Chapter 113: Task

Luo Feng immersed himself in the first calamity of the Eight Calamities Life Form, utterly captivated, unaware of time's passage.

Though he had great fortune, able to confront the complete Origin Life Dao, it was like the Eternal True Gods dwelling beside the Chaos Wastes, observing concretized Chaos Laws—yet how many could truly comprehend them?

To see it is not to understand it.

On the Origin Continent, many ancient beings could confront the complete Origin Dao; they had lineages, resources to aid them—yet most spent lifetimes without piercing its truth.

"Having a lineage certainly makes comprehension easier."

"All life possesses spirit; those with strong spirit hold infinite potential."

"If one fully masters the Spirit of Life, one can even awaken life—even stubborn stone, weeds, weapons, rivers—could be awakened, gaining consciousness and becoming true life."

"For example, a vast metropolis—so immense it requires mastery of the complete Origin Life Dao; only by thoroughly unraveling the life structure of the metropolis and perfectly uniting it with spirit can one awaken an entire city."

"Vast rivers, towering mountains, mighty corpses—all may be awakened into life."

"Those who master the complete Origin Life Dao can awaken numerous powerful lives; some, upon awakening, may already possess Divine King-level power." Luo Feng was deeply shaken by the lineage's revelations.

Every being who masters the complete Origin Dao wields methods beyond imagination.

Take Mo Luo Sa, as a Jieshou, after mastering the complete Destruction Origin Dao, his inner "Realm" could birth countless subordinates—even warriors of Divine King-level power.

Of course, the stronger the subordinate, the harder to birth. For those who master the Origin Life Dao, awakening a Divine King-level warrior is also extremely difficult.

"One awakening, one restructuring of life, one bestowal of spirit—and instantly, Divine King-level power?" Luo Feng mused inwardly. "Even after all my cultivation, I have not reached the Divine King realm."

Those awakened or birthed by external forces, possessing Divine King-level power from birth, possess far inferior insight than normal cultivators.

Normal beings who become Divine Kings are selected from countless lives, accumulating eons of realm experience. Those who possess Divine King-level power from birth lack natural consciousness and any accumulated foundation—how could they ever comprehend or advance? The possibility is nearly zero.

"My Transformation Art is based directly on Chaos-layer beings, transforming into them." Luo Feng pondered. "Yet according to the lineage, any life, the stronger its spirit, the more extraordinary it becomes."

"The forms of these Chaos-layer beings are not necessarily their perfect state."

"I could attempt to enhance their life spirit."

The first calamity of the Eight Calamities Life Form does not record the Transformation Art, for this is a special ability granted to Luo Feng after attaining the Perfect Divine Body—a gift from the Supreme Rule.

"With my Formless and Shapeless ability, I can better experiment and study the relationship between the Life Body and life spirit."

The Origin Life Dao has six branches, each deeply interconnected. For instance, to enhance life spirit within a single life form, there is a limit—only by altering the life structure can spirit continue to rise.

And life structure is tied to the "Life Body Branch."

"Luo He." Suddenly, Luo Feng received a message.

During his seclusion, Luo Feng severed nearly all external contact; only Chu Yu Hou and Yuan Zu could reach him. Of course, Mo Luo Sa could also link directly via mental resonance.

"Luo He, you've checked the guest tasks using your Guest Token, right?" Chu Yu Hou said.

"None of these are good assignments—either guard border cities for ten thousand jì, or handle minor conflicts against the Thunder Ancient Nation," Luo Feng replied. He had just received his lineage and was in a phase of accumulation and enhancement—he had no desire to get involved.

Even minor conflicts with the Thunder Ancient Nation involved Chaos-level clashes. Yet the Thunder Ancient Nation also possessed "Chaos Transcenders."

Beings reaching this level usually cultivated Primordial Force or used Primordial materials—methods were elusive and unpredictable. Luo Feng had zero interest in engaging them.

"Haha, the best tasks are snatched up first by our seven First-Rank Marquises. Only the ones no one wants can be viewed via the Guest Token." Chu Yu Hou chuckled. "I just found a good one—if you have no objections, I'll assign it to you directly. Just accept it."

"What's the good task?" Luo Feng asked.

"Serve as Inspector of Chu Capital." Chu Yu Hou said. "Chu Capital has three Inspectors—all held by Chaos-level Guests."

"In truth, Chu Capital already has its own army—minor issues are handled by troops. Major issues? Divine Kings intervene personally. Very few situations truly require a Chaos-level Inspector to act," Chu Yu Hou said. "Yet the merit earned is far higher than guarding border cities—one jì grants a thousand merit. This post may be held for at most one hundred jì, then must be rotated."

"One hundred jì means one hundred thousand merit! To cultivate in Chu Capital for one hundred jì earns one hundred thousand merit! This is the task every Chaos Guest fights over," Chu Yu Hou said.

Luo Feng understood: "What are the requirements for serving as Inspector of Chu Capital?"

Merit is hard to earn.

Guarding a border city for ten thousand jì grants only one hundred thousand merit. Serving as Inspector of Chu Capital for one hundred jì also grants one hundred thousand merit—but the latter takes less time and is far less dangerous. Hence, guests scramble for the latter. The former? Only taken out of desperation.

"To serve as Inspector of Chu Capital, you must reside within Chu Capital. If you request leave, you may not be absent for more than one thousand days per jì," Chu Yu Hou said. "If you have no objections, I'll assign the task to you."

"Thank you, Chu Yu." Luo Feng accepted without hesitation—he had only recently become Chaos-level and had no desire for turmoil.

He could take dangerous tasks later, when his cultivation hit a bottleneck and he needed merit to acquire lineage resources.

Soon, Luo Feng's Guest Token received an assigned task, naming Luo He as Inspector.

Luo Feng naturally accepted it.

…

Time passed. Luo Feng arrived in the Yan Feng Ancient Nation's Chu Capital—half a jì had already elapsed.

During this time, as "Inspector of Chu Capital," Luo Feng received only one dispatch: personally capturing a group of warring Imperial Clan youths. They were all Eternal True Gods—powerful, rich in treasures, and when enraged… only a Chaos-level Guest could intervene. In Chu Capital, within a pavilion floating above the clouds.

Luo Feng and Yuan Zu sat facing each other.

"This wine is truly excellent," Yuan Zu said, surprised. "It nourishes both the Divine Body and the soul." Just one cup had already strengthened Yuan Zu's Divine Body.

"It's Ba Yi Wine," Luo Feng smiled. "Supposedly brewed from the blood of over a hundred Chaos-level exotic beasts, combined with rare celestial treasures. One flask costs one hundred Cosmic Sands."

Yuan Zu was stunned.

A normal Eternal True God couldn't afford to drink it for long, even if he sold everything.

"Blood from over a hundred Chaos-level exotic beasts?" Yuan Zu was awed.

"It's not much," Luo Feng explained. "Chu Capital holds many Chaos-level exotic beasts. Ordinary blood means nothing to them—they naturally recover by absorbing celestial energy. For merchants, the cost is low. One flask at one hundred Cosmic Sands? The actual cost is maybe one or two Cosmic Sands. But every flask must pay sixty Cosmic Sands to the First-Rank Marquis, Chu Ying Hou."

Yuan Zu nodded—he long knew the immense power of each First-Rank Marquis of the Di Chu lineage. Luo Feng stood with First-Rank Marquis Chu Yu Hou.

"Chu Yu has been a First-Rank Marquis for a short time—he still lags far behind the others in all aspects." Luo Feng said.

Whether in cultivation level or resources and wealth, Chu Yu Hou was significantly weaker.

!.

Yet all seven hold equal status; Chu Yu Hou will steadily improve.

"Luo He," Luo Feng suddenly received a message. "There's a good task—but it requires leaving the city."

"Oh? What task?" Luo Feng asked.

He could leave Chu Capital for no more than one thousand days per jì—so if the task was short, he could manage.

"I'll send you the details. I think your strength could resolve it in a few days," Chu Yu Hou messaged. "Complete this task and you earn ten thousand merit. I just found it and claimed it for you—take a look and tell me if you'll accept."

Soon, the full task details arrived.

Luo Feng set down his cup and examined the task carefully.

In the Qing Chong Chaos Province of the Yan Feng Ancient Nation stood an ordinary city, Tian Qu City—built solely to mine Tian Qu Stone Essence. Yet over recent Chaos jì, output of Tian Qu Stone Essence had plummeted, and many miners had died—including dozens of Eternal True Gods.

Suspicion fell on a Chaos-level being stealing Tian Qu Stone Essence.

Task: Investigate the identity of the thief. Reward: ten thousand merit. Capture the thief alive: additional five thousand merit.

"Investigate the thief's identity?" Luo Feng understood.

For the Yan Feng Ancient Nation, identifying the thief was paramount—once known, capture would be easy.

"Tian Qu Stone Essence is a vital cultivation resource for the Yan Feng Ancient Nation—used almost exclusively by Divine Kings." Luo Feng knew the unique value of this celestial treasure.

The Yan Feng Ancient Nation and Thunder Ancient Nation's territories lie at the center of the Origin Continent—here, exotic beasts are far more numerous, cultivators more abundant, and treasures richer.

"I'll take this task," Luo Feng replied to Chu Yu Hou.

A task with short duration and over ten thousand merit was rare indeed.

"I've sent you all intelligence on this task," Chu Yu Hou transmitted.

"By the way, Chu Yu, could you help me find some Chaos-level Chaos-layer beings?" Luo Feng messaged.

Chaos-layer beings he captured himself were weak. The strongest—those born with Chaos-level power—had long been seized by ancient beings.

"Chaos-layer beings?" Chu Yu Hou winced. "Exotic beasts? They're everywhere. I've captured many Chaos-level exotic beasts for Yan Feng—buying a few wouldn't be hard. But Chaos-layer beings with Chaos-level power? From what I know, there are fewer than ten in all of Yan Feng, and nearly all are in Divine King hands."

"I don't need living beings—just some bodily materials." Luo Feng said.

"Just bodily materials? Then I can try," Chu Yu Hou felt the difficulty drop sharply. "But it'll take time—I don't even know which Divine Kings possess such beings."

"This is vital to me. Thank you, Chu Yu." Luo Feng said.

"Vital to you?"

Chu Yu Hou's spirit lifted—his most crucial ally needed this urgently. "Don't worry. Just bodily materials—I'll get you some."

"Thanks." Luo Feng didn't mention paying Cosmic Sands—what did a First-Rank Marquis care about even billions? He owed a favor.

Yet for beings born with Chaos-level power, Luo Feng felt the favor worth it.

…

That day,

Luo Feng quietly left Chu Capital, heading for Qing Chong Chaos Province to investigate the theft.

(End of Chapter)