Chapter 76: Holy City, Mission

【This is your first mission after joining the Immortal Treasure Pavilion, the Holy City!】

Zhang Wuji brought you to the northern center, to a city wrapped in a mysterious power: the Holy City!

【You study the ruined, gloomy city before you. For a fleeting instant, you see the Holy City as it once was, crowded with people. Then the scene abruptly changes. An evil aura descends upon the Holy City and unleashes a devastating blow upon the cultivators within.】

【"Save me, please save me!" You see a female cultivator. Before she dies, she desperately reaches out to you, hoping to be rescued.】

【Like a bystander, you quietly watch the scene within the Holy City.】

【Under this evil aura, almost every cultivator in the Holy City is powerless to resist, forced to wait for death.】

【In a single night, you watch helplessly as the Holy City, once thriving beyond compare, becomes a silent city of the dead. Every cultivator within dies!】

【A feeling of death spreads through your heart.】

【Seeing that something is wrong with you, Zhang Wuji hurriedly wakes you!】

【The scene cut off abruptly. You snap back to your senses. That aura from the vision still fills you with lingering fear. You do not know what despair the cultivators of the Holy City must have felt back then.】

【"Are you alright, Fellow Daoist?" Seeing you recovering, Zhang Wuji let out a breath of relief and explained.】

【"The Holy City was once the most prosperous city in the north. Overnight, every cultivator within died, and it became what it is now."】

【"Under this strange aura, only Nascent Soul stage cultivators can barely enter. Any other cultivator who enters is certain to die!"】

【"And even Nascent Soul stage cultivators risk falling into demonic deviation after entering!"】

【After hearing Zhang Wuji's explanation, you ask, "So, why did you bring me here?"】

【"To protect an employer, and get her out of the Holy City alive!" Zhang Wuji drew a deep breath and said.】

【"Once the mission is complete, you will be rewarded with a thousand contribution points, enough to directly raise your identity token to green."】

【At this, Zhang Wuji looked at you gravely and said solemnly, "You cannot refuse this mission, because the Pavilion Master arranged it specifically for you!"】

【You understood. A Fusion realm expert had personally issued the mission. You truly had no right to refuse.】

Since I cannot resist, I can only accept it gladly. You thought to yourself.

【"So, who am I protecting?" You glance around and find quite a few cultivators here.】

【"Follow me." Zhang Wuji leads you to find the employer.】

【You stop in your tracks, looking at the black-robed cultivators before you, your brow furrowing slightly, simply because you have seen these people before.】

【Before long, a masked female cultivator steps out of the tent, fixing her gaze on you and sizing you up.】

【"Ahem, this is the person you are to protect on this trip, Miss Xiang."】

【"Miss Xiang, this is the Dao Protector the Immortal Treasure Pavilion specially selected for you, Fellow Daoist Wuji!" Zhang Wuji introduces the two of you to each other.】

【"Hello." Out of courtesy, you speak up first to greet her.】

【"Hmph!" Xiang Wanqing had clearly recognized you, but only gave a cold snort and said nothing more.】

【You frown and study Xiang Wanqing for a moment, then ask Zhang Wuji, "Are there any other requirements for this mission?"】

【"The Pavilion Master has only two requirements for you. First, protect Xiang Wanqing. Do not let him die in the Holy City!"】

【"Second, while protecting Xiang Wanqing, you must also ensure your own safety. The Pavilion Master wants to see you once you leave the Holy City!" Zhang Wuji explains via voice transmission.】

【You glance around at the cultivators from various factions and ask Zhang Wuji, "If someone attacks me, can I kill them?"】

【Zhang Wuji smiled and said again, "As long as you complete this mission, no matter who you kill, the Pavilion Master can protect you!"】

【You understood. With those words, you had nothing to fear!】

【"Alright, I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first. If you have any problems, Fellow Daoist, you can contact me through your token." Zhang Wuji waves his hand, turns, and leaves.】

【"Wanqing, who came?" Not long after Zhang Wuji left, a man steps out of the tent.】

【Xiang Wanqing glanced at the man. Her masked face showed no expression as she walked straight back into the tent, without saying a single word the entire time.】

【Wang Qiang's brow furrowed slightly, his expression ugly.】

【Seeing this, a black-robed man hurriedly stepped forward and introduced. "Young Master Wang, this is the one the Immortal Treasure Pavilion sent to protect the young miss."】

【Wang Qiang's eyes widened in sudden understanding. He walked up to you with a smile, reached out, and patted your shoulder. "Work hard, youngster. When you return, I will put in a good word for you with your Pavilion Master!"】

【As he patted your shoulder, a stream of spiritual power poured into your body, circulating through your limbs and bones, as if searching for something.】

【Your brow furrowed. You reverse your grip on the hand patting your shoulder and apply a bit of force. Wang Qiang's wrist is crushed in your grasp.】

【"Hiss!" The immense pain is unbearable for Wang Qiang. "Let go, let go now!!!"】

【"How dare you!"】

【"Release Young Master Wang!"】

【"Brat, you must be tired of living!"】

【A group of black-robed men snapped to their senses and hastily surrounded you, spiritual power stirring in their hands.】

【You smile disdainfully and kick Wang Qiang into the crowd, saying to the black-robed men, "A bunch of trash!"】

【"You!" The black-robed men were furious, but none dared to strike first.】

【"How dare you hit me! Get him, all of you, kill him!" Wang Qiang rubbed his stomach where you kicked him, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, and pointed at you furiously.】

【"Everyone, stop! I dare you to try!" Xiang Wanqing suddenly appears, stopping this great battle before it erupts.】

【The black-robed men hesitate, glancing at Wang Qiang from time to time.】

【Xiang Wanqing was furious. "Are you the Xiang family's guards, or the Wang family's guards?"】

【At this, the black-robed men finally quieted down and silently retreated to the side.】

【Wang Qiang looked at you with a gloomy expression, a flash of killing intent in his eyes.】

【You catch this killing intent quickly. In your heart, you have already sentenced Wang Qiang to death!】

Once we enter the Holy City, it will be your day to die!

【With Xiang Wanqing's intervention, the farce ends, and the various factions watching from the sidelines disperse.】

【Before leaving, Xiang Wanqing glances at you and says via voice transmission, "Wang Qiang is the type to repay the smallest grievance. If you do not want to die, stay close to me once we enter the Holy City. I will protect you!"】

【Hearing this, you feel somewhat surprised. Was I being protected?】