Is It Wrong to Bully the Novice Village for System Rewards?

After finishing his duties at the herb garden, Qi Yuan walked toward the Main Peak of the Outer Sect.

The Main Peak was noticeably taller than the surrounding mountains, standing out prominently among the encircling peaks. The concentration of spiritual energy here was also far denser than in other places.

“Junior Brother Qi, what brings you here?”

Just as he reached the outside of the hall, Qi Yuan was stopped by two disciples guarding the entrance.

After the events of the past few days, he had gained some minor fame within the Outer Sect. These two Outer Sect Disciples clearly knew who he was, so they spoke politely and did not try to drive him away.

Qi Yuan cupped his hands toward them and stated his purpose directly. “Senior Brothers, I am here to see Elder Mo. Could you please announce my arrival?”

The two guards exchanged a glance, then nodded. One of them went inside to deliver the message.

Soon, that disciple returned from within the hall and said to Qi Yuan, “Junior Brother Qi, Elder Mo asks you to enter.”

Qi Yuan expressed his thanks and stepped into the great hall.

At that moment, Mo Zhengyang was sitting upright behind a desk, holding a jade brush and writing something swiftly on a golden scroll.

Hearing the movement, Mo Zhengyang slowly looked up. His gaze fell upon Qi Yuan as he asked in a kindly tone, “Martial Nephew Qi, what brings you to seek out this old man?”

He had a favorable impression of this newly entered Servant Disciple. Not only did Qi Yuan possess an excellent temperament, but his mind was also sharp and clever. It was just a pity his aptitude was somewhat lacking, destined to make his path difficult…

As he was thinking this, he suddenly let out a soft exclamation of surprise, unable to hold back a startled cry.

“How are you already at the fourth layer of Qi Refining?”

To think that when Qi Yuan entered the sect, he was merely at the second layer. Now, in less than ten days, he had actually broken through two realms in a row to reach the fourth layer. Such a cultivation speed was simply unheard of!

Was this really someone with Four Spiritual Roots?

Qi Yuan smiled modestly. “The fifty top-grade Spirit Gathering Pills you bestowed last time were truly effective. After taking them, I felt my spiritual power abundant and my spirit full. I was fortunate enough to break through two levels.”

Hearing this, Mo Zhengyang’s mouth twitched slightly. He thought to himself that Spirit Gathering Pills did not have the ability to make a cultivator with Four Spiritual Roots rise two levels within ten days.

Although puzzled, he did not dwell on it further. Instead, he looked at Qi Yuan again and said, “You came to find me today; there must be something else, right?”

Qi Yuan replied respectfully, “This junior has indeed come with a request.”

“Speak.”

Mo Zhengyang raised an eyebrow slightly, waiting for him to continue.

Qi Yuan nodded and said with a slight smile, “This junior has heard that in half a month, the sect will hold the Outer Sect Grand Competition. The top ten in the competition can directly enter the Inner Sect. I cannot help but yearn for it and wish to participate in this Grand Competition. I humbly ask for your permission.”

“You want to participate in the Outer Sect Grand Competition?”

Hearing this, Mo Zhengyang was somewhat surprised. He looked at him deeply and said, “Although the sect does not forbid Servant Disciples from participating in the Grand Competition, your batch of disciples has only just entered the sect. Participating in the competition this year seems a bit too much, doesn’t it?”

As if afraid Qi Yuan didn’t understand the situation clearly, Mo Zhengyang stroked his beard and continued to explain.

“Based on previous years, one needs at least cultivation at the ninth layer of Qi Refining to have a chance of entering the top ten. Your current cultivation is only at the fourth layer. If you rashly participate, you might not even pass the first round.”

Qi Yuan’s expression remained unchanged as he said with utmost seriousness, “This junior merely wishes to broaden his horizons at the Grand Competition. Whether I can win or not truly doesn’t matter; participation is what matters.”

Seeing his mind was made up, Mo Zhengyang no longer tried to dissuade him. He nodded and said, “Very well. Since you insist on giving it a try, this old man will give you this opportunity. Later, take my token and go register with Steward Niu.”

Qi Yuan was immediately delighted. “Thank you for granting this wish, Elder Mo.”

Mo Zhengyang said no more. He tossed a token to Qi Yuan and waved his hand. “You may go now and prepare.”

After leaving the Main Peak, Qi Yuan couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh of relief.

Even if this system task hadn’t refreshed, he would have found a way to enter Falling Cloud Valley’s Inner Sect as soon as possible.

Once he became an Inner Sect Disciple, he could leave Falling Cloud Valley under the pretext of performing sect missions or going out to travel without fear of affecting subsequent tasks. It could be said to be a choice that killed several birds with one stone.

Of course, the most important point was that the additional reward for this task held too great an attraction for him; there was simply no reason to give it up.

Thinking of this, he set aside distracting thoughts and immersed his mind back into the system interface:

[In half a month, Falling Cloud Valley will hold its annual Outer Sect Grand Competition. The top ten in the competition will not only directly enter the Inner Sect but also receive corresponding rewards. For you, this is an important opportunity to change your fate as a servant.]

[Note: This task is an open task and can be actively abandoned.]

[Task Objective: Obtain qualification to participate in the Outer Sect Grand Competition and achieve a place within the top ten.]

[Additional Reward Condition: Astonish everyone at the Outer Sect Grand Competition and seize first place.]

[Task Reward: Five Hundred Counterattack Points, Fifteen Supreme-Grade Spirit Gathering Pills, One Supreme-Grade Foundation Building Pill, One Thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.]

[Additional Reward: Appropriately improve host’s spiritual root aptitude.]

Improving spiritual root aptitude once again!

After the last improvement, Qi Yuan’s current spiritual root aptitude was already incredibly outrageous. He dared not imagine how terrifying his potential would become if it were improved once more.

Perhaps, he might truly touch upon the realm of legendary Immortal Spiritual Roots!

A cultivator who didn’t aspire to become an immortal was not a good cultivator, and Qi Yuan was naturally no exception.

However, according to records within the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary, although Dao techniques flourished in this great world and powerful figures emerged generation after generation, no cultivator had ascended to the Immortal Realm for hundreds of thousands of years.

Even if peerless geniuses survived numerous Dao Tribulations and reached Great Ascension, they remained trapped within this world, unable to transcend.

Therefore, many cultivators who had reached Great Ascension Perfection chose to leave this world, exiling themselves into the endless void to search for that slim chance of achieving immortality.

There were even rumors that unless one was born with Immortal Spiritual Roots or possessed Immortal Fate, an ordinary mortal had absolutely no possibility of becoming immortal.

Something like Immortal Fate was too ethereal and elusive. Immortal Spiritual Roots were even rarer, encountered perhaps once in ten thousand years. Even though living beings in heaven and earth were as numerous as grains of sand in the Ganges River, few could prove their immortal status and enjoy eternal life freely.

Although Great Ascension cultivators could also be considered immensely powerful with long lifespans, they could not withstand the vast changes over time or the erosion of years. Even if they lived for tens of thousands of years, they ultimately could not escape death and the dissipation of their Dao, ending up with nothing gained after all their efforts.

No one was willing to accept such an outcome.

Now that an opportunity to further strengthen his spiritual roots lay before his eyes, how could he miss it?

After feeling waves of excitement, Qi Yuan steadied his mind. Humming a little tune, he headed toward his residence.

Just then.

From the secluded dense forest ahead, a giant tiger with fiery red fur all over its body suddenly emerged. This beast had an enormous build, easily seventy or eighty feet long. Crimson smoke billowed around its body, and its murderous aura was astonishing.

“Roar!”

The giant tiger let out a majestic roar. It opened its bloody maw wide and pounced toward him with claws bared…