Chapter 778: I Have Friends Series

"First place!"

"Zero, eight thousand merit points exactly!"

The Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, with a slight smile, announced the results loudly.

What followed was a long silence. Within the vast Heavenly Secret Pavilion, only the Pavilion Master's resounding, timeless voice remained. The four Vice Pavilion Masters had already overcome their initial surprise, but everyone else, after a moment of silence, erupted in a huge clamor of shock.

"How many?"

"Eight thousand merit points?"

"Are you sure the detection artifact isn't malfunctioning?"

"A new team, eight thousand merit points?"

The stewards were dumbfounded. Mu Ying and the others gasped. Yu Tiandu, unable to believe it, said, "Impossible!"

"Eight thousand? What kind of joke is that?"

"I don't believe it; this result must be wrong!"

In fact, many shared his thoughts, including Li Shangqiu. What he said really came true: the first place was also a new team, and they set a record that he couldn't even dream of reaching.

He said in a deep voice, "Pavilion Master! This disciple humbly requests that you re-verify this team's identification tokens. Eight thousand is simply too exaggerated! This disciple finds it hard to accept!"

The Pavilion Master glanced at him, then at the many stewards and disciples. He said calmly, "All four Vice Pavilion Masters have re-verified it. I, the Pavilion Master, have also personally questioned them. The result is correct. Instead of being unconvinced, perhaps you should look for your own shortcomings. A group of old disciples, yet not as good as a single newcomer. If word gets out, I'd be embarrassed for you."

Standing in the crowd, Jiang Fan's mouth twitched. "Go ahead and reprimand your disciples. Why drag me into this? Isn't that just making me enemies?" Just that one phrase, "old disciples aren't as good as a newcomer," and heaven knows how many people secretly resented him for it.

As expected, as soon as he said this, Jiang Fan heard murmurs.

"Who is the leader of Zero?"

"Looks very impressive!"

"We only hear about elders putting newcomers in their place, but today, it's a complete reversal."

"We haven't even met them, yet they've given us old disciples a resounding slap in the face."

"I've got to meet him; this slap in the face can't be taken for nothing."

"Junior Brother, you're also a new disciple, right? Do you know the leader of Zero?"

Jiang Fan honestly pointed at Yu Tiandu, who was not far away. "That's him. I don't like him either; give him a couple extra punches for me."

Of course, the truly ambitious old disciples were stimulated. They all held their breath, determined to reclaim their pride during the next exploration of the underground world.

Under the shade of a tree, Steward Yun Yang clicked her tongue in amazement. "If I'm not mistaken, the leader of Zero is Fan Jiang, isn't he? He really did finish exploring that hidden space filled with yin energy. No wonder he's on the Dharma Seal Vajra Transcension list. He's truly extraordinary."

Suddenly, she noticed Shang Shiqiu was speechless.

"What's wrong with you?"

Shang Shiqiu's eyes were wide with shock at that moment. Others might not know, but how could she not know who founded Zero? Because Jiang Fan had too many companions, she had rejected Jiang Fan from her team. But who knew that Jiang Fan's own small team earned eight thousand merit points?

"Master, Master, I want to ask you something," Shang Shiqiu began hesitantly. "I have a friend. Zero could have joined her team, but she refused. If you were her master, how would you punish her?"

Steward Yun Yang replied seriously, "I suggest your friend buy herself an urn. Because if it were me, I'd first sever my master-disciple relationship with her. Then I'd beat her to death. And finally burn her to ashes."

After a pause, Steward Yun Yang added, "Of course, as a master, I am the most benevolent among many stewards. It would be enough for me to burn her to ashes. If it were other stewards, they would probably scatter the ashes. So, your friend doesn't even need to buy an urn. She can just wait to die."

"It's so cold," Shang Shiqiu thought, feeling as if she had fallen into an ice hole in the dead of winter. She was frozen stiff.

Steward Yun Yang looked at her strangely. "You're not implying that this friend is you, are you?"

Shang Shiqiu shivered, then quickly shook her head like a rattle-drum. "No, of course not. I really do have a friend like that."

Steward Yun Yang showed sympathy. "Then your friend is really in a miserable state. I truly don't know which unlucky steward or Vice Pavilion Master recruited such a detrimental disciple. To be able to refuse the leader of Zero entry... Tsk, tsk, tsk, I feel like spitting blood for her master."

Shang Shiqiu's face grew even more distressed. "Who can save me?"

Unfortunately, no one could save her. On the contrary, the Pavilion Master brought out something that would be her undoing! He unrolled a thick list of individual merit points.

He said, "I will only read out the top ten ranks. For subsequent ranks, you can find them yourselves later."

"Tenth place, Yan Qiugui, five hundred seventy-one points."

"Ninth place, Zhao Diancang, five hundred seventy-one points."

"Eighth place, Xiong Xinyan, five hundred seventy-one points."

"Seventh place, Jiang Baihua, five hundred seventy-one points."

"Sixth place, Yu Tiandu, five hundred seventy-one points."

"Fifth place, Mu Ying, five hundred seventy-one points."

The latter five places were entirely occupied by the Expedition Team. Jiang Fan's eyes showed surprise. "How did they manage to have the exact same merit points for everyone? Could it be that the areas they explored were truly only for opening up unknown regions, with not even a tiny bit of gain?"

"Fourth place, Ye Banxia, nine hundred points."

The Pavilion Master continued to read. Jiang Fan was secretly surprised. Ye Banxia worked alone, without any team, yet the merit points she earned were not inferior to most teams. Her strength must be extremely formidable. Back then, he had caught her off guard. If they were to confront each other directly, this woman would certainly be a very challenging opponent.

"Third place, Wu Manyue, one thousand merit points."

"Second place, Ren Guhong, one thousand and ten merit points."

The latter had one more lotus seed from a Dragonheart Blood Lotus than the former. One seed was only ten merit points. It was clear that the treasures obtained converted into very few merit points. No wonder Jiang Fan's treasures reaching four thousand merit points caused such great shock among them.

First place had not yet been announced, but as for who it was, the answer was already obvious: it was the leader of Zero!

The stewards eagerly awaited, very keen to know the specific name of this individual. Among the new disciples, only Jiang Fan, Liang Feiyan, and a few female disciples remained. It was unknown which one of them it was. Only the four Vice Pavilion Masters knew in their hearts who it was. They all looked towards Steward Yun Yang, thinking that soon, Yun Yang would be beaming as he introduced this as his disciple. Their hearts felt uneasy.

Youyunzi scoffed, "What a lucky break!"

Gu Huaxi snorted lightly, "Isn't it just that his ancestral grave is emitting thick green smoke?"

Ye Cangyuan kept a straight face, "He must have used up all his luck for his next life, right?"

Chen Zhengdao cast a sidelong glance, "Out of sight, out of mind!"

Steward Yun Yang seemed to sense something. She wondered aloud, "Strange. Why is Vice Pavilion Master Chen unhappy? If I had such a disciple, I'd be jumping heaven knows how many feet high by now. He still looks like someone owes him money."

Shang Shiqiu watched as the Pavilion Master was about to announce the list. Her master was about to learn the truth: that Jiang Fan was Fan Jiang. Originally, it was meant to be a prank on her master. Now, it was a joke on her life. Once her master found out she had refused Jiang Fan entry, and Jiang Fan was soaring with someone else's disciple... she could just wait to be burned to ashes! She could only confess honestly before the list was announced.

"Master, I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?" Shang Shiqiu said cautiously.