Chapter 65: Erect Brush, Yuheng, Flying Arrival

Jiang Wang had heard of the bounty mission in Three Mountains City, but for some reason, this mission was not listed on the Dao Merit Board. Instead, it was issued unilaterally by Three Mountains City and open to everyone.

In a sense, it did not have the endorsement of the Council of Governance.

Of course, the rewards for the mission were not paid by the Council of Governance either. It was said that the City Lord of Three Mountains City had emptied the treasury for this, so the rewards were much more generous than the equivalent missions on the Dao Merit Board.

"They are all tangible rewards, such as magical artifacts, secret techniques, and Dao Origin Stones," Li Jianqiu added.

Tangible rewards were not as convenient as Dao Merit, but precisely because they were inconvenient to calculate, they were often worth more than Dao Merit rewards.

"Forgive me for speaking frankly, Senior Brother Li." Jiang Wang thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you take your own team to this kind of mission that requires teamwork? Especially since the rewards are so good."

Most Dao Academy disciples who frequently went on missions had fixed team combinations. Zhang Linchuan and Wang Changxiang were both like this, each being the core figure in their respective teams.

Once Linghe, Zhao Rucheng, and the others had all established their Dao Foundation, they would also gather together to complete various missions, instead of being scattered and following other teams like they were now.

Only Li Jianqiu seemed to always be a loner.

Li Jianqiu pursed his lips and said, "They are all dead. Only I am left."

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what to say for a moment. Although cultivators were supposed to take life and death lightly, they were not plants and trees, and who could remain indifferent?

Huang Azhan chuckled twice, trying to ease the atmosphere: "Then, Senior Brother, your team isn't very lucky..."

Linghe tugged at him and took the initiative to say, "Senior Brother Li, this mission isn't on the Dao Merit Board, so there's no level assessment. But judging from the rewards, the difficulty will definitely not be lower than Rank Seven. To be honest, our strength is not up to par, and we might drag you down."

"Actually, the overall difficulty of this monster extermination mission should be around Rank Six." Li Jianqiu's expression remained unchanged as he continued, "But you must know that Three Mountains City is named after the three mountains within its city domain: Upright Brush, Jade Balance, and Flying Arrival. These three mountains, whether majestic or precipitous, are all famous mountains. Three Mountains City is named after them, but at the same time, these three peaks are also the source of the rampant monsters in Three Mountains City."

"Monster lairs?" Jiang Wang asked.

Li Jianqiu nodded: "Among them, Upright Brush Peak was completely cleared out two years ago. After two years, Three Mountains City must have accumulated enough power. This time, their target is Jade Balance Peak. But we are not going to Jade Balance Peak. We are going to Upright Brush Peak."

"But Upright Brush Peak has already been..."

"Although Upright Brush Peak has been cleared out, two years have passed, and new monsters are wandering there again, but they are scattered and not on a large scale. Our target is them. So the mission difficulty will be much simpler." Li Jianqiu said here, picking up his chopsticks: "That's the situation. You decide for yourselves whether to go or not. Not going won't affect our friendship."

Jiang Wang knew that although he was familiar with Li Jianqiu, it was only at the level of acquaintance. They both had a good impression of each other, but when it came to friendship, it wasn't very deep.

If he refused this time, they would probably become estranged.

But Jiang Wang would not rashly agree just because he wanted to befriend Li Jianqiu. He was indeed interested in this mission. Firstly, the reward was generous; secondly, he also wanted to contribute to the current predicament of Three Mountains City; and thirdly, his Dao Foundation was about to be established in the next few days, and he needed such a mission to familiarize himself with Dao techniques.

Thinking of this, Jiang Wang said directly, "It's our good fortune that Senior Brother Li is willing to bring us along with your strength."

Li Jianqiu looked at Jiang Wang meaningfully: "Just based on that sword strike you used to kill Xiong Wen, you are already qualified enough. And among you, Linghe is steady and thorough, Du Yehou has extremely high combat talent and is brave and fearless, and Zhao Rucheng is smart and talented."

He even praised the absent Du Yehou, so he would naturally not leave out Huang Azhan: "Little Huang... is also very clever."

"Senior Brother Li has discerning eyes!" Huang Azhan immediately flattered.

"I won't participate." Linghe said: "I haven't opened my meridians for long, and I'm still accumulating Dao Essence to establish my Dao Foundation. I'll stay in the Dao Academy and take care of An'an."

After opening the meridians, but before establishing the Dao Foundation, was indeed a very awkward stage for cultivators. On the one hand, they needed to accumulate Dao Essence to establish their Dao Foundation, and on the other hand, they could not exert extraordinary combat power without the help of Dao Essence. Jiang Wang, who had learned an extraordinary sword canon, was an exception.

Whether it was to support or take care of them, Linghe didn't want to "mooch along". He preferred to move forward steadily, one step at a time.

"Okay, then the boss will stay behind." The relationship between the few people didn't need to be pretentious, and Jiang Wang made the decision.

In the end, the team that was determined to go to Three Mountains City was Li Jianqiu, Jiang Wang, Zhao Rucheng, and Huang Azhan. They agreed to set off from the South Gate three days later.

……

……

Wang Clan Territory.

Still that remote small courtyard, Wang Changxiang walked into the courtyard excitedly, "Brother!"

At this time, Wang Changji was leaning on a recliner, a yellowed old book in his hand, and a fat orange cat lying at his feet, enjoying the early winter sunshine together.

Hearing Wang Changxiang's voice, he didn't move, just lazily said, "What's the matter?"

The orange cat saw Wang Changxiang and turned around unhappily, with its butt facing him.

"Look!" Wang Changxiang took a few quick steps, ran to Wang Changxiang, bent slightly, and circled a jade bottle in front of his brother, "What is this?"

Wang Changji certainly recognized this bottle. He even remembered the exact appearance of the pill in the jade bottle, every detail.

It's just that, how much expectation he had at first, how much disappointment he had later.

No one knew how many emotions turned in his heart at this moment, but in the end he just raised his eyelids: "Your quota has been used up. Fifteen hundred Dao merits, it's hard to collect, right?"

"Not hard." Wang Changxiang shook his head, smiling brightly: "Your brother, I, the Three Cities Dao Debate, the top student for three years!"

Wang Changxiang's usual image was gentle and steady, but only in this small courtyard did he occasionally show some playfulness.

Wang Changji turned a page of the book: "You have a heart, but it doesn't make sense to me."

"Try it, try it again."

Wang Changji glanced at the lazy orange cat at his feet, "Feeding me is not as good as feeding Little Orange. This way it can live longer and be closer to you."

"That won't work, Dad will beat me to death."

"He won't beat you for feeding me?"

"Dad he... also feels sorry for you in his heart."

"If you can get the top spot, the clan has also put in resources, and there must be a harvest. Take the Meridian Opening Pill back." Wang Changji covered his face with the book: "It's my nap time."

Wang Changxiang was anxious: "Brother!"

"If you leave the pill, I'll feed it to Little Orange." Wang Changji's voice came from under the book, still indifferent.

But Wang Changxiang had realized that kind of determination.

He had to put away the jade bottle and left with one step and three turns of his head.

He saw the old book covering his brother's face, a Daoist scripture called - "Scripture of Human Salvation".