Chapter 282: Chapter 280: Senior Brother, I’m Not Afraid of Sufferingl

Translator: 549690339

“Once another batch of Water Glow Grass matures, I will be able to enter the Foundation Establishment Mid-term Realm securely.”

After Lu Xuan had digested the added twenty-plus years of cultivation, he felt a sense of impending breakthrough to a new realm, as he sensed the fullness of spiritual liquid in his Dantian.

From sensing a sharp decrease in the cultivation reward brought by the Spirit Firefly Grass and starting to improve its variety, to obtaining the second grade Water Glow Grass, Lu Xuan had already gained no less than forty years of cultivation reward.

However, due to his ordinary roots, he was still a step away from breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Mid-term.

With his natural talents, he was absolutely at the bottom within the Sky Sword Sect.

For the gifted geniuses within the Sect, it usually takes ten to twenty years to break through from the Foundation Establishment First-term to Mid-term. Those with Authentic Teachings-level talents might even break through in less than ten years.

If Lu Xuan were to devote himself to cultivation, he might not be able to succeed in breaking through even in fifty years.

Fortunately, the existence of the Light Cluster greatly reduced the talent gap between them, even showing a trend of overpowering them.

From the time he started planting Water Glow Grass to the new batch, it had only been three to four short years, and the Foundation Establishment Mid­term was already just a stone’s throw away.

“Farming makes progress, I love farming.”

Looking at the Spirit Plants all over the mountains, Lu Xuan broke into laughter.

He did not expedite the maturation of the remaining thirty-plus Water Glow Grass with Qingmu Origin Energy but let it grow naturally, using it to refine Spiritual Seeds after they mature.

“Thirty-five Water Glow Grasses should yield no less than one hundred and fifty Spiritual Seeds, that should be enough. With more, it would be hard for Spiritual Power to support the needs of the Spirit Plants.”

Lu Xuan, full of Light Cluster rewards, returned to the room.

“Junior Brother Lu Xuan, are you there?”

A deep voice came from outside the Flowing Light Formation after half a day’s rest.

“I’m here.”

Lu Xuan quickly went down the mountain, opened the Flowing Light Formation, and saw a middle-aged cultivator standing straight in front of the Formation with a square face and a stern look.

He scanned briefly with his Spiritual Sense and noticed that the middle-aged cultivator’s cultivation level was not lower than the Foundation Establishment Mid-term, his expression became a lot more serious.

“May I ask how to address you, Brother? What’s the purpose of calling Lu Someone?”

“Just call me Brother Huang.”

“This time, I have a task to entrust to you. You have been promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple for several years, and it’s time for you to take on the Sect’s guardian tasks.”

“Sect Guardian tasks? Please elaborate, Brother.”

Lu Xuan’s heart tightened, he said respectfully.

“Correct, this is a duty that every Foundation Establishment Disciple must fulfill.”

“The Sect has many stations throughout the Cultivation World, used to collect resources, guard dangerous places, protect Loose Cultivators, etc. Most of them require Foundation Establishment Cultivators to guard it and suppress some minor individuals, to prevent damages to the Sect’s interest.”

“Brother Huang, can I choose not to take on this guardian task, or to delay it by tens to hundreds of years?”

Lu Xuan asked tentatively.

“Your method will not work, Junior Brother Lu. The Sect guardian task is normally assigned to Inner Sect Disciples who have been in the Sect for several years. After all, the foundation establishment first-term is completely sufficient, using the Mid-term cultivators will be somewhat wasteful.”

“If you do not want to go, it may lead to the Disciplinary Hall monks coming over, and you may be punished as a result.”

Lu Xuan’s mouth twitched, he rarely went out and didn’t have much interaction with his peers, but he knew the reputation of the Disciplinary Hall. Once they came over, he would at least suffer a lot.

“What kind of punishment will it usually be?”

He still held a glimmer of hope in his heart. If it’s merely a penalty of Spirit Stone or Sword Mark, he could accept it. Pay money to resolve the disaster.

The middle-aged cultivator’s words left him chilled inside.

“Those who disobey the Sect’s orders are usually imposed with ten years of confinement where they can’t go out. After it ends, the task will still be forcibly assigned.”

“Ten years of confinement?”

Lu Xuan shook his head. If he were to be confined for ten years, most of the mature flowers and fruits of the Spirit Plants on the mountain would have withered by then.

“Junior Brother Lu, there is no need to be so resistant. The Sect will not let you waste several years for nothing.”

“During the garrison period, there will be at least 300 Sword Marks subsidy every year. Usually, the places for garrison are small clans and Loose Cultivators. There is almost no risk and it’s rare to hear fellow Disciples losing their lives there.”

The middle-aged cultivator explained when he saw that Lu Xuan was somewhat unwilling.

“300 Sword Marks every year? This means that I can get at least three fourth grade Spirit Seeds.”

Since he could not refuse, Lu Xuan could only accept. Fortunately, the quantity of subsidised Sword Marks did not disappoint him.

“Please introduce me to the details of the places available for garrison, Brother.”

“Okay”

The middle-aged cultivator nodded.

“Currently, there are three places for you, Junior Brother Lu, to choose.”

“The first one requires you to arrive within three months, it’s a city of Loose Cultivators that produces several rare ores. It’s less than a thousand miles away from the Luo Yan Mountain Range. The annual subsidy of Sword Marks is 300.” “Although the number of Sword Marks is the lowest, due to its proximity to the Luo Yan Mountain Range, surrounded by many Secret Lands, with Demon Beasts and Demon Envoys often appearing, it’s more favoured. The other Inner Sect Disciples are competing for this opportunity.”

“The second place is based in Xuan Yin City, where many large forces are located. The Sect’s influence in the city is mediocre and you need to arrive within one month.”

“Xuan Yin City is over a thousand miles away from the Extremely Yin Sect, where encounters with Evil Cultivators are frequent. It’s the prime choice for fellow Disciples who want to sharpen their combat abilities.”

“Due to the higher risk, the subsidised number of Sword Marks is slightly more, with 360 Sword Marks per year.”

“What about the last one?”

Lu Xuan asked with furrowed eyebrows. He was not very satisfied with these two locations, one was near the Luo Yan Mountain Range, and the other was not far from the Extremely Yin Sect. Both seemed to possess some risks.

“The last one is located near the Boundless Sea, on a large island. It produces some unique Spiritual Objects, sea fish, sea beasts, and some rare Spirit Grasses.”

“According to legends, some rare Spiritual Liquids can occasionally be found on the islands around it.”

“But there’s not much opportunity there, nor can it achieve the purpose of tempering oneself. Plus it’s located in a frigid land, so it’s generally a semicompulsory task delegated to an Inner Sect Disciple to go there. The number of Sword Marks subsidised every year is 320.”

“Special product: sea fish and sea beasts? Rare Spirit Grasses? And possible discoveries of Spiritual Liquids?”

“Most importantly, there are no Secret Lands or Evil Sect monks, which means the safety is more assured.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan’s eyes brightened.

“Brother Huang, then I will choose the island near the Boundless Sea.”

“I’m from a background of a Loose Cultivator, I’m not afraid of hardship or fatigue. Please facilitate this for me, let me go to the island to train for a few years.”

Lu Xuan earnestly said to the middle-aged cultivator.

A place that is safe, reliable, and risk-free, where one can see various sea beasts and Spirit Grasses, and where one might find Spiritual Liquid that could cultivate the Dragon Bone Herb. Where else could he find such a good opportunity?

“Are you sure, Junior Brother Lu?”

The middle-aged cultivator asked doubtfully. It was rare for Inner Sect Disciples to choose that island, everyone wanted to stay away from that cold island. Lu Xuan willing to do so made him feel rather uneasy.

Everybody wanted to seek opportunities and eliminate demons in the journey of cultivation. Nobody usually took the initiative to go to the cold island.

“Sure, sure.”

Lu Xuan quickly replied.