"Adaptable and versatile."
The phrase surfaced unbidden in Han Yi's mind.
Then, he recalled an encounter from several years prior: stumbling upon an internal traitor within the Blood God Sect and, through a stroke of fortune, having a conversation with Sect Leader Yuan Shun. At the end of their talk, Yuan Shun had hinted at greater challenges to come, likely referring to the newly announced New Policy.
Han Yi refocused his thoughts on analyzing the New Policy.
He had already summarized the two new directives specifically targeting Inner Peak Disciples:
The first could be described in three words: "Go Out."
The second, similarly: "Get Involved."
The first destination for this outward journey was the Myriad Demon Mountain Range.
The Myriad Demon Mountain Range lay beyond the borders of the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom. This vast mountain chain stretched from the far northwest, snaking southeastward to the shores of the Eastern Sea. To its southwest lay the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom, while to the northeast sprawled the Great Qin Immortal Kingdom, the foremost power in the Immortal Path.
The range's name stemmed from the increasingly close alliance between the Profound Pill Sect and the Primal Beast Sect in recent years.
The Primal Beast Sect controlled the lands of Luofeng County and Huaibei County, with their main territory situated northeastward, directly adjacent to the Myriad Demon Mountain Range.
Profound Pill Sect disciples could now pass through Primal Beast Sect territory to access the Myriad Demon Mountain Range.
Furthermore, the Sect's New Policy included a provision requiring disciples to venture into the Myriad Demon Mountain Range within six months and slay a Demon Beast of their own cultivation rank.
This six-month timeframe was further refined into a roster system.
The Sect divided Inner Peak disciples into three batches, each dispatched every two months. The roster for each batch would be announced shortly, and disciples would have six months from the announcement date to complete their mission. Failure to do so would result in automatic disqualification.
This time, there would be no second chances.
This measure prevented disciples from delaying their departure until the end of the six-month period, attempting to coordinate their expeditions.
In short: go, or face the consequences.
This was the essence of "Venturing Forth."
For the first time, Profound Pill Sect disciples would operate truly independently, unlike past events such as the Cave Heaven Trial or the Joint Great Competition, where the Sect provided full support.
This time, it was different.
This indirectly demonstrated the Sect's readiness to unleash its disciples, honed over years of training, into the wild. Whether they would emerge as wolves or sheep would be determined by this trial.
Casualties were inevitable, and likely substantial. But this was a necessary choice for the Sect. Only those who survived the crucible of blood and fire would become the future pillars of the Sect.
The second provision's intent was crystal clear: to force everyone to compete fiercely.
This "internal strife" aimed to pressure the previously complacent Inner Peak disciples to strive for excellence. Those who excelled would receive more resources, becoming even stronger, while those who continued to slack off might even be demoted to the Outer Peak.
Before this, Han Yi had admired the Sect's leadership for their strategic vision when he first heard about these measures.
It began with paying a hefty price to secure quotas from Jade Capital Mountain Holy Land for the Cave Heaven Trial.
Then came the Inner and Outer Peak Great Competition, with generous rewards.
Next, the Sect partnered with the Primal Beast Sect for a Joint Great Competition.
Finally, the New Policy was implemented, pushing disciples outward and forcing them to compete.
This, Han Yi realized, was the "revolution" the Sect leaders spoke of.
Each step in this series was meticulously connected, far from being aimless. Every measure served a clear purpose.
These frequent actions revealed the Profound Pill Sect's unwavering determination, while simultaneously highlighting the increasingly dire external circumstances they faced.
The most obvious external threat to the Profound Pill Sect was the Blood God Sect.
Four years had already passed of the twenty-year deadline. For a high-level cultivator, twenty years could pass in the blink of an eye.
Time was running out for the Profound Pill Sect.
Han Yi couldn't help but recall the old joke about the sect's situation. But as a disciple of the Profound Pill Sect himself, he felt the crushing weight of the impending pressure acutely.
A storm is brewing—the wind howls through the tower.
This proverb held true for every disciple of the Profound Pill Sect.
"Junior Brother Han," Yan Ru said softly, "if we're assigned to the same group, let's team up. It's good to have someone watching your back."
After entering the Inner Peak, she had gained access to the same cultivation resources as other Inner Peak disciples. Two years prior, she had advanced to the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining and firmly established her position there.
Her face remained cold, betraying no emotion. Strangers might mistake her for aloof, but Han Yi, who knew her well, understood that this was simply her nature, not intentional coldness.
Han Yi nodded. "Alright."
One of the unspoken requirements of the New Policy was for disciples to form teams and support each other. While Han Yi had considered venturing alone, he knew that facing unexpected dangers with familiar companions would be safer than facing them alone.
"I also hope to be grouped with Junior Brother Han," Luo Yunzhou added with a smile.
Qi Hong raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. "Senior Brother Luo and Senior Sister Yan both want to team up with Junior Brother Han for missions? He must be remarkably skilled!"
Han Yi chuckled modestly. "Senior Sister Qi, you flatter me. It's simply easier to trust familiar companions and avoid unnecessary complications."
Among the three, Luo Yunzhou was most familiar with Han Yi's combat abilities. Even when Han Yi was at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, he could withstand cultivators at the Eighth Layer wielding Top-Grade Magic Artifacts. Now that Han Yi had been at the Seventh Layer for three years, defeating an Eighth Layer cultivator would be child's play. Even claiming he had a slight chance against an ordinary Ninth Layer cultivator would be an understatement.
Yan Ru, on the other hand, didn't truly know Han Yi's combat strength. Her reserved nature meant she had few close fellow disciples, but she had met Han Yi during her time on the Outer Peak. Later, she traded Medicinal Pills with him on Little Sea-Viewing Peak, learning that he wasn't greedy and could be trusted as a fellow sect member. That was why she had spoken up so confidently.
Qi Hong smiled and didn't press the matter further.
In her mind, Han Yi was merely a Seventh Layer Qi Refining cultivator with supposedly unremarkable talent. While his Alchemy Technique was outstanding, his combat prowess was likely mediocre, perhaps even below average within the Profound Pill Sect.
After all, Han Yi had never taken a Foundation Establishment Stage Elder as his master and had never participated in the Inner and Outer Peak Great Competition, preferring to cultivate in seclusion.
Having reached the Seventh Layer five years prior and become a disciple of a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, she hadn't participated in the Cave Heaven Trial, but she had competed in the Inner Peak Great Competition, achieving a middling rank among Seventh Layer Qi Refining disciples. She was confident that her combat skills far surpassed Han Yi's.
Moreover, she believed that one should partner with Senior Brothers of higher cultivation levels. Teaming up with a disciple who had ranked among the top hundred in the Inner Peak Great Competition would not only guarantee safety but also make completing missions effortless.
Following this, the four continued chatting about Sect affairs, gossip, and various rumors for about half an hour before leaving the Immortal Chess Pavilion and returning to their respective courtyards.
Back in his courtyard, Han Yi felt a vague sense of unease regarding the New Policy. The intuition arose inexplicably, yet he trusted it implicitly.
"Ideally, I'd be assigned to the third batch," he mused. "That way, the disciples in the first two batches can gain experience that I can learn from."
Though he harbored this hope, he couldn't shake the feeling that reality would defy his expectations.
"Enough," Han Yi muttered. "Time to focus on cultivation."
"Even if I'm in the first batch, I won't back down."
After three years of diligent cultivation, Han Yi's strength was vastly improved.
Seated cross-legged in his meditation chamber, his eyes flickered slightly as a pale red panel materialized before him:
Name: Han Yi
Lifespan: 33/135
Cultivation Realm: Qi Refining Seventh Layer (29/100)
Cultivation Technique: Fire Astral Profound Art (Proficient 48/100)
Skills:
- Alchemy Technique (Perfected Purity 47/100)
- Spirit Void Finger (Perfected Purity 68/100)
- Sword Control Technique (Perfected Purity 59/100)
- Light Body Technique (Perfected Purity 93/100)
- Fire Shield Technique (Perfected Purity 19/100)
- Turtle Breath Technique (Perfected Purity 18/100)
- Li Fire Sword Manual (Hall Entry 48/100)
- Talisman Crafting Art (Initial Glimpse of the Dao 29/100)
Over the past three years, the changes on his Proficiency Panel had been subtle but steady. His lifespan, cultivation realm, and cultivation technique had all been updated.
A new skill, the Li Fire Sword Manual, had appeared on Han Yi's Proficiency Panel. Apart from the temporarily shelved Talisman Crafting Art, all his other skills were showing clear progress.
Cultivation wasn't a sprint; it required enduring solitude. As they say, the Immortal Path stretches endlessly onward.
"The Light Body Technique is progressing the fastest," Han Yi mused. "I need to seize this opportunity and push it to the next level."
"The Sword Control Technique and Spirit Void Finger become increasingly challenging as they advance. Patience is key; I can't afford to rush."
"The Li Fire Sword Manual is improving noticeably, but the Talisman Crafting Art hasn't made much progress in recent years. It can't be helped; time is too limited. I have to prioritize."
"Twelve years have passed since my transmigration," Han Yi sighed wistfully. "My Outpost Assignment still feels like yesterday."
He closed the panel and stepped into the Spirit-Locking Formation in his backyard to resume practicing the Light Body Technique.
Three days later, Han Yi received notification that he had been selected for the first batch of cultivators to "venture out."
Upon hearing the news, Han Yi felt no initial reaction.
But after discussing it with his close companions, his composure crumbled.
Luo Yunzhou, Yan Ru, and even Qi Hong hadn't made the cut for the first batch—only Han Yi had been chosen.
Han Yi wanted to curse.