CHAPTER 167: CHAPTER 116: ROOTING OUT EVIL

Steward Hall.

This was Xu Guang’s first time coming to Jiufeng Mountain, this institution representing force.

This place is where all disciples are assessed to see if they are qualified to represent Jiufeng Mountain in the Jianghu, and it’s also the place in the entire Jiufeng Mountain that holds the most martial techniques.

The Steward Hall is located at the top of the Outer Sect Main Peak, serving both as the guardian of Jiufeng Mountain’s gateway and a symbol of duty.

The position is high and powerful, as it should be.

The head of the Ninth Institute, the head of the Sword Seal Institute, Jin Qishan personally serves as the Hall Master, while the heads of the remaining eight institutes are all elders of the Steward Hall.

Apart from that, the Steward Hall comprises twenty-three elders, representing twenty-three Fifth-Grade experts...

The heritage of Jiufeng Mountain is partially evident.

It is worth mentioning that Lin Zushan also, this July, became an elder of the Steward Hall with the support of his master Jin Qishan, though he ranks last.

But it is a significant boost to his status in Jiufeng Mountain.

Amidst the snow, the well-known figure of General Wei on Jiufeng Mountain attracted the attention of all who entered and exited the Steward Hall. In their gaze, there was curiosity and surprise.

Many people knew that this Master Uncle from the Fuzi Generation of the Wanhua Institute did not like to go out. Since entering Jiufeng Mountain, he almost never left, not even visiting places like the Steward Hall.

They were a bit curious.

To put it bluntly, they were curious why a turtle would stick its neck out.

Xu Guang’s reclusive manner indeed resembled a turtle.

Other innate experts need to come to the Steward Hall to take on tasks and acquire resources in their pursuit of progress in the Martial Dao.

But Xu Guang had never come before.

In the eyes of many who like to take tasks, this was a sign of cowardice.

They were all very curious about where Xu Guang obtained his cultivation resources.

Matters like loans were naturally not mentioned by Master Fuqing, nor would they spread.

Of course, no one dared to say anything carelessly in front of Xu Guang.

The matter of General Wei subduing innate experts with his aura was widely discussed on Jiufeng Mountain. Even those who looked down on Xu Guang would not dare to speak nonsense in front of him out of respect for General Wei.

The reason for coming to the Steward Hall was naturally to take on tasks.

Now that he was already a Fifth-Grade expert, among Xu Guang’s martial techniques, only Fallen Dragon could be considered an innate martial technique and capable of further deduction.

But this was not suitable for close combat.

Other techniques like Angry Dragon had already reached their limits.

At least, as long as he couldn’t understand what the second job transfer meant, there was no possibility of deducing Angry Dragon further.

Even though he really liked this sword technique.

The Angry Dragon Sword was somewhat special and so well-matched to him that it reached the innate state after two deductions.

However, now, in the hands of Sixth-Grade Xu Guang, Angry Dragon was a trump card.

In the hands of Fifth-Grade Xu Guang, it was barely usable, but soon it would no longer keep up.

Apart from martial techniques, he also wanted to see what rewards were available in the Steward Hall.

Additionally, the debts to his senior sister should be repaid, and he needed to earn money for both himself and General Wei.

The cultivation of Gold Attribute at the Fifth Grade requires a huge number of spirit crystals.

"Greetings to Junior Martial Uncle Xu."

In the Steward Hall, two outer sect disciples personally greeted Xu Guang. The Steward Hall is a very large institution, serving as a bridge connecting the Ninth Institute.

From Xu Guang’s perspective, it is also a buffer zone for the current conflicts among the nine institutes.

"I need martial techniques above the innate grade, weapons are not limited, and I also need items related to Feng Shui, Alchemy Dao, forging, and Dao Scripture, as well as spirit crystals and other cultivation resources. Please help me check the tasks."

The two outer sect disciples were surprised at his words.

This man had been just fine not venturing out, and once he did, he wanted to take on so many tasks?

One disciple hesitated and then softly spoke.

"If the task is not reported within three months, it will be reassigned... Junior Martial Uncle Xu, you..."

"No worries, go and get them for me."

As the two disciples left, Xu Guang looked at the layout of the Steward Hall’s lobby. The Feng Shui here had clearly been arranged by someone, and Xu Guang carefully observed each arrangement.

In his current realm, the help from a Feng Shui Master is very minimal, of course, also because Xu Guang does not have a higher-level Feng Shui heritage.

The layout of this hall, the Feng Shui orientation seems vaguely connected with the Nine Peaks, the formation of the Nine Dragon Mountains and Rivers?

Activating Qi Observation, he could clearly see that numerous Feng Shui arrays spread between the Nine Peaks and the main peak, you among me, I among you.

The complexity far exceeded imagination.

’The ten mountain heads of Jiufeng Mountain, their area is larger than that of Qingshuo County, which is better than what I originally wanted in Qingshuo County.’

’I wonder whose Feng Shui heritage this is from?’

It took a full half an hour before the disciples brought the task list.

"Don’t want any from the Outer States."

"Slay the Celestial Destiny Sect’s heretic, track the Dark Tower’s stronghold, slay the Ghost King of Yongnian County..."

The rewards were varied and numerous, from elixirs to forging, martial techniques, and even spirit crystals, everything was available.

"These will do."

Xu Guang selected and finally chose twelve tasks.

The two disciples were stunned. Apart from slaying the Celestial Destiny Sect’s heretic, it was all slaying demons and banishing evils.

Xu Guang looked at one of the tasks, in the Yunshui Village area of Changsong Prefecture, where evil forces were at work, calling itself the River God. Slaying it would yield three thousand merits and an innate martial technique book.

Just right, he needed to go to Changsong Prefecture anyhow, might as well solve it on the way.

...

Changsong Prefecture is not far from Jiufeng Mountain, needing about seven or eight days of travel by a typical steed.

Xu Guang didn’t actually expect Jiang Zi Yun would accompany him.

This time going to the Shen Family was to stir up trouble, given Jiang Zi Yun’s sensitive identity, she should choose to avoid involvement.