Xu Fan watched Wang Yulun disappear into the distance and murmured to himself, "I have only a few friends in the Heavenly Gate; you better stay alive."
Of the two jade slips he was given, one contained Xu Fan's self-created technique: the Light Feather Wind Technique.
The other one contained the Fire Spear Technique, which was a combination of wood and fire techniques.
Upon returning to his small courtyard, he watered his ten-acre Spirit Field with the Small Spirit Rain Technique, before retreating to his room for cultivation.
Early in the morning, Xu Fan arrived at the mission hall to receive his mandatory monthly task. Early Qi Refining was only used for miscellaneous tasks and practicing Sect techniques. It was only after reaching the middle stage that disciples would be assigned Inner Sect tasks.
In the mission hall, a Foundation Establishment deacon was distributing tasks to the Outer Disciples.
When it was Xu Fan's turn,
The Deacon recognized him, "Isn't this that pretty good kid?"
"Senior, I water your seven-leaf flowers outside your cave mansion every 5 days. They are growing well and I estimate they will bloom and bear fruit in a few years." Xu Fan respectfully said.
As the person in charge of distributing tasks, he needed to win this person over. What if he ended up assigning himself a potentially dangerous task of exterminating demonic beasts?
Upon hearing Xu Fan's words, the Deacon's face broke into a smile. Originally, there was an empty space in front of his cave mansion, but after this kid promoted to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, he transformed the space outside his cave mansion into a Spirit Field at an astonishing speed.
He also recommended the seven-leaf flower as a significant spiritual medicine and declared full-time care, simply to secure a safe task within the Sect in the future.
Since then, the most profitable and safest tasks within the Sect have always gone to Xu Fan.
"Xu Fan, I have a long-term task here. The contribution points are a little bit less, I'm not sure if you are interested." the Deacon said with a smile.
"Senior, is it safe?"
"Absolutely safe. 150 contribution points a year, plus I will personally give you 10 spirit stones." said the Deacon.
"10 spirit stones, what does that mean?" Xu Fan asked, puzzled.
"It's like this, the dozens of acres of Spirit Field outside my cave mansion need someone to look after them until they mature. I'm not sure if you're willing."
Upon hearing this, Xu Fan was overjoyed. His constant effort of watering the Deacon's field for these two years had finally paid off.
"Thank you, Deacon." Said Xu Fan excitedly.
"You deserve it. But, your fear of death character is really…." The Deacon's voice trailed off. Unlike the other Outer Disciples who would eagerly undertake dangerous tasks to slay the demonic beasts for resources, this kid remained safe, peaceful, and comfortably acted as an agriculturalist.
"By the way, I also have a small task. The teacher who usually teaches agricultural skills to new disciples isn't available, I need someone proficient in these skills to substitute for three days. The reward is 3 spirit stones, are you interested?" the Deacon added.
"When does it start?" Xu Fan asked.
"Tomorrow, is there a problem?"
"Not at all."
After answering, Xu Fan received the task token from the Deacon.
"You're familiar with the place, just show the token when you get there, and someone will receive you."
"Alright."
After accepting the task, Xu Fan headed in the direction of the Deacon's cave mansion.
Xu Fan, hovering in mid-air using the Light Body Technique, looked at the Inner Sect brothers flying around in the sky on magical treasures with some envy. In his view, that was true flight.
"Qi Refining High Layer, it's not urgent. I should be able to reach it in 30 years, after all, I still have more than 100 years left."
"Sigh, this darned system."
Xu Fan muttered, then used the Wind Riding Technique to speed up towards the Deacon's cave mansion.
There are 100,000 large mountains in the Tianque Mountain Range, and countless small ones. To quickly control the entire mountain range, the Tianque Sect allows intermediate disciples to occupy smaller peaks. Foundation Establishment disciples can have their own cave mansions, while Golden Core ancestors can possess their own main peaks.
Half an hour later, Xu Fan appeared in front of a mountain peak that was more than ten times larger than his own. With token in hand, he gained entry into the restricted area.
'Small Spirit Rain Technique'
'Solid Light Technique'
'Spring Breeze Skill'
Upon entering the deacon's restricted area, Xu Fan quickly watered all spirit fields as per the routine.
"Fortunately, I chose these easy-to-handle spiritual medicines, or else I'd die of exhaustion just from travelling every day."
After completing his task, Xu Fan looked affectionately at his surroundings. Although the deacon didn't know much about spirit medicines, he had an aesthetic sense that shone through in the cave mansion's design, which displayed an aura of Immortal World elegance.
Upon finishing his task, he returned to his small mountain peak.
Picking up his homemade lounge chair, Xu Fan laid leisurely beside the spirit field, contemplating his next steps.
"Given the deacon's favor, there will be no crisis of external tasks for the next few years. The rest is to sell the spirit rice and learn the alchemy technique."
"Once I start earning from alchemy, I'll learn artifact refining."
"In the future, I'll have two identities to rely on, there won't be any need to plot for status."
Saying this, Xu Fan's hand sparked a ray of spirit light, and a wind bird formed from his technique appeared in his hand.
An animated, turquoise phoenix flew around Xu Fan.
"This universe hints towards the Three Thousand Great Worlds. There are several Immortal Worlds recorded in the sect's annals. Could it be corresponding to the Three Thousand Great Worlds?"
"If so, the world I'm in now should be the Middle Thousand Worlds, with the Great Master of Tianque Sect being a Tribulation Crossing Expert."
"As there seems to be a Tribulation Passage stage, it's much like the spirit world for mortals in the Cultivation World."
"This half-dead system doesn't even have a resurrection ability, or else I could go out and wander."
"What's the use of giving me this damned talent if I can only break through on my deathbed."
As Xu Fan spoke, he waved away the wind bird and made a hand gesture.
"Flying Bird Group Killing Skill", but Xu Fan would rather call it Drone Bombing.
A small array appeared, from which dozens of flying birds of various attributes flew out. Each small bird contained an explosive force, which could detonate at the slightest provocation.
This was the most powerful technique Xu Fan had created; even high-level Qi cultivators couldn't withstand these birds' multiple bombings.
"With this damned talent of mine, I can even create top-level techniques."
"What's the use? It's still useless when I encounter the foundation establishment stage."
At that moment, Xu Fan had a sudden idea.
"I could take a disciple. When the time comes, I can pass on all my self-created skills."
"Although I can't get promoted, my disciple can."
As he said this Xu Fan was invigorated, feeling that his bland life of immortality now had a slight touch of color.
" At the 12th Level of Qi Cultivation, I can take disciples after reaching the Qi Cultivation Peak."
"At that time, with their protection, wouldn't it be safe for me to live a peaceful life."
In Xu Fan's eyes, the sect was not completely safe; Tianque Sect had many enemies, some of whom were top big shots.
Just then, an electronically synthesized voice sounded in Xu Fan's mind.
"Detected a high-level energy probing host, activating a shield."
"Again? Don't I have any privacy left?"