I transmigrated to a chaotic world and became the sole player.

System notification: Congratulations on successfully activating the [Sect Daily Tasks] module! You have earned the achievement [Outer Sect Newcomer], rewarding you with: Contribution Points +50, [Sect Standard Flying Boat (Inferior)] x1. You have unlocked the following daily task list:

[Daily Task: Clear the mountain path at Qingzhu Peak (Dingxia)]

Location: Qingzhu Peak (Outer Gate Area)

[Objective: Clear fallen leaves and pebbles from the main road of Qingzhu Peak (from the foot of the mountain to the mountainside plaza) and keep the road clean.]

[Requirement: To be completed today.]

[Reward: Contribution Points +5, Experience Points +100, Cleaning Broom (Common) x1.]

[Note: This is a basic introductory quest for outer disciples. It can be completed repeatedly and can be accepted once per day. It's a good way to familiarize yourself with the environment and earn a small amount of contribution points. (But there might be other unexpected gains?)]

[Daily Task: Tending to the Spirit Field (Dingzhong)]

Location: Herb Garden (Outer Gate Area)

[Objective: Weed, loosen the soil, and irrigate the three designated plots of [Polygonatum Field], [Spirit Rice Field], and [Jade Dew Grass Field] (you need to master the "Small Cloud Rain Technique" or use the "Watering Can").]

[Requirement: Completed today; spiritual energy concentration in the spiritual field must not be lower than 60%.]

[Reward: Contribution Points +8, Experience Points +150, [Spirit Rice Seed (Common)] x1 small bag.]

[Note: Basic planting skills are required. You can consult the disciples of the Hundred Herbs Garden or exchange for relevant skill jade slips.]

[Daily Task: Assist the Talisman Pavilion in sorting talisman materials (Ding Shang)]

Location: Talisman Pavilion (Outer Gate Area)

[Objective: To categorize basic talisman materials such as [Tier 1 Talisman Skin], [Tier 1 Talisman Paper], and [Tier 1 Vermilion] according to their grade, attributes, and condition, and record them in the database.]

[Requirements: Completed today; sorting accuracy must reach 90% or higher.]

[Reward: Contribution Points +10, Experience Points +200, [Inferior Rune Pen (Fragment)] x1.]

[Note: Some knowledge of talismans is required. If the Talisman Pavilion steward is in a good mood after completion, they might offer some guidance?]

……

"This...this is the daily life of an outer sect disciple?" Lu Zhao sat on the stone bench in the front hall of his cave dwelling, Bing 27, staring at the semi-transparent, pale blue light screen floating in front of him, like a game quest list. His lips twitched slightly. Clearing mountain paths, tending spirit fields, sorting talisman materials...this was quite different from his imagination of slaying demons, flying on a sword, and exploring secret realms! It was practically a "newbie village daily quest chain" from some large-scale cultivation sect.

Moreover, the rewards for these tasks are... far too meager! Clearing mountain paths costs 5 contribution points, tending spirit fields costs 8, sorting talisman materials costs 10... He remembered that even the lowest-level task, "Cleaning the Outer Gate Square," on the task wall in the Hall of Affairs cost 3 contribution points, not to mention the tasks of hunting demonic beasts and gathering spiritual herbs, which often cost dozens or even hundreds of contribution points. These daily tasks are indeed "newbie perks," better than nothing. However, that "Sect-Standard Flying Boat (Inferior)" is somewhat interesting. Although it's labeled "inferior," it's still a means of transportation, better than running on foot.

As for the so-called "unexpected gain"... Lu Zhao glanced at the last prompt in the task list and remained noncommittal. This panel sometimes pops up strange prompts out of nowhere, some true and some false, making them hard to fathom.

"Anyway, let's get familiar with the environment first, earn some contribution points, set up the cave dwelling, and then go to the Transmission Pavilion to see if there are any suitable cultivation techniques or spells to exchange." Lu Zhao put away the panel and stood up. Although the cave dwelling was simple, at least he had a place to stay. He saw Lin Qingfeng and Zhang Tie off, politely declining Zhang Tie's suggestion to "take on missions, fight monsters, and make big money together," deciding to first familiarize himself with the place quietly and see how this "daily life in the sect" actually worked.

He changed into a brand-new set of blue outer disciple robes embroidered with cloud patterns, hung his identity jade token on his waist, adjusted the effect of the [Concealing Breath Bag] to the maximum, and suppressed his cultivation aura to the first level of Qi Refining. A fresh image of a newly recruited outer disciple, who looked as ordinary as could be, and even somewhat "poor aptitude, weak aura, and honest and unassuming," was born.

"Hmm, let's start with a simple task to familiarize ourselves with the process, and also take a look at the terrain of Green Bamboo Peak, and try out the 'Sect-Standard Flying Boat'." Lu Zhao stroked his chin and selected [Daily Task: Clear the Green Bamboo Peak Mountain Path (Part 2)].

"Accepted successfully! The mission objective has been marked on the minimap. Mission timer started: 3 hours remaining."

The panel notification sounded, and at the same time, a highlighted light strip appeared on the small map in my mind that was marked with [Yunmengze (Outer Gate Area)], winding from the foot plaza to the mountainside plaza, with a small green broom icon flashing next to it.

"...This really is a game tutorial." Lu Zhao muttered to himself as he stepped out of the cave. He first tried to retrieve the "Sect-Specific Flying Boat (Inferior)" from the [Human Skin Pouch (System Extension)]. With a thought, a palm-sized, gray, roughly carved wooden model resembling a dugout canoe appeared in his palm.

"Uh...this..." Lu Zhao looked at the "flying boat" in his palm, somewhat speechless. This thing, can it really fly? He tried to input a wisp of spiritual energy.

"puff--"

The model suddenly lit up, and then... nothing more. It hovered three inches above the palm of the hand, trembling slightly and emitting a mosquito-like buzzing sound, but showed no sign of growing larger.

"Instructions for use: Activate with spiritual power and silently chant 'Swift' to enlarge to normal size for passenger flight. Flight speed: Slow. Flight altitude: Low. Energy consumption: High. Handling: Extremely poor. Note: This is the sect's lowest-grade, cheapest standard flying boat for short-distance transportation. Please do not have high expectations. The sect will not be responsible for any disintegration during flight. —Friendly reminder from the Refining Pavilion"

"..." Lu Zhao stared at the description of the "flying boat" that popped up on the panel, and fell silent for a moment. Well, something is better than nothing, better than walking. He channeled his spiritual energy again and silently chanted "Swift."

The gray wooden boat model suddenly expanded, transforming into a real canoe, about ten feet long and two feet wide, just big enough for one person to stand on. The hull was made of unpolished logs, with several crooked, faintly spiritual runes carved into it; it looked… like it might fall apart at any moment. Lu Zhao carefully stepped onto it; the boat wobbled slightly but finally stabilized. With a thought, he tried to control the flying boat to move forward.

"Squeak—creak—"

The airship swayed and wobbled, moving slowly and deliberately, as if drunk, its speed... roughly equivalent to a strong mortal jogging. Moreover, it was extremely difficult to control; turning, accelerating, and decelerating were all unusually sluggish, and the slightest misstep would send it crashing into the rocks and trees beside it. Even worse, the airship's maximum altitude was... three feet off the ground. Yes, just three feet. It was more like "drifting" than "flying."

"..." Lu Zhao stood expressionlessly on the swaying flying boat, looking at the slowly moving ground beneath his feet, and the outer disciples who walked past him from time to time, who could walk faster than he could fly. Their eyes were filled with... sympathy, pity, and the feeling that "this idiot is just here to make us laugh."

"This is... the sect's standard flying boat?" A passing disciple, who appeared to be only at the first level of Qi Refining and was struggling to climb the mountain on foot, couldn't help but mutter as he looked at Lu Zhao's slow, shaky flying boat. "I thought only senior brothers at the third level of Qi Refining could control magical artifacts... But this flying boat is so shabby! It feels slower than me walking..."

"He's probably a new junior disciple, not yet familiar with manipulating objects. But this flying boat... it's quite unique," another accompanying handyman disciple said, suppressing a laugh.

Lu Zhao's lips twitched. He silently put away the flying boat, stood firmly on the ground, and used the [Superior Swiftness Talisman] to move. In a flash, he transformed into a wisp of green smoke, and with a few leaps, he overtook the two handyman disciples who were still slowly climbing the mountain, rushing towards the plaza at the foot of the mountain. Hmm, it's still faster on foot, and it's not shameful.

Upon arriving at the foot of the mountain square, sure enough, a disciple in charge was sitting in a pavilion, surrounded by a pile of brand-new brooms, dustpans, and buckets. Seeing Lu Zhao approach, the disciple lazily looked up, glanced at the jade token at his waist, and listlessly tossed a broom and dustpan over: "New guy? Here's your task: clear this mountain path, from here to that pavilion up there. Sweep it clean, don't leave any leaves, and don't block the way. Come back and hand it in, and you'll get contribution points. Understand the rules?"

"Understood, thank you, Senior Brother." Lu Zhao took the broom and glanced at the badge above the deacon disciple's head: [Deacon Disciple (Miscellaneous), Qi Refining Level 2, holds "Indifferent" attitude towards you, Friendship 0]. Very good, a standard quest-issuing NPC.

Thus, Lu Zhao began his first "daily task" at the Qingyun Dao Sect—sweeping the streets.

At first, he felt a little awkward. He was, after all, a fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator (hidden), someone who had fought his way through fifth-level Qi Refining cultivators, cults, demonic beasts, and blood sacrifices, and was actually here... sweeping the floor? But soon, he realized that this job... wasn't all bad. At least, he could openly and discreetly use the [Divine Refinement Technique] to thoroughly and meticulously examine the entire main road of Green Bamboo Peak, from the foot of the mountain to the mountainside plaza, inside and out, including the roadside bushes, rock crevices, and tree roots. He could identify which areas had slightly denser spiritual energy, which had hidden paths, which were gathering points for outer disciples, which were patrol routes for steward disciples, and which were mission posting points. He even "accidentally" discovered several hidden, small "resource points" that emitted a faint spiritual light and seemed to be collectable (a few low-grade herbs, a piece of inferior ore that could be used for weapon crafting, and a broken but seemingly repairable fragment that emitted a faint spiritual energy fluctuation, resembling a discarded talisman).

"No wonder the panel said 'There might be other unexpected gains'... So that's how it is." Lu Zhao slowly swept the floor while using his mental power to silently mark these "resource points" on the minimap. Every little bit helps; these few low-level herbs might be enough to refine a low-level "Grain-Clearing Pill" or "Qi-Returning Powder," and the inferior ore might be exchanged for some contribution points. As for the broken talisman fragments... he'd study them later; maybe he could gain some insights. More importantly, he had gained a preliminary understanding of the terrain, layout, and personnel distribution of Green Bamboo Peak, which would be crucial for the upcoming actions.

"Hey! New guy! What are you daydreaming about! Can't you even sweep the floor? Stop dawdling!" An impatient voice rang out. Lu Zhao looked up and saw a slightly chubby young man in outer disciple robes, with the marker above his head: "Outer Disciple (Ordinary), Qi Refining Level 3, holds 'Mild Annoyance' towards you, Friendship -5." He was standing not far away, hands on his hips, glancing at him sideways. Two companions, dressed similarly and with unfriendly expressions, were beside him.

It was Li Qiang, the tall young man I'd met before, and his gang. They seemed to be deliberately looking for trouble. It seems the "naive newbie's" performance had limited effect, or perhaps some people just don't like you.

"Senior brother, what can I do for you?" Lu Zhao stopped what he was doing, leaned on his broom, and looked at the other person, who still had that "honest, dull, and somewhat timid" look.

"Instructions? Hmph!" The fat young man sneered, pointing to a few fallen leaves that had just been blown by the wind and hadn't yet been swept away by Lu Zhao. "Look at the mess you've made! It's not even clean! Do you know who this path is for? It's for us outer disciples, for our inner disciples! If you don't clean it properly, what if one of our senior disciples twists their ankle and their cultivation is delayed? Can you take responsibility for that?! Huh?!"

"That's right! The new guy doesn't know the rules! This place needs to be swept with 'dust removal magic,' you know? Can you get it clean with a broom?" A tall, thin man chimed in, his tone flippant.

"Dust removal technique? Senior brother, I... I'm just starting out, I haven't learned it yet..." Lu Zhao blinked blankly, with an expression that said, "I'm a newbie, I don't know anything."

"Haven't learned it? Go back and learn it! If you can't learn it, don't come here to take on missions and waste sect contribution points! This mission isn't for a piece of trash like you with useless spiritual roots! If you know what's good for you, get lost!" The fat young man waved his hand impatiently, looking disgusted. They were deliberately here to cause trouble. They didn't like Lu Zhao and thought he was a good-for-nothing who got in through connections. They wanted to give him a hard time and, incidentally... see if they could get some benefits? Like, "doing" this easy "clearing the mountain path" mission for him?

Lu Zhao understood, but his face showed even more "fear". He quickly said, "Senior brother, please calm down. I... I'll sweep it clean right away!" As he spoke, he picked up the broom and prepared to sweep up the few fallen leaves.

"Get out of my way!" The fat young man kicked Lu Zhao's winnowing basket away, scattering fallen leaves and dust all over the ground. "I told you to get lost, can't you understand human language? I'll do this task for you, and I'll collect the contribution points for you too! You, go back to your dilapidated cave and properly cultivate your... useless spiritual root! Hahaha!"

A number of outer sect disciples passing by had already stopped to watch, pointing and whispering. Some were sympathetic, some were just watching the spectacle, and some were gloating. The disciple who issued the task merely raised his eyelids and remained silent, clearly not wanting to get involved in this "minor conflict" between "newcomers."

Lu Zhao looked at the overturned dustpan, then at the scattered leaves on the ground. The "fear" on his face slowly disappeared, replaced by a peculiar expression tinged with "innocence" and "confusion." He tilted his head, looked at the chubby young man, and asked earnestly, sincerely, and even with a hint of "inquisitiveness," in a voice just loud enough for those around him to hear: "Senior brother, it's my fault for not sweeping the floor properly. But according to the sect rules, outer disciples are forbidden from fighting privately, and even more so from taking over others' tasks. Violators will have their contribution points deducted, and those with serious offenses will be expelled from the sect. This is Article 6 of Chapter 3 of the Outer Disciple Rules, if I remember correctly? Senior brother... are you going to teach me how to break the sect rules? How should I report you, senior brother? Should I go to the Hall of Affairs, or go directly to an inner disciple?"

"???" The fat youth's sinister smile froze. His two accomplices behind him were also stunned. The surrounding outer disciples were also momentarily speechless. This...this script isn't right! Shouldn't the newcomer be trembling with fear, obediently handing over the mission token, then being humiliated and slinking away? Why are they suddenly reciting sect rules? And asking how to report someone? This logic...seems fine, but why does it sound so awkward?

"You...you're trying to scare me with the sect rules! I, your grandpa..." The chubby young man was furious and wanted to fight, but seeing Lu Zhao's "earnestly inquisitive" eyes, he remembered the sect rules and swallowed his words. Although he was a senior disciple, his cultivation was only at the third level of Qi Refining. He could bully newcomers, but if he really fought, and this hothead actually reported him, he would be in deep trouble. Besides, Lu Zhao was admitted with "Elder Yun's special approval." What if Elder Yun found out...? He shuddered.

"Senior brother, are you going to sweep yourself? That's wonderful, please." Lu Zhao "obediently" stepped aside, even making a "please" gesture, his expression so sincere it was impeccable. "I'll just watch from the side, learning from you how to sweep with the 'Dust Removal Technique.' By the way, senior brother, is the 'Dust Removal Technique' you mentioned something I can learn at the Transmission Hall? How many contribution points does it require? I'm a beginner and don't quite understand..."

The fat young man's face turned green. What kind of dust-removing spell did he know? That was a low-level spell that only those at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, capable of projecting spiritual energy, could learn. He was only at the third level of Qi Refining; what could he possibly know? He was just saying it casually, trying to make things difficult for Lu Zhao. He never expected to be outmaneuvered and put on the spot in public.

"You...you..." The fat young man pointed at Lu Zhao, too angry to speak. Several suppressed snickers came from the surrounding area. This fat man usually liked to bully newcomers, and many people had met their match today. This seemingly honest newcomer was so stubborn and knew the rules so well that he had embarrassed them.

"Senior brother, if you don't know how, it's okay. I can ask the deacon senior brother to see if there are any jade slips for the Cleansing Technique that I can exchange for." Lu Zhao continued to "add insult to injury," with an expression of "sharing the burden for my senior brother."

"You...you're ruthless! We'll see!" The fat young man lost face, glared fiercely at Lu Zhao, but didn't dare to actually make a move. He left with two accomplices, slinking away, which drew laughter from the onlookers.

"This junior brother has quite the eloquence!" one of the onlookers laughed.

"Junior brother, be careful. That Fatty Li is petty. If you offend him, you might be in trouble later," another disciple kindly reminded him.

"Thank you for the reminder, senior brother. I will be careful." Lu Zhao smiled shyly, picked up the dustpan, and continued sweeping, as if nothing had happened.

"Ding! Daily task [Clean the mountain path of Qingzhu Peak (Ding Xia)] completed! Rewards: Contribution Points +5, Experience Points +100, [Clean Broom (Common)] x1, already sent to system space. Triggered hidden event: [Outsmart the bully], additional rewards: Friendship (surrounding outer disciples) +5, [Li Qiang's Resentment (Temporary Status)] obtained. Under this status, the probability of malicious behavior from Li Qiang increases by 10%."

A notification sound rang out on the panel. Lu Zhao glanced at it, unimpressed. Li Qiang's resentment? Just a clown jumping around. As for the hidden event of "outsmarting the bully"... this panel is truly full of "gameplay."

After completing the task and receiving 5 contribution points, the disciple in charge looked at Lu Zhao with a hint of surprise and oddity. Clearly, he had witnessed what had just happened. This newcomer, though seemingly dull, was not someone to be trifled with.

Leaving the plaza at the foot of the mountain, Lu Zhao glanced at the sky; it was still early. He decided to head to the Hundred Herbs Garden to accept his second daily task—tending to the spirit fields. This time, he decided to try out that lousy "Sect-Standard Flying Boat (Inferior)." After all, the Hundred Herbs Garden was on another mountain peak, and running there on foot would take too much time. Besides… he wanted to see just how unreliable this thing really was.

Finding a secluded corner, he took out the gray wooden boat again, infused it with spiritual power, and silently chanted "Swift." The boat swayed and grew larger. Lu Zhao carefully stepped onto it, and then... at a speed comparable to an old ox pulling a broken cart, it wobbled and creaked as it "drifted" towards the Hundred Herbs Garden. Along the way, he received countless sympathetic, astonished, and amused glances, such as "Concern for the mentally challenged," "This thing can fly?" and "Is this newcomer an idiot?" Even when passing a mountain stream, a gust of mountain wind blew, causing the boat to shake violently, almost throwing him off, eliciting gasps and laughter.

Finally, after a long and arduous journey, they "drifted" to the foot of Lingxiu Peak, where the Hundred Herbs Garden was located. Lu Zhao practically jumped off the flying boat, feeling more exhausted than if he had just fought a battle. He swore that he would never use this thing again unless absolutely necessary! It was too embarrassing! Moreover, this thing consumed a tremendous amount of spiritual energy; just this short distance had used up almost ten percent of his spiritual energy! It was practically an "oil guzzler"!

The Hundred Herbs Garden is a vast garden shrouded in arrays, filled with spiritual energy and the fragrant aroma of herbs. It is divided into countless neatly arranged spiritual fields, planted with various spiritual herbs and plants. At the entrance, there are disciples in charge who guard the entrance, checking identity jade tokens and registering tasks.

"Take care of the spirit field? Ding Zhong's mission, do you know the 'Minor Cloud Rain Technique'?" The gatekeeper was a middle-aged cultivator with a sallow complexion and a serious demeanor. Above his head was the [Hundred Herbs Garden Deacon (Ordinary), Qi Refining Level 4, holds 'Judging' over you, Friendship -3].

"I haven't learned it yet," Lu Zhao replied honestly.

"Do you have a 'water jug'? A specially made one, activated by spiritual power, that can gather water for irrigation," the disciple asked again.

"No..." Lu Zhao shook his head; he didn't even know what a "kettle" was.

The disciple in charge frowned, his tone impatient: "You know nothing, yet you come to take on the spirit field task? Spirit fields are delicate. If you irrigate them improperly and damage the spirit plants, can you afford to compensate? Forget it, since you're new here, go over there and get a 'Spirit Rain Talisman.' One talisman can irrigate one acre. Remember, the spiritual energy must be injected evenly, not too much and not too little. When you run out of talismans, come find me to get more. One acre each for the Yellow Essence Field, the Spirit Rice Field, and the Jade Dew Grass Field. The locations are... here, here, and here. Complete it before sunset, and the spiritual energy concentration in the spirit fields must not be lower than 60%. If you don't complete it, you'll lose contribution points and have to compensate! Understand?"

"Understood, thank you, Senior Brother." Lu Zhao took the three [Spirit Rain Talismans (Tier 1, Low Grade)], looked at the simple runes on them, and nodded. These things were much simpler than his [Fireball Talismans]; they were just low-grade talismans for gathering water and moistening the soil, a piece of cake for him.

Following the guidance of the disciple in charge, Lu Zhao found the three spirit fields. In the Solomon's Seal field, the Solomon's Seal grew lush and verdant, emitting a faint earthy yellow spiritual light; in the Spirit Rice field, the rice ears were heavy and golden; and the Jade Dew Grass field was a vibrant green, with glistening dewdrops clinging to the leaves, radiating a fresh, grassy spiritual energy. The three spirit fields were brimming with spiritual energy and appeared to be growing well.

Lu Zhao first walked to the edge of the Solomon's Seal field, picked up a [Spirit Rain Talisman], and infused it with a wisp of spiritual power. The talisman transformed into a soft white light, flew into the air, and then formed a white cloud about a foot in diameter, from which a gentle spiritual rain began to fall. The raindrops evenly sprinkled onto the Solomon's Seal leaves and seeped into the soil. Lu Zhao used the [Refining Spirit Technique] to sense the concentration of spiritual energy; it was about 65%, which was not bad. He controlled the output of his spiritual power to ensure the effect of the Spirit Rain Talisman was continuous and even, guaranteeing that every Solomon's Seal plant received ample nourishment.

The plot of land, though small, was quickly irrigated. Lu Zhao then moved on to the second plot, the spirit rice field. He activated another spirit rain talisman, repeating the process. While irrigating the spirit rice field, he suddenly noticed that in a corner of the field, a small area of ​​rice seedlings was growing noticeably worse than the rest; the leaves were somewhat yellow, and the spiritual energy seemed slightly insufficient. A thought struck him, and he used the [Refining Spirit Technique] to carefully sense the soil, discovering what appeared to be a hard "stone" in that area, hindering the penetration of water and spiritual energy?

"Is it...something underground? Or is the soil compacted?" Lu Zhao thought for a moment, squatted down, and gently parted the soil with his short knife. Sure enough, half a foot below, he found a fist-sized, jet-black stone that emitted a faint aura of malevolence! The soil around the stone was also somewhat black, and the roots of the rice seedlings were clearly being eroded.

"【Inferior Evil Stone】: An ordinary stone tainted with evil energy, which can corrode the roots of spiritual plants and affect their growth. Value: Almost zero. It can be used to refine certain low-level evil magic artifacts or to set up formations. It can be purified (requires a 【Heart-Cleansing Talisman】 or a Yang attribute cultivation technique) or discarded."

The panel displayed information. A malevolent stone? How could this thing appear in a spirit field? Was it naturally formed, or… deliberately buried there? Lu Zhao's eyes narrowed slightly. He thought of his previous conflict with Li Qiang and the others, and the "Li Qiang's resentment" status. Was it Li Pangzi's doing? Or someone else? However, this malevolent stone was of too low a grade, its harm limited. If it weren't for his keen senses, an ordinary outer sect disciple might not have noticed it, only thinking that the rice seedlings weren't growing well and assuming it was normal wear and tear.

"I'll just clean it up casually and see if I get any experience points." Lu Zhao thought, taking out the [Purifying Jade Pendant] and channeling a wisp of spiritual power. The pendant emitted a faint, warm, purifying light, enveloping the evil stone. The black aura on the stone's surface dissipated quickly, as if encountering its nemesis, and soon the stone returned to its normal bluish-gray color. Lu Zhao dug it out and casually tossed it into the nearby ditch. Looking at the rice seedlings, although they couldn't recover in a short time, at least they wouldn't continue to deteriorate.

"Ding! You have removed 1 [Evil Stone (Inferior)], gained 10 experience points, and increased your [Hundred Herbs Garden Steward (Normal)] friendship level by 2 (unnoticed)."

Sure enough, they have experience! Though it's limited. However, the appearance of this evil stone made Lu Zhao a little more wary. This sect, seemingly peaceful, has quite a few underhanded tricks up its sleeve.

After watering the spirit rice field, Lu Zhao headed towards the last patch of jade dew grass. Jade dew grass requires a lot of water but cannot tolerate waterlogging, so it needs to be precisely controlled. Lu Zhao carefully manipulated the spirit rain talisman, controlling the spirit rain to be like wisps of mist, evenly and slowly nourishing the leaves and soil. Just then, he suddenly noticed that in the soil at the edge of the grass patch, there seemed to be a small section of white, jade-like material peeking out.

"Hmm?" Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. He walked over and carefully brushed away the soil to reveal the object in its entirety—a finger bone! It was as white as jade, with a faint radiance flowing through it, clearly not an ordinary object. Moreover, it exuded a faint, strange, and perfectly compatible herbal spiritual energy with the Jade Dew Grass! More importantly, there seemed to be extremely fine and profound runes engraved on this bone!

"【Unknown Spirit Beast Finger Bone (Fragment)】: A fragment of an unknown spirit beast's finger bone, imbued with the essence of Jade Dew Grass. It contains a trace of plant essence and can be used in medicine, weapon crafting, and to assist in the cultivation of certain wood-attribute and healing spells. Value: Fair. Can be refined and absorbed, slightly increasing wood-attribute affinity (0.1%). Can be exchanged for 20 sect contribution points."

"Huh? Not bad!" Lu Zhao's eyes lit up. This must be the "unexpected gain" of the "hidden event"! Finding treasure while digging! Although the 0.1% increase in wood attribute affinity is almost negligible, every little bit helps. Moreover, this bone looks pretty good; it might have other uses.

He put the finger bone away without hesitation, in high spirits. It seems that although this "daily task" is tedious, as long as you pay attention, you can still find "Easter eggs".

After watering the three spirit fields, Lu Zhao returned the Spirit Rain Talisman. The disciple inspected the spirit fields, then took out a mirror-like magical artifact and looked it over. The mirror showed the spiritual energy concentration: 68% for the Polygonatum field, 65% for the Spirit Rice field (slightly lower due to the removal of the evil stone, but still above the acceptable level), and 70% for the Jade Dew Grass nursery. All were acceptable.

"Hmm, not bad, the watering is very even, and the spiritual energy concentration is up to standard. You kid, although your cultivation is a bit low, you're quite diligent in your work. Here are your contribution points and reward." The disciple in charge rarely showed a smile, his friendliness increased by 3, and he handed Lu Zhao 8 contribution points and a small bag of spirit rice seeds.

"Ding! Daily task [Tending to the Spirit Field (Dingzhong)] completed! Rewards: Contribution Points +8, Experience Points +150, [Spirit Rice Seeds (Common)] x1 small bag, already issued. Triggered hidden event: [Clearing Evil Stones], additional reward: Experience Points +10. Triggered hidden event: [Bones Under the Jade Dew Grass], additional reward: [Unknown Spirit Beast Finger Bone (Fragment)] x1, [Hundred Herbs Garden Steward (Common)] Friendship +3."

"Thank you, Senior Brother." Lu Zhao accepted the gift, expressed his gratitude, and then headed towards the Talisman Pavilion to prepare for his third daily quest.

The Talisman Pavilion is a three-story octagonal tower, entirely constructed of dark blue-green "Soul-Suppressing Stones" inscribed with runes. It exudes a calm and weighty aura, with faint shimmering light emanating from its surface, clearly indicating the presence of a powerful protective array. The first floor serves as a reception hall, bustling with people, mostly outer disciples coming to buy, sell, exchange, or repair talismans. The air is filled with the distinctive scent of cinnabar, talisman paper, spiritual ink, and various other spiritual materials.

Lu Zhao arrived at the mission handover area, where a steward disciple was also sitting. He was a cultivator who looked to be around thirty years old, with a thin face, sharp eyes, long fingers, and a faint scent of cinnabar on his body. Above his head was the message: "[Talisman Pavilion Steward (Ordinary), Qi Refining Level 5, holds 'Judging' over you, Friendship 0]".

"Sorting talisman materials? For the mission, can you identify the grade, attributes, and condition of talisman materials?" The slender steward looked at Lu Zhao with scrutinizing eyes. The art of talismans is not easy to begin with; being able to identify talisman materials is the most basic of all.

"I know a little bit," Lu Zhao said. With a foundation in [Talisman Drawing] Lv4, identifying first-tier talisman materials was a piece of cake for him.

"Oh?" The slender steward became interested and took out a stack of mixed talismans, animal hides, cinnabar, and spirit ink from under the counter, pushing them in front of Lu Zhao. "Then sort them out and tell me their grade, attributes, and condition. If you can tell me their uses, that would be even better."

Lu Zhao glanced at the materials, and with the combined knowledge of [Refining Spirit Technique] and [Talisman Drawing], he instantly analyzed the attributes and states of these talisman materials clearly in his mind. He reached out, picked up a talisman paper, and ran his fingertips across its surface, saying, "This is a mid-grade first-tier 'Azure Sandalwood Talisman Paper,' wood attribute, uniform texture, clear spiritual energy, 90% intact. It can be used to draw mid-to-low-grade first-tier wood attribute talismans, increasing the success rate by half a percent." He then picked up a piece of animal hide, "A high-grade first-tier 'Fire Lizard Hide,' fire attribute, tough hide, good spiritual energy conductivity, 85% intact. It can be used to make high-grade first-tier fire attribute talisman hides, for making 'Fireball Talismans,' 'Blazing Flames Talismans,' etc., increasing their power by 10%." He then picked up a piece of cinnabar, "A low-grade first-tier 'Crimson Blood Cinnabar,' fire attribute, slightly more impurities, mixed spiritual energy, 70% intact, barely usable, but the success rate of talisman making will decrease by 10%." ...

Lu Zhao calmly pointed out each of the talismans on the table, explaining their grade, attributes, condition, and even their uses and quality in great detail, as if he had practiced them hundreds of times.

The slender deacon's eyes gleamed with admiration as he looked at Lu Zhao, his gaze shifting from scrutiny to appreciation, and finally to astonishment. This newcomer seemed unremarkable, with low cultivation, yet his discerning eye and familiarity with talisman materials were comparable to that of a seasoned veteran! Could it be that he possessed a talent for talismans?

"Excellent! Excellent eyesight!" The slender deacon slapped the table in approval, a smile spreading across his face. His friendliness level increased by 10! "It seems you have quite a talent for talismans. You can accept this task. However, sorting talisman materials tests not only eyesight but also patience. Today's talisman materials to be sorted are these..."

He pointed to several large bamboo baskets piled up in the corner, filled with all sorts of talisman materials: talisman paper, animal hides, cinnabar, spirit ink, various mineral powders, plant juices, demon beast bone powder... a dazzling array, ranging in quality from ordinary to first-grade superior, with different attributes and varying degrees of condition. Some were still stained with mud and blood, obviously just collected, hunted, or purchased from outside, and had not yet been processed.

"These are the talisman materials that need to be put into storage today. They need to be sorted by grade, attribute, and condition, labeled, recorded, and placed in the corresponding cabinets. Remember, grade, attribute, and condition must all be clearly labeled without error. I will conduct random checks after sorting. If there are any errors, contribution points will be deducted. Do you understand?"

"Understood." Lu Zhao nodded. The workload was considerable, but for him, it was a good opportunity to familiarize himself with talisman materials, hone his mental strength, and earn contribution points and talisman proficiency at the same time.

"Alright, here are the labels, pens, ink, and a list of materials for the talismans. You can sort them over there and finish before sunset." The slender butler handed over the tools and the list, pointing to an empty long table next to him.

"Yes." Lu Zhao took it, walked to the long table, and began to work. He first spread his spiritual power, scanning the entire bamboo basket of talisman materials, quickly "filtering" them and forming a general classification in his mind. Then, he picked up a talisman material, using the [Refining Spirit Technique] to sense its spiritual energy fluctuations, material texture, and condition, comparing it with the knowledge base of [Talisman Drawing] in his mind, quickly determining its grade, attributes, and condition, then affixing a label, recording it, and placing it in the corresponding cabinet. His movements were fluid, fast, accurate, and steady, like a precise machine.

"Ding! Successfully sorted [Tier 1 Low-grade Wind Wolf Hide (85% intact)], [Talisman Drawing] experience +1."

"Ding! Successfully sorted [Tier 1 Medium Grade Lightning-Struck Wood Shavings (90% Integrity)], [Talisman Drawing] experience +2."

"Ding! Successfully sorted [Tier 1 Superior · Cold Iron Sand (92% intact)], [Talisman Drawing] experience +3."

……

In his mind, the panel notification sounds kept ringing, and the experience bar for [Talisman Drawing] slowly and steadily increased. At the same time, he gained a more intuitive and profound understanding of the attributes, characteristics, and uses of various talisman materials, which would greatly benefit his future talisman drawing. Moreover, during the sorting process, he also "casually" picked up a few talisman materials that looked good but were mistaken for ordinary or defective products, and quietly pocketed them. For example, a piece of [Black Iron Ore (Inferior)] that looked ordinary but actually contained a trace of "Golden Fiend Qi", a [Thunder Sparrow Feather (Flawed)] that was stained with a faint "Thunder Pattern", and a small bottle of [Ink Dragon Blood (Rare)] that was almost imperceptible among other spiritual inks and reached the first-tier high-grade level. These were all classified as "impurities" or "defective products" on the inventory list and went unnoticed, but for him, they were unexpected delights.

And so, Lu Zhao was immersed in the joy of "sorting, appraising, secretly learning, and incidentally picking up bargains," completely forgetting the time. It wasn't until dusk, when the last ray of sunlight disappeared, that he finished sorting, recording, and storing all three large baskets of talisman materials. Not only was he fast, but his accuracy was also one hundred percent, leaving the lean deacon who was conducting the spot check in awe.

"Excellent! Excellent! Junior Brother Lu, you are exceptionally talented in this area! If you have free time in the future, you can come to the Talisman Pavilion more often. Perhaps I can give you some pointers." The slender steward patted Lu Zhao's shoulder, his eyes full of appreciation, and his friendliness increased by 20! He even gave Lu Zhao an extra 5 contribution points as a reward.

"Ding! Daily quest [Assisting the Talisman Pavilion in sorting talisman materials (Ding Shang)] completed! Rewards: Contribution Points +10 (additional +5), Experience Points +200, [Inferior Talisman Brush (Fragment)] x1, already issued. Triggered hidden event: [Talisman Material Appraisal Expert], additional rewards: [Talisman Drawing] Experience +50, [Talisman Pavilion Steward (Normal)] Friendship +20, [Unlocks special side quest: Talisman Pavilion Apprentice (requires Qi Refining Level 4, Talisman Drawing Lv5)]"

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother. I will definitely come to bother you again in the future." Lu Zhao bowed and thanked him, in a good mood. Today's three daily tasks not only earned him 23 contribution points (+5 extra) and 450 experience points, but also yielded some good talisman materials, increased the favorability of two stewards, and unlocked the "Talisman Pavilion Apprentice" side quest. More importantly, he gained a deeper understanding of the sect and the operation of "Sect Daily Tasks." This interface really turns the "Sect" into a "massively multiplayer online role-playing game."

Stepping out of the Talisman Pavilion, it was already late, with a bright moon and few stars. Lu Zhao returned to Green Bamboo Peak, but instead of immediately going back to his cave, he went around to the "resource points" he had marked during the day, digging out and collecting the low-grade herbs, the inferior ore, and the broken talisman fragment. Every little bit counts; every little bit helps.

Back in Cave 27, after activating the restrictions, Lu Zhao took stock of his gains for the day:

Contribution points: 128 (initial 100 + task 23 + extra 5).

Experience points: 450.

Items: [Clean Broom (Common)] x1 (used), [Spirit Rice Seeds (Common)] x1 small bag, [Inferior Talisman Brush (Fragment)] x1, [Mysterious Iron Ore (Inferior)] x1, [Thunder Sparrow Feather (Fragment)] x1, [Ink Dragon Blood (Rare)] x1 small bottle, several low-level herbs, one piece of inferior ore, one broken talisman fragment, [Unknown Spirit Beast Finger Bone (Fragment)] x1.

"A good harvest." Lu Zhao nodded in satisfaction, planting the spirit rice seeds in the spirit field in the corner of his cave and watering them with the remaining rainwater from the [Spirit Rain Talisman]. He then carefully sorted and stored the talisman materials, ores, herbs, and finger bones. Afterward, he took out the broken talisman fragment and examined it closely.

The fragment was only the size of a fingernail, made of a special kind of animal hide, with incomplete, charred runes remaining on it. It was faintly discernible that it was a fire-attribute attack rune, but the rune structure was very peculiar, different from the [Fireball Rune] and [Blazing Sun Rune] he had learned. It was more complex and of a higher level, and seemed to contain a hint of explosive and penetrating power.

"It seems to be a fragment of some kind of high-grade first-tier, or even second-tier, attack talisman. Unfortunately, it's too badly damaged to be repaired, and the complete runes cannot be deduced. However, the principles of runes contained within can still be learned from." Lu Zhao used the [Refining Spirit Technique] to carefully perceive and imprint the remaining rune traces on the fragment into his mind. Although it cannot be restored, it may be beneficial to his understanding of rune structure and improving the grade of [Talisman Drawing].

After doing all that, he brought up the panel again and checked the properties:

Name: Lu Zhao

[Identity: Outer Disciple (Miscellaneous Rank) of Qingyun Dao Sect, Yunmeng Marsh]

Lifespan: 17/120

[Cultivation Level: Qi Refining Level 4 (Early Stage)]

[Spiritual Root: ??? (Mixed and Conflicting, Unknown Rank)]

【功法：蛰龙眠（Lv4 0/400），炼神术（Lv3 220/300），龟息潜行诀（Lv3 150/300），？？？（未解锁）】

【技能：符箓绘製（Lv4 170/500），炼药术（入门0/100），炼器术（入门0/100），阵法（入门0/100），追蹤（入门0/100）……】

[Spells: Fireball Technique (Lv2 Proficient), Object Manipulation Technique (Beginner), Dust Removal Technique (Not Learned), Cloud Rain Technique (Not Learned), Vajra Technique (Not Learned), Swift Movement Technique (Beginner), Concealment Technique (Lv3 Master), Disguise Technique (Beginner)...]

[Equipment: Omitted]

[Items: Omitted]

[Contribution Points: 128]

Experience points: 450

Status: Good

"My talisman drawing is almost at Lv5. Maybe I can try the 'Talisman Pavilion Apprentice' side quest then. I also need to level up my Hidden Dragon Sleep, Divine Refinement Technique, and Turtle Breath Stealth Technique as soon as possible. With contribution points, I can go to the Transmission Pavilion and exchange them for some useful spells, like the Vajra Technique, the Lesser Cloud Rain Technique, and that [Dust Removal Technique], at least I won't have to work so hard sweeping the floor next time..." Lu Zhao pondered, then recalled the painful experience of the "Sect-Standard Flying Boat" during the day, and his lips twitched. "I still don't have enough contribution points. Exchanging for spells, buying talisman materials and pills, and renting cultivation rooms all require contribution points. I need to find a way to earn more..."

"Oh right, there's also that side quest, [Adapting to Sect Life (Part 1)]. It requires visiting at least three fellow disciples and completing at least one daily sect task. I've already completed three daily tasks, exceeding the requirement. Visiting fellow disciples... Senior Brother Lin and Zhang Tie count as one, but what about the stewards of the Hundred Herbs Garden and the Talisman Pavilion? The interface doesn't specify clearly, so just to be on the safe side, I'll visit them."

Lu Zhao decided that tomorrow, he would first visit Senior Brother Lin and Zhang Tie to complete the side quests. Then, he would go to the Transmission Pavilion to exchange for spells. Next, he would see if there were any suitable quests with high contribution points to accept. Finally, he would also need to visit the "Pill Cauldron Pavilion" and the "Weapon Refining Workshop" to understand the market for alchemy and weapon refining, and see if he could use the materials he had "picked up at bargain prices".

"Okay, let's do it this way. Take it slow, no rush. First, solidify our foundation, improve our strength, and familiarize ourselves with the environment. As for those troublemakers... I'll let them stay away from me, but if they dare to lay a hand on me, I'll just kill them."

A cold glint flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes, which he quickly concealed. He sat cross-legged and began circulating the [Dragon's Hibernation Technique] to recover the spiritual energy consumed throughout the day. At the same time, he was also digesting what he had gained that day and getting used to the rhythm of this "sect's daily routine." He knew that this seemingly peaceful, regular, and even somewhat "boring" daily routine was merely the first step in his integration into the Qingyun Dao Sect and the accumulation of his strength. The real storm, perhaps, was yet to come.

Outside the cave, the moonlight, like water, enveloped the tranquil Green Bamboo Peak. Inside the cave, the young man closed his eyes, his breathing long and deep, his aura gradually merging with the moonlight, becoming one with the vast sect.