THWACK!

With a sweep of his hand, Luo Feng snatched the token.

The token was three inches long, a finger's breadth wide, entirely black, and felt like both jade and iron. It was surprisingly crafted from the precious crystal iron jade, with the two characters 'Feng Luo' engraved in the center.

"Finally got my hands on this token." Qin Xuan looked at the Martial Artist Token in her hand, a hint of excitement in her eyes, clearly thrilled.

Luo Feng played with the token for a moment, then smiled at Qin Xuan. "This token is made of crystal iron jade, but it's only worth a few dozen gold taels. You're not short on that kind of silver, are you?"

Qin Xuan put the token away and rolled her eyes. "Of course, I don't lack gold, but I do lack information! With this token, I can get free intelligence from the Martial Hall. Most people come for this benefit alone."

Luo Feng nodded. Martial Halls were spread throughout the True Martial Continent. If anything significant happened, one could learn about it first through the Martial Hall.

As an assassin from the Blood Flower Tower, Qin Xuan naturally required a great deal of intelligence.

The assessment ended, and the martial artists in the hall began to depart.

Luo Feng and Qin Xuan also headed towards the entrance.

Upon reaching the main area of the Martial Hall, Qin Xuan stopped, looked at Luo Feng, and asked, "You have an aura of killing intent about you. The matter you mentioned... was it murder?"

Luo Feng was startled; he hadn't expected Qin Xuan to perceive it. The Blood Flower Tower truly lives up to its reputation for training assassins.

Knowing he couldn't hide it, Luo Feng nodded in admission.

Qin Xuan sighed lightly, her sword hidden behind her back. She smiled faintly and said, "If you ever need help, feel free to ask. While I may not possess your monstrous strength, when it comes to the art of assassination, you are certainly no match for me."

Qin Xuan's straightforwardness engendered a trace of goodwill in Luo Feng. He smiled and replied, "No need. This is something I must handle personally."

Qin Xuan nodded and then paused. "I have other missions to attend to, so I must bid you farewell. We shall meet again!"

"We shall meet again!"

Luo Feng cupped his fists in salute to Qin Xuan.

Qin Xuan took two steps, then stopped again. She tucked a strand of hair from her forehead behind her ear, looked at Luo Feng, and blinked. "Feng Luo, don't forget my proposal. Once you've thought it through, you can come find me at the Blood Flower Tower anytime."

Luo Feng nodded. "Definitely."

Qin Xuan flashed a playful smile, and her fiery red figure vanished into the bustling crowd in an instant.

Luo Feng watched Qin Xuan depart, then turned and walked back into the Martial Hall.

Luo Feng had just learned from Qin Xuan how to accept missions and went straight to an unoccupied counter.

Behind the counter sat an old man, nearly fifty, engrossed in writing something.

"Token."

As Luo Feng approached, the old man's voice immediately sounded.

A smile touched Luo Feng's lips. This Martial Hall is truly a den of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; this old man before me is also a Ninth Stage Heavenly Court Realm expert.

Halting his steps, Luo Feng handed over his Martial Artist Token.

The old man took the token, saw the name on it, then looked up to size up Luo Feng. His stiff expression softened somewhat as he smiled. "Was it you who killed the Great Power Demon Ape with your fists just now?"

Luo Feng hadn't expected the news to spread so quickly. He nodded.

"To be able to contend with the Great Power Demon Ape head-on, your strength is comparable to a late Seventh Stage Essence Storage Realm martial artist. What kind of mission are you looking to accept?" A hint of appreciation showed in the old man's eyes.

Luo Feng said directly, "Are there any missions near Green Wood Peak?"

The old man lowered his head, flipping through the registration book in his hands. Just then, footsteps sounded, and a young martial artist approached.

"Brother, are you heading to Green Wood Peak?" The young martial artist sized Luo Feng up and asked with a smile.

Luo Feng eyed him. The man was in his twenties, and his small eyes, glinting with cunning, resembled those of a rat.

What puzzled Luo Feng was that although the other party appeared to be at the early Eighth Stage Hell Realm cultivation, his aura was quite peculiar; he, like Luo Feng, must have concealed his true cultivation.

"That's right. Is there something I can help you with?" Luo Feng nodded.

The small-eyed martial artist leaned against the counter and said cheerfully, "That's perfect! The mission I accepted happens to be in Green Wood City, near Green Wood Peak. We're short one person. How about you join us?"

Luo Feng looked towards the old man behind the counter.

The old man nodded. "He's correct. However, this mission is extremely dangerous. I suggest you reconsider accepting it."

The small-eyed martial artist patted Luo Feng's shoulder enthusiastically. "Don't worry, if we encounter any danger on the road, I'll have your back."

Luo Feng frowned slightly, a little unaccustomed to the martial artist's effusiveness. He looked at the old man in charge of mission registration and asked, "What is the mission?"

The old man opened the registration book and said, "Escort a convoy to Green Mountain City. Two martial artists are required, with a minimum strength of mid-Seventh Stage Essence Storage Realm."

"An escort mission."

Luo Feng's eyes lit up. "I'll take this mission."

Escort missions are more convenient for concealing one's identity, and Green Mountain City is only half a day's journey from Green Wood Peak. This mission is very suitable for me.

The old man nodded, recorded it with a flick of his pen, and handed the token back to Luo Feng. "It has been recorded. Wait for the employers to return. Once they confirm, the mission will be finalized."

"Thank you."

Luo Feng took the token and put it away.

The small-eyed martial artist introduced himself with a smile, "My name is Liu Tao, early Eighth Stage Hell Realm cultivation. This is my first time venturing into the jianghu. Now that we've accepted the same mission, we'll have to look out for each other on the road."

Luo Feng looked at Liu Tao, his gaze flickering.

Although this man tried hard to conceal it, killing intent occasionally flared within his aura, and he had undoubtedly taken many lives. He couldn't possibly be venturing into the jianghu for the first time as he claimed. Moreover, he had deliberately hidden his cultivation. This person is not simple.

Luo Feng grew inwardly vigilant and replied calmly, "Feng Luo, mid-Seventh Stage Essence Storage Realm. This is also my first time venturing into the jianghu."

"Feng Luo, a good name."

Liu Tao nodded, an inexplicable smile on his face, and asked casually, "What are you planning to do at Green Wood Peak?"

Luo Feng shook his head. "Nothing in particular."

A knowing look appeared in Liu Tao's eyes. "Even if you don't say, I know. Duanmu Xiao, the Family Head of the Duanmu Family, is about to celebrate his fortieth birthday. Green Wood Peak will surely be teeming with experts then, and perhaps there will even be a grand martial arts tournament. You're planning to go watch the excitement, right? To be honest, I'm also planning to go watch the fun."

Luo Feng smiled but didn't entirely believe Liu Tao's words.

Liu Tao's gaze shifted to the entrance of the Martial Hall. He rubbed his chin, a suggestive smile appearing on his face. "I wonder who our employer is. It would be great if she's a stunning beauty. That way, the escort journey won't be boring..."

Luo Feng shook his head. "Convoy escorts endure the wind and sleep in the dew; ordinary women would hardly endure such hardships."

"That's true." Liu Tao nodded, a look of disappointment on his face.

The two, each with their own thoughts, chatted intermittently. By dusk, the old man behind the counter responsible for mission assignments called them over.

Luo Feng noticed that two other people were now standing beside the counter: a young woman in red, and a burly middle-aged martial artist.

Liu Tao nudged Luo Feng and winked at the young woman in red, a lewd grin on his face. "Looks like I called it. Our employer this time really is a great beauty! Tsk tsk, that ass, that figure... absolutely sizzling!"

Luo Feng's gaze also shifted in that direction. Just as he caught sight of the fiery red figure, a cold snort suddenly exploded by his ear.

"Have you two looked your fill?"

Luo Feng looked up and met a pair of furious eyes. He smiled wryly to himself; this was truly an undeserved calamity.

Seeing the situation, the old man behind the counter hurriedly introduced them, "This is Chief Escort Yao Qing of the Shangfeng Escort Agency, and this is the convoy leader, Captain Fang. They are your employers for this mission."

Only then did Luo Feng carefully observe the two before him.

Captain Fang was a robust man in his forties, clad in black armor. The deep wrinkles on his face clearly showed he was a man who had weathered many storms. His eyes, imposing without anger, and the faint aura he exuded were enough to make one's heart tremble; he was actually a mid-Ninth Stage Heavenly Court Realm expert.

Standing beside Captain Fang was a young woman of sixteen or seventeen. Dressed in a red combat attire, she possessed a graceful, curvaceous figure and delicate features. Amidst her charm was a heroic air; she was indeed a rare beauty, no wonder Liu Tao had been so excited.

However, Luo Feng noted that her face bore no signs of hardship; she seemed more like a young lady long accustomed to a sheltered, privileged life.

Yao Qing was also sizing up Liu Tao and Luo Feng, her bright eyes filled with anger. She had clearly overheard Liu Tao and Luo Feng's earlier comments.

Glancing at Luo Feng, Yao Qing snorted and said to the old man behind the counter, "Are these the people you recommended to me? He's clearly just a little brat."

Luo Feng was not pleased and retorted, "You don't seem much older than me. If I'm a little brat, then aren't you just a little slip of a girl? We're two of a kind."

"You!"

Yao Qing's beautiful eyes widened. At this moment, Captain Fang, beside her, coughed and said, "Miss, business is more important."

Saying this, Captain Fang looked at Luo Feng and said seriously, "Young brother, our convoy is heading to Green Wood City this time. It's a thousand-li journey, and we'll pass through many perilous regions of barren mountains and treacherous rivers—it's extremely dangerous. If you don't have sufficient strength..."

Captain Fang's implication was clear: if Luo Feng's strength could not be acknowledged, he would not be able to participate in this mission.

Before Luo Feng could speak, the old man behind the counter interjected,

"Captain Fang, since when do you judge a book by its cover? Although Feng Luo is young, he is exceptionally talented. During the martial artist assessment earlier, he killed the Great Power Demon Ape with his bare hands."

"Killed the Great Power Demon Ape with his bare hands?"

Captain Fang was visibly shaken. Even Yao Qing's beautiful eyes flickered, and she looked at Luo Feng with a hint of surprise.

They had both participated in the Martial Hall's assessment and knew well the formidability of the Great Power Demon Ape. To defeat a Great Power Demon Ape bare-handed with a mid-Seventh Stage Essence Storage Realm cultivation was by no means simple! And that kind of courage was not something an ordinary person possesses.

Captain Fang nodded, then turned back to Luo Feng with a smile. "To have the courage to slay a Great Power Demon Ape bare-handed at such a young age—truly, heroes emerge from the young. My apologies for my earlier offense."

"It's no matter." Luo Feng shook his head. As the convoy leader, it was natural for him to prioritize the convoy's safety.

Captain Fang clapped Luo Feng on the shoulder and laughed heartily. "Excellent! Go and register quickly."

Yao Qing glanced at Luo Feng, pursed her rosy lips, and a light snort escaped her delicate nose. She said nothing more, but it was clear she acknowledged Luo Feng's strength.

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