In a cold, dimly illuminated cave, a young man darted about with remarkable agility. His eyes exhibited an unwavering focus, while his ethereal figure seemed to blend seamlessly with his surroundings as if he were a ghostly apparition traversing the space.

This enigmatic individual was none other than Ning. Over the past ten days or so, he had been solely focused on cultivation. Without aimlessly wandering or causing any disturbances, he chose to embrace seclusion as his sole companion.

He only went out once to hand in the martial arts manual back to the elder. Surprisingly, the elder remembered him even though there were so many disciples going there, Ning didn't know why.

After that solitary encounter, the following days unfolded with a tranquil monotony for Ning. His sole focus centered on immersing himself in mastering the various techniques at his disposal.

Each day, he dedicated countless hours to rigorous training, pushing himself to the brink of exhaustion. It was during this period that the effects of his Fasting pill, which had provided him sustenance, came to an end.

The fasting pill was a special privilege for the new disciples and was supposed to last for a month but because Ning had become a cultivator, not only his strength but his appetite got stronger, so the effect of the pill was reduced.

So instead, he ate the food sent by servants to his cave, practiced, and slept. He maintained this rhythm almost religiously.

While he did not have any major breakthrough, all his numbers went up, and watching numbers go brrr, made Ning happy.

Yet, as is often the case, all good things must eventually reach their conclusion. Despite his desire to remain in seclusion, Ning was bound by the sect's regulations, which mandated the completion of two compulsory missions. So, he had no choice but to head out.

...

The sect to which Ning belonged was known as the Pure Qi Sect. Interestingly, both the sect itself and his chosen cultivation technique shared the same name, but it was unknown which came first.

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The Pure Qi Sect, though relatively small in scale, held great significance within its surroundings. It was rumored that the Sect Master possessed formidable prowess, reaching the pinnacle of strength attainable during the foundation-building stage.

While this accomplishment might appear modest in the broader context of cultivation, it held substantial weight within the confines of this remote region.

"Starting from the most backward region. Another cliche."

Ning couldn't help but sigh.

During his seclusion, however, he remained mindful of gathering information about the sect. Fortunately, there was a convenient source of knowledge readily available—the servants.

Whenever they arrived to deliver him food, Ning would take the opportunity to inquire about the current state of affairs within the sect, acquiring valuable insights.

Initially, the servants were apprehensive about engaging with a cultivator, fearing potential consequences. Yet, upon realizing Ning's gentle demeanor and genuine curiosity, they eagerly shared all the information they possessed.

Witnessing the relief in the servants' eyes, Ning couldn't help but raise a few additional questions. Was the bullying situation so bad around the sect?

Seeing this, Ning was further resolved...to only come out for the missions. He did not want to get involved in something troublesome.

It was further strengthened when he reached the Mission Hall and saw a familiar face.

It was Xiao Fan who seemed to be picking a mission.

And as if it was customary, there were already some people who were provoking him.

"That trash is accepting a mission that would be difficult even for a cultivator of the second stage of Qi condensation. Has he already decided to commit suicide?" Some random guy said in a mocking tone.

It was not only that guy, but several others were doing the same. Looking at the scene in front of him, Ning had a single question.

"Why the f*ck is everyone so braindead? It must be the protagonist Halo, isn't it?"

Ning was quite exasperated. The current situation was familiar, extremely familiar.

What was happening was the cliche event of the protagonist accepting a mission too difficult for his realm, and surprising everyone in the sect by doing it.

The scene didn't last long as after handing the mission to the clerk, Xiao Fan left without caring about the comments, and the crowd also returned to normal.

Seeing this, Ning also walked away. No one paid any attention to him as he swiftly walked toward the mission wall.

On the mission wall, there were several papers with details of different missions. The disciples only needed to take the paper and present it to the clerk so that they could accept the mission.

Ning searched for an easy mission suitable for his skillset before finding one.

[Gather five stalks of poison lily and bring them to the Mission hall. It is needed for pill concoctions.

Reward: 10 spirit stones.

*Note: Beware of Poison. Can be harvested safely by not touching the petals with bare hands.

]