Chapter 52: Selecting the Task

Every day, she had to rely on smooth-talking the system just to buy more time for cultivation; it was truly a struggle. She could only hope the system could withstand her persuasion.

“That doesn’t count.”

The system’s reply filled Ji Jiuxuan with delight.

Calming herself, she noticed another scene had appeared on the screen—a large spinning wheel with a line of text. She couldn’t quite make out what the prizes were.

“Please draw for your mission, Host.”

Ji Jiuxuan felt like she might collapse. “System, are you doing this on purpose?”

With her terrible luck, why was she being made to try her hand at a lucky draw again?

“There’s no such thing as doing it on purpose. This is the usual protocol for temporary requests,” the system replied innocently.

“So, unless the system assigns it automatically, any other requests will follow this pattern?” Ji Jiuxuan mused. After all, she had her own motives; the system’s rules didn’t seem unreasonable.

“That’s correct.”

In the end, Ji Jiuxuan could only resign herself to the draw.

On the screen, the tasks displayed: roast the Phoenix-Feathered Sovereign Bird from the Spirit Beast Peak, pick the Demon-Banishing Divine Herb from the Spirit Herb Garden, do something befitting a child in the cultivation world, run ten laps around the Xuantian Sect’s main gate...

Ji Jiuxuan was dumbfounded. What were these missions?

“System, are you sure you’re not messing with me?” Each one was stranger than the last, and there were more than ten options in total.

The system sounded helpless. “Friendly reminder: the Phoenix-Feathered Sovereign Bird is the beast pet left by the Yu family for Yu Heng.”

At that, Ji Jiuxuan’s eyes sparkled. “What about the others?”

With the system’s hint, she realized every option must have its own purpose—she just hadn’t uncovered the key yet.

“I can only remind you about one. If you draw another, you’ll understand when the time comes.”

Ji Jiuxuan no longer felt reluctant. Rubbing her hands together, she fixed her gaze on the task of roasting the Phoenix-Feathered Sovereign Bird.

That bird was of an incredibly high level, and roasting it would be a huge challenge. But the thought of making Yu Heng, that villain, suffer filled her with glee. As for being discovered and targeted by Yu Heng, she wasn’t afraid in the slightest. Their enmity was already irreconcilable—there was no need for pretense.

She tapped the button to draw, and the pointer spun rapidly, each tick echoing in her heart as she prayed to land on the Phoenix-Feathered Sovereign Bird.

With a crisp “ding,” the wheel finally stopped. Ji Jiuxuan stared at the result, then slapped the hand she’d used to draw, vowing to use the other next time. What rotten luck!

“Host is to run ten laps around the Xuantian Sect’s main gate. Complete the task to receive a reward draw.”

“Is there a time limit?” The idea of roasting the Phoenix-Feathered Sovereign Bird still lingered in her mind, and she was already plotting its feasibility. “System, if I complete an extra task, will there be further rewards?”

She never missed a chance to profit, especially at the system’s expense.

“There’s no time limit, but the sooner you complete it, the sooner you can draw for cultivation techniques. A reminder: it will be easier if you first master a body-strengthening technique.” The system paused, silver light swirling across the screen. At last, it added, “According to the rules, there are no extra rewards for completing additional tasks.”

Ji Jiuxuan had already suspected as much, but she remained keenly interested. Pressing on, she asked, “Any hints, then?”

“That’s possible, but only if you complete the original assigned task first.”

Ji Jiuxuan’s lips curled into a smile.

“That’s no problem at all.” She was still waiting for that advanced technique. If she were discovered, it would at least make things easier—otherwise, she might not even know how she died.

It was crucial to have self-awareness, especially before embarking on mischief, and she certainly had plenty of that.

Before long, Ji Jiuxuan exited the system.

She slept soundly through the night, and at dawn, she packed up and leapt onto the roof of Xuánheng Courtyard, sprawling comfortably under the warm sunlight, basking in its lazy embrace.

Closing her eyes, she recalled the Flower-Plume Body-Strengthening Technique she’d obtained the previous night.

Perhaps she had grown used to her cultivation time being restricted, for every time she acquired a new technique, she would first study it thoroughly before beginning practice. Now, with the Flower-Plume Body-Strengthening Technique in hand, she did the same.

After analyzing every detail, Ji Jiuxuan opened her eyes to a brilliant sun. Judging by the time, there was still a while before she needed to head to the Learning Palace.

Maybe she should complete the task now?

Running ten laps around the main gate didn’t seem too far—she should be able to finish quickly.

However, the main gate was some distance away, so Ji Jiuxuan headed straight to the Spirit Beast Stables.

Catching sight of a snowy-white figure, Ji Jiuxuan ran over joyfully, hugging the forelegs of the Moon-White Rabbit. “Moon-White, it’s been so long! Did you miss me?”

By now, the Moon-White Rabbit was thoroughly accustomed to Ji Jiuxuan, and her behavior was nothing out of the ordinary. Seeing her, it was just as delighted. “I’m very glad to see you, Xuanxuan.”

She climbed onto the rabbit’s back, grabbing a large handful of homemade snacks and the spirit stones she needed. “Moon-White, take me to the main gate.”

“Alright.”

Arriving at the gates of Xuantian Sect, she gazed up at the Heavenly Staircase and suddenly felt her legs go weak. She had miscalculated—how could she have forgotten this?

The Xuantian Sect’s main gate had two grand stairways: the Heavenly Staircase and the regular steps used daily.

“System, when you say ‘main gate,’ you’re not including the Heavenly Staircase, are you?”

The grand gate encompassed both stairways. Suspended above the steps was a plaque formed of condensed spiritual energy, inscribed with the bold characters for Xuantian Sect.

She had forgotten that any disciple who hadn’t taken the Heavenly Staircase would face a heart demon trial when ascending. New disciples underwent this once, and after that, they avoided this path unless they reached the Foundation Establishment stage, at which point the staircase no longer had any effect.

As for those born within the sect over several generations, like her, they never needed to climb these stairs to enter. However, as their cultivation increased, they would still face heart demon trials in the future.

“You may follow the displayed route, but anything less than the specified range will not count.”

As the system finished speaking, Ji Jiuxuan noticed that the entire area connecting the main gate to the Heavenly Staircase was aglow with a faint light.

“You mean I have to do this route ten times?”

The thought of climbing the Heavenly Staircase ten times sent a shiver through her—this was practically a death sentence!

“Yes. It is recommended that you activate the cultivation technique to increase your physical strength.”

The main gate was usually bustling, with most people flying on swords, while those unable to do so took the wide road on the other side.

The system’s route required a full circle from the alternate road, up the Heavenly Staircase.

But the Heavenly Staircase could only be ascended, not descended, so she would have to descend by the regular steps and climb back up via the Heavenly Staircase, repeating this ten times.

For the sake of that advanced technique, Ji Jiuxuan gritted her teeth and headed for the Heavenly Staircase.