Chapter 133: A Slap in the Face

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The Mission Hall occupied an enormous area, encompassing everything from accepting and submitting missions to exchanging rewards.

People streamed through the brightly lit hall, coming and going in a constant rush.

Ji Jiuxuan first said a few words to Feng Hanxiao and Qin Yuzhou, then followed the signs toward the mission counter.

The initiation manual contained a detailed explanation of everything concerning the Mission Hall. Thus, when she stepped onto the mission platform and watched the tasks slowly scroll across it, she felt no confusion whatsoever.

“Fifty superior-grade Moonview Grass plants. Ten contribution points.”

Ji Jiuxuan’s eyes lit up when she saw the task, and she hurriedly accepted it.

Moonview Grass had tremendous medicinal value, but it was exceedingly difficult to cultivate. For her, however, it was an exception.

For others, most spirit herbs were far easier to grow than Moonview Grass. For her, Moonview Grass was even easier to cultivate than the others, and every single plant turned out superior-grade. It was a truly miraculous phenomenon.

“Obtain the spirit bone of a Blackheaven Spirit Ape. Twenty contribution points.”

She had one of those as well. At the time, she had not known the value of the Blackheaven Spirit Ape in the Qiu Ying Ancient Forest, and since she had not felt pressed for time, she had gathered everything of value.

Every year, one had to accumulate fifty contribution points. She already had thirty, so she only needed another twenty.

Every mission had a time limit. Failure to complete one within the allotted time would result in one-fifth of the contribution points being deducted, and the mission would be canceled. Naturally, the disciples were extremely cautious when choosing their tasks.

As long as the mission was completed within the required time, however, there was no restriction on how many tasks one could accept.

After looking through the listings, she accepted several spirit-herb missions, all of them involving herbs she had already cultivated in her space.

As for the other combat missions, given her circumstances, she suspected that her martial uncles would not allow her to travel far on her own. To avoid unnecessary trouble, missions involving spirit herbs suited her better.

Once she had gathered enough tasks to reach fifty contribution points, Ji Jiuxuan chose to submit them.

Each mission platform was independent. Though it appeared empty, the moment someone stepped onto it, the formation would activate and spirit mist would envelop the area. Outsiders could not see what was happening inside at all.

She took the required items from her space and submitted them all. While she was there, she carefully observed what kinds of spirit plants were generally accepted.

When the time was nearly up, Ji Jiuxuan left the Mission Hall and waited outside.

She had only just stepped out when Qin Yuzhou arrived. Feng Hanxiao came last, and one glance at her expression revealed that something was wrong. She looked thoroughly displeased.

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“What’s wrong, Xiaoxiao? Who made you unhappy?” Xiaoxiao had always been cheerful and optimistic. Under normal circumstances, she would not become this angry so easily.

Feng Hanxiao looked at Ji Jiuxuan, unsure how to begin—and even more embarrassed to say it aloud. “A-Jiu, someone just made me angry. I’m not bothered by it. I’ll be fine in a moment.”

At that moment, Ji Jiuxuan sensed someone approaching from the direction Feng Hanxiao had come from. The aura felt somewhat familiar.

When she looked up, she saw Jiyue. The area around her eyes was ringed in deep red, as though someone had beaten her badly. It was especially conspicuous.

Jiyue and the others cast Ji Jiuxuan a glance, looking displeased from head to toe.

Strangely enough, with an expression so full of resentment, Jiyue would normally have charged over to pick a fight. Today, however, she merely glared at Ji Jiuxuan before walking away.

Ji Jiuxuan looked at Feng Hanxiao, whose expression was fierce enough to suggest she wanted to hit someone, and could not help laughing. “They were the ones who upset you?”

The injury around Jiyue’s eye was clearly a remnant left after treatment, which showed just how brutally she had been beaten beforehand.

“They were badmouthing you.” Feng Hanxiao simply could not understand it. Ji Jiuxuan had never caused trouble or made enemies with anyone, so why did Jiyue keep targeting her every day?

Besides, even her father had never objected to her associating with Ji Jiuxuan. He had even supported their forming a team this time. Feng Hanxiao could not understand what business Jiyue thought she had interfering. She really took herself for someone important.

“So what if she talked? If I didn’t hear it, I won’t care. If she says it again another day, remind me. I’ll go make her shut up.”

Ji Jiuxuan had investigated Jiyue. She had been selected from the mortal world. Though she possessed excellent talent and enjoyed favorable treatment within the Xuantian Sect, she worked extremely hard at her cultivation. Yet her experiences back in the mortal world had become a persistent inner demon she could not cast off.

Added to that was her innate sense of superiority—or perhaps her jealousy of Ji Jiuxuan’s talent. Jiyue had to work tirelessly to advance, while someone else could act carefree and still cultivate so quickly. The imbalance had left her resentful.

Feng Hanxiao, who had always obeyed Jiyue’s every word, was no longer the same as before. This incident had ignited all the dissatisfaction in her heart.

After spending so many years in the sect, Jiyue’s status as a direct disciple had given her such a strong sense of superiority that she had forgotten there were some people one must never provoke. This was the sect. Outside its walls, the cultivation world was countless times crueler than the mortal realm and would never tolerate such recklessness.

“Don’t be angry, Xiaoxiao. I already taught her a lesson for you.” Feng Hanxiao had made her position perfectly clear today. If they truly encountered each other in the competition, she absolutely would not hold back.

Now that matters had reached this point, Feng Hanxiao refused to believe Jiyue could still provoke her under the pretense of acting in her best interests.

Ji Jiuxuan could not contain her laughter. Thinking of the way Feng Hanxiao had hit her, she asked, “So you’re the one who gave her that injury?”

One should never strike another person in the face. It seemed Xiaoxiao really had been furious this time.

Feng Hanxiao nodded.

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“All right, don’t be angry. Let’s register first. If you’re still upset, then during the grand tournament, if we happen to run into her, we’ll beat her up and see whether she dares make our Xiaoxiao angry again.”

Qin Yuzhou, who had remained silent until then, suddenly said something astonishing. “We can have the senior brothers arrange it so that we run into her.”

Ji Jiuxuan turned toward Qin Yuzhou in surprise. She had never expected him to be this kind of person.

That was an excellent suggestion.

Unable to resist, she gave Qin Yuzhou a thumbs-up.

This made Qin Yuzhou somewhat embarrassed instead. He rubbed the back of his head and said with a smile, “Let’s go inside!”

Although there were many people at the registration area, the process moved quickly. It was the same place where rewards were usually exchanged.

The three of them usually kept a low profile, but cultivators could be just as fond of gossip as anyone else. When people saw the three of them arriving together to register, they were all rather surprised.

This year’s sect grand tournament promised fierce competition.

“Have you heard? Wangying Peak has also formed an exceptionally powerful team of three. Those are veteran disciples who have deliberately kept their cultivation suppressed while tempering their techniques, all so they can break into the top hundred and participate in the Imperial Capital competition five years from now.”

Hearing the gossip nearby, someone recalled the life-and-death competition from before. “Another team of three. If they encounter these three, I wonder who would win.”

“And it’s not just Wangying Peak. The direct disciples of the other peaks have also formed teams with other direct disciples. Their strength is certainly nothing to scoff at.”

“This year’s grand tournament is going to be spectacular!” As they spoke, they could not help sighing. “The rules have changed this time, and it really is far more entertaining than before.”

Ji Jiuxuan paid little attention to the discussions around her. She feared no opponent. As for suppressing one’s cultivation, who could possibly have suppressed theirs more ruthlessly than she had? If she suppressed it any further, she would either explode outright or advance directly and become ineligible to compete.

“Xuanxuan, let’s go to the Trial Pavilion!” As she spoke, Feng Hanxiao wore a slightly proud expression, clearly seeking praise. “I had someone reserve a place for us yesterday. We definitely won’t have to worry about there being no room when we arrive.”

Hearing that, Ji Jiuxuan suddenly had a bad feeling.

Thanks to Wu An for the monthly ticket. Thank you!

End of Chapter