Chapter 24: Insufficient Strength: Obstacles in Taking on a Level Four Mission

Zhang Mingyuan returned to his residence. Though he had used various pills and medicines to mask his injuries, his handsome face remained incomparably haggard.

From a distance, Yan Hao and the others spotted him and immediately rushed over, their faces bright with excitement.

"Boss, how did it go?" Yan Hao asked impatiently. "Did you teach that Huo Qing a lesson? I knew it—that guy doesn't know his place. Only after you step in and put him in his place will he ever learn!"

Li Qing, Chen Feng, and the other underlings seemed to notice something amiss and shot Yan Hao a sharp glare. Yan Hao shrank back, falling silent, though his expectant gaze remained fixed on Zhang Mingyuan.

Zhang Mingyuan stood motionless for a long time. His calm expression suddenly darkened, and with a swift, brutal strike, he slapped Yan Hao, sending him flying.

*Smack!*

Yan Hao flew through the air like a cannonball, slamming heavily into the wall. Several of his teeth were knocked out, and his mouth filled with blood. He clutched his face, his expression one of utter disbelief.

The once rowdy atmosphere of the courtyard fell into instant silence.

"Boss Zhang, you..." Yan Hao was completely bewildered. As he watched Zhang Mingyuan slowly stand up, a chill crept into his heart. Could it be that Huo Qing... He dared not complete the thought, for it was too earth-shattering.

"Gulp..." Everyone swallowed hard, having clearly guessed the outcome.

"Impossible..." A surge of violent, stifled rage erupted from Zhang Mingyuan as he struggled to contain his emotions. "From now on, no one is allowed to go after Huo Qing. If anyone provokes him, I will not intervene."

A sudden gust of wind blew through, dislodging Zhang Mingyuan's robe and exposing the dense, jagged web of sword scars covering his body.

"Hiss..." The group felt as if a tumultuous storm were raging in their hearts. The reality before them was far more shocking than any of their conjectures. Zhang Mingyuan... he had actually lost to Huo Qing!

Yan Hao knelt on the ground with difficulty, consumed by a nameless fear. He knew that whenever he faced Huo Qing in the future, he would never feel confident again.

...

Outer Sect, Mission Hall.

Before a massive palace supported by mountain peaks, countless disciples came and went, the atmosphere vibrant and bustling.

The Mission Hall was the most direct way for outer sect disciples to earn Spirit Points, so it was never lacking in activity. Inside the grand hall, countless orbs of light floated, their colors deepening from the outer edges to the center, with darker colors representing higher mission ranks.

In the outer sect, mission ranks ranged from Level Two to Level Four, corresponding respectively to the early, middle, and late stages of the Heavenly Spirit Realm. Generally, few outer sect disciples dared to attempt Level Four missions, as that level exceeded the capabilities of ninety-nine percent of them.

One had to realize that in the vast outer sect, with its tens of thousands of disciples, those who had truly reached the late stage of the Heavenly Spirit Realm numbered only a few dozen, and most of these were older disciples who had lost their chance to enter the inner sect. Therefore, Level Two and Level Three missions became the primary choice for most.

Huo Qing walked through the crowd, looking at the colorful, rising orbs of light with a sense of anticipation.

"With my current strength and means, I am capable of facing a late-stage Heavenly Spirit Realm practitioner. These Level Two and Three missions are hardly worth my time," Huo Qing mused, then continued deeper into the hall.

Soon, he reached the area for Level Four missions. As he ventured further, the crowds thinned until only a few scattered figures appeared. These individuals cast curious, surprised glances at him, clearly finding Huo Qing to be a stranger.

"Who is he? I’ve never seen him among the ninety-eight late-stage Heavenly Spirit Realm disciples of the outer sect."

"That doesn't seem right. Aside from Chu Hantian and Mo Feng, who else in the outer sect is qualified to reach that stage?"

"Could he be a newcomer?"

Various puzzled whispers reached Huo Qing’s ears. He remained indifferent, ignoring the chatter as he scanned the missions. Suddenly, he stopped and looked at an ink-black orb. Reaching out, he pulled forth a scroll:

*Hunt a late-stage Heavenly Spirit Realm Blazing Flame Tiger and bring back its corpse.*
*Reward: Two Thousand Spirit Points.*

"Two thousand points?" Huo Qing was stunned, and his heart began to race. He hadn't expected a single Blazing Flame Tiger to be worth so much. Wouldn't that mean he could easily reach thirty thousand points if he hunted a few more?

"You’re the one," Huo Qing said with a grin, looking incredibly excited.

He took the mission slip to the registration desk, only to notice the strange looks cast his way by those nearby.

"Who is that? Why is he taking a Level Four mission?"
"Never seen him. He’s probably just some fool who doesn't know his own limits."
Many stopped to watch, looking on with schadenfreude.

The administrator at the desk was an elderly man, currently reclining in a chair with his eyes half-closed.

"Please register this for me," Huo Qing requested.

The old man barely glanced at him, shook his head, and said lazily, "Kid, this mission is not for you. Put it back."

Huo Qing frowned. "Why? Does taking a Level Four mission require a large payment of Spirit Points?"

The old man scoffed, "Not at all. A Level Four mission requires the strength of the late Heavenly Spirit Realm. If one lacks that, at least three mid-stage Heavenly Spirit Realm practitioners must take it together. Even then, we have to consider if they are qualified; otherwise, they’re just going to their deaths."

The old man squinted, seemingly seeing through Huo Qing’s cultivation, and added, "I can see your Qi Sea is still at the Earth Realm. With that level of strength, you should look for some Level Two missions—specifically, the ones for sweeping the plaza."

"Pfft!" A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd. They looked at him with mockery and ridicule, clearly surprised that Huo Qing was merely an Earth Spirit Realm practitioner. Such strength was undoubtedly at the very bottom of the outer sect, comparable only to the lowest of the low.

"Are the new disciples this year all this delusional?"
"It’s hilarious. Earth Spirit Realm? I’ve been in the Canglan Sword Sect for years, and even the guard dog is stronger than him."
"Kid, go back and cultivate for a few months before coming back, ha!"

Huo Qing took in all the jeers, his expression darkening. So, this fastest path to wealth was essentially cut off?

Seeing Huo Qing fall silent, the old man snorted and closed his eyes once more.

Suddenly, an idea occurred to Huo Qing, and he asked, "If Level Four missions have cultivation requirements, surely Level Three missions don't?"

He couldn't wait until he reached the late Heavenly Spirit Realm; that would take far too long. He would have to swallow his pride and force his way into a mission.

The old man raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat surprised, then replied, "They have requirements, but you must take a mission that allows for teammates."

"Fine," Huo Qing nodded, turned around, and headed back toward the mission boards.