Chapter 25: A Day of Discovery

Leaving the Alchemy Pavilion behind, Adrian followed the route he had memorized from the wooden board. The sect grounds were vast, and the paths stretched in various directions, but he carefully made his way toward the Mission Hall.

When he arrived, he noticed that the building was similar in structure to the Alchemy Pavilion—three stories tall with intricate carvings adorning its walls. However, while the Alchemy Pavilion had delicate engravings of medicinal herbs and pill cauldrons, the Mission Hall bore carvings of martial figures in battle and disciples carrying out various tasks.

Stepping inside, Adrian's gaze was immediately drawn to the floating wooden plaques suspended in the air. Each plaque had glowing inscriptions, listing different missions available to outer disciples.

His eyes flickered with interest as he scanned through some of them:

"Gather ten Moonshade Grass from the western forest. Reward: 5 contribution points."

"Assist an inner disciple in maintaining his courtyard. Reward: 2 contribution points."

"Escort a merchant caravan to the nearby town. Reward: 15 contribution points (requires group approval)."

"Help with the cultivation fields near the sect. Reward: 3 contribution points."

Adrian read through several more, but his initial excitement faded into disappointment.

'So these are the missions outer disciples get…'

There were no dangerous tasks, no great opportunities for growth, just menial labor or simple collection missions. But after a moment, he understood why—outer disciples weren't strong enough yet. The sect wouldn't send them on life-threatening missions when most of them were still struggling to sense Qi.

Still, it made him wonder—how long would it take before he could take on real challenges?

Setting those thoughts aside, Adrian turned his attention to another section of the hall. A stone board on the side explained how the mission system worked.

"Missions grant contribution points upon completion. Contribution points can be exchanged for pills at the Alchemy Pavilion, weapons at the Treasure Hall, and various sect resources."

'So that's how it works…' Adrian mused.

After briefly scanning the rest of the hall, he saw nothing particularly useful for now. With that, he left the Mission Hall, following the wooden board's directions toward his next destination—the Treasure Hall.

Following the same route he had memorized from the wooden board, Adrian soon arrived at the Treasure Hall. Unlike the Alchemy Pavilion and Mission Hall, which both stood as three-story structures, the Treasure Hall was a single-story building. However, it stretched far and wide, its size making up for its lack of height.

As he stepped inside, Adrian quickly realized that the hall was much larger on the inside than it appeared from outside. Rows upon rows of wooden shelves extended into the distance, neatly arranged with various scrolls, manuals, and weapon racks. The air inside carried a faint, ancient scent of old parchment and wood.

At the front counter, instead of a young disciple like in the Alchemy Pavilion, an old man sat lazily, his half-lidded eyes showing little interest in his surroundings. His long white beard swayed slightly as he breathed, and his posture suggested someone who had seen far too much of the world to be bothered by trivial matters.

Adrian's lips curled slightly as a thought popped into his mind.

Is this one of those hidden experts? The ones who sit in sect halls, pretending to be ordinary, but are actually waiting for the perfect disciple to appear?

Suppressing the chuckle threatening to escape, he walked up to the counter.

"Senior, do you have a list of the techniques available in the Treasure Hall?" Adrian asked respectfully.

The old man slowly opened one eye, giving Adrian a brief glance before nodding. Without a word, he reached under the counter and pulled out a slightly worn-out booklet, handing it over.

Adrian accepted the booklet and moved to the side, flipping it open.

Inside, techniques were categorized into different sections, each tailored for different aspects of combat.

Movement Techniques: Shadow Step, Wind Stride, Flowing Mist Steps Hand Techniques: Iron Palm, Dragon Claw, Serpent's Strike Weapon Techniques: Piercing Fang Sword Art, Flowing River Blade, Thunder Spear Style

Each description contained details about the technique's strengths, weaknesses, and difficulty of learning.

'So many choices…' Adrian mused. The movement techniques caught his attention the most—being able to move faster or dodge better could mean life or death in battle. But the weapon techniques were equally tempting, especially since he hadn't decided what weapon suited him best yet.

Should I start earning contribution points and get a technique now? Or should I wait until I reach the inner courtyard, where better techniques might be available?

Just as he was debating, a familiar presence stirred in his mind.

"You don't need to choose a technique."

Cosmo's voice echoed in his thoughts, its tone calm yet undeniable.

"I will provide you with one."

Adrian's heart skipped a beat. His mind immediately recalled what Cosmo had already given him—the Path of Infinity, a cultivation method beyond anything he could comprehend. If Cosmo was offering him a technique, then it wouldn't be ordinary—it would be something far beyond what this Treasure Hall could provide.

A smirk formed on Adrian's lips.

Of course… Cosmo's techniques would be on an entirely different level.

With that, he gave a quick final glance through the booklet, then walked back to the counter, handing it back to the old man.

"Finished already?" the old man asked lazily, taking the booklet.

"Yes," Adrian replied with a polite nod. Without lingering any further, he turned and left the Treasure Hall, stepping back onto the sect grounds.

After leaving the Treasure Hall, Adrian did not immediately return to the Outer Disciple Quarters. Instead, he decided to take his time exploring the sect.

The sect grounds were vast, far larger than he had initially imagined. Stone-paved paths stretched in multiple directions, winding through the landscape like flowing rivers. Towering pavilions and training halls stood in the distance, their curved rooftops gleaming under the midday sun. Groups of disciples walked along the paths, some chatting casually while others carried out their sect duties.

On one side, a tranquil garden came into view. The scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers filled the air as a gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the well-maintained trees. A small pond sat at its center, where a few disciples meditated in silence, their reflections rippling across the water. The presence of Qi in this area was slightly denser, making it an ideal place for quiet contemplation.

Further ahead, Adrian spotted an open training ground, where several outer disciples were practicing their techniques. The sharp clang of wooden swords clashing echoed through the air, accompanied by the grunts of effort from those sparring. A few senior outer disciples corrected the stances of their juniors, their expressions serious.

As Adrian observed, he realized just how much effort everyone was putting into their cultivation. Every disciple had their own struggles and ambitions, their own reasons for striving to grow stronger.

This place… it's not just a sect, it's a world of its own.

He continued wandering, occasionally stopping to take in the sights. The further he walked, the more he appreciated the sheer scale of the sect. The outer courtyard alone was already so vast—he could only imagine what the inner courtyard and core disciple areas would be like.

Eventually, as the afternoon sun began to cast long shadows, Adrian decided to return to his courtyard.

Stepping inside, Adrian exhaled softly, reflecting on his first day of exploration.

Alchemy Pavilion, Mission Hall, Treasure Hall… The sect truly has everything to support its disciples. But in the end, what matters most is strength. Without it, all of these resources are meaningless.

His mind then drifted toward something he had been eagerly waiting to ask.

Sitting cross-legged on his bed, he closed his eyes and reached out to Cosmo in his thoughts.

"Cosmo, what kind of technique will you give me?"

Cosmo's familiar voice echoed within his mind, calm and composed.

"You can decide afterwards—once you reach at least ten refinements."

Adrian's eyes flickered open, his expression contemplative.

Ten refinements?

He had been eager to see what kind of movement technique or martial art Cosmo would grant him, but now he understood—there was no rush. Refinements were the foundation of his power. Without a strong base, any technique he received would be meaningless.

Letting out a breath, he nodded slightly.

Alright. One step at a time.

With his decision made, he lay down, allowing his body to relax.

Tomorrow, I'll begin my second refinement.

And with that final thought, Adrian closed his eyes for a good sleep.

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