Chapter 25: Another Hidden Quest Appears!

The moment he stepped into the stone cave, Chen Qi felt his vision plunge into darkness. He looked toward the stones deeper inside; some of them emitted strange, magical light, unmistakably extraordinary at first glance.

The cave was deeper than Chen Qi had imagined. Following the old man Chi, he wandered through winding passages until they arrived at a smooth, fluorescent stone wall.

Chi spoke, “This is the Shadow-Imprint Stone. Soon, figures will appear here—they are your final trial opponents.”

He continued, his tone indifferent, “With me here, you need not worry about the safety of the ordeal. After defeating each figure, you have half a stick of incense’s time to recover. Remember, boy: you must defeat at least three figures to pass!”

Chen Qi hardly paid attention to Chi’s words. The moment he saw the Shadow-Imprint Stone, his “Sprout Space” sent a prompt.

[Detected: Chosen one approaching Cloudsea Sect’s artifact, the Shadow-Imprint Stone]
[Hidden Mission Activated: Silhouettes of History]
[Hidden Mission: Silhouettes of History]
Mission Description: Defeat independently the figures generated by the Shadow-Imprint Stone.
Mission Info: Within Cloudsea Sect’s Stone Cave, a mysterious Shadow-Imprint Stone records the strongest servant disciples who have ever faced solo trials. Each defeated figure grants richer rewards.
Mission Deadline: Before leaving this world.
Mission Reward: Each defeated figure upgrades the final reward. Current reward: Treasure Chest (White). Rewards will be settled upon returning to “Sprout Space.”
Mission Penalty: None
……

Chen Qi’s breathing grew heavy. He hadn’t expected another hidden mission—a reward for all his efforts to curry favor. He recalled his first mission world, where hidden missions brought him great gains, far surpassing the main quest rewards.

It might be due to the perks of a novice world, but there was no doubt: hidden mission rewards were always generous.

He, Chen Qi, would seize this opportunity.

“Smack!” Chen Qi felt a sharp pain in his head. The old man Chi, seeing him lost in thought, had appeared at his side and struck him hard.

“You rascal, daydreaming at a time like this?”

Chi’s voice then took on a sinister edge. “Are you scared? Want to try flattering me for a few favors?”

Chen Qi’s heart leapt—is there such a thing as luck?

He was about to speak when Chi ruthlessly cut him off, “Too late! If you’re ready, get on with it. The sooner you finish, the sooner I can rest.”

After speaking, apparently impatient with Chen Qi’s hesitation, Chi waved his palm and Chen Qi stumbled involuntarily toward the Shadow-Imprint Stone.

“I’m not ready yet—” Chen Qi barely finished when the stone’s glow intensified, gradually outlining a shadow.

Acting on instinct, Chen Qi wasted no time. While the shadow was still forming, he charged forward, blade in hand.

The figure, once fully formed, was that of a youth wielding twin swords—one of the strongest servant disciples recorded. He retreated rapidly, but it was too late; Chen Qi’s blade sliced through half his arm, which vanished into shadow.

“Hmph!” Chi grunted from behind but did not intervene.

Following the creed of striking while the iron is hot, Chen Qi pressed his attack.

The shadow, now one-armed, struggled to parry with a single sword, unable to counterattack. His dual-sword style depended on offense and defense—losing an arm crippled his strength.

Soon, the shadow made a desperate decision: ignoring the incoming blade, he thrust his single sword at Chen Qi’s chest, exploiting the moment when Chen Qi could not withdraw his blade.

Chen Qi, curious about the shadow’s strength and caught off guard by its decisiveness, quickly withdrew his blade to block.

Despite losing an arm, the shadow’s footwork was unhindered. With a deft step, his sword bypassed Chen Qi’s defense.

Chen Qi’s expression shifted; he unleashed the blood surge attached to his bone chain. He had no desire to be injured in the first fight and weaken his performance later.

As his fierce blood energy clashed with the incoming blade, Chen Qi struck again.

The shadow, relying on superb movement, dodged two strikes, but was finally pierced through the chest by Chen Qi’s blade.

As the blade passed through, the shadow flickered and vanished.

“Sprout Space” promptly alerted him.

[Shadow-Imprint Stone: 9/10 figures remaining]
[Current Reward: Treasure Chest (Green)]
……

Chi spoke, “The next figure will appear after half a stick of incense.”

A Cloudsea Sect incense stick burns for about thirty minutes; half is fifteen minutes—enough time for Chen Qi’s blood surge to fully recover.

Chen Qi sat cross-legged and rested, replenishing the life force spent on his blood surge.

After about ten minutes, he was restored.

Rather than waiting passively, Chen Qi moved to stand before the Shadow-Imprint Stone. Relying on the experience of Basic Blade Technique Lv.3, he adopted a ready stance, awaiting the emergence of the next figure.

Chi, observing from behind, his face tinged green, could not intervene per the sect’s rules as proctor.

The half incense time quickly passed. The stone glowed again, outlining a new figure.

Before the figure was fully visible, Chen Qi drew a deep breath and slashed at its chest.

This time, the figure wore gauntlets and caught the blade barehanded.

The blade halted an inch from the figure’s chest, held fast between both hands. Chen Qi tried to push forward, but could make no progress.

Seeing his blade caught by the freshly emerged figure, Chen Qi immediately unleashed his blood surge, targeting the figure’s hands.

Fierce blood energy shot toward the hands and exploded.

The figure’s hands trembled, and the blade advanced two inches, now piercing the figure’s chest. The figure blurred slightly, but Chen Qi felt the resistance against his blade intensify.

Allowing no chance for reprisal, Chen Qi struck the figure with his left hand, activating Focus Burst.

In an instant, his nerves fired on all cylinders. Chen Qi drew deep breaths, channeling blood energy to both hands.

With heightened nerve transmission, his left fist slammed into the figure’s right arm.

The figure shuddered but continued to hold the blade. Instinct told him not to relinquish his grip.

“Bang! Bang!”

Excited nerves relayed commands from Chen Qi’s brain; his left fist struck repeatedly, finally forcing the figure’s right hand away.

At the same time, blood surged into his right hand and up the blade, driving it another two inches forward.

As the blade, infused with traces of fire element, pierced the figure’s chest, the figure soon dissolved into nothingness.

“Sprout Space” delivered its precise notification:

[Shadow-Imprint Stone: 8/10 figures remaining]
[Current Reward: Treasure Chest (Blue)]
......