Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Canglan Sect Outer Sect.

Gu Kong, as usual, finished cultivating in his courtyard and prepared to go to the Task Hall to secure a task.

The sect provides cultivation resources to outer sect disciples like them, but these resources are only sufficient for basic cultivation. To acquire more resources, one must either enter the Inner Sect or take on sect tasks, earning point rewards upon completion.

With these points, you can exchange for treasures you desire in the sect’s Treasure Vault.

”Junior Brother Gu, here to take on a task?”

The Task Hall was bustling, with people constantly coming in and out.

”Senior Sister, has the sect issued a batch of new tasks?”

Seeing so many senior and junior brothers coming and going, Gu Kong’s face showed a look of surprise. Though the Task Hall always had disciples coming to take and submit tasks, it was rarely this lively.

”I’ll tell you secretly, Steward Gao has issued a task to find a disciple within the sect. Just knowing the whereabouts of this disciple or providing information about them can earn you five hundred points.”

”Five hundred points?”

Gu Kong swallowed hard. As an outer sect disciple of his realm, doing three or four sect tasks a year would only earn him around a few dozen points per task. Even the more diligent senior brothers would only manage to earn five hundred points a year, which means they’d have to stop cultivating entirely and just take on tasks.

”It’s a task secretly issued by Steward Gao. We’re tasked with notifying disciples who come to take on tasks. Unfortunately, so far, thousands of outer sect disciples have come, yet none knew the whereabouts of the disciple Steward Gao is looking for. Also, Steward Gao instructed us to remind those disciples not to disclose the identity of the disciple being sought, but they are allowed to tell others that such a task exists, encouraging them to come to the Task Hall inquiring.”

Gu Kong nodded. No wonder the Task Hall was so bustling today. For a five hundred point task, any disciple who knew of it would come to the Task Hall to try their luck, as the trip wouldn’t take long anyway.

However, he was still puzzled. Why would Steward Gao search for the identity of a disciple among sect disciples when he could simply ask the elders? The Elder Hall holds the records of all the disciples who joined the sect.

”Junior Brother, what are you thinking?”

”Nothing. Senior Sister, are there any tasks suitable for me?”

”There are several tasks suitable for your realm, but they are too time-consuming. I’m afraid you wouldn’t want to take them. Why not try Steward Gao’s task? It’s worth five hundred points.”

”Senior Sister, so many senior brothers have tried and failed to find the whereabouts of the disciple Steward Gao is looking for. I don’t know many people in the sect, so it’s unlikely that I would have any chance...”

”The disciple’s name is Lin Chen.”

Gu Kong’s eyes suddenly widened, his words coming to an abrupt halt.

”Senior Sister, what did you say the disciple’s name was?”

”Lin Chen. Steward Gao only provided a name, nothing else.”

Gu Kong could feel his breath quicken. Lin Chen... If it was that Senior Brother Lin of Martial Arts Mountain, then everything would make sense.

Senior Brother Lin hasn’t officially joined the sect, he can only be called a reserve disciple, and he’s far away beyond the sea, with no chance to contact the sect.

Not that there wasn’t a chance; last time he was about to inform Steward He about Senior Brother Lin’s situation, but he was scolded by Senior Brother He before he could open his mouth.

...

...

”Is this where the elders reside?”

Following Steward Gao, Gu Kong grew increasingly apprehensive the further they went in. Although he was an outer sect disciple, he was familiar with the sect’s layout. The area Steward Gao was now leading him to was where the elders lived.

Could it be that an elder wants to know about Senior Brother Lin’s situation?

Gao Zeming didn’t know what Gu Kong was thinking behind him. When the Task Hall disciple brought Gu Kong to see him and he learned about Lin Chen from Gu Kong’s mouth, he immediately interrupted Gu Kong from saying anything further.

He didn’t want to hear, nor could he hear about Lin Chen’s news.

After two days, he also figured out a few things. Elder Du told him not to make it public or report to the Elder Hall, which likely meant he had some thoughts about this disciple.

Since that’s the case, he simply won’t bother learning about Lin Chen’s situation.

Secrets can’t be kept forever. If other elders find out and question him, he wouldn’t dare defy Elder Du, let alone other elders.

Now, bringing Gu Kong to Elder Du, if other elders question him later, he could plead ignorance about Lin Chen’s whereabouts, which was indeed true, avoiding any trouble from Elder Du later.

”We’ve arrived.”

With different thoughts in their minds, they quickly arrived at Du Xiaofeng’s residence.

”Elder Du!”

”Come in.”

Du Xiaofeng’s voice came from the courtyard as Gao Zeming pushed open the gate and led Gu Kong in, spotting Du Xiaofeng standing there. Gao Zeming quickly said, ”Elder Du, I have brought the outer sect disciple Gu Kong. Gu Kong has news regarding Lin Chen. I’ll take my leave now.”

Du Xiaofeng narrowed his old eyes, casting a meaningful glance at Gao Zeming. Knowing full well why Gao Zeming chose to leave, he said, ”Go ahead. I won’t forget your contribution. You’ll be rewarded in due time.”

”Thank you, Elder Du.”

Gao Zeming left pleased, thinking about what reward Elder Du might grant him, depending on Lin Chen’s talent.

Elder Du’s cover-up of all this was merely a ploy to take Lin Chen as a direct disciple, wasn’t it?