I want to tread the heavens

The journey home felt both shorter and longer than the journey there.

The pace quickened unconsciously, burdened by a heavy heart and a burning hope. It felt long because body and mind had been thoroughly wrung out, every bone aching, every breath aggravating hidden wounds. The wind that swept across their faces carried the bone-chilling cold of a desolate night, yet it couldn't dispel the lingering, nauseating stench of burnt flesh, blood, and ancient grave soil.

Fa Cai walked beside him, its silver-gray fur appearing somewhat dull in the faint starlight, stained with dust and dried dark dirt. It still moved with strength, but the exhaustion from the battle was clearly visible. Behind them followed Zhou Tong and two others. The atmosphere was oppressively tense, broken only occasionally by footsteps and heavy breathing. Wang Meng carried a heavy bundle wrapped in tattered cloth on his back, containing the remains of the evil cultivator and the shattered corpse-controlling bell as proof. A Li's face remained pale; she occasionally raised her hand to press her temples, the brief mental clash with the "Soul Fiend" clearly shaking her consciousness. Zhou Tong, on the other hand, seemed somewhat uneasy, his small eyes constantly glancing unconsciously at Ling Xiao and Fa Cai before quickly looking away. He polished the brass compass in his hand until it gleamed, as if drawing some sense of security from it.

The two Wind Chasing Beasts tied to the roadside were unharmed, and snorted impatiently when they returned. Remounting, the cold saddle and reins pressed against their aching muscles; it wasn't pleasant, but better than walking.

The rest of the journey passed in silence, accompanied only by the sound of the wind. Only when the towering silhouette of Luoxing City, like the spine of a giant beast, appeared on the horizon did Zhou Tong seem to come alive, letting out a long breath and muttering softly, "Finally... finally back."

Yes, they were back. Watching the colossal structure symbolizing order and security draw ever closer, Ling Xiao felt little relief. The bronze mission token in his arms and the relic of the heretical cultivator on his back felt like two red-hot irons. Was the mission… complete? The source of the "Yin Demon" in Ghost Cry Town had been eradicated, the corpse puppet destroyed, and its controller brought to justice. By the standards of the bounty notice, it was undoubtedly complete. But could the "direct recommendation qualification" and the spirit stone reward really be obtained so easily? Would the City Lord's Mansion accept their hastily assembled, manpower-depleted, scattered cultivator team? Would there be other complications?

By the time they approached the city gate, the sky was already turning a pale dawn. The guards at the gate were even more vigilant than during the day. While checking identities and entry permits, their gazes lingered for a long time on this blood-soaked, vaguely menacing, and disheveled group. When Ling Xiao presented the bronze mission token and the relic of the evil cultivator, the guards' expressions visibly changed. After a careful inspection, they waved them through, but their eyes held an indescribable look—was it surprise, or something else?

The city streets were sparsely populated, with only early-rising vendors preparing to open for business. The air was crisp and cool, carrying the scent of night dew, finally washing away some of the grime brought back from the wilderness. However, the gazes directed at them seemed to have increased considerably since they left. No longer were they completely indifferent, but rather filled with inquiry, curiosity, and even a hint of barely perceptible... wariness.

"Go directly to 'Sihai Tower' to turn in the mission?" Zhou Tong leaned closer, lowered his voice, and asked, his tone both obsequious and eager. With the reward fast approaching, he couldn't contain himself.

"Let's go back to our lodgings first. We'll rest for a bit. We'll go to Sihai Tower at Chenshi (7-9 AM)." Ling Xiao replied. He needed time to clean himself up, change into dry clothes, and more importantly, he needed to be alone with Fa Cai to deal with the residual evil energy eroding his body.

Zhou Tong opened his mouth as if to say something, but meeting Ling Xiao's calm yet unquestionable gaze, he swallowed his words and said with a forced smile, "Yes, yes, Brother Ling is very considerate. We should rest. Let's meet at the entrance of Sihai Tower at Chenshi (7-9 AM)!"

At a fork in the road, the group parted ways. Zhou Tong and his two companions seemed to have a fixed place to stay and left in a hurry. Ling Xiao, leading the Wind Chaser Beast and with Fa Cai by his side, walked through the gradually awakening alleys that were beginning to bustle with noise, and returned to the dilapidated little courtyard in the western city.

The courtyard gate remained silent. After bolting the gate and securing it with a wooden stick, Ling Xiao led the Wind Chaser into the shed and fed it the last bit of hay. The first thing he did was draw water from the well and wash himself from head to toe. The icy well water washed away the blood, dirt, and the uncomfortable stickiness on his skin, slightly easing his overly tense nerves. Fa Cai, meanwhile, splashed around in a broken earthenware basin, shaking himself violently, water droplets flying everywhere, as if trying to shake off all the impurity.

He changed into the relatively clean coarse cloth clothes "sponsored" by Zhou Tong and others, and sat on the threshold of the main hall, watching Fa Cai pace around in the courtyard, his silver-gray hair slowly regaining its luster in the gradually brightening sunlight. He took out the bronze mission token, which felt cold and heavy in his hand.

"We've made a fortune...it seems like we've done something quite significant."

Fa Cai walked over and rubbed his still-damp head against his hand, conveying a clear and steady message: "We've done what we needed to do. Now, let's take what we're entitled to."

With its enhanced intelligence, it expressed itself more directly and was better able to understand Ling Xiao's emotions. He smiled and rubbed its ears. "Yes, what needs to be taken, must be taken."

Rest! Only when you receive your paycheck can you truly rest.

At the beginning of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), Ling Xiao and Fa Cai appeared precisely at the entrance of "Si Hai Tong Qu Lou" (Four Seas Connecting Tower). Zhou Tong and the other two were already waiting there, having tidied themselves up, but the fatigue and fear between their brows had not completely dissipated. Upon seeing Ling Xiao, Zhou Tong immediately put on a broad smile and greeted him.

The Sihai Tower was even more bustling than yesterday, with people coming and going. When Ling Xiao placed the bronze token and the package of relics on the counter, the middle-aged manager, who had been somewhat absent-minded, immediately became serious after opening the package. He saw the fragments of the Corpse Control Bell, which exuded an ominous aura even in its broken state, as well as several pieces of bone engraved with twisted runes.

"The 'Exorcising Demons in Ghost Cry Town' mission!" The manager looked up, his gaze sweeping over Ling Xiao, Fa Cai, and then at Zhou Tong and the other two. "You completed it? Tell me what happened."

Ling Xiao succinctly recounted discovering the bloodstains at the fork in the road, tracking them to the ancient battlefield depression, encountering and killing the evil cultivator who was forging a corpse puppet (details omitted regarding the unusual sensing of demonic energy and his own star lightning power; he only mentioned their combined attack, discovering the control core, and destroying it). Zhou Tong occasionally added to the story, emphasizing Ling Xiao's "brilliant command" and "crucial strike."

After listening, the steward carefully examined the evidence—especially the mark on the bell fragment that resonated with the demonic energy reported in Ghost Cry Town. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "This matter is no small thing; it has gone beyond the scope of ordinary 'yin demon' mischief. I need to have a specialist from the city lord's mansion verify and confirm it! Please wait a moment."

He summoned a waiter, whispered a few instructions, and the waiter quickly went to the back of the building. The wait was short, but the atmosphere was subtle. Many monks who were handing over tasks or checking notices noticed what was happening and began to whisper among themselves.

"Look, it's the team that took on that tricky 'Ghost Cry Town' quest yesterday!"

"They're back? It looks like...it worked out?"

"Impossible, right? That mission is incredibly dangerous; even the City Lord's Mansion is having a headache with it..."

"Tsk, look at that young man leading the group, and that wolf, their aura is completely different..."

"I heard they killed a heretical cultivator who created corpse puppets! That's incredible..."

About fifteen minutes later, a middle-aged cultivator dressed in dark green official robes, with a serious face and sharp eyes, strode in, accompanied by the steward. His aura was refined, clearly indicating that he was at the late Foundation Establishment stage. His gaze swept over Ling Xiao and his group like lightning, finally landing on the evidence on the counter, especially the fragment of the bell.

"I am Fang, a deacon of the Evil Suppression Division of the City Lord's Mansion," the middle-aged cultivator began, his voice steady. "I have examined the evidence. The residual aura matches the demonic energy from the alarm signal in Ghost Cry Town. This 'Corpse Control Bell' is also a common trick used by evil cultivators in the Black Swamp area. Do the people you killed have any other distinguishing features? Such as their cultivation style, accent, or personal belongings?"

Ling Xiao thought for a moment and said, "His cultivation method is sinister and he commands corpse puppets. His accent is slightly northern. Besides the bell and a few bone talismans used for refining corpses, there was also a small bag containing unique filthy materials from the Black Swamp and more than ten low-grade spirit stones. The bag is here." He handed over a small storage bag made of special materials and covered in dust—this was the only intact "trophy" he had obtained from that evil cultivator, and he had not touched the contents.

Deacon Fang took the bag, examined it briefly with his spiritual sense, and nodded slightly. "It is indeed a remnant of the 'Corpse Refining Path' that has escaped from the Black Swamp. The Suppression Bureau has received relevant intelligence recently. This person's cultivation level is likely in the late Foundation Establishment stage; he is skilled in concealment and manipulating corpse energy, making him quite troublesome. It's good that you were able to kill him." He paused, then looked at Ling Xiao. "You are the captain, Ling Xiao, a rogue cultivator."

"Yes." Ling Xiao nodded.

Deacon Fang's gaze swept over the wolf quietly crouching at his feet, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but he didn't ask any further questions. Turning to the steward, he said, "Verification confirmed. Mission completion rating: Grade A. The reward will be issued according to the highest level of the bounty notice: fifty low-grade spirit stones, and a direct recommendation certificate for the 'Ascension Assembly.' In addition, because this mission involved evil cultivators, the danger exceeded expectations, and you have eliminated a hidden danger to the city, the City Lord's Mansion has added twenty low-grade spirit stones as encouragement. You will collect and distribute the rewards."

A chorus of suppressed gasps and gasps filled the air! Seventy low-grade spirit stones! Plus a direct recommendation qualification! The reward was far more generous than most people had anticipated! A chorus of burning gazes, filled with envy and even jealousy… Zhou Tong and his companions were overjoyed; even Wang Meng's dark face flushed red, and A Li pursed her lips, her eyes shining. Zhou Tong rubbed his hands together, watching Ling Xiao expectantly.

"Thank you, Steward Xie, and thank you for your presence at the City Lord's Mansion."

The procedures were completed quickly. Seventy gleaming, low-grade spirit stones, radiating a soft spiritual light, were handed to Ling Xiao. Along with them was a jade slip wrapped in bright yellow brocade, stamped with the City Lord's seal and the authentication seal of "Sihai Tower"—this was the direct recommendation certificate for the "Ascension Conference." It felt warm to the touch and carried the imposing aura of an official seal.

"This certificate requires a blood oath to bind it to you. With this certificate, you can report to the 'Scholarship Department' of the City Lord's Mansion three days before the official selection for the 'Ascension Assembly' begins, directly participating in the subsequent selection and bypassing all preliminary screenings. The specific time and location are explained inside the certificate." After explaining, Deacon Fang gave Ling Xiao a deep look. "Young man, you have good skills and courage. I hope you will take good care of yourself and not let this letter of recommendation go to waste." With that, he took the evil cultivator's relic as evidence and turned to leave.

Only after Steward Fang's figure disappeared behind the building did the whispers in the front hall of Sihai Tower suddenly amplify.

"Did you hear that? First-class! The highest reward! And there's an additional bonus!"

"Seventy spirit stones! I couldn't save that many even after working myself to the bone for half a year!"

"The key is that recommendation book! With that, it's a stepping stone to success!"

"Who is that kid? He looks unfamiliar; I've never heard of him before."

"That wolf beside him is truly eye-catching; it's incredibly intelligent, even Deacon Fang took a second look!"

"I heard he's ruthless and incredibly accurate at finding weaknesses; that evil cultivator was killed by him when he seized an opening..."

"A young rogue cultivator, accompanied by a spirit wolf, is ruthless and precise in his attacks...tsk, it seems the rogue cultivator circle in Luo Xing City is about to have another tough opponent."

Immersed in the surrounding chatter, Ling Xiao carefully put away the leather pouch and the jade slip wrapped in brocade, then looked at the three eagerly waiting Zhou Tong. As agreed beforehand, he took out fifteen spirit stones, adding five extra, for a total of twenty, and handed them to Zhou Tong. "These are for the three of you. The extra five are compensation for Brother Wang Meng's injuries and Miss A Li's damaged spiritual consciousness. As for the direct recommendation qualification, as agreed, it belongs to me. Any objections?"

Zhou Tong accepted the spirit stones, weighed them in his hand, and beamed with joy, nodding repeatedly, "No objections! Absolutely not! Brother Ling is so generous! This time it's all thanks to Brother Ling! If you ever need anything from me, Zhou, just let me know!" Wang Meng and A Li also received their share, bowing to Ling Xiao in gratitude, their eyes much more sincere than before. A Li whispered, "Captain, thank you. Take care."

Under countless gazes, Ling Xiao walked out of the Four Seas Pavilion. With seventy spirit stones in his pocket (fifty remaining after distribution) and the burning letter of recommendation, his shoulders seemed heavier than when he arrived. From this day forward, in Luo Xing City, he was no longer that nameless, low-level rogue cultivator who could be crushed at will. "That young rogue cultivator with his spirit wolf, ruthless and precise in his attacks"—this name would surely spread like wildfire through certain corners of this giant city.

It was both a good thing and a troublesome one. But at least, he had taken the first step steadily. Gripping the warm jade slip in his arms, Ling Xiao looked up towards the City Lord's Mansion, where the "Scholarship Department" was located.

"Let's get rich, let's go," he whispered. "Let's go back first, have a good meal, and then...we need to start preparing for the 'main competition'."

Fa Cai followed at his feet, its tail swaying gently, its eyes reflecting the streetlights and pedestrians, calm yet wary. "Meat. Lots of meat." It conveyed a simple and direct message, carrying a hint of post-war weariness and a longing for stability.

Ling Xiao smiled and patted its fluffy head. "Okay, meat. Plenty."