Wang Quan sat cross-legged in his new cave residence, slowly adjusting his breath to dispel the fatigue of his journey. Silently, he recalled the tragic scene of the resource point's destruction, unable to calm his heart. Yet, as his senior brother Xiao Fei had said, only by surviving would he have a chance to avenge them. Now, though joining the Loose Cultivator Alliance was only a temporary measure, it at least granted him a respite.
The spiritual energy in the cave was abundant, and the environment was far more spacious than his previous humble lodgings. The walls were engraved with intricate formation patterns, emitting a soft spiritual glow that enveloped the entire cave in a resilient shield. Wang Quan sighed lightly and was about to enter a deeper meditative state when a knock suddenly sounded at the entrance.
"Enter," he said in a steady voice, seated on the stone bed.
The door opened gently, and a young man in the Alliance's uniform entered, bowing respectfully. "Elder Wang Quan, my name is Lin Yi, a liaison disciple from the Alliance. I'm here to brief you on some of the Alliance's activities."
Wang Quan nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.
Clearing his throat, Lin Yi continued, "Elder, Qian Kun Grotto is one of the Alliance's core bases. Besides offering cultivation resources, it regularly posts missions for Alliance members. If you're interested, many of these missions come with valuable resource rewards, and they could help you recover your strength."
Wang Quan thought briefly before asking, "Are there any missions currently suitable for me?"
Lin Yi nodded and pulled out a jade slip, channeling spiritual energy into it to display its contents to Wang Quan. The jade slip listed several missions, and one in particular caught Wang Quan's attention.
Mission: Investigate Anomalies in Blackwind Valley
Mission Details: Recently, Blackwind Valley has shown unusual spiritual fluctuations. Rumors suggest that high-grade spiritual herbs may have appeared, though the surrounding environment is hazardous, and spirit beasts roam the area. The mission is high-difficulty, recommended for cultivators at the Foundation Establishment late-stage or higher.
Mission Rewards: Ten high-grade spirit stones, one bottle of third-grade pills, and twenty contribution points.
Intrigued, Wang Quan thought back to what he had heard of Blackwind Valley—a treacherous area shrouded year-round in dense black fog, reputed to be rich in spiritual herbs but fraught with peril. After Yunxiao Sect's fall, he urgently needed to gather spirit stones and pills to enhance his strength, and this mission offered just such an opportunity.
"How many have taken up this Blackwind Valley mission recently?" Wang Quan asked.
Lin Yi replied, "Because of the valley's treacherous environment, several late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators went there previously and never returned. The Alliance is cautious about this mission; while the reward is generous, no other Foundation-level cultivators have taken it recently."
Wang Quan remained silent for a moment, then resolutely said, "I'll take this mission."
Lin Yi looked a bit surprised but nodded, handing him a mission token. "Very well, Elder. Please proceed with caution. If you need support, you can contact the Alliance at any time with this token."
Wang Quan accepted the token, his mind already made up. This was a critical time for him to strengthen himself, and though the mission was risky, greater risks meant greater rewards. The desire for power burned within him, banishing any hesitation. He packed his belongings, preparing to set out for Blackwind Valley the next day.
At dawn, Wang Quan took his leave of Lin Yi and set off alone on the path to Blackwind Valley. Qian Kun Grotto lay only a few hundred miles from the valley, so he flew swiftly, passing mountains and rivers. As he neared Blackwind Valley, the landscape grew increasingly desolate, withered trees standing like skeletons, and a chilling aura seeping into the air.
By dusk, the entrance to Blackwind Valley finally came into view. The deep valley, blanketed in black mist, looked like a giant maw consuming all light, with not a single blade of grass around the entrance and an eerie silence pervading the area. Steeling himself, Wang Quan cautiously entered the valley.
Inside, the air felt even heavier than outside, as if an invisible force was pulling at him with every step. As he ventured deeper, he began to spot rare herbs here and there, their faint spiritual energy marking them as unique to Blackwind Valley. Carefully, Wang Quan collected a few and stowed them in his storage pouch before moving forward.
Reaching the heart of the valley, he suddenly heard a faint rustling sound. Alert, he released his spiritual sense, detecting a pair of ghostly green eyes watching him from a nearby thicket. He immediately halted, eyes fixed on the source, readying himself for a fight.
At that moment, a black-furred spirit leopard leaped from the bushes, lunging fiercely at him with razor-sharp claws glinting in the dim light. Wang Quan's gaze turned cold as he quickly drew his sword, channeling spiritual energy to counter the attack. After dozens of exchanges, he finally found an opening, driving his sword through the leopard's throat. The creature collapsed, dissolving into a cloud of black mist.
Stowing his sword, Wang Quan grew even more cautious. The further he went, the stronger the spiritual energy pulses became, and the spirit beasts were visibly more powerful. Adjusting his breathing, he pressed on toward the valley's depths.
Soon, he reached an open grassy area where a peculiar herb glowed faintly with purple light, especially eye-catching amidst the dim surroundings. However, as he approached, the surrounding black mist suddenly surged, and several shadows darted out, encircling him in an instant.
Wang Quan tensed, raising his sword defensively, and thought to himself, "This mission will be anything but simple…"