The Mission Hall - the very place where tasks were distributed.
For Inner Sect disciples, completing missions earned them task points that could be directly exchanged for various resources.
As for Outer Sect disciples, their missions were essentially compulsory labor. The sect provided cultivation grounds and basic resources, and in return, Outer Sect disciples had to complete these missions.
Unlike the Outer Sect, Inner Sect disciples could choose whether to accept missions or not.
But for Outer Sect disciples, whether they wanted to or not, they had no choice but to accept!
And once accepted, they had to complete them properly. Failure was not an option!
Trying to get by with half-measures was impossible. The Mission Hall's Black-faced Manager wouldn't tolerate even the slightest mistake.
"I'm here, I'm here!" Qin Yang shouted repeatedly as he rushed into the Mission Hall.
Inside, Outer Sect disciples were handing in their completed missions. Upon seeing Qin Yang, they all burst into laughter.
"Now this is entertainment! Not just any disciple can receive a main peak mission. And he actually dared not complete it? What sheer audacity!"
"Slacking off on other missions might be forgiven, but this main peak mission involves cleaning the mountain gates... Tsk tsk tsk. Even if Qin Yang doesn't die today, he'll be skinned alive!"
The chatter made Qin Yang's scalp tingle. The main reason was the psychological shadow cast by the Black-faced Manager in his memories...
"Ah, Young Master Qin has graced us with his presence?" The Black-faced Manager lifted his head, baring his teeth in a grin.
"Indeed... he's as black as they come!" Qin Yang's spine tingled at the manager's sardonic tone.
"Care to explain yourself?" The Black-faced Manager crossed his legs, his dark visage alone enough to unnerve anyone.
"Um..." Qin Yang collected his thoughts. This manager was known for his strict adherence to rules - a man who demanded absolute honesty. With such a person, truth was the best policy.
Qin Yang cleared his throat. "I assure you, I didn't mean to slack off. There's a genuine reason for my absence."
The Black-faced Manager interlaced his fingers, adopting a story-telling posture. "Let's hear it then."
Other Outer Sect disciples paused their tasks, ears perking up.
The Outer Sect's Mission Hall was a hotbed of talent - and lies. When disciples spun their tales, even wandering poets' secret continent stories paled in comparison...
Qin Yang hesitated. "It's a rather long story..."
"Then make it short. No... just tell the whole thing. Take your time." The Black-faced Manager produced a handful of sunflower seeds from nowhere, shells flying in all directions.
Qin Yang's face was etched with frustration. This Black-faced Manager's antics are bad enough, but you lot bringing up folding chairs to watch the show? That's going too far!
"Um... so... I was about to go on a mission..."
"I'd just left Tiger Run Peak and hadn't reached Thousand Bamboo Peak when Zhou Shi and his group ambushed me..."
"They killed me, stole my jade pendant, and dragged me to the back mountains to bury me..."
The crowd listened raptly, even the Black-faced Manager showing genuine astonishment.
"Why? Over a jade pendant?" an outer disciple asked.
"Of course not! It was to make an example of me..." Qin Yang continued, spilling the entire sequence of events in one breath.
When he reached the fight with Sun Mu, the audience began to look skeptical.
As for the later confrontation with Li Niu at the Pill Dispensary and the subsequent dan refining competition, they lost all interest.
"Even if you make it sound convincing, this is just too ridiculous!"
"Li Niu? You could defeat him in a life-or-death duel?"
"You can refine pills? And you beat Elder Zhou?"
"We might have believed some of your earlier claims, but now you've gone overboard—telling this story with such wild abandon?"
The Black-faced Manager pondered for a moment before speaking. "Everything you've said seems highly plausible. But... you? Impossible."
He shook his head.
Qin Yang spread his hands. "Whether I could do it or not, wouldn't you know by asking around? There's no way to lie about this."
Everyone exchanged glances. If this were true...
Soon, new Outer Sect disciples arrived to claim missions. Among them was the very person who had witnessed everything at the Pill Dispensary earlier.
Upon seeing Qin Yang, he hurried over eagerly, showering him with praise as a hero and a big shot. He kept calling him "Senior Brother" this and "Senior Brother" that, acting like a devoted underling.
How could anyone doubt this now?
The way everyone looked at Qin Yang changed completely, now filled with reverence.
This was the law of the jungle! In the Outer Sect, Qin Yang had already become one of the strongest disciples!
The Black-faced Manager gave Qin Yang a deep look before suddenly asking, "What about Sun Mu? You only mentioned a great battle with him..."
Qin Yang smiled faintly. "What do you think?"
Everyone drew in a sharp breath. Though Qin Yang hadn't directly confirmed it to avoid trouble, who couldn't guess Sun Mu's fate?
"Hmm, very well. Your explanation holds up," the Black-faced Manager nodded.
Qin Yang's heart relaxed momentarily, then tensed again.
"This doesn't mean you're exempt from punishment," the Black-faced Manager said after a moment's consideration. "Your original task was to sweep the gates of Thousand Bamboo Peak. Now, as punishment, you'll sweep all the paths leading to the peak from the foot of the mountain to the gates. For a period of... one month!"
"What?" Qin Yang stared in disbelief. Sweeping from the foot of the mountain to the gates would take at least half a day!
"Ah, how pitiful. But that's the Black-faced Manager for you—always so ruthless!"
"This teaches us that no matter what happens, you must complete your tasks! Even if you die, finish your task first before dying..."
"What? You're not satisfied?" The corner of the Black-faced Manager's mouth twitched upward. "This is merely your deserved punishment. It doesn't count as one of the daily tasks Outer Sect disciples must complete. In other words, you still need to accept daily tasks—including today!"
The Black-faced Manager looked around at the numerous Outer Sect disciples accepting tasks and said slowly, "You seem to disapprove?"
All the Outer Sect disciples moved in unison, shaking their heads repeatedly.
"Why?" Qin Yang seethed inwardly. If this was the case, he wouldn't have even a moment of his own time! If it were anyone else, they'd have no time to cultivate for an entire month!
But this month was crucial! The Outer Sect Competition determined everyone's future destiny!
"You got a problem?" The Black-faced Manager narrowed his eyes.
"Qin Yang-shixiong, don't talk back to the Manager! You'll only make things worse!"
"That's right! He might punish you even more later!"
Several Outer Sect disciples whispered among themselves.
But Qin Yang refused to back down!
"Yes, and a big one!" Qin Yang enunciated each word clearly.
"Oh no! Even Elder Zhou avoids provoking the Black-faced Manager. How dare Qin Yang speak to him like that?"
"Elder Zhou always gives the Black-faced Manager a wide berth. This guy's not just any ordinary manager!"
"I remember seeing Dark Shadow Peak disciples here before. They were from the Disciplinary Hall, and they treated the Black-faced Manager with utmost respect..."
The Black-faced Manager stared at Qin Yang in silence before speaking. "If I explain the reason in a way that satisfies you, what then?"
"I'll comply without complaint!" Qin Yang declared. "But what if I still refuse?"
"Then I'll complete your month's worth of tasks for you. Including sweeping the mountain gates."
"Heavens! The Black-faced Manager normally only inspects disciple tasks. He never does any actual work. Offering this is like him betting his life savings!"
"Unacceptable! Unacceptable! Unacceptable!"
Some Outer Sect disciples heckled, knowing that making the Black-faced Manager work - especially sweeping the mountain gates - was as unlikely as a pig climbing a tree.
"Hmm?" The Black-faced Manager's glare silenced the mutterers, forcing all disciples to lower their heads.
"I'm all ears!" Qin Yang said.