The sun rose over Clear Sky Peak like a golden blade cutting through morning mist. Dew still clung to the quiet stone paths as Li Qingyun descended the steps from his courtyard, robes fluttering lightly in the breeze. After days of quiet cultivation and aerial combat training, it was time to begin exploring the outer workings of the sect.
He made his way down toward the southern ridge of the outer peaks, where a broad compound stood—simple in structure but bustling with activity.
The Task Hall.
It was a sprawling, rectangular building shaped like a giant scroll unrolled across stone. Sword motifs lined its beams, and a large plaque hung over the entrance, carved with flowing calligraphy: [Heaven Rewards Diligence].
Inside, the hall was cool and dimly lit by floating jade lanterns. Several disciples moved among the rows of shelves and wooden boards, some flipping through scrolls, others speaking to gray-robed elders seated at the front counters.
Li Qingyun stepped forward, his gaze sweeping the space with calm interest.
A younger disciple at the front noticed him and offered a slight bow. "Senior brother, are you here to accept a task? You may browse freely—tasks are organized by rank and type."
Li Qingyun nodded. "Thank you."
He turned to the center of the hall where dozens of engraved task slips floated in the air like flat stones suspended in invisible streams of qi. The entire array was sorted by task level—from basic chores to dangerous missions requiring real combat capability.
The floating boards were split into several categories:
CategoryI:Sect Duties – Herb gathering, manual work, pavilion cleaning, and array maintenance.
CategoryII: Beast Subjugation – Hunting or driving off spirit beasts encroaching on sect borders.
CategoryIII: Escort Missions – Accompanying caravans or guarding elders during travel.
CategoryIV: Resource Acquisition – Retrieve rare minerals, spiritual herbs, or beast cores.
Li Qingyun's eyes passed over the rotating slips, each glowing faintly with a hue based on its rank: white for low-grade, blue for moderate, and gold for high-risk.
> [Task: Subjugate Windfang Wolves]
Location: Whispering Pine Ravine
Reward: 30 Contribution Points + Spirit Stones
Note: Wolves have recently reached Qi Condensation Peak. Proceed with caution.
> [Task: Escort Supply Cart to Outer Village]
Location: Skywood Outpost
Reward: 20 Contribution Points
Note: No known threats. Light duty.
> [Task: Clear Obstructed Spirit Vein Channel]
Location: Cloudroot Caverns
Reward: 45 Contribution Points + Rank 1 Pill Assortment
Note: Earth Qi stagnation detected. Potential minor spirit beast presence.
Some tasks were clearly meant for groups; others were solitary. A few had been marked with red seals—either urgent or hazardous.
Li Qingyun took his time, reading through the details of the missions, calmly judging risk versus reward. He had no intention of chasing danger, but a moderate-risk mission that offered real-world application of his techniques seemed appropriate.
As he moved down the aisle, an older outer sect disciple passed by, chatting with his friend.
"Someone already cleared the Black Sand Monkeys' nest at the eastern cliffs," the man said, shaking his head. "Too bad—I was eyeing that one. Good reward."
Li Qingyun didn't stop, but he made a mental note. Some tasks clearly got snapped up quickly.
______
Li Qingyun stood before the rotating slips of jade for a long while. His gaze hovered briefly over several golden-rimmed task slips—ones with tempting rewards and titles that almost invited battle-hardened cultivators to prove themselves.
But in the end, his fingers moved toward a modest white-colored task near the side of the hall. The glow was faint, the description plain, and the reward humble.
> [Task: Herb Gathering in Green Willow Basin]
Location: Green Willow Basin (2.5 miles southeast of the sect gate)
Reward: 8 Contribution Points + Sect-grade Spirit Herb Allocation
Note: Collect fresh Blueleaf Grass, Moonroot Bulbs, and Starvine. Submit undamaged specimens.
Without hesitation, Li Qingyun selected the task. A soft ding echoed in the air, and the jade slip floated down into his hand like a falling leaf.
To most disciples, it was the kind of errand they took on their first few weeks after joining the sect. It required no battle strength, no life-or-death struggle—just careful movement and the ability to identify plants.
But that was precisely why he chose it.
He looked down at the jade task token and exhaled softly. "One must walk before one runs. And even when you've learned to fly… you must still know where to land."
He wasn't here to impress anyone. No one even knew his real capabilities. The power he wielded, the sword skills and mental control—none of it would matter if he rushed headlong into danger without first understanding how the sect functioned from the ground up.
He still remembered the words of an old teacher from his past life: "Pride is the most expensive lesson."
Besides, practical benefits existed beyond philosophy. Tasks like these gave him the chance to understand the terrain outside the sect, to get familiar with regions near Clear Sky Peak, to learn how task reporting and reward retrieval worked, and even how the contribution point system factored into everyday necessities.
And, most importantly, he needed herb familiarity. His techniques would grow stronger, and his system would eventually allow him to handle rare medicinal materials. But what good was that if he couldn't even identify them in the wild?
Li Qingyun stored the task slip inside his robe and approached the reception counter to register it. An older, silver-bearded elder sat behind the jade counter, sipping tea and recording task selections.
Li Qingyun offered a short bow. "Elder, I've chosen this task for herb gathering."
The man looked up with mild surprise. "Hmm? You're a new disciple… Taking low-level herb errands?"
"I wish to familiarize myself with the outer regions before attempting something larger," Li Qingyun replied, tone calm and sincere.
The elder studied him for a moment, then chuckled softly. "Sensible. Many youngsters burn their fingers reaching too close to the fire. This task is yours, then."
He pressed his palm against the task slip. A faint shimmer ran across the surface as the slip was marked with the elder's qi imprint.
"Bring the herbs to the outer apothecary counter upon return. Mind the Starvine—its roots snap easily."
Li Qingyun nodded in thanks and turned to leave.
As he stepped out of the hall, a few passing disciples glanced at him with faint curiosity. Some recognized him as the newcomer who lived quietly on one of the best courtyards of Clear Sky Peak, yet did little to attract attention.
"Huh… even he's doing chore errands?" one youth whispered to his friend.
"Maybe he's just another background figure," the other replied dismissively.
Li Qingyun paid them no mind.
Instead, he looked to the southeast, where a lush patch of green hills marked the direction of Green Willow Basin. Mist wreathed the lowlands like a sleeping serpent, hiding glades and rocky paths alike.
He summoned the Cloudveil Sword, as it hovered just above the ground. With a silent step, he rose into the air and headed out, his robe trailing in the wind like a quiet shadow cutting through the sky.
This task would be easy—but he would approach it like a scholar studying scripture, like a swordsman honing footwork.
Every step forward was part of the journey.