The autumn wind howled, and leaves danced in the air.
Ye Tian strolled alone through the inner sect, passing by numerous palaces as he made his way to the Task Hall.
Everyone has departed.
Meng Shiyun ascended to the peak of the mountain, while Yun Shuiyao and Lin Fei followed their master to train; even Prince Thirteen left the Divine Star Sect yesterday.
In the vast inner sect, Ye Tian found himself devoid of friends.
Even Wu Dao, the outer sect disciple, seemed to have vanished without a trace.
To be honest, Ye Tian felt perplexed. Logically, given his talent, the silver-robed elders should have been eager to take him as a disciple. However, the reality was puzzling; for over a year, not a single silver-robed elder approached him, nor did any black-robed elders seek him out.
Even Lin Fei, with his considerable aptitude, had attracted the attention of several black-robed elders eager to take him under their wing.
As the champion of the arena and having defeated an eighth-level Martial Spirit at the third level, Ye Tian's talent, if not the best in the Divine Star Sect, was certainly among the top.
Yet, despite this, no black-robed elder had come to him.
This situation puzzled not only Ye Tian but also Prince Thirteen and the others; they even inquired with several black-robed elders, only to receive the curt response of "no comment."
Although he harbored some doubts, Ye Tian was not anxious about finding a mentor. With the Blood Demon Transformation, he could cultivate to the Martial Monarch realm without the guidance of a master, and thus he felt no concern.
On this day, Ye Tian finally resolved to leave the Divine Star Sect, intending to accept a task and venture out for training. With only a year and a half remaining until the inner sect competition, time was of the essence, and he needed to elevate his cultivation as much as possible before then.
The grand Task Hall was situated beside the ten most opulent palaces of the inner sect. In contrast, the palaces of the top ten on the Divine Star Rankings floated in mid-air, while the Task Hall rested firmly on the ground.
At that moment, approximately a dozen inner sect disciples were gathered in the Task Hall, waiting for the task elder to assign them missions.
The task elder, Zhang Zhengyi, though a black-robed elder, wielded immense power, overseeing all task allocations within the inner sect.
Ye Tian had heard from Lin Fei that this task elder was not of the best character and advised him to be cautious and avoid provoking him.
Upon entering the hall, Ye Tian casually scanned the room and noticed an elderly man in a black robe seated in a chair, squinting lazily at the inner sect disciples standing before him with deference.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Ye Tian was taken aback as he recognized a familiar face.
It was Wu Ding, who stood before the task elder, head bowed in a display of respect, discreetly pulling out a package and stealthily handing it to Zhang Zhengyi.
Though he attempted to be discreet, every inner sect disciple present was a formidable Martial Spirit practitioner, and they instantly noticed.
Yet Ye Tian observed that the other disciples averted their gazes or lowered their heads, feigning ignorance of the exchange.
After receiving the package, Elder Zhang's gaze towards Wu Ding softened, and a smile spread across his aged face. "Little Ding, is it? I can't believe how much you've grown! I remember holding you when I visited your home back in the day, haha."
Zhang Zhengyi then assigned Wu Ding a simple task, to which Wu Ding expressed his gratitude with enthusiasm.
The other disciples regarded Wu Ding with envy.
Subsequently, the inner sect disciples each presented their own "gifts" to Zhang Zhengyi, paying their respects.
In turn, Zhang Zhengyi cheerfully assigned them simple or low-risk tasks.
When it was Ye Tian's turn, the atmosphere suddenly fell into silence; the remaining inner sect disciples widened their eyes in astonishment as they turned to gaze at Ye Tian.
Clearly, following his battle with the Mad Blade, Ye Tian had become a well-known figure within the inner sect.
However, the Task Hall was spacious, and Ye Tian had previously maintained a low profile, so the others had not noticed him until he approached to accept a task.
Wu Ding, of course, noticed Ye Tian as well, and his expression darkened, a cold smile creeping onto his face as he subtly nodded towards the task elder.
At that moment, Zhang Zhengyi squinted with curiosity and disdain as he scrutinized Ye Tian, who stood before him.
"Elder, I wish to venture out for training; please assign me a task," Ye Tian said calmly. He did not present a gift, not out of ignorance of social customs, but because he had nothing to offer; all his spirit stones had been spent.
Moreover, Ye Tian had no desire for a simple task; after all, he was seeking experience, not a leisurely respite. A more challenging task would better hone his skills, and the more difficult the mission, the greater the contribution points he would earn.
"You are Ye Tian? I heard you wagered on your victory in your last battle with the Mad Blade and earned quite a bit. I don't mean to sound condescending, but with your talent, you should focus on your cultivation. How could you engage in gambling? Such behavior tarnishes the reputation of our Divine Star Sect," Zhang Zhengyi remarked, his eyes narrowing slightly with a hint of icy disdain as he adopted a condescending tone.
At his words, the surrounding inner sect disciples exchanged glances, their expressions shifting as they regarded Zhang Zhengyi in bewilderment, seemingly unable to comprehend why he would publicly humiliate Ye Tian in front of everyone.
Only Wu Ding wore a smug grin, relishing Ye Tian's discomfort.
Ye Tian's expression darkened as he scrutinized Zhang Zhengyi, his indifferent eyes gleaming with cold light.
He was no fool; he understood precisely what Zhang Zhengyi was implying.
By highlighting how much spirit stones he had won, Zhang Zhengyi was insinuating that Ye Tian, having profited so greatly, should have shown gratitude to him. His subsequent remarks served as a clear reprimand, laced with a threat intended to remind Ye Tian of the task elder's authority.
As Ye Tian assessed Zhang Zhengyi, the task elder regarded him with an air of mockery, his cold eyes brimming with derision, as if to say, "Young man, do you even realize where you are? You ought to learn the rules."
The other inner sect disciples remained silent, none daring to display sympathy, for they feared offending the task elder, and they were not well-acquainted with Ye Tian.
Wu Ding's expression of schadenfreude only deepened.
Ye Tian cast a detached glance around the assembly before fixing his somber gaze upon Zhang Zhengyi, coldly stating, "Elder, it seems there is no regulation within the Divine Star Sect that prohibits disciples from engaging in gambling. Moreover, I am here to accept a task, so I would appreciate it if you could expedite the assignment, as I am pressed for time."
His icy tone carried a hint of arrogance, a trace of disdain, and a touch of mockery.
Upon hearing this, the sardonic smile on Zhang Zhengyi's face instantly froze, clearly taken aback by Ye Tian's audacity. His expression turned frigid, a layer of frost enveloping his visage.
"Young man, do you know whom you are addressing?" Zhang Zhengyi replied coldly, a flicker of murderous intent surfacing in his icy gaze.
As his words echoed, a chilling aura enveloped the entire Task Hall, causing everyone present to shudder involuntarily.
The inner sect disciples nearby, though admiring Ye Tian's courage, could not help but shake their heads.
The authority of the task elder was not to be trifled with; this was a tenet of the Divine Star Sect. Many had dared to offend the task elder, only to meet their demise during missions or to remain trapped within the sect, enduring oppression and bullying from others.
It was the first time they had witnessed someone as bold as Ye Tian speaking to the task elder in such a manner.
Even Wu Ding was taken aback for a moment, but soon his expression morphed into one of delight as he silently scoffed, "Truly courting death!"
However, Ye Tian was not as intimidated as others might have expected. He maintained his cold demeanor and replied, "Elder, I am indeed speaking to you. If you did not hear me, I can certainly repeat myself. Nevertheless, I am in a hurry, so please assign me a task promptly."
As he spoke, a hint of derision appeared on Ye Tian's face; he had discerned that this task elder was nothing more than a petty individual, targeting him simply because he had not offered a gift.
Having already offended such a small-minded person, Ye Tian felt little concern, for after all, the elder was merely a black-robed figure of the Martial Sovereign level. In a few years, he would surpass him, rendering any potential retaliation inconsequential.
Of course, only Ye Tian possessed such confidence, given his extraordinary talent.
"Bang!"
Zhang Zhengyi slammed his hand on the table in fury, his cold gaze filled with menace as he glared at Ye Tian, bellowing, "Impudent!"
As he spoke, an overwhelming aura of pressure surged forth, forcing Ye Tian to stagger back several paces.
Yet, Ye Tian continued to regard Zhang Zhengyi with a frigid stare, calmly responding, "Elder, to slay a fellow disciple would invite the wrath of all within the Divine Star Sect... Are you truly considering striking a disciple?"
Zhang Zhengyi's imposing demeanor faltered momentarily, though the chill in his eyes intensified. Ultimately, he reined in his oppressive aura, yet his gaze remained fixed on Ye Tian, brimming with hostility.
Ye Tian was undaunted, meeting his stare with a glimmer of scorn in his eyes.
After all, the Divine Star Sect had regulations; he had shown no disrespect towards the elder, and Zhang Zhengyi dared not take further action against him.
"Elder..." Just as the atmosphere grew tense, Wu Ding leaned closer and whispered something into Zhang Zhengyi's ear, casting a cold smirk in Ye Tian's direction afterward.
Gradually, the murderous intent on Zhang Zhengyi's face dissipated, and his gaze towards Ye Tian resembled that of someone observing a corpse.
Ye Tian frowned, glaring coldly at Wu Ding, his fierce gaze striking like a shard of ice.
However, Wu Ding remained unfazed, responding with a contemptuous smile and a dismissive snort.
At that moment, Zhang Zhengyi picked up a book and began to write, his voice low and solemn, "Since you are so eager to undertake a task, I shall grant your wish. The Star Poison Mountains are in need of assistance; you are to return immediately, pack your belongings, and head to the Star Poison Mountains to support the sect."
Star Poison Mountains!
The surrounding inner sect disciples gasped in shock, their gazes towards Ye Tian resembling those of witnesses to a death sentence.