Chapter 5: SSS…Super Mission

Chapter 5: SSS...Super Mission

The Clear Water River flowed majestically, its vast expanse stretching as far as the eye could see, resembling a dragon coiled at the riverbed. This vital waterway near Qinghe City originated from Kunlun Mountain, winding its way for thousands of miles, its waves surging and crashing against the shores, giving Qinghe City its fame.

It was dawn.

The sky was still dimly lit, casting the Clear Water River in the appearance of a black dragon coiled upon the earth, majestic and awe-inspiring. Listening to the roar of the waves, Qin Ze hurried towards the riverbank.

Under the bright moonlight, the night breeze rustled through the reeds, adding a touch of serenity to the scenic landscape. Yet Qin Ze had no heart for appreciating the beauty; he needed to quickly wash away the bloodstains on his body before returning, lest he faced Zhang Dafu's scolding.

With his pace hastened, he arrived at the river's edge, stripped off his clothes, revealing his frail physique.

A gust of wind made Qin Ze shiver despite the summer heat; the river breeze carried a chill. However, he had no time for such trivialities and prepared to dive into the river for a thorough cleanse.

Just as he was about to plunge in, a corpse floated up from the weeds beside him, resembling a stranded whale. Its golden robes glinted in the moonlight.

"Someone drowned?"

Qin Ze quickly dove in and pulled the person ashore.

"No breath, dead?"

Qin Ze placed his finger on the man's nostrils, feeling for a pulse. The man's body was covered in scars, his chest charred black as if struck by lightning, a gruesome sight indeed.

Dressed in fine silks and brocades, the man must have come from a wealthy family. Qin Ze's eyes lit up as he gazed at the bulge in the man's chest, smirking, "A gentleman earns his wealth honorably, but a scoundrel takes it when opportunity arises."

Poverty being the greatest fear, he dismissed all thoughts of bad omens and reached into the dead man's robes.

As Qin Ze retrieved a delicate box from the corpse's embrace, the man's hand suddenly moved, gripping Qin Ze's wrist tightly. His eyes snapped open, glaring fiercely as he roared, "Thief, your life is mine!"

"A zombie!"

The sudden turn of events nearly frightened Qin Ze out of his wits.

Without hesitation, Qin Ze kicked the man's head, hearing a sickening crack that suggested a bone had broken.

"See if you're still alive now."

Qin Ze muttered, only to hear the man say, "Young man, our meeting as my spirit returns is a sign of fate..."

"Not dead?" Qin Ze froze, his right wrist aching from the grip of a skeletal hand. Just as he prepared to deliver another kick, the man added, "I am already dead, fear not."

"Greed, good. Greed and ambition to rise above, these are the qualities I seek. The treasures of Tianji Sect are countless, but only you can reclaim the position of Sect Master, and then all of Tianji Sect will be yours."

"You think I'm stupid? Even if I don't know how formidable Tianji Sect is, just your 1088 disciples are enough to overwhelm me. How can a lowly peasant like me compete for the Sect Master's position?"

"If you cultivate the 'Dragon Elephant Supreme Void Scripture' and break through to the Realm of Heaven and Earth, no one in Tianji Sect will be your match. Then, when you present the Sect Master's talisman, no one will dare to doubt you."

"After you reclaim the position of Sect Master, you'll do a few things for me."

"What things?"

Qin Ze was suddenly exhilarated, without any warning. A quest popped up in his mind, and the quest level left him stunned.

After seven years of playing online games and accepting countless quests, he had never encountered an SSS... Super Quest before.

S-ranked quests were already top-tier. Typically, the highest quest level set in games was SSS, and such quests were incredibly rare, with the likelihood of triggering an SSS quest in an online game practically nil.

Yet here he was, faced with an SSS... Super Quest, a level he had never seen before. The rewards, one could only imagine, must be immense.

Qin Ze dared not contemplate further, afraid his heart couldn't take it.

Immediately, he silently mouthed the word "Accept" in his mind.

At this moment, a hint of immeasurable hatred crept into Cang Tianji's voice, "Kill Long Xiaotian and destroy the Demon Sect."

"Long Xiaotian, a traitor to Tianji Sect, conspired with the Demon Sect to steal my 'Dragon Elephant Supreme Void Scripture'. If you accomplish these two tasks, everything in Tianji Sect will be yours. And if you still have a conscience, use your divine abilities to resurrect me. I'll reveal a great secret to you then."

Qin Ze was confused by the tangled story. Why was something so simple made so complicated? Wasn't this just a clichéd revenge plot?

Long Xiaotian, driven by greed for the Dragon Elephant Supreme Void Scripture, conspired with the Demon Sect, set a trap, and gravely injured Cang Tianji. But Cang somehow escaped and, upon encountering Qin Ze, entrusted everything to him.

The SSS... Super Quest demanded that Qin Ze kill Long Xiaotian and eradicate the Demon Sect.

Even if Qin Ze wanted to avenge Cang Tianji, he lacked the power. The strength of a Sect Master was far beyond him. Currently, he was only at the third level of martial cultivation. How long would it take for him to reach the Realm of Heaven and Earth?

Some people spent their entire lives stuck at the martial level, unable to make further breakthroughs. There were few experts at the Realm of Heaven and Earth on the Tianyuan Continent, and each of them had cultivated for hundreds or even thousands of years. Qin Ze knew his limitations. To reach the Realm of Heaven and Earth, he didn't know if he would even live that long.

However, Qin Ze couldn't care less about that.

He wouldn't do anything that was of no benefit to him. He would be reluctant to let go of any opportunity to gain benefits right in front of him.