Chapter 431: Return to the Sect

The Mission Hall of the Cang Xuan Sect.

On the mist-shrouded mountain peak, the atmosphere was as lively as ever. Countless figures, propelled by their Yuan Qi, whizzed in from all directions, landing before the grand hall atop the peak. It was at this moment that Zhou Yuan and his companions returned to the Cang Xuan Sect after a two-month absence.

Their first destination upon returning to the sect was, naturally, the Mission Hall. As the group led by Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu entered the hall, numerous excited gazes immediately turned towards them.

"It's Senior Sister Li Qingchan and her group!""Did they complete that Heaven-tier mission?""Looks like it. With Senior Sister Li Qingchan and Senior Brother Zhao Zhu, two Saint Sons, leading the team, even a Heaven-tier mission is nothing.""How enviable! It seems Baili, Qin Hai, and the others have earned another Heavenly Merit."

Numerous whispers spread through the hall, then some gazes suddenly paused as they noticed Zhou Yuan standing behind Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu in the group.

Zhou Yuan's position was quite central to the team, second only to Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu. Yet, everyone remembered that when they had left the Cang Xuan Sect previously, Zhou Yuan had been at the very back of the team, almost invisible, clearly not given much importance. "How could Zhou Yuan be standing at the core of the team upon their return?" they wondered. "This guy is too shameless!"

Some secretly sneered. Zhou Yuan had previously obtained a spot in a Heaven-tier mission due to Li Qingchan's strong advocacy, which had already caused dissatisfaction among many senior purple-band disciples. In everyone's eyes, Zhou Yuan had simply clung to Li Qingchan's coattails, hoping to earn a Heavenly Merit without effort. Such behavior was truly disgraceful.

"Hmph, that kid is still so thick-skinned," a disciple scoffed. "But let's see how long he can be smug. Even if he got a spot, with his strength, he's probably just a hanger-on in this Heaven-tier mission. He might even end up being rated 'no merit' for doing nothing."

This remark drew some agreement. Getting a spot in a Heaven-tier mission wasn't the end of it; if one's performance during the mission was mediocre, they wouldn't receive Heavenly Merits either. In their view, the only impressive thing Zhou Yuan had shown was a tortoise-shell-like defensive Yuan Art during his fight with Wang Lei, but relying solely on a defensive Yuan Art clearly wouldn't allow him to achieve much in a mission. Some disciples from Sword Cometh Peak, in particular, wore mocking expressions, clearly anticipating a good show.

Baili walked beside Zhou Yuan, also sensing the whispers around them. She smiled playfully at Zhou Yuan and said, "It seems a lot of people want to see you make a fool of yourself."

Zhou Yuan gave a helpless smile. It was normal; after all, as a newly promoted purple-band disciple, he was able to directly participate in a Heaven-tier mission, so it was natural for him to draw envy and resentment.

"But they'll probably be very disappointed once they learn the results," Baili said with a mischievous smile. The others nearby also chuckled. Qin Hai and a few other disciples from Sword Cometh Peak looked a bit awkward, lowering their heads in silence, as most of the disciples watching with keen interest were from their own peak.

Li Qingchan, who was ahead, glanced at Zhou Yuan with her beautiful eyes. At this moment, Zhou Yuan was surrounded by the crowd, almost like a moon among stars. Clearly, his treatment upon returning from this mission was significantly better than when they left the Cang Xuan Sect.

When they left, others had largely ignored Zhou Yuan. Even Baili had only grudgingly conversed with him out of courtesy to Li Qingchan, but it was undoubtedly perfunctory.

The reason was simply that they considered Zhou Yuan a hindrance, an unnecessary burden not worth their attention. However, Zhou Yuan's battle with Yang Xuan had clearly shocked veteran disciples like Baili and Qin Hai. Only then did they realize just how astonishing the hidden capabilities of this overlooked Zhou Yuan truly were.

Precisely because of this, on their way back, Zhou Yuan was no longer the ignored figure he once was; instead, he had become the core of the team, and even Baili was excessively enthusiastic towards him.

Li Qingchan gave Baili, a woman with seemingly no principles, a side-eye, then stepped forward, heading directly to the mission hand-in counter.

At this moment, several figures emerged from the crowd ahead to greet them; surprisingly, they were Xu Yan, Wang Lei, Lu Xuanyin, and other disciples from Sword Cometh Peak.

"Heh heh, congratulations on your victorious return, Senior Brother Zhao Zhu!" Xu Yan said with a smile, cupping his hands in a gesture of congratulation. However, their gazes occasionally darted towards Zhou Yuan in the back, unable to hide the schadenfreude in their eyes.

Clearly, these people had deliberately waited there, intending to see Zhou Yuan make a fool of himself.

Lu Xuanyin, standing nearby, also had a flicker of satisfaction in her beautiful eyes. She had been taught a lesson by Zhou Yuan during the purple-band selection previously and didn't dare to cause trouble again, but seeing Zhou Yuan humiliated now was naturally a sight she relished.

Zhao Zhu glanced at them, naturally understanding their intentions. His mouth twitched slightly, but he said nothing, merely passing them with an expressionless face.

Xu Yan and Wang Lei were momentarily stunned by this reaction but didn't think much of it, simply turning their mocking gazes towards Zhou Yuan.

"Junior Brother Zhou Yuan, I wonder what kind of merit you managed to 'fish' out of this Heaven-tier mission?" Wang Lei said with a feigned smile. He had been tricked by Zhou Yuan during their one-move agreement that day; otherwise, that spot would have been his.

Zhou Yuan glanced at him, ignored him, and walked straight past.

More and more disciples gathered around, constant whispers filling the air, clearly all eager to watch the show.

Li Qingchan walked directly to the mission hand-in counter, took out a jade slip, and handed it to a middle-aged deacon behind the counter. The deacon took it, sensed it briefly, and a look of surprise appeared on his face, his gaze strangely flicking towards Zhou Yuan in the back.

He shook his head, then stepped out and made a swipe on the illuminated wall beside him. A Heaven-tier mission appeared, specifically the "Black Flame State" mission that Zhou Yuan and his group had undertaken.

The deacon's gaze swept across the room as he announced, "The Black Flame State mission has been successfully completed."

A chorus of envious and amazed exclamations immediately arose from the surroundings, though it wasn't entirely unexpected, given that two Saint Sons had led the team.

The deacon continued, "For this mission, those who achieved Superior Merit are: Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, Baili..." He read out names, a total of exactly nine.

Many disciples around felt confused. Their point of confusion was that Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu had only received Superior Merit. Normally, shouldn't they have received Primary Merit?

"Heh heh, Zhou Yuan really didn't get Superior Merit!" Xu Yan, Wang Lei, and other disciples from Sword Cometh Peak, however, had their eyes light up and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Other disciples also shook their heads, looking at Zhou Yuan with a hint of mockery. This guy went to all that trouble to get a spot, only for it to be a wasted trip, right?

Clearly, in their view, Zhou Yuan's absence from the Superior Merit list simply meant his performance was too poor. As for Primary Merit... "Don't be ridiculous," they thought. With two Saint Sons present, how could anyone else possibly claim Primary Merit?

The deacon glanced at the laughing Sword Cometh Peak disciples, secretly shook his head, his eyes showing a hint of pity, and then said, "The one who received Primary Merit is: Zhou Yuan."

Then, the boisterous hall fell silent.

The smiles on Xu Yan, Wang Lei, and Lu Xuanyin's faces froze. They stared straight at the deacon, thinking they had misheard.

"Please hand over your merit tokens," the deacon said, ignoring the stunned group and addressing Zhou Yuan and the others.

Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, and the others stepped forward one by one, each taking out a silver token. Then, Zhou Yuan also stepped forward under everyone's gaze, finally pulling out a... golden token.

*Gulp.* As they gazed at the golden token, a collective gulping sound echoed through the hall. They were not unfamiliar with this; a golden token unequivocally represented Primary Merit.

Zhou Yuan truly received Primary Merit for this Heaven-tier mission?!

Throughout the hall, gazes stared blankly at Zhou Yuan's figure, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Xu Yan, Wang Lei, Lu Xuanyin, and the others also swallowed, their faces flushed, as they couldn't help but murmur.

"Zhou Yuan got Primary Merit?!""How is that possible?!"

The middle-aged deacon took the tokens, then produced several jade tablets, akin to emeralds, each intricately carved with strange patterns. These jade tablets represented Heavenly Merits.

He handed one jade tablet to Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, and the others. To Zhou Yuan, however, he gave two jade tablets.

This represented two Heavenly Merits.

By this point, Xu Yan and Wang Lei's mouths twitched slightly, their hearts completely filled with despair. Since the Heavenly Merits had already been distributed, it meant there could be no mistake.

Although they found it utterly unbelievable, the truth was always so cruel.

They exchanged glances, their eyes dimming. They had specifically come here to watch a good show, but unexpectedly, they had instead offered their faces up for Zhou Yuan to deliver a resounding slap.

They sighed inwardly. Once news of this spread, the sect, which had only just quieted down, would likely be stirred into another uproar.