A great adventure in the world of immortal cultivation

Han Buli: Do you want to take the mission? Is there anything else you can do?

KP: Let me briefly explain the daily action system. In addition to taking on tasks in the central hall to earn rewards, you can also spend your time each day refining Qi or practicing immortal arts.

Qi Refining, as the name suggests, is to practice the Tianzong Qi Condensing Technique. At the current stage, you can gain [1d30] points of spiritual energy per day by refining Qi. After the spiritual energy value reaches 100, you can try to break through to the next stage. By the way, if the breakthrough fails, you will lose [1d10] points of spiritual energy value, and you need to accumulate the spiritual energy value to 100 again before you can break through again.

Xiao Huohuo: I understand. It’s just meditation to level up.

KP: Then comes the cultivation of magical arts. You can go to the arena and practice one of your own magical arts. This practice will consume all your current MP. At this stage, you can gain [1d20] points of spiritual energy for practicing magical arts for one day, and increase your magical arts proficiency - increasing the basic success rate of practicing magical arts by [1d10] x (% of remaining MP) points.

KP: The last step is to complete the mission. After completing the mission, you will not only get the mission reward items, but also the spiritual energy value and fairy art proficiency. The specific increase in value depends on the number of days the mission consumes and the completion status of the mission.

Han Buli: They all sound useful.

Romeo: Let me tell you how to just accept the quest! Three-in-one is a sure win no matter how you look at it!

Jeanne: It's hard to say. While completing quests can improve all your attributes, the value of the increase is tied to the number of days consumed and the degree of quest completion. I feel that if you're not doing quests for the rewards, the efficiency of improving your strength shouldn't be very high.

Xiao Huohuo: I agree. I think we should each choose an action to test the waters and see the results.

Han Buli: Indeed, let’s go and see what tasks are available.

KP: Inside the central hall, although it was already afternoon, there was still a lot of traffic in front of the Xuanhuang Stele. You worked hard to squeeze to the front row of the Yellow Stele and met the Chengtian Sect elder who was responsible for issuing tasks.

The elder of Chengtian Sect said, "Hmph, you're only at the first level of Qi Refining. Why are you here on a mission instead of cultivating properly? Oh, so you're a new A-level disciple. It would be good to get some training from the missions sooner rather than later."

With that, he waved his hand, and four streams of light flew out from the stone tablet and disappeared into the black badges on your waists. "The tasks suitable for the first level of Qi Refining have been issued to your badges. You can check them with your spiritual sense. Don't be too ambitious, just do what you can."

Han Buli: I felt a strong chain of class contempt.

Jeanne: It's great to catch the last first-class train. (Still apprehensive)

KP: You used your spiritual sense to check your badges and found that there are only five tasks suitable for the first level of Qi Refining.

[Task 1: Go to Baicao Valley and complete weeding and fertilizing 3 mu of medicinal fields. Reward: 3 low-level spirit stones and 1 hemostatic herb. Recommended Qi Refining Level 1.]

[Task 2: Go to the Hundred Refining Cave and forge at least 5 Iron Essences. Reward: 3 low-level Spirit Stones and 1 Yellow Essence Stone. Recommended Qi Refining Level 1.]

[Task 3: Go to the back mountain and chop down 10 century-old pines. Reward: 4 low-level spirit stones. Recommended Qi Refining Level 1.]

[Mission 4: Go to the outskirts of the Poison Valley in the back mountain and collect 10 black-horned centipedes. Reward: 5 low-level spirit stones. Recommended Qi Refining Level 1.]

Mission 5: Go to Anning Village at the foot of the mountain and deal with the wild wolves that harass the village during the winter. Reward: 12 low-level spirit stones. Recommended Qi Refining Level 1, two or more people.

Romeo: No, buddy, I've already reached the first level of Qi training, why am I still doing these chores?

Xiao Huohuo: Cows and horses are still cows and horses no matter where they go.

Han Buli: My family members were moved to tears.

Xiao Huohuo: What do you say, brothers and sisters? Have you decided what to do today?

Han Buli: What do you say, Brother Xiao?

Xiao Huohuo: I'll just practice Qi cultivation. It's not pleasant to be suppressed by others all day long without reaching this level.

Romeo: Where's the promise of playing the pig and eating the tiger? Leveling up honestly doesn't align with your aura of crushing Dou Zong when you were at the peak of Dou Wang.

Han Buli: Why don’t I go and practice Qi training? This method is more suitable for me.

Romeo: Then I will go and practice magic. It’s time to show you the iron-clad strength of my complete form!

Joan of Arc: No, you two must go on the mission. You don’t have to pay back the spirit stones you owe, right?

Xiao Huohuo: Indeed, what else do two people who owe money have to choose? They should just work honestly and earn money.

Romeo: Damn.

Han Buli: It's only been three days since we joined the sect, and we're already toilsome slaves. (Sad)

007 Bailian Cave (day3)

Xiao Huohuo: I’ve decided. I’m going to use today to refine my Qi.

Joan of Arc: I'm going to take on the quest in the Hundred Refining Cave. I've already got some swordsmanship skills, so I'll see if I can save up some materials to upgrade my sword.

Romeo: Brother Han, then let's...

Han Buli: Forget about us, let’s go down the mountain and catch the wolves. We can use the spirit stones to pay off our debts. The sooner we pay, the easier it will be.

ROMEO: Slowly.

KP: So after a brief discussion, you decided on your respective actions and went about your day.

KP: Xiao Huohuo went back to his room to meditate and refine his energy. I will go through the judgment last. I will go through Joan of Arc's story first.

Joan of Arc: Okay, okay.

KP: Bailian Cave is located in the southeast of Chengtian Sect. It was originally an active volcano that erupted all year round. Later, it was suppressed by Chengtian Sect's formation, locking the endless underground fire in the mountain. Later, Chengtian Sect's disciples opened up countless caves on the top of the mountain, using natural fire to quench high-quality ores to make immortal magic tools.

When you arrived at the entrance of Bailian Cave, the disciple guarding there looked at you in surprise.

Guarding disciple: This is the Hundred Refining Cave, are you lost, Junior Sister?

Joan of Arc: (doubtfully) Of course I know this is the Hundred Refining Caves. I’m here to complete a mission. If it weren’t for the Hundred Refining Caves, I wouldn’t have come.

Guarding disciple: Doing a mission?

KP: After hearing what you said, the guarding disciple was even more surprised. After scanning your badge with his spiritual sense, he looked embarrassed.

Guarding disciple: Forging iron essence, junior sister, are you sure you want to take this task?

Joan of Arc: What's wrong? Are there so few nuns who take on this mission?

Guarding disciple: No... there are not many people as small as you.

Joan of Arc: ???

Guarding disciple: To be honest, forging iron is a test of one's strength and physical strength. If you are here just out of curiosity, I suggest you find other tasks.

Romeo: Oh, brother, you are a very nice person.

Joan of Arc: I feel severely discriminated against. Born into a military family, I've always had a strong personality and I hate those who judge people by appearance. I want to tell him clearly and seriously that I'm here for this mission. Since you're the guard here, please fulfill your duties and stay out of my way.

Guarding disciple: Okay, since you insist so much, Junior Sister... Tsk, she's obviously quite cute, but why does she speak in the same tone as the elders of the sect?

Romeo: This guy is definitely interested in you.

KP: Seeing that his persuasion was ineffective, the disciple on guard shrugged helplessly, and then opened the restriction at the entrance.

As the barrier at the entrance closed, the voice of the guarding disciple vanished. After walking a few dozen meters along the pitch-black corridor, a fiery red hall appeared before you. Instantly, a scorching heat, accompanied by the clanging sounds of forging, assaulted you.

KP: Joan of Arc exceeded the physical fitness judgment.

Joan of Arc: Constitution, 53/60, success.

KP: Being in the heat wave, the scorching air makes it hard for you to breathe for a moment, but thanks to your healthy physique from childhood, after a brief period of pain and stimulation, you gradually adapted to it. Although the surrounding environment is still hot, it is still barely bearable.

At this time, an elder in a red and black robe in the hall looked at you, but he didn't say much, just casually pointed to the forging tables in the back.

Elder of Bailian Cave: You can find an empty forging table here to start forging iron essence. Also, you cannot leave this hall after you reach the first level of Qi Refining. Now that you understand, go ahead.

Joan of Arc: Then I'll just find a forge and start forging iron.

KP: So, you found an unoccupied forge at the edge of the hall. It was essentially a few randomly assembled black stones, with a hole in the middle for the earth fire to heat them. Next to it sat a basket of crimson iron ore and a massive hammer, nearly as tall as you. As you grasped the hammer's handle, you could sense the many eyes in the hall turning to you. Some were curious, but most were watching the spectacle.

KP: Okay, now let's talk about the checks you need to pass. You have a total of ten hours of forging time today. Every hour, you need to pass (Strength + Willpower)/2 checks. Successful checks will yield Iron Essence.

Joan of Arc: Let's begin! (Rubbing her hands together)

Joan of Arc: Forging Iron, 26/55, success.

Forged Iron, 67/55, failed.

Forging Iron Essence, 39/55, Success.

Forged Iron, 70/55, failed.

Forging Iron Essence, 40/55, Success.

Joan of Arc: Not bad, not bad. I didn’t expect that I have some talent in blacksmithing.

KP: Half a day has flown by in the blink of an eye. Though you, wielding the enormous hammer, look more like an ornament than a pendant, your forging momentum rivals that of the others. Your small frame seems to contain boundless energy. Aside from the occasional sip of water, you barely pause for forging. Amidst the relentless hammering, block after block of iron is forged, and those around you glance at you with a touch of surprise.

KP: (Dark Dice)

Jeanne: KP, what are you doing? (Alert)

KP: Nothing, nothing, nothing happened.

Joan of Arc: ...I feel like I've been to the gates of hell.

KP: Hey, don't think I'm that evil, Joan of Arc, just keep forging.

Joan of Arc: Forged Iron, 66/55, failed.

Forged Iron, 74/55, failed.

Forging Iron Essence, 43/55, Success.

Forging Iron Essence, 37/55, Success.

Joan of Arc: Not bad, not bad. We completed the task an hour ahead of schedule.

KP: Despite the blessing of spiritual power, the high-pressure and hot environment still makes your physical strength continue to drain. Later on, every strike of the hammer requires a huge amount of willpower.

However, even though the process was so difficult, Joan of Arc finally completed today's task and successfully forged five iron essences.

Elder of Bailian Cave: That’s right, although you are a little weak, you have a strong character. You are much better than those weaklings who cannot complete their tasks.

KP: "Accepting the five iron essences, the elder of Bailian Cave gave a faint compliment, glancing behind him. Several people immediately shrank their heads in embarrassment. Then, with a wave of his sleeve, a stream of light vanished into your waist badge."

Elder of Bailian Cave: Okay, the mission has been completed, you can go back to the central hall to receive your reward.

Joan of Arc: Wait, I want to ask, if I want to make a flying sword magic weapon, what is the cost and materials required.

Bailian Cave Elder: "Flying sword? Your current Qi Refining Level 1 cultivation level doesn't allow you to wield a flying sword. At best, you can activate the lowest-level Small Yellow Essence Sword. A Small Yellow Essence Sword can be purchased for 10 low-level Spirit Stones, or you can forge one in the Bailian Cave by providing 3 Yellow Essence Stones and 5 low-level Spirit Stones."

Joan of Arc: I would like to take out my personal dagger and ask if I can process it directly and forge it into a magical weapon.

KP: (Dark Dice)

KP: It seems that because of your good performance in forging the iron essence just now, the elder of Bailian Cave is quite kind to you. He raised his hand and summoned the dagger from your hand, then snapped his fingers, and a clear sword sound came out.

Elder of Bailian Cave: Although it is just ordinary iron, the quality is acceptable. If you can provide 1 Huangjing Stone and 6 low-level spirit stones, Bailian Cave can forge it into a low-level magic weapon.

Joan of Arc: Okay, okay. I'll go back and collect my debts, then come over to forge it tomorrow.

Romeo: Damn!

KP: Okay, the storyline for the Hundred Refinements Cave quest is complete. It went fairly smoothly, with no special events. Jeanne, in addition to the quest rewards, you also received [1d15] points of Spiritual Energy and a [1d5] base success rate for Rain.

Joan of Arc: Spiritual Energy: [1d10:5] (Current Experience Value: 5% of one level of Spirit Refining)

The basic success rate of rain spell is [1d5:1] (current success rate is 71%).

Joan of Arc: A little dark.

Joan of Arc obtains 1 Huangjing Stone.

008 Anning Village (day 3)

KP: Okay, the storyline for Joan of Arc is over, and now it’s the turn of our Ox-Horse duo.

Romeo: (forcing a smile)

Han Buli: (forced smile)

KP: After leaving the mountain gate of Chengtian Sect, you returned to the snowy land. However, with spiritual power and a badge to guide you, going down the mountain was not a difficult task for you. You walked and stopped along the way, and after about two hours you arrived at the foot of the mountain and saw the desolate village called Anning Village.

Romeo: Wait, KP, when we were going down the mountain, did we pass by the place where we had opened up our mind?

KP: No, in order to prevent interference with the spiritual opening of the disciples who have not yet joined the sect, the disciples in the sect take a different route when they go down the mountain.

Romeo: Tsk~

KP: Okay, we’re almost at Anning Village. Do you need to make any preparations?

Han Buli: KP, I have a question. Is Anning Village just an ordinary mortal village? Why would a sect like Chengtian Sect send disciples to protect it?

KP: Firstly, it's to give new disciples some training tasks. Secondly, Chengtian Sect claims to be a legitimate sect of immortals, and for the sake of its reputation, it naturally offers some protection to the mortals in the village at the foot of the mountain. Thirdly, the villagers of Anning Village also offer some money and goods to Chengtian Sect every year, such as low-level spiritual herbs or minerals found while hunting. So, even if there's a minor incident like a wolf plague, Chengtian Sect is happy to help.

Han Buli: I see. How big is this village? Approximately how many households are there?

KP: There are probably only about a dozen households, it’s a pretty small village.