It had been two days since Li Tian arrived at the sect, residing in the Inner Sect Elders' quarters atop the mountain peak. Today, he was set to undertake his first mission, a task that would bring him face-to-face with the Otherworldly Demon he had been tracking.
Though duty called, exhaustion weighed heavily on him. The relentless pursuit of greater attainments had consumed his daily life, leaving him drained. His efforts to push his cultivation further had reduced his sleep to a mere three hours a night, leaving his body fatigued and mind worn. Despite this, he continued his rigorous schedule, driven by the desire for perfection.
Yet, to maintain the façade of an ordinary sect member, he knew he had to rest. Taking the mission not only served as cover but also offered a rare moment of peace, a brief reprieve from the constant strain. For now, rest was a necessity, a way to keep up appearances and preserve his strength for the confrontation ahead.
The next morning, Li Tian woke from his bed, his body still aching with fatigue. The sunlight filtering through the wooden lattice windows illuminated the simple furnishings of his room—the meditation mat in the corner, a writing desk with half-finished scrolls, and a small shelf lined with Gu refinement manuals. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he sat up and exhaled deeply.
Rising, he made his way to the adjoining washroom where a wooden bucket filled with cold spring water awaited. He poured the icy water over himself, the shock jolting his senses awake. As the water cascaded down his body, washing away the remnants of exhaustion, he felt a slight clarity return to his mind.
After drying himself with a clean linen cloth, Li Tian donned a simple sect robe embroidered with faint silver cloud patterns along the sleeves, signifying his affiliation with the inner sect. His long black hair was neatly tied into a topknot before he stepped out of his quarters.
His destination was the Mission Tower, a grand, multi-story pagoda near the sect's heart where tasks for disciples were assigned. Each floor catered to different ranks, with the fourth floor specifically dedicated to Rank 4 Gu Masters like himself.
Upon reaching the fourth floor, he scanned the large jade panels where missions were displayed, their descriptions glowing faintly. He selected a task requiring the elimination of a Rank 4 Angered Fly Bird, a dangerous beast causing havoc near Qinglong Valley.
The creature's rampage had led to the destruction of farmland and injuries among local cultivators, making it a priority task for the sect. Li Tian took the mission slip and departed.
Upon arriving at Qinglong Valley, the scenery was both serene and chaotic. Mist clung low to the ground, curling around ancient willow trees and dense patches of spirit grass. However, the calm was shattered by the sharp screech of a beast.
Hovering above the valley was the Rank 4 Angered Fly Bird, a creature as bizarre as it was dangerous. Its body resembled that of a majestic crimson-feathered bird, but its face bore the grotesque features of a giant fly—compound eyes and needle-like mandibles that dripped with venom. The flapping of its wings sent strong gusts of wind rippling across the valley, while its sharp talons glowed faintly with a toxic aura.
Amidst the chaos, a figure clad in a violet battle robe was already engaged in combat. Yue Shiyin, a Gu Master of refined elegance, fought with deadly grace.
Yue Shiyin, a Gu Master of refined elegance, fought with deadly grace, but her techniques were far from ordinary. Her battle style radiated pure destructive power. She wielded a pair of Destruction Path Gu worms—Calamity Edge Gu—manifesting as twin dagger-like blades infused with violent purple-black energy that crackled with chaotic force.The air around her distorted with each swing, as the blades emitted pulses of destructive energy capable of corroding even the essence lingering in the atmosphere. She activated a killer move, Shattered Horizon Slash, causing an expanding crescent of destruction energy to surge from her blades, slicing through the valley floor and leaving trails of blackened earth and fragmented space in its wake.
After the smoke got cleared the Angered Fly Bird died under her destructive path killer move. Li Tian who was on the corner watched it and was shocked to find that she is using destructive path, which he thought somebody in the past though about it.
"Now, I understand the origins of the Destruction Path and its creator. It was conceived by an otherworldly demon, which makes perfect sense given their advanced knowledge of science and external realms. Perhaps, like Fang Yuan, she was influenced by Heaven's Will, tasked with opposing me. Otherwise, it seems improbable that she could have survived this long within the Spirit Affinity House sect, a place heavily guarded by Gu Immortals.
Through my investigation, I've confirmed that she holds the title of Fairy for this generation, meaning she would be under constant scrutiny and guidance from the Supreme Elders, with continuous nurturing to ensure her growth. This level of support would have made it nearly impossible for someone with a destructive path to remain unnoticed.
It stands to reason that the Heavenly Court is also aware of her existence. With the Star Constellation Venerable's insight, they must have received hints regarding her. Yet, they have chosen not to intervene, possibly because stopping her now could disrupt a larger plan they have in motion."