Roy, Alice, and Veil stepped into the Mission Hall, greeted by a bustling scene. Various task boards lined the hall, showcasing missions of all kinds—from simple herb-collecting to beast-hunting.
Standing before the mission board with her chin in her hand, Alice looked a little overwhelmed. "Ah, so many choices. Which one should we take? They all seem interesting."
Veil, glancing at one side of the board, scoffed, "Herb-gathering missions? Boring. Stuff like 'pick three-leaf spirit grass' or 'find the glowing fruit' doesn't sound challenging at all."
Roy chuckled. "Veil, you're too dismissive. These herb-gathering missions may seem simple, but they can be dangerous. Still, they're a bit too low-level for us."
Veil nodded in agreement as he continued scanning the board. "How about this beast-hunting mission? 'Hunt two Rampaging Blood Wolves.' It sounds decent, and the reward is two bottles of Tier-4 pills."
Alice shook her head. "Too low-level. Don't forget, we're aiming for Elite Disciple status. A mission like this doesn't match our ambitions."
Just then, Roy's eyes landed on a mission plaque glowing faintly with a four-star rating. He pointed to it. "Alice, Veil, take a look at this one."
They followed his gaze to the mission board. The plaque read:
Mission Name: Suppress the Criminal Group in Yunlin District
Location: Yunlin District, outskirts of Starlight City
Mission Objective: Eliminate the criminal group hiding in Yunlin District and capture the leader alive for the Starlight City Guard Division.
Enemy Info: Leader at approximately Level 40, with six members ranging from Levels 25 to 35.
Time Limit: 7 days
Rewards: Each participant receives 2 bottles of mid-tier Tier-5 pills, 1 bottle of high-tier Tier-5 pills, plus 10,000 spirit stones.
Veil's eyes lit up at the words "suppress criminal group." "A gang takedown? Sounds exciting!"
Alice showed a hint of excitement as well. "Capturing the leader alive will be tricky, but the reward is tempting. High-tier Tier-5 pills are great for enhancing comprehension abilities."
Roy thought for a moment. "Judging by the enemy's strength, we should be able to handle it. The leader's at Level 40, but if we divide our efforts, we can take out the members first and then focus on the leader."
Veil clenched his fists, filled with fighting spirit. "Perfect! A good challenge with great rewards. Let's take this mission!"
Alice nodded. "Agreed. It's the perfect opportunity for us to grow."
Just as they made their decision, a senior elder from the Mission Hall approached them. He eyed them carefully. "You three want to take on this four-star mission?"
Roy nodded firmly. "Yes, we're confident we can handle it."
The elder stroked his beard slowly. "This mission is no small task, especially with the leader being at Level 40. Be cautious, and make sure to complete it within seven days. You may want to prepare before setting out."
The trio exchanged determined glances, their eyes full of trust and confidence.
"We understand. We'll be careful," Roy said with a smile before they officially accepted the mission.
Outside the Mission Hall, Veil couldn't contain his excitement. "Let's head back and prepare. Then, we set out!"
Alice smiled. "I'm looking forward to this mission. Let's make the most of this opportunity."
With their resolve set, the three walked off, ready for the challenge that awaited them.
Roy, Alice, and Veil packed their gear and left the courtyard, heading toward Starlight City. Their steps were light, and their conversation was filled with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming mission.
As soon as they arrived at Starlight City, Alice's eyes lit up like a child's. She looked around at the bustling shops and street vendors. "Wow, the streets here are so lively! Look at those ornaments! They're so pretty! Let's go shopping first!"
Roy gave a helpless smile. "Didn't you say you were hungry? Now you want to shop instead?"
Alice, completely unapologetic, said, "Shopping first, then eating! That way, I'll have a better appetite!"
Veil burst out laughing. "That's a new one! But since we're here, we might as well humor you."
The trio strolled down a busy commercial street, lined with stalls selling all kinds of goods—exquisite jade ornaments, rare herbs, and even some vendors hawking low-tier magical beast pelts.
Alice's eyes locked onto a purple crystal necklace. She walked over to admire it, holding it up. "This necklace is so beautiful. Do you think it makes me look more spiritual?"
The vendor eagerly jumped in. "You have good taste, miss! This is made from cloud crystal, which helps with spiritual cultivation. It's both pretty and practical!"
Alice's eyes sparkled, and she reached for her spirit stones, but Roy interjected. "The vendor's exaggerating. Cloud crystal does enhance spiritual energy, but this necklace is made from ordinary crystal."
The vendor's face turned awkward. "Well… you're very sharp, young man."
Alice gave the vendor a sharp look. "Scammer!" She grabbed Roy and Veil and left the stall.
Veil couldn't help teasing her. "Alice, you should bring Roy shopping more often. He'll make sure you never get ripped off."
Alice huffed. "If it weren't for him, I would've been fooled!"
After browsing for a while, they stopped in front of a grand restaurant. A sign above the entrance read "Starlight Feast" in bold, eye-catching characters.
Alice's eyes lit up. "This is the one! It looks so fancy!"
Roy chuckled. "Alright, let's go in."
The moment they stepped inside, they were greeted by a symphony of delicious aromas—the rich scent of roasted meat, the subtle tang of fruit wine, and the smoky allure of grilled dishes.
A waiter led them to a window-side table. Alice eagerly grabbed themenu, her eyes twinkling. "I want the pudding, the meatballs, apple cider, roast duck, and steak!"
Veil, hearing her list, couldn't help but chuckle. "Alice, are you planning to bankrupt this place?"
Alice smugly responded, "After all that training, I'm starving!"
Roy glanced at the menu and ordered a roast chicken and clear soup. "Since Alice is going all out, we might as well join her."
The dishes arrived one after another. The roast duck's skin was golden and crispy, the roast chicken emitted a mouthwatering aroma, the pudding was topped with glistening fruit sauce, and the steaming meatballs looked irresistible.
Alice wasted no time grabbing her chopsticks. "Time to dig in!"
Veil watched her eat with gusto and couldn't stop laughing. "You don't look like a dignified spirit master—you look like a wild beast that hasn't eaten for three days!"
Alice mumbled through a mouthful of food, "Who says spirit masters can't enjoy their food?"
Roy shook his head with a smile. "Alright, Veil, let's eat. We've got a mission to get back to after this."
The meal was filled with laughter and lighthearted conversation, a rare moment of relaxation for the trio.
After they finished eating, Alice patted her stomach with satisfaction. "That was amazing! After our mission, let's come back for another feast!"
Roy and Veil exchanged smiles. "Deal. Once we complete the mission, we'll celebrate properly!"
With full bellies and renewed determination, they set off again, heading toward their destination—the Yunlin District on the outskirts of Starlight City.
As dusk fell, moonlight bathed the forest in a silvery glow, flowing like water through the trees. Roy took a deep breath of the fresh forest air and turned to Alice and Veil. "Let's camp here for the night. Get a good rest—we'll set off at dawn. We've reached the outskirts of Yunlin District, and tomorrow we'll focus on locating the criminal gang and observing their movements."
Veil crouched down to gather dry firewood. "Even though their leader is only level 40, we can't be careless. There are six of them, and they'll likely coordinate to prevent us from taking them down one by one."
Alice spread out a moisture-proof mat as she spoke. "They've been causing trouble here for a long time, so they're not to be underestimated. Once we track them down tomorrow, we'll need a detailed plan. No charging in blindly."
The trio quickly divided tasks. Roy went to find a clean water source, Veil started a fire, and Alice set up a simple defensive barrier to ward off wild animals and low-tier magical beasts.
Once the fire was lit, its warm glow dispelled the forest's chill. The three sat around it, and Veil pulled out some dried meat and flatbread from his pack, handing it to Roy and Alice.
"Eat up. It's not as fancy as the food at Starlight City, but it'll keep us from going hungry," Veil said with a grin.
Alice took the dried meat and pouted. "I still miss that roast duck from Starlight City. But for the mission, this will have to do."
Chewing on the dried meat, Roy contemplated the next day's plan. "When we approach the core of Yunlin District, we'll scout the area first. The gang likely has lookouts, so we can't just barge in. Alice, you'll be in charge of tracking their movements. Your spiritual perception range is larger than ours, so you're the best for the job."
Alice nodded. "Got it. My spiritual sense can cover most of Yunlin District."
"Veil, you'll lead the way and handle the front-line combat. Once the fight starts, focus on holding off their leader."
Veil thumped his chest. "Leave it to me! My giant bloodline can take all the hits up front."
"I'll handle support and strike at key moments. We'll aim for a quick victory," Roy said firmly.
The flickering firelight softened the atmosphere. Alice suddenly chuckled. "Hey, Veil, didn't you say you wanted to buy a new weapon in Starlight City? Why didn't you get one?"
Veil shrugged. "Those weapons were too expensive. A suitable giant war hammer costs thousands of spirit stones. I'll need to save up more."
Alice's eyes twinkled. "But once we complete this mission, we'll get a reward of 10,000 spirit stones. You'll have enough to buy one then!"
"You're right!" Veil's eyes lit up with excitement.
Roy smiled at the two of them. "Once we complete the mission, our strength and resources will level up. The road ahead is long, but we'll keep moving forward together."
The three shared a smile, their faces reflecting the firelight and their hope for the future.
As night deepened, Alice set up spiritual defense barriers to ensure they wouldn't be disturbed. Veil patrolled the area and, after confirming there were no signs of magical beasts, sat back down by the fire.
Roy closed his eyes, quietly sensing the thunder energy he had recently started cultivating. He felt a faint opportunity for a breakthrough and grew even more determined.
"Let's get some sleep. We'll move out at dawn," Roy said softly.
The fire slowly died down, and the three lay beneath the starry sky. A cool night breeze rustled through the trees, carrying with it a sense of calm and determination for the trials to come.