Translator: Cinder Translations
Song Wen calmly exited the dissecting cave. What had just transpired in the cave was, for Song Wen, merely another act for survival.
As for Wu Sui's suggestion for Song Wen to choose the Yin Sha Hall when he became an inner sect disciple, Song Wen had already pushed that to the back of his mind.
Of course, if that day ever came, Song Wen wouldn't oppose going to the Yin Sha Hall. Wherever he went, as long as he could live well, that place would be good enough for him.
Moreover, Song Wen remembered that Wu Xiu, who had once insulted him, was in the Yin Sha Hall. If given the chance, he would still seek revenge.
Dissecting corpses, though it posed significant risks to others, such as the danger of contaminating one's mind and mana, was completely safe for Song Wen. The blood mists and residual souls in the dissecting cave had become his resources for cultivation.
Originally, the other corpse dissectors and Yuan Cheng believed that with Song Wen's cultivation at the early Qi Refining stage, it would take at most one or two months, or at most a few months, for Song Wen to be corrupted by the tainted qi and turn into a demon.
They were greatly surprised to find that Song Wen was doing just fine, his cultivation steadily increasing, and unknowingly, he had already broken through to the third layer of Qi Refining.
Today marked exactly eleven months since Song Wen entered the dissecting cave, also marking the end of his one-year term with the Corpse Demon Sect.
Having just received his monthly stipend, Song Wen collected the message from the Outer Affairs Hall.
Outer sect disciples must complete an external mission every year.
The message from the Outer Affairs Hall stated that today was the final day, and Song Wen had to go to the Outer Affairs Hall to take on a mission, or face severe punishment from the sect.
Song Wen hurriedly left the dissecting cave and headed straight to the Outer Affairs Hall.
There were not many people in the Outer Affairs Hall, only a few outer sect disciples there to receive their missions.
Song Wen handed his disciple's token to an old man and said, "Junior Disciple Ji Yin greets the steward. I am here to receive my annual external mission."
The old man's cultivation was not very strong, probably around the seventh or eighth layer of Qi Refining, but he had significant backing within the sect. Otherwise, he wouldn't have secured the lucrative position of steward in the Outer Affairs Hall.
The old man slightly lifted his eyelids, his gaze cold as he glanced at Song Wen.
He looked down on Song Wen, who had no connections or resources in the sect. With no backing and no resources, there was nothing to squeeze out of him.
But that was good; those dangerous sect missions were perfect for people like him.
If everyone had connections, those life-threatening sect missions would never get done.
The old man started flipping through the mission record book in front of him, looking for a task for Song Wen.
Song Wen, who was well aware of human nature, immediately noticed the disdain and contempt in the old man's eyes. He instantly had an idea and realized he should do something.
With a flick of his hand, Song Wen subtly slipped the ten spirit stones he had just received as his monthly stipend into the old man's hand, still warm.
"Junior Disciple has just entered the sect for a year, with low strength. I kindly ask the steward to find a low-risk mission for me."
Song Wen spoke in a very low voice.
As for why he only gave ten spirit stones, it wasn't that Song Wen was unwilling to bribe the old man with more spirit stones. It was because considering his monthly stipend, managing to give ten spirit stones was already difficult. Giving too many spirit stones might only cause unnecessary trouble.
The old man touched the spirit stones in the cloth bag, a faint smile appearing on his indifferent face.
This young disciple in front of him seemed quite sensible.
"The alchemy hall has a spirit herb inventory task that just suits you. The mission location is over two thousand li northwest of the sect, in the Poison Miasma Swamp..."
After the old man's introduction, Song Wen roughly understood the contents of the mission.
The Poison Miasma Swamp is filled with poisonous miasma that lingers year-round, extremely toxic and inherently dangerous, a place rarely visited by people.
However, within the Poison Miasma Swamp grows a precious spirit herb known as the Rainbow Herb. Despite its inherent toxicity, it is a crucial ingredient for refining Profound Qi Pills and Foundation Building Pills, making it incredibly valuable.
Under the jurisdiction of the Corpse Demon Sect, the Poison Miasma Swamp has been developed as a spiritual field for the sect's benefit. The Yan family, an affiliated clan of the sect, is stationed there.
To prevent the Yan family from embezzling the Rainbow Herb, every three years, disciples are sent by the Corpse Demon Sect to inventory the Rainbow Herb's yearly yield and corresponding quantities.
Usually, two disciples are assigned, often led by one in the late Qi Refining stage and accompanied by one in the early to mid Qi Refining stage.
Due to the Corpse Demon Sect's powerful influence and ruthless methods, the Yan family has never dared to embezzle sect resources, and the biennial inventory of spirit herbs has become a mere formality.
TL Note: biennial - taking place every other year.
This mission can indeed be considered almost completely devoid of any danger.
TL Note: The Hour of the Rat (子时, Zǐ shí) – 11PM to 1AM
"Three days from now, at the hour of the rat, go to the alchemy hall and find Elder Shen. He will provide you with detailed information about the mission. At that time, you will also meet your senior brother who will accompany you on the mission. Remember to be punctual and not be late."
Song Wen clasped his fists, "Thank you, steward. I will be there on time."
With the mission token in hand, Song Wen left the Outer Affairs Hall.
The mission was set to begin in three days, and he intended to use this time to prepare some life-saving measures.
Although the mission posed extremely low risks, in the dangerous world of cultivation, there was hardly any place that could be considered absolutely safe.
Half a month ago, he had broken through a bottleneck that had hindered him for two full months, advancing to the fourth layer of Qi Refining. This was the first time since Song Wen began cultivating that he had felt the existence of such a bottleneck.
His rapid advancement to the mid Qi Refining stage within just one year was likely due to several factors, as Song Wen speculated:
Firstly, his sixth-grade spiritual root talent and abundant cultivation resources.
Secondly, the demonic cultivation technique he practiced was known for its compatibility with early-stage cultivation and fast progress.
Thirdly, his cultivation of the "Corpse King Blood Refining Technique," although a demonic technique, focused on body refinement. Despite being a demonic technique, body refinement techniques all aimed to enhance a cultivator's physical body through absorbing and refining celestial materials, spiritual beasts, or human qi and blood power. He could directly absorb others' qi and blood to condense his own, accelerating his cultivation significantly.
This was the true reason behind Song Wen's rapid advancement in cultivation.
Otherwise, he would not have broken through the bottleneck so easily and reached the mid Qi Refining stage. Back then, he had been stuck at the peak of the third layer of Qi Refining for several years without any breakthrough opportunities.
Currently, Song Wen concealed his aura with extraordinary ability. Up to now, he had not encountered any cultivator who could detect his hidden cultivation level.
However, Song Wen was uncertain if higher-level cultivators could discern his concealed cultivation level.
On his way back to his cave mansion, Song Wen pondered his current offensive techniques and considered areas where he needed to improve.
After long efforts, Song Wen had successfully drawn fireball talismans and shield talismans. Due to his abundant cultivation resources, he had accumulated more than fifty fireball talismans and more than twenty shield talismans, all of which were still in his possession and had never been used.
Although these two types of talismans were only first-grade inferior talismans, quantity could lead to quality.
Song Wen believed that dozens of fireball talismans thrown together could even force a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator to retreat.