Huayang City...
Ming Zhitian was back, as he was short on money again and had to visit the Bounty Pavilion.
Upon entering the Bounty Pavilion, the administrator recognized him immediately. "Yo, isn't this little friend Ming? What, finally out of money?"
Ming Zhitian smiled faintly. "Elder, please don't tease me. I had bad luck yesterday; all my coins were robbed by bandits on the road."
The administrator was used to it. "Little friend Ming, don't be discouraged. Wealth is external. Gain and loss, gain and loss. As long as your life is safe, that's what matters. Keep trying. By the way, there's a Guard Hall in the south of the city where you can recruit guards and ensure your own safety."
Ming Zhitian waved his hand. "I know. I don't need it for now. I'm a poor man; who would rob me?"
The administrator presented the mission board. "Little friend Ming, you're here to take beginner missions, right? Come, choose."
Ming Zhitian looked at the prices and shook his head. "I'd like to try intermediate missions."
The administrator was startled. "I'm sorry, little friend. Your current realm cannot accept intermediate missions; it's the rule."
Ming Zhitian said, "Alright, then I'll take beginner missions first."
The administrator nodded, thought for a moment, and then said, "How about this? If you take on the two highest-priced beginner missions and complete them within the specified time, I'll make an exception and let you take an intermediate mission. How about that?"
Ming Zhitian nodded. "Okay."
He accepted the two highest-priced beginner missions, and undertaking them simultaneously made the time even more pressing.
He chose combat missions for both. He desperately needed combat to improve his cultivation. Otherwise, if he couldn't progress, he would have to put in effort and take action to become stronger.
However, Ming Zhitian's only reliable support, the Cold Iron Gauntlets, were in someone else's hands, significantly reducing his combat ability.
The first mission was to deal with two sect traitors at Qi Cultivation Layer Eight in Xiong Mountain, with a three-day deadline.
The second mission was to deal with a murderer at Qi Cultivation Layer Nine in Baishui River, and he had to capture them alive, also within three days.
Each mission was of the highest difficulty. In other words, for Ming Zhitian, who was at the bottom of Qi Cultivation Layer One, completing these two missions within three days was undoubtedly like an egg hitting a rock or a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Without delay, even without his mount, Buck, Ming Zhitian fearlessly galloped to the mission location, Xiong Mountain, where the sect traitors were hiding.
Upon reaching Xiong Mountain, finding people was difficult and time-consuming. But Ming Zhitian only had three days. He asked every passerby he saw, but there was no trace of them.
After spending half the day, just as Ming Zhitian was about to give up, the two men found him. They were two slender youths standing on the mountain, looking down at Ming Zhitian. "We heard you were looking for us brothers?"
Ming Zhitian asked, "Are you two the Yao Dong Twin Talents?"
Without a word, the two burst into laughter. "Indeed! Haha... A mere cultivator at Layer One dares to overreach himself and try to kill us brothers? Is there no one left in the Ancient Cultivation Realm?"
Ming Zhitian, fearing they would leave, began to provoke them. "You two, Yao Dong's twin dogs, come and accept your death!"
Seeing Ming Zhitian's arrogance, the two could no longer stand it and rushed down the mountain!
Ming Zhitian yelled at a pile of rubble nearby! "Rocks, come!"
A pile of rubble covered Ming Zhitian's hands. He shaped the rocks to enhance his attack power and added a protective layer to his hands, allowing him to attack and defend.
The Yao Dong Twin Talents followed closely, acting as one with two figures, their swords lunging towards Ming Zhitian's neck! Two streaks of cold blue light "swished" out.
Ming Zhitian dodged to the side and attacked with both fists! Like twin dragons emerging from the sea, they struck the two swords, "clang," and sent them flying.
"Shaping rocks? Big brother, what kind of technique is this? Even though he's only at Layer One, why do I feel like he's stronger than both of us?"
"Don't boost their morale and crush our own. Can't we two defeat one of him? Fight him, no retreating allowed."