Chapter 56

It was still a mission scroll.

However, this mission scroll was brand new, clearly issued recently.

"Read it to him," Luo Tian said, nodding at Han Muye.

Han Muye stepped forward and picked up the mission scroll.

"Luo Tian, an inner disciple of the Nine Profound Sword Sect, has completed the demon-hunting mission, slaying one fox demon that escaped from the Fierce Demon Valley, rewarded with thirty merit points."

Han Muye read out the text on the mission scroll.

Luo Tian snorted coldly and said, "There won't be any issues with the time this time, right? This mission was completed last month."

Huang Lao Liu sat there, his expression not good.

As a sword observer at the Sword Pavilion, if people respected you, you were a senior disciple, and they would offer you respect.

If people looked down on you, you were less than a menial in the sect.

The person in front of him looked down on the sword observers.

Holding the mission scroll, Han Muye said calmly, "A demon beast that escaped from the Fierce Demon Valley back then?"

"This mission is not easy to complete."

During lunch, Lu Gao and Huang Lao Liu talked about the battle at the Fierce Demon Valley.

The Fierce Demon Valley was eighty thousand miles south of the Nine Profound Sword Sect, with powerful demons residing there.

This place was far from the Nine Profound Sword Sect's main gate and bordered the Great Profound Sword Sect, where the Nine Profound Sword Sect's control was almost non-existent.

It was a no-man's land.

For hundreds of years, demons that had cultivated to a certain level had gathered in the Fierce Demon Valley, causing significant disturbances.

Among them, the Great Spirit Sword Sect, which was once the third of the four major sword sects, provided support from behind.

Until a dozen years ago, the Fierce Demon Valley killed a Nine Profound Sword Sect disciple, provoking a fierce retaliation from the Nine Profound Sword Sect.

A battle flattened the Fierce Demon Valley, severely injuring the Great Elder who had formed a demon core, and blocking the Great Spirit Sword Sect disciples hiding in the Fierce Demon Valley, slaying the Great Spirit Sword Sect's elite elders.

This battle was fought in the name of human justice by the Nine Profound Sword Sect, and it also stripped the Great Spirit Sword Sect of its prestige, causing it to fall behind and be overtaken by the Nine Profound Sword Sect.

However, such a battle came at a great cost to the Nine Profound Sword Sect.

And the aftereffects lasted for ten years.

Within a ten-thousand-mile radius of the Fierce Demon Valley, the scattered demons rebelled, causing the Nine Profound Sword Sect to be busy with suppression.

It was too far, and the reach was limited.

Sending a large army was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Sending a few disciples might result in the demons, relying on their natural abilities and familiarity with the terrain, turning the tables.

Out of necessity, the Nine Profound Sword Sect issued demon-hunting mission scrolls, rewarding any disciples or sect members who killed demon beasts with merit points.

Just like the recent mission to pursue Qin Yuanhe.

The demon-hunting mission was long-term and quite dangerous, and in recent years, few people were willing to take it, and even fewer could complete it.

Luo Tian, although an inner disciple, was not guaranteed to complete it.

A fox demon, with its cultivation and combat strength, was no small matter.

"Hmph, is the time on the mission scroll correct?" Luo Tian turned his head impatiently to look at the rows of wooden racks, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"If it's correct, I'll go choose my sword."

Han Muye held the mission scroll and nodded, "It's correct, go ahead."

Huang Lao Liu remained silent with a stern face.

Sword observers could make things difficult for those picking swords, but since the other party was well-prepared, he had no choice.

"You're much more sensible than this old man."

Luo Tian sneered, grabbed the mission scroll from in front of Huang Lao Liu, and strode toward the wooden racks.

He did not stop at the nearby wooden racks.

His gaze did not fall on any of the swords.

Huang Lao Liu frowned and stood up.

Han Muye shook his head.

In a moment, Luo Tian held a sword and walked back to the long table.

"I'll take this sword."

Seeing the sword in his hand, Huang Lao Liu's expression was strange. He pondered for a moment and then said with a grin, "Alright, alright, you can take this sword."

Luo Tian turned to leave, but Han Muye suddenly spoke up.

"Wait, the sword-picking procedure isn't complete yet."

He walked to the long table, opened a book, and extended his hand, "Give me the sword."

There's still a procedure to complete?

Luo Tian frowned and handed the long sword to Han Muye with a look of impatience.

Han Muye held the long sword, one hand on the table, and the other hand on the book, "Inner disciple Luo Tian, you want to take this long sword as your personal sword, right?"

Luo Tian nodded.

Han Muye spread the book and looked up, "What about your previous sword?"

"Unless it's for an external mission, inner disciples must surrender their previous swords when picking a new one. You've heard of this rule, right?"

Luo Tian's face stiffened.

He had heard of this rule.

But few people actually followed it.

A regular sword was generally worth a few dozen to a hundred spirit stones.

An inner disciple's personal sword was not cheap, especially those mixed with spirit materials, each costing thousands or even tens of thousands of spirit stones.

Many people, once they had the opportunity to pick a new sword, would immediately dispose of their previous one.

The sect turned a blind eye to this.

Those who dared to do this were fearless.

But now, Han Muye was being serious, and he had no choice.

"My sword isn't here. How about this, I'll bring it tomorrow?" Luo Tian forced a smile and handed over a merit voucher.

Even this can be squeezed for some profit!

Huang Lao Liu turned to look at Han Muye.

This kid is really talented, making everyone who comes to pick a sword pay up!

Lu Gao, who was peeking from the doorway, was full of admiration.

Today, I've seen Senior Brother Han's skills.

Such a person would find it hard not to prosper.

Han Muye turned and gave Huang Lao Liu a nod.

Huang Lao Liu unceremoniously took the merit voucher.

Han Muye smiled slightly and slowly lifted his hand from the sword.

Luo Tian breathed a sigh of relief and reached for the sword.

"Slap!"

Han Muye's hand suddenly pressed down on the sword, looking at Luo Tian with a stern expression.

"Inner disciple Luo Tian, for damaging a sword without cause, you are not allowed to enter the Sword Pavilion for three years, and the merit points for picking a sword will be doubled after three years."

"This is recorded in our Sword Pavilion."

"Didn't the person who helped you change your sword last time explain this to you?"

Han Muye's eyes stared at Luo Tian, a faintly stern look in his eyes.

"Without the qualification to pick a sword, you擅自闯入剑阁，自己去执法堂领受惩罚吧。"

At the entrance of the Sword Pavilion, Lu Gao's mouth was wide open.

Huang Lao Liu, holding the merit voucher, looked bewildered.

The arrogant Luo Tian had just turned from a sword picker into an intruder.

This sudden change was all under Han Muye's control.

Turning the tide!

Luo Tian's face alternated between red and white, his eyes twitching.

His gaze moved from the sword Han Muye was pressing to his eyes, which now showed a cold and murderous intent, staring at Han Muye.

"Good, good, you are very good."

He gritted his teeth, reached for the mission scroll to kill the fox demon.

Han Muye pressed down with his hand, saying calmly, "After you go to the enforcement hall and receive your punishment, you can take this."

Luo Tian's hand clenched tightly, gritting his teeth, he stepped back, left the Sword Pavilion, and then turned and walked away.

Only then did Lu Gao, who was at the entrance, take a deep breath.

Is this what a sword observer is?

Huang Lao Liu looked at Han Muye, his gaze on the sword he was pressing, and muttered, "Actually, let him take the sword. After all, this sword will come back soon."

This sword was previously the sword of Ji Yuan, the eighth outer disciple.

It was also the sword that Su Yang, an inner disciple, had taken.

And it was the sword that Zhu Guangsheng had just returned.

It was also the sword that almost killed Han Muye back then.

If Luo Tian took this sword, he would likely meet his end.

Han Muye stood up, shook his head, took the sword and the mission scroll, and turned to walk toward the stairs of the Sword Pavilion.

"I'm going to see the elder."

He paused and continued, "Luo Tian is arrogant, but he doesn't necessarily deserve to die."

"Even if he does, he shouldn't die by this sword."

"Moreover, since we know this sword is evil, we shouldn't let him take it."

"We are sword observers, and this is our duty."

"Observing swords, observing people, and observing our own hearts."

With that, he stepped up the stairs.

Watching him go up, Huang Lao Liu's expression was complex, and he finally sighed, "No wonder the elder passed the sword cultivation technique to you."

"You are the one who has the qualifications to be the sword observer of the Sword Pavilion..."

With that, he raised his foot and walked up the stairs.