Hope made his way back to the Phoenix Cry Pavilion with the little one hugging his chest. The tiny creature nestled against him gave off a soothing warmth, and Hope found himself occasionally glancing down at it, his thoughts a mixture of curiosity and protectiveness. He’d already decided that keeping the little one would be a risk, but for now, it seemed harmless.

  It didn’t take long for them to arrive at the mission hall. As Hope stepped through the large wooden doors, the lively atmosphere hit him immediately. The mission hall was bustling with activity as disciples of varying ranks moved about, some haggling over missions, others discussing their recent adventures. The sound of conversation, laughter, and the occasional clinking of weapons filled the air.

  Scanning the room, Hope’s gaze landed on the same old man who had approved his mission two days prior. The elder sat behind the counter, his aged fingers idly stroking his long beard as he processed the requests of the disciples in front of him. Hope joined the queue, the little one’s head poking out of his robe occasionally to glance curiously at the surroundings.

  As he waited, Hope’s thoughts drifted back to the forest and the peril he had faced. The danger of the shadow panther, the sudden ambush by the Ember Phoenix Sect disciples, and his own desperate struggle to survive felt like a vivid dream. Now, standing here amidst the safety of the sect, it almost felt surreal. Yet, Hope knew this safety was a fragile illusion. The sect’s security would only last until a stronger force decided to invade, and then nowhere within these walls would be safe.

  His musings were cut short as the line in front of him dwindled, and he found himself face-to-face with the old man. The elder’s expression shifted to one of mild surprise as he recognized Hope.

  “Back already?” the old man asked, his voice laced with skepticism. “Don’t tell me you’re here to cancel the mission?”

  Hope’s gaze was steady as he replied, “I’m back. I brought the beast core with me.” His words were straightforward, carrying no hint of pride or exaggeration.

  The old man blinked, taken aback. For a moment, he stared at Hope as if trying to determine whether he was joking. “Did you… really bring the beast core from that shadow panther?” he asked, his tone almost hesitant.

  Without wasting any time, Hope reached into his bag with one hand and placed it on the counter. “You can check. It’s inside,” he said simply.

  The old man opened the bag, his experienced hands carefully parting its contents. As his eyes fell upon the dark, shimmering core nestled within, his expression changed. The beast core radiated a faint shadowy aura, unmistakably belonging to a rank 4 shadow panther.

  “Unbelievable” the old man muttered under his breath, his gaze shifting from the core to Hope. He scrutinized the young man as if seeing him in a new light. “An Outer Disciple… killed a rank 4 beast? Alone? You’re either incredibly skilled or incredibly lucky.”

  Hope said nothing, his calm demeanor unshaken by the elder’s astonishment. The old man eventually composed himself and nodded. “I’ve confirmed it. I’ll now give you the reward for the mission.” Reaching into thin air, the elder retrieved a small, jade-like pill that glowed faintly with a mystic aura. “Here is your Vital Core Pill, as promised.”

  Hope accepted the pill, holding it up to examine it briefly before tucking it into his robe. But his curiosity was piqued by how the elder had retrieved it. “Where did you take that from?” he asked.

  The old man chuckled, clearly expecting the question. “From my spatial ring,” he replied, holding up his hand to reveal a simple yet elegant silver ring adorned with faint runes.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Hope tilted his head. “Spatial ring? What is that?”

  “It’s an artifact forged to hold items,” the elder explained. “It contains its own pocket of space, allowing you to store objects. Very convenient, especially for cultivators who travel or take on missions.”

  Hope’s eyes lit up with interest. Such an artifact sounded immensely useful. He was about to ask more questions, but the old man raised a hand to stop him, a knowing smile on his face.

  “You can obtain one with contribution points” the elder said, leaning forward slightly. “The cheapest ring costs 1,000 points. Almost every disciple in the sect has one. It’s practically a necessity.”

  Hope’s expression grew resolute. “I’ll exchange 1,000 points for a ring” he said without hesitation.

  The old man nodded, already expecting this response. “Very well. Pass me your badge so I can deduct the points and register the transaction.”

  Hope reached into his bag and handed over his sect badge. The elder pressed his own badge against it, murmuring an incantation under his breath. A faint glow emitted from the badges before the elder handed Hope’s back, along with a plain silver ring.

  “This ring has a storage space of three cubic meters,” the old man explained. “To use it, send a bit of your Qi into the ring and will the object you want to store inside. To retrieve it, do the same but in reverse.”

  Hope slipped the ring onto his finger, his gaze thoughtful as he channeled a small amount of Qi into it. Almost immediately, he became aware of the ring’s internal space—a dark, void-like area that seemed to stretch infinitely within its modest boundaries. He willed his bag to enter the space, and in the blink of an eye, it disappeared.

  “This is so convenient” Hope thought to himself, marveling at the artifact. He nodded to the elder in thanks before turning to leave the hall. His next destination was already clear in his mind: the sect’s library.

  The little one, nestled against Hope’s chest, seemed utterly fascinated by the world around it. Its head swung from side to side, its bright eyes darting between the passing disciples, towering pavilions, and bustling sect activities. For a creature so young, it displayed an almost uncanny curiosity, as if it could somehow grasp the significance of everything happening around it.

  Hope kept a firm hand on the little one, ensuring it didn’t squirm free while he walked toward the library.

  As he entered, he spotted the same girl from his last visit standing by the entrance, helping disciples with their questions. Before approaching her, he paused to think, weighing his options carefully.

  ‘An Heaven-ranked technique or two Earth-ranked techniques and 1,000 contribution points left?’ he mused, his brows furrowing. Heaven-ranked techniques were undeniably rare and powerful, capable of elevating his combat potential to another level. Yet, two Earth-ranked techniques could help cover more of his weaknesses, giving him better versatility.

  He clenched his fist as he made his decision. ‘I don’t want to settle. A Heaven-ranked movement technique will help me survive and grow stronger.’

  With his mind made up, he walked up to the girl and greeted her.

  “I would like to choose a Heaven-ranked movement technique” he said confidently.

  The girl’s brows lifted slightly seeing him, but she maintained her composed demeanor. “Oh, it’s you. You want an Heaven-ranked technique? That’s a bold choice. Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure” Hope replied firmly. “It’s what I need right now.”

  She gave a small nod, her expression turning serious. “Very well. Follow me.”

  After leading him to the appropriate section, she gestured toward the jade slips. “The movement techniques are on the left. Once you’ve selected one, come back to me so I can register it to your badge.”

  Hope didn’t hesitate, scanning the jade slips until a few caught his attention. Sky Shadow Dance, Wind Gale Stride, Flickering Mirage and Phantom Steps.

  Each name carried a sense of mystery and power, but one stood out to him the most: Phantom Steps. The idea of using speed, agility, and deception to outmaneuver opponents was exactly what he needed.

  Without hesitation, he grabbed the jade slip and returned to the girl.

  “I picked this one” he said.

  She retrieved a crystal orb from beneath the counter. “Place your badge here.”

  Hope complied, watching as the orb glowed faintly while deducting 2,000 contribution points. She handed the badge back to him, along with the jade slip.

  “This technique is yours now. Don’t share it outside of the sect.” she explained. “Study it well. Heaven-ranked techniques are rare treasures, and mastering one will take time and effort.”

  Hope nodded in thanks, placing the jade slip inside his spatial ring. With that, he turned and left the library.

  It was time to improve.

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