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One morning, as he lay relaxing, he heard a soft knock at his chamber door. Yu Yerim, Elder Sharon\'s attendant, entered, bowing politely before him.

"Senior Brother Aric," she greeted with a respectful tone, "Elder Sharon has requested your presence in the Qinlong Hall."

Aric raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Did she mention what it\'s about, Yerim?"

"No, Senior Brother. Only that it was important and to come promptly." Yu Yerim\'s calm demeanor betrayed no hints, but Aric sensed her curiosity as she observed him with mild awe. His recent rapid progression had clearly made an impression on her.

Aric nodded, standing up and adjusting his robes. "Thank you, Yerim. I\'ll head over immediately. You\'re always so diligent. Perhaps later I can reward you for your hard work."

Yerim\'s cheeks flushed slightly, but she quickly composed herself, bowing. "It\'s an honor to serve, Senior Brother."

With a smirk, Aric left his chambers and made his way to the Qinlong Hall. As he entered, he noticed Elder Sharon seated at the center, exuding an aura of authority and calm. She greeted him with a faint smile, her eyes assessing him with interest.

"Welcome, Aric," Elder Sharon said, her tone warm yet authoritative. "You\'ve made remarkable progress."

Aric inclined his head respectfully. "Thank you, Elder. I\'ve encountered some… unique opportunities recently."

Sharon studied him for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as if considering something. "I see. Whatever those opportunities may be, they\'ve served you well."

With a small nod of approval, she reached into her robe, retrieving a storage ring. She tossed it to him, and Aric caught it smoothly, though he refrained from immediately examining its contents. He understood that Elder Sharon was not one for idle gifts.

"Within this ring," she continued, "are some resources and materials for your cultivation. I believe you\'ll find them beneficial."

Aric nodded gratefully, his mind racing with curiosity about what lay within. "Thank you, Elder. I\'ll make good use of it."

Without missing a beat, she then pulled out a scroll, her gaze sharpening as she tossed it to him. Aric caught the scroll, feeling the weight of its significance even before he\'d opened it.

"Read it," she instructed, her voice carrying a hint of anticipation.

Unrolling the scroll, Aric\'s eyes scanned the text, his interest piqued.

As Aric read through the scroll, he felt a mix of intrigue and reluctance. The text outlined a serious mission: "Some of our sect\'s core and inner disciples have been captured by the followers of Edsmith Palace."

Aric looked up, curiosity flashing in his eyes. "Master, what exactly is Edsmith Palace? I don\'t think I\'ve heard of them before."

Elder Sharon\'s face darkened, her voice laced with disdain. "Edsmith Palace is a cult—a treacherous faction that thrives on dark arts and forbidden rituals. They\'re well-known within the Gronderia Holy Land for stirring chaos and targeting our disciples whenever they can."

Aric frowned. "Why would they target our sect specifically? And… have we never attempted to eliminate them?"

Elder Sharon gave a slight nod, her gaze becoming distant as she explained. "We have tried, Aric. But Edsmith Palace has managed to survive due to the covert support of other forces within Gronderia Holy Land. Some of the powers there fear that if our sect grows too strong, we may upset the balance, so they fund Edsmith Palace in secret, allowing them to be a thorn in our side."

Aric\'s face grew thoughtful as he absorbed the implications. "So, they\'re essentially pawns, used to destabilize our sect?"

"Exactly. It\'s a calculated strategy to weaken us," Elder Sharon confirmed. "Which is why our sect has decided to send a team of twenty promising disciples to retrieve our captured members from Edsmith Palace\'s clutches."

Elder Sharon\'s gaze turned to Aric, her expression appraising. "Initially, I wasn\'t sure whether to assign you to this mission. But after seeing your remarkable progress, I\'ve added your name to the list."

Aric blinked, taken aback by the decision. He had just achieved a breakthrough and was still adapting to his new realm. As much as he wanted to impress his master, he knew that embarking on such a mission so soon could pose challenges.

"Elder Sharon," he began, keeping his tone respectful, "I truly appreciate your confidence in me, and I would be honored to contribute. However…" he hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I\'ve only recently broken through to the Immortal Ascension Realm. I feel that my foundation is not yet solid.

Perhaps it would be wiser for me to focus on strengthening my cultivation before I undertake a mission of this scale."

Elder Sharon observed him for a moment, her expression unreadable. "Are you suggesting that you don\'t feel prepared?"

Aric shook his head quickly. "It\'s not a matter of unwillingness, Elder. It\'s simply that I believe a strong foundation is essential to ensure the mission\'s success. If I rush into this without proper stabilization, I may not be able to perform at my best. I wouldn\'t want to risk the lives of our disciples due to my own lack of preparation."

Elder Sharon sighed, the sternness in her gaze softening. "You do make a valid point. Strength without stability is a weakness, not an advantage." She paused, clearly weighing her options.

Aric bowed his head respectfully. "If you deem it necessary, Elder, I will still go. But if there is another disciple who may be better suited for this mission at this time…"

Elder Sharon\'s lips curved slightly, an approving glint in her eyes. "You\'ve shown both humility and wisdom in your response, Aric. Very well. I\'ll send another disciple in your place." She paused, adding with a hint of warmth, "But if you find yourself ready and willing in the coming days, let me know.

I value your potential, and it would be beneficial for you to experience missions beyond the walls of our sect."

Aric nodded, grateful for her understanding. "Thank you, Elder Sharon. I won\'t let you down."

She waved a dismissive hand, though there was a softness to her expression. "Go, continue with your cultivation. I expect great things from you, Aric. Do not disappoint me."

With a final respectful bow, Aric took his leave.

As Aric stepped outside, he immediately noticed Mei Xian approaching him. Her presence was calm and graceful, her steps light and deliberate. She looked up and smiled when she saw him.

"Hello, Senior Sister Mei Xian," he greeted her, bowing slightly in respect.

She returned his greeting with a nod, her smile warm. "Junior Brother Adolf, it\'s rare to see someone progress as quickly as you have. Just days ago, you were still establishing yourself in the sect, and now… well, rumors of your breakthrough have already spread throughout Qinlong Peak."

Aric chuckled, a hint of modesty in his voice. "I had some help from good fortune, Senior Sister. And, of course, from observing the strong cultivators around me—like yourself. I\'ve heard impressive things about your training as well. They say your swordsmanship is unparalleled on Qinlong Peak."

A slight blush crept over Mei Xian\'s cheeks, though she maintained her composed demeanor. "You flatter me, Junior Brother," she said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "But I suppose I can accept a compliment from a rising talent like yourself."

Aric grinned, leaning in a bit closer. "I only speak the truth, Senior Sister. I would be honored to spar with you someday—if I can keep up, that is."

She gave him a thoughtful look, eyes glinting with interest. "You\'re bold, Junior Brother. But perhaps we\'ll save that sparring for when the opportunity arises outside the sect." Mei Xian\'s expression turned serious, and she paused as if considering her next words. "In fact, I assume Elder Sharon spoke to you about the upcoming mission?"

Aric nodded. "She did. It seems some of our disciples have been captured by Edsmith Palace, and she was considering sending me as part of the team to retrieve them. I was initially hesitant… but I didn\'t realize you would be going as well."

Mei Xian nodded, her gaze steady. "Yes, Elder Sharon appointed me to lead a part of the team. It\'s a risky mission, but she trusts my abilities, and I won\'t let her down." She glanced at him, a hint of challenge in her eyes. "Are you sure you want to stay behind? It\'s not every day that we get a chance to face real dangers—and perhaps real opportunities—outside the sect."