Chapter 11

At noon, in the General Affairs Hall, Zuo Yuning propped her head up with one hand and boredly yawned.

This job is good, but it's too idle on a daily basis.

In her other hand, she held a phone, scrolling through a recently popular novel.

She couldn't help wondering when she herself would become a great cultivator like in the book, wielding a sword and roaming free, exterminating demons and defending the Dao.

Thump-thump!

The sudden sound made her jump.

She turned around and saw a strange figure standing outside, his head wrapped entirely in bandages with no gap exposed.

Zuo Yuning shot to her feet.

"Audacious demon! How dare you cause trouble in the Xiang Jianzong's General Affairs Hall?"

"???"

Are all the new disciples of the Xiang Jianzong speaking like this?

Li Fengping pulled out his blue jade token bearing his identity.

"I'm not a demon. I'm here to handle business."

"..." That was awkward. "So you're Senior Brother? What do you need?"

Zuo Yuning's face flushed red, her toes curled in shame, wishing she could vanish into a crack in the floor; she quickly took the jade token and pulled up his identity info.

【Name: Li Fengping】

【Realm: Nascent Soul】

【Identity: Inner Disciple】

Then she retrieved the magic power verification device.

"Senior Brother, please channel a trace of magic power to confirm your identity."

Li Fengping had handled many tasks before and was familiar with the procedure; as he channeled a trace of magic power, text immediately appeared on the computer screen.

【Authentication Successful】

This time it was quick, Zuo Yuning muttered to herself.

"May I ask what business Senior Brother wishes to handle?"

"My two Senior Brothers and I came to Xuanjian City on a task, but they ran into unexpected trouble, so I'm seeking nearby Nascent Soul cultivators among our sect to assist."

As he spoke, Li Fengping also pulled out the Lin family's token.

"The specific task details and reward can be discussed upon meeting."

Lin family's item? Hmm...

The person caught speeding last night seemed to have the surname Lin—could his two Senior Brothers be the two sword cultivators caught speeding last night? "Understood. I'll notify nearby Nascent Soul Senior Brothers. Please wait." Zuo Yuning wore a professional smile.

"Thank you for your trouble."

Li Fengping nodded and turned to leave, preparing to sit and wait in the General Affairs Hall.

He couldn't go outside—he and his two Senior Brothers had been unlucky lately.

…………

Inside the Xiang Jianzong's villa compound, Xu Xing spent the entire morning using Xu Sandao's identity to procure everything he needed.

Now he sat on the sofa, scrolling through the Spirit Web.

But Xu Sandao, officially a Nascent Soul Outer Sect steward, had also received the message from the General Affairs Hall.

"An Inner Disciple seeking someone for a task."

And with the message came a photo: a delicate golden jade token engraved with the character "Lin."

Xu Xing rose from the sofa and looked outside.

"Fine."

After replying to the message, he walked out directly.

…………

General Affairs Hall building.

"Senior Brother Sandao, please follow me this way." Zuo Yuning waited outside the building; upon seeing Xu Xing, she immediately stepped forward to lead him.

But... why call him "Senior Brother Sandao"? Shouldn't it normally be "Senior Brother Xu"?

Still, it was a minor thing; he paid it no mind and followed Zuo Yuning into a prepared reception hall.

Li Fengping's unusual appearance drew his extra attention; the Lin family's name still carried weight—besides him, five other Nascent Soul sword cultivators had arrived.

Their qi varied in strength; the strongest was a muscular man in a suit, already at Nascent Soul Late Stage, his bulging muscles straining the fabric tight—had it not been for his piercing sword intent, others might have mistaken him for a body cultivator.

The other four were also formidable; two of them appeared to be brothers, their faces nearly identical.

All were observing everyone else present.

Seven Nascent Soul sword cultivators—this was an extremely powerful force in Xuanjian City.

"Greetings, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters. I am Li Fengping." Li Fengping bowed.

The youngest here were older than him, and everyone's cultivation realm was roughly equal—this form of address was acceptable.

"You're not from the Lin family?" the muscular man asked directly.

"I'm not. But my Senior Brother is. He said if you're willing to help, all contribution points from this task go to you, plus additional compensation."

Too good? A free cake falling from the sky?

"Senior Brother Li, if I'm not mistaken, you're injured."

The speaker was a sword cultivator with a pale face, likely practicing a Yin-Devil sword art, a dark aura swirling around his brows.

"Is your injury related to this task?"

"No." Li Fengping clenched his teeth, thinking of it made him furious. "I was beaten by some lunatic who came out of nowhere."

"If that's the case, how are you certain that person wasn't here for your mission?"

"..." He really didn't want to say it, but the situation left him no choice: "Because after he attacked me, he claimed he mistook me for someone else and gave me a pill—otherwise my injuries couldn't have healed this fast."

It was actually the truth. Xu Xing found it amusing; this unlucky kid had truly been beaten up.

Sneaking around after your sister—who else would you hit? But from his perspective, it was indeed utterly baffling.

Xu Xing understood the full story, but the others didn't; they all thought Li Fengping was hiding something.

Finally, a female sword cultivator with striking presence spoke: "Brother, please first describe the mission details."

She carried a black longsword on her back, her features sharp and noble, her eyes a beautiful amber, glowing with shifting light—clearly she had cultivated a corresponding divine art.

"Alright." Li Fengping hurried to explain, afraid everyone might leave: "My two senior brothers and I took on an investigation mission, issued by an elder. He once discovered a Secret Realm in Xuanjian City."

"After expending great effort to enter it, he found nothing. Back at the sect, he studied the sect's scriptures and realized the Secret Realm was actually someone cultivating swords."

"He originally intended to come investigate himself, but something urgent came up at the sect—he couldn't leave—so he posted the mission."

"If any of you seniors are willing to go, I'll send you the data on the Secret Realm."

He gave a simple description of the mission, saying nothing extra—he was truly bad at socializing, and such matters were usually handled by Senior Brother Feng.

"I'm not interested." The burly man shook his head and turned away.

Two sword cultivators with nearly identical faces exchanged a glance, then also turned and left.

"I'm not interested either." The pale-faced man walked off too.

The conditions were decent, but he didn't trust it—and he wasn't a Lin family member; there was no need to risk himself for a few contribution points.

Li Fengping could only look at the remaining two—if they left too, he'd truly be out of options.

"I'm quite interested." Xu Xing had no intention of leaving.

"Count me in." The female sword cultivator showed no sign of departing.

Phew~ Good, including myself, we've finally got three people.

"Thank you, Senior Brother, Ye Shijie." Li Fengping bowed deeply.

"No need to thank me." The female sword cultivator nodded, then extended her hand toward Xu Xing: "Jiang Jing."

Xu Xing shook her hand: "Xu Sandao."

Huh? Jiang Jing and Li Fengping both froze for a moment, just like Zuo Yuning had earlier.

You're a sword cultivator—and your name is this? (End of Chapter)