.
Hundreds of small papers were pinned onto it. Each one contained different sect missions.
Some were simple tasks like gathering herbs, delivering letters, or guarding caravans. Others were far more dangerous, involving hunting spirit beasts or exploring dangerous ruins.
"This is the Mission Board," Gu Tian explained enthusiastically.
"Disciples can complete these missions to earn contribution points. With those points, you can exchange them for cultivation techniques, pills, weapons, or even rare treasures from the sect treasury."
Jun Tianmeng scanned the board lazily.
Most of the missions meant nothing to him.
Kill a low-rank spirit beast.Gather herbs from a mountain forest.Escort merchants.
Childish tasks.
However, one notice suddenly caught his attention.
"Exploration Mission – Black Mist Valley"
Reward: 500 Contribution Points
Requirement: Inner Sect Disciples or above
Description: Strange spiritual fluctuations have recently appeared in Black Mist Valley. Several disciples have gone missing while investigating.
Jun Tianmeng's eyes narrowed slightly.
A faint system notification appeared before him.
[Hidden Luck Detected]Location: Black Mist Valley
Jun Tianmeng smirked faintly.
"Interesting…"
Gu Tian noticed where he was looking and immediately frowned.
"Senior Brother, that mission is very dangerous. No one has taken it for a long time, and many disciples who went there have gone missing. I think you shouldn't involve yourself in it…"
"Black Mist Valley is rumoured to be filled with demonic beasts and strange spiritual disturbances. Even Inner Sect disciples rarely accept missions there."
Jun Tianmeng did not reply.
Instead, his gaze slowly moved to another paper beside it.
This one had just been posted.
"Five Sect Tournament Announcement"
All disciples immediately began whispering excitedly.
"The tournament is finally happening again!"
"This is the biggest event in the entire region!"
Gu Tian quickly explained, seeing the curiosity-filled eyes of mine.
"Every five years, the five major sects of the region hold a tournament. Disciples from all sects compete against each other."
The victors gain immense rewards and fame, and their sect claims the title of the number one sect in the entire realm."
He scratched his head.
"But honestly… only the strongest geniuses participate."
Therefore, the sect holds an internal tournament to select the top five disciples who will represent the Azure Cloud Sect."
At that moment, a group of female disciples walked past them.
The moment they saw Jun Tianmeng, they immediately began whispering.
"Isn't that the disciple who reached the top floor of the pagoda?"
"He's even more handsome up close…"
"Right, right! He's so handsome! Do you think Senior Brother might give us a chance?"
Jun Tianmeng ignored them completely.
However,
A calm voice suddenly came from behind.
"So you're the one who caused the pagoda disturbance."
Jun Tianmeng slowly turned around.
Standing behind him was a young woman wearing elegant blue robes.
Her figure was graceful, her long red hair tied neatly behind her back. Her eyes were sharp and intelligent.
She looked at him with clear curiosity.
Gu Tian immediately whispered nervously.
"S-Senior Brother… that's Senior Sister Mu Xue."
"One of the top ten Inner Sect disciples."
Mu Xue crossed her arms and examined Jun Tianmeng carefully.
"I heard you climbed the Golden Spiritual Pagoda faster than anyone in history."
Her lips curved into a faint smile.
"I wonder if the rumours are true."
Jun Tianmeng simply looked at her calmly.
His golden eyes showed no emotion.
"Rumours are usually exaggerated."
Mu Xue laughed softly.
"Maybe."
"But something tells me…"
Her eyes gleamed slightly.
"You're going to cause a lot of trouble in this sect."
Jun Tianmeng smiled faintly.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"Whether this sect is interesting enough"
Gu Tian nearly fainted hearing those words.
Only a madman would speak like that about the Azure Cloud Sect.
But Mu Xue did not get angry.
Instead, she smiled even wider.
"Interesting."
"Then I hope you participate in the Five Sect Tournament."
She turned and began walking away.
"But be careful."
Without turning back, she added one last sentence.
"You have to face me before participating in that tournament."
Mu Xue stopped for a moment and turned her head slightly, her cold eyes locking onto Jun Tianming.
"And that time…"
"Even the Sect Master won't come to save you."
With those words, she flicked her sleeve and walked away, her white robes flowing behind her like snow.
Jun Tianming simply watched her leaving figure calmly.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Xiao Chu," he said lazily.
"Show me her information."
A golden screen instantly appeared before his eyes.
Name: Mu Xue
Age: 21
Cultivation: Spirit Sea Realm – Third Stage
Status: Core Disciple of Azure Cloud Sect
Title: Third-Ranked Genius of the Sect
Background: A prodigy born in the Mu Family, one of the prominent cultivation families within the Mortal Realm. Possessing exceptional talent in sword cultivation, she entered the Azure Cloud Sect at a young age and quickly rose to become one of its most outstanding disciples. She has always admired Sect Master Shen Qinglan and views her as a role model.
Because of this, she harbours a strong competitive spirit toward Jun Tianming after learning he became the Sect Master's direct disciple.
Jun Tianming read the information silently.
"A Spirit Sea cultivator…"
He chuckled softly.
"Interesting."
Beside him, Xiao Chu floated nervously.
"Master… she's quite strong for someone in the Mortal Realm at such an age."
Jun Tianming closed the screen with a casual wave of his hand.
As for him, they were just insects to be trampled on.
Then he quietly glanced again at the Black Mist Valley mission.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Looks like my next destination has already been decided."
"Looks like my next destination has already been decided."
Jun Tianming's gaze rested on the mission notice for a moment.
He was currently at the final stage of the Qi Condensation Realm. If he wished to break through to the Qi Foundation Realm, merely cultivating in isolation would not be enough.
He needed real combat.
Only through life-and-death battles could a cultivator truly consolidate their realm and temper their spiritual energy.
Additionally, consuming certain elixirs would greatly assist in stabilizing his breakthrough.
Of course, Jun Tianming could easily request such resources from Shen Qinglan.
As the sect master's personal disciple, obtaining a few elixirs would be effortless.
But that could come later.
Right now, what he needed most was battle.
And this mission was perfect.
A faint smile appeared on Jun Tianming's face as he tore the mission notice from the board.
"Black Mist Valley."
"Let's see what surprises you have prepared for me."
Beside him, Gu Tian nearly jumped in shock.
"S–Senior Brother! Are you serious?!"
Jun Tianming took the mission paper from the board and walked toward the man sitting beside it.
The man appeared to be in his twenties, likely another disciple responsible for recording missions.
He lazily glanced up at Jun Tianming.
"What mission did you choose?" he asked with clear annoyance in his voice.
Jun Tianming calmly placed the paper on the table.
"I want this mission."
The man lowered his eyes to read the title.
When he saw the words Black Mist Valley, his eyebrows shot up.
"You're serious?" he asked in disbelief.
Jun Tianming simply looked at him without answering.
The disciple scoffed and leaned back in his chair.
"Well… if you're eager to die, then go ahead."
A mocking smirk appeared on his face as he stamped the mission paper.
Thud.
"The mission is registered."
"You can leave for Black Mist Valley tomorrow morning."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"As for how you get there… that's your own problem."
Jun Tianming merely gave him a calm smile.
"Understood."
Without saying anything further, he turned and walked away.
After briefly saying goodbye to Gu Tian, Jun Tianming returned to his residence.
Now he had to prepare many things.
Jun Tianmeng summoned Ying Yue and instructed her to gather several items from the Sect Master.
Ying Yue quickly carried out the task. With her position beside Shen Qinglan, obtaining those materials was not difficult.
Soon she returned.
Jun Tianmeng was sitting calmly in his room, slowly sipping tea when she entered.
"Everything you asked for," she said softly.
Jun Tianmeng looked at her and smiled.
"Ying'er…"
There was something unusually gentle in his voice.
Before she could turn to leave, he suddenly reached forward, holding her wrist and pulling her toward him.
In the next moment—
She found herself sitting on his lap.
Though half of her face was still hidden behind the black cloth she usually wore, the faint blush in her eyes was impossible to hide.
Jun Tianmeng chuckled softly.
His fingers gently brushed through her long hair before he slowly removed the cloth covering her face.
Her beauty was breathtaking.
Even someone like Su Yao could not compare to her.
Her pale skin looked almost flawless, her thin lips soft and delicate. Long eyelashes framed her beautiful eyes, making them appear even more enchanting.
For a moment, even Jun Tianmeng felt his thoughts pause.
To him…
She had always been the one closest to his heart.
But due to certain circumstances in the past, the distance had slowly grown between them.
"Ying'er," he said quietly, his voice lower now.
"In this entire world… it feels like you are the only one who truly understands me."
Ying Yue gently raised her hand and touched his face.
Her expression softened.
"I'm glad you know that," she replied quietly, even her voice was as beautiful as pure jade.
"That's exactly why I want to stop you."
Her eyes became serious.
"You know your ambitions could destroy this world."
"It's still not too late—"
Before she could finish speaking, Jun Tianmeng suddenly leaned forward.
He pressed his lips against hers, stopping the rest of her words.
For a moment, Ying Yue froze.
Then slowly…
She closed her eyes.
Her fingers slowly tightened around his robe as she leaned closer into him.
The distance between them disappeared.
The quiet room was filled with nothing but the soft rustling of robes and the faint sound of their breathing.
Jun Tianmeng's hand slid gently along her waist, pulling her even closer into his embrace.
"Ying'er…" he murmured against her lips.
For someone who had once stood above the heavens, feared by gods and immortals alike, his voice at this moment carried something rare.
Warmth.
Ying Yue looked at him with slightly trembling eyes.
"You shouldn't do this…" she whispered weakly, though her hands still rested on his shoulders.
Jun Tianmeng only smiled.
That dangerous, charming smile of his, even Ying Yue couldn't help but fall for him endlessly.
"Then stop me."
Before she could respond, he kissed her again.
This time, Ying Yue did not resist.
Her arms slowly wrapped around his neck as she responded to him.
The cold, silent assassin who followed him across worlds was no longer distant tonight.
Under the soft candlelight, the two figures slowly disappeared into each other's embrace.
Outside, the night wind brushed against the windows.
Inside the room, the candle flame flickered gently.
And the distance that had grown between them for years finally began to fade.
In the morning, Ying Yue had already disappeared.
It wasn't the first time the two of them had shared such intimate moments, but after a long time apart, last night had brought them closer once again.
Jun Tianmeng slowly got up from his bed.
His expression had already returned to its usual calm.
After preparing himself, he stored all the necessary items inside his spatial ring and stepped outside.
To reach the Black Mist Valley, the Sect Master had arranged two horses for him and Ying Yue so they could travel like ordinary people of the mortal world.
According to Shen Qinglan, such journeys were useful for gaining experience beyond the sect.
Jun Tianmeng actually liked the idea.
After all, walking through the mortal world again might bring some interesting encounters.
Meanwhile…
Inside Elder Zhang's chamber.
"Master, he has left the sect."
A young man stood respectfully in front of Elder Zhang as he reported the news.
He was none other than the same disciple who had been registering missions near the announcement board.
Elder Zhang slowly placed his teacup down.
A cold smile appeared on his fox-like face.
"Good job."
"You will soon be promoted to an Inner Sect disciple."
The young man's eyes immediately lit up with excitement.
"Hehe… thank you, Elder, for your generosity!"
He quickly fell to his knees in gratitude.
Elder Zhang waved his sleeve dismissively.
"Hoho… you may leave now."
"Yes, Elder!"
The disciple bowed again before quickly leaving the chamber.
The moment the door closed…
The smile on Elder Zhang's face slowly faded.
His eyes turned cold.
"No. 8."
A thin mist slowly gathered in the dark corner of the room.
Soon, a figure wrapped in tattered black robes stepped forward.
Half of his face was horribly burned, and madness flickered within his eyes.
He looked more like a ghost than a human.
"Master."
His hoarse voice sounded like metal scraping against stone.
Elder Zhang looked at him calmly.
"It's time for you to move."
No. 8's lips slowly curled into a twisted smile.
"Understood."
He bowed slightly.
Then his body dissolved into a thin black mist and disappeared from the room.
Jun Tianmeng was dressed in simple but neat clothes, nothing too extravagant. To any passerby, he looked like an ordinary young noble traveling through the mortal world.
Beside him, Ying Yue had also changed into a plain blue robe like that of a normal traveler. However, she still covered her face with a thin veil.
It was the right decision.
Her beauty alone was enough to cause chaos in the mortal realm if people were to see it.
Jun Tianmeng glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
For a brief moment, a faint blush appeared on his face.
He quickly coughed lightly, hiding the reaction as if nothing had happened.
Ying Yue naturally noticed it, but she said nothing. A faint smile quietly formed beneath her veil.
Soon, the two of them mounted their horses.
With the morning sun rising behind them, they began their journey toward the nearest village on the road to the Black Mist Valley.
The world of mortals slowly unfolded before them.