C10 He Was Being Made a Fool of

The Cultivation Room, while beneficial, wasn't a place where warriors could train indefinitely. Yu Kun, merely an Elite Disciple, was limited to ten visits per month. "I can use Spirit Stones to enhance my realm, but it's no match for the Cultivation Room! With Chen Rui watching me like a hawk, I need to boost my strength even more swiftly. I must either secure a hefty supply of Spirit Stones or earn the privilege to re-enter the Cultivation Room."

Exiting the Cultivation Room, Yu Kun caught the envious stares of some Outer Sect disciples. They understood the superior benefits of training within the Cultivation Room compared to the outer areas. Basking in their envy, Yu Kun strolled past them with ease.

Amidst the hushed tones, he overheard a conversation between two Outer Sect disciples. "I'd give anything to train in the Cultivation Room!" "Unless you rise to an Elite Disciple, how could you? Only by completing Sect Missions and earning the favor of an Inner Sect Elder might you gain entry." "Given our abilities as Outer Sect disciples, those missions are a tall order. Better to focus on cultivating here."

Yu Kun, listening in, formulated a plan. The memories of this body's former owner included details about Sect Missions. Now as an Elite Disciple, he could tackle missions of moderate difficulty. Success could grant him access to the Cultivation Room or a bounty of Spirit Stones. With purpose, Yu Kun made his way to the Mission Hall, guided by the Flying Cloud Sect's map.

The Mission Hall was unusually quiet upon his arrival. "I entered the Cultivation Room during the day! After ten hours of cultivation, it's now the wee hours of the morning. Even warriors need their rest, it seems. Yet, those ten hours have left me feeling invigorated."

With these thoughts, Yu Kun strode confidently into the Mission Hall. Typically, the hall bustled under the watchful eyes of the Sect's Elders and deacons, with disciples assigned to distribute missions. But at this early hour, the Elders had retired, and only a few sleepy disciples remained.

Yu Kun approached a disciple and rapped on the table.

Startled awake, the disciple blinked his groggy eyes at Yu Kun, as if trying to place who he was. After a long moment, he finally drawled, "What do you want?"

Yu Kun was momentarily at a loss for words.

He was in the Mission Hall, clearly there to take on missions.

Clearing his throat, he stated, "I'm an Elite Disciple here for a mission."

With a show of lethargy, the disciple lazily reached for several wooden tablets and tossed them to Yu Kun.

These tablets detailed mission information, including objectives, requirements, and rewards.

But upon closer inspection, Yu Kun found the missions to be disappointingly simple. They were mostly errands, like purchasing items for an Elder or delivering packages. Regardless, they were undemanding and the rewards were meager.

Yu Kun's real need was for Spirit Stones and time in the Cultivation Room, neither of which were offered as rewards.

He furrowed his brow and inquired, "Aren't there any other missions? These are far too elementary."

"Elementary?" The disciple scoffed, "You're just an Elite Disciple; these are the missions you're entitled to choose from! The more challenging missions are reserved for Inner Sect disciples."

Yu Kun couldn't help but laugh in frustration, "Even the most basic Outer Sect disciple could handle these tasks. They're certainly not befitting an Elite Disciple!"

He paused briefly before adding, "Do you think I'm unaware of the Flying Cloud Sect's rules? Sect Missions are categorized by three levels of difficulty! The tasks on these wooden tablets are the simplest, open to any disciple. The intermediate missions are inscribed on gold plates, and are meant for Elite Disciples like myself! The most advanced missions are on jade plates, exclusively for Direct Disciples! And yet, you've given me wooden tablet missions to mock me!"

The disciple cracked a smile at Yu Kun's growing irritation.

"Exactly, I'm toying with you! With your status, you're only fit for these rudimentary tasks!"

Realization dawned on Yu Kun, "You're doing this deliberately!"

"Thinking of striking me?" the disciple taunted nonchalantly, "Remember, this is the Mission Hall. If you dare to lay a hand on me here, the sect will take note, and you'll be forced to leave the Flying Cloud Sect!"

Yu Kun's fists were clenched tightly, a surge of anger rising in his heart, yet he was powerless to act.

Striking disciples of rank was not the same as hitting the rank-and-file.

Should Yu Kun lay a hand on them, punishment was certain.

"The disparity of status is clear. If I were in the shoes of Chen Rui or Chen Feng, I wouldn't be subjected to such bullying! Alas, I have only myself to rely on. With the strength of an Inner Sect disciple, not only would this disciple hesitate to bully me, but even Chen Feng wouldn't dare cross me!"

Yu Kun sighed deeply, forcibly quelling the rage within.

With a pointed finger, he declared deliberately, "Once I ascend to the Inner Sect, I could beat you to death and the Flying Cloud Sect wouldn't bat an eye!"

The disciple burst into mocking laughter. "By the time you're an Inner Sect disciple, Chen Feng will have long been a Direct Disciple!"

Yu Kun let out a contemptuous snort, remaining silent as he turned to leave.

But after just two steps, the disciple taunted, "However, since you seem so eager to meet your end, I do have a mission for you. Though, you're likely incapable of completing it."

With that, he flippantly tossed a jade token into Yu Kun's hands.

Glancing down at the token, Yu Kun's eyes narrowed at the inscription, and his anger flared anew.

"A quest to gather herbs in the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range? With its myriad of mutated beasts, stronger than human cultivators of equivalent level? This is a task not even Inner Sect disciples can easily undertake!"

Yu Kun was left utterly without words.