Chapter 325 325 – Taking a Mission in the East
"Team Leader, what do you think about the 'growth spurt' in the top five sects?"
Ken and Alaric were walking together down a wide avenue on their way to the Mission Hall. They were both adorned in the white robes that identified them as core disciples. While many disciples preferred to wear colorful or fashionable clothes during their free time, Ken and Alaric did not care about it.
They were not young people of the fourth stage anymore; they were at the sixth stage, only one step away from becoming elders. Their strength combined with their performance in the Martial Arts Summit made them famous throughout the sect, and everybody recognized them.
"Hello, Young Master Ken."
"Salem greets Young Master Ken."
Ken nodded to the people and continued his trip. He preferred to be referred to as "Young Master," and he even paid off some of the more well-connected disciples in the sect to make sure everyone called him that way.
"I think the 'growth spurt' is none of our business. First, we aren't lagging behind anybody. Second, I'm sure we are stronger than those people," Ken dismissed his companion's worries.
The 'growth spurt' was a phenomenon that took place in the top five sects in the past fifteen years. There were a few dozen cultivators who advanced the stages at the speed of sect seeds despite not being ones.
Those people, who were at the fourth and fifth stages only fifteen years ago, were already nearing the desired elder status. Their stages ranged from the lower sixth stage to the peak of it.
"Then what about all the challenges we got lately? Our status has been undisputed for nearly a decade now, yet those people think they have a chance."
The reason Alaric brought up the topic of the growth spurt was that ten fellow disciples challenged them.
If an inner disciple challenged a core disciple and won, the sect promised to let them be the next core disciples, getting rare inheritances and mentorship from an elder. Ken and his group were all nominated as honorary core disciples.
"We will make an example out of them to ensure that nobody dares challenge us for a while, then we can go out on the mission. It might take quite a few months until we are back, even a whole year or two, so we need to leave an impact."
"I will pass the message to the rest of the group. Let's accept all challenges on the same day and conduct the battles one by one?"
"Yes."
The five were powerful beyond reason. They advanced through the stages with the help of the Godly Qi, practiced extraordinary inheritances, and enjoyed the best pills that Alchemy could offer. Taking on someone from the same stage who wasn't even a sect seed was too easy for them.
The two entered the Mission Hall and approached a smaller counter on the side. It was meant for those in the sixth stage. Since it was serving much less people than the other counters, it was only manned by a single clerk.
"Young Master Ken," the clerk bowed while stealing a long glance at Ken's face. He had to admit that this man was better looking than his girlfriend. "Senior Brother Alaric," he cupped his fist toward Alaric.
"We are from the same sect, you can call me Big Brother if you'd like," Alaric smiled at him. He saw his fellow disciples as his friends; he didn't want to stand on ceremony with them.
"Ah, okay, Big Brother Alaric," the clerk said awkwardly. Alaric was his senior brother because he was exponentially stronger, but the clerk was older than him, which made the 'Big Brother' title weird.
"We would like to accept a mission for five people on the east side of the continent," explained Ken as he browsed the papers on the board behind the clerk.
"In the east? As in a different sect's territory?"
"Exactly, the Divine Lightning Sect's territory, to be precise." The Divine Lightning Sect was one of the five unranked sects that participated in the Martial Arts Summit, and they were the ones to challenge and overthrow the twentieth-ranked sect, the Jade Sky Sect.
"Young Master, I'm sure you are aware of the suspicions against the Divine Lightning Sect," said the receptionist, referring to the fact it was an evil sect. "Missions there are classified as dangerous, some even as extremely dangerous. It's not very stable right now."
"I am aware, and I still want a mission there."
"I see. The least dangerous ones are to collect a few ingredients unique to the east or slay some monsters that only reproduce in that area. As for the more dangerous ones, I don't know much about them; they are top-secret missions, and I can only infer you to the elder in charge."
"Who is the elder in charge?" Ken placed his fingers on his smoothly shaved shin and contemplated the option. He used his Alchemy skills to destroy his hair follicles, preventing his beard from growing again unless he chose to heal them.
"Grand Elder Elmer."
"I will take it then. Where can I find Elder Elmer?"
Ken and Alaric left the Mission Hall after getting the details they needed. They parted there – Alaric went back to let the rest of the group know about the recent news, and Ken went to find Elmer in the Security Department of the sect.
"Young Master Ken, may I help you with anything?" One of the guards at the entrance stopped him. He remained respectful, but he also had to do his job. Ken was not part of the Security Department, hence, he needed a reason to enter.
"Yes, you can lead me to Grand Elder Elmer's office. I need to meet him regarding a mission," Ken showed the mission token he received from the clerk earlier.
"Oh, please go inside. It's on the second floor-"
"Since you offered to help me, you can lead me there," Ken insisted. He was just a bit petty, but it came with the 'Young Master' title.
"I… I need to stay guard…" the man stuttered while looking around him, trying to find external help. However, his partner for the shift looked straight ahead, avoiding eye contact. 'Screw him, he is doing it on purpose!'
"Okay, follow me," he relented.
The two climbed the stairs and soon made it to a big door covered with formations that kept the noise outside. The guard knocked on it, and soon the formation turned green, a sign that the noise cancellation was off.
"Elder, Young Master Ken Sue is here to see you regarding a secret mission you published."
"Let him in," a deep masculine voice came from the other side of the room, and the guard beckoned at the door before cupping his fist and going back to his post.
Ken pushed the handle and went inside, finding a minimalistic room with only a desk, a library filled with folders, and a chair occupied by a certain elder he hadn't seen in a while.
"Ken Sue, long time no see," Elmer smiled. Ken Sue was his personal success story. The boy he had recruited for the price of antagonizing plenty of sects had proved his worth during his years in the Serene Lotus Sect. Even the stingy alchemists gave him a few rare pills for free to show their gratitude.
"Elder Elmer, we haven't seen each other in too long, perhaps it's time we work with each other once again," Ken cupped his fist and bowed.
"Again? When did we ever work together? It was just me saving you and you trying to make my job harder than it should have been."
"Haha, tell that to the free pills you have been eating," Ken smiled at the elder's surprised face, "Yes, I know about them. The elders there are my fans, do you think they wouldn't tell me?"
"Oh, those old ass-lickers, I should have known they'd use it to suck up to you. Anyway, what brings you here?"
"This," Ken threw a jade token that only instructed its owner to go to Elmer for further details.
Elmer looked at it for a brief second before raising his eyes back to Ken. "Ken, do you know what my job is in the sect?" He asked.
"No?"
"It's to cause trouble. More specifically, it's to weaken potential competition within the continent, there's someone else in charge of causing trouble in the Qiteria continent. I also work with other elders who are in charge of collecting intelligence on other sects. Do you think you can play this game?"
"Didn't I weaken plenty of sects during my short life? I think you need to step up your game if you want to work with me," Ken shrugged, making Elmer laugh.
"Oh, really? Which sects have you significantly weakened? Those 10 thousand members of the Four Seasons Sect? almost none of them was truly expected to be an elder in the future, so you only killed the pawns."
"You know that's not true, and you have no idea how many people I have killed inside the secret realm. Besides, do you want to know a secret?" Ken stepped forward, nearing the elder's desk.
"What secret?" Elmer raised an eyebrow, but the tension of his body gave away his interest.
"The mini-war between the Divine Sword Sect and the Four Seasons Sect, I might have had something to do with it," Ken confessed.
"Now you are just bragging, it had nothing to do with you. Besides, most of the dead were useless cultivators from other sects," Elmer shook his head, not believing a word Ken said.
After a short pause, Elmer continued, "But fine, your achievements were impressive for a ten-year-old, I will give you that. You can take a few days to come up with a way to weaken the Jade Sky Sect and the Divine Lightning Sect and come back to me to report."
"No need, I already have a plan. I'm going to join the Jade Sky Sect."
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