The next day.

Early in the morning, a senior male disciple from the Star Martial System came to the Spirit Martial System to call Ye Chen and Liu Meng'Er before him.

"Junior Sister Liu, Junior Brother Ye, I'm here today regarding the Martial Arts Academy assignment," the man said.

Liu Meng'Er replied, "Alright, Senior Brother, please give me the task scroll."

The man took two task scrolls from his sleeve and handed them to Liu Meng'Er, saying, "Junior Sister Liu, the instructor from the Task Hall knows the current situation of your Spirit Martial System, so no assignments were given to Senior Brother Yuan."

"Thank you, Senior Brother. Please also convey my thanks to the instructor from the Task Hall," Liu Meng'Er said. Then she formed a seal with one hand, injected her power, and opened one task scroll. Her expression changed slightly, and she immediately formed another seal to open the second scroll, her expression growing more serious.

"Senior Brother, my task is fine; I can complete it. But my junior brother's task is a bit excessive, isn't it?"

"Junior Sister Liu, recently, the Martial Arts Academy has dispatched sixty percent of its personnel to the Demon Suppression Valley, so the tasks assigned this time are indeed heavier. Junior Brother Ye Chen's strength, even among intermediate class disciples at Cangxing Martial Arts Academy, is considered top-notch, so it shouldn't be an issue," the man said.

Liu Meng'Er nodded, "Senior Brother is busy; I won't take up your time."

"Junior Sister Liu, Junior Brother Ye Chen, I will take my leave now."

After the senior male disciple from the Star Martial System left, Liu Meng'Er held both scrolls in her hands, looked at Ye Chen, and said, "Junior Brother, in the Martial Arts Academy, whether it's the Star Martial System, Star Spirit System, Star Pill System, or our Spirit Martial System, everyone has to complete some assignments from the Martial Arts Academy at regular intervals.

Your task, I'll just assist with when needed. You stay on the mountain and focus on cultivation while taking care of Senior Brother."

Ye Chen replied, "Senior Sister, since the Task Hall has already divided our tasks separately, if I don't go personally, I'm afraid there will be gossip. Why not tell me my task first, and I'll decide afterward."

Liu Meng'Er acknowledged and handed Ye Chen his task scroll.

Ye Chen took the task scroll and opened it, revealing dense lines of text.

"Due to the fierce battle at Demon Suppression Valley, the number of roaming bandits in the county city has increased, with the Black Wind Village bandits being the most rampant, numbering over one hundred and fifty.

Now, Spirit Martial System's Ye Chen is ordered to attack Black Wind Village. Depending on the completion of the task, corresponding Martial Arts Academy points will be awarded.

Boss Hei Feng, Half-Step Primordial Embryo Realm, defeating him grants 500 points.

Hei Feng the Second, Peak of the Elemental Wheel Realm, defeating him grants 400 points.

Hei Feng the Third, Tier Four Junior Spirit Master, with undisclosed spiritual pattern characteristics, defeating him grants 300 points.

Other bandits from Black Wind Village, defeating one grants 10 points each.

No need to eliminate all bandits; accumulating 500 points completes this task, allowing you to return to the Martial Arts Academy.

All Black Wind Village bandits possess a Black Wind Token; take the Black Wind Token back as proof of task completion within seven days."

After reading his task,

Ye Chen didn't find it too difficult.

The strongest was merely a Half-Step Primordial Embryo.

"Senior Sister, I can complete this task," Ye Chen said.

Liu Meng'Er's expression was serious, "Junior Brother, you must not underestimate these bandits. Don't think they are just a rabble; these are all desperados!

Furthermore, the bandits' methods are extremely ruthless. This is completely different from your previous encounters with people at the Feijian Martial Arts Hall and the Celestial Sword Sect in Unrivaled County.

At the Feijian Martial Arts Hall, there were still some rules in place.

When you deal with the bandits of Black Wind Village, they act without restraint, employing all sorts of insidious and vicious tactics.

This kind of task is usually undertaken by senior class disciples. However, due to the academy's current shortage of personnel, and with your impressive combat ability, this task has fallen on you.

Let me go instead. I have tasks to execute anyway, so I'll handle yours along the way. Even if it leads to gossip, it's alright, I just won't take the points. What's important is that we from the Spirit Martial System fulfill our responsibilities."

Ye Chen thought for a moment and asked, "Is there a problem with the Task Hall?"

"That shouldn't be a concern," Liu Meng'Er assured. "The Task Hall is directly managed by Dean Ouyang and is a core system for nurturing disciples in the Cangxing Martial Arts Academy. Others cannot interfere. Our tasks, apart from the instructor who issues them and you and I, even the Senior Brother who delivered the scroll does not know.

As you saw, I formed a seal when opening the task scroll. This is a unique restriction for the Spirit Martial System in connecting with the Task Hall. The other systems have their own methods for revealing task scrolls."

"Senior Sister, what is your task?" Ye Chen inquired.

"Many powerful beasts have emerged from the Luoyao Mountain Range, posing a significant threat to several towns within Unrivaled County. My task is to drive away or eliminate those beasts."

"Does your task have a time limit? What if the task can't be accomplished, is there a penalty?"

Ye Chen's own task had a seven-day limit.

If tasks are completed, there are point rewards; if not, there must be punishment, but Ye Chen didn't know what.

Liu Meng'Er explained, "My task is limited to fifteen days, and if the task can't be completed, the penalty is not severe, it just means no points, and the privilege of the identity token is reduced. High-level privileges are downgraded to mid-level, mid-level to junior level, and junior level to having no privileges at all.

To restore privileges, complete the next task. Of course, the next task will not have any points reward."

Ye Chen basically understood.

Privileges are important in Cangxing Martial Arts Academy.

If privileges are insufficient, many resources cannot be exchanged, even with points.

"Senior Sister, if you help me with this task, affecting your own, not only will you not earn points this time, but before the next task is issued, your privileges will be reduced to junior level, and even if you complete the next task, there will still be no points.

The cost is too great.

If I'm not confident about completing my task, I'll give it up. Whatever loss I face is far less than yours.

Let me take care of it!"

"Junior Brother..."

"Senior Sister, it's settled. Some things I ultimately need to face myself," Ye Chen said solemnly.

Seeing Ye Chen's determination, Liu Meng'Er did not urge further, "Alright, but remember what you just said, if you find the situation uncontrollable, don't force it."

"Rest assured, Senior Sister, I will act with discretion."

......

In front of the Spirit Tower, Elder Bai Mei sat, dozing.

The Dean of Cangxing Martial Arts Academy, Ouyang Shang, approached Elder Bai Mei, bowing courteously, "Teacher."

Elder Bai Mei slowly lifted his head, looking at Ouyang Shang, "Aren't you afraid Yang Tianji will return and hold you accountable for how you arranged the tasks?"

Ouyang Shang replied, "Liu Meng'Er's task is indeed challenging, but beneficial for her. With enough opportunity, her path to spirit-martial unity might advance quickly."

"What's Liu Meng'Er's true identity?!" Elder Bai Mei's tone grew heavier, "All these years, you've used various means to enroll a group of disciples with questionable backgrounds into the Cangxing Martial Arts Academy. What exactly are you planning?!"

Ouyang Shang continued, "Teacher, you must have also used Yu Sheng's Heaven Concealing Secret Technique to glimpse part of the future."

"Are you trying to leverage this to avert a disaster for Cangxing Martial Arts Academy?"

"I can't be sure if it's a disaster yet, but it's better to be prepared."

"Enough, if you want to arrange things, I won't interfere. But I wasn't referring to Liu Meng'Er. I was talking about Ye Chen!" Elder Bai Mei exclaimed irritably.

Does Ouyang Shang think he can misdirect me? He must think I'm too old to see through this!

Ouyang Shang chuckled, "Ye Chen's task was indeed specifically arranged by me, but I did it to protect him. Once he leaves the mountain, many eyes will be on him, but who would think his task would be so difficult? That way, no one will be able to predict his movements; he just has to deal with the bandits at Black Wind Village.

And as for those bandits at Black Wind Village, I think Ye Chen can handle them without any issues."

"You're confident, but if something goes wrong, how will you deal with it?"

"Teacher, young individuals with potential need challenges to grow; constant protection won't make them strong," Ouyang Shang said.

Elder Bai Mei scoffed, "What about the task for that chubby fellow? Explain that. Don't forget, Ouyang Shang, strictly speaking, he's your junior brother. You're letting him develop an antidote for the Tier Five Yang Poison Pill. Aren't you afraid he might quit in anger?"

Ouyang Shang laughed, "Young people need pressure. Yu Sheng, that sly old fox, already made the antidote for the Yang Poison Pill but hasn't revealed it. He sent his grandson to our Martial Arts Academy and occasionally shares some good items, so it's no problem."

Elder Bai Mei scrutinized Ouyang Shang for a long while before saying, "You, you... you're still the same, always scheming. It's precisely because of this that your path to becoming legendary is so vast. I always believed you had a real chance of becoming legendary back then."

Ouyang Shang responded, "Since I've taken on the significant responsibility of Cangxing Martial Arts Academy, my own legacy doesn't matter. Preserving Cangxing Martial Arts Academy and making it flourish is my sole goal."

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