In the private room.

Fang Cheng and Feng Mo sat across from each other, sipping tea and chatting idly.

After a few cups of tea, Fang Cheng had learned about the old stories concerning the Outer Celestial Demons, the Xiao Family, Feng Jiuzhang, Lu Wei, and others.

"So that’s how it is. Then our mission this time is to gather Nightmare Grass!" Fang Cheng said with sudden understanding.

Feng Mo smiled and nodded. If Feng Jiuzhang hadn’t been from the Feng Family, and if one of his own elders hadn’t happened to be extremely close to Feng Jiuzhang, he never would have gotten the news so quickly.

’But the disciples from the other great families will probably receive the news soon, too.’

Feng Mo said, "This mission is a lucrative one. The major families have been fighting over it, both openly and secretly, each wanting to insert their own people. After several fruitless debates, someone finally proposed letting this entire class of Outer Disciples participate. This was to balance the interests of the various families and silence everyone’s complaints."

Fang Cheng had long heard that the Yinluo Sect was full of factions, but he had never expected that this new batch of Outer Disciples would be swept into the political games of the great families.

Fang Cheng smiled and asked for his advice, "In Fellow Daoist Feng’s opinion, what should we prepare in advance for this mission?"

Feng Mo smiled leisurely and said, "The greatest danger during this mission will be the Celestial Demons drawn in by the Nightmare Demons. However, based on past patterns, the strongest of these Celestial Demons won’t be beyond the Sensing Stage. With Fellow Daoist Fang’s Sword Technique and Divine Techniques, dealing with these fiends shouldn’t be a problem."

He paused, then added with a sigh, "The most crucial part is to gather as much Nightmare Grass as possible. If we’re lucky enough to be rewarded with a few stalks of Nightmare Grass by the sect afterward, that would be a priceless treasure!"

"Thank you for telling me, Fellow Daoist!" Fang Cheng said, cupping his hands in gratitude.

This was the advantage of being a disciple from a great family. They possessed a wealth of valuable information and could seize opportunities at critical moments to reap benefits, thus staying one step ahead of others.

Meanwhile, Cultivators who had been promoted from the rank of Servant Disciple had to figure everything out on their own.

Feng Mo then raised his cup and said, "You’re too kind, Fellow Daoist Fang. There will inevitably be times in the future when I will need to ask for your help. I hope you won’t refuse me then."

Fang Cheng replied seriously, "I will remember this favor."

Using tea in place of wine, the two drank in acknowledgment.

...

The seven days passed in a flash.

Fang Cheng bid farewell to a reluctant Ye Yan, who was loath to see him go. He then rode his Escape Light alone and leisurely made his way to the Thousand Cloud Divine Wood on the Dragon Spine Archipelago.

On this day, the sky was filled with dark clouds, and a dreary rain fell without end.

Through the curtain of rain, the Thousand Cloud Divine Wood, over a hundred zhang tall, stood majestically. Its vigorous, deep-green form was like a verdant, towering mountain standing on the island.

Fang Cheng flew into the treetop canopy and dispelled his Escape Light in front of the magnificent, golden-tiled Merit Pavilion.

A faint spiritual glow emerged around him, shielding him from the fine rain.

The other Outer Disciples arrived one after another, gathering in small groups to chat idly.

He saw that acquaintances like Chen Yu Yan, who also came from a servant background, were among them, and it seemed they had been there for some time.

He gave them a slight nod in greeting before walking off to one side by himself, gazing into the distance to admire the rainy scenery.

Before long, all twenty Outer Disciples had gathered.

Just then, four Life Talisman Realm Cultivators walked slowly out of the Merit Pavilion.

The one in the lead was a graceful and beautiful Female Cultivator.

She appeared to be about thirty years old, dressed in a low-cut, snow-white dress. Ribbons were tied around her arms, her wide sleeves trailed on the ground, and a long skirt was draped with a silk scarf. Over it all, she wore an outer layer of gauze embroidered with pearls and jade. Spiritual Qi swirled around her, and a faint, sweet fragrance drifted from her person.

What was most eye-catching was her graceful and well-proportioned figure—long, slender legs, a delicate waist, and a magnificent, proud bust that was full and round.

Truly a peerless beauty!

However, every Outer Disciple present subconsciously held their breath, not daring to spare her a second glance.

Behind her were three male cultivators with extraordinary bearings. All were dressed in the uniform of Outer Elders, creating a powerful and unified presence.

The group of Outer Disciples hurriedly stood at respectful attention, not daring to make the slightest move. They said in unison, "Greetings, Elders."

Lu Wei’s beautiful eyes swept over them. Her voice was soft and pleasant, with a hint of seductive charm as she asked, "Is everyone here?"

Wang Pan quickly stepped forward and said, "Reporting to the Elder, all twenty Outer Disciples of this class are present."

Lu Wei smiled faintly and said, "Good. Since everyone is here, let’s depart."

With that, she took a tiny, inch-sized Flying Boat from her sleeve and tossed it into the sky. The Flying Boat immediately hung motionless in the air.

Lu Wei then took out a jade talisman and waved it lightly at the Flying Boat. The boat immediately grew in the wind, transforming into a "great ship" ten zhang long in the blink of an eye!

Fang Cheng looked up and saw the word "Yinluo" emblazoned on the boat. Its hull was also covered in countless shimmering Spirit Patterns, a dazzling sight to behold.

’An Yinluo Flying Ship!’ he thought to himself.

This ship was jointly designed and crafted by the Outer Elders of the Yinluo Sect who specialized in Artifact Refining. Not only could it carry a hundred people in flight, but it could also withstand attacks from Magical Artifacts and Flying Swords. Its Tunneling Speed far surpassed that of an ordinary Life Talisman Cultivator.

Whenever an Elder of the Yinluo Sect traveled, they were provided with such a ship.

Fang Cheng had learned all of this from the jade slip given to Outer Disciples.

At that moment, Lu Wei let out a light laugh and said, "Everyone, board the ship."

As she spoke, her figure blurred, and in the next instant, she had already appeared on the Flying Boat.

The other three Outer Elders followed her up.

Seeing this, the twenty Outer Disciples in front of the Merit Pavilion hurriedly leaped into the air and landed on the deck of the Flying Boat.

The Flying Boat slowly turned its bow, and then a faint, black, shuttle-shaped spiritual glow materialized around the hull, enveloping the entire vessel.

Then, the Flying Boat accelerated slightly, and the scenery on both sides began to recede at high speed.

Everything blurred before Fang Cheng’s eyes. The canopy and branches of the Thousand Cloud Divine Wood vanished, replaced by a gloomy sky and endless fine rain.

Turning his head, he saw that the Dragon Spine Archipelago had already been left far behind.

The Yinluo Flying Ship soared steadily through the sky, and before long, it arrived above the island where the Yinluo Sect Marketplace was located.

There, more than ten Cultivators stood respectfully in the air, waiting.

"Greetings, Elder Lu!"

The one in the lead was an elderly Life Talisman Realm Cultivator with white hair and a white beard. His demeanor was calm and profound. He spoke from a distance, his voice carrying clearly to the Flying Boat.

Lu Wei’s gentle voice was heard in reply, "Fellow Daoist Du, are your people all here as well?"

"They are," the old man replied.

"Then let us depart together!"

Lu Wei deactivated the Flying Boat’s restrictions, and the old man led the people behind him aboard.

To Fang Cheng’s surprise, Wen Qianqian was among this group!

She was standing with a middle-aged, scholarly man. The two bore a slight resemblance to each other and appeared to be father and daughter.

After taking on this new group of people, the Yinluo Flying Ship suddenly shot toward the heavens, broke through the thick cloud layer, and emerged above a sea of clouds.

In an instant, a bright sun appeared in the azure sky. Its light spilled across the sea of clouds, making them a dazzling white.

Wen Qianqian also seemed surprised to encounter Fang Cheng and Chen Yu Yan on this occasion. She exchanged a few words with the middle-aged scholar beside her, then walked straight toward Fang Cheng.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, it’s been a while. I haven’t yet had the chance to congratulate you on your spectacular performance during the trials and your successful promotion to an Outer Disciple!"

This young woman, with her smooth, white skin and delicate beauty, smiled gently and spoke.

...