Decaying World

Chapter 104

"Organizing an exploration team... what are the returns? What kind of treasures can we find?" Lin Hui asked.

He knew about exploration teams—every major family in the Inner City organized and maintained their own squads. Since everyone was doing it, the potential profits had to be significant.

"Returns depend on luck—and strength," Wang Yueheng said with a smile. "Usually, the items found don't circulate publicly;

they're exchanged within private circles. You can use Feather Blood to buy some in the Inner City, but the supply is limited. No one is willing to sell the truly good stuff;

families keep those as part of their foundation."

"That makes sense," Lin Hui nodded, understanding.

"Take your own sect, for example. You know it's supposedly impossible for an External Martial Artist to break through to the Circulation Realm. But have you ever considered how the founding Patriarch of Clear Wind Temple achieved it?" Wang Yueheng asked mysteriously.

"Are you saying there are treasures in the mist zone that can help us break our limits?" Lin Hui was stunned.

"It’s just a guess. Of course, treasures like that haven't appeared in nearly a century;

even if they exist, they must be incredibly rare. Back then, apart from your patriarch, several other External Martial Artists broke through to Circulation around the same time. It's assumed they found some type of precious medicine in the mist zone together. Since then, it hasn't happened again."

"So, mist zone treasures could be anything?" Lin Hui was tempted.

The prospect of a steady stream of valuable items flowing in without having to risk his own life was appealing. No wonder everyone was organizing exploration teams.

"Exactly. For instance, my family possesses several top-tier, non-sale pill formulas for improving Call aptitude that were obtained this way," Wang Yueheng explained. "Furthermore, because the mist zone undergoes drastic changes at night, it is full of uncertainty. Even powerful Inner City Called Ones wouldn't dare guarantee their safety there. Since they don't dare risk it themselves, they let others do it for them. Thus, exploration teams were born.""Interesting... It seems Clear Wind Temple should organize its own team," Lin Hui mused. "But how do you determine the candidates? The mist zone is dangerous;

surely not many are willing to go?"

"Just promise heavy profits. As long as you keep your word, people will join," Wang Yueheng smiled.

Lin Hui fell into deep thought. He lacked a high-quality sword, proper equipment, and acceleration resources like the Spirit-Enriching Reishi. Acquiring these alone involved too much uncertainty and danger.

Organizing an exploration team was definitely something that needed to be put on the agenda.

"I suggest you start by exploring the perimeter," Wang Yueheng added. "Clear Wind Temple is still weak, as are its disciples. Don't rush in too deep. Losing everything and paying out massive pensions would be troublesome."

"Mn, thank you for the reminder."

After the conversation with Wang Yueheng, Lin Hui quickly summoned Wang Hongshi and brought up the matter.

"An exploration team? Who would be willing to join that?" Wang Hongshi asked hesitantly.

Previously, the Black Dragon Gate branch wasn't large enough to sustain such a venture. But now, Clear Wind Temple was a massive power uniting three branches, and the number of disciples had officially broken through five hundred.

Among the surrounding towns, it was considered a great power. It certainly had the qualifications to enter the field of exploration teams.

"No matter who comes, as long as they are willing to join, and as long as they harvest mist zone resources and treasures to turn over, they will receive Contribution Scores upon their return. If the harvest is valuable, it can be counted as a High Mission," Lin Hui replied.

Contribution Scores were linked to the sect's quotas for The Call;

the three people with the highest annual Contribution Score would obtain the quotas to go to the Inner City for The Call. This exploration team undoubtedly tore open a hole in the previously solidified rankings, allowing people a chance to rapidly overtake the top three.

"In that case, many will likely sign up. Under the old system, High Missions were scarce and usually required significant strength to complete," Wang Hongshi nodded.

"It's settled then. Those who are young and daring are the talent the sect needs," Lin Hui said in a deep voice.

"Yes." Wang Hongshi nodded.

"Also, starting today, list the two Secret Arts I've comprehended in the sect's Contribution Score exchange catalog."

Lin Hui had researched the Featherweight Ascension special effect for a long time. While the bizarre effect of halving body weight couldn't be replicated, the explosive acceleration was traceable.

After careful experimentation, he recorded the energy circulation routes and muscle mobilization methods, organizing them into two Secret Arts.

First was the special effect of the Seven-Section Swift Sword: Lightness. Second was the special effect of the Nine-Section Swift Sword: Ethereal Agility.

"One Secret Art is named Lightness. It can boost sword speed and movement speed for a short time, improving effectiveness by about thirty percent. The prerequisite for use is proficient mastery of the Seven-Section Swift Sword."

Compared to the original Lightness special effect, which doubled sword speed, the version Lin Hui engineered could only improve it by thirty percent. However, this Secret Art had very minor side effects and could be used again after resting for two hours. Those with strong recovery capabilities could shorten the rest time even further.

"Yes!" Wang Hongshi's eyes lit up. As expected of the genius Temple Master, it hadn't been long, yet he had new insights.

"The second Secret Art is called Ethereal Agility. The difficulty is greater;

it can only be used after the Nine-Section Swift Sword is cultivated to the Perfected state. The effect is to reduce the consumption of Lightness, allowing it to be maintained as a constant state for a long time."

Lin Hui pondered for a moment. "As for the exchange price, calculate it at nine points of Contribution Score."

Nine points corresponded to three High Missions.

"Yes. Then, Temple Master, how should we handle the authority to issue missions? Who will issue them? It can't all depend on you alone, right?" Wang Hongshi asked.

"Participation in the exploration team counts as a Medium Mission for scoring. If there is a harvest, I will assess its value to the sect to calculate extra Contribution Scores," Lin Hui decided. "As for the rest... handling various troubles and disputes encountered by the sect will also count as a Medium Mission. If the danger is assessed as high, it counts as a High Mission. Elder Xue Meng will be responsible for specific assessments."

"Understood." Wang Hongshi calculated the current situation of Clear Wind Temple. Troubles and disputes occurred every so often. Calculated this way, it wouldn't take long for disciples to save up enough to exchange for the new Secret Arts.

"Let's tentatively settle on this. We can modify it later if we encounter problems," Lin Hui concluded.

After the others withdrew, he stood up and walked to the mural in the Council Hall.

"The exploration team can act as a perfect way to clearly map the situation of the surrounding mist zone... I hope there will be a harvest."

…

Two days after the announcement regarding the exploration team was released, Wang Hongshi reported to Lin Hui, saying that too many people wanted to go and asked what limit he should set on the numbers.

Lin Hui was somewhat surprised. He personally checked the list and found that, aside from Wang Hongshi, the top ten-ranked disciples all wanted to go.

What surprised him further was that the top ten disciples had all switched to cultivating Clear Wind Temple martial arts. Disciples from the Intent Blade and Black Dragon branches had started from scratch, and the fast ones had already cultivated to the Sixth Rank of Body Tempering.

Moreover, Chen Sui, who moved the fastest, had already exchanged for the Secret Art Lightness.

After confirming the numbers, he began to hold an optimistic attitude toward the development of the exploration team.

…

Early March.

Inside Clear Wind Temple, on the Black Dragon Training Grounds, Lin Hui looked at the assembled exploration team ready to set off and nodded with satisfaction.

He sat in the main seat. To his left sat Xue Meng, and to his right were two newly joined Internal Force martial artists: "Flying Dragon Hand" Lin Zaijun and "Mad Leg" Zhang Dao.

These two were solitary martial artists who had come over from Xingdao. Their original disciples and followers were gone, and they had no family, so they simply joined Clear Wind Temple to live out their retirement.

Both were over seventy years old. Sitting in their chairs, their spirit and energy looked withered, significantly inferior compared to Xue Meng. Clearly, they suffered from hidden injuries and cultivation recession.

But Lin Hui had no choice;

there were too few Internal Force martial artists in Clear Wind Temple. The truly powerful ones wouldn't be willing to live under someone else;

wouldn't it be better for them to find a corner and found their own sect?

At this moment, the four sat above, while the top thirty-ranked disciples stood on both sides.

The twenty disciples of the exploration team had all changed into grey-white warrior gear, supplemented by brown hard-leather vests, carrying two long swords on their backs as they lined up and walked forward.

The one in the lead was Chen Sui.

In this exploration team, his cultivation was the highest. After exchanging for the Secret Art, his strength improvement was even more obvious. He was the standard main force.

"This is Clear Wind Temple's first exploration of the perimeter, so your task is to first map the basic terrain of the surrounding mist zone. The range requirements are written in the mission document. Since this is the inaugural operation, everyone participating will have it calculated as one High Mission," Xue Meng spoke from the side.

"Yes!" Chen Sui and the others responded in unison, clasping their fists in salute.

"Are the supplies packed?" Lin Hui spoke up.

"Packed. Rest assured, Temple Master, we will absolutely not advance rashly. We will investigate the situation and move immediately. Many mist zone monsters have territorial instincts;

as long as we move fast enough, the danger isn't great. And as for Clear Wind Temple... if nothing else, our movement speed is absolutely not inferior to any faction!" Chen Sui replied in a deep voice.

Lin Hui nodded;

he was confident on this point.

He looked up at the sky. Warm light shone down through the mist;

there was no rain or wind. It was good weather suitable for entering the mist zone.

"This Temple Master will be here, awaiting good news from you all. I hope you all return safely." He stood up and clasped his fists toward the crowd.

"Thank you, Temple Master!"

The exploration team, totaling twenty people, bowed in return and shouted in unison.

After the ceremony, others came forward to inspect equipment and supplies. Once confirmed, the exploration team officially set off.

Under the gaze of hundreds, Clear Wind Temple's first exploration of the mist zone began.

Lin Hui watched them exit the main gate, walking further and further until they completely vanished from sight. Only then did he exhale and wave his hand to signal everyone to disperse.

He left the venue and returned to the manor at the rear. He hadn't been sitting long before a disciple came to report.

"Temple Master, a woman named Yan Wanqiu has come to visit. She says you will know her when you hear the name."

"Yan Wanqiu?" Lin Hui indeed hadn't expected her to visit. "Let her come to me."

"Yes."

The disciple on duty clasped his fists and withdrew.

Currently, in Clear Wind Temple, ordinary disciples with poor aptitude and strength who lacked background support could use duty shifts within the sect to exchange for Contribution Scores. Jobs like sect defense, guarding, and delivering messages could be calculated as one Common Mission per month, plus a salary. Many disciples from poor families actively fought for these positions.

Lin Hui was wealthy now anyway;

the revenue the Hundred Flowers Sect provided every so often was more than he could spend, not to mention the profits from Clear Wind Temple's own industries. So he recruited over thirty people in one breath for duty and miscellaneous tasks within the sect.

Contribution Scores were a hot commodity. They could be exchanged for pills, Secret Arts, direct guidance and teaching, and even quotas for training Called Ones.

As a result, everyone was very active in performing tasks.

Soon, a young woman wearing a black veil, her body wrapped in a black outer robe, entered the manor courtyard, led by the disciple.

"Yan Wanqiu greets Temple Master Lin. Regarding the recent incident... many thanks to the Temple Master for counseling your older sister. I didn't handle that matter properly... fortunately, no trouble was caused..." Yan Wanqiu smiled bitterly and offered her thanks as soon as they met.

Lin Hui waved away the duty disciple who was perking up his ears, intending to listen to gossip, then looked at Yan Wanqiu.

"It's nothing. Mainly, my sister's temper was too extreme. Anyone else would have done the same."

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