Chapter 90: Completing the First Mission
After receiving the command medallion representing his status as a High Grade Yellow Rank Guest Elder, a Jade Slip containing detailed regulations for Guest Elders, and this month’s salary—one hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and several Medicinal Pills—Fang Hao was led by that deacon to a residential area specifically for the Seventh Princes Mansion Guest Elders, located in the southeastern region of Tianqing City’s outer city.
The environment in this area was quiet and elegant, with Spiritual Qi more concentrated than in other parts of the outer city, clearly due to the presence of a large-scale Spirit Gathering Formation. Independent courtyards were scattered in an orderly fashion, spaced far apart from each other and isolated by simple Restrictions to ensure residential privacy.
The deacon brought Fang Hao to a small courtyard with a plaque reading "Jia-73" and handed over a jade token to control the courtyard’s gate Restriction: "Guest Official Ning, this is your residence. Inside the courtyard, there is one quiet room, one alchemy room, and one Artifact Refining Room, with all basic facilities provided. You may use this jade token to open the Restriction. If there are no other instructions, I shall take my leave."
"Thank you for your hard work, Deacon." Fang Hao took the jade token and expressed his thanks. Once the deacon had departed, he used the jade token to open the gate’s Restriction and stepped inside.
The small courtyard was not large, but its layout was exquisite. At the front were three connected blue-tiled rooms: a living room, a quiet room, and a multi-functional room (which could serve as an alchemy room or an Artifact Refining Room). In the courtyard was a small patch of spirit fields; although no Spiritual Plants were currently growing, the soil was rich in Spiritual Qi. In a corner, there was also a spirit spring well, gurgling with spring water that contained Spiritual Qi. The overall environment was much better than any inn he had stayed in before.
Fang Hao carefully inspected the courtyard. After confirming there were no hidden surveillance Formations, he sat cross-legged in the quiet room, set up his own early-warning and protective Formations, and finally relaxed completely.
At last, he had a relatively stable place to stay. His status as a Guest Elder of the Seventh Princes Mansion was like a protective talisman; even if the Gongming Family knew he was here, they would not dare to come seeking revenge openly. This bought him precious time to breathe and develop.
He first read the Jade Slip of Guest Elder regulations. It detailed the rights and obligations of a Guest Elder. As a High Grade Yellow Rank Guest Elder, he was required to complete a certain quota of "contribution points" missions each month, or choose to pay the equivalent Spirit Stones as a deduction. contribution points could be used to exchange for Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals from the Mansion’s library, rare Materials, or the use of special Cultivation grounds. Missions were released uniformly by the Mansion and were varied, ranging from refining Medicinal Pills and Magical Artifacts to setting up Formations and taming Spirit Beasts, or even going on expeditions and escorting merchant caravans.
"A contribution point system... it’s quite reasonable," Fang Hao mused. This would both motivate the Guest Elders and filter out truly capable talents.
After resting and regulating his breathing for a day, Fang Hao decided to visit the Mission Hall to take on his first mission, familiarize himself with the Mansion’s operations as quickly as possible, and accumulate contribution points.
The Mission Hall was located near the Guest Elder residential area and was a magnificent, imposing hall. The hall was bustling with people, with many Guest Elders there to accept or hand in missions. On a massive jade wall, light shimmered as various mission information scrolled continuously, with deacons nearby responsible for registration and issuing mission credentials.
Fang Hao stood before the jade wall, browsing carefully. Missions were divided into four Ranks—’Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow’—corresponding to different levels of difficulty and contribution points. Yellow Rank missions were the most numerous and varied.
"Yellow Rank High Grade: Refine ten batches of ’ningyuan pills,’ with a success rate of over 70%. Reward: 50 contribution points."
"Yellow Rank High Grade: Repair the Formation core of a ’Green Peak Sword.’ Reward: 60 contribution points."
"Yellow Rank Top Grade: Escort a Mansion merchant caravan to ’Blazing Flame City,’ a round trip of about half a month. Reward: 120 contribution points."
...
Fang Hao’s gaze swept across the wall, finally stopping on one mission:
"Yellow Rank Top Grade: Repair the defensive Formation nodes in the ’Bing Character Area’ of the Mansion’s outer city. Three nodes in this area have fallen into disrepair, resulting in energy leaks and sluggish responses. Requires someone proficient in Formations to diagnose and repair. Reward: 150 contribution points. Note: This mission requires review by Master Zhao before it can be accepted."
Repairing Formation nodes? This was exactly Fang Hao’s specialty. Moreover, the contribution points were quite generous, far exceeding typical Yellow Rank missions. He walked to the registration desk and expressed his intention to take the mission.
The deacon checked Fang Hao’s Guest Elder medallion, and after confirming his status as a Formation Guest Elder, nodded and said, "Guest Official Ning, please wait a moment. This mission requires Master Zhao’s review. I have already sent word to him."
Before long, the same Master Zhao who had previously assessed Fang Hao walked over slowly. Seeing Fang Hao, a trace of a smile appeared on his face: "Guest Official Ning, it is you who wishes to take this mission?"
"Indeed, this Junior wishes to give it a try," Fang Hao said respectfully.
Master Zhao stroked his beard and said, "The issues with those three nodes in the Bing Character Area are somewhat troublesome; they aren’t simple cases of worn-out Formation lines. Two Guest Elders took this mission before, but neither could solve it completely. Since you are proficient in Formations, it would be good for you to gain some experience. However, remember that the Mansion’s Formations are interconnected; you must be extremely cautious when repairing them and must not act rashly. This is the node location map and the basic Formation diagrams; take them and study them. If there is anything you don’t understand, you may come and ask me."
As he spoke, he handed over a Jade Slip.
"Thank you for your guidance, Great Master. This Junior will certainly be cautious." Fang Hao took the Jade Slip, feeling grateful. This Master Zhao seemed to hold him in high regard.
After accepting the mission, Fang Hao did not head straight to the Bing Character Area. Instead, he returned to his courtyard, immersed his mind in the Jade Slip, and began to study it carefully.
The Jade Slip recorded the overall structural diagram of the Bing Character Area’s defensive Formation, the specific locations of the three problematic nodes, and the preliminary diagnostic information. Combining this with the knowledge from the Myriad Manifestations Array Interpretation, Fang Hao performed careful deductions and gradually discovered the root of the problem. These three nodes were not simply aging; rather, slight shifts in the nearby Earth Veins in recent years had caused the Formation’s energy circuits to conflict subtly with the power of the Earth Veins, leading to energy leaks and response delays. Simple repairs to the Formation lines would only treat the symptoms, not the cause; the node structures needed to be adjusted to realign them with the Earth Veins.
"So that’s how it is." Fang Hao now understood. This required an extremely deep understanding of Formations and precise control; no wonder the previous two Guest Elders had failed.
The next day, carrying the authorization token given by Master Zhao, Fang Hao arrived at the outer city’s Bing Character Area. This was a relatively old market area, yet the flow of people remained dense. Following the guidance of the Formation diagram, he quickly found the three Formation nodes hidden in the ground or in the corners of buildings.
He was in no hurry to start. Instead, he first activated his Clear Spring Spirit Eyes and Ethereal Art, carefully sensing the energy flow and Earth Vein fluctuations around the nodes, which verified his deductions. Only then did he take out a specialized Formation brush and blended spiritual fluid, beginning to cautiously adjust the miniature Formation Plate structures inside the nodes.
This process was extremely delicate, requiring him to sense the Earth Vein changes while simultaneously adjusting the Formation Plates, much like dancing on a tightrope. Fang Hao was fully concentrated, with fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. It took him a full half-day of effort to finish adjusting all three nodes.
When he struck the final hand seal, the three nodes flashed with light. The previously turbulent energy flow instantly became smooth and peaceful, merging perfectly with the power of the surrounding Earth Veins.
"Success." Fang Hao breathed a sigh of relief.
He returned to the Mission Hall to hand in the mission. After the deacon sent someone to verify it and confirmed that the nodes were perfectly repaired—running even more smoothly than before—he couldn’t help but look at Fang Hao with newfound respect and readily paid the one hundred and fifty contribution points.
Upon hearing the news, Master Zhao personally encouraged Fang Hao with a few words, hinting that more important Formation missions might be entrusted to him in the future.
The first mission was completed to Perfection. Not only had he earned contribution points, but he had also left a good impression on Master Zhao, laying a foundation for his future development in the Mansion. Fang Hao felt much more at ease. He knew that he had taken his first step in Tianqing City steadily.
Next, he would utilize the Mansion’s resources to Cultivate in peace, enhance his strength, and cautiously deal with any potential undercurrents.
