Chapter 16: Taking Missions for Experience

The Python lunged left and right within the Formation, but it was firmly trapped by the Formation. Fang Hao took the Opportunity to strike the same spot repeatedly, finally breaking through its scales and piercing his sword into its vitals!

The Python let out a miserable cry, struggled for a moment, and finally collapsed to the ground, dead.

Fang Hao breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward to collect the Materials. The Python’s scales, snake gallbladder, and venomous fangs were all decent Materials for Artifact Refining and Alchemy; they couldn’t be wasted.

With the mission completed, Fang Hao was in a pleasant mood. This actual combat had enriched his experience against enemies and also tested the practical effectiveness of his Formation.

Returning to the Sect to turn in the mission, he received one hundred and twenty contribution points. Fang Hao used these contribution points to exchange for a manual of "Elementary Sword Kinesis Art," preparing to learn how to fly on a sword.

With the Sword Riding Technique, it would be much more convenient to go out on missions in the future. Moreover, during combat, the Sword Riding Technique was more powerful than simple Sword Qi.

In the following days, Fang Hao practiced the Sword Riding Technique while continuing to take hunting missions. His targets grew stronger, and his harvests increased.

Today, he took a mission to hunt a Wind-Thunder Leopard. This kind of Demon Beast was extremely fast and could control the power of wind and thunder, making it very difficult to deal with.

After wandering through the deep mountains and old forests for three days, Fang Hao finally found traces of the Wind-Thunder Leopard. After a hard-fought battle, relying on the advantages of his Formation and his newly-learned Sword Riding Technique, he finally killed it.

However, Fang Hao was also injured; his left arm had been slashed by the leopard’s claws, leaving a deep wound where the bone was visible. After a simple bandaging, he quickly left this place of trouble.

Upon returning to the Sect, Fang Hao first went to the Healing Hall to treat his wound. The Female Disciple in charge of healing was startled when she saw his wound: "This injury isn’t light! How did it happen?"

"I was careless while doing a mission," Fang Hao said with a bitter smile.

The Female Disciple carefully cleaned the wound and applied ointment: "It’s a good thing it was treated in time, otherwise leaving hidden issues would be troublesome. Many Disciples have been injured lately from pushing themselves too hard on missions." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Fang Hao’s heart stirred: "Many Disciples are injured?"

"Yes," the Female Disciple said while bandaging. "I heard several teams suffered heavy losses in Mist Canyon; it seems some powerful Demon Beast appeared there."

Mist Canyon? Fang Hao remembered there was a gathering mission there with a high reward, but no one had completed it yet.

After bandaging the wound, Fang Hao went to the Mission Hall. Sure enough, the gathering mission for Mist Canyon was still posted, and the reward had already risen to three hundred contribution points.

"Is this mission very difficult?" Fang Hao asked the Deacon Disciple.

The Deacon Disciple lowered his voice: "Senior Brother Ning, I advise you not to take it. Three teams have already fallen there. I heard a Mutated Yao Beast has appeared, and even Senior Brothers at Qi Refining Great Perfection can’t do anything about it."

Fang Hao frowned. A Mutated Yao Beast was a rare find, full of treasures, but extremely dangerous.

After thinking it over, Fang Hao still took the mission. Wealth is sought in danger; he had his Formation to rely on, and even if he couldn’t win, escaping shouldn’t be a problem.

This time, Fang Hao made thorough preparations. Medicinal Pills and Talismans were well-stocked, and he specifically refined several powerful Thunder Talismans—which were particularly effective against Demon Beasts.

Arriving at Mist Canyon, the place was indeed filled with thick mist, and visibility was extremely low. Fang Hao moved forward cautiously, staying alert at all times.

According to the mission prompt, the target Spiritual Plant grew deep in the canyon. Fang Hao searched along the way and found several signs of fighting, as well as residual bloodstains; clearly, the previous people had met with misfortune here.

The deeper he went, the thicker the mist became and the more oppressive the atmosphere. Fang Hao focused intently, circulating his Myriad Manifestations Heaven Swallowing Art to its limit, sensing the fluctuations of the surrounding Spiritual Qi.

Suddenly, he felt a powerful Demonic Qi attacking from the left! Without thinking, he immediately dodged to the side.

A dark shadow brushed past him, bringing with it a sharp, fierce wind. Fang Hao looked closely and gasped.

It was a silver-white Yao wolf, twice the size of an ordinary wolf, with blood-red eyes and exposed fangs, its body surrounded by a faint black aura—it was indeed a Mutated Yao Beast!

The Yao wolf missed its strike and immediately turned to pounce. Its speed was far beyond any Demon Beast Fang Hao had encountered before.

Fang Hao hastily used the Wind Control Art to retreat while throwing out several Fireball Talismans. But the Yao wolf nimbly dodged the fireballs, its sharp claws reaching straight for his face!

At the critical moment, Fang Hao’s qinggang sword unsheathed, meeting the attack with a move of Geng Metal Sword Qi. The sword and claws collided, making a sound like clashing metal. Fang Hao felt a massive force transmit through, and he retreated several steps before stabilizing himself.

"What powerful strength!" Fang Hao was shocked. The strength of this Mutated Yao wolf was definitely comparable to a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator!

The Yao wolf pounced again. Fang Hao didn’t dare to take it head-on and fought while retreating. He dodged while secretly setting up a Formation.

But the Yao wolf was extremely cunning and seemed to sense Fang Hao’s intention; its attacks became even more violent, giving him no chance to set up the Formation.

Fang Hao gradually fell into a disadvantage, with several more wounds appearing on his body. This couldn’t go on; he had to win by surprise.

He deliberately showed a flaw, inducing the Yao wolf to pounce with all its strength. Just as the sharp claws were about to reach him, Fang Hao suddenly activated the Formation Plate he had prepared—this was a Portable Confinement Formation he had specially refined!

With a flash of light, the Yao wolf was temporarily trapped. Fang Hao took the chance to use his Sword Riding Technique with all his might; the qinggang sword turned into a streak of light and pierced straight into the Yao wolf’s eye!

With a "squelch," the sword tip entered the flesh. The Yao wolf let out a miserable cry and struggled frantically, and cracks began to appear in the Confinement Formation.

Fang Hao didn’t dare to delay and threw all his Thunder Talismans in succession. Thunder light exploded, striking the Yao wolf’s body and blasting its flesh open.

Strike while it’s down! Fang Hao circulated his Myriad Manifestations Heaven Swallowing Art to its limit, pouring all his spiritual power into the qinggang sword, and unleashed an unprecedentedly massive Sword Qi!

The Sword Qi swept across, and the Yao wolf’s head fell! Its massive body crashed to the ground, twitching a few times before it stopped moving.

Fang Hao slumped on the ground, panting heavily. This battle had consumed too much; he had almost been unable to hold on.

After resting for a moment, he stepped forward to process the Yao wolf’s carcass. A Mutated Yao Beast was full of treasures: the wolf skin was excellent material for making armor, the wolf fangs and claws could be used for Artifact Refining, and the Yao Core was even more priceless.

Most importantly, he found the Spiritual Plant required for the mission near the Yao wolf’s lair, and there were more than a dozen of them!

Returning fully loaded, Fang Hao was in a great mood. Although it was dangerous this time, the harvest was huge. The Yao wolf’s Materials were worth at least a thousand Spirit Stones, and combined with the mission reward, he could be said to have become wealthy overnight.

Back at the Sect, Fang Hao turned in the mission and received three hundred contribution points. He didn’t sell the Yao wolf Materials for now, keeping them for his own use.

After this life-and-death struggle, Fang Hao felt his cultivation had improved again, and he was not far from the Ninth Level of Qi Refining. Actual combat was indeed the best way to Cultivate.

That evening, while organizing his harvest, Fang Hao suddenly noticed something unusual about the wolf’s Yao Core. Ordinary Yao Cores were perfectly round, but this Yao Core had a bulge, as if it were wrapping something.

Fang Hao carefully cut open the Yao Core, and inside was actually a crystal-clear bead! There seemed to be liquid flowing inside the bead, emitting a strange energy fluctuation.

"This is... heavenly dew essence?" Fang Hao remembered a record he had seen in an ancient book. Some Mutated Yao Beasts would nurture heavenly dew essence in their bodies; it was a supreme treasure for refining high-grade Medicinal Pills, and taking it directly could also greatly enhance one’s cultivation!

Fang Hao was ecstatic. This was truly an unexpected surprise! With the heavenly dew essence, a Breakthrough to the Ninth Level of Qi Refining was just around the corner!

Just as he was about to consume the heavenly dew essence to Cultivate, he suddenly heard hurried footsteps and knocking at his courtyard gate.

"Fang Hao! Is Fang Hao there?" It was Li Xuan’s voice, sounding somewhat anxious.

Fang Hao put away the heavenly dew essence and opened the door, asking, "Senior Brother Li, what’s wrong?"

Li Xuan’s expression was grave: "I just got news. After Chen Feng finished his wall-facing reflection, he somehow obtained some Opportunity, and his cultivation has progressed by leaps and bounds. He’s already at Qi Refining Great Perfection! He’s put out word that he wants to challenge you for revenge. Be careful."

A cold light flashed in Fang Hao’s eyes. Chen Feng... it seems the previous lesson wasn’t enough.

Fine, I’ll use you to test my newly acquired power.