Chapter 662: Contribution Ranking
When one of Zhuo Yushi’s friends behind him heard the news, he could not help but laugh, “Ha ha ha! I told him long ago not to overestimate himself. However, he chose not to listen. Look at what happened: he ended up losing his life.”
“It serves him right. He did not even bother figuring out how strong he was first. Back then, when we kindly advised him, he dared to be so arrogant about it.”
“I have heard about the Seven Black Wind Killers. Several inner sect disciples with deep resources wanted to kill them, but those disciples all ended up dead. Given that Xiao Chen has not returned yet, it is likely that misfortune has befallen him.”
“Come, come, let’s go. Let’s not speak about this anymore. Let’s go get our monthly stipend. Combining this stipend with the rewards from this mission, we can buy some pills and cultivate.”
Zhuo Yushi shook his head and did not say anything. He also did not want to say anymore. After all, no matter how much he liked Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen was already dead. There was no need to overthink things.
The most important thing was to live his own life.
Just as Zhuo Yushi thought this, he looked up and saw a familiar white figure at the entrance to the mission hall.
That person had neither joy nor grief on his delicate facial features. His expression was unreadable as he calmly parted the crowd in the mission hall, heading to the counter for turning in missions.
This person was dressed in white robes with a blue strip of cloth around his head. This person was definitely Xiao Chen.
The sight of Zhuo Yushi and the others startled him slightly. He gently nodded to the stunned Zhuo Yushi and continued on his way.
This passage stupefied Zhuo Yushi and his group. They all exchanged glances with one another, noticing the look of disbelief in the others’ eyes.
“I bet that this fellow gave up on the mission and ran back.”
“That has to be right. Even if two or three inner sect disciples with deep resources worked together on this, they would have a hard time completing this mission. How could he have completed it alone?”
“I bet that is true as well!”
Earlier, this group of people was just saying that Xiao Chen had died. However, when they saw Xiao Chen alive and well, their first reaction was to assume that Xiao Chen had given up on the mission.
Xiao Chen handed the mission documents over to the black-clad administrator. Then, he took out the seven heads one by one. His expression did not change as he said, “This is the handprint of the Clan Head of Dingshui City’s Feng Clan. These are the heads of the Seven Black Wind Killers. Sorry to bother Senior to check them.”
When Xiao Chen finished speaking, the expressions of Zhuo Yushi and the others changed considerably in obvious shock. They all sucked in deep breaths and said, “How can it be? That fellow actually killed the Seven Black Wind Killers?”
The Seven Black Wind Killers were quite infamous. Many Supreme Sky Sect inner sect disciples with deep resources had died at the hands of these seven people. So, the people of the inner sect were reasonably familiar with the Seven Black Wind Killers.
When the people in the mission hall heard that someone had killed the Seven Black Wind Killers, they all fixed their doubtful gazes on Xiao Chen.
The black-clad administrator did not dare be careless. He immediately called someone over to check the heads. Without too much effort, he verified the information. Surprise flashed in his eyes as well.
Clearly, the administrator had not expected Xiao Chen to actually complete this mission. He took out fifty thousand Superior Grade Spirit Stones and said, “The mission proof and the handprint are both genuine. This is your reward.”
After their doubts were dispelled, several people were astonished. They could not believe that a lower-realm disciple who had just entered the sect managed to kill the Seven Black Wind Killers.
As for Zhuo Yushi and his group, they were currently feeling very conflicted. They no longer dared to say anything.
Although the rewards had been given, the contribution points were not counted yet. The black-clad administrator continued, “You received the mission last month but handed it in this month, so the contribution points will be counted for this month.”
Xiao Chen nodded in acknowledgment. The last time he was here, he had gained an understanding of how the contribution point system worked.
The inner sect had a Contribution Ranking. It would tabulate the points at the end of the month, and the top twenty inner sect disciples would receive extra remuneration according to their ranking the next time they collected their stipend.
“For killing the Seven Black Wind Killers, you are awarded one thousand contribution points. You can go to the Contribution Ranking to check; your name should already be on it.”
Although the black-clad administrator felt surprise at Xiao Chen killing the Seven Black Wind Killers, he did not ask too many questions and did everything as he should.
After thanking the administrator, Xiao Chen went to the Contribution Ranking. The Contribution Ranking was an entire crystal wall divided from top to bottom into a hundred boxes.
The first box had the words “Inner Sect Disciple Yun Feiyu, nine thousand contribution points, Rank 1.”
Xiao Chen had heard a little about this person before. Among the inner sect disciples, he kept a very low profile and was mysterious. He did not belong to any of the original five big factions.
Yun Feiyu operated alone. Unless he underwent closed-door cultivation, he would always rank first on the Contribution Ranking. Most people expected him to become the next true inheritor.
Below Yun Feiyu were the leaders of the original five great factions. From Rank 2 to Rank 6, they were Yu Zhiqiang, Meng Hongguang, Feng Wuheng, Bai Zihao, and Lan Feichen.
These five people were powerful. They moved around as they pleased and banded together with other people. They frequently robbed other inner sect disciples of their resources. It was no surprise for them to be within the top ten.
The seventh and eighth ranks were veteran disciples. They were also independent, just not as famous as Yun Feiyu.
The ninth and tenth ranks were two people who recently became famous in the inner sect—Situ Gang and Gui Wu.
Of the two, one came from a battle realm, and the other brought millions of Superior Grade Spirit Stones from his realm. They both had good talent, and they soon used the vast resources at their disposal to rise up in the Supreme Sky Sect’s inner sect.
Xiao Chen continued to look down and found his name in the twentieth rank. If his rank did not change by the end of the month, he would gain extra remuneration next month.
“The tenth rank, Gui Wu, only has five thousand contribution points. If I try, I should be able to make it into the top ten. However, let’s let it go for this month.”
Half of this month had passed already. Xiao Chen still wanted to temper his physical body and comprehend the perfect sixty-percent-comprehension saber intent, so he had no time to complete missions.
After thinking for a while, Xiao Chen prepared to leave the mission hall and collect his monthly stipend. The ten Spirit Gathering Pearls were still rather attractive.
When Xiao Chen walked by, Zhuo Yushi clearly had a conflicted expression on his face. It was like Zhuo Yushi wanted to say something but did not know how.
“Brother Xiao, congratulations!” After struggling for a long time, Zhuo Yushi called out to Xiao Chen in the end.
Xiao Chen stopped but did not turn around. He merely replied softly, “Many thanks.”
Those who stood at the peak would be lonely. Even though Xiao Chen was not standing at the peak, he was not mediocre, either. He did not look down on those who preferred a smooth and easy life. However, these people should not criticize the choices of others because of their own choices.
You may settle for mediocrity, but you cannot mock others for their dreams. If you band together with this group of people, it will be hard for us to continue our interactions, to build a true friendship.
Xiao Chen shook his head, dismissing this line of thought. Many of the inner sect disciples in the mission hall watched with disbelief as he walked out calmly.
After Xiao Chen collected his stipend of ten thousand Superior Grade Spirit Stones and ten Spirit Gathering Pearls, he thought of changing his environment. The residential area he was in was rather small and had many people around; it was not suitable for comprehension.
Xiao Chen tidied up the room he stayed in and left. Then, he was stopped by a group of people.
“Brat, you are doing pretty well. You even managed to complete the mission to kill the Seven Black Wind Killers.”
The group of young experts with Gui Wu’s faction had already consumed Quintessence Gathering Pills. Ten people came over and blocked Xiao Chen’s way while releasing ferocious auras.
However, Gui Wu was not among them. The leader of this group was a gloomy and cold-looking black-clad swordsman. His cultivation was pretty good, having already advanced to late-stage Inferior Grade Martial Monarch.
An ominous glint flashed in this swordsman’s eyes. Given that he led a group of inner sect disciples who had consumed Quintessence Gathering Pills, he was clearly here to bully him.
Xiao Chen knew why this group of people was here. He smiled faintly and said, “Just in time. If you did not come to look for me, I would have gone looking for you.”
The black-clad swordsman laughed loudly and said, “Are you seeking death? Don’t think that after killing the Seven Black Wind Killers, you are qualified to challenge our Young Master Gui. Let me tell you, Young Master Gui already advanced to Medial Grade Martial Monarch. He will break into the top five of the Contribution Ranking this month.”
Someone at the side continued, “Just wise up and hand over your Spirit Gathering Pearls. It would be a waste for a Sky Dome Realm person like you to consume them anyway.”
Due to their numerical advantage and Xiao Chen being only an early-stage Inferior Grade Martial Monarch, this group did not worry about Xiao Chen at all. They laced their tone with heavy threat as they spoke.
Such a commotion immediately induced the nearby inhabitants to come out and take a look. Gui Wu had already extorted these people’s Spirit Gathering Pearls, angering them for some time now.
Unfortunately, these people were alone and not as strong as Gui Wu, so they did not dare to express their anger.
Even though these people saw that Xiao Chen intended to rebel, no one thought that it would work. After all, he was alone, and Gui Wu had already advanced to Medial Grade Martial Monarch, solidifying his position.
Even if Xiao Chen could defeat this group of people, he would not be able to do anything about Gui Wu’s revenge.
The black-clad swordsman pointed at Xiao Chen and shouted sternly, “Hand over your Spirit Gathering Pearls; otherwise, you can forget about leaving this place!”
This group of people had been looking for someone to use as an example to others, to establish their own might. They hoped that Xiao Chen would stir things up so they could beat him up.
“Ha ha ha! Let’s see how you are going to take them.”
Xiao Chen laughed, and his figure flashed, sending a punch at the black-clad swordsman.
The swordsman smiled coldly and placed his right hand on his sword’s hilt. “Good!”
“Xiu!”
The moment the swordsman spoke, Xiao Chen suddenly accelerated. When his figure flashed, it left behind afterimages. Xiao Chen moved strangely fast, and his fist seemed to grow larger in the eyes of the black-clad swordsman.
How is he so fast? The sight astonished the black-clad swordsman. He had only drawn his sword halfway when the punch landed on his chest.
“Boom!”
The surging Quintessence on the fist exploded, and the air trembled. The puissant force made the ground shake as well.
The force of the explosion penetrated the swordsman’s protective Quintessence, causing him to vomit a mouthful of blood and knocking him back.
The swordsman’s sword fell to the side. His face clearly full of horror, he coughed and vomited another mouthful of blood. He said arduously, “Attack together. Beat him to a pulp!”
After getting over their initial shock, the group that followed him recovered their wits and quickly rushed forward, surrounding Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen smiled faintly, and with the flip of his palm, the Lunar Shadow Saber appeared in his hand. He did not draw the saber; he only infused his vast and pure Quintessence and his sixty-percent-comprehended saber intent into the scabbard.
This was good timing for Xiao Chen; he could test out the perfect sixty-percent-comprehended saber intent he comprehended from Feng Xingsheng’s Saber Technique.