Chapter Thirty-Seven: Extremely Difficult Mission

Su Yi took a deep breath, suppressing the tremor in his heart. "Now that I know who is monitoring the spirit fields, as long as I am cautious, I don't need to worry about them suddenly making a move..."

With this thought, he put aside his distractions and continued walking toward his living quarters. Upon returning, just as he was about to lie down and organize his thoughts, his system panel suddenly popped up.

"Host has met hidden conditions. New side quest activated."

"In the herb garden of the Xianxia Sect, a Phantom Star Grass that is about to become a ten-thousand-year spirit herb is being trapped by an array. Please locate the prison of the Phantom Star Grass and break the seal within three months to rescue it."

"This is a side quest; it may be abandoned."

[Quest Difficulty: Five Stars (Extremely Difficult)]
[Quest Reward: Upon completion, you may freely choose the direction of future quests.]
[Option 1: Ruthless betrayal. Crush the ten-thousand-year herb into medicine. Consuming it will grant the host a surge of spiritual essence, greatly advancing your cultivation.]
[Option 2: Voluntary release. Completion will earn the gratitude and recognition of the ten-thousand-year Phantom Star Grass, as well as a wisp of Heavenly Dao energy. With this energy, the host has a chance to achieve a Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.]

"Warning: Proceeding with this quest will offend the Nascent Soul cultivator Li Jiaoying. If discovered by her, death is certain. It is recommended that the host abandon this quest for the sake of safety. Do not overreach; while opportunities are precious, life is worth more..."

Huh?

Su Yi was amused by the last sentence. Previously, the quests had been trivial, offering rewards no better than a fly's leg, with only the points being of any value. He wasn't used to such a high-difficulty quest being issued so suddenly. Most importantly, since the system was actively urging him to give up—and so persistently—he doubted it was out of concern. If anything, it felt more like reverse psychology. Given the track record of this dim-witted system, which had even misidentified people before, it was highly unlikely to be genuinely kind.

Regardless of whether it was kindness or a provocation, the rewards were too good to refuse. It was rare to see a high-difficulty task; how could he abandon it? While dangerous, risk and reward were generally proportional.

On second thought, since the quest had appeared, the one who had been crying out for help in the herb garden must have been that ten-thousand-year Phantom Star Grass. His [Spirit Affinity] talent must have been at work. He had been watering the garden every day, and having that talent, it was only natural for the herb to grow close to him over time and eventually seek his help.

He had no interest in the first option. Predatory harvesting was always a last resort. While the spiritual essence of a ten-thousand-year herb was tempting, it wasn't as if the holy land lacked treasures. However, those treasures didn't trigger system quests. He knew what was truly important.

The second option was clearly the path of infinite potential. Not only would he gain the gratitude of the herb, but he would also obtain a wisp of Heavenly Dao energy, which would be immensely beneficial for his future cultivation. He had learned from his master, Daoist Hengzhen, about the different qualities of the Nascent Soul, and the legendary Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul remained vivid in his memory. With "Heavenly Dao" in both "Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment" and "Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul," there was clearly a connection. Although he had already established his foundation, if this wisp of energy could facilitate a Heavenly Dao Foundation, perhaps it could also assist him in achieving a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul.

A Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul! Just the name sounded extraordinarily powerful and prestigious—perfectly suited to his temperament.

However, the difficulty was exceptionally high. The system had even used the word "certain death." Yet, remembering that its original script had been based on the original owner, he felt slightly relieved. So, the woman's real name was Li Jiaoying.

Su Yi rubbed his chin, calculating. Based on the aura of the cultivation technique she exuded, she was likely in the early Nascent Soul stage. With his natal magic treasure for protection and the advantage of being the one acting in the shadows, he might be able to handle it.

With that, Su Yi, who was on the verge of forming his own Nascent Soul, made up his mind to accept the quest without hesitation. But before that, he needed to resolve the task regarding the Outer Sect Competition to avoid any complications.

Meanwhile, in the depths of the bamboo forest, inside an exquisitely designed small building, Li Jiaoying sat cross-legged. Her body was shrouded in dark winds and swirling shadows, emitting eerie and ominous fluctuations that made her figure blur like a ghost. Perhaps due to her cultivation, she had shed the disguise of "Zhen Yuyan," revealing a face of stunning, enchanting beauty.

She wore a pale purple dress that clung to her graceful, slender frame. With her jade-like skin and ethereal elegance, she looked like a blooming purple mandola flower, full of lethal temptation—a complete contrast to the ordinary-looking Zhen Yuyan.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes. A terrifying gleam flashed through her dark, deep pupils, reminiscent of the boundless night.

Someone was coming.

She frowned, then waved her sleeve. The void in front of her rippled like water, reflecting the scene outside the building. Seeing who it was, her expression softened. She dispelled the restrictive arrays around the room and said indifferently, "Come in."

*Creak—*

The door was pushed open, and a figure wrapped in a black cloak stepped out of the darkness.

"This subordinate greets Senior Sister Li."

Seeing Li Jiaoying, the figure quickly lowered their hood and knelt respectfully. The man was tall and lean with a dignified appearance—it was Chi Chongrui, an elder of the Xianxia Sect’s Inner Sect Dao Initiation Pavilion.

"Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to lay low and not come to me unless necessary?" Li Jiaoying frowned, her beautiful eyes filled with impatience.

Li Jiaoying was breathtakingly beautiful; no normal man could remain unaffected by her appearance. Yet, Chi Chongrui dared not show even a hint of disrespect. From the moment he entered, he kept his head bowed, not daring to look up, and spoke cautiously.

"Reporting to Senior Sister Li, this subordinate has been following your instructions to build my own influence within the Xianxia Sect and gather intelligence, and I have achieved some results. However, recently, I have been suppressed by rivals in the sect, causing everything to go wrong and my prestige to plummet. It wouldn't matter if I suffered, but if this affects the Holy Sect's grand plan, I fear I would be unforgivable even if I died a thousand times..."

Hearing this, Li Jiaoying knew exactly what he meant and sneered inwardly. *Affect the Holy Sect's grand plan? You? What a joke! If the Holy Sect's plan really relied on an old man like you, then the sect would be truly hopeless.*

"So, you're saying you want me to stand up for you?" Li Jiaoying asked with a faint, enigmatic smile.

Chi Chongrui’s body trembled, and he quickly said, "I wouldn't dare trouble you, Senior Sister, but I am currently isolated and weak in the Xianxia Sect, so I hope you can lend a hand."

A flash of imperceptible disdain crossed Li Jiaoying’s eyes. "Very well, I can help you resolve these troubles. However, I am currently at a critical stage in cultivating a Holy Sect technique and need three months to complete it. During this time, keep a low profile and don't cause me trouble. After three months, I will personally step in to clear your enemies. By then, I might even kill the Sect Master of the Xianxia Sect and push you to the position of Sect Master!"

Upon hearing this, Chi Chongrui’s face revealed wild joy. Wasn't that exactly what he had been striving for all this time?