Witnessing Peng Gengkun's flustered demeanor, the disciple swelled with pride. "Too scared to take on the mission? Then just go and deliver the letter like a good boy! That's more fitting for someone like you!"
He paused before adding, "And don't say I didn't warn you. You're free to take on the mission, but if you don't complete it, the sect will punish you! You have half a month. Fail, and you'll spend the latter half in the water prison!"
Peng Gengkun's frustration bubbled into laughter as he clutched the jade token. "Well then, I'm definitely taking this mission!"
The disciple's smirk faded into a lazy grin. "In that case, I wish you luck. Enjoy the water prison, should it come to that."
With a dismissive snort, Peng Gengkun ended the exchange and strode out of the Mission Hall, jade token in hand.
He hadn't anticipated Wei Mingzhi stooping to such low tactics, yet they were undeniably effective.
"He's not just an Inner Sect disciple; his family wields considerable influence. The Wei family might not be among the elite in the Bleakwind Barrens, but they're no small name. With his status, he can easily sic these Outer Sect disciples on me."
Taking a deep breath, Peng Gengkun shook off the negativity. "This mission may be tough, but with my current abilities, if I steer clear of the stronger mutated beasts and stay cautious, I can pull it off."
He inspected the jade token closely, noting the mission details and the reward.
"I need to find and return with the Flying Shadow Grass to earn a day's access to the Cultivation Room."
"The Flying Shadow Grass is a Grade One herb. And if I come across the Grade Two Shadow Soul Grass, there's an extra reward in it for me."
On the token's reverse was a simple illustration depicting both the Flying Shadow Grass and the Shadow Soul Grass.
Peng Gengkun mulled over the task at hand, realizing this mission wouldn't be a walk in the park.
Disregarding the formidable mutated beasts lurking within the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range, locating the elusive Flying Shadow Grass was no simple task. This particular herb thrived only in the shadows, and was all too easily destroyed.
Shadow Soul Grass was even more scarce than its counterpart, the Flying Shadow Grass.
"With the Leviathan-roc System at my disposal, I stand a chance at fulfilling this mission!" Peng Gengkun thought to himself.
Armed with just enough dry provisions and water, Peng Gengkun swiftly departed from the Flying Cloud Sect.
The Cloud Connecting Mountain Range lay some fifty kilometers from the sect. A journey that would take an ordinary person at least half a day, but Peng Gengkun, with his warrior's speed, could cover the distance tenfold faster. In under an hour, he reached the mountain range's periphery.
Dawn was breaking. Standing at the forest's edge, Peng Gengkun could faintly make out the chorus of birdsong from within the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range, accompanied by the whispering rustle of wind through the leaves. The dancing tree shadows cast a serene atmosphere.
Yet Peng Gengkun was acutely aware of the dangers that this tranquility masked.
"The Cloud Connecting Mountain Range is an offshoot of the Cold Moon Mountain in the Bleakwind Barrens! It teems with mutated beasts, creatures far removed from ordinary wildlife, for they possess the ability to cultivate. Vigilance is key," he reminded himself.
Taking a deep breath, Peng Gengkun stepped into the mountain range.
He bypassed the shadow-drenched areas blanketed by the trees. These outer reaches had been scoured by countless explorers over the years, hundreds, if not thousands of times. Peng Gengkun knew that the best he could hope to find here were lesser Heavenly Treasures, hardly worth his effort to collect.
His fists clenched, his expression one of utmost caution, Peng Gengkun's Astral Energy surged within him, ready to be unleashed in an instant.
"To procure the Flying Shadow Grass, I must venture off the beaten paths and delve deeper into the mountain range. Yet such a course risks getting lost, with no guarantee of finding my way back to the fringes. But to complete the mission without incurring any penalties, it's a risk I must take."
Peng Gengkun pondered for a moment before veering off the mountain path and delving into the heart of the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range. Despite being a mere offshoot of the vast Cold Moon Mountain Range, it was still an immense expanse, far too vast for one person to fully explore. Before he knew it, two to three days had slipped by, yet Peng Gengkun's search had yielded nothing.
Trudging through the dense forest, he suddenly slapped his arm with force, leaving behind a bloody smear where he had crushed a mosquito as big as a finger.
"I've been roaming the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range for days and haven't found a single treasure, just swarms of these blasted mosquitoes! If this keeps up, I'm going to end up back in the water prison," he muttered, feeling a sense of futility.
As he grappled with his frustration, Peng Gengkun noticed an eerie silence had fallen over the woods; the usual chorus of birds and insects had ceased.
A jolt of alarm shot through him. "Birds and insects may lack strength, but their sensitivity is unmatched. Their silence can only mean one thing—they've sensed danger."
No sooner had this realization dawned on him than a thunderous roar echoed through the forest. The trees and underbrush trembled as a wave of movement rippled towards him.
"This is bad! A mutated beast is upon me!" Peng Gengkun's heart raced. Instinctively, he summoned his Leviathan-roc Astral Energy and unleashed a powerful palm strike.
Though it wasn't his signature Great Vajra Palm, the force of his Astral Energy was enough to scatter the foliage before him, revealing the assailant.
A creature resembling a Blackback Hound emerged, but it was far more menacing than any Peng Gengkun had encountered in his past life. Its fur bristled like steel needles.
"A Steel Mane Dog! Its fur is notoriously tough and razor-sharp. If those hairs pierce your skin, you'll bleed incessantly. Swordsmiths even use them as a component in their forging," he recognized instantly.
Peng Gengkun's nerves tightened as he faced the formidable beast.
"Though this mutated beast isn't particularly formidable, its fur usually prevents Martial Warriors from engaging it at close quarters. Luckily, I've attained the Intermediate Rank in Qi Refining. Having expanded the Astral Energy within me through rigorous cultivation, I'm now capable of executing the Vajra Worshipping Moon technique thrice!"Vissit n𝒐velbin(.)c𝒐m for 𝒏ew 𝒏ovels