Chapter 33: Skyreach Mission Pavilion (2)
[Ding! The Host has selected the Fourth Option. Please proceed to complete the task in order to claim your reward.]
After selecting the fourth option, Reon moved further behind the main Mission Board to where the Intermediate Level Missions were displayed. This board was larger than the ones at the front, radiating an aura of challenge and difficulty.
There were various types of Intermediate Level Missions, ranging from gathering Rare Grade Herbs deep within perilous forests to hunting Demonic Soldier Rank beasts for their valuable meat, skins, or Primal Cores.
Some missions involved escorting valuable things through dangerous territories, while others required subduing rogue cultivators causing trouble in the nearby villages.
However, three particular Intermediate Level Missions caught Reon's attention—all set in the Mystic Evergreen Forest, each with a two-month deadline.
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[Mission Title: Ashfire Lizard Hunt.
Objective: Collect Twenty Ashfire Lizards (Demonic Beast Rank).
Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.
Mission Brief: The Ashfire Lizards inhabit treacherous fiery landscapes and are renowned for their incredible agility and resilience, making them formidable adversaries in the hunt.
Rewards: 25,000 Sect Points.
Deadline: Two Months from the start date.
Reminder: Their skin must remain unscathed by attacks, and they should be dispatched with a single, precise slash.
Penalty for Mission Failure: 5,000 Sect Points will be deducted from the mission acceptor.
For further details about the mission, please consult the Mission Assignment Counter.]
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Reon glanced at the first mission: hunting twenty Ashfire Lizards of Demonic Beast Rank, creatures terrifying for anyone below the Peak Stage Qi Solidification Realm cultivator.
These beasts thrive in extreme heat, and Reon suspected they could be found in a place of the Mystic Evergreen Forest. He'd confirm it at the Mission Assignment Counter.
The reward was tempting, but the real challenge lay in the requirement—each Ashfire Lizard had to be killed with a single, precise strike, leaving their skin unscathed. This felt nearly impossible, especially since they always traveled in groups of four or five.
Even with Cloudia's Mist to aid him, Reon doubted his ability to deliver a one-hit kill. Perhaps after a month of intense training in the forest, he might improve his chances—but he wasn't certain.
And he didn't want to risk losing 5,000 points for nothing, especially since he wasn't confident about completing the mission.
Reon's gaze shifted to the second mission, one that also seemed promising.
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[Mission Tittle: Ironclaw Direwolf Hunt.
Objective: Collect one Ironclaw Direwolf (Demonic Soldier Rank).
Level of Difficulty: Intermediate
Mission Brief: Ironclaw Direwolves are fierce, highly territorial demonic beasts known for their razor-sharp claws and unmatched agility. These predators inhabit dense, shadowy forests and are incredibly difficult to subdue without proper preparation.
Rewards: 28,000 Sect Points.
Deadline: Two Months from the start date.
Reminder: Both front teeth must remain intact.
Penalty for Mission Failure: 5,000 Sect Points will be deducted from the mission acceptor.
For further details about the mission, please consult the Mission Assignment Counter.]
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The mission was to hunt an Ironclaw Direwolf, a fearsome beast even Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators approached with caution.
Though Reon stood no chance of defeating it now, he believed that after mastering the Bladesong of the Silver Moon Technique and with Cloudia's help, they might succeed through a surprise attack.
It would be a life-and-death struggle, much like his battle with the Glacier Fang Wolf in Frost Mountain Cave.
What made this mission even more appealing was the potential gain—Cloudia could advance to Demonic Soldier Rank by absorbing the Primal Core of the Direwolf.
The reward was also higher than the first mission, and unlike before, there was no need to land a perfect strike. He could take down the beast with as many blows as needed, as long as its front teeth remained intact. It seemed like the better choice.
Reon finally turned his attention to the third mission.
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[Mission Tittle: A Rare Grade Herb Gather.
Objective: Gather a Seven Leaf Moonshadow Lotus.
Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.
Mission Brief: The Seven-Leaf Moonshadow Lotus is a rare herb that only blooms under the light of the moon. Known for its exceptional healing properties and its ability to enhance spiritual energy.
Rewards: 35,000 Sect Points.
Deadline: Two Months from the start date.
Reminder: The herb must have exactly seven leaves and be at least 100 years old to be considered valid.
Penalty for Mission Failure: 5,000 Sect Points will be deducted from the mission acceptor.
For further details about the mission, please consult the Mission Assignment Counter.]
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This mission required gathering the elusive Seven-Leaf Moonshadow Lotus. Reon was already familiar with it—it was the very mission the protagonist had taken when he visited the Skyreach Mission Pavilion in the original novel. The herb, however, was guarded by a powerful Demonic Soldier Rank Beast.
Reon knew the exact location of the herb and could easily claim it, completing both the second and third missions while earning the Sect Points. He wasn't concerned about the protagonist, but altering the plot could have unforeseen consequences.
There was more to this mission than just gathering the herb, and Reon knew that interfering here could change the storyline.
He had already deviated from the original plot once, and further disruptions might render his knowledge of this world's future unreliable.
That was a risk Reon wasn't willing to take.
"I'll take the second mission," Reon decided.