The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow across the Cloud Mist Sect. I sat on a stone bench beneath a gnarled old tree, my breath steadying after the day's trials. The bruises from the spar with Lin Chen ached, but a small smile tugged at my lips. I had proven myself today—but that was only the beginning.
I closed my eyes, focusing on my breathing, letting the Qi flow through my meridians. A soft chime echoed in my mind.
╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ SYSTEM ALERT ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ A new mission has been issued. ║
║ Accept Secret Mission? [Y/N] ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
A secret mission? My heart raced. What could it be? Without hesitation, I mentally confirmed:
"Accept."
╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ SECRET MISSION ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Mission: Investigate the Forbidden Cave ║
║ Description: Deep within the Cloud Mist║
║ Mountains lies a cave sealed by ancient║
║ formation arrays. Legends say it hides ║
║ a treasure of immeasurable value—and ║
║ dangers beyond imagination. ║
║ Objective: Locate the cave and survive ║
║ its trials. ║
║ Reward: Rare Cultivation Technique + ║
║ significant Qi reward ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
My eyes widened. The Forbidden Cave? I'd overheard senior disciples whispering about it—a place where even elders rarely ventured.
"But System," I asked, "why send me? I'm only Body Refining Tier 2—barely Tier 3 after that spar."
╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ SYSTEM RESPONSE ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ • Host's potential has been detected. ║
║ • Mission is tailored to host's unique ║
║ abilities. ║
║ • Warning: Danger level is high. ║
║ Proceed with caution. ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
Danger level… high? My gut twisted in anticipation and fear.
But then I thought of my sister, of my father's dying wish, and of the pendant that had changed everything.
"I'll do it," I whispered.
╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ SYSTEM CONFIRMATION ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ • Secret Mission accepted. ║
║ • Location marked on host's map. ║
║ • Countdown initiated: 3 days to ║
║ complete objective. ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝
A small, glowing dot appeared on my mental map—deep in the western mountains. The Forbidden Cave awaited.
"Three days," I muttered. "Time to prepare."
I stood, rolling my shoulders. The wind rustled the leaves above me, as if whispering secrets only the daring could hear.
I would not fail. For my future, for my sister—and for the path that lay ahead.
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🌌 End of Chapter 8