Guang Ye pulled Gu Yuan to the first floor and obtained a task list from one of the two windows.
The two task windows were managed by two separate individuals.
Arriving at a corner, Guang Ye placed the task list in front of Gu Yuan, letting him choose a task first. Once he had decided, Guang Ye would review it for him.
Gu Yuan nodded in understanding, picked up the task list, and began to examine the tasks.
He was shocked by what he saw; the task list was filled with densely packed tasks, at least a hundred.
Gu Yuan looked at Guang Ye in surprise. Guang Ye shrugged, indicating that this was the current situation.
He returned his gaze to the tasks in his hand. Line by line, the tasks detailed the unstable situation in the outside world, indicating that the frequency of demon and anomaly appearances was increasing.
Gu Yuan read through the tasks, constantly contemplating his chances of completing them.
He eliminated one task after another, finally settling on the ones he wanted to complete in the last few entries.
Placing the task list on the table, he pointed to his chosen tasks and looked up at Guang Ye, smiling. "I'll take this one task. I don't have the strength for the others yet and likely wouldn't be able to complete them."
Guang Ye took the task list and looked at the tasks Gu Yuan had selected. He raised an eyebrow, then set the list down.
Smiling, he said, "It seems you've taken our words to heart. This task is good and stable, but you must still be cautious."
Gu Yuan nodded. He understood the meaning of "stable." He had been called reckless before, but that was no longer the case. This world was becoming increasingly dangerous, and protecting the life of this clone was paramount. His goal was to steadily become the strongest in this world.
They discussed a few other matters, and Gu Yuan also sought advice on some cultivation issues.
Afterward, Gu Yuan accepted the task, returned to prepare, and planned to complete it as soon as possible to exchange for resources. His stagnant cultivation was unbearable.
Guang Ye watched Gu Yuan's retreating figure, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes.
He returned to his office, where Cui Hua was looking at a file. Upon seeing Guang Ye return, Cui Hua asked with interest, "Which task did Gu Yuan choose?"
Guang Ye sat back down in his seat, took a sip of tea, and began flipping through files as he answered Cui Hua's question. "It's the problem in Yangchun Village to the north. Do you remember it?"
"Yangchun Village?" Cui Hua furrowed his brow, a peculiar village surfacing in his mind.
"Is it that annoying village?" Cui Hua asked uncertainly.
Guang Ye nodded and said no more, resuming his work. After all, as a Heaven-tier Demon Queller, governing a region, they were very busy and couldn't delegate everything to their subordinates.
"So it's that village. It looks like Gu Yuan will have to suffer this time. Heh heh, let it be a test for him," Cui Hua said with a mischievous grin, as if recalling something.
Gu Yuan returned home, packed his belongings, and prepared to head to the mission location, intending to get it done quickly.
An hour later, Gu Yuan, riding a horse from the Demon Queller Division, left the capital city.
---
Azure World, First Martial Arts University.
Old Wang looked at the recorded image stone in his hand, a gentle light flashing in his eyes.
Gu Yuan had been gone from the Azure World for a year now. He was very concerned about Gu Yuan's safety. As a Martial Heaven realm expert, he had ways of knowing Gu Yuan's information. Gu Yuan's name was still on the stone tablet in the Temple of the Sacred Flame.
It indicated that he had entered the true Myriad Spirits Continent, clearly having broken through in strength. He had not disappointed.
He looked up at the sky, a clear blue expanse without a cloud in sight. Old Wang sighed, wondering how much longer he would be able to see such a sight.
Cough, cough, cough!
Old Wang suddenly started coughing violently. His frail body bent, the cough seemingly agitating hidden old wounds, causing the battle-hardened elder's lips to twitch.
It was clear how severe Old Wang's injuries were.
"Old Wang!" a voice called from behind him. Old Wang turned and saw Di Liu, who had recruited his disciple into the academy.
"Old Wang, aren't you usually in the Scripture Pavilion? What brings you here today?" Di Liu asked with a smile, his gaze falling on Old Wang's right hand, which bore a splash of bright red.
Seeing this, he understood that Old Wang's injury had relapsed.
Old Wang seemed to notice Di Liu's gaze. A flash of spiritual energy from his palm made the bloodstain disappear. He didn't want his injuries to trouble others, nor did he want the academy to continue expending resources on his treatment, knowing it was futile.
The damage to his origin was not something ordinary means could repair. The healing resources the academy had invested in him over the years could have nurtured an entirely new Martial Heaven realm expert.
For someone like him, who had dedicated his life to humanity, it was a loss.
A long silence passed between them before Di Liu slowly spoke, "Old Wang, it's almost time for your treatment. Let's go back."
Old Wang sighed at Di Liu's words, a hint of melancholy in his voice. "Little Di, I know what you and the others are thinking, but I am old now, and I'm not worth it. Don't keep wasting resources on treating me; it's useless, understand?"
"But, the Dean and I, we all received your teachings back then. To us, you are no different from our master. These resources were all pooled together by us; not a single cent from the academy was spent," Di Liu said with sadness. The current Old Wang was nothing like the spirited man who had taught them in the past. He would likely never see that vigor again.
"Alas, give these resources to those who need them. This old body of mine is not worth it," Old Wang said, patting Di Liu's shoulder, and turned to leave.
Di Liu watched Old Wang's retreating figure, a fleeting thought of carrying him back crossing his mind. However, he remembered that Old Wang's condition did not permit such exertion and abandoned the idea.
Feeling the twilight aura emanating from Old Wang, his heart ached slightly. He could only place his hope on Gu Yuan, hoping that he could bring back spiritual herbs from another world to heal Old Wang's body and spare him the torment of his injuries.
Old Wang was simply too tired; even watching him made Di Liu feel exhausted.
He also understood the reason Old Wang endured this struggle: he feared some great calamity might occur, and he wanted to leave behind his last reserves of strength for a final, brilliant surge from another era.
But this waiting process was too agonizing, too despair-inducing...