Chapter 250: Chapter 250: The New City Lord, First Trial of an Elder’s Task
The Old City Lord was very happy.

Because he could finally retire.

Once Gong Qingqiu became the City Lord, not only would Whitefloat City’s star-level force status be secured, but he could also step down on the pretext of the new City Lord’s ascension, preventing others from discovering the fact that he had lost all his cultivation.

Thus, his face was saved.

What a joyous situation this was!

Thinking of this, the Old City Lord quickly took out the City Lord’s Token and the City Lord’s Seal, and handed them to Gong Qingqiu, saying, “From today onwards, Daoist Gong, you are the new City Lord of our Whitefloat City.”

He looked at Ye Feng and said, “Sect Master Ye, since Daoist Gong is an Elder of your sect, according to the rules, from now on, Whitefloat City will be a subordinate force of Misty Sect. I hope you will take good care of it.”

Ye Feng nodded and said, “Don’t worry, I will.”

…

The City Lord handover ceremony was just that perfunctory.

An hour later.

A blockbuster news spread throughout Whitefloat City.

“Breaking news!”

“The Old City Lord has resigned, Gong Qingqiu has taken office!”

“Who is Gong Qingqiu?”

“The former Deputy City Lord of Shuiyang City, said to have the cultivation of the fourth layer of the Element Gathering Realm, known for her beauty and kindness, and also an Outer Sect Elder of Misty Sect.”

“Since when did Misty Sect have an additional Elder? How come I didn’t know about it?”

“There’s a lot you don’t know.”

Within Whitefloat City, discussions like these were happening incessantly.

Everyone knew that the Old City Lord had officially relinquished his position, and Misty Sect’s Outer Sect Elder Gong Qingqiu had taken over as the new City Lord.

As for the Deputy City Lord, he remained the Deputy City Lord, as always, steadfast and unchanged.

In front of the City Lord’s Mansion.

Ye Feng, Gong Qingqiu, the Old City Lord, the Deputy City Lord, the Nishang Palace Master, the Sect Leader of Tyrant Blade Sect, and the Sect Leader of Feathers Sect, among other powerhouses, stood on a newly-built hundred-meter-tall platform, overlooking the entire Whitefloat City.

The citizens climbed onto the rooftops of their homes, looking distantly at the unfamiliar Gong Qingqiu.

“It really is a beautiful City Lord!”

“So pleasing to the eye!”

Seeing Gong Qingqiu’s mature, dignified, beautiful, and graceful appearance and feeling her unfathomable aura, the citizens of Whitefloat City cheered continuously.

Compared to the Old City Lord, this old man, they preferred the newly appointed Gong Qingqiu.

Beautiful women, who doesn’t like them?

Seeing that the citizens weren’t opposing but cheering instead, Ye Feng was very satisfied.

“Everyone, thank you for your generous support. From today onwards, I, Gong Qingqiu, am the new City Lord of Whitefloat City. I hope everyone here will lend their full support to build a more prosperous Whitefloat City together,” said Gong Qingqiu, her soft and gentle voice spreading out, making everyone in the city feel as though they were soaking in a hot spring, comfortable all over.

“We will defend the City Lord with our lives!”

“The City Lord is the most beautiful!”

“City Lord, do you need someone to sweep the floors at your house?”

“City Lord, I can cook!”

Some cultivators even boldly advertised themselves, making Gong Qingqiu, who was standing on the platform, smile like a blooming flower.

…

The news of Whitefloat City changing its City Lord continued to spread.

Five-Colors City, Beacon Fire City, Sanyuan City, as well as forces like Liuyun Sect and Qingyun Sect, all received the news one after another.

Qingyun Sect.

“Gong Qingqiu has actually become an Outer Sect Elder of Misty Sect, and now she’s the City Lord of Whitefloat City. It seems Whitefloat City has completely become a subordinate force of Misty Sect,” said Qingyun Zhenren in a deep voice.

He was unhappy, but there was nothing he could do.

He felt frustrated, wondering why Gong Qingqiu joined Misty Sect?

…

Sect Leader’s Grand Hall of Liuyun Sect.

Upon hearing that Gong Qingqiu had joined Misty Sect and had become the City Lord of Whitefloat City, the Sect Leader of Liuyun Sect beat his chest and stamped his foot, wishing he could become Ye Feng.

“Ah, what a pity, this Sect Leader also wanted to invite Immortal Maiden Gong to join our Liuyun Sect. As it turns out, she took the initiative to join Misty Sect. It’s so frustrating!”

…

Yunhua Sect.

“This is good news!”

Upon hearing that Gong Qingqiu joined Misty Sect and had become the City Lord of Whitefloat City, Yunhua Zhenren was very happy.

Yunhua Sect and Misty Sect were already allies.

For Yunhua Sect, Gong Qingqiu joining Misty Sect was also a cause for celebration.

…

Ye Feng was unaware of the reactions from the various forces and didn’t need to pay attention to them.

Now that Gong Qingqiu had become the City Lord of Whitefloat City, this could save him a lot of trouble, and Whitefloat City could become a subsidiary force of Misty Sect, solving many problems.

Misty Peak.

Gong Qingqiu stood outside the Sect Leader’s Great Hall, writing down the first Elder mission on the mission wall, instantly attracting the disciples to gather around.

[Elders’ Hall Mission One]

[Within one month, collect ten-year-old Crying Infant Spirit Fruit, hundred-year-old Gold-fused Fallen Moon Bead… twenty-three kinds of medicinal herbs including thirty-year-old Shulan Fragrance, up to five disciples may work together to complete this task]

[Difficulty: Middle Rank]

The disciples murmured the first Elder mission on the mission wall.

“This is the pill recipe for the Lower Grade Consolidating Origin Pill, the Sect Leader previously handed this to me,” said Ji Ziling.

“In that case, this mission is about collecting the ingredients needed to refine the Consolidating Origin Pill!” Shi Lei realized, “I’ll take this mission.”

“I’ll take it too,” Long Tianxing raised his hand.

“I’m an alchemist, I want to go too,” Wang Ping’an slung a black pot on his back and ran over excitedly.

“I might as well go! Recently, my cultivation reached the ninth layer of Qi Refinement, close to the peak. Going out for some experience, when I return, I should try to break through to the Element Gathering Realm,” Huo Yunjie stepped forward, deciding to go.

Gong Qingqiu asked the other disciples, “Is there anyone else who needs to complete this mission together?”

The remaining disciples shook their heads.

“In that case, you four are responsible for completing this task within a month,” Gong Qingqiu said.

“Okay.”

The disciples took the order and began to pack their things, preparing to descend the mountain.

Sect Leader’s Great Hall.

“Ding, Elder Gong Qingqiu from the Elders’ Hall has successfully posted the quest ‘Search for herbs needed for refining lower-grade Consolidating Origin Pills’. Difficulty: moderate. The disciples who accepted the quest are Shi Lei, Long Tianxing, Wang Ping’an, Huo Yunjie. Upon completion, they will each receive a Special Small Gift Pack ×4.”

The system issued a notification sound.

Hearing this, a slight smile appeared at the corner of Ye Feng’s mouth.

“Having an elder is indeed a benefit. She can specifically post quests for the disciples to complete together, and the sect will gradually get back on the right track,” he said.

After speaking, Ye Feng took out the Heaven-Asking Mirror, threw it into the refining furnace, and added various materials, preparing to refine it anew.

…

Half a day later.

Shi Lei and the other three set off.

Their chosen location for collecting herbs was Taiyue Mountain Range, which compared to Nanlu Mountain Range, boasted richer spiritual medicines.

But the dangers were also greater.

At the edge of a cliff on Misty Peak.

With his hands behind his back, Ye Feng watched the direction in which his disciples were leaving and mused, “They shouldn’t encounter any danger, right?”

“They shouldn’t,” Gong Qingqiu responded.

Ye Feng pondered for a moment before saying, “Yun Jie’s cultivation level is close to the peak of the ninth layer of Qi Refinement. With his Sword Drawing Technique, he could inflict heavy damage or even kill with one strike in an ambush, even against someone in the Element Gathering Realm… However, I’m still somewhat uneasy.”

“Does the Sect Leader intend to follow them?” Gong Qingqiu asked.

“Not me, someone else,” Ye Feng said with a mysterious look on his face.

Gong Qingqiu frowned slightly.

Were there other strong individuals in the Misty Sect?

Could it be… Mo Ying?

Gong Qingqiu looked at Mo Ying, who was reading in the Scripture Pavilion, sensing that this disciple was indeed powerful. Not the most talented, but youthful and already at Element Gathering Realm, exuding a sharp presence like a treasured sword ready to be unsheathed.

Yet, Mo Ying did not make a move to leave.

Instead, Ye Feng flew off into the distance.

Gong Qingqiu gazed in that direction, her gaze condensing, “Nanlu Mountain Range… What is the Sect Leader going there for?”

Despite her curiosity, she did not follow him.

As an Outer Sect Elder, she thought it was best to fulfill her duties and not to ask too many questions about the Sect Leader’s affairs.

With this in mind, Gong Qingqiu sat in the Sect Leader’s Great Hall and began cultivating with the repaired Mystical Spirit Catalogue.

Nanlu Mountain Range.

Inside a cave dwelling located halfway up the mountain.

Ye Feng looked at the Thousand Faces Demon Monarch who was frolicking with several beautiful fairy maidens and grinned, saying, “I have a task for you.”

“What task?” the Thousand Faces Demon Monarch was stunned.

…

Taiyue Mountain Range.

The Misty Sect F4 arrived at this place.

The honest man, the swordsman, the dragonfolk, and the scapegoat.

At this moment, Shi Lei stood at the top of a mountain peak, looking over the endless range of mountains, and asked, “Junior brother, do you see anything?”

Holding the Treasure-seeking Compass borrowed from Ye Feng, Huo Yunjie, alongside Long Tianxing with the catalog, found one of the spiritual medicines and said, “According to the compass’s guidance, there are three types of spiritual medicines nearby, let’s go take a look.”

“Hmm.”

Long Tianxing and Wang Ping’an nodded.

Fifteen minutes later.

In front of a pool of water.

The four disciples uprooted a plant of spiritual medicine, its leaves dotted with countless pale blue dots that refracted a spectrum of light under the sun’s rays, with radiance weaving together into rainbows around it.

“This is the Rainbow Grass, fifteen years old, meeting the requirements for alchemy,” said Wang Ping’an, an alchemist who recognized most spiritual medicines, and he promptly offered his assessment.

“Great, let’s continue the search.”

The group embarked on their journey.

A flirtatious multicolored bird stealthily followed behind the Misty Sect F4, flapping its wings.

“The Sect Leader instructed me to follow them and not intervene unless it’s absolutely critical.”

The multicolored bird muttered to itself.

“Hiss!”

Suddenly, a poisonous snake leaped from a tree below, aiming to bite the colorful bird, but it found one of the bird’s wings transformed into a palm, smashing the snake into pieces.

“A mere lower-rank Demonic Beast dares to prey on me, the Demon Monarch? How reckless.”

The colorful bird sneered and continued flying.

Half a day passed.

Shi Lei and his companions successively found thirteen types of spiritual medicines, all meeting the quest’s requirements. Along the way, they encountered a few battles, slaying several demonic beasts, the strongest of which reached the High-rank Demon Soldier Level.

However, no matter how powerful they were, none could withstand Huo Yunjie’s sword.

Under the night sky.

The four disciples gathered in an open area.

As the “builder” of Misty Sect, Shi Lei’s occupational disease kicked in again. He used spells to condense mud bricks, then with Fiery Cloud Palm turned them into red bricks, and constructed a hemispherical brick house that could shelter them from wind and rain.

“Big senior brother is truly a must-have for home and travel,” praised Long Tianxing.

Shi Lei revealed his honest smile, looking a bit embarrassed.

A hundred meters away.

On a tree.

The Thousand Faces Demon Monarch, transformed into the multicolored bird, perched on a branch and buried his head in his feathers, falling soundly asleep.

Rustle, rustle, rustle…

The Taiyue Mountain Range was quieter than usual that night, with only the subtle rustling of leaves brushing against each other, like a gentle rain, conducive to sleep.

Shi Lei, the four disciples, and the sleeping Thousand Faces Demon Monarch were all unaware that a dozen shadows were lurking in the mist nearby.

They took advantage of the darkness to approach silently.