"Senior Brother Bai, let me make the introductions."

Bai Zichen’s arrival as promised greatly pleased Lu Song.

"This is Brother Cai Heng. He’s always looked out for me, and he’s the one leading this mission."

Cai Heng rubbed his smooth, bald head, forcing a fawning smile onto his otherwise fierce-looking face. "Junior Brother Lu exaggerates," he said. "We new servant disciples are just sticking together for warmth."

"This is Junior Brother Xun Shuang. He might seem cold, but he’s warm-hearted. His family has lived on Black Mountain for generations, and we’re counting on his family’s heirloom Magical Artifact to deal with the demon beast."

Lu Song pointed to the cultivator with triangular eyes, and a flustered Xun Shuang quickly waved his hands. "With Senior Brother Bai here, there’s no need for me to do anything. I’ll just be cheering from the sidelines."

"And this is Junior Brother Luo Qi. He’s been learning the art of Talisman Making recently and has quite a talent for it."

After introducing the three of them, Lu Song explained how Cai Heng came to accept this Sect mission.

It turned out that last month, a mission issued by the Artifact Refining Hall had been posted in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. It was a request to purchase a large quantity of Ghost-Faced Jade Spider legs, with a reward of twenty Sect Contribution points offered for each one.

The moment the mission was posted, it caused a huge stir among the Outer Sect and servant disciples, who all began asking about the whereabouts of the Ghost-Faced Jade Spider.

The Ghost-Faced Jade Spider was a Top-Grade Qi Refining Demon Beast with eight legs, which meant that killing just one would earn at least one hundred and sixty Sect Contribution points.

And that didn’t even include the other parts of the Ghost-Faced Jade Spider, which could be exchanged for Spirit Stones.

An income like that would tempt even the less successful Inner Sect Disciples, let alone those from the Outer Sect and the servant disciples.

However, the Ghost-Faced Jade Spider was extremely rare. Several Outer Sect Disciples who had accepted the mission went through great trouble to turn in spider legs, only for the Artifact Refining Hall’s Steward to identify them as belonging to ordinary Jade Spiders. Not a single person had successfully claimed the reward yet.

As it happened, a few months ago, while on a mission to improve the map of Black Mountain, that same Junior Brother Luo Qi had spotted a ferocious giant spider in an abandoned cave. The sight terrified him so much that he scrambled out of the cave in a panic.

After he returned, they compared the details and confirmed that what Luo Qi had seen was indeed a Ghost-Faced Jade Spider.

Once Cai Heng learned of the Ghost-Faced Jade Spider’s location, he couldn’t bear to let the mission slip through his fingers. The moment he heard that Lu Song could invite an Inner Sect Disciple for backup, he immediately wanted to go accept the mission.

Unexpectedly, the Steward at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall told him that because the wrong spider legs had been submitted several times in a row, the Steward at the Artifact Refining Hall was already displeased. Citing that Cai Heng and the others’ Cultivation levels were too low, he refused to let them take the mission.

Left with no choice, the group pooled together five Spirit Stones to bribe a Steward and took the mission while the Hall Steward was away.

For this mission, Xun Shuang had even secretly brought his family’s heirloom, a Top-Grade Magical Artifact, which was said to be highly effective against spider-type Demon Beasts.

"Junior Brother Lu should have already conveyed my terms to you. I don’t want a single one of the Ghost-Faced Jade Spider’s legs; I’m only taking its Poison Sac. Furthermore, any other treasures found in that cave will belong to me and have nothing to do with you."

Bai Zichen tapped his index finger on the table. He didn’t think much of a single Ghost-Faced Jade Spider.

Besides, the abandoned Cave Mansion wasn’t too far away. If he used his full-power Sword Control, he could get there in a little over half an hour.

’I’ll just treat it as a leisurely trip, a chance to practice my Swordsmanship. Sparring with that Mud Spirit Puppet all day is getting really boring, anyway.’

"We’ll do as Senior Brother Bai says. We have no objections."

Cai Heng was already quite satisfied with just getting his hands on the Ghost-Faced Jade Spider’s legs. He had even considered giving two of the legs to their helper.

Although the Poison Sac was quite valuable, it wasn’t part of the Sect’s procurement mission. Finding a buyer himself would be a hassle, and he’d have to sell it at a discount, so Cai Heng didn’t mind.

Once everyone had agreed on the terms, they left the eatery, ready to set out.

Bai Zichen looked at Lu Song and the others. He could travel using Sword Control with his Ink Bamboo Sword, but he wasn’t skilled enough to carry anyone with him.

But if they had to travel on foot, it would probably take a full day and night to reach the abandoned cave Luo Qi had mentioned.

"Senior Brother Bai, we have Paper Kites for transportation. They’re a bit slow, so we’ll have to ask you to bear with us."

Cai Heng seemed to notice Bai Zichen’s predicament. He pulled a Kite Magical Artifact from his storage bag and presented it before him.

The Paper Kite was a Low-Grade Magical Artifact, barely qualifying as a Flying Magical Artifact. Because it was relatively cheap, it was quite popular among lower-level Cultivators who had a little bit of wealth.

"That’s perfect. You can lead the way."

Bai Zichen nodded and watched as Cai Heng threw the Paper Kite out. It expanded to a width of ten feet, with two small benches woven from bamboo and wood underneath.

Cai Heng and Luo Qi climbed on. Pressing their hands on the Paper Kite, they channeled their Magical Power into it. The Flying Magical Artifact wobbled into the air, slowly drifting forward at a height of no more than a hundred feet off the ground.

Xun Shuang and Lu Song did the same, mounting a red Paper Kite that had a fierce tiger painted on it.

’This flying speed is even slower than sprinting with a Divine Movement Talisman... And I get the feeling a strong gust of wind would blow it away.’

Bai Zichen was left speechless. ’No wonder Cultivators with any real wealth refuse to buy Paper Kites for transport,’ he thought. ’They’d rather spend several times the Spirit Stones on a Mid-Grade Flying Magical Artifact.’

’The slow speed is one thing, but two people crammed onto a tiny bench with their legs dangling in the air is just an eyesore.’

’It can’t be comfortable for long periods, either.’

’And since the Paper Kite flies so low, any random Magic could hit it. That completely negates the most important function of a Flying Magical Artifact: escape.’

’Its only real function is flight, allowing you to travel in a straight line and avoid crossing mountains and rivers.’

’No wonder the price never goes up.’

Bai Zichen slapped his Ink Bamboo Sword and followed the two Paper Kites, carefully controlling his Sword Control speed as he trailed behind them.

Cai Heng glanced back and saw an Ink Jade Sword Light following closely. Realizing it was Bai Zichen controlling his Flying Sword, his old face flushed with embarrassment. The two Paper Kites they were using were secondhand; the original seller had patched them up in several places, which meant their flight speed was even slower than usual.

He was afraid that if they flew any faster, they might tear holes right through the Paper Kites.

But knowing that Bai Zichen had a Flying Sword, Cai Heng’s confidence in the mission grew.

After drifting in the sky for nearly three hours, they finally reached their destination.

When Cai Heng and the others dismounted from their Paper Kites, their legs gave way, and they almost couldn’t stay on their feet.

Bai Zichen retracted his Sword Light and landed on the ground, glancing at the dark, deep cave entrance.

"Senior Brother Bai, the Ghost-Faced Jade Spider should be deep inside this cave. Once this type of spider Demon Beast establishes a nest, it almost never relocates."

Cai Heng put away the Paper Kite and limped over.

"Let’s get organized, then we’ll head into the cave."

This cave must have been mined for ore in the past. There were some rusty, broken tools and a few minecarts for transporting ore scattered nearby. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Cai Heng held a round shield covered in Beast Hide in one hand. With the other, he summoned a large Luminous Pearl, which, when stimulated with Magical Power, emitted a soft yet intensely penetrating white light.

Lu Song held several small golden knives, while Luo Qi clutched a whole stack of Talismans in his hand.

Bringing up the rear, Xun Shuang held up an Oil Lamp, carefully cradling it against his chest as if it were a precious treasure. It was hard to tell if the Oil Lamp was protecting him or if he was protecting the Oil Lamp.

Bai Zichen gave an imperceptible nod. ’They’ve come fully prepared,’ he observed. ’They didn’t just assume the mission would be easy because I joined, planning to just coast along and reap the benefits.’

His gaze lingered on the Oil Lamp in Xun Shuang’s hands for a few extra moments.

’This Oil Lamp Magical Artifact must be the Xun Family heirloom they mentioned,’ he thought, ’the one that’s supposed to be highly effective against spider-type Demon Beasts.’