Evil Cultivator
Heading back like this meant the mission was a success. With his business at the Medical Hall wrapped up, it was time to look for something new. Or should he pretend to be crazy and beg the Medical Hall Lord to take him as a disciple? No. Freely tackling a variety of missions and gaining all sorts of experiences would be better for his future growth—like a tough weed thriving in the barren wilds.
After a brief rest nearby, he returned to the Unkak Sect. Flying low to avoid drawing attention, he steered clear of any 3rd-grade demon beasts. Those things matched a Qi Refining 10th star cultivator, so one alone might be manageable, but a pack would turn his body and blood into their next meal.
Safely back at the sect, he went straight to see the Medical Hall Lord. She was as stunningly beautiful as ever.
"Back already? Does that mean you caught the Ironclad Ape?"
He pulled out the Ironclad Ape's corpse from his storage ring and dropped it with a thud.
Thud!
"Yes, I got it."
Seong Yuhyang dragged the corpse over and stored it in her own ring. "With this, your duties at the Medical Hall are done. What will you do now?"
"I'll take on other missions and focus on my cultivation."
Just like their first meeting, she stepped behind him and kneaded his shoulders. "You've worked hard."
The brief massage melted away his accumulated fatigue, leaving his body pleasantly limp. How amazing would it be if the Hall Lord gave him a full-body massage with all her care? He indulged in the unrealistic fantasy for a moment.
Returning to his cave with pleasant thoughts, he immediately began cultivating. A cultivator couldn't waste time. Who knew what form that squandered time might take in the future?
Mortals in the jianghu said, "The sweat you shed now replaces the blood you'll shed later." The cultivation world was no different.
With Medical Hall duties over, he spent most of his time holed up in the cultivation chamber, focusing solely on training. Of course, when Moyong Wol visited, they dual cultivated with the Yin-Yang Art, steadily purifying his mana.
Today, as usual, he headed to the Mission Hall to see Senior Brother Park Eung.
"Senior Brother Park, got any missions with good rewards?"
"That depends on Junior Brother Yu's skills. The riskier the mission, the better the reward."
Solo high-risk missions were too much for him alone, so a group one it was.
"Any group missions I could join?"
Park Eung quickly scanned the records. "An evil cultivator has appeared near the edge of the Gaun Mountains, so we're dispatching teams to the villages under Unkak Sect jurisdiction. Interested?"
An evil cultivator—one who practiced demonic or ghostly arts, slaughtering mortals and cultivators alike to harvest souls for their own gain. They had more combat experience than peers at the same level and wielded bizarre evil spells, making them tricky opponents.
"From what we know, he's an outsider from the Gaun Mountains, chased here by a righteous sect from Chu Kingdom. He's at Core Formation initial stage."
Core Formation initial... He'd pass on a solo mission like that. Even if he was stronger than most at his level, an evil cultivator at that stage was dangerous. But a group mission meant checking the teammates first.
"Who else is in my group?"
"Groups of four, three groups total—one per village. One spot left in a group with Jo Mihyeon as leader, plus Junior Sisters Kang Seolhui and Byeok Soseol."
Two disciples of Nae Cheonha and Byeok the wall cultivator... A flower garden, but full of thorns.
Why send Nae Cheonha's disciples on an evil cultivator hunt? What was the reward?
"Senior Brother Park, one more question before I commit. What's the reward?"
"Twenty low-grade spirit stones just for participating. Kill the evil cultivator, and you get a high-grade magic treasure."
A high-grade magic treasure! His Waterhorn Sword and White Serpent Flying Dagger were somewhere between low- and mid-grade. He couldn't even imagine the power of a high-grade one.
"I'll do it."
The promise of a high-grade treasure made him commit on the spot. For a Qi Refining cultivator, it was like having extra lives. Even if they didn't encounter the target, twenty low-grade spirit stones were a win-win—cultivate and get paid. The fuller the pockets, the better.
Plus, Jo Mihyeon at Core Formation initial and Kang Seolhui at Qi Refining 10th star meant the team could handle the evil cultivator without dying if they worked together. With three groups in the village, the other two could join fast if needed, dooming the target on the spot.
Jo Mihyeon and Kang Seolhui might despise him, but they wouldn't sabotage the mission. They had that much sense. And unlike last time, Jo Mihyeon wouldn't lop off his wrist so easily. He wasn't the same as before.
Before leaving, he bought Vitality Powder and Body Tempering Pills with spirit stones, pushing his Iron Skin Art to the 6th star.
On mission day, they gathered at the sect's mountain gate. He flew there quickly.
Familiar faces waited: fierce-eyed Jo Mihyeon, cold and haughty Kang Seolhui, and icy-on-the-outside, warm-within Byeok Soseol. Each a captivating female cultivator awaiting him.
"Junior Brother Yu, what kept you? You're late."
A real man could be a bit late. Why the attitude? Leader Jo Mihyeon glared fiercely.
"Sorry. I lost track of time in meditation."
Defying her here would be disastrous, so he bowed his head.
"Don't be late next time."
"Yes, ma'am."
Kang Seolhui watched with arms crossed, then snorted and looked away when their eyes met.
"Hmph."
What's with the snort? Think big tits and pretty face make you special?
He exchanged nods with Byeok Soseol; her complexion looked brighter than before. Good to see her gearing up for a dangerous mission instead of wallowing in grief over her lover's death.
He sent her a transmission. "Byeok, you sure about this risky mission?"
"The reward's good. Besides, over ten villages under Unkak jurisdiction—fat chance the evil cultivator hits ours."
"True. Cultivate in the village, return empty-handed with twenty low-grade stones. Rain from a drought for Qi Refiners like us."
Jo Mihyeon pulled out a carriage-shaped flying treasure. "We'll ride together to save mana. Briefing inside."
Inside smelled fresh and inviting—surprisingly spacious and comfy.
"Our group heads to Yunnam Village. The other two are already en route. We'll patrol in rotation."
Curious, he spoke up. "Leader Jo, how long do we stay in Yunnam Village?"
"Until the evil cultivator is killed or confirmed dead. Otherwise, we stay a year, then rotate. More questions?"
"......"
"Then rest up. We'll rotate every three hours—one on the flying treasure, one on watch."
Jo Mihyeon took the front, starting patrol.
The path to Yunnam Village skirted the Gaun Mountains' edge—no major threats. Occasional 2nd-grade flying demon beasts attacked, blind to those inside, but Jo Mihyeon's gesture shattered their heads and shredded their bodies.
Kyaaak!
That gesture had once severed his wrist unnoticed, but now he could follow it—fast, but visible. A silver wheel shot from her sleeve at blinding speed, diced the beasts, and returned.
Confident in his 6th-star Iron Skin Art body, but seeing her skill up close chilled his spine. Leader Jo, you still mad about the herb garden erection? It was just nature. Forgive me.
Shift time came; Jo Mihyeon returned.
"Your turn, Junior Brother Yu. Don't slack on watch."
"Got it."
He took the front, channeling mana into the treasure while scanning. Jo Mihyeon's sharp, blade-like personality meant slacking could bring hell—he'd learned that the hard way. Always cautious around her.
Gazing over the vast Gaun Mountains, he pondered the evil cultivator fleeing Chu Kingdom's righteous sects. Chased by them, he'd die here or wandering Seosan Continent—unless his own sect backed him.
Sects in the Gaun Mountains competed but united against outsiders eyeing their resources. No national ties meant Chu's righteous cultivators wouldn't invade lightly—why the evil cultivator fled here.
His watch ended; they rotated inside the carriage until arriving at Yunnam Village.
The villagers knew nothing of the evil cultivator—Unkak Sect kept it quiet to avoid panic. Ignorance was bliss.
At the rally point, the other two groups waited. A burly Core Formation mid-stage man told Jo Mihyeon, "Junior Sister Jo, our group patrols first. Rotate in a month. You two stay inside, cultivate, signal if trouble."
"Understood."
Their group drew last patrol. Personal cultivation chambers dotted the site; everyone filed in.
He took an empty one to train Iron Skin Art. Meeting the evil cultivator stronger improved survival odds. Two Body Tempering Pill bottles left—he'd use them to hit 7th star.
Sitting cross-legged, he swallowed a pill and guided energy per the manual. The first time felt deadly, but now he was adapted, body tougher.
Downed the last bottle; Iron Skin Art reached 7th star.
He itched to test it on demon beasts outside, but mission rules confined them to the village except patrols.
With 7th-star Iron Skin Art achieved, he began meditating for Qi Refining 8th star.