A few seconds later, two familiar faces appeared on the light screen.

Father Xu and Mrs. Xu both looked well. The background was the living room of their old home in Dongjiang Province, and on the table was a lavish New Year’s Eve dinner.

"Wuyi!" Mrs. Xu’s eyes lit up, her face wreathed in smiles. "Have you eaten? Is the school cafeteria still open? Mom’s telling you, you can’t neglect yourself during the New Year..."

"Mom, I’ve eaten," Xu Wuyi said with a small smile. "The school has made arrangements, so don’t worry."

Father Xu nodded from the side. His expression was calm and steady, but his eyes held a hint of concern. "Is your training going smoothly? I heard from your Teacher Wang that you’ve made great progress."

"It’s going okay, progressing as planned," Xu Wuyi said, not going into detail.

His parents weren’t Martial Artists and had a limited understanding of cultivation at the Martial Master Stage. Saying too much would only make them worry.

"That’s good." Father Xu paused, then added, "Everything’s fine at home, so you don’t need to worry about us. Your cousin got into the top ten in her grade on her final exams this year. Her teacher said she has a good chance of getting into a Martial Arts University."

At the mention of his cousin, Mrs. Xu perked up. "That’s right! Little You works so hard. She’s always talking about how she wants to be like her big brother and get into a top Martial Arts University."

A flicker of a smile crossed Xu Wuyi’s eyes. His cousin, Xu You, was his second uncle’s daughter. She was five years younger than him and had just started her first year of high school, the crucial stage for building a foundation.

Starting in the first year of high school, students are introduced to the "Basic Body Refining Technique," and individual differences in talent begin to emerge.

"Tell her not to push herself too hard. A solid foundation is what’s most important," Xu Wuyi said. "The competition for Martial Arts Universities is fierce, but it’s not the only option."

"I know, I know. Your cousin knows what she’s doing," Mrs. Xu replied with a smile, then began to ramble on about trivial matters at home.

Father Xu would occasionally chime in with a word or two, but mostly he just listened quietly.

The call lasted for twenty minutes.

Finally, Father Xu looked at his son on the screen and said in a deep voice, "Wuyi, I know your path is different from ours. We can’t help you much from home. I just hope you remember that no matter how far you go, your safety is the most important thing."

"I know." Xu Wuyi nodded. "Dad, Mom, you two take care of yourselves as well."

The call ended.

The living room fell silent once more.

Outside the window, the virtual fireworks continued, casting flickering light and shadows across the room.

Xu Wuyi sat on the sofa, unmoving for a long time.

As long as he wasn’t too busy, he would call his parents at least once a month, and New Year’s Eve was no exception.

After becoming a Martial Artist, the number of times he went home grew fewer and fewer. This call had almost become a fixed ritual.

’It’s not that I don’t miss home. It’s just that the path of Martial Arts is, by its very nature, a lonely one.’

The further one walked it, the more distant ordinary life became.

He let out a slow breath, pushing the faint trace of melancholy back down into the depths of his heart.

Then, he looked at the light screen.

"Anna."

"Present."

"Filter missions."

"Filter criteria: restricted to Martial Artists below Level 35; high point rewards; short duration; no difficulty limit; no location limit, but prioritize Yuntai City and its surroundings."

"Filtering... Please wait."

On the light screen, the mission list refreshed quickly.

The mission system of Star Martial University was connected to the Federation Martial Artists Association, the military, and various major corporations, covering an extremely wide range.

It had everything from routine Star Beast culls and ruin explorations to special escort, reconnaissance, and even commissions in certain gray areas.

However, the university would perform an initial screening to eliminate any missions that were clearly illegal or excessively risky.

A few seconds later, the filtered results appeared.

[Number of matching missions: 47]

[Sorted by point reward, high to low]

Xu Wuyi looked at the first entry.

[Mission ID: TX-7743]

[Type: Culling]

[Location: Yuntai City, northern suburbs, underground drainage system of the old industrial district]

[Objective: Exterminate the "Iron-Eating Rat" population that has recently been breeding in large numbers. Estimated quantity: 300-500. Individual Energy Level: approx. Level 20-25. A small number of mutated individuals may be present.]

[Requirements: Acceptor must be a Martial Artist of Level 30 or higher, proficient in group combat or area-of-effect attacks.]

[Reward: 400 base points, with bonuses based on the actual number culled.]

[Estimated Time: 6-12 hours]

[Risk Assessment: Medium]

"Iron-Eating Rats..."

Xu Wuyi remembered this type of Star Beast.

They weren’t large, but their teeth were sharp enough to gnaw through most metals. They reproduced quickly, and once they formed a colony, they could cause severe damage to underground infrastructure.

’400 base points, plus the bonus... if I could exterminate all of them, the total reward could exceed 800 points.’

’The time commitment isn’t long, either.’

’The problem is, this kind of mission usually requires a team. Although individual Iron-Eating Rats aren’t strong, there are a lot of them, and they’re in a complex underground environment. Culling them alone would be too inefficient.’

"Next."

[Mission ID: WJ-2216]

[Type: Escort]

[Location: Yuntai City to the ’Ashen Wasteland’ frontline outpost]

[Objective: Escort a research team to the Ashen Wasteland to collect specimens and ensure their safe return.]

[Requirements: Acceptor must be a Martial Artist of Level 33 or higher. Wilderness survival experience is preferred.]

[Reward: 900 fixed points.]

[Estimated Time: 3-5 days]

[Risk Assessment: Medium-High]

’An escort mission.’

’The reward is fixed, but it takes a long time. Besides, the Ashen Wasteland has been restless lately, with frequent Star Beast activity.’

Xu Wuyi continued to scroll down.

[Mission ID: JS-5589]

[Type: Reconnaissance]

[Location: The outer region of the ’Dark Abyss Rift’]

[Objective: Investigate the cause of recent abnormal energy fluctuations in the rift and collect relevant data.]

[Requirements: Acceptor must be a Martial Artist of Level 34 or higher, with a Spiritual Power of 35+, and possess strong environmental adaptability.]

[Reward: 1200 base points, with bonuses based on reconnaissance results (up to a maximum of 1000 additional points).]

[Estimated Time: 2-4 days]

[Risk Assessment: High]

’The Dark Abyss Rift.’

Xu Wuyi’s pupils contracted slightly. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

It was one of the most dangerous areas around Yuntai City. It was said to connect to some unknown, deeper space in the Star Realm, and high-level Star Beasts often appeared there.

’But the reward is generous. 1200 base points, plus a bonus.’

He continued to browse.

One by one, missions scrolled past his eyes.

There were culling, escort, and reconnaissance missions, as well as exploration, collection, and even volunteer positions for special research projects.

The rewards ranged from a few hundred to one or two thousand points, and the time required varied from a few hours to over ten days.

Xu Wuyi didn’t make a decision right away.

He was waiting.

Waiting for the perfect one.

Finally, as he flipped to the third page, his gaze froze.

[Mission ID: FT-0093]

[Type: Subjugation]

[Location: Deep within the ’Rotting Swamp Forest’]

[Objective: Kill the ’Rotting Wood Demon’ that occupies the core area of the forest (Estimated Energy Level: 36-37).]

[Requirements: Recommended for Martial Artists Level 35 or higher. It is recommended to have mastered at least one B-level or higher offensive Martial Technique. Those with Fire or Thunder Attribute attacks will be given priority.]

[Reward: 1500 fixed points.]

[Estimated Time: 1-3 days]

[Risk Assessment: High]

’Rotting Wood Demon.’

Xu Wuyi quickly pulled up the relevant data in his mind.

A Plant-type Star Beast that usually lived in dark, damp forests. It could control vines, release poisonous mist, and possessed tenacious Life Force. Its weakness was fire.