The next morning, the sky above Firmament Sword Sect was clear.
Yi Feng stood alone in a small training courtyard.
His clothes were soaked with sweat.
Bang!
His fist slammed into the wooden training post.
The post shook violently.
Yi Feng pulled his hand back and looked at his knuckles.
There was no blood.
But his skin was slightly red.
"Still not enough."
He had spent the entire previous day cultivating the Iron Body Art.
The technique was only Low Grade, but its effects were obvious.
His physical strength had increased slightly, and his body felt more resistant to ordinary attacks.
However, Yi Feng quickly realized something.
The Iron Body Art was far from enough.
My essence is strong because of the Life and Death Art.
But my body is still too weak.
If he encountered someone stronger than himself, he could not rely on his essence forever.
A powerful attack could still injure his physical body.
Yi Feng sat down and crossed his legs.
He began circulating the Iron Body Art again.
Pain immediately spread through his muscles.
His muscles tightened as spiritual energy entered his body.
"Urgh…"
Yi Feng clenched his teeth.
The technique was crude compared to the Life and Death Art.
The difference was obvious.
When he cultivated the Life and Death Art, the energy inside his body felt natural, almost as though his body itself welcomed it.
The Iron Body Art was completely different.
It felt like he was forcing his body to change.
But Yi Feng did not stop.
One hour.
Then two.
By noon, his entire body was trembling.
He finally opened his eyes.
He could feel that his body had become slightly stronger.
Not dramatically.
But enough.
Yi Feng stood up.
He looked toward the distant mountains surrounding the sect.
"There must be better body cultivation techniques."
He had only bought the cheapest technique he could find.
If he wanted to become stronger, he needed better resources.
And resources required contribution points.
Contribution points required missions.
Yi Feng smiled.
"Then I'll do missions."
The Mission Hall
The Mission Hall was already crowded.
Outer disciples moved around the enormous building, collecting missions from the wooden boards covering the walls.
Yi Feng entered with Chen Hao.
Chen Hao immediately walked toward one of the boards.
"Yi Feng!"
He pointed excitedly.
"Look at this."
Yi Feng walked over.
Chen Hao pointed toward a mission.
Mission: Collect Ten Moonlight Grass
Location: Blackwind Forest
Reward: 80 Contribution Points
Yi Feng shook his head.
"We already did that."
"I know."
Chen Hao grinned.
"But this one is different."
He pointed at another mission.
Mission: Eliminate Five Iron-Clawed Wolves
Location: Blackwind Forest — Outer Region
Reward: 120 Contribution Points
Yi Feng studied the mission.
"The reward is higher."
"Exactly."
Chen Hao lowered his voice.
"I heard there are more dangerous missions too."
Yi Feng looked toward the deeper section of the mission board.
The missions there had significantly higher rewards.
But the requirements were also much more dangerous.
Some required killing magical beasts.
Others required escorting caravans.
Some involved gathering rare spiritual herbs.
And a few even involved dealing with cultivators.
Yi Feng's eyes narrowed.
The sect wasn't simply a place for cultivation.
It was connected to the outside world.
Every mission represented a part of that world.
"This one."
Yi Feng pointed at a mission.
Chen Hao read it.
His expression immediately changed.
Mission: Escort a merchant convoy from Firmament City to Stone Ridge.
Danger Level: Medium
Reward: 200 Contribution Points
Chen Hao stared at Yi Feng.
"Medium?"
"That doesn't sound bad."
"You say that because you haven't read the rest."
He pointed at the bottom.
Warning: Bandit activity has recently increased along the route.
Yi Feng smiled.
"Then there should be something worth fighting."
Chen Hao sighed.
"You really like fighting."
"No."
Yi Feng picked up the mission token.
"I like getting stronger."
A New Opponent
Several hours later.
A young man stood inside another training courtyard.
His sword moved rapidly.
Swish!
Swish!
A wooden target was sliced apart.
The young man slowly lowered his sword.
His expression was calm.
A disciple standing nearby swallowed nervously.
"Senior Zhao, your swordsmanship has improved again."
The young man was Zhao Ming.
He looked at his sword.
"Improved?"
The disciple nodded quickly.
"You've already reached the fourth stage of Qi Gathering."
Zhao Ming remained silent.
He had broken through only recently.
But instead of being satisfied, he remembered the fight in the Blackwind Forest.
The young man named Yi Feng.
Something about him bothered Zhao Ming.
Not because Yi Feng had defeated the robbers.
But because of how he had done it.
Zhao Ming had watched carefully.
Yi Feng's essence had been unusually stable.
His movements were also strangely precise for someone at his cultivation stage.
What cultivation technique is he using?
Zhao Ming's eyes narrowed.
"I'll meet him again."
Leaving the Sect
The following morning, Yi Feng and Chen Hao stood before the sect gates.
Behind them was Firmament Sword Sect.
Ahead was the enormous road leading toward Firmament City.
Chen Hao adjusted his backpack.
"Two Hundred contribution points."
He smiled.
"If we complete this mission, I'll finally have enough to buy the technique I've been wanting."
Yi Feng glanced at him.
"What technique?"
Chen Hao hesitated.
"A body cultivation technique."
Yi Feng laughed.
"So we're thinking the same thing."
They started walking.
But neither noticed the figure standing on a distant mountain peak.
Zhao Ming watched them leave.
He held his sword tightly.
"Interesting."
He turned away.
"I'll take a different route."
Three young cultivators.
Three different paths.
And none of them knew how far those paths would eventually lead.
By sunset, Yi Feng and Chen Hao had reached the outskirts of Firmament City.
The city was enormous.
Stone walls stretched for several kilometers, with hundreds of cultivators entering and leaving through the gates.
Merchants shouted.
Caravans moved through the streets.
Cultivators sold magical beast materials.
Weapons, pills, spiritual herbs and cultivation manuals filled the surrounding shops.
Yi Feng's eyes slowly widened.
He had lived most of his life as a slave.
He had never imagined there could be a place like this.
Chen Hao laughed.
"Welcome to the real cultivation world."
Yi Feng looked toward the enormous city.
For the first time since escaping slavery, he felt something different.
Not hatred.
Not revenge.
Possibility.
He tightened his grip on his sword.
His journey had only just begun.
Then—
A loud horn suddenly sounded from the city gates.
BOOOOM!
The entire street became silent.
A guard shouted:
"Everyone clear the road!"
Yi Feng turned around.
A massive merchant convoy was approaching.
And surrounding it were more than twenty armed cultivators.
Chen Hao's expression changed.
"That…"
Yi Feng narrowed his eyes.
At the front of the convoy stood a middle-aged man.
He looked toward the two of them.
"You're the disciples from Firmament Sword Sect?"
Yi Feng nodded.
"Yes."
The man smiled.
"Good."
Then his expression became serious.
"Because we're leaving immediately."
Yi Feng frowned.
"Why?"
The man's eyes turned toward the road behind them.
"Because the bandits already know we're here."
To be continued...