A few seconds later, two familiar faces appeared on the light screen.
Father Xu and Mrs. Xu both looked well. The background was the living room of their old home in Dongjiang Province, and on the table was a lavish New Yearâs Eve dinner.
"Wuyi!" Mrs. Xuâs eyes lit up, her face wreathed in smiles. "Have you eaten? Is the school cafeteria still open? Momâs telling you, you canât neglect yourself during the New Year..."
"Mom, Iâve eaten," Xu Wuyi said with a small smile. "The school has made arrangements, so donât worry."
Father Xu nodded from the side. His expression was calm and steady, but his eyes held a hint of concern. "Is your training going smoothly? I heard from your Teacher Wang that youâve made great progress."
"Itâs going okay, progressing as planned," Xu Wuyi said, not going into detail.
His parents werenât Martial Artists and had a limited understanding of cultivation at the Martial Master Stage. Saying too much would only make them worry.
"Thatâs good." Father Xu paused, then added, "Everythingâs fine at home, so you donât need to worry about us. Your cousin got into the top ten in her grade on her final exams this year. Her teacher said she has a good chance of getting into a Martial Arts University."
At the mention of his cousin, Mrs. Xu perked up. "Thatâs right! Little You works so hard. Sheâs always talking about how she wants to be like her big brother and get into a top Martial Arts University."
A flicker of a smile crossed Xu Wuyiâs eyes. His cousin, Xu You, was his second uncleâs daughter. She was five years younger than him and had just started her first year of high school, the crucial stage for building a foundation.
Starting in the first year of high school, students are introduced to the "Basic Body Refining Technique," and individual differences in talent begin to emerge.
"Tell her not to push herself too hard. A solid foundation is whatâs most important," Xu Wuyi said. "The competition for Martial Arts Universities is fierce, but itâs not the only option."
"I know, I know. Your cousin knows what sheâs doing," Mrs. Xu replied with a smile, then began to ramble on about trivial matters at home.
Father Xu would occasionally chime in with a word or two, but mostly he just listened quietly.
The call lasted for twenty minutes.
Finally, Father Xu looked at his son on the screen and said in a deep voice, "Wuyi, I know your path is different from ours. We canât help you much from home. I just hope you remember that no matter how far you go, your safety is the most important thing."
"I know." Xu Wuyi nodded. "Dad, Mom, you two take care of yourselves as well."
The call ended.
The living room fell silent once more.
Outside the window, the virtual fireworks continued, casting flickering light and shadows across the room.
Xu Wuyi sat on the sofa, unmoving for a long time.
As long as he wasnât too busy, he would call his parents at least once a month, and New Yearâs Eve was no exception.
After becoming a Martial Artist, the number of times he went home grew fewer and fewer. This call had almost become a fixed ritual.
âItâs not that I donât miss home. Itâs just that the path of Martial Arts is, by its very nature, a lonely one.â
The further one walked it, the more distant ordinary life became.
He let out a slow breath, pushing the faint trace of melancholy back down into the depths of his heart.
Then, he looked at the light screen.
"Anna."
"Present."
"Filter missions."
"Filter criteria: restricted to Martial Artists below Level 35; high point rewards; short duration; no difficulty limit; no location limit, but prioritize Yuntai City and its surroundings."
"Filtering... Please wait."
On the light screen, the mission list refreshed quickly.
The mission system of Star Martial University was connected to the Federation Martial Artists Association, the military, and various major corporations, covering an extremely wide range.
It had everything from routine Star Beast culls and ruin explorations to special escort, reconnaissance, and even commissions in certain gray areas.
However, the university would perform an initial screening to eliminate any missions that were clearly illegal or excessively risky.
A few seconds later, the filtered results appeared.
[Number of matching missions: 47]
[Sorted by point reward, high to low]
Xu Wuyi looked at the first entry.
[Mission ID: TX-7743]
[Type: Culling]
[Location: Yuntai City, northern suburbs, underground drainage system of the old industrial district]
[Objective: Exterminate the "Iron-Eating Rat" population that has recently been breeding in large numbers. Estimated quantity: 300-500. Individual Energy Level: approx. Level 20-25. A small number of mutated individuals may be present.]
[Requirements: Acceptor must be a Martial Artist of Level 30 or higher, proficient in group combat or area-of-effect attacks.]
[Reward: 400 base points, with bonuses based on the actual number culled.]
[Estimated Time: 6-12 hours]
[Risk Assessment: Medium]
"Iron-Eating Rats..."
Xu Wuyi remembered this type of Star Beast.
They werenât large, but their teeth were sharp enough to gnaw through most metals. They reproduced quickly, and once they formed a colony, they could cause severe damage to underground infrastructure.
â400 base points, plus the bonus... if I could exterminate all of them, the total reward could exceed 800 points.â
âThe time commitment isnât long, either.â
âThe problem is, this kind of mission usually requires a team. Although individual Iron-Eating Rats arenât strong, there are a lot of them, and theyâre in a complex underground environment. Culling them alone would be too inefficient.â
"Next."
[Mission ID: WJ-2216]
[Type: Escort]
[Location: Yuntai City to the âAshen Wastelandâ frontline outpost]
[Objective: Escort a research team to the Ashen Wasteland to collect specimens and ensure their safe return.]
[Requirements: Acceptor must be a Martial Artist of Level 33 or higher. Wilderness survival experience is preferred.]
[Reward: 900 fixed points.]
[Estimated Time: 3-5 days]
[Risk Assessment: Medium-High]
âAn escort mission.â
âThe reward is fixed, but it takes a long time. Besides, the Ashen Wasteland has been restless lately, with frequent Star Beast activity.â
Xu Wuyi continued to scroll down.
[Mission ID: JS-5589]
[Type: Reconnaissance]
[Location: The outer region of the âDark Abyss Riftâ]
[Objective: Investigate the cause of recent abnormal energy fluctuations in the rift and collect relevant data.]
[Requirements: Acceptor must be a Martial Artist of Level 34 or higher, with a Spiritual Power of 35+, and possess strong environmental adaptability.]
[Reward: 1200 base points, with bonuses based on reconnaissance results (up to a maximum of 1000 additional points).]
[Estimated Time: 2-4 days]
[Risk Assessment: High]
âThe Dark Abyss Rift.â
Xu Wuyiâs pupils contracted slightly.
It was one of the most dangerous areas around Yuntai City. It was said to connect to some unknown, deeper space in the Star Realm, and high-level Star Beasts often appeared there.
âBut the reward is generous. 1200 base points, plus a bonus.â
He continued to browse.
One by one, missions scrolled past his eyes.
There were culling, escort, and reconnaissance missions, as well as exploration, collection, and even volunteer positions for special research projects.
The rewards ranged from a few hundred to one or two thousand points, and the time required varied from a few hours to over ten days.
Xu Wuyi didnât make a decision right away.
He was waiting.
Waiting for the perfect one.
Finally, as he flipped to the third page, his gaze froze.
[Mission ID: FT-0093]
[Type: Subjugation]
[Location: Deep within the âRotting Swamp Forestâ]
[Objective: Kill the âRotting Wood Demonâ that occupies the core area of the forest (Estimated Energy Level: 36-37).]
[Requirements: Recommended for Martial Artists Level 35 or higher. It is recommended to have mastered at least one B-level or higher offensive Martial Technique. Those with Fire or Thunder Attribute attacks will be given priority.]
[Reward: 1500 fixed points.]
[Estimated Time: 1-3 days]
[Risk Assessment: High]
âRotting Wood Demon.â
Xu Wuyi quickly pulled up the relevant data in his mind.
A Plant-type Star Beast that usually lived in dark, damp forests. It could control vines, release poisonous mist, and possessed tenacious Life Force. Its weakness was fire.