The next morning, the Mission Hall of Heavenly Cloud Sect was crowded with disciples looking for tasks.
Liu Tian stood in front of the huge mission board when an inner sect elder called his name loudly.
"Liu Tian! You have been selected for your first official sect mission."
Liu Tian stepped forward. The elder handed him a golden mission scroll.
Mission: Investigate the Abnormal Beast Activity in the Crimson Mist Forest
Difficulty: Medium
Team: Three people
Members:
Liu Tian (Outer Disciple, Team Leader)
Mu Qing (Inner Disciple)
Feng Lan (New Inner Disciple)
Duration: 7 days
Reward: 800 Sect Contribution Points + 1 Mid-Grade Spirit Stone + Optional Personal Reward
Liu Tian's lips curled into a dangerous smile as he read the names.
The elder continued, "This mission requires teamwork. The three of you will leave immediately. Any failure to cooperate will result in heavy punishment."
As soon as Liu Tian left the hall, he found both girls waiting for him at the sect gate.
Mu Qing stood with her arms crossed, her long black ponytail swaying. Her face was cold, but there was a visible trace of embarrassment and confusion in her sharp phoenix eyes whenever she looked at him. After last night's intense encounter, she could no longer maintain her usual complete arrogance in front of him.
Feng Lan stood a few steps away, her silver hair shining coldly. Her beautiful face was filled with obvious hostility and disbelief.
"You?" Feng Lan's voice was sharp. "You are the team leader? A mere outer disciple who was trash just days ago? This must be a mistake!"
Mu Qing glanced at Feng Lan coldly, then at Liu Tian. Her cheeks flushed slightly as memories of being fucked against the wall flashed in her mind.
"I don't want to work with either of you," Mu Qing said icily, "but since it's a sect mission, I have no choice."
The tension between the three was thick enough to cut with a sword.
Liu Tian looked at both proud beauties and spoke calmly, his voice carrying a hidden commanding tone.
"Since I'm the team leader, you two will follow my orders during this mission. Any complaints can be saved for after we return."
Feng Lan sneered. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Liu Tian. Just because you somehow reached Foundation Establishment doesn't mean—"
She stopped mid-sentence, eyes widening in shock.
"Foundation Establishment?! How… when did you…?"
Mu Qing also looked stunned. She had felt his aura last night, but hearing it confirmed in public made her heart tremble.
Liu Tian activated his Qi Concealment slightly, hiding his exact realm again, and smiled faintly.
"You'll find out soon enough. Let's move. The Crimson Mist Forest is two days away."
The journey was filled with heavy silence and rising tension.
Feng Lan kept throwing cold glances at Liu Tian, clearly disturbed by his sudden rise in power and confidence. Mu Qing walked in silence, but every time Liu Tian got close to her, her body would tense up and a faint blush would appear on her cheeks. The Seduction Aura he occasionally released made both girls unconsciously press their thighs together from time to time.
At night, when they set up camp, the atmosphere became even more charged.
While Mu Qing was meditating, Liu Tian approached her quietly.
"Senior Sister Mu," he said softly so only she could hear, "how is your body feeling after last night?"
Mu Qing's eyes snapped open. Her face turned red with a mix of anger and shame.
"Shut up!" she hissed quietly. "Don't mention that night ever again!"
But her voice lacked its usual sharpness. Liu Tian leaned closer, letting a light wave of Seduction Aura wash over her.
Mu Qing bit her lip hard, her breathing becoming slightly unsteady.
"You… you're despicable…" she whispered, but there was no real threat in her tone anymore. A small part of her pride had already been chipped away.
Feng Lan watched them from afar with narrowed eyes, clearly sensing something strange between them, which only made her more irritated.
On the third day, they finally entered the Crimson Mist Forest.
The mission was to investigate why the spirit beasts in the area had become unusually aggressive and were attacking nearby villages.
As they moved deeper into the misty forest, Liu Tian suddenly stopped.
"Something's wrong," he said.
Before anyone could react, a deafening roar shook the trees.
Three powerful Foundation Establishment stage spirit beasts — a giant Crimson Flame Tiger, a venomous Mist Python, and a raging Stone Armored Bear — burst out from the thick fog, charging straight toward them.
The beasts' eyes were blood-red and filled with unnatural madness.
Mu Qing drew her sword instantly, her face turning serious.
"These are not normal beasts! Their strength is at least early Foundation Establishment!"
Feng Lan also summoned her ice qi, but her expression showed clear tension.
Liu Tian gripped Crimson Fang, his eyes gleaming with excitement and battle intent.
The first real team battle had turned into a life-and-death crisis.
The three powerful beasts attacked simultaneously, forcing the trio into a desperate defensive formation.