After accepting the mission, Qin Chu left the Merit Hall.
“Many people think Qin Chu is overbearing, even a bit cold, but that's not it. In his heart, there are two types of people: others and his own. In the past, he only considered the Utility Disciples of the Utility Courtyard as his own. After the people from Bamboo Peak accompanied him to the main Peak for battle, he began to consider all of Bamboo Peak as his own,” Protector Han said with a sigh.
“Protector Han, I will consider him one of us,” an Inner Sect Disciple said.
“We will all consider him one of us,” all the Bamboo Peak Disciples expressed their heartfelt sentiments.
Protector Han walked to the front of the Merit Hall, looking at the various Peaks of the Azure Cloud Sect. “Once, all seven Peaks of the Azure Cloud Sect were considered our own, but with Bamboo Peak’s decline over the years, we were no longer considered their own. Disdain and bullying all came. Why did that Liu Ze dare to be presumptuous in the Utility Hall? It’s because we were not strong enough, so everyone must fight for respect. Just as Qin Chu said, whoever bullies us, we will fight to their doorstep until they submit!”
“Many people think this is ruthlessness, but it's not. It's a spirit, an Aura!” Elder Song arrived at the Merit Hall and handed Protector Han a stack of mission slips.
Holding the mission slips, Protector Han was stunned for a moment because the Sect had already issued mission slips for this month.
“Because Bamboo Peak completed its missions quickly, the Medicinal Pill Pavilion and Artifact Pavilion additionally issued mission slips to Bamboo Peak. Face and strength still need to be proven.” After leaving the mission slips, Elder Song left the Merit Hall. He felt a bit emotional, as Bamboo Peak’s reputation had been regained by a Utility Disciple.
“Everyone, hurry and accept missions! This Protector hopes that by the end of the month, the mission board will be empty!” Protector Han shouted at the Bamboo Peak Disciples in the Merit Hall.
The faces of the Bamboo Peak Disciples were all filled with excitement. What did this situation indicate? It indicated that Bamboo Peak was being valued!
Qin Chu arrived at Misty Cloud Mountain and began his mission journey. This time, he specifically sought out group-dwelling Yao Beasts to Cultivate his swordplay in group battles. Apart from Fourth-tier Yao Beasts, he felt very little pressure, merely familiarizing himself with the subtle applications of basic swordplay. He now believed Bai Yu's words: basic swordplay has a long Legacy and possesses unique advantages.
After six days of fighting within Misty Cloud Mountain, with the mission items collected, Qin Chu returned to the Merit Hall and turned in his mission.
“Qin Chu, you’ve made progress!” Protector Han said, looking at Qin Chu.
“Oh? Protector Han can tell I’ve made progress?” Qin Chu was surprised.
Protector Han smiled, “Before, when you went out on missions, you always came back covered in blood. Now, at least you can stay clean.”
Qin Chu felt a bit awkward. “I didn’t know swordplay before, so I could only fight with my fists. Now I have a little understanding of swordplay, so I no longer need to fight like I did before.”
A little understanding…
Hearing this, Protector Han pouted, and the Disciples of Bamboo Peak in the Merit Hall also turned their heads away. This was just too much pretense.
Because even Luo Zhen had affirmed Qin Chu's Dao of the sword, saying that Qin Chu already had a deep grasp of the Dao of the sword, a level that countless people might not reach in their entire lives.
“Qin Chu! You see, it’s like this: because our Bamboo Peak is being valued, we’ve received more mission slips. But if we can’t complete them, then the number of missions issued in the future will return to what it was before. There are still some missions on the board that no one is doing, and no one can do…” Protector Han looked at Qin Chu.
Qin Chu walked to the mission board and took some of the more difficult missions. For example, missions like hunting Iron Scale Lizards and obtaining their core crystals were ones no one was willing or able to do, as they were Fourth-tier missions. There was also the mission to obtain Heartless Grass, which required passing through the habitat of a pack of Bloodthirsty Wolves, whose leader was a Fourth-tier Yao Beast.
After taking the mission slips, Qin Chu looked at Protector Han and smiled, “Remember to get me two jars of wine when I return!”
Qin Chu left. Protector Han looked at the Bamboo Peak Disciples in the Merit Hall and said nothing. He knew he didn't need to say anything; seeing Qin Chu, the Bamboo Peak Disciples already knew to strive hard.
Life passed peacefully. Qin Chu would appear at the Merit Hall twice a month: once at the beginning of the month to take some mission slips and leave, and once in the latter half of the month to complete some difficult missions.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, Qin Chu had been at Bamboo Peak for eight months. His cultivation had reached the sixth level of the Second-tier Condensing Origin Realm, and his mission points had already accumulated to over a hundred thousand.
He had points, but Qin Chu did not go to the Library Pavilion because he felt that the Heaven Origin Incomplete Manual was very suitable for him, and he wanted to continue to Cultivate until he reached the Peak of the Third-tier before considering anything else. As for combat techniques, Qin Chu felt that basic swordplay was excellent.
Outside of Cultivation, Qin Chu would sometimes walk around the Bamboo Peak training grounds and watch other Bamboo Peak Disciples spar.
Previously, the Utility Disciples at Bamboo Peak had a very low status. Now their status had changed, but some rules remained, such as Utility Disciples not being allowed to wander freely. However, Qin Chu was different; he was like a phantom. No matter where he went, the Enforcers, Protectors, and Elders would turn a blind eye. He did whatever he pleased, and no one bothered him.
One day, Qin Chu arrived at the training grounds and saw a group of Inner Sect Disciples sparring. He stood aside and watched from a distance, imagining how he would counter those sword moves if they were directed at him.
“Let’s go watch together. We can also spar with everyone,” Yan Yi appeared beside Qin Chu, with a woman in a long skirt standing next to him.
“I’m not suitable. Although Utility Disciples are not inferior, some things are not for Utility Disciples to do,” Qin Chu shook his head.
“Don’t you want to improve? Sparring can help you find your weaknesses. On the training grounds, it’s just sparring, without regard for status,” Yan Yi said to Qin Chu.
After thinking for a moment, Qin Chu nodded and followed Yan Yi to the training grounds.
“Brother Qin, can we spar?” Seeing Qin Chu arrive, an Inner Sect Disciple looked at Qin Chu and asked. Although he was initiating a spar, his tone was very respectful.
Refuse to fight? Qin Chu wouldn't do such a thing. He nodded and stepped into the arena.
Saluting Qin Chu with a cupped fist, the Inner Sect Disciple drew his sword and began to attack.
With a flat slash, a diagonal cut, and a direct thrust, Qin Chu knocked the Inner Sect Disciple's longsword aside, then placed his own longsword against the Inner Sect Disciple's chest.
Simple, clean, and fluid!
“It’s not to discourage you, but in combat, this is how it is, so I can only do this!” Qin Chu said to the Inner Sect Disciple.
The Inner Sect Disciple stared blankly at Qin Chu for a moment, then cupped his fist and retreated.
Then several more Inner Sect Disciples made their moves, but under Qin Chu's refined basic swordplay, they couldn't withstand him at all.
“Thousand Luo Peak, Chu Yun. I heard Master say you rejected my Master. Now let me see your strength!” The woman beside Yan Yi stepped into the arena.
There was hostility, not exactly, but Qin Chu sensed that Chu Yun was displeased!