The deep night.
While most Black Lotus cultists were still asleep, Jun Ye and Uncle Xu emerged from the sealed underground city.
However, not long after they left, the underground city representing the "Black Lotus Cult" began to shake.
The two looked in the direction of the Black Lotus Cult. Jun Ye said with a grave expression:
"What's going on?"
Uncle Xu: "Your subordinate doesn't know. Your subordinate will go and check."
Jun Ye: "Wait, let's observe the situation first."
Thus, half an hour later, the sand dunes with their high peaks cascaded down under their gaze.
Gradually, the sand spread out in all directions, quickly approaching their feet.
Uncle Xu shouted:
"Young Master! Run!"
...
Half a month later.
Nian Jiaojiao went to the mission desk again.
"I'm here to claim my reward."
The instructor quickly recognized Nian Jiaojiao, her face beaming with a smile.
"Please wait a moment, I'll look for it..."
After speaking, she pulled out a thick book from under the counter, licked her finger, and began to flip through it.
In fact, Nian Jiaojiao had received notification that she could claim her reward on the seventh day after submitting her mission.
However, her novel had just become a bestseller at the time. After the energy provided by the novel overflowed, she could only choose to go into seclusion for cultivation, which she had only finished last night.
"Found it."
The instructor pointed to the information on the book and said:
"Originally, the team leader was supposed to receive an artifact of the Object Manipulation realm. However, after investigation, the superiors believe there was a certain error in the assessment of the Face Stealing Demon's strength that you faced. To compensate you, each of you will be additionally rewarded with an artifact of the Transcendent realm. Of course, as the leader, you can claim two."
Nian Jiaojiao nodded.
She naturally wanted more artifacts.
After all, the five men at home had all embarked on the path of cultivation, but they didn't have a single suitable artifact.
Nian Jiaojiao followed the instructor to the treasure pavilion in the Gong Yuan.
Along the way, the instructor kept talking to Nian Jiaojiao.
"The other academy students who went on the mission with you have already collected their artifacts, each receiving two Transcendent realm artifacts. For them, the harvest is quite substantial."
Nian Jiaojiao asked curiously:
"I wonder what kind of artifacts they chose."
The instructor explained:
"As you know, the Transcendent realm is different from the Object Manipulation realm where you can drive these artifacts. However, some passive artifacts can still be used. The usage count for these passive artifacts is very limited, with most lasting only two or three times at best."
At this moment, Nian Jiaojiao also thought of her peach wood fan, an artifact of the Object Manipulation realm that Senior Sister Lei had given her.
Now that she had reached the Object Manipulation realm, it was somewhat insufficient. The luster on the peach wood fan was weakening, and as her cultivation increased, it was struggling to withstand her power.
So, she asked:
"Instructor, I wonder if there are any artifacts of the Object Manipulation realm in this treasure pavilion."
"Of course, there are even higher realms. However, to exchange for such artifacts, there are probably fewer than ten people in the entire Gong Yuan."
"Then what kind of missions must be undertaken to exchange for them?"
The instructor assumed Nian Jiaojiao was worried about future artifacts and didn't think much of it. She pondered:
"Indeed, you are already in the Object Manipulation realm, and you'll likely reach the Object Manipulation realm before long. It's time to make early plans.
Hmm... let me think, for missions like the Face Stealing Demon, you should probably do about ten more."
Nian Jiaojiao: ...
After a moment of speechlessness, Nian Jiaojiao said:
"I'm in a bit of a hurry. Is there a faster way? Preferably one that can be obtained all at once."
The instructor glanced at Nian Jiaojiao with some surprise, "Such missions require at least the Object Manipulation realm. Are you sure you want to accept them?"
Nian Jiaojiao nodded.
But she thought again, if she wanted to enjoy the rewards alone, it was better to do the missions by herself.
From the previous Face Stealing Demon mission, she could tell that if she led the team, the others following her wouldn't be of much use. However, if she joined someone else's team to take on an Object Manipulation realm mission, then that Object Manipulation realm artifact would have nothing to do with her.
So, she said to the instructor:
"Instructor, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."
The instructor: "Go ahead."
Nian Jiaojiao nodded and said, "I had a sudden insight while in seclusion a few days ago and broke through to the Object Manipulation realm."
The instructor: ...
"Obj-Object Manipulation realm? You're not joking?"
If she, a newcomer, had reached the Object Manipulation realm, how could some seniors who were still struggling in the Transcendent realm survive?
"Yes, there's no point in me lying about my realm, so please, Instructor, give me a mission that the Object Manipulation realm can accept... Yes, I'll take it alone. Thank you for your trouble."
"Uh... alright, Academy Student Nian is truly..."
As an instructor who had emerged from the Jinshi examination, she was momentarily unable to find words to describe the person.
Half an hour later, Nian Jiaojiao walked out of the treasure pavilion with three artifacts in her hands.
Two of the artifacts were placed in wooden boxes, so their nature was unclear, but the other one... was quite obvious.
"Academy Student Nian, do you practice swordsmanship?"
The instructor was still waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Nian Jiaojiao carrying a large saber on her back, she couldn't help but ask.
Nian Jiaojiao shook her head.
"These are artifacts I prepared for the upcoming mission. Instructor, what do you think? Majestic, isn't it? Imposing, isn't it?"
The instructor looked at the sinister blade. The more she looked, the more familiar it became, and the faster her heart beat.
"This, this couldn't be the artifact on the second floor, could it?"
Nian Jiaojiao nodded.
"Instructor, you know it too? You know, I'm already in the Object Manipulation realm. Artifacts of the Object Manipulation realm are somewhat insufficient. However, since I've chosen it, I naturally have to pick one with the strongest energy!
I looked carefully, and this saber is the strongest among all the Object Manipulation realm artifacts!"
The instructor's mouth twitched slightly.
There was nothing wrong with her words, but...
She glanced at the large saber on Nian Jiaojiao's back again.
However, this was a butcher's cleaver!
Still, she decided not to tell Academy Student Nian...
Nian Jiaojiao was unaware of the instructor's inner thoughts. She merely thought the instructor was surprised that the saber didn't suit a scholar's identity.
So, she said earnestly:
"Instructor, this kind of prejudice is unacceptable..."
The instructor: ???
...
Half an hour later, Nian Jiaojiao walked out of the main gate with three artifacts.
Along the way, she received many gazes from passersby, but she paid them no mind, lost in thought.
This time, the Object Manipulation realm mission she accepted was at the junction of Sand State and Scattered State.
What concerned her most was that, according to the intelligence, the place where the demonic creatures appeared was the Black Lotus Cult's lair!
Ironically, for so many years, the dynasty had failed to eradicate the Black Lotus Cult. This time, the extraterrestrial demons inexplicably had eyes and had annihilated the entire Black Lotus Cult...
Speaking of the Black Lotus Cult, Nian Jiaojiao suddenly remembered the seductive Black Lotus Saint Son. She wondered if he was dead.
And also, Father Xu, the father of Yu Chuan.
Earlier, she had also speculated whether he had been taken away by the Black Lotus Cult. If so, with the Black Lotus Cult annihilated, would Father Xu have no chance of survival at all?
Therefore, besides needing artifacts, investigating the Black Lotus Cult was also an important reason for her choosing this mission.
Thinking this, Nian Jiaojiao quickened her pace home.
...
Nian Residence.
Two wooden boxes were placed on the table, and the Nian family members gathered around the table.
But everyone's gaze was drawn to the butcher's cleaver behind Nian Jiaojiao.
"Wife, what is this?" Tong Ziyao asked.
Nian Jiaojiao gently lifted the saber, its hilt touching the ground with a dull thud. The people in the hall felt the ground tremble.
Nian Jiaojiao touched the blade and proudly boasted:
"What do you think? My taste is good, isn't it?
From now on, no matter how fierce the extraterrestrial demons are, if one comes, I'll kill one. If a pair comes, I'll kill a pair!"
After speaking, she looked confidently at her husbands.
Her expression seemed to say: What do you think? Does it give you a sense of security?