"However, that kid's strength doesn't seem weak. After all, he single-handedly injured several dozen of our Water Peak disciples. Teaching him a lesson might not be easy," one of the disciples beside Senior Brother Li said, frowning with some concern.
"Hmph! I've made inquiries. The only thing that brat excels at is physical strength. And the strongest among our Water Peak disciples injured today were only at the Mid Stage Earth Realm. So, he's not as formidable as you think. Zhang Shan, go back to Water Peak immediately and bring four disciples with Late Stage Earth Realm strength. Combined with me, that makes five. This time, I'll use the Five Dragon Divine Water Formation to deal with that kid! Also, go find my cousin and borrow his Illusory Water Spirit Sword for me." Senior Brother Li sneered coldly.
This Senior Brother Li was named Li Yichen. Within Water Peak, he was a minor tyrant. This was because his cousin was the number one disciple of Water Peak, Li Chaofan! Normally, relying on his cousin's prestige, Li Yichen got along well among the Tianyuan Sect disciples, and no one dared to provoke him.
Hisss!
The dozen or so disciples around drew in a sharp breath at Li Yichen's words. Every Water Peak disciple knew the might of the Five Dragon Divine Water Formation. An array formed by five disciples of Late Stage Earth Realm strength could challenge opponents a full realm higher — Heaven Realm experts! The Illusory Water Spirit Sword was a low-grade spirit artifact, its power far surpassing that of ordinary mortal weapons!
"But... the lethality of the Five Dragon Divine Water Formation is too great. It's normally only used to deal with external enemies. In conflicts between sect disciples, using this killing array... if the Peak Master or the Sect Leader finds out and investigates, I'm afraid..." one disciple voiced his concern.
"Hmph, don't you understand?Because of the Tianying Small World quota allocation affair, that kid has almost become the public enemy of all disciples in the Tianyuan Sect right now. Even Elder Su and Elder Luo have a problem with him. Even if we kill him, nothing will happen. Of course, this matter shouldn't be done too openly either. We'll make our move outside the headquarters. Come, let's go to the Mission Hall. We'll have Deacon Liu assign him a mission to lure him out of headquarters. When that time comes, won't that kid be at our mercy?" Li Yichen's gaze fixed on Ye Yunfei's receding back, a scheming gleam in his eyes.
"Senior Brother Li is right!" The other dozen disciples' spirits lifted.
Thus, Li Yichen left the Merit Hall with his group of disciples.
At that moment, led by A Niu, Ye Yunfei had already collected his sect benefits.
Three hundred Spirit Crystals, plus two bottles of spirit pills.
One bottle contained twenty First-Grade Spirit Gathering Pills, the other held five Second Grade True Spirit Pills. Of course, these benefits were only enjoyed by Core Disciples. Ordinary disciples definitely wouldn't get this much.
To be honest, though, Ye Yunfei truly looked down on this paltry amount of Spirit Crystals and spirit pills. With Ye Yunfei's alchemy level, even Fourth Grade or Fifth Grade spirit pills were something he could refine himself. Puny First and Second Grade spirit pills were like garbage to him!
After collecting his benefits at the Merit Hall, A Niu earnestly tried to persuade Ye Yunfei to visit the archives. But in Ye Yunfei's view, what kind of decent cultivation techniques or martial skills could such a minor sect in a tiny empire possibly have? His own head was crammed full of the world's top-tier cultivation methods and martial skills.
So, disregarding A Niu's urging, Ye Yunfei headed back towards Jin Peak after collecting his benefits.
"Senior Brother Ye Yunfei, it's really a shame you won't visit the archives. As a Core Disciple, you can borrow Fourth Grade cultivation techniques and martial skills," A Niu lamented the entire way.
Ye Yunfei merely smiled in silence.
Suddenly.
"Wait. Are you Ye Yunfei?" a voice called from behind.
Ye Yunfei's steps paused.
A tall, lean sect disciple hurried to catch up.
"I am. What is it?" Ye Yunfei asked.
"I'm a disciple from the Mission Hall. This is a mission Deacon Liu has assigned to you. He hopes you can complete it as soon as possible." The sect disciple handed a jade slip to Ye Yunfei.
"This Senior Brother, have you made a mistake? Senior Brother Ye Yunfei has only just arrived at the sect, he isn't even familiar with everything yet. How can he be assigned a mission?" A Niu was taken aback.
"Any disciple of the Tianyuan Sect must accept missions assigned by the Mission Hall. No one has special privileges," the disciple said expressionlessly, then turned and left.
"Hey, Senior Brother..." A Niu called out.
"A Niu, forget it," Ye Yunfei said.
"Senior Brother Ye Yunfei, you may not know this. Among the disciples of the five peaks, our Jin Peak's strength is the weakest. So, we often get bullied by disciples from the other four peaks. Especially disciples from Water Peak and Earth Peak—when they encounter Jin Peak disciples, they never have a kind look. Also, the various halls in the sect look down on us Jin Peak disciples too, often giving us all sorts of unreasonable and difficult treatment. We ordinary disciples of Jin Peak can just grit our teeth and bear it. But Senior Brother Ye Yunfei, you are a Core Disciple of our Jin Peak. When you encounter such things, you absolutely must not tolerate it. Doing so would be like losing face for our entire Jin Peak!" A Niu said indignantly.
"Forget it. It's just a mission. Since I am a disciple of the Tianyuan Sect, accepting some sect missions is no big deal," Ye Yunfei said as he picked up the jade slip and pressed it against his forehead. A stream of information flowed into his mind.
"Go to Demon Trapping Cliff in the Back Mountain to collect Heavenly Demon Fruit."
Ye Yunfei read the information aloud.
"What?! Senior Brother Ye Yunfei, this mission... it's actually sending you to Demon Trapping Cliff in the Back Mountain? You absolutely must not go! That place is saturated with vast amounts of demonic aura and baleful aura. Even Heaven Realm experts don't dare approach it casually; otherwise, they can easily lose their minds, or even... perish! Moreover, our Tianyuan Sect has a legend passed down since ancient times—that an extremely terrifying, peerless great demon is trapped at Demon Trapping Cliff. If it ever emerges, the entire Eastern Region will be strewn with corpses and rivers of blood! Usually, even the sect's elders are reluctant to approach Demon Trapping Cliff!" Hearing this, A Niu couldn't help but turn pale with fright.
"Oh? A peerless great demon is trapped there?" Ye Yunfei was momentarily taken aback, but then a flicker of interest arose. He himself was a Heavenly Emperor. Although his current strength was far from restored, he wasn't afraid of any so-called peerless great demon. One must know, the number of great demons and devils who had died by Ye Yunfei's hand was at least eight thousand if not ten thousand!
"Come on, Senior Brother Ye Yunfei, let's go to the Mission Hall and reason with Deacon Liu! Assigning such a mission is clearly sending you to your death!" A Niu was furious.
"A Niu, let it be. I want to go see Demon Trapping Cliff," Ye Yunfei held A Niu back and said.
"Absolutely not, Senior Brother Ye Yunfei, it's too dangerous there..." A Niu paled.
"A Niu, my mind is made up. How about you head back first? I'll go alone," Ye Yunfei said.
"This... fine, Senior Brother Ye Yunfei, I'll accompany you. If Elder Du finds out I let you go to Demon Trapping Cliff alone, he'll scold me to death. But first, Senior Brother Ye Yunfei, you must promise me: just look from afar, don't get close," A Niu hesitated for a moment, then clenched his teeth and agreed.
"Alright then. Let's go," Ye Yunfei nodded.
Since he wasn't very familiar with the path, having A Niu guide him was better.
Soon after, the two left the area of the headquarters and headed towards the Back Mountain.
Behind the Tianyuan Sect headquarters were vast, endless mountains—majestic and imposing, covered with primitive forests. The roars of beasts and cries of birds echoed incessantly.
Ye Yunfei and A Niu made their way through the dense forest.
At this moment.
Within the Tianyuan Sect headquarters.
"Senior Brother Li, good news! That kid has left headquarters and gone to the Back Mountain!" A disciple rushed excitedly to report to Li Yichen.
"Haha, that kid turned out to be a greenhorn. A simple trick from me, and he left headquarters. Excellent! Let's follow and finish him off!" Li Yichen was overjoyed. With a wave of his hand, he led his dozen Water Peak disciples out of headquarters, also heading towards the Back Mountain.