The Hidden Mission of the System

Inside the small pavilion.

Chu Xingchen listened to Yuan Kong's account with a slight frown, then nodded gently and spoke:

"So you're saying your abbot went to Chizhou to distribute alms, but encountered trouble—attacked by river demons? Only one monk escaped to deliver the message, and he claimed those demons might be led by a Golden Core cultivator?"

Yuan Kong hurriedly nodded. "You're the only top-tier cultivator I know. I couldn't think of anyone else to turn to."

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen's brows furrowed slightly. He idly spun the teacup before him and said,

"Calm down first. Even for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the journey from Chizhou to Yuzhou City would take at least three days, wouldn't it?"

Yuan Kong nodded honestly. "Yes. My junior apprentice-brother ran for over four days."

Silence instantly filled the pavilion, broken only by the sound of rain.

All eyes turned to Yuan Kong.

Even Cui Hao was taken aback. Four days?

If the abbot had been eaten by demons, four days would be enough for them to... digest and excrete him, wouldn't it?

At this point, if they found him, they'd probably be carrying him back in an urn.

And if they brought back the abbot's remains in such a state... wouldn't that technically mean they'd be carrying the demons'...

Yuan Kong glanced at the silent group, well aware of why they'd gone quiet.

After a pause, he spoke again: "I understand the situation. But what if my senior brother is still alive, holding on for me? Even if he's truly gone, I must see it for myself."

"This is my duty as his junior."

He waited, but the pavilion remained silent.

Just as he rose to leave and search alone, Chu Xingchen's slightly resigned voice cut in:

"Xingtian, take him to investigate. Same as before—stay cautious and..."

Chu Xingchen's words abruptly halted. His posture stiffened as his long-dormant system suddenly activated, issuing a brand-new mission.

[Hidden Mission Triggered: Contest of Fate]

[Once, a True Dragon of Destiny perished in the wild. Its great fortune scattered as radiant light, returning to the masses, yet destined to converge upon the dragon once more.]

[What is true destiny? Nothing but the whims of time and chance.]

[Mission Hint: Soar through clouds, transform into a dragon; tread the water's path. Those who carry fate are the true dragons.]

[Objective: Capture the thieves of fortune who flee through the water veins, stealing destiny.]

[Reward 1: Heavenly Dao Fortune]

[Reward 2: Legacy Relic]

Chu Xingchen took a deep breath as he studied the mission panel.

The task hadn't appeared when Yuan Kong pleaded—only when he ordered Li Xingtian to assist.

Did this mean some hidden missions only triggered after personal involvement?

Or was it that involvement alone wasn't enough—one needed the strength to participate?

And "fortune"... did something so abstract truly exist?

Chu Xingchen's gaze darkened. This matter was far more complex than a mere demon incident—no mere Golden Core demon could handle it.

The rewards this time were unusually profound. In the world of cultivation, no one abstained from contention unless the stakes were too low.

This required his full attention.

His eyes swept the room before he declared:

"Xingtian, pack your things. You're coming with me to Chizhou. Yingling—you stay behind, focus on cultivation, and watch over your juniors. We'll contact you if reinforcements are needed."

Li Xingtian was steady and reliable, while Li Yingling was still somewhat inexperienced. The danger level of this mission was unknown, so caution was paramount.

Anything involving "fortune" was bound to be complicated.

Li Yingling noted her master's grave expression and nodded in understanding.

Li Xingtian stood and glanced at Zhang Yuanshan. "Brother Zhang..."

"Understood." Zhang Yuanshan rose and clasped his hands in acknowledgment.

Yuan Kong's face flushed with gratitude. He hadn't expected Chu Xingchen to value their bond so deeply.

With solemn resolve, he vowed: "From now on, no matter how many pills you refine, I'll test every single one for you—free of charge!"

Chu Xingchen scoffed and flicked Yuan Kong's bald head.

"Dream on. You think you're getting my pills without paying now? Nice try."

Yuan Kong might no longer be "Little Yuan Kong," but the satisfying thump of his scalp remained just as delightful.

The flood's devastation was evident long before Chizhou, with displaced refugees littering the land.

Rumors said the local government was mobilizing relief efforts, and grain ships already crowded the canals.

In disasters of this scale, organized collective action was the only effective solution.

Before departing, Chu Xingchen instructed Cui Hao to donate silver and spirit stones to both the Demon Suppression Bureau and Zen Forest Temple.

Doing what one could with a clear conscience was already commendable.

Chizhou lay inland, not by the sea but along a tributary of the Lan River—a massive waterway in its own right.

For generations, this tributary had nourished vast farmlands, making Chizhou an envied land of plenty.

Yet prosperity came with risks. Abundant water meant frequent floods, prompting Chizhou to construct numerous dams over the years.

These dams had once shielded the people from countless raging waters.

But now...

At the edge of Chizhou's territory,

Chu Xingchen hovered midair, surveying the ravaged land. In the distance, murky yellow currents surged relentlessly, devouring everything in their path.

Yuan Kong, ever the compassionate soul, had begged Chu Xingchen for provisions and now distributed them within the range of his spiritual sense.

Still, it was a drop in the ocean of need.

"Master," Li Xingtian reported after observing the river, "the area where Yuan Kong's abbot distributed alms is already submerged. If we want answers, we'll have to interrogate the aquatic demons."

Chu Xingchen nodded. "Fetch a couple, then."

With that order, Li Xingtian transformed into a streak of light and plunged into the raging waters.

Watching his disciple's efficient movements, Chu Xingchen nodded approvingly. His second apprentice's experience was indeed dependable.

But after a moment of waiting, no demons emerged in Li Xingtian's grasp.

Instead, a crimson haze of blood qi began rising from the distant yellow currents.

Had his disciple gone on a rampage?

Did Li Xingtian misunderstand? He'd said "fetch two," not "leave only two alive."

With a wave of his hand, Chu Xingchen telekinetically yanked Yuan Kong—still doling out food—away from the area and shot toward Li Xingtian's location.

The last thing they needed was for Yuan Jing to survive only for Yuan Kong to die here.