"A ten thousand merit point mission!"
Wu Heishan, Xiao Hui, and her brother were also stunned upon hearing this.
"I've taken a liking to this mission. I'll take it," Ye Yunfei said with a faint smile.
"Kid, do you not understand? The higher the merit points for a mission, the more dangerous it is. Missions with over ten thousand points are generally only taken by exceptionally powerful Mid-Level or Senior students! You're a new student, what are you getting involved for? Let me tell you the truth, kid. According to reliable information, the king of the Ten Thousand Beasts Empire's son and daughter were kidnapped by sand bandits in the Blackwind Desert. Last month, one of our Senior students, whose strength was at the Yuan Foundation Realm, took on this mission. He returned severely injured and is reportedly still bedridden to this day."
As he spoke, the old man looked Ye Yunfei up and down.
"Well then, kid, do you still intend to take this mission?" the old man asked.
"I'll take it. This is the one," Ye Yunfei said.
"Tsk, tsk. Kid, are you trying to show off, wanting to do something big to make a name for yourself? However, I advise you not to be too reckless in your youth. Being down-to-earth is the most important thing..." The old man began to lecture Ye Yunfei.
"Elder, I have already decided. I am taking this mission," Ye Yunfei interrupted him, his tone extremely firm.
"Fine, fine. If you want to die, I won't stop you," the old man said, somewhat angry. He waved his hand, and a beam of white light shot into the token on Ye Yunfei's person.
"Listen up, kid. Near the Ten Thousand Beasts Empire, there's a Blackwind Desert. Within the Blackwind Desert lies the Black Wind Stronghold, led by the Black Wind Stronghold Chief. That Chief is at the Mid Stage Yuan Foundation Realm. He is extremely cunning and cruel, slaughtering people like ants. He's gathered a bunch of evil rogue cultivators, occupying the desert as bandits. It was them, the sand bandits of the Black Wind Stronghold, who kidnapped the king's son and daughter. If you want to rescue them, you must enter the Blackwind Desert and fight those sand bandits."
Although a bit angry, the old man was still diligent in his duties, explaining the situation in detail to Ye Yunfei.
"Oh, one more thing I need to clarify. Because this mission is quite dangerous, our Mission Hall has decided to allow up to five students to jointly accept this task and form a team to carry it out. If successful, each student will receive seven thousand merit points. So, wait for two days. If other students come to accept it, you'll have to go with them. If not, then you'll have to go alone." the old man concluded.
"Oh? Allowing up to five students to take it together? Alright then," Ye Yunfei was momentarily surprised, then nodded and walked out of the small chamber.
Wu Heishan and the Xiao Hui siblings hurriedly followed him out.
"Boss, this mission is so dangerous. Are you really going to take it?" Wu Heishan asked.
"I've already accepted it. There's nothing more to say," Ye Yunfei said flatly.
"Ye Yunfei, this mission is too dangerous. Perhaps you should change to another one," Xiao Hui said with concern.
"Don't try to persuade me anymore. I've made up my mind," Ye Yunfei stated calmly.
Although extremely worried, upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, Wu Heishan and the Xiao Hui siblings could only drop the matter.
After that, Ye Yunfei returned to his small courtyard to rest and recuperate.
Two days later.
"Come to the Mission Hall immediately. Prepare to form a team to go to the Ten Thousand Beasts Empire to carry out the mission," a message suddenly arrived in Ye Yunfei's communication jade slip.
Thus, Ye Yunfei promptly went to the Mission Hall.
In the small chamber for accepting missions, the old man and four other students were already waiting there.
These four were clearly all senior students. Three of them had strength at the Postliminary True Manifestation Realm. The remaining one was at the Early Stage Yuan Foundation Realm!
"Kid, you will go with these four senior students to the Ten Thousand Beasts Empire to execute the mission," the old man said, pointing at the four.
"They are Fang Tian, Miao Yinfeng, Wang Tiechao, and Dongguo Xiong," the old man introduced each of the four senior students to Ye Yunfei. The student at the Early Stage Yuan Foundation Realm was named Dongguo Xiong.
"This is Ye Yunfei. He is a new student who just entered our Hudao Academy not long ago. You four are all senior students with abundant experience in missions. So, take care of him a bit along the way," the old man said.
It was clear that this old man still cared somewhat for Ye Yunfei.
However, the four senior students all looked at Ye Yunfei with cold eyes, seeming indifferent to the old man's words. Even their gazes towards Ye Yunfei contained a faint, concealed trace of killing intent!
Given Ye Yunfei's Soul Power, he naturally detected it.
"This is a bit off. These four seem to harbor killing intent towards me. Hmph, they'd better not provoke me. Otherwise, they can't blame me for being impolite," Ye Yunfei couldn't help but secretly sneer.
With his current strength and array of hidden trump cards, even a Yuan Foundation Realm cultivator wasn't someone to be feared. Ye Yunfei was confident that even if he couldn't defeat someone at that level, he could definitely retreat unscathed. Therefore, facing these four senior students, he felt not the slightest pressure.
"Alright. You may set off. My final warning to you is that life is the most important thing. In critical moments, preserving your lives is the priority!" the old man admonished them one last time, his gaze especially resting on Ye Yunfei.
"Rest assured, Elder. I understand," Ye Yunfei said. Although this old man was long-winded and talked endlessly, his intentions were good. That's why Ye Yunfei was comparatively polite to him.
"During this operation, everything will be under my command. Is that understood?" Dongguo Xiong declared in a condescending tone after they walked out of the Mission Hall. As an Early Stage Yuan Foundation Realm cultivator, he felt his status was naturally superior. He stood with his hands behind his back, eyes turned upwards, not deigning to look directly at the others.
"Of course. During this operation, we will all follow Senior Brother Dongguo's command," the other three senior students hurriedly nodded, exuding a fawning quality. Hudao Academy encouraged competition among students, so the strong bullying the weak was a common occurrence. And weaker students would typically try their utmost to curry favor with those stronger than themselves.
"Let's go," Dongguo Xiong said. He took out a flying boat, tossed it into the air, and spoke.
Then, Dongguo Xiong stepped into the air and was the first to enter the flying boat.
The other three senior students followed behind Dongguo Xiong.
Ye Yunfei also entered the flying boat.
Subsequently, the flying boat gave a sudden tremble and shot into the sky, leaving Hudao Academy in an instant.
Inside the flying boat.
The four senior students all sat cross-legged, closing their eyes to rest. However, they occasionally opened their eyes, their gazes sweeping over Ye Yunfei, revealing a derisive gleam.
"These four are definitely problematic. It's very likely they joined this mission precisely to deal with me!" Ye Yunfei's perceptiveness was astute, and he was thinking to himself.