The next morning during breakfast Wu Guang saw Yuan Taotu for the first time in the last four days. They did live in the same residence, but the latter had disappeared after saying something about training and did not come even during the night.

As both of them knew that today they would most probably leave the sect, they were dressed in their combat attire, which basically was the same sect robe but made of rune-cloth and engraved with a set of runes for defense. They had stored camping supplies and some rations in their holding pouches as well. Wu Guang was actually surprised after Yuan Taotu started carrying one right as they moved into the residence, but as he also had secrets decided to ignore it and did not ask anything. From a small exchange of words they had before leaving the residence that confirmed their preparations, Wu Guang also found out that Yuan Taotu had spent all of his points during these days. Judging from this, the total points they had right now were a pair of dozens Wu Guang had left on himself for ingredients, so a mission was really necessary.

They reached the same mission hall building from before, but this time they entered the white and decorated part of it. The first floor of this half was pretty similar to the one in the other half albeit it was more decorated and the boards were not made of simple but precious wood. Wu Guang had taken the same way as before and asked about the hall proceedings beforehand, so he knew that Inner disciples in the beginner Spirit realm could only take missions from this floor, while more advanced ones were directed to the second one. There was also the third floor, but it required either specialized skills or a strength comparable to the Soul realm, so it was extremely far from them right now.

As Yuan Taotu did not show any intention of interfering or even acting, Wu Guang was the one who walked around while looking at the missions. There were several groups of disciples present and judging from the fact that most groups were small, it was easy to guess they were teams. Wu Guang did not intend to meet any of them and as there was no one known to him, he neither felt the need to greet anyone, so he simply circled around them while walking.

They had discussed beforehand that the more points the better, but the most specific requisite was the possibility of combat, after all, they needed to gain experience. The danger was also discussed, but judging from the accommodation of missions by floor, no extreme danger would be found, so Wu Guang did not really pay attention to the notes indicating rating and danger and only concentrated on looking for missions that guaranteed combat - deciding to choose the most interesting one.

He quickly found a pair of missions that looked decent, the first one was a search and destroy mission against a small group of cultivators that turned bandits while the other was a scouting mission to locate a beast lair. Judging that bandits would be easier to read than an unknown beast, after all, lairs were normally built by Spirit beasts Wu Guang grabbed the search and destroy one.

Actually, there was a mission that interested Wu Guang far more, especially the fact that the location was an extremely old, ruined monastery. But he was not sure of their chances to fight a bunch of roaming spirits, after all, the latter was unaffected both by non-qi techniques and non-spirit weaponry. So he decided that if the mission was still there the next time, after all, it had no time limit, he would take it after getting a pair of offensive qi techniques more or at least a rune-weapon with the relevant rune for incorporeal enemies.

It seemed that combat missions as such were not very sought, as most of the disciples were standing around the boards that contained delivery and escort ones, so Wu Guang had no competing teams for the mission and after calling Yuan Taotu officially took it after registering it to their team through the mission hall outer elder that was sitting beside a counter located near the entrance. The details of the missions were given to them and after thanking the elder, the pair left the Hall before opening the scroll with the information and a map of the approximate search area.

The group that they would need to locate and either eliminate fully or at least bring their leader had no name and only a nickname of this leader was provided, being 'Big Chopper'.

The bandit group by the reports was composed of three advanced level Body realm cultivators, a bunch of mortal subordinates numbering not more than ten, and 'Big Chopper' which was the main target and by the rumors was a 1st level Spirit realm cultivator.

The payment was either 700 or 900 points, with the latter being for the full elimination so in the worse case they would get 350 points each, which could at least solve their point problem for this month.

The location marked on the map was a three-mile radius circle near a village called 'Rock Island'. This village was only a few dozens of miles from the Sect and did not have any overlord city, so their contact for the mission was the village elder. As both were prepared because they had decided to leave right away they did not return to the residence but walked towards the main gate. The gate was guarded by several disciples clad in grey robes, which signified their status as Disciplinary Palace disciples, being logical as after all the rules prohibited disciples without permission or not on missions to leave the sect. The one that was their leader, at least judging from the fact he was the one to be called after Wu Guang explained the motive of their leave checked the mission scroll, and after confirming the names written on the lowest part and their badges, indicated them that they may exit.

The journey to 'Rock Island' village was uneventful, after all, the road towards the direction started right from the 'Blue Tree City' east gate, so they did not enter the city. As their qi-infused leg muscles could let them run all the way, the pair indeed do so and arrived in the village before sunset. Wu Guang aside, Yuan Taotu also seemed to have no trouble running all the way, which was not surprising as he also had completed the Secret Heaven level.

The village was named correctly indeed, as it was located on a small hill that was the only elevation seen in the limitless flats that were natural to this part of the region. It was pretty big, housing around a thousand people, and was decently protected, as not only the expected wooden wall was present, but also a dozen or so watchtowers were seen behind it.

A commoner armed with a spear and dressed in simple leather robes was standing guard at the gate the pair neared and hastily reacted by taking an almost comical ready stance at their approach. But after telling him of their identities he calmed down and asking them to wait, he rushed inside the village but soon returned accompanied by a kind-looking middle-aged elder dressed in a clean commoner attire.

Approaching the pair he bowed while both introducing himself and confirming their identities

"Greetings. Do you two young masters come from the 'Three Hills Sect'? I am the village chief, Zhu Kuang"

"Indeed we are from the sect. We came here to deal with the bandits, could you share with us what you know" Said Wu Guang as they had decided to confirm the information before starting their hunt, especially as the villagers may know something more than the paltry information provided.

"Yes, yes. Let me prepare accommodations for you and then I will explain..."

"Not needed" interrupted Wu Guang before continuing in a more amiable tone

"Chief Zhu, just tell us about the bandits and we will leave right away. There is no better time to hunt bandits than the middle of the night, after all, no bandits would move or go in a raid when there is no one around"

"Well, I can't add much to what was written in the request to your sect, should I repeat it?"

"Please start from the beginning and don't omit anything. When did the bandits appear? From where they acted for the first time? Have they approached the village?"

"Understood" after musing this, the village chief took a breath before starting to recount everything he knew.