Chapter 3
As the date for the inner sect mission drew near, disciples in seclusion were awakened, and those training outside the sect used various means to rush back. The Hehuan Sect was unusually lively these days.
A large market had formed in the northeast corner of the training grounds, where inner and outer sect disciples set up stalls to sell pills and weapons, preparing for the upcoming missions. Disciples constantly entered and exited the Treasure Pavilion, exchanging admiration value for pills. The Scripture Pavilion, housing various secret techniques and books, was even more bustling.
In contrast, Heng Yu appeared rather relaxed. She spent her days in the courtyard, consuming pills to heal her injuries. Once her meridians had mostly recovered, she rose from her meditation mat, picked up her sword, and flew towards the training grounds.
The market was bustling. An outer sect disciple was selling something resembling candied hawthorns. The bright red spiritual fruits emitted a faint spiritual aura.
Heng Yu tossed over a low-grade spirit stone. “Two skewers of candied hawthorns, please.”
The outer sect disciple grinned, accepting the spirit stone. Before retrieving the candied hawthorns, he glanced at Heng Yu, his heart skipping a beat.
“How can I let Master Luo spend her money? If Master Luo likes them, just say the word.”
He was about to return the spirit stone.
“It’s fine.”
Heng Yu brought two fingers together and made a swiping motion in the air. Two skewers of candied hawthorns flew directly into her hands.
As she walked deeper into the market, Heng Yu ate her candied hawthorns. The sweet and sour taste wasn’t much different from those sold in the mortal world.
Most Hehuan Sect disciples cultivated seductive arts, so whether intentional or not, the sect seemed to recruit only those with attractive appearances. Along the way, Heng Yu noticed that all the disciples were above average in looks.
Her appearance wasn’t unfamiliar to the other disciples. Within a few meters, at least ten disciples had given her flirtatious glances.
“The Hehuan Sect disciples are a bit too enthusiastic,” Heng Yu murmured.
To be honest, she liked enthusiastic people. But this kind of enthusiasm that only wanted to strip her bare… she felt a bit overwhelmed, ahem.
Deeper into the market, Heng Yu spotted some items that piqued her interest.
She approached a stall and pointed at a sachet. “What’s inside this sachet?”
The stall owner looked about seventeen or eighteen, with a youthful, baby face. Not exceptionally handsome, he projected a cute and charming image.
At her question, the baby-faced stall owner became slightly flustered, his ears turning red.
“In reply to Master Luo, it’s powder made from ground Hehuan flowers.”
Hehuan flower powder had aphrodisiac properties.
Heng Yu raised an eyebrow and pointed to another jade bottle. “And what’s in this?”
“It’s colorless and odorless Fish Water.”
“Fish Water?”
The stall owner’s ears practically burned. “It’s also an aphrodisiac, but it only works on those below Foundation Establishment cultivation.”
Heng Yu looked around.
The stall wasn’t large, and sachets and jade bottles like this occupied most of the space.
As for the other items…
They were all aphrodisiacs as well.
Looking at the stall owner now, Heng Yu felt she understood.
The shyness and hesitation were all an act : )
This type of coy and seemingly reluctant demeanor was more likely to arouse the desire for conquest in some female cultivators.
She was quite curious.
Heng Yu picked up the jade bottle containing Fish Water and examined it. “How effective is this aphrodisiac?”
“Even a cultivator at the peak of Qi Refining would have no resistance against it.”
Heng Yu raised an eyebrow, opened the bottle, and peered inside.
She couldn’t discern anything special about it.
“Give me one of everything on your stall.”
These things were useless to her, but it wouldn’t hurt to have some for fun. As a Hehuan Sect disciple, she felt she wouldn’t have the proper image without carrying some aphrodisiacs.
“Huh?” The baby-faced stall owner was stunned for a moment, then quickly nodded, gathering one of each item and handing them to Heng Yu.
As Heng Yu took the aphrodisiacs, their fingers brushed lightly.
The stall owner’s neck flushed, his eyes watering slightly as he gave her a flirtatious look.
Heng Yu: “…”
Usually, she enjoyed flirting back when someone flirted with her. But flirting back in the Hehuan Sect felt… too dangerous.
What if someone misinterpreted her actions and assumed she wanted to sleep with them—
What a disadvantage that would be for her!
Heng Yu placed the aphrodisiacs in her storage ring, tossed ten low-grade spirit stones onto the stall, and turned to flee.
For the next few days, she would stay in her courtyard, waiting for the official start of the inner sect mission.
Three days later, countless beams of light shot up from the Scripture Pavilion, flying towards the various main peaks. One beam flew towards Ning Yu Peak, landing on Heng Yu’s barrier and transforming into a paper crane.
Heng Yu was meditating on her bed, healing her injuries. The last trace of hidden damage had been eradicated. Opening her eyes, she noticed the anomaly outside her barrier.
Heng Yu raised her hand, the bell bracelet on her wrist jingling, a clear ‘ding—’ echoing in the room.
In the next moment, the paper crane, previously hovering outside the barrier, zipped into her hand.
“The inner sect mission assignments will begin shortly. Inner sect disciples, please proceed to the Scripture Pavilion to receive your missions.”
A disembodied voice, neither male nor female, echoed in Heng Yu’s ears.
Heng Yu waved her hand, and the paper crane dissipated into a stream of light.
As the light vanished completely, she had already taken several steps forward, the closed barrier dissolving.
In the next moment, she was airborne, flying towards the Scripture Pavilion on her sword.
At this time, thousands of disciples were also heading towards the Scripture Pavilion. Among the billions of living beings, tens of millions sought the path of cultivation, and many possessed decent aptitude. The Hehuan Sect was vast, with thousands of inner sect disciples, tens of thousands of outer sect disciples, and a staggering fifty thousand registered disciples.
A quarter of an hour later, Heng Yu arrived at the plaza below the Scripture Pavilion. The plaza was enormous, easily accommodating the more than one thousand inner sect disciples without feeling crowded.
Heng Yu stopped and looked up.
The Scripture Pavilion stood amidst swirling clouds and mist, surrounded by various halls and pavilions. Perhaps due to the awakening of the Sword Spirit, the usually simple and unadorned Scripture Pavilion now exuded an indescribable solemnity.
To reach the Scripture Pavilion, the disciples had to ascend nine hundred and ninety-nine steps.
However, it wasn’t time for the pavilion to open yet, so everyone waited in place.
“Master Luo.”
Nearby disciples noticed Heng Yu and greeted her respectfully with clasped fists.
The original body had a naturally aloof demeanor.
Maintaining the original persona, Heng Yu nodded in return.
After waiting for two quarters of an hour, all the inner sect disciples had arrived. The ancient bell outside the Scripture Pavilion suddenly began to sway.
A deep and resonant chime echoed throughout the Hehuan Sect.
As the chime faded, the distant voice of the Sword Spirit resounded: “All disciples, ascend the Scripture Pavilion.”
“Yes!”
Countless figures clasped their fists, performing a disciple’s salute towards the Scripture Pavilion.
Then, some began to ascend the steps.
Heng Yu wasn’t in a hurry to climb the stairs; she was carefully observing her surroundings.
Soon, her gaze met that of a seductively dressed woman—Wu Mei.
Wu Mei raised a hand, touched her lips with a delicate fingertip, gave Heng Yu a sly smile, and then merged into the crowd, ascending the steps.
Heng Yu looked away and spotted another familiar figure—Mu Huan.
At this moment, Mu Huan’s charming face wore an expectant smile, likely anticipating receiving the mission to seduce the Buddhist disciple.
Heng Yu chuckled softly and started up the steps with her sword.
Along the way, disciples who saw her respectfully greeted her with clasped fists.
“Master Luo, please go ahead.”
Some disciples even moved aside, allowing her to pass first.
Heng Yu found this sect quite interesting. They were even more particular about etiquette than some righteous sects.
She didn’t decline their courtesy, passing them and continuing her ascent.
Soon, Heng Yu reached the top, arriving at the open space in front of the Scripture Pavilion. This space was smaller than the plaza below but could still accommodate over a thousand people.
Many attractive inner sect disciples stood here, either chatting amongst themselves or standing alone.
At the front of the open space stood a dozen men and women in flowing robes, exuding an otherworldly aura. They were the sect elders, responsible for presiding over this event.
Seeing that all the disciples had arrived, a woman in blue smiled and asked Elder Cao, who stood at the very front, “Elder Cao, do you think we can let the disciples enter the Scripture Pavilion to receive their mission plaques now?”
Elder Cao glanced at the crowd. “It’s about time.”
He looked at the disciples, his voice amplified by spiritual energy. “All inner sect disciples, please enter the Scripture Pavilion to receive your missions.”
The last inner sect mission had been forty years ago. None of these inner sect disciples had participated before.
After Elder Cao spoke, no one stepped forward immediately. They all stood and watched, waiting to see who would be the first to receive a mission.
Seeing them all motionless, Elder Cao frowned slightly.
He pointed to a male disciple closest to him. “You, go in first.”
The designated male disciple felt a bitter taste in his mouth but didn’t dare disobey the elder’s order. After bowing, he took a deep breath and quickly entered the Scripture Pavilion.
After about ten breaths, the male disciple emerged.
Simultaneously, a line of golden text appeared above the Scripture Pavilion—
[Xiao Yun, early Foundation Establishment, Inner Sect Mission: Seduce Sword Sect inner disciple He Rou Rou, time limit: two years, C-rank mission.]
After another ten breaths, the golden text dissipated.
Soon, a female disciple in pink was called in—
[Qiao Yan Ran, early Foundation Establishment, Inner Sect Mission: Seduce any inner disciple of the縹緲Sect, time limit: two years, D-rank mission.]
Heng Yu raised an eyebrow.
She noticed that both of these inner sect missions involved seducing someone, and both targets were inner sect disciples of righteous sects.
After these two disciples, Elder Cao’s gaze swept across the crowd, and he suddenly called out a name.
“Chi, you go in.”
One of the ten young masters, Chi.
He possessed a cold and aloof demeanor, as pure and holy as an embodiment of light. Standing among the crowd, countless female disciples cast admiring glances at him.
Hearing Elder Cao’s words, Chi smiled and opened his folding fan. “Yes.”
He stepped forward, and under everyone’s gaze, entered the Scripture Pavilion.
This time, he stayed inside for a longer period.
Everyone waited for almost a quarter of an hour before Chi emerged.
His eyes were slightly narrowed, as if deep in thought.
At the same time, the inner sect mission Chi received appeared above the Scripture Pavilion.
[Chi, peak Foundation Establishment, Inner Sect Mission: Seduce Piao Miao Sect Saintess Lu Fu, time limit: five years, S-rank mission.]
As soon as this line of text appeared, the previously quiet crowd erupted in commotion.
“There have only been a dozen or so S-rank missions since the sect’s founding, right?”
“As expected of the sect’s chief disciple, an S-rank mission is well-deserved.”
“Chi’s admiration value has already surpassed one hundred thousand, even higher than some elders. It’s not surprising he received a mission of this level.”
These comments were relatively objective.
“Ahhhhhhh, Master Chi is so strong!”
“As expected of Master Chi! Aside from the mission to seduce Buddhist disciple Liao Wu, no one else could possibly have a more difficult mission, right?”
These voices mostly came from female cultivators who admired Chi.
Heng Yu’s gaze fell on Chi, her eyebrows raised slightly. This person appeared holy and elegant, yet exuded an air of danger.
The Hehuan Sect was indeed full of hidden talents. None of the ten young masters should be underestimated.
After Chi, Elder Cao didn’t intend to keep everyone in suspense. He clearly knew what the disciples were anticipating.
“Wu Mei, you go in.”
Dressed in red, Wu Mei beamed upon hearing her name. Just her smile alone made several male cultivators nearby feel weak in the knees.
She smoothed her clothes and entered the Scripture Pavilion.
“The mission to seduce the Buddhist disciple is probably going to fall on Master Mei, right?”
“How do you know?”
“Of course. Think about it, why did Elder Cao call Master Mei first? It means the elders are more confident in her ability to complete this mission.”
Hearing these whispers, Heng Yu raised an eyebrow. She agreed with the last statement.
Between Wu Mei and Mu Huan, she was also more optimistic about Wu Mei—after all, Wu Mei seemed much more intelligent than Mu Huan.
After a short while, Wu Mei emerged, her face grim.
The elders noticed something was amiss from her expression and exchanged glances.
Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait long for the results.
A line of golden text appeared above the Scripture Pavilion.
Then—the commotion spread.
[Wu Mei, late Foundation Establishment, Inner Sect Mission: Seduce Yin Sect Chief Disciple Yu Xia, time limit: five years, Quasi S-rank mission.]
“It’s not Master Mei!”
“My heavens, it seems this mission is going to fall on Master Mu.”
“Master Mu is exceptionally talented in dual cultivation, heehee. It seems that monk will be in for a treat.”
“If you put it that way, I’d also be willing to spend a night of passion with the Buddhist disciple.”
“But is that Buddhist disciple even a man? Hahahahaha.”
To be honest, a Quasi S-rank mission was already impressive. In the history of the Hehuan Sect, such missions had only appeared about a hundred times.
However, compared to the mission of seducing the Undying Sect’s Buddhist disciple, it paled in comparison.
Wu Mei walked into the crowd, her face grim.
She scanned the area, locating Heng Yu.
“This mission isn’t really going to fall to that woman Mu Huan, is it?”
“I’d rather it fall to Master Luo than benefit her.”
As Wu Mei approached Heng Yu, she transmitted her voice with resentment.
Heng Yu: “…”
She didn’t consider this a good thing, thank you very much.
Staring at Mu Huan, who was now stepping forward towards the Scripture Pavilion, Heng Yu could only pray silently: Please let this mission fall on Mu Huan!
