Chapter 64: Mission Release

Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Mission Release

Yi Xiaoyao gave a wry smile. He had no idea why this senior sister of his loved to tease him so much.

"Junior Brother, it won’t be long before you have to take on a trial mission. I’m guessing your mission will be much harder than everyone else’s, so you can’t slack off on your cultivation, okay?"

Luo Yi giggled.

Yi Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow. "A trial mission?"

"That’s right. Our Seven Kills Star Hall is known as the Assassin Hall. The purpose of these trial missions is to train you newcomers into true assassins."

As she spoke, Luo Yi glanced at Yi Xiaoyao. "And don’t you underestimate your senior sister. I happen to be a Three-star Killer!"

Yi Xiaoyao was taken aback. It was only then that he understood that the Seven Kills Star Hall was actually a massive organization of assassins, and this beautiful senior sister of his was one of them.

"Senior Sister, what exactly does being a Three-star Killer mean?" Yi Xiaoyao asked.

"In the Seven Kills Star Hall, mission difficulties are graded by seven star levels. Once you complete a mission of a certain star level, you become a killer of that same star level."

Luo Yi patiently explained, "I became a Three-star Killer by completing a Three-Star Task. With my Cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Realm, I had to assassinate three others who were also at the Foundation Establishment Eighth Realm."

As they were talking, they ran right into Lin Jie, who was just leaving the Hall Master’s quarters.

"Master."

"Senior Lin Jie."

Luo Yi let go of Yi Xiaoyao’s hand and greeted Lin Jie with a respectful bow.

Lin Jie was quite surprised to run into Yi Xiaoyao and Luo Yi here, and a smile crept onto his face.

"Perfect timing. I was just on my way to see you, Xiaoyao. I didn’t expect to run into you both here."

"You were looking for me, Senior Lin Jie? Is something the matter?" Yi Xiaoyao asked, puzzled.

"Follow me." Lin Jie didn’t answer directly, instead leading them to a secluded spot.

Once there, Lin Jie finally spoke. "Xiaoyao, in a few days, you’ll have to undertake your trial mission."

"Yes, Senior Sister Luo Yi just told me about it," Yi Xiaoyao said with a smile.

Lin Jie nodded. "That saves me the trouble of explaining it all over again. I’m here to tell you that I’m going to give you your mission ahead of schedule."

"Why ahead of schedule? Master, aren’t the trial missions all assigned at the same time?" Luo Yi asked.

Lin Jie explained, "After all, Xiaoyao has a feud with Cultivator Duan. I’m worried Duan will use the trial mission as an opportunity to sabotage him. If that happens, Xiaoyao will be in great danger."

Yi Xiaoyao now understood and continued to listen as Lin Jie spoke.

"Therefore, your trial mission, Xiaoyao, will be kept completely confidential. Even if Cultivator Duan finds out you’ve left the Seven Kills Star Hall, he won’t know where you’ve gone or what mission you’re on, let alone be able to make a move against you."

After he finished, Lin Jie smiled and waited for Yi Xiaoyao’s response.

Yi Xiaoyao thanked Lin Jie gratefully. "You’re very thoughtful, Senior Lin Jie. I’ll follow whatever arrangements you make."

"Good." Lin Jie took out a Jade Slip and handed it to Yi Xiaoyao. "This is your mission. Take a look."

Yi Xiaoyao took the Jade Slip and opened it, only to be stunned. There was no mission information—only a location and a star level.

Luo Yi leaned over curiously, then let out a cry of surprise.

"A Two-Star Task? Master, you must have made a mistake! How can Xiaoyao’s mission be a Two-Star Task?"

Seeing Luo Yi’s surprise, Yi Xiaoyao asked, "Didn’t you just say my mission would probably be harder than everyone else’s?"

"But this is way too hard! Normally, new disciples only get Starless Tasks for their trials. I thought yours might be a difficult One-Star Task, but I never imagined it would be a Two-Star Task," Luo Yi said with a frown.

Lin Jie chuckled. "This wasn’t my idea; it came from the Hall Master. However, I believe that with Xiaoyao’s abilities, he should be able to handle a Two-Star Task as long as he’s careful."

Yi Xiaoyao was also quite surprised. ’The Hall Master is personally giving me a mission? I’m almost overwhelmed by the favor.’

"Alright, I accept the mission. When do I leave? I should go back and prepare," Yi Xiaoyao said.

"You leave now. There’s no need to go back and prepare. As for your two friends, I’ll have Luo Yi inform them for you tomorrow."

As he spoke, Lin Jie handed Yi Xiaoyao a Storage Pouch, then whistled toward the sky.

Before the whistle had faded, a giant, black-feathered eagle descended from the sky, landing beside Lin Jie with a gust of wind.

"This is an old friend of mine. It will take you to the mission location."

Lin Jie introduced the bird to Yi Xiaoyao with a faint smile, then stroked its feathers. The giant eagle made a docile COOING sound and lowered its head, affectionately pecking the top of Lin Jie’s head.

Instantly, a trickle of bright red blood ran down Lin Jie’s face from beneath his unbound hair...

Yi Xiaoyao struggled to hold back his laughter, but Luo Yi, who was beside him, let out a "PFFT" and burst out laughing uncontrollably.

Lin Jie’s expression was extremely awkward. He said to Yi Xiaoyao, "You should go. You should be able to reach the mission location before dark."

Yi Xiaoyao knew that the more hastily he departed, the safer he would be, so he didn’t hesitate.

He immediately bid farewell to Luo Yi and Lin Jie, then vaulted onto the giant eagle’s back.

The giant eagle gave a powerful flap of its wings and shot into the sky, carrying Yi Xiaoyao away as it flew swiftly toward the horizon.

A powerful wind whipped against his face. Yi Xiaoyao’s heart churned with a thousand different emotions.

The only reason he was in the Seven Kills Star Hall now was because it was the only place that could shelter him from the Cloud Transformation Sect’s hunt.

The only reason he was leaving in such a hurry now was to prevent Cultivator Duan from secretly sending men to kill him.

All of it was a form of bondage, a cage.

But Yi Xiaoyao lacked the power to break these bonds and shatter his cage. Only with enough strength could he kill Cultivator Duan and destroy the Cloud Transformation Sect!

For now, Yi Xiaoyao needed to grow stronger through these trials and continuously increase his power.

One day, he would be like the eagle beneath him—soaring freely through the vast sky!

...

「Gui Mountain City.」 The city was surrounded on all sides by mountains.

At dusk, a sharp black shadow appeared over the city, shooting downward.

A giant eagle landed in front of a remote tavern, and an agile figure leaped from its back.

Yi Xiaoyao thanked the giant eagle that had carried him the entire way, then walked into the tavern.

This tavern was a secret outpost of the Seven Kills Star Hall in Gui Mountain City, and its Shopkeeper was also a member.

At the moment, the only person inside the tavern was the Shopkeeper.

Yi Xiaoyao’s arrival drew the man’s attention.

"You’re... the one Elder Linjie sent?" the Shopkeeper exclaimed.

Yi Xiaoyao paused. ’Could Senior Lin Jie have already sent word ahead?’

Seeing the confusion on Yi Xiaoyao’s face, the Shopkeeper said, "I recognized Elder Linjie’s Black Eagle. Since you were riding it, young brother, your relationship with the Elder must be quite special."

Yi Xiaoyao then understood. He gave a faint smile and handed his mission Jade Slip to the Shopkeeper.

"I am indeed the one Senior Lin Jie sent here to carry out a mission."

The Shopkeeper glanced at the mission Jade Slip and, after confirming it, began to register Yi Xiaoyao’s information.

"Please state your name and Cultivation level truthfully, young brother."

"Yi Xiaoyao, Foundation Establishment Second Realm."

After speaking, Yi Xiaoyao added, "Please keep my information strictly confidential, Senior."

"Of course." The Shopkeeper nodded, but in the next instant, his head shot up. "What did you say? You’re here for a Two-Star Task, but your Cultivation is only at the Foundation Establishment Second Realm?"

Yi Xiaoyao frowned. "Is there a problem?"

"Don’t you know that you need to be at least at the Foundation Establishment Fourth Realm of Cultivation to accept a Two-Star Task?" the Shopkeeper asked, staring at Yi Xiaoyao in disbelief.