Northern Yan Chapter Nine: Astonished Gazes

The Xujian Sect was situated in a vast expanse, surrounded by nineteen peaks, among which Tian Peak, Yu Peak, and Xuan Peak were the most renowned and significant. Although the Han’e Mountain Range housed eleven smaller sects, the scenery of the Xujian Sect stood unrivaled. The mountains and rivers stretched endlessly, resembling a colossal dragon—a fitting territory fiercely fought for by the sect’s ancient ancestor.

Mo Hao’s external affairs division was located on a small hill at the foot of Ren Peak. It was unclear why the external affairs had been established there in the first place. Having descended from the external affairs hill, Mo Hao now waited idly, uncertain of what he awaited. Soon, a disciple flew down from Ren Peak. Seeing this, Mo Hao handed over a jade token. The disciple examined it briefly, nodded, and flew back without a word. Hastily, Mo Hao summoned his Cold Paulownia Sword and pursued.

Inside a majestic palace-like building, its gates wide open, cultivators came and went in a steady stream. Mo Hao straightened his robes, took a deep breath, and stepped through the grand entrance.

Upon entering, he initially expected to see a common notice board like those scattered throughout Han Central City. Instead, the scene was entirely different. The hall was divided into four smaller chambers, each bearing a wooden plaque inscribed with the characters “A,” “B,” “C,” and “D.” Mo Hao deduced that these divisions were likely based on cultivation level or task difficulty. Most cultivators clustered in chambers C and D, while chamber B remained empty.

Suddenly, Mo Hao noticed a lone figure in chamber A—a woman clad in a black robe. Other cultivators in the hall also glanced discreetly toward her. Mo Hao cast a quick look and then turned toward chambers C and D, only to find them overcrowded. He recalled hearing Feng Xing tell Han Qing and others that the notice hall was usually not this crowded, yet today it was teeming with people.

Mo Hao reached out and stopped a tall, slender cultivator heading toward chamber D. The man’s movements were tinged with a delicate, almost effeminate grace, eliciting a shiver in Mo Hao’s heart. Despite his unease, Mo Hao asked why so many people were gathered today. The man, clearly annoyed, replied:

“Are you so stupid you don’t know the news? How isolated are you?” He then noticed Mo Hao’s attire and chuckled. “Ah, you’re an external affairs disciple. How annoying. Today is the founding anniversary of our Xujian Sect. The sect leader has decreed that all external disciples can collect a monthly stipend and fifty contribution points. You external affairs disciples get the stipend but no contribution points. Moreover, any contribution earned from tasks accepted today will be rewarded with double completion points. Got it?”

He reached out a pale hand and ruffled Mo Hao’s hair. Feeling as if pricked by a hedgehog, Mo Hao quickly dodged. The man glared at him, snorted, and turned away.

Mo Hao remained wary, watching the man’s departing figure, afraid he might turn back. A wave of frustration welled up—why did he happen to stop such an ambiguous character? Perhaps his cultivation method was flawed.

Seeing chambers C and D packed, Mo Hao glanced at the first two chambers. In chamber A, the black-robed woman was intently reading something. Since he couldn’t access the tasks in the crowded chambers, Mo Hao decided to explore the first two chambers, hoping to broaden his horizons. He approached chamber A and the black-robed woman.

Mo Hao’s approach startled everyone in the hall. Those capable of accepting A-grade tasks were all Foundation Establishment cultivators—esteemed elders of the sect. What was an external affairs disciple doing provoking such a figure? This was surely courting disaster.

Foundation Establishment cultivators held high status within the sect, often called junior elders. While their authority wasn’t as great as true elders, they could handle these lesser disciples without reporting to the sect’s council. The reason everyone had only glanced discreetly at the black-robed woman was out of fear of incurring her wrath.

As Mo Hao stepped into chamber A, the woman shifted slightly. A sensation swept over him, as though something had brushed his entire body. The thought that sprang to his mind was “spiritual sense.”

He moved closer, picked up a bamboo slip, and glanced over it before setting it down. He realized he couldn’t read these slips—they required spiritual perception to comprehend. Mo Hao, barely mid-stage of the Foundation Establishment realm, was helpless.

He intended to check chamber B, but the woman in the black robe seemed to be muttering something under her breath. Unable to resist, Mo Hao glanced at her. A stunning face appeared, but as she turned, Mo Hao caught sight of a long scar slashing from her eye to the corner of her mouth. The once beautiful visage was marred, now grotesque. The woman noticed Mo Hao’s gaze toward her scarred side, shot him a glare, and returned her attention to the bamboo slips.

A chill ran through Mo Hao. Provoking a Foundation Establishment cultivator was ill-advised. He hurried toward chamber B, thoughts lingering on the woman’s disfigured face. Others in the hall, having glimpsed her, hastily lowered their heads, as if aware of some secret. They paid little mind as Mo Hao approached chamber B, recognizing from his attire that he was an external affairs disciple, likely visiting for the first time. External disciples eliminated from the outer sect seldom ventured into chamber A for tasks.

Mo Hao began flipping through bamboo slips, noting that those in chamber B lacked spiritual sense restrictions. He examined several, dismissing most as they required mid-to-late Foundation Establishment cultivators and teams for gathering and killing missions. The contributions offered were higher than those Feng Xing had mentioned, but Mo Hao had no intention of undertaking such deadly assignments. Yet, seeing the overcrowded chambers C and D, he patiently continued perusing.

Then one task caught his attention—a mission to kill a band of ruthless brigands within Yue City. These brigands were protected by a rogue cultivator, presumably also within the Foundation Establishment realm, though his exact level was unknown. Thanks to this protector, the brigands committed all manner of atrocities. For this reason, the task was placed in chamber B, demanding the capture of the bandit leader’s seal and its return to the city lord of Yue City. The reward was generous: one hundred contribution points and nine low-grade spirit stones.

Tempted by the bounty, Mo Hao considered accepting the task. Though there was a restriction requiring a deposit of contribution points, first-time task takers like Mo Hao were exempt. He knew he was only mid Foundation Establishment, but his accumulation of the Five Elements spiritual veins granted him formidable magical power. Although cultivation through these veins was slow and arduous, the power stored was considerable. Plus, with the Cold Paulownia Sword gifted by Xuan Fengzi—though a low-grade flying sword—it had been refined to rival many mid-grade artifacts. With these advantages, Mo Hao felt confident enough to accept Feng Xing’s invitation. Still, he needed to earn contribution points and spirit stones to prepare adequately.

After a moment’s hesitation, he decided to take the task. Having never accepted a task before, he quickly observed how others did it. Once familiar, he returned to the bamboo slip, solemnly produced his jade token, and placed it upon it. The slip beneath flashed: “Task acceptance: Deliver within ten days.”

Mo Hao set down the slip and, with many astonished gazes upon him, exited the hall. Even the scarred woman in chamber A could not help but glance at his retreating figure. An external affairs disciple venturing into chamber B and actually accepting a task was unexpected, earning him newfound respect among the cultivators.

As Mo Hao left, many others hurried to chamber B to pick tasks. Yet upon seeing the first few missions, they abandoned their intentions. None understood where Mo Hao’s confidence came from to accept a B-grade task. They feared injury or death, but more than that, they dreaded losing their contribution points as a deposit—non-refundable if they failed or missed the deadline.

In this sect, where elimination matches were held every few years, even a small amount of contribution could decide one’s fate. To be eliminated was worse than death—one lost any hope of advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage.