Chapter 281: Jealousy

Jiang Fan was speechless. How could everyone know him?

He said sheepishly, "Elder Ling, please excuse me. I am indeed Jiang Fan, the Qingyun Sect disciple you mentioned."

However, Elder Ling's reaction surprised Jiang Fan.

"You truly are Jiang Fan from the Qingyun Sect!" Elder Ling smiled warmly, scrutinizing him. "No wonder the Sect Master values you so highly. Putting everything else aside, your recent display of loyalty and integrity alone is commendable."

Uh—

The Joyful Union Sect Master? I don't know her at all!

Jiang Fan even had the illusion that he had returned to the Spirit Beast Sect. Among the Nine Sects, only Gong Caiyi valued him to this extent.

Not only was Jiang Fan dumbfounded, Yu Zijing was also bewildered. The Sect Master valued Jiang Fan? Was she valuing him because he was a disciple without spiritual roots?

Yi Lianxing, Qin Caihe, and Chu Xingmeng exchanged bewildered glances. No way, right? Jiang Fan just saved a Joyful Union Sect female disciple named Yue Mingzhu, and that was enough to earn him such high regard?

"Yu Zijing, what are you waiting for? Immediately sign for Young Master Jiang's mission items. The Sect Master is waiting to summon him."

The Sect Master wants to see Jiang Fan as well? Yu Zijing was utterly confused. She quickly asked, "Then what about my punishment…?"

Elder Ling glared at her. "Since you were helping Young Master Jiang, why would I punish you?" As she spoke, she pulled out a pill from her robe. "Take this. It's your reward for looking after Young Master Jiang well."

Yu Zijing took it, astonished. Opening it, she froze in surprise. "A Supreme Joy Pill?" Her expression immediately turned to one of delight. "Thank you, Elder Ling! Thank you for the reward!"

The surrounding Joyful Union Sect disciples' eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you kidding me? That's a Supreme Joy Pill, awarded only to disciples who have made significant contributions. Our chief disciple, Senior Brother Xie, only gets one a year. Yu Zijing just helped Jiang Fan with a small favor, and she's rewarded with a Supreme Joy Pill? This is too unfair!"

This scene infuriated Sun Chaozong. Not only did Yu Zijing avoid punishment, but she also received an astonishing reward for helping Jiang Fan. He snorted angrily, "Elder Ling, I will write a letter immediately…"

To his surprise, Elder Ling interrupted him casually. "Write whatever you want!"

She had accompanied the Sect Master for over a decade. It was the first time she had seen the Sect Master care so much about someone. Therefore, no matter how much she protected Jiang Fan and those associated with him today, the Sect Master would back her up. Even if the Heavenly Secret Pavilion imposed a punishment, the Sect Master would fend it off for her. There was absolutely no need to worry about any reports.

Sun Chaozong clenched his fists. He couldn't understand why Elder Ling was protecting Jiang Fan so much. He couldn't help but sneer, "It's just transporting a few birds. What's the big deal? Is it worth such importance?"

At this moment, Yu Zijing had already put away the Supreme Joy Pill with great delight and was excitedly completing the final registration. "This time, Jiang Fan, Yi Lianxing, Qin Caihe, and Chu Xingmeng completed a Class One mission!" As she recorded this, Yu Zijing looked at the thousand-mile eagles with surprise. The value of these eagles was beyond her expectation.

However, when she registered the merit points for the mission, she was utterly shocked. "The merit points for this mission are… are… four hundred!"

"How much? Four hundred? How is that possible?" Sun Chaozong didn't believe it at all. "A normal Class One mission only awards one hundred merit points! Even the most difficult, 'super' Class One missions only give two hundred. Where does four hundred come from? Are your eyes not working properly?"

Yu Zijing rubbed her eyes and carefully checked the four jade slips, confirming she hadn't misread. She insisted, "It is indeed four hundred merit points."

At this, even Elder Ling couldn't remain calm. She stepped forward quickly, a look of disbelief on her face. "Let me see." She picked up the four jade slips and, comparing them, her beautiful face showed a trace of astonishment. "It really is four hundred merit points! The mission itself was a 'super' Class One difficulty, worth two hundred merit points. The Heavenly Secret Pavilion then gave an additional double reward specifically for the Spirit Beast Sect's mission. Therefore, the total merit points for the mission are four hundred!"

This instantly caused a sensation throughout the hall. Pairs of red-eyed, envious gazes darted back and forth among Jiang Fan and the three women. Whispers broke out. "Completing one Class One mission is equivalent to completing four Class One missions. This is an instant ascent! Jiang Fan and those two female disciples simply stumbled upon an incredible boon. They latched onto Yi Lianxing's coattails and got four hundred merit points for free! It's truly agonizing to watch them get such an unbelievable windfall!"

Yu Zijing couldn't help but look envious. Biting her lip slightly, she said, "Lianxing, why didn't you think of me for such a good assignment? You were only thinking about men! Plastic sisters! Friendship over!"

Sun Chaozong was also exceptionally uncomfortable. This mission reward was actually real! What he found even harder to accept was that one of the beneficiaries was Jiang Fan, that good-for-nothing. He glared viciously at Jiang Fan. "You pretty boy, only good for relying on others! The Qingyun Sect only produces trash like you!"

At this moment, Elder Ling's face showed surprise and disbelief as she said, "The recipient of this mission is… Jiang Fan! Young Master Jiang, you… you are their team leader?"

Even she had subconsciously assumed that Yi Lianxing was the one leading the mission. Jiang Fan and the other two female disciples were merely tagging along for the mission. But the information on the jade slip was completely opposite!

Chu Xingmeng couldn't help but lower her head in embarrassment. "I've been Senior Brother Jiang's teammate since the Taishang Sect. Initially, we were performing a Class Three mission. Thanks to Senior Brother Jiang's guidance, I shamelessly joined him to complete this 'super' Class One mission. I truly feel unworthy of four hundred merit points."

Qin Caihe also blushed, saying, "I'm only at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment. I'm not qualified to accept a Class One mission. However, Junior Brother Jiang is kind-hearted and considerate of his teammates, so he brought me along."

Yi Lianxing also felt a bit awkward. She cleared her throat. "Although I have some cultivation, the journey was fraught with danger, and Junior Brother Jiang single-handedly dealt with it all. My contribution was minimal; I merely drove the carriage. I am truly ashamed."

Everyone was stunned. It was one thing for the first two women to say this. What shocked them was that Yi Lianxing, an elite female disciple of the Spirit Beast Sect, was also being supported by Jiang Fan! Just how powerful was Jiang Fan? They couldn't believe that this rumored disciple with wasted spiritual roots could possess such strength.

Only Elder Ling had no doubts. Because she trusted the Sect Master's judgment; she wouldn't value someone who was truly a wasted spiritual root. This disciple named Jiang Fan likely possessed astonishing power.

"Young Master Jiang's strength is remarkable; I truly underestimated you."

Sun Chaozong found this particularly grating. He couldn't accept that the good-for-nothing from the Qingyun Sect was actually the leader of this mission. With a face full of scorn, he said, "Remarkable strength? What strength? They just got lucky and didn't encounter any danger!"

Yu Zijing, looking annoyed, retorted, "As if you encountered any danger yourself."

Heh! Sun Chaozong, however, scoffed coldly. "Nonsense! Do you think everyone is as lucky as that good-for-nothing Jiang Fan? On my way to deliver the items, I encountered a giant bird that could generate lightning from its entire body! Both of my companions perished, and I barely escaped with my life to protect the mission items and return!"

Everyone was startled. To be able to team up with someone as physically strong as Sun Chaozong, whose power was comparable to a first-level Core Formation cultivator, his companions must have been at least at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment. The fact that they both died showed how formidable that giant bird was. Sun Chaozong surviving was truly a miracle. In contrast, Jiang Fan's group, whose strength wasn't considered top-tier, transported top-tier items. Their returning completely unscathed was indeed an extreme stroke of luck.

Yu Zijing reluctantly shut her mouth, her face flushed with embarrassment. She had wanted to speak up for Jiang Fan and the others, but she ended up being thoroughly humiliated.

Jiang Fan, unwilling to waste more words on him, said, "Senior Sister Yu, please quickly sign for the thousand-mile eagles."

Yu Zijing nodded and immediately led a few disciples to remove the shackles from the thousand-mile eagles' feet. Suddenly, she noticed a giant claw, too large to fit in a carriage, protruding. Out of curiosity, she pulled it out, then stared in astonishment, realizing it was twice her height. "So… so long!" she gasped. "Junior Brother Jiang, what kind of fierce beast's claw is this?"