Rise of the Sword Son-in-Law

Chapter 79 Sect Mission

"Greetings to the Sect Leader!"

The five bowed to Dugu Tianyu.

"There’s no need for such formalities," Dugu Tianyu said with a smile.

He still had a warm and gentle aura.

Xu Ping’an couldn’t help but smile inwardly, having gotten to know Dugu Tianyu better over this period.

Indeed, Dugu Tianyu was a figure of remarkable caliber; despite his benevolent smile, when he needed to be ruthless, he would surely surpass anyone in ferocity.

"Xu Ping’an, you’ve reached the Third Layer of the Meridian Opening Realm?" Dugu Tianyu asked, smiling at Xu Ping’an.

At these words, Li Qingyi, Tang Qingheng, and the others all contracted their pupils in surprise.

The Third Layer of the Meridian Opening Realm?

Hadn’t he just broken through to the Third Rank?

How could he possibly have reached the Third Layer of the Meridian Opening Realm?

Xu Ping’an replied with a slight smile, "I got lucky and managed to open up three Mysterious Veins in one go."

"Pfft!"

The Great Elder, sitting nearby, spat out a mouthful of tea, his face filled with shock.

Opening three Mysterious Veins in one go?

Long Yan, Tang Qingheng, and Zhao Kai also looked stupefied.

Li Qingyi was likewise astonished.

She had initially thought that Xu Ping’an had only broken through to the First Layer of the Meridian Opening Realm, but now she learned that he had already reached the Third Layer.

Just how strong was Xu Ping’an at the Third Layer of the Meridian Opening Realm?

Nobody knew.

"Is that even possible?" Long Yan asked incredulously.

"It is, but it requires consuming a large amount of energy. You should have had fifteen Superior Grade Jade Spirit Pills over five days, did you use them all?" Dugu Tianyu inquired.

"Yes, not just the Jade Spirit Pills, Meridian Opening Pills, and all one hundred and ten drops of spirit marrow were used, just to open up three Mysterious Veins, and I practically didn’t reach a quarter of the fourth vein," Xu Ping’an responded.

Upon hearing this, the corners of Long Yan and the others’ mouths twitched.

Only three veins?

From his tone, it seemed he was far from satisfied!

But the resources this guy used were truly extravagant!

Dugu Tianyu shook his head helplessly.

Xu Ping’an really didn’t regard these resources as treasures at all, using everything he could.

Of course, his original intention for providing resources was to help sect disciples quickly improve their strength.

Therefore, Xu Ping’an’s approach was exactly in line with his wishes.

"Junior brother Ping’an, I still have ninety drops of spirit marrow, if you need them…" Li Qingyi said hastily.

"No need, the spirit marrow is good, but its effects on opening meridians are still lacking," Xu Ping’an declined, shaking his head.

Long Yan and the others exchanged looks and eventually just smiled bitterly.

Li Qingyi was offering resources proactively, and this guy actually found them unsatisfactory; if the other inner sect disciples knew, they would probably be livid to the point of spitting blood.

"If you want to open up your meridians quickly, this mission will indeed suit your interest," Dugu Tianyu said with a smile.

"Oh? What mission?" Xu Ping’an asked curiously.

The other four also showed signs of curiosity.

They only knew it was an urgent mission, but not the details.

Now hearing that it concerned opening meridians, they too were curious about what exactly the task entailed.

"Do you know where in the Tianlong River Basin our Beichen Sword Sect is located?" Dugu Tianyu asked.

"Central part," Tang Qingheng replied. "The Beichen Sword Sect is situated in the central region of the Tianlong River Basin. Human cities are mostly upstream, while downstream passes through the Wilderness Forest, stretching all the way to the East Sea."

"Correct, our Beichen Sword Sect is indeed at the central region of the Tianlong River Basin. To the east of the Beichen Sword Sect is the Wilderness Forest, through which the Tianlong River Basin runs, extending out 3,600 kilometers all the way to the East Sea," Dugu Tianyu responded.

No one replied as they continued to listen.

Dugu Tianyu continued, "But do you know why there are basically no powerful aquatic demon beasts upstream in the Tianlong River Basin?"

"It’s because the Beichen Sword Sect is situated here, having established the Demon-suppressing Sword Tower, preventing powerful aquatic demon beasts from downstream from entering the upstream region," Li Qingyi responded.

This was something everyone knew.

The fact that the Beichen Sword Sect was here also brought benefits to the people of the area.

Thus, the cities upstream held the Beichen Sword Sect in such high regard, and not merely because of the Sect’s strength.

"Indeed, but as time has passed, the pressures we, the Beichen Sword Sect, face have grown increasingly severe. Just a few days ago, we discovered a large number of aquatic demon beasts beginning to assault the Demon-suppressing Sword Tower, attempting to break into the upstream regions. Now, many of our Inner Sect Elders are stationed at the Demon-suppressing Sword Tower," Dugu Tianyu said.

"Does the Sect Master want us to also take up positions at the Demon-suppressing Sword Tower to slay the invading aquatic demon beasts?" Zhao Kai inquired.

However, Dugu Tianyu shook his head.

"The Demon-suppressing Sword Tower is guarded by several Elders, and for now, those aquatic demon beasts cannot break through. You have been summoned for another matter," the Great Elder said, his expression somewhat grave.

Everyone felt puzzled.

"The reason the Demon-suppressing Sword Tower can suppress the demon beasts is not only due to our Sect’s strength but also because of the Demon-suppressing Sword Formation inherent to the tower itself," Dugu Tianyu said with a serious look on his face.

"After hundreds of years, the Demon-suppressing Sword Formation has worn down extremely seriously, and some parts have even begun to deteriorate and are in urgent need of repair."

"Eight hundred miles downstream from our Beichen Sword Sect, in the Tianlong River Basin, there’s an island in the river known as Ten Thousand Beast Island," Dugu Tianyu said.

"Ten Thousand Beast Island? Heavenly Star Stones? Does the Sect Master want us to retrieve these Sword Stones to repair the Demon-suppressing Sword Formation?"

Xu Ping’an immediately understood.

Dugu Tianyu nodded.

Sure enough, upon hearing the name, Xu Ping’an knew what was going on.

"What are these Heavenly Star Stones?" Tang Qingheng and the others didn’t understand.

"Heavenly Star Stones are actually a kind of extraterrestrial material. However, they contain an extremely powerful mystical energy which can be integrated into a sword array, unleashing immense power," Dugu Tianyu explained.

Everyone nodded in understanding.

Xu Ping’an didn’t speak, but he knew even more.

Heavenly Star Stones came from beyond the earth and contained very strong energy, known as starforce.

This kind of starforce cannot be absorbed by humans, so it’s only used in formations and the like.

However, the presence of Heavenly Star Stones is certain to cause the flora and demon beasts in the area to mutate.

Such mutated flora will become much stronger, but it will also produce a type of treasure known as the Spirit of Wood.

This type of treasure, after ten years, would be considered a Spiritual Treasure, and after a hundred years, it would already be counted as a priceless treasure.

And the Spirit of Wood, for those in the Meridian Opening Realm, provides enormous spiritual benefits.

Ingesting a ten-year-old Spirit of Wood could instantly open up a Mysterious Vein.

One could only imagine how valuable the Spirit of Wood really is.

Of course, mutated flora would become strong, and so would the demon beasts.

Thus, Ten Thousand Beast Island could be said to be extremely dangerous.

"This time, I will have Tenth Elder Yu Xin accompany you on the journey," Dugu Tianyu said.

Having said this, a beautiful woman entered from outside the great hall.

The beautiful woman appeared to be in her thirties, full of charm.

Yet her cultivation was extremely strong, having already reached the Sixth Layer of the Fourth Rank.

This level of power could be considered quite good even among the Inner Sect Elders.