Chapter 13: Miscellaneous Tasks Examination

"Three points!"

Zhao Heng looked in surprise at the number he had rolled.

At the same time, a prompt sounded in his mind.

"Memory Plunder: There is a certain chance to plunder another's memory from their soul body. Currently, no suitable target detected."

"Memory plunder?"

Zhao Heng's surprise deepened.

According to the explanation from the dice, he could use this skill to steal others' memories, but what exactly did "soul body" mean? Was it referring to the soul?

Zhao Heng had heard that strong cultivators who reached the Innate realm not only possessed immense physical power capable of splitting mountains, but their soul power also became extraordinarily strong, even allowing them to manipulate objects from a distance.

However, Zhao Heng had never seen the soul body of a post-natal martial artist.

"How exactly do I use this skill? Am I supposed to find an Innate-level expert to experiment on?"

Zhao Heng shook his head helplessly. It seemed that this skill would have to wait until he had an opportunity to use it in the future.

Afterward, Zhao Heng shook the dice again, accumulating a luck steal before storing away the remaining mysterious crystals.

With his Bone Transformation Step now enhanced, Zhao Heng planned to enter a secluded training session for three days, focusing entirely on refining his movement technique while striving to break through to the eighth stage of the Body Refining realm.

Once he passed the handyman assessment and rid himself of Steward Liu’s control, he would be free to figure out a way to deal with him, securing a stable and peaceful life.

With this goal in mind, Zhao Heng put all his effort into intense cultivation!

At the same time, on one of the Nine Peaks of the Feathering Sect, Qingxia Peak.

In a cave dwelling filled with dense mystical energy, with its top inlaid with crystals emitting spiritual light, a stunning woman in white was bowing to a closed stone chamber.

"Greetings, Master. I failed to report in time, please forgive me."

There was a long silence in the stone chamber before a clear, ethereal voice rang out.

"No need for formalities, Qingxue. I heard from your senior sister that you were injured during your mission?"

The woman in white was Yun Qingxue.

"I was unskilled and, while slaying the demonic cultivator, I was poisoned and injured. But I have fully recovered now."

Upon hearing this, a vast, invisible energy enveloped Yun Qingxue through the stone chamber door.

After a long pause, the voice continued.

"Mm, not only have your injuries healed, but your cultivation has also made progress. You're now only one step away from the Innate realm."

"Since you have completed the task I assigned you, I will keep my promise. From now on, you will be my official disciple, not just a named one."

"If you reach the Innate realm one day, you will inherit my true teachings!"

Upon hearing this, even Yun Qingxue, a practitioner in the Body Refining realm, couldn’t help but show an excited expression.

She understood very well what it meant to be accepted as a formal disciple by this powerful figure.

If, one day, she reached the Innate realm and inherited her Master's true teachings, then even her family would no longer be able to control her, and she would be free to decide her own future.

"Thank you, Master!"

Moments later, Yun Qingxue left the cave dwelling, holding several treasures and pills bestowed by her Master.

Looking at the rising sun in the distance, feeling the gentle spring breeze and the fragrant scent of flowers, Yun Qingxue smiled with a hint of joy.

In that instant, her breathtaking beauty made all the surrounding scenery pale in comparison.

It had been a long time since Yun Qingxue had felt so happy. It was as though she were a bird that had long been trapped in a cage, finally catching a whiff of freedom.

At that moment, a young man's figure unexpectedly appeared in her mind.

"If it weren't for his rescue that night, I might not have been able to kill that demonic cultivator, and I could have bled to death. Where would I have this opportunity now? But it’s been almost a month, and he still hasn’t come to claim his reward. Could something have happened to him?"

Soon, it was the morning of the third day.

In the southwestern part of the Feathering Sect, an open space at the junction of the sect and the forest was bustling with people.

Today was the once-every-three-years handyman assessment.

There were over ten thousand handyman disciples in the Feathering Sect, responsible for various sect duties, divided into several districts.

Every three years, there was an assessment, with thousands of handyman disciples participating.

After each assessment, some disciples with insufficient talent would be eliminated, while others with exceptional abilities would be given opportunities to access more resources.

Throughout the history of the Feathering Sect, some handyman disciples had risen to fame through the handyman assessment and later joined the outer sect or even reached the Innate realm, entering the inner sect.

Although such individuals were one in a million, they were still admired by all handyman disciples.

At this moment, Zhao Heng was also in the crowd, carrying a large sack about half his height. He explained to those around him that it was filled with dry rations.

This year’s handyman assessment followed the same rules as in previous years.

A section of the nearby forest was designated as the assessment area, where all the handyman disciples had to enter, gather spiritual herbs, and kill mystical beasts to earn points.

The disciples had to accumulate points to reach the qualifying line in order to pass. The assessment lasted for twelve hours.

At the moment, handyman disciples from various districts were waiting with their respective stewards for the assessment to begin.

Zhao Heng’s group, made up of about a hundred handyman disciples from the mining district, stood together. At the front of the group was Liu Hong.

Liu Hong had already seen Zhao Heng but said nothing, seemingly unconcerned about what had happened before.

However, Zhao Heng was naturally sensitive, and with his enhanced strength, his perception had significantly improved.

Standing in the crowd, he could sense the many hidden, cold glares focused on him.

Zhao Heng knew that today’s assessment would not be simple. These people were likely targeting him.

Sensing the danger, Zhao Heng instinctively felt anxious but was not afraid.

He had prepared well for this assessment. Anyone who wanted to harm him would not escape unscathed.

"Boom! Boom! Boom…!"

As the sound of bells rang, the assessment was about to begin.

A middle-aged man in a deep blue robe walked up to a makeshift platform at the front.

This man, whose position was higher than even Liu Hong’s, was Zhou Cang, the "Chief Steward" of the handyman peak.

It was said that he had once been a powerful Innate cultivator but had fallen to the Post-natal realm due to severe injuries.

Even so, he was still a prominent figure among the handyman disciples.

Zhou Cang paced up to the platform. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd, and immediately, silence fell upon them.

"Cough, cough... Everyone, today’s handyman assessment has generous rewards prepared by the sect to encourage you all.

The top 100 will receive thirty mysterious crystals each, the top 30 will receive sixty, the top 10 will receive one hundred mysterious crystals plus a Body Refining Pill.

If you make it to the top three, you’ll get one hundred mysterious crystals, a Body Refining Pill, and the chance to choose a martial technique from the library, free of charge."

These few words sent the handyman disciples into a frenzy!

Living at the bottom of the sect, they had never seen so many mysterious crystals, let alone a Body Refining Pill and martial technique rewards.

Many had red eyes and secretly swore to risk their lives to aim for a higher rank.

As for Zhao Heng, he wasn’t interested in those rewards.

He only cared about meeting the minimum score required to pass. With the Dao Seed Dice in hand, it was only a matter of time before he broke free from the handyman status and became an outer sect disciple.

For this assessment, his primary concern was survival.

After all, entering the assessment area meant entering the wilderness. Although the law enforcement team would patrol randomly, the danger remained high.

In every handyman assessment, there were always casualties.

"Alright, I declare the handyman assessment officially begins. All handyman disciples, enter the assessment area."

"You can exchange points for spiritual herbs or mystical beast ears. If you leave the assessment area early, are severely injured, lose combat ability, or die, you will fail the assessment."

With Zhou Cang’s command, thousands of handyman disciples grabbed their weapons and packs, flooding into the dense forest ahead.

"Finally, it's starting!"

Zhao Heng lifted his large sack and joined the crowd, heading towards the forest...

### Part 4 Translation:

The dense forest was teeming with life, the tall trees and thick underbrush creating an almost labyrinthine atmosphere. The sunlight barely pierced the canopy, casting the surroundings in a dim, mysterious light.

Zhao Heng followed the crowd, his senses alert to every sound and movement. He knew that this forest, while filled with valuable resources, was also home to dangerous mystical beasts. Many disciples had perished here in previous assessments, either due to injuries from beasts or accidents.

His mind was focused, but his heart remained calm. The presence of the Dao Seed Dice in his possession gave him a sense of confidence. He knew that as long as he kept his wits about him and did not underestimate the danger, he could survive.

Soon, the group dispersed, each disciple heading in different directions to search for spiritual herbs or hunt mystical beasts. Zhao Heng, however, took a moment to assess his surroundings.

He had been in this forest before during training, so he knew the general terrain and some of the more common mystical beasts that roamed here. But this was different. This time, the stakes were much higher, and his life was on the line.

As he ventured deeper into the forest, the sounds of the others faded away, replaced by the soft rustling of leaves and the distant calls of unknown creatures. Zhao Heng’s hand gripped the hilt of his weapon, his senses sharpened, ready for anything.

He didn’t need to go far before he noticed a faint glimmer ahead. It was a patch of spiritual herbs, a rare and valuable variety known for its healing properties. Zhao Heng’s heart quickened. This was the perfect opportunity to gain some points, and perhaps even an advantage in the assessment.

He carefully approached, scanning for any signs of danger. As he reached out to pluck the herbs, a rustling sound from behind made him freeze.

Without hesitation, Zhao Heng spun around, drawing his weapon as his eyes scanned the forest for the source of the sound.

Out of the underbrush emerged a large, black wolf, its eyes glowing with an eerie light. Its body was covered in coarse fur, and its massive frame suggested it was no ordinary creature. This was a mystical beast, and a dangerous one at that.

The wolf snarled, its mouth frothing with dark energy. It was clearly ready to pounce.

Zhao Heng’s heart raced, but he didn’t panic. He had faced dangerous creatures before, though none as menacing as this one. His mind raced for a plan.

The wolf lunged with incredible speed, its claws outstretched and its teeth bared.

Zhao Heng quickly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the beast’s attack. He knew he couldn’t afford to waste time. This beast was strong, and if he wasn’t careful, it could seriously injure him—or worse.

With his weapon in hand, Zhao Heng struck, aiming for the wolf’s exposed side. His blow landed, but it only seemed to anger the beast further.

The wolf let out a deafening growl and swung its tail, knocking Zhao Heng off his feet. He hit the ground hard, his weapon slipping from his grasp.

The wolf closed in, its fangs glistening with deadly intent.

Zhao Heng knew he had to act quickly. He couldn’t afford to lose his life here. His hand instinctively reached into his pouch, retrieving a small, glowing crystal.

It was a treasure he had received from a previous training session, one that could enhance his strength for a short period of time. With no time to hesitate, Zhao Heng crushed the crystal, and an immediate surge of energy coursed through him.

His body felt lighter, faster, stronger.

With newfound strength, Zhao Heng quickly regained his footing and charged at the wolf, this time with even greater speed. The wolf tried to react, but Zhao Heng was faster. He dodged another strike from the beast’s claws and, with a swift motion, struck at the wolf’s neck.

The blow was precise, and the mystical beast let out a final, anguished howl before collapsing to the ground.

Zhao Heng stood over the fallen wolf, panting heavily but alive. He quickly searched the beast, retrieving its beast ear and other valuable components that could be exchanged for points.

His heart still racing from the close call, Zhao Heng took a moment to collect himself. He had survived his first real test, but he knew this was only the beginning. There would be more beasts, more danger, and more competitors.

He took one last look at the wolf’s corpse, then turned and headed deeper into the forest, determined to make the most of this opportunity and continue pushing toward his goal.

The hours passed quickly as Zhao Heng navigated the forest, collecting spiritual herbs and slaying other mystical beasts. He had already encountered several more dangerous creatures, but with each fight, he grew more confident in his abilities. His training, combined with the boost from the treasure crystal, made him a formidable opponent.

However, he remained cautious. The forest was full of unknown dangers, and he knew that other disciples, especially those who were more experienced or had stronger skills, would pose an even greater threat.

As the day wore on, Zhao Heng’s points continued to accumulate. He had already reached the minimum threshold required to pass the assessment, but he wasn’t satisfied. His goal was not just to survive, but to excel—to prove himself worthy of breaking free from the handyman status and becoming an outer sect disciple.

Nightfall approached, and the temperature in the forest began to drop. Zhao Heng found a relatively safe spot to set up camp, knowing that he would need to rest before continuing his hunt the following day.

As he settled down, he couldn’t help but think about the events that had brought him here. His encounter with Yun Qingxue, the mysterious dice, and the strange skills that had appeared—it all seemed too surreal. But no matter how strange the circumstances, one thing was clear: Zhao Heng was no longer just another handyman. He was on the path to something greater.

With that thought in mind, Zhao Heng closed his eyes and drifted into a light sleep, preparing himself for whatever the next day would bring.

[----------------°-------------]

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