Chapter 7: Looking For Trouble

The next day, the morning light shone brightly over the Alps Sect.

Frank descended the small hill and quickly ran to the Task Pavilion.

His arrival attracted the attention of many people. It was partly due to Frank's unfamiliar face, and partly because of his 1st Level of Energy Condensation and the Heavenly Palace Sword he carried on his back.

"1st Level of Energy Condensation? His cultivation is horrible." As soon as Frank walked in, a disciple from the Alps Sect scoffed at him.

"He even chose the Heavenly Palace Sword as his Spiritual Weapon; he must be asking for trouble."

"There must be something seriously wrong with his brain."

Frank paid no attention to the discussions around him. His eyes were fixed on the stone tablet standing in the Task Pavilion, with countless jade plaques hanging from it. Each plaque represented a task, with increasing difficulty from bottom to top.

"With the Elixir Sea, a body enhancement, and True Fire protecting me, I have enough strength to confront demonic beasts below the 5th Level of Energy Condensation directly."

As he examined each task on the stone tablet, Frank was also quietly assessing his own strength.

Finally, his gaze landed on a jade plaque for a task that was relatively easy, "Blood Wolf."

He had seen the Blood Wolf in the Demonic Beasts Dictionary he treasured. It was extremely vicious, with strength equivalent to a human cultivator at the 3rd Level of Energy Condensation. It possessed a fierce physique, and ordinary Energy Condensation cultivators would struggle to break through its defenses. Typically, cultivators would avoid provoking it.

"I'll pick this one." Just as Frank was about to reach for the jade plaque, a fair hand moved faster than him and snatched it away.

"It's mine." A distant laugh rang clearly in Frank's ears, filled with provocation and mockery.

Frank instinctively turned his head and saw a young man in purple beside him. He was handsome and charming, with thick black hair flowing like a waterfall, but a mocking smile lingered at the corner of his mouth, one that Frank found extremely detestable.

"What's wrong? You've got anything to say about it?" The disciple named Meldon Zorn raised his chin high, looking at Frank with a sideways glance.

"Take it if you want." Frank was too lazy to argue with him and shifted his gaze back to the stone tablet, searching for another task. Eventually, he found a task that was of the same level as killing the Blood Wolf; it was also about killing a demonic beast.

However, just as Frank was about to reach for it, Meldon snatched that jade plaque away first as well.

"I'll also take this task." His mocking laughter rang out again, and he didn't forget to cast a challenging glance at Frank.

Frank glanced at him but chose to hold himself back.

He shifted his gaze back to the stone tablet, searching for another task, but again, just as he was about to reach for one, Meldon struck again.

"This task is also mine." It was still the same. Meldon held his chin high with an even stronger air of provocation.

Frank frowned. He could see that Meldon was not here to accept tasks but was specifically here to make trouble. After all, with so many disciples doing the same, why was he always targeting Frank?

"We have nothing against each other, so why are you making things difficult for me?" Frank stared at him.

Frank originally thought that as a newcomer to the Alps Sect, he should keep a low profile and would never actively cause trouble. But this didn't mean he was afraid of trouble. Meldon was clearly targeting him. If that were the case, Frank was not one to back down from confrontation.

"No grievances, huh...?" Meldon snorted coldly. "You beat up my men and dare to say we have nothing against each other? You have quite the nerve! You must have a death wish to bully my men!"

Realization dawned on Frank. He had already roughly guessed who Meldon's men were. Apart from Jim, whom he had knocked senseless yesterday, he couldn't think of anyone else.

So Meldon had come to seek revenge for Jim. As expected, Meldon was indeed stronger than Jim, but he was also much more arrogant and overbearing.

Suddenly, he placed his hand over Frank's shoulder.

Immediately, a powerful true energy surged into Frank's body, wreaking havoc within him.

Frank frowned but remained calm, unleashing the true energy from his Elixir Sea to push Meldon's energy out.

As the true energy was expelled, Meldon was slightly surprised, but the mocking smile on his face only grew stronger. "Kid, I've really underestimated you."

"It was him who attacked first. You can't blame it on me." Frank's expression remained indifferent. He was not afraid of Meldon. After all, Meldon's cultivation was only at the 5th Level of Energy Condensation. If they truly fought, he might not lose.

"Well. Well." Meldon clapped his hands in praise. "I just love people who's all bark and no bite."

As he spoke, true energy began to circulate through his body, preparing to strike Frank down.

Seeing this, Frank would not back down. He focused his thoughts, and true energy surged wildly from his Elixir Sea.

The atmosphere was charged as the two faced off, immediately attracting the attention of surrounding disciples.

"Are they going to fight?!"

"How dare he fight Meldon with 1st Level of Energy Condensation cultivation? Is he out of his mind?!"

"How dare you cause chaos here?!" A stern voice came. An elder in charge of the Task Pavilion stepped forward, his tone filled with authority. "This is the Task Pavilion, you can't cause a scene here. If you want to fight, get lost and go to the Cloudle Platform!"

Meldon naturally dared not act recklessly any longer after hearing this, and even Frank obediently withdrew his true energy.

"Kid, I'll settle this with you sooner or later." With a cold smile, Meldon left, not forgetting to threaten Frank fiercely.

"I'll be waiting," Frank responded lightly, a glimmer of cold light flashing in his eyes. He turned again, scanning the stone tablet, and plucked another jade plaque. This one was for killing a Fire Wolf, a task that was not too challenging.

Having taken the jade plaque, Frank walked out of the Task Pavilion, but he knew that it would be hard to cultivate peacefully in the coming days.

After leaving the Task Pavilion, Frank headed straight down the mountain.

As he passed by the small spiritual garden, he went in to check on Adolf and the others.

"It's you guys who made me feel warmth once more and reminded me that I still have people to protect." With a smile on his face, Frank descended the Spirit Mountain, feeling a more beautiful longing for new beginnings. He needed to work hard to protect the people he wanted to safeguard.

About ten miles from the Alps Sect, there was a Demonic Beast Forest. The tasks for killing demonic beasts from the Alps Sect were mostly directed there.

After simply identifying the direction, Frank tightened the rope binding the Heavenly Palace Sword sword and headed in.

An hour later, he stood before a dense forest, panting heavily. The forest was vast and lush, with towering ancient trees. Just standing there, he could sense the violent and bloody aura that surged from within.

"Time to get to work." Frank took a deep breath and stepped into the Demonic Beast Forest.