Early morning the next day.

Falling Cloud Valley.

Outer Sect.

“Ding! Congratulations, Host, on completing the mission: 【Basic Mastery of a Cultivation Method】. Reward: 100 Reversal Points, 8 High-Grade Qi Gathering Pills, 300 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Rewards have been automatically deposited into the system space.”

Inside a simple wooden hut, Qi Yuan rubbed his temples and tossed the wooden slip in his hand aside with a look of disdain.

This kind of simple and shallow Qi Refining technique—he could master it just by glancing at it, requiring absolutely no effort at all.

Even so, the newly added hundred Reversal Points slightly improved his somewhat gloomy mood.

He had successfully passed Falling Cloud Valley’s assessment yesterday and become a glorious Servant Disciple.

After completing the mission, he originally thought he could leave with style. Unexpectedly, the next mission refreshed by the system was to cultivate this low-level technique from Falling Cloud Valley, the “Harmonizing Qi Scripture,” to a basic mastery level.

Seeing the new mission, Qi Yuan suddenly realized a very serious problem:

This brain-dead system simply didn’t care about reality; it issued missions completely according to the original host’s reversal trajectory.

Even if the original host died, these missions still had to be done—they just fell onto his head now.

This meant that to continue completing the following missions, he had to temporarily stay in Falling Cloud Valley…

A Holy Scion of the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary might really have to serve as a servant in Falling Cloud Valley for a while.

How utterly ridiculous!

Just as he was fuming with rage, the mission list refreshed again:

“Host has newly entered Falling Cloud Valley. Weak in strength and without support, it is too early to stage a reversal. Currently, you must diligently cultivate to improve yourself. This system will be your steadfast support on the path to becoming strong.”

“New Mission: Qi Refining Third Layer”

“Mission Objective: Continue cultivating the ‘Harmonizing Qi Scripture’ and raise your cultivation to Qi Refining Third Layer within one month.”

“Mission Reward: 150 Reversal Points, 3 Supreme-Grade Qi Gathering Pills, Low-Grade Defensive Magical Artifact ‘Unmoving Rock Mirror,’ 500 Low-Grade Spirit Stones…”

Another idiotic mission like this. Qi Yuan was already too exhausted to complain. He relaxed his mind and quietly waited for the notification sound signaling mission completion.

His current cultivation far exceeded Qi Refining Third Layer. This kind of mission was purely free points, with the answers already filled in.

However.

A quarter of an hour passed, and still no prompt sound came.

What’s going on?

Qi Yuan was taken aback. He carefully looked at this mission and only then did he suddenly understand. He then put on an act and cultivated for one cycle according to the energy circulation route marked in the “Harmonizing Qi Scripture.”

“Ding! Congratulations, Host, on completing the mission…”

Damn!

So the first sentence in the mission objective wasn’t just filler; it was actually one of the conditions for completing the task.

This stupid system—its mission descriptions were all over the place, but when it came to requirements, it was surprisingly meticulous.

Qi Yuan shook his head with a mix of amusement and exasperation. To lower his blood pressure that was about to shoot through the roof, he decided to go out for some fresh air and incidentally enjoy the scenery of Falling Cloud Valley.

As one of the new disciples who performed outstandingly in the entrance assessment, he was naturally assigned a separate hut as his residence.

Although this wooden hut was low, narrow, and its walls bare, it was still much better than the double rooms other Servant Disciples got.

This year, Falling Cloud Valley had a bountiful harvest, recruiting over twenty qualified new disciples—the highest number in recent years—which made Outer Sect Elder Mo Zhengyang grin from ear to ear.

According to sect rules, these new disciples must start as Servant Disciples. Those who perform satisfactorily after one year can be promoted to Outer Sect Disciples.

Of course, exceptionally outstanding ones among the Servant Disciples might be selected by an Inner Sect Elder to be taken as a direct disciple (Legacy Disciple), directly becoming an Inner Sect Disciple.

Stepping outside, the cool morning air greeted him. Qi Yuan took a deep breath, feeling much more invigorated, and murmured:

“It’s quite fragrant here…”

Suddenly, he sensed something and instinctively looked sideways behind him. There stood a beautiful female cultivator in a pale yellow dress not far from him, her fair, jade-like face slightly flushed.

“Senior Sister Bai? What are you doing here?”

Only then did Qi Yuan realize where the fragrance came from. He quickly cupped his hands in greeting.

Being new here and not yet knowing Falling Cloud Valley’s details inside out, he hadn’t recklessly spread his spiritual sense to avoid alerting any experts in the valley. His spiritual perception was much duller than usual.

He already knew Bai Xirou was the Sect Leader’s daughter and also ranked first among the Inner Sect Legacy Disciples.

In other words, if he wanted to stay in Falling Cloud Valley for now, he absolutely must not offend her.

Bai Xirou nodded slightly. Her gaze at Qi Yuan held some surprise.

“It’s only been a day since we last met, yet you’ve already broken through to Qi Refining Third Layer?”

Qi Yuan smiled modestly. “The ‘Harmonizing Qi Scripture’ bestowed by Elder Mo is quite profound. I studied it all last night and finally managed by luck to break through to Qi Refining Third Layer.”

After completing the previous mission, he had deliberately adjusted his outwardly displayed cultivation level to Qi Refining Third Layer. He didn’t expect Bai Xirou to notice as soon as he stepped out.

Bai Xirou gave a soft “Hmm.” After pondering briefly with a slightly thoughtful expression, she suddenly asked with seriousness:

“Big Qi… what is your impression of Formation Spirit Senior?”

Formation Spirit?

Qi Yuan was taken aback for a moment before answering truthfully.

“That Formation Spirit curses at anyone it sees; its temper isn’t very good. Beyond that, I don’t know much.”

But then Bai Xirou sighed.

“Formation Spirit Senior has lived in seclusion without appearing for over a thousand years. After Grandmaster passed away… you are the only person who has made Him show Himself.”

Hearing this piqued Qi Yuan’s curiosity; Bai Xirou wasn’t the first person to say something like this.

Falling Cloud Valley’s sect-protecting grand formation is called the “Illusory Life Universe Formation.” The Formation Spirit Bai Xirou mentioned is precisely this formation’s spirit. The illusion generated during the entrance assessment was merely an insignificant part of this grand sect formation.

Logically speaking, a sect-protecting grand formation is foundational for any sect. With a Formation Spirit present, its power multiplies greatly; coupled with home-field advantage, it shouldn’t easily be breached by outsiders unless enemies overwhelmingly overpower it in strength.

Therefore, usually, such spirits serve as guardian deities for their sects, holding revered status.

The Supreme Mystery Sanctuary naturally also has its mountain-protecting grand formation, whose spirit is an innate divine beast at the Great Ascension realm, revered as one of the Sanctuary’s Grandmasters.

Yet judging by Bai Xirou’s tone, relations between Falling Cloud Valley and its Formation Spirit seemed somewhat strained…

Seeing his puzzled expression, Bai Xirou explained:

“Originally, the Formation Spirit of the Illusory Life Universe Formation addressed our Founding Grandmaster as brother; their relationship was extremely close. But for some unknown reason, after Grandmaster ascended, Formation Spirit Senior’s attitude changed drastically.”

“Aside from sending out some avatars every three years to test entrance candidates, He shows no concern whatsoever for other affairs within the valley, even causing the sect-protecting grand formation’s power to diminish significantly.”

“I’d like to ask your help to summon Formation Spirit Senior from the formation core and ask Him personally why exactly He is acting this way.”

“Huh?” Qi Yuan startled. “Go see that guy again?”

“Didn’t you notice the Formation Spirit is very dissatisfied with me? Sending me over—wouldn’t that just be adding fuel to the fire?”