Gu Yuan didn't linger too long on the street. After a round, he headed straight to Jade Cauldron Tower.

However, on his way to Jade Cauldron Tower, Gu Yuan glanced back subtly out of the corner of his eye, and a faint, ambiguous smile appeared on his lips.

Half an hour earlier, not long after Gu Yuan left his residence, a shadowy figure approached the place.

The figure was barely noticeable, existing with an extremely low presence, and seemed to possess some special Divine Techniques.

With just a flicker, it moved like an ethereal shadow through the stone wall into the courtyard, revealing itself.

It turned out to be a very ordinary-looking man, unremarkable in appearance and build, easily lost in a crowd.

His eyes flashed with a faint white light, as if he activated some Dharma Eye Divine Techniques.

His gaze swept around the courtyard and rooms, confirming no one was there, and then he headed straight into the various rooms, clearly searching for something.

He moved swiftly and gracefully, inspecting everywhere from the bedroom, training room, living room, to the kitchen.

His actions were careful and meticulous, leaving no traces behind.

Even a few bottles of elixirs on the table and a few valuable Spirit Medicines in the corner of the Alchemy Room didn't attract his attention.

Once done, he frowned slightly, seemingly disappointed, then turned and left.

Soon after the person left, a ripple appeared in a corner of the courtyard, and Gu Yuan's figure emerged.

"As expected..."

Looking in the direction the man left, Gu Yuan's lips curled into a cold smile.

Before, when Lv Kun of the Gu God Sect's True Inheritance showed interest in his Cyan Shadow Sword Butterfly and left after being rejected, Gu Yuan had predicted that he would not easily let it go.

As it turns out, he was right!

As for the Gu Yuan that left earlier, it was naturally a false avatar conjured by his Mirror Flower Water Moon Divine Techniques.

From start to finish, this was all orchestrated by Gu Yuan.

The purpose was to lure out hidden threats, eliminate them, and cripple anyone secretly coveting him, just to vent some anger!

Since someone managed to search the courtyard, Gu Yuan knew they were definitely looking for the Cyan Shadow Sword Butterfly!

Perhaps Lv Kun also realized Gu Yuan wouldn't leave the Cyan Shadow Sword Butterfly at his residence and instead kept it on him, but he had to try.

Meanwhile, Gu Yuan's avatar was also being watched.

But this was exactly what Gu Yuan wanted!

Upon reaching Jade Cauldron Tower, Gu Yuan went straight to the Alchemy Room where Situ Yan was, and after staying for a while, he came out looking a bit troubled.

He touched his Storage Pouch, seemingly irritated.

Then, he walked over to another side and found the steward in charge, saying:

"Could you help me find a suitable task, Brother?"

The steward flashed a peculiar look, smiled, and said, "Sure, what requirements do you have for the task, Junior Brother?"

"Requirements..."

Gu Yuan pondered for a moment before saying, "Preferably tasks with rich rewards and shorter durations, and if they're not dangerous, that would be ideal."

"..."

The steward's mouth twitched, momentarily speechless, his gaze at Gu Yuan had a hint of exasperation.

Damn, if such a task existed, I would have done it already!

How could it still be available to you?

He steadied his mind and said somewhat irritably, "Junior Brother Gu, you're overthinking it. No such tasks exist."

After a pause, the steward added, "However, there are a few tasks with quite generous rewards and relatively short durations, though they're a bit dangerous."

As he spoke, the steward looked Gu Yuan over and smiled, "But with your cultivation level, completing these tasks shouldn't be too difficult."

"Oh?"

Gu Yuan's eyes brightened with interest, "What are these tasks? Please, let me see, Brother."

The steward simply handed over a Jade Scroll to Gu Yuan without saying more.

"Thank you, Brother."

Gu Yuan expressed his gratitude, then immersed his Divine Thought into it.

Lines of task information flowed into his mind.

Task: [Black Heart Demon]

Task Details: Three years ago, two Outer Disciples from Jade Cauldron Tower were killed without cause outside Qiongming Immortal Pavilion. The cause of death was having their hearts gouged out, and their blood drained dry, with demonic qi lingering at the wound. Despite investigations, no conclusions were reached.

Two months ago, a steward delivering Spirit Medicine was killed, his body turned into a dried corpse, with demonic qi lingering at the wound. The culprit was identified as the Demon Dao loose cultivator, Black Heart Demon!

This person is a mid-to-late Celestial Human Realm cultivator suspected of practicing fragments of "Blood River Scripture" and possessing Blood Corpse Divine Techniques.

He frequently appears near the small mountain outside Qiongming Immortal Pavilion and needs to be captured or killed.

Task Rewards: Two thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones, one bottle of Nourishing Essence Pill.

Task Duration: Unlimited.

...

Task: [Transporting Elixirs]

Task Details: A batch of elixirs from this tower needs to be delivered to the Sun Family in Spirit Spring Mansion.

The journey requires passing through several perilous areas.

Task Reward: Two thousand Spirit Stones.

Task Duration: Half a month.

...

Task: [Jade Smoke Fruit]

Task Details: Atop Niu Tou Mountain grows a Jade Smoke Tree, a rare Spirit Root, concealed by our sect elder. Every six hundred years, the Jade Smoke Fruit matures.

Now, the Jade Smoke Fruit is nearing maturity and needs timely harvesting.

When the Jade Smoke Fruit ripens, it often attracts flocks of Black Feathered Vultures.

Task Reward: One thousand seven hundred Spirit Stones.

Task Duration: Limited to one month.

...

These tasks seemed normal, with generous rewards and reasonable durations, just as the steward said.

However, as Gu Yuan reviewed the tasks, his heart skipped a beat.

Good gracious, all these tasks require leaving Qiongming Market to complete.

Isn't this as obvious as lice on a bald man's head?

Clearly, someone wants to lure him out of Jade Bright Immortal Pavilion!

Recalling his last encounter with Cyan Wood True Master, who subtly encouraged him to take on outside tasks, Gu Yuan's heart grew a little colder.

That old fox won't relent on plotting against me!

Outwardly appearing contemplative, Gu Yuan decisively chose the [Black Heart Demon] task.

Then he turned and left.

Just as Gu Yuan left Jade Cauldron Tower, Cyan Wood True Master appeared at the spot where Gu Yuan stood.

"Uncle Master!"

The steward quickly greeted.

"How did it go?"

Cyan Wood True Master spoke with a bland tone, but the steward understood his intent and respectfully replied, "Uncle Master, he has taken on the [Black Heart Demon] task."

"Very good."

Cyan Wood True Master nodded without further comment, though a Jade Talisman in his hidden hand lightly flickered.

...

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