Gu Ranxi had helped Su Mu before, and this bond meant Su Mu naturally wouldn’t refuse her request. He readily agreed, “What do you need me to do?”
Hearing this, Gu Ranxi visibly breathed a sigh of relief. “My cultivation level is about to break through, and I want to ask you to help me complete a breakthrough task.”
“Breakthrough task?” Su Mu was somewhat puzzled. “If you’re about to make a breakthrough, shouldn’t you just enter Closed Door Training? Why do you need to complete a task?”
Gu Ranxi sighed, “Unfortunately, we haven’t been that lucky. In the past, you would indeed just enter Closed Door Training, but recently the school implemented new regulations. Before you can enter Closed Door Training for a breakthrough, you must first complete a breakthrough task. They say it helps temper your state of mind, unlock potential, and increase your chances of a successful breakthrough.”
“Uh…”
Whether it really tempers one’s state of mind and unlocks potential, Su Mu didn’t know. But he was certain that these tasks were mostly related to combat and that they indeed enhanced practical experience.
The school really went to great lengths to improve students’ combat skills, coming up with all sorts of methods.
While he was thinking this, he heard Gu Ranxi say, “Because of this, quite a few people have been cursing that ‘anonymous enthusiastic classmate.'”
Su Mu was shocked. “Why curse him? What does this have to do with him?”
Gu Ranxi explained, “Many students believe that the school’s new regulation is likely a suggestion from that ‘anonymous enthusiastic classmate.'”
Su Mu was between laughter and tears.
This really wasn’t my idea! Now I’m the scapegoat. Well, at least I’m just taking the blame and not being publicly shamed…
Su Mu decided not to continue this depressing topic and instead asked about the main issue. “Can the breakthrough task be done as a team?”
Gu Ranxi explained, “The school’s breakthrough tasks are divided into two parts: a Team Task and a Solo Task. You must first complete the Team Task before you can tackle the solo tempering task. You have to pass both tasks to obtain breakthrough materials, and then, under the protection of a spiritual practice instructor, you can enter Closed Door Training.”
Su Mu thought for a moment and understood the school’s intentions.
The Team Task is designed to train students in teamwork and tactical execution skills. After all, most of the time when facing fierce beasts or demons, combat is carried out in teams where tactical coordination is crucial. This is also reflected in the recent courses. Regardless of one’s Major, a new large-scale class has been introduced, taught by cultivators from the military, focusing on squad tactics.
As for the Solo Task, it’s likely intended to temper one’s state of mind and unlock potential.
Whether it actually increases the success rate of breakthroughs can only be determined through personal experience.
Su Mu said, “I see, that makes sense.” After a brief pause, he asked, “What does the Team Task entail, and when do we plan to set out?”
Gu Ranxi replied, “If possible, how about we set off tomorrow afternoon? As for the task details, I just consulted our spiritual practice instructor and it’s pretty much confirmed that we’ll be going to the Snowy Mountain Perilous Land to investigate spatial rifts. Lately, quite a few fierce beasts have been escaping from the Snowy Mountain Perilous Land, and it’s suspected that multiple spatial rifts have appeared inside. Numerous teams have already been sent in to investigate.”
“Perilous Land?”
Su Mu couldn’t help but click his tongue.
Just yesterday, he suggested to the school to create a challenge task based on perilous lands and deadlands. He didn’t expect he’d be the first to visit one.
What is this? Karma?
He had some understanding of the Snowy Mountain Perilous Land.
This perilous land is located on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, within the Gongga Snow Mountain between the Dadu River and Yalong River. It’s classified as a low-level perilous land, so the danger level isn’t too high. Otherwise, the school wouldn’t assign level 1 cultivators to missions there.
Comparatively, Su Mu was more concerned about another issue. “Since they’ve already sent a lot of people in to investigate, will there be anything left for us to find?”
Gu Ranxi explained, “As long as we go and complete the tasks assigned by the Frontline Command Center, thoroughly investigating our designated area, it doesn’t matter if we find spatial rifts or not; it still counts as completing the task. In fact, whenever there are spatial rifts, especially in Secret Realms like perilous lands or deadlands, the cultivation university, government, and military all send large numbers of personnel for saturation searches to ensure nothing is missed.”
Now that Su Mu understood everything, he had no further questions. He said, “I’ll call the teachers and request leave.”
“Thank you.”
Gu Ranxi hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn’t ask if they could bring Su Ye along. This task required deep exploration into a perilous land. Even though it’s a low-level perilous land, it’s still fraught with chaos, oddities, and unknowns. Su Ye is an ordinary person; if she encountered danger in the perilous land, it would be a significant liability.
“You’re welcome.”
Unaware of Gu Ranxi’s internal struggle, Su Mu said, “So, see you tomorrow afternoon?”
“Yes, see you tomorrow afternoon,” Gu Ranxi replied. After hanging up, she looked up other team members’ numbers and started making calls.
Su Mu was the first person Gu Ranxi invited because she believed he was reliable, both as a strong fighter and as a support with excellent healing power. His ability to handle multiple roles made him the core and key to the team. With Su Mu on board, building the team would be easier.
Meanwhile, Su Mu called the professors of his Major Courses such as “Introductory Rune Drawing” and “Material Forming and Processing,” one by one to request leave.
If it were for an ordinary task chain, the professors wouldn’t agree to let students take leave. Task chains are considered “homework,” and it’s unheard of to take time off from main courses to complete homework. That would be asking for trouble.
However, the Breakthrough Task was different. It was akin to an exam, not just a regular in-class test but a milestone assessment, similar to taking the CET-4 and CET-6 exams1 in a university on Earth, as Su Mu could relate from his previous life.
Even though Su Mu was just assisting someone else with their Breakthrough Task, it was still a valuable training opportunity. The professors wouldn’t block such a request. Moreover, given Su Mu’s outstanding academic abilities, missing a few classes wouldn’t impact him at all, so they readily granted him leave.
Only Cheng Yunlong, the professor for “Flying Sword Modification Techniques,” after granting him leave, added a reminder: “Once the task is done, come back promptly. Don’t waste time loitering around. Starting next week, we’ll dive into practical lessons on flying sword modification, where you’ll learn the operational techniques and try your hand at modifying flying swords. Make sure you don’t miss it.”
“It’s finally time to officially learn flying sword modification techniques!”
Su Mu sighed with emotion.
He had already devoured the book “Flying Sword Modification Theory,” along with borrowed guides like “Illustrated Flying Sword Modification for Beginners,” and even leveled up to max through pay-to-win methods. However, because Teacher Cheng had not yet taught any hands-on techniques, Su Mu had been unable to start modifying flying swords.
Finally, as more people passed the theoretical exams, Teacher Cheng was beginning to teach the actual modification techniques!
Su Mu’s unique flying sword concept was finally going to be crafted… He just wondered what kind of feedback he’d receive once it was completed.
After making all his leave requests, Su Mu put his phone aside.
Su Ye approached him, “Brother, are you going to a perilous land with Sister Gu?”
Su Mu didn’t hide anything from her, “Yes, she needs to complete a Breakthrough Task, and it requires going into a perilous land. She helped me before when we hunted the Ying fish, so I owe her one.”
Su Ye nodded, then asked, “Can you take me along?”
“Don’t be silly!” Su Mu glared at her. “We’re heading into a perilous land, which is different from hunting Ying fish in the Minjiang River. Even if it’s a low-level perilous land, it’s still filled with chaos and unknowns! What if we encounter danger and can’t protect you in time?”
Su Ye argued back, “Chef Cat can protect me, and Xiao Ai and Amiya will be there too. Besides, even though I can’t cast spells, I have quite a bit of spiritual power and physical strength now. Don’t underestimate me! If I come along, I won’t necessarily be a burden. I can provide support and have read many books about the Snowy Mountain Perilous Land. I may not know every detail, but I definitely know more than you guys! Most importantly, I feel that entering the perilous land would be training for my innate magical ability.”
After hearing about innate magical abilities from Wen Wubin, Su Mu had told Su Ye about it to ease her mind.
Although Xiao Yezi never verbally expressed it, Su Mu knew she was always worried and anxious about not being able to learn spells, runes, and similar disciplines. After Su Mu discussed this issue with her, Su Ye’s mood indeed improved significantly, and the heavy burden on her heart was lifted, allowing her to feel much lighter.
“A perilous land can train your innate magical ability?” Su Mu was slightly taken aback.
“The perilous land is filled with chaos and the unknown. In such places, luck can play a crucial role. If my innate magical ability is truly good luck, as you say, then it will surely be honed in the perilous land.”
“But…”
Su Mu hesitated.
Taking Su Ye along raised the risk of her encountering danger. Not taking her, though, might make her miss an opportunity for growth if the perilous land could indeed train her abilities.
After a moment of contemplation, Su Mu made a decision.
“Alright, you can come along, but you have to follow my instructions the entire time. Tomorrow, I’ll ask Kevin to lend us an invisibility cloak. Once we’re in the perilous land, you should wear it at all times, and make sure to keep your phone’s location sharing on, so we know where you are. Also, Chef Cat, Xiao Ai, and Amiya, you three will need to protect Xiao Yezi.”
Chef Cat’s combat capabilities had been proven in the Ying fish hunt. Xiao Ai and Amiya had undergone modifications and were equipped with succulent magical tools, which could activate their battle mode at any time.
With their protection, Su Ye should be safe in the low-level Snowy Mountain Perilous Land.
However, after some further consideration, Su Mu decided to call Xu Yue to request a Defensive Magical Tool for Su Ye and also to explain the situation and request leave.
When he dialed Xu Yue’s number, the phone rang for a long time before it was finally answered.