Chapter 752: Zero's Birth

Jiang Fan smiled and said, "Commissioner Luo, you have quite a temper."

Luo Dongcheng's old face flushed, and he sighed, "When you see others doing well, but you're just treading water, a disparity in your heart breeds resentment. I've made a fool of myself in front of you, Junior Brother Jiang."

Jiang Fan smiled. He naturally knew what Luo Dongcheng was referring to and also understood why Luo Dongcheng was so respectful in front of him. He smiled without commenting and said, "I plan to form a team. Commissioner Luo, could you assist us?"

Luo Dongcheng was surprised. "Junior Brother Jiang, you're forming a team?"

Jiang Fan nodded. "I'm preparing to go to the underground world immediately. Time is short, so I want to form it now. Is there a problem?"

Luo Dongcheng frowned, looking thoughtful.

Jiang Fan's eyes flickered slightly, and he took out a piece of spiritual meat wrapped in a lotus leaf. Although it wasn't as large as the one he gave to Lin Yuhang, it would significantly increase the chances of reaching the ninth layer of Core Formation.

"Meeting three times, it's fate. Just a small gift. Please don't be offended, Commissioner Luo."

Luo Dongcheng was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "No, no, no. Junior Brother Jiang, you've misunderstood. I'm not trying to make things difficult for you. It's just that a month ago, after a team leader died, the Pavilion Master issued an order. From now on, for any new team, the leader's strength must reach the eighth layer of Core Formation. Such a strict condition makes it almost impossible for new disciples to achieve. Junior Brother Jiang, why don't you consider joining one of the older teams? As far as I know, several well-established older teams are recruiting."

Shang Shiqiu was surprised. "Indeed, a month ago, a team leader died, and the members were injured. I didn't expect it would affect the formation of new teams. Junior Brother Jiang, I truly didn't know about this beforehand; I wasn't intentionally hiding it from you."

If it was the eighth layer of Core Formation, that would be troublesome. No matter how strong Jiang Fan was, he couldn't have reached the eighth layer of Core Formation, could he?

On the contrary, Jiang Fan breathed a slight sigh of relief. The eighth layer of Core Formation was easy to deal with. He slipped the spiritual meat into Luo Dongcheng's hand and said, "I've already met this condition. Commissioner Luo, please proceed with processing our application without worry."

Jiang Fan was at the eighth layer of Core Formation? Luo Dongcheng remembered that during the last reward exchange, Jiang Fan was only at the third layer of Core Formation. No matter how many tricks he had, it was impossible to jump so many ranks.

However, when he detected the unique aroma of spiritual meat emanating from the lotus leaf, Luo Dongcheng's pupils contracted. Millennium spiritual meat? Was Jiang Fan bribing him to make an exception? How could he dare? If any supervisor from above investigated, he would be in deep trouble. But asking him to return the coveted millennium spiritual meat was like twisting a knife in his heart.

Gritting his teeth, he said, "Alright! But in the future, if someone verifies this, Junior Brother Jiang, you'd best be able to display the strength of the eighth layer of Core Formation. Otherwise, not only will your team be disbanded, but I will also be implicated."

Jiang Fan laughed heartily. "Don't worry, Commissioner Luo."

Don't worry? How could he not worry?

He hesitantly processed the team's paperwork for Jiang Fan, saying, "The team's name, leader, co-leader, and members."

A name? Jiang Fan looked at Liu Qingxian, Xia Chaoge, and Liang Feiyan, seeking their input.

Liang Feiyan proudly declared, "Let's call it 'Overlord'! How mighty and dominant!"

Liu Qingxian rolled her eyes. "How vulgar!"

Xia Chaoge couldn't help but shoot him a sideways glance. "Why don't you form 'Overlord' by yourself?" She imagined someone asking, 'Which team are you from?' And she replies, 'I am Xia Chaoge of Overlord.' The thought alone gave her goosebumps.

Liang Feiyan huffed, "Well, then you come up with a good name!"

Liu Qingxian thought for a moment and said, "Xiao Fan, you're the leader, and you're from Qingyun Sect. How about 'Azure Cloud'?"

Jiang Fan shook his head. Firstly, there were disciples from other sects in the team, and naming it 'Azure Cloud' might be offensive. Secondly, it would also draw unwanted attention and trouble for Qingyun Sect.

Seeing that Liu Qingxian's suggestion wouldn't work, Xia Chaoge mused, "Let's name it 'Zero'. Uncle-Master started from nothing. Today, here at the Divine Machine Pavilion, we are also setting out from nothing. When we look back at today from the peak in the future, it will hold special significance."

Both Liang Feiyan and Liu Qingxian's eyes lit up slightly. This name had good meaning.

Jiang Fan also thought it was excellent and immediately decided, "Okay, 'Zero' it is. I'll be the leader. Xia Chaoge will be the co-leader. And the provisional members will be Liu Qingxian and Liang Feiyan."

Luo Dongcheng quickly jotted it down and swiftly produced four identity tokens. The front was engraved with the elegant and vibrant character "Zero." The back bore their names and positions.

"Junior Brother Jiang, I wish you good luck. With your talent, you will surely gain something in the underground world." Luo Dongcheng handed the tokens to the four of them.

Jiang Fan accepted them and said, "Many thanks, Commissioner Luo. We'll meet again later. Farewell!"

Luo Dongcheng smiled as he escorted them to the door. Suddenly, an old man with a pale, beardless face, sharp eyes, and an upright demeanor led a group of people inside. It was none other than Mu Ying's master, Ning Kun. He had brought seven foreign disciples to the Mission Hall. Apparently, they were also there to form a team.

"Supervisor Ning." Luo Dongcheng's eyelids twitched slightly, and he quickly winked at Jiang Fan, wanting them to quickly put away their tokens. Ning Kun was famously upright and uncompromising, unable to tolerate even a hint of impropriety. If he were to catch Luo Dongcheng giving Jiang Fan and the others special treatment, it would be a huge problem.

Jiang Fan naturally wouldn't make things difficult for Luo Dongcheng. He quickly put away his token and quietly walked outside.

Mu Ying, however, frowned. "Junior Brother Jiang? You're not here to create a team, are you?" She glanced at them, a suspicious look on her face.

Yu Tiandou noticed their normal expressions, showing no frustration from a failed team creation. His eyes flickered slightly, and he said meaningfully: "Supervisor Ning said that new team leaders now need to reach the eighth layer of Core Formation. Junior Brother Jiang, you all couldn't have successfully created a team, could you?"

Ning Kun, who hadn't intended to inquire, was prompted by this. He sized up Jiang Fan and the others, then asked Luo Dongcheng with a stern face: "Were they also here to create a team?"

Luo Dongcheng's heart sank. "Yes."

"You approved them?" Ning Kun's gaze was piercing.

Luo Dongcheng cursed inwardly. Why was he so unlucky? What he feared most had instantly come to pass. If Jiang Fan and the others had left a step earlier, they wouldn't have encountered Ning Kun at all, nor would they have been suspected. Now it's done for. Big trouble. He wanted to lie, but there were records at the counter; he couldn't hide it. He could only brace himself and say, "Y-yes, they were approved. But Junior Brother Jiang's strength was evident to everyone at Mount Jie. Defeating a Core Formation seventh-layer cultivator... shouldn't be a problem." He spoke with a hint of guilt.

Ning Kun snorted. "The Pavilion Master's stated condition is the eighth layer of Core Formation! How dare you! You violated the rules and privately allowed someone to form a team! Hand over your identity token and come with me to see the Pavilion Master!"

Luo Dongcheng turned pale with fright. He hastily cupped his hands, bowed, and pleaded in a low voice: "Supervisor Ning, please give me another chance. I won't dare to do it again." If he truly went before the Pavilion Master, his commissioner status would definitely be revoked. He might even be expelled from the Divine Machine Pavilion. The consequences would be extremely severe.

Ning Kun was always a man of his word. He grabbed Luo Dongcheng's wrist. "Enough with the pleading nonsense! Since you fell into my hands, you should know the consequences. Let's go!"

Ignoring his pleas, Ning Kun dragged him away. Jiang Fan, who was already walking away, noticed the commotion behind him and had to rush back. He quickly cupped his hands and said, "Senior Ning, you've misunderstood. We are a team that has passed all official inspections. Commissioner Luo was just following the rules. Please don't wrongly accuse an innocent person."