The Cultivation Room was indeed a prized place, but Warriors couldn't spend all their time there. This was especially true for Peng Gengkun, an elite disciple limited to just ten visits per month.
"I can use Spirit Stones to boost my realm, but it's nothing compared to the Cultivation Room! Now with Wei Pengxing breathing down my neck, I need to ramp up my strength even more. I must either secure a hefty stash of Spirit Stones or earn the right to re-enter the Cultivation Room."
Stepping out of the Cultivation Room, Peng Gengkun was met with the envious stares of some Outer Sect disciples. They understood the superior benefits of training within its walls compared to the outer areas.
Basking in their envy, Peng Gengkun strolled past the Outer Sect disciples with ease.
He overheard two of them murmuring to each other in hushed tones.
"Oh, how I wish I could enter the Cultivation Room!"
"Unless you become an elite disciple, the Cultivation Room is out of reach. Your only shot is to complete Sect Missions and earn the favor of an Inner Sect Elder. That's your ticket in."
"Considering our abilities as Outer Sect disciples, those missions are out of our league. Better to just focus on our cultivation here."
Listening to their conversation sparked an idea in Peng Gengkun. He recalled the previous owner of his body had memories of Sect Missions. As an elite disciple, he was qualified to take on missions that weren't overly challenging. Success could mean access to the Cultivation Room or a bounty of Spirit Stones.
Without hesitation, Peng Gengkun made his way to the Mission Hall, guided by the Flying Cloud Sect's map.
The Mission Hall was quiet upon his arrival.
"I arrived at the Cultivation Room in the daylight! After ten hours of cultivation, it's now the wee hours of the morning. Even Warriors need their rest, it seems! But those ten hours have left me feeling invigorated."
With this thought, Peng Gengkun strode confidently into the Mission Hall.
Typically, the hall bustled under the watchful eyes of the Flying Cloud Sect's Elders and deacons, with disciples on hand to assign missions. But at this early hour, the Elders had retired for the night, leaving only a few sleepy disciples behind.
Peng Gengkun approached a disciple and rapped on the table.
Startled awake, the disciple blinked his bleary eyes at Peng Gengkun, seemingly trying to recognize him. After a moment, he finally drawled, "What do you want?"
Peng Gengkun was momentarily at a loss for words.
He was in the Mission Hall, obviously there to take on missions.
Clearing his throat, he stated, "I'm an elite disciple here to pick up missions."
With a face betraying his lethargy, the disciple lazily reached for a few wooden tablets and tossed them to Peng Gengkun.
The tablets listed details about the missions, including their objectives, requirements, and rewards.
Yet upon closer inspection, Peng Gengkun found the tasks laughably simple. They were mostly errands, like purchasing items for an Elder or making deliveries. Regardless, the missions were undemanding and the rewards, meager.
What Peng Gengkun truly needed were Spirit Stones and time in the Cultivation Room, neither of which were offered as rewards.
He furrowed his brow and inquired, "Are there no other missions? These are far too simplistic!"
"Simple?" The disciple scoffed, "You're just an elite disciple; these are the missions you're allowed to choose! The more challenging tasks are reserved for Inner Sect disciples!"
Peng Gengkun couldn't help but laugh in frustration, "Even the most basic Outer Sect disciple could handle these tasks. They're certainly not befitting of an elite disciple!"
He paused, then pressed on, "Do you think I'm ignorant of the Flying Cloud Sect's rules? Sect Missions are categorized by difficulty into three levels! The ones on wooden tablets are the easiest, open to any disciple. Medium difficulty missions are inscribed on gold plates, and only elite disciples like myself are eligible for those! The most advanced missions are on jade plates, exclusively for Direct Disciples! And yet, you're trying to fob off these wooden tablet tasks on me!"
The disciple smirked at Peng Gengkun's growing irritation.
"Indeed, I'm toying with you! With your status, you're only suited for these menial tasks!"
Peng Gengkun's realization hit him like a lightning bolt: "You did this deliberately!"
"Do you want to strike me?" the disciple asked nonchalantly. "We're in the Mission Hall. If you hit me here, the sect will take note, and you'll be forced to leave the Flying Cloud Sect!"
Peng Gengkun's fists tightened with rising anger, yet he stood powerless to act. Striking a disciple with a rank was not the same as hitting an ordinary one. Should Peng Gengkun lash out, he would certainly face retribution.
"It all boils down to the disparity in status. If only I had the standing of Wei Pengxing or Wei Mingzhi, I wouldn't be subjected to this treatment. But I have only myself to rely on. If I possessed the power of an Inner Sect disciple today, not only would this disciple think twice before crossing me, but even Wei Mingzhi wouldn't dare to provoke me!"
With these thoughts swirling in his head, Peng Gengkun exhaled deeply, forcefully quelling his rage.
Raising a single finger, he declared emphatically, "The day I become an Inner Sect disciple, I could beat you to a pulp, and the Flying Cloud Sect wouldn't so much as bat an eye!"
The disciple burst into hysterical laughter. "By the time you make it to Inner Sect disciple, Wei Mingzhi will have long since been made a Direct Disciple!"
Peng Gengkun huffed in disdain and held his tongue, turning to leave.
But after just a couple of steps, the disciple taunted, "Although, if you're so eager to meet your end, I do have a mission for you. Though, I doubt you're up to the task."
With that, he flippantly tossed a jade token into Peng Gengkun's hands.𝑅êạd new chapt𝒆rs on no/v/e/l𝒃in(.)com
Glancing down at the inscription on the token, Peng Gengkun's anger flared anew. "Seek out medicinal herbs in the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range? With its myriad of mutated beasts stronger than human Warriors of the same level, this is a task even Inner Sect disciples might fail to accomplish!"
Peng Gengkun was left utterly without words.