Spectators held their breath. Unexpectedly, the clash ended in less than ten seconds, with Lianmei falling from the air. A vivid red footprint marked her snowy chest. Her expression was complicated, blood staining her lips. White gauze flashed, covering her chest.

Hand pressed to her breast, she said quietly, "I lost."

If not for the crowd, she would have returned immediately to check whether that kick had damaged her.

Shen Wushen was delighted. "My thanks for yielding!"

With that, he had risen to the first tier among the core disciples.

Hearing this, Lianmei felt ripples in her heart. He truly has no romantic bone in his body. Shouldn’t he at least apologize for striking so boldly?

However, that was just how Shen Wushen was.

"Is that prodigy truly unparalleled?" she asked.

Shen Wushen said reverently, "He is the strongest Nascent Soul I have ever seen."

"Why not recommend him to join Futu Mountain?"

"He cannot come to the Upper Realm."

Lianmei did not press further.

After a pause, Shen Wushen said, "Senior Sister, could you lend me an unrecorded Divine Method?"

He recalled she had once obtained one. Having just defeated her, perhaps she would grant him face?

Lianmei's smile froze. If another man had kicked her chest and then asked for a Divine Method, she would have flat out ignored him. Still, this was Shen Wushen, whose foundation now rivaled the Holy Son's. He could be worth investing in.

"I guess I can let you borrow it. When will you return it?"

"While I borrow it, if Senior Sister wishes to spar, I will accompany you anytime."

"If someone else said that, I'd think he had ulterior motives." Lianmei was taken aback. Nevertheless, she handed over the Divine Method. "I will not use the original again. It is yours."

"Many thanks!" Shen Wushen breathed a sigh of relief. He had finally obtained a Divine Method that he could sell to Eight Treasures Tower. "Goodbye Senior Sister."

He then left immediately.

Lianmei was speechless. He robs me and leaves?

Meanwhile, Shen Wushen returned to Eight Treasures Tower.

The shop master welcomed him with an even brighter smile.

"I have another matter." Shen Wushen cut straight to the chase, recounting Qi Yuan’s request in full and presenting the unrecorded Divine Method as payment. "This is the remuneration."

Having memorized it, he could always transcribe it later.

Upon hearing Shen Wushen’s instruction, the shop master froze, then showed a pained expression. "This concerns Divine Moon Palace. I must report to the higher ups first. It may take several days for them to decide."

Advertising to the entirety of Divine Moon Palace required caution, for it wasn’t an ordinary sacred land. If Ruan Yixi turned out to be an important figure, such a public confession could be deemed an offense. It was always better to avoid trouble.

Shen Wushen retrieved the Divine Method and departed. "Very well."

He would return to Futu Mountain to accept missions for Qi Yuan.

***

At the Futu Mountain, Great Venerable Huadu sat with closed eyes.

Within his resplendent cave abode, a foot-ball sized pearl shimmered. Upon it, an elderly figure appeared, kneeling devoutly. "He Yunzi, an unworthy disciple of a disciple and the 31st-generation sect master of the Profound Heaven Sect, humbly beseeches the ancestor to grant a talisman!"

Huadu opened his eyes and sighed. "Thirty-one generations already..."

He came from the lower world and had even served as the third sect master of the Profound Heaven Sect. However, when he ascended to the upper world, he effectively lost connection with said sect. Even though it had declined, with only a single Violet Palace cultivator left, they had discovered a new world. Though they wished to spread their teachings and gain resources, they lacked the power. Thus, the sect master of the Profound Heaven Sect cast a spell and kowtowed in supplication, requesting a bestowed blessing.

Huadu sighed. "The incense ties of the past..."

With a flick of his finger, a talisman seemed to traverse space itself. Passing through that luminous pearl, it descended into the lower world.

He had a look of melancholy on his face. "All former karma has now been severed. I wonder when will I finally step into the Mythic realm?"

For nearly ten thousand years, he had been stuck at the Sixth Step of Heaven. If he were a Mythic, he could become a true core figure within Futu Mountain. And if his contributions were sufficient, he could apply to the Mountain Lord for the qualification to illuminate the myriad heavens.

At that thought, his consciousness sank into a jade slip. Surprise awaited him within.

"My mission has been accepted?" Huadu was somewhat stunned. "Shen Wushen... a core disciple?"

He had first posted it seven thousand years ago, yet no one had ever accepted it since. It was extremely difficult, as it concerned a cultivation method tied to his own breakthrough. Only a Mythic expert walking the same Dao path as him would have the slightest chance of solving it, and even then, it would take over a thousand years.

Shen Wushen's master is Great Venerable Wangqiong. He is Mythic, but his path differs from mine. How strange. Why would a mere Nascent Soul accept my mission to begin with?

Huadu pondered endlessly, unable to understand. After all, he had posted the mission with the expectation that no one would be able to solve it. Even in Futu Mountain, only a Yang Spirit like the Mountain Lord stood a chance of resolving it.

Without dwelling on it further, Huadu once again entered seclusion to cultivate.

***

Meanwhile, Shen Wushen spent an entire day browsing through the sect's missions, accepting numerous of them.

Several days later, he received a transmission from the master of Eight Treasures Tower and went there once more.

The shop master appeared pleased. "Young Master Shen, the higher authorities have approved our previous cooperation."

Under normal circumstances, such tasks would be rejected, but the master himself was quite curious. Though puzzled, the shop master did not show it.

Shen Wushen let out a long breath of relief. "Many thanks, Shop Master!"

With that, he had finished the task Qi Yuan had entrusted to him ahead of schedule!