Volume One, Chapter Eleven: Setting Out on a Journey of Experience

After Gu Mingxi came out, she found that Gu Mingyue had already sent her two message talismans. Upon opening them, she saw that Gu Mingyue was inviting her to go out for a training mission.

Only then did Gu Mingxi remember that their clan assigned tasks to disciples who had reached the third level of Qi Refinement. Throughout the year, they either performed various miscellaneous tasks, such as managing the medicinal herb fields, organizing the library, or the treasure vault, or they undertook a training mission just once a year.

Clearly, both Gu Mingxi and Gu Mingyue had chosen the once-a-year training mission.

Sending clan disciples out for training was naturally intended to cultivate their abilities. But since the goal was to train them, it wouldn't make sense to expose very weak disciples to great dangers alone. Typically, such missions were relatively safe.

Usually, an overseer or elder would accompany and protect the team. However, unless the group encountered a life-or-death crisis during the mission, these overseers and elders would not intervene. If they intervened at every sign of danger, how would the disciples truly be tested?

The Gu family, being a venerable clan with a history spanning a thousand years, understood this well. Passing the legacy to the next generation was crucial.

If someone from the younger generation could stand up, it meant the clan had successors. If no one could, the clan faced a precarious future.

In terms of nurturing their disciples, the Gu family did exceptionally well. They never restricted the choices of their young members—whether to join a sect, remain in the clan, or venture out on their own—the clan would never stop them and often offered support. After all, they were all members of the Gu family, and if the clan ever faced trouble, they would surely come to its aid. This was the confidence and manner of a great clan.

Gu Mingxi was determined to join a sect in the future, and Gu Mingyue planned to do the same. When they returned successful, the Gu family would have new pillars of support.

Returning to the mission at hand: Gu Mingxi first sought out Gu Mingyue to discuss the task. The mission was not difficult. They needed to form a ten-member team and then head to the outskirts of the Hundred-Thousand Mountains to gather spiritual herbs and hunt beasts.

Gu Mingxi and Gu Mingyue quickly assembled a team of ten and then went to meet the overseer to receive their assignment.

The mission required them to collect three hundred stalks of Gale Grass and hunt three hundred beasts.

Gale Grass, as its name suggested, was related to the Gale Rabbit—it was the rabbit’s food. In other words, they would be competing with the Gale Rabbits for resources.

Looking at the mission, Gu Mingxi thought that since Gale Rabbits appeared in groups, they could try to take out a warren while gathering the grass, thus accomplishing both objectives simultaneously.

After sharing her idea, the team members all agreed enthusiastically.

Everyone went back to prepare their supplies, then quickly regrouped and set out to complete the mission.

It was everyone’s first time on a mission; curiosity outweighed fear. After all, elders were following behind to provide protection, and the risks were not too severe. In this cultivation world, as long as one didn’t die, injuries could be healed.

This was a kind of fearless ignorance!

However, once they reached the outskirts of the Hundred-Thousand Mountains, reality dealt a cold blow. What they had imagined at home was far from the truth—finding even a single beast here proved exceedingly difficult.

The Hundred-Thousand Mountains were fraught with danger, but the outskirts were comparatively safe. Many low-level independent cultivators, mercenaries, and younger clan members like Gu Mingxi came here to seek spiritual herbs and hunt beasts. Over time, the weaker beasts had learned to hide well. Finding them easily was impossible.

Despite their efforts, Gu Mingxi and the rest of the team found no trace of Gale Grass or Gale Rabbits. Exhausted, they began to set up camp.

Leaning weakly on Gu Mingxi’s shoulder, Gu Mingyue sighed, “I didn’t expect the beasts in the Hundred-Thousand Mountains to be so cunning. Not a single one has shown itself after a whole day of searching.”

Gu Mingxi was tired too, but hearing Gu Mingyue’s complaint, she refused to join in—if everyone started feeling down, how would they continue the mission?

Rallying her spirits, Gu Mingxi encouraged the team, “Gale Rabbits prefer shady places. Tomorrow, we’ll search more in the shaded areas. We’re bound to find some.”

Hearing this, Gu Mingyue also brightened, “You’re right, Mingxi. Gale Rabbits like the shade. We’ll look more thoroughly tomorrow. There’s no time limit on this mission; we can take our time.”

With Gu Mingxi and Gu Mingyue’s encouragement, the atmosphere lightened. The team began roasting meat and chatting.

Gu Mingxi and Gu Mingyue joined in. The other eight team members, seeing that these two weren’t as aloof as rumored, gradually opened up and started talking with them.

After all, Gu Mingxi and Gu Mingyue were recognized as prodigies among the younger generation of the Gu family. None of the others matched their talents. Being on the same team was fate, and they shouldn’t waste the chance to build good relations.

Gu Mingxi and Gu Mingyue welcomed everyone warmly. After all, they were all Gu family descendants, and it was essential to get along well.

Gradually, other disciples began asking Gu Mingxi and Gu Mingyue questions about cultivation. Everyone knew Gu Mingxi was gifted in talisman crafting, while Gu Mingyue excelled in alchemy. With these two prodigies present, the others naturally sought their guidance on minor difficulties.

The clan elders accompanying them watched this warm scene with satisfaction. Their tireless efforts to protect the younger generation were all for one purpose: to make the Gu family stronger.

Surrounding Gu Mingxi were disciples with some talent in talisman crafting, while those near Gu Mingyue showed aptitude in alchemy.

Gu Mingxi immediately began drawing talismans on the spot, and Gu Mingyue started refining pills right then and there.