"Eh? Senior Brother Lin, you're back so soon?"
At the Xuantian Sect's mountain gate, Wang Dafu, who had been assigned to the lowest-ranking D-level gatekeeping task, was surprised to see Lin Li driving a carriage towards him.
"Brother Wang, thanks to you, the mission was successfully completed!"
Having slain so many demonized rats, Lin Li's cultivation had undergone significant progress. From the initial Qi Refining Stage Level 7 when he left a week ago, he had now reached the peak of Qi Refining Stage Level 8!
Moreover, after Ye Fan's evolution and experiencing its benefits, Lin Li was thrilled.
With these advancements, he no longer needed to join the Artifact Division for artifact refinement training. When he achieved perfection in Qi Refining, he could directly enter the Liantian Peak Sword Sect!
"Senior Brother Lin, you are truly extraordinary!"
Wang Dafu flattered, "So many rogue cultivators have died, which shows how difficult that task was. Yet, Senior Brother Lin, you completed it in less than a week. That's truly impressive!"
"That's right, that's right!"
Another disciple on gate duty quickly seized the opportunity to flatter Lin Li as well. "Senior Brother Lin, you're amazing! You're my idol! Please guide me in the future!"
"Hmm."
Lin Li responded with a faint nod and then asked, "The place to submit missions is on the second floor of the Xingjiao Pavilion, correct?"
"Exactly!" Wang Dafu replied. "Unfortunately, I'm in the middle of a gatekeeping task and can't personally accompany you there."
"No worries."
With that, Lin Li continued to drive the carriage through the stone archway of Xuantian Sect, heading directly toward the Xingjiao Pavilion.
...
At Xingjiao Pavilion, when the surrounding disciples saw Lin Li carrying the corpse of the Rat King and a black-robed man with severed legs and one arm, they all showed expressions of fear.
After all, Xuantian Sect was a well-respected orthodox sect, where the main focus was on self-cultivation and refinement. Scenes of such brutality were rare within the sect.
Ignoring the strange gazes of those around him, Lin Li, holding the head of the Rat King in one hand and carrying the black-robed man on his shoulder with the other, ascended to the second floor of Xingjiao Pavilion.
"I'm here to submit a mission!"
Lin Li approached the window on the second floor and said, "This is for the B-level task: Extermination of the Demon Rats."
Upon hearing the words "B-level task," everyone around him was shocked!
Just like Wang Dafu had mentioned earlier, most of the tasks in Xingjiao Pavilion were C or D-level. Completing an A or B-level task was a rare feat, achieved only by the strongest of the outer sect disciples, who were highly respected.
The staff at Xingjiao Pavilion examined the corpse of the Rat King and handed Lin Li his mission reward.
Then, Lin Li continued, "This is something I discovered unexpectedly during the mission."
As he spoke, Lin Li threw the black-robed man toward the inspection window.
"Hiss!"
The staff member gasped when they saw the black-robed man, now reduced to having only one hand, and was so shocked by his miserable state that they couldn't help but glance at Lin Li with fear. They thought to themselves: this person is too ruthless! Such cruel methods were rarely seen within an orthodox sect.
Unconsciously, Lin Li's personality had been subtly influenced by Ye Fan's skills, gradually becoming more cold and ruthless.
"This man is the mastermind behind the demon rat plague in Dan County. He also set up formations around the area. Had I not arrived in time, tens of thousands of people in Dan County would have been sacrificed as part of his scheme to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage."
Lin Li explained, "Considering the evil deeds he's committed, this punishment is already too lenient. According to him, he claims to be a disciple of some so-called 'Sacred Sect.'"
"A Sacred Sect disciple?!"
The staff member was taken aback. "That seems to be one of the most powerful demonic sects in the Zhao Kingdom!"
"I understand the situation. We will need to call in an inner sect disciple from the Law Enforcement Hall to handle the investigation. You can leave for now. Once the results are out, the sect will not treat you unfairly, and we will send someone to deliver your additional rewards."
"Very well."
With that, Lin Li left immediately.
...
Upon returning to his private immortal residence, the two maids sent by Junior Brother Liu were overjoyed to see Lin Li return. Smiling, they quickly welcomed him back, prepared a bath for him, and set up a delicious meal.
After the meal, Lin Li once again entered seclusion, much to the dismay of the two maids who sighed, "Our master is too diligent! We barely get to spend any time with him!"
After three days in seclusion, Lin Li consumed two Qi Replenishing Pills and finally broke through the barrier between the eighth and ninth levels of Qi Refining. His cultivation successfully reached Qi Refining Stage Level 9!
"Good!"
Lin Li opened his eyes, brimming with energy. "In less than half a year since joining, I've advanced from Qi Refining Stage 4 to Stage 9!"
"The path from Qi Refining Stage 9 to perfection is simply a matter of accumulating spiritual energy. I still have over 400 Qi Replenishing Pills left. With another period of seclusion, I'll reach perfection in Qi Refining. At that point, I can join the Liantian Peak Sword Sect and compete for one of the two spots to represent the sect in the Zhao Kingdom's Seven Sect Trials!"
Shortly after Lin Li's breakthrough, there was a knock on the door of his quiet chamber. "Knock, knock, knock! Master, Young Master Liu is here to visit!"
"Junior Brother Liu?"
Lin Li was a bit surprised, but he finished his meditation and exited the room.
...
In the reception hall of the immortal residence.
"Hahaha! Brother Lin, long time no see!"
Junior Brother Liu, who was seated in a wooden chair sipping tea, immediately put down his teacup and stood up with a smile when he saw Lin Li enter.
"It's only been just over a month."
Lin Li chuckled. "What brings you here today, Junior Brother Liu?"
"Well, first, I came to catch up with you, Brother Lin. And second…"
Junior Brother Liu smiled mysteriously and cupped his hands, saying, "Congratulations, Brother Lin! My warmest congratulations!"
"Oh? What is the occasion for congratulations? I'm not aware of anything."
Lin Li asked, curious.
"Brother Lin, you may not know!"
Junior Brother Liu explained, "The person you captured is actually the head of the Beast Taming faction of the demonic sect! According to the interrogation, he had been eyeing Dan County for a long time. If you had arrived a week later, all 97,000 residents of Dan County would have been sacrificed, leaving no survivors!"
"This time, Brother Lin, you have achieved great merit! Not only did you save so many people, but if his sacrificial plan had succeeded, he would have broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage and become a Vice Hall Master of the demonic sect!"
"I see."
Lin Li nodded.
"Uh… Brother Lin, why is your reaction so calm?"
Junior Brother Liu asked, puzzled.
"It's nothing. It's not really a big deal. The important thing is to focus on improving my cultivation."
Lin Li replied.
"Unbelievable! Brother Lin, you truly are relentless in your pursuit of cultivation!"
Junior Brother Liu said admiringly. "This time, because of your great accomplishment, the sect has decided to reward you with fifteen lower-grade spirit stones, which I was entrusted to bring to you."
Fifteen lower-grade spirit stones?
To receive them so easily?
Lin Li couldn't help but smile. Thinking back to his experience in Linhe Town, where the black-robed man's demonized rats were slaughtered en masse, and how the man had only dared to ask for fifteen lower-grade spirit stones as compensation, Lin Li now found it amusing that while sitting at home, he could effortlessly receive the same reward. Being a disciple of a prestigious orthodox sect truly had its benefits!