Chapter 120: Chapter 119: Voluntary Gift

The Hall of Rewards and Punishments, courtyard.

The two disciples of the Rewards and Punishments Elder were quick to tally the devil-men heads.

One disciple flipped through a roster while the other identified the heads.

"Yu Dan, Ninth Layer of the Jade Bone Realm, one hundred and twenty-three Contribution Points."

"Kong Rui, Sixth Layer of the Jade Bone Realm, eighty-six Contribution Points."

"Tian Zhanru, Eighth Layer of the Jade Bone Realm, one hundred and three Contribution Points."

"..."

As the two disciples called out name after name, realm after realm, the atmosphere in the courtyard grew visibly tense.

The onlookers peeking over the wall unconsciously began to hold their breath, forgetting to breathe for a moment.

Jade Bone Realm, Jade Bone Realm—the string of names and power levels being announced were all at the Jade Bone Realm!

’Are Jade Bone Realm experts so worthless now?’

’Are they so easy to kill?’

But their shock didn’t last long. Because the two disciples knew the roster by heart, they quickly tallied most of them.

As for the remaining ones that couldn’t be tallied, it was because they were too weak or rarely seen, so they weren’t recorded on the roster.

These heads were handled personally by the white-haired and bearded Rewards and Punishments Elder.

He placed a hand on each head, a misty aura swirling at his fingertips. After three to five breaths, he could roughly determine the devil-man’s realm before death.

He would then assign a number of Contribution Points, which his disciples tallied one by one.

About half an incense stick later, the points for the entire courtyard of devil-men heads had been fully tallied.

"The total is one thousand nine hundred and twenty-three Contribution Points."

The Elder took the Jade Pendant from Wu Chen, inscribed the aura of the points into it, and returned it to the young man before him.

"Thank you for your trouble, Elder," Wu Chen said, accepting it respectfully.

"Truly, the younger generation is formidable!"

The Rewards and Punishments Elder exclaimed in admiration, his expression exceptionally grave.

After returning the Jade Pendant, the Elder looked to his two disciples beside him.

Although the heads and Contribution Points had been tallied, he still had many things to attend to.

"You two, one of you go to the Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall, and the other go to the other three sects. Inform them that the roster of devil-men needs to be recompiled!"

"Yes, Master!" The two disciples accepted the order with a cupped fist salute. Carrying the roster with the crossed-off names, they hurried out of the Hall of Rewards and Punishments.

Recompile the roster!

Although the Elder was inwardly shaken, given his age, it wasn’t as if he’d never witnessed such a thing.

Besides, it wouldn’t look good for a man in his seventies or eighties to act all flustered, so he maintained a composed expression.

After instructing his two disciples on the remaining matters, he said no more and walked alone to the rear courtyard.

Iron weights, sandbags, and various training weapons were arranged here.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

He walked up to a sandbag and began frantically elbowing the thousand-pound bag.

He didn’t shout out loud, but inwardly, he was roaring:

’Are all young people this ridiculously strong nowadays?!’

After all, to be honest, even as an Elder who had spent years in the Hall of Rewards and Punishments, he had rarely seen such a scene.

Only after striking the thousand-pound sandbag for a long time did he finally let out a long breath, stop, and begin to think.

’I remember last time, it was this same kid who brought in a sack with over ten devil-men heads, right?’

’It hasn’t been that long, and now he’s brought back over forty more?’

’Next time... he’s not going to empty out the entire Blood Slaughter Sect, is he?’

’Tch! I must be getting old, to be thinking such nonsense!’

The Rewards and Punishments Elder shook his head and chuckled, lamenting that he was truly getting old, letting his imagination run wild with impossible thoughts.

The Blood Slaughter Sect had been established in the perilous lands of Purple Mist Mountain for three or four hundred years. Not to mention its countless disciples, it also had over twenty Organ Refining Realm masters presiding over it.

Furthermore, it had intricate connections to the ’Blood Palace’ behind the scenes.

To wipe out the Blood Slaughter Sect, one would likely need the strength to contend with the Blood Palace itself.

’Or perhaps this kid is a disciple from some major Sect, just traveling through here?’

Though the distinction might seem minor, the difference between a common sect and a true Sect was like heaven and earth, far beyond what his own Refining Valley could compare to.

Even at their peak, when the four local sects were united, they wouldn’t amount to one percent of a true Sect.

Thinking this way, the Rewards and Punishments Elder felt it was a real possibility. After all, it would seem normal for a disciple from a great Sect to possess such deadly methods.

If not, then the boy must be backed by a behemoth, something like an assassin organization from the black market.

And this young man was merely a figurehead, pushed to the forefront to show his face at Refining Valley, collect Contribution Points, and exchange for items.

His own actual ability, in contrast, wouldn’t be much to speak of.

’Either explanation could make sense. In any case, he’s killing devil-men for Contribution Points, which follows our procedures. There’s absolutely no reason to make things difficult for him.’

The Rewards and Punishments Elder shook his head, calming his mind. He felt the latter possibility was more likely.

After all, disciples of those great Sects were geniuses from all corners of the land, arrogant individuals who looked down on everyone else. It was unlikely they would come to this poor backwater, interested in the Contribution Points and rewards Refining Valley had to offer.

...

The Elder returned to his quarters, and the disciples departed.

But the disciples who had been waiting around the Hall of Rewards and Punishments for the final result burst into an uproar when they heard the enormous total.

"Mining in the shallow district earns just one Contribution Point a month! Over nineteen hundred points... I couldn’t earn that in two lifetimes!"

"I only get one Contribution Point for forging five standard-issue blades! I could work until my back breaks and still not make that much!"

"..."

The crowd watched the two figures accept the Jade Pendant from the Elder and head toward the Hundred Weapons Pavilion, their breathing heavy and their eyes red with envy.

But they also knew in their hearts that earning such a huge amount of Contribution Points came with enormous risks.

It didn’t matter if he had a powerful team behind him slaughtering devil-men, or if he fought alone.

One thing was clear: he had to fight and kill devil-men head-on.

The consequence of doing so was that the slightest mistake would mean death. Worse, you might end up as a great tonic for the devil-men, eaten and absorbed into their organs, not even a complete corpse left behind!

"We should just stick to mining and honestly forge our weapons."

"We’re not on the same path. There’s no comparison."

Thinking of those ferocious devil-men heads, the disciples shuddered and quickly sobered up.

After all, whether it was forging weapons or mining, at least it was relatively safe.

Besides, they got a bite of meat with their meals every day, and every ten to fifteen days they could go to the market or Mountain Mist City to enjoy some music and entertainment.

There was nothing wrong with a life like that.

...

On the way from the Hall of Rewards and Punishments to the Hundred Weapons Pavilion.

Wu Chen, however, was still thinking about the young man in the green shirt who had inexplicably greeted him.

After thinking for a moment, he couldn’t recall anything about the man.

He looked at Zhuang Bo beside him and asked, "Senior Brother Zhuang, do you know that disciple in the green shirt from the entrance of the Hall of Rewards and Punishments earlier?"

Zhuang Bo was taken aback. "He greeted you, so I thought you knew him!"

Wu Chen shook his head.

"That’s strange!"

Zhuang Bo said, "Well, based on the style of his clothes, he’s from the Green Mountain Martial Academy. But as for his name... I don’t even know many of our own Sect’s disciples, let alone those from other schools."

Wu Chen nodded. "Then I’ll have to trouble you to ask around for me, Senior Brother Zhuang. I’m willing to offer one hundred Contribution Points as payment."

Wu Chen was wary of a stranger’s concern. If he didn’t get to the bottom of it, he wouldn’t be able to rest easy.

"Hah! One hundred Contribution Points..."

Zhuang Bo’s breathing grew noticeably heavier. With his current forging skills, he would have to work his fingers to the bone for half a year to earn that many points!

But he shook his head and said:

"There’s no need for the Contribution Points. It’s just a matter of asking a question. Everyone who comes to Refining Valley is registered. While you’re picking things out at the Hundred Weapons Pavilion in a bit, I’ll go ask the disciple on duty for you."

"In that case, I’ll trouble Senior Brother Zhuang to make another trip to the Arsenal for me. Please ask the Arsenal Elder if someone with my current status can exchange for a Jade Bone Realm Martial Arts manual."

Wu Chen wasn’t shy about asking. Since Zhuang Bo was already making a trip, he might as well make another to the Arsenal.

’After all, killing a total of over sixty people, big and small, on two separate occasions should be enough to prove I’m on the righteous path, right?!’

"By the way, that offer of one hundred Contribution Points for your trouble is always on the table, Senior Brother."

Afraid Zhuang Bo wouldn’t believe him, he added, "And yes, it’s a voluntary gift."

Zhuang Bo still waved his hand dismissively. "It’s just a matter of asking a question, really not worth all that. If we run into each other in Mountain Mist City someday, just treat me to a meal, Younger Brother Wu."

Managing visitors was part of the on-duty disciples’ job anyway. Earning a hundred Contribution Points for that felt a bit much for Zhuang Bo to accept.

So he refused again and again.

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