Kyrian, after informing Feng Yuan that he was leaving on a mission, departed from the central pavilion in the sect's main area, where Feng Yuan remained.

The sun was already higher in the sky when Kyrian and Yanyu decided to set out. As they left the refuge and began descending the long, winding staircase, the reality of Kyrian's new status became undeniable.

When they reached the inner area, disciples passing by stopped and whispered. Some looks were heavy with envy, directed mostly at Yanyu.

But there was also curiosity and respect for Kyrian's talent.

His face, his features, once unknown, were now recognized by nearly every inner disciple.

The task pavilion was an imposing structure, at least twice the size of the Leaf Sword Pavilion.

Inside, a constant murmur of voices filled the air as dozens of inner disciples crowded before a large wooden board covered in scrolls.

Yanyu led Kyrian straight to the service counter. The elder in charge, a man with graying hair and sharp eyes, looked up, especially after noticing Kyrian's black robes bearing the emblem of the sect, the severed leaf.

Everyone knew Mark well. His eyes widened slightly, and he inclined his head in a respectful gesture.

"Young Master Kyrian," the man greeted, his voice tinged with surprise.

"We're looking for missions," Yanyu said, taking the lead.

The man nodded and pointed to the main board.

"All available missions for inner disciples are there. However, I must warn you, most require at least the strength of the Qi Liberation Realm."

They approached the board. Yanyu scanned the scrolls, her expression growing serious.

The vast majority involved hunting beasts, collecting their bodies for weapon crafting, or searching for spiritual herbs, usually in dangerous environments.

Every mission seemed too risky for her cultivation level.

Kyrian, however, observed everything with calm composure. He analyzed each mission, not with fear, but with calculation.

He was confident that, with the Eyes of Ice and his perception, he could protect both himself and Yanyu from those in the early Qi Liberation Realm.

And with the Eyes of the Sword, Kyrian felt his offensive power had grown substantially, though he wasn't yet sure by how much.

Even so, his priority was ensuring Yanyu's safety during the mission. That, he knew, he could do, even if the mission itself failed.

Then, his gaze landed on a discreet scroll pinned in a less-crowded corner of the wooden board. It didn't mention beasts or rare herbs, its handwriting was direct and simple, yet elegant.

"Escort Mission."

"Requirement: Inner disciples, preferably with reliable combat strength."

"Objective: Escort a caravan of merchants from Yuntal City to the capital of Gylp, in the southern region of the Verdant Sword Domain."

"Reward: 150 merit points and 300 low-grade spirit coins. (Note: the route crosses the border with the Scarlet Domain, territory of the Scarlet Sun Sect. Avoid conflict and maintain discretion.)"

Kyrian reached out and took the scroll.

"This one," he said decisively, turning to Yanyu. For some reason, he felt something different about this mission, though he didn't yet know why.

Yanyu looked at him, saw his resolute expression, and said.

"Then that's the one we'll take."

They returned to the counter, where the gray-haired man awaited them. Kyrian placed the scroll on the polished wooden surface.

"We'll take this escort mission," Kyrian announced.

The elder picked up the scroll, scanned it quickly, then looked back at Kyrian, deciding not to comment.

He turned and retrieved two items from a drawer beneath the counter. The first was a small metal brooch, handcrafted into the shape of the sect's emblem, a leaf split in half.

The second was a thicker scroll, tied with a small ribbon.

"This emblem must be shown to the caravan leader, a merchant named Lao Shan. He'll recognize it, it confirms your identities."

He then partially unrolled the larger scroll, revealing a detailed map.

"This is the map of the Verdant Sword Domain. All twenty-five smaller countries under our protection are marked here."

The elder's finger rested on the map, pointing to a city in the southern region.

"This is Yuntal, the starting point. The caravan will follow this trade route, which has grown dangerous recently, all the way to Gylp's capital." His finger slid toward a larger city closer to the map's center.

"Traveling at caravan pace, the journey will take approximately ten days."

Kyrian studied the map for a moment, memorizing its entire layout with impressive ease. In seconds, it was fully engraved in his mind.

He then took the brooch and said simply, "Understood."

Leaving the task pavilion, the sunlight felt brighter. Kyrian turned to Yanyu.

"Do you need to grab anything before we go? Supplies or something?"

Yanyu shook her head, touching the small pouch at her belt and the sword at her hip.

"No, I'm ready. I always keep the essentials with me."

Kyrian nodded in agreement. Without further delay, the two began descending the endless staircase that wound down the mountain toward its base.

As they went, Yanyu couldn't help but notice that Kyrian hadn't requested a flying beast from the inner area's stables, a privilege he, as a direct disciple, surely had.

She kept the question to herself, but Kyrian, noticing her curious glance, gave a simple explanation.

"A ground beast will be enough to take us there. There's no need to rush."

The truth was that Kyrian didn't wish to hurry through the experience. He still had a few days before his eyes fully stabilized and the limit on his next cultivation breakthrough faded. Until then, his strength wouldn't increase much.

This was an opportunity to see more of the world that was now his home, to feel a different pace.

When they reached the outer area, their presence immediately drew attention. Yanyu's inner disciple robes already stood out, but Kyrian's unique black tunic was like a beacon.

Whispers spread instantly, even louder than in the inner area.

Like a domino effect, a path opened wherever they passed. Outer disciples stepped aside with a mix of fear and respect, not daring to block their way.

Ignoring the stares, Kyrian navigated confidently, he had memorized the sect's geography, rules, and layout, including all facilities.

He led Yanyu steadily through the crowded courtyards at the mountain's foot, heading toward the stables.

There, among various creatures, he approached a handler.

"We need two swift runners for a long-distance mission," Kyrian said firmly and curtly, not as a request, but as an instruction.

The handler recognized the authority in Kyrian's posture and robes, quickly bringing out two beasts.

They resembled horses but were larger, with more defined muscles and a sharp intelligence gleaming in their eyes.

Each had a single horn growing from its forehead, one black as coal, the other white as snow. Both emanated the aura of beasts at the mid Qi Accumulation Realm.

Without further ceremony, Kyrian mounted the black beast, his dark robes blending with the creature's sleek fur.

Yanyu, in turn, calmly mounted the white one. Then, with a gentle command, the two beasts broke into a fast, incredibly smooth trot, leaving behind the grand gates of the Verdant Sword Sect.

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