Chapter 430 - 273: Prodigy of the Potential Ranking (Part 2)

Aside from the slovenly-looking youth, the other three were also members of the Purple Cloud Association.

To be noticed by the Purple Cloud Association from among the massive population of Outer Sect Disciples, their Talent was beyond doubt.

Once they entered the Inner Sect, barring any surprises, they would quickly surpass an unremarkable Inner Sect Disciple like Chen Bogong.

Especially this slovenly-looking one...

Chen Bogong once again sized up the youth who had just fought a great battle with the snake-woman he had arranged.

Kong Shuo, ranked one hundred and seventy-third on the Outer Sect’s potential rankings; a prodigy of the Outer Sect who possessed a natural Spiritual Vein.

This ranking was already terrifyingly high. One had to know that anyone who could make it onto the Outer Sect’s potential rankings was considered to have the potential to become a Core Disciple in the future.

And this Kong Shuo was known for being loyal only to money, not to people.

"Junior Brother Kong, have you thought it over?" Chen Bogong asked with a slight cough.

Kong Shuo smirked. "That said, is it really necessary for you all to pay such a high price just to target a Spirit Chef from the Outer Sect?"

Chen Bogong said solemnly, "The boy himself isn’t worth it. But the face of my Purple Cloud Association is!"

"And how much is the Purple Cloud Association’s face worth?" Kong Shuo said dismissively.

"You..."

"Brother Kong, there’s no need for that kind of talk!" the other Outer Sect members of the Purple Cloud Association grumbled in dissatisfaction.

Kong Shuo waved his hand. "Alright, alright. Eight hundred. Not a single coin less!"

"Eight hundred points of Immortal Fate?!"

"Why don’t you just go rob someone!"

"Brother Chen, there’s no need to hire him. The three of us are more than enough!"

It was no wonder the three of them felt it was unfair.

After all, having joined the Purple Cloud Association, it was only natural for them to handle these "small matters" for the association; it was improper to even talk about money.

But for some reason, Chen Bogong had insisted on bringing Kong Shuo in.

’Could it be that he’s really going to shell out eight hundred points of Immortal Fate?’

’It would be so much better if the three of them could split that eight hundred...’

Chen Bogong pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Fine. Eight hundred. But we have to sign a contract. Zou Feng must fall by your hand for the Immortal Fate to be paid out."

"Of course. If someone else gets to him first, I wouldn’t have the face to take the money, would I?"

"However, I’ll still need a deposit. Let’s make it two hundred," Kong Shuo said, stretching lazily. "And just so we’re clear, the deposit is non-refundable!"

Originally, the other few had felt that the method of doing the job first and getting paid based on the outcome was reasonable enough.

After all, they firmly believed that taking out Zou Feng really didn’t require such a grand affair.

But now, hearing that Kong Shuo actually wanted a deposit frayed their nerves once again.

"Kong Shuo, you haven’t done a single thing, and you have the nerve to ask for a two-hundred Immortal Fate deposit?"

"Are you that desperate for Immortal Fate?"

"Brother Chen, just ignore this madman..."

This time, Kong Shuo no longer ignored their clamoring. His eyes turned cold as he sneered, "Keep squawking, and I’ll slaughter you during the monthly exam!"

Stared down like that by Kong Shuo, coupled with the sinister, cold aura emanating from him...

The three of them found the defiant words on the tips of their tongues impossible to utter.

It was instinct. They could feel that this guy really would slaughter them during the monthly exam.

Originally, the three of them thought that getting on the potential rankings wouldn’t actually be that difficult for them; they were just a bit short on Luck.

But now, it seemed it was best not to provoke someone on the potential rankings.

Especially someone like Kong Shuo, who was ranked relatively high...

Chen Bogong looked at Kong Shuo and saw a reflection of himself from his time in the Outer Sect.

Although back then, he had only touched the edge of the potential rankings, never truly making it on the list.

But that domineering arrogance was remarkably similar.

Unfortunately, after entering the Inner Sect, the successive blows that followed made him realize once again that he was a nobody.

Fortunately, he had the good luck to join the Purple Cloud Association, which allowed him to live a decent life. A hundred years from now, there was still a sliver of hope that he could successfully leap through the Heavenly Gate and strive to become a Core Disciple...

Quickly pushing aside such thoughts of the past, Chen Bogong nodded again. "No problem. A two-hundred-point deposit is very reasonable!"

As he spoke, he immediately took out his Token to draft a contract. After Kong Shuo confirmed it, he transferred two hundred points of Immortal Fate over.

"Thanks!"

With the money credited to his account, Kong Shuo entered a state of placid satisfaction. He had no desire to linger and promptly got up to leave.

Seeing Kong Shuo leave, the other three were still a bit resentful.

"Brother Chen..."

Chen Bogong waved his hand. "If you think it’s not worth it, you’re welcome to make the first move and save me the six hundred Immortal Fate I’ll have to pay out later."

"Uh, understood!"

"Rest assured, Brother Chen, we will do our best!"

「The next day」

Zou Feng didn’t have to report for work at the Dining Hall.

He had planned to focus on preparing for the next day’s monthly exam, but early in the morning, he received a message from Outer Sect Elder He Wenxuan, summoning him for a meeting.

It was worth noting that information about the monthly exam was only announced on the day itself, so for now, there was no way of knowing what the test would entail.

But it would be nothing more than entering some pre-arranged Alternate Space to hunt Demon Beasts or something similar.

Hunting Demon Beasts was, in essence, a targeted training strategy.

After all, when conquering Outer Realms, the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect’s main method was to unleash slaughter in various forms.

Therefore, becoming familiar with killing was a necessity, to prevent disciples from showing cowardice out of shock upon encountering the bizarre Creatures in some Outer Realms.

After reading He Wenxuan’s message, Zou Feng had no choice but to set off immediately.

Just as he left his courtyard, he ran into Qiu Lan, who had basically been living in seclusion for the past month.

"B-Brother Zou..."

Qiu Lan greeted him in a flustered manner, her posture very humble.

"Mm."

Zou Feng gave a casual reply and walked straight past.

Watching Zou Feng’s departing figure, Qiu Lan looked as if she wanted to say something but stopped herself, ultimately unable to speak.

Zou Feng’s attitude of confronting the Purple Cloud Association head-on, along with his bold declaration that day of becoming a True Inheritor, had deeply shaken Qiu Lan.

Moreover, she had thought Zou Feng would retaliate against her, but a month had passed, and he couldn’t even be bothered to acknowledge her...

’Perhaps it wasn’t magnanimity, but simply a difference in their stations.’

’He truly believed he wouldn’t be staying in the Outer Sect for long...’

’However, the monthly exam was here, and the Purple Cloud Association finally had its chance to act.’

’Once you fall, no matter how exceptional your Talent or how soaring your ambition, it all becomes empty talk.’

But at this moment, Qiu Lan couldn’t bring herself to feel any schadenfreude; instead, she felt it was a pity.

’After all, she too had once tried to walk a different path, but in the end, she had been forced to accept reality...’

「Meanwhile」

Zou Feng arrived at the Rain-Listening Pavilion once again.

For the past month, he had come once a week to settle the accounts with He Wenxuan in person.

After some pleasantries, He Wenxuan finally got to the point.

"What are you going to do about this monthly exam?"

Zou Feng said, "Naturally, I’ll do my best to get a good score!"

"Who’s asking about that? A good score? You’ll be lucky to survive this time."

Zou Feng gave a bitter smile. "Does the Purple Cloud Association really have this much free time..."

"The higher-ups of the Purple Cloud Association are certainly not this idle, but those working under them need to consider the matter of recruiting promising new members..." He paused, then continued, "You’ve only been here a few days, and you’ve already caused the Purple Cloud Association to lose face. Other factions immediately used this to their advantage, snatching away many newcomers who originally planned to join them."

Zou Feng didn’t respond, because he knew He Wenxuan had more to say.

"Don’t hold onto any illusions of luck. This monthly exam will definitely take place in an Alternate Space with killing as the main objective, and the Purple Cloud Association has absolutely arranged a way for you to fall."

Hearing this, Zou Feng couldn’t help but interrupt, "Elder He, couldn’t it be me who makes them fall?"

He Wenxuan couldn’t help but laugh. "I know you’re formidable, but what if they hired someone from the potential rankings to act?"

’That’s perfect,’ Zou Feng thought.

He originally had no interest in the potential rankings, but Leng Jing had reminded him that getting on the list might earn him an investment from Leng Jing’s ancestor.

If he really got the investment, the Immortal Fate he lacked to forge his ideal Spirit Body could be obtained immediately.

Therefore, Zou Feng was actually eager to defeat a disciple from the potential rankings during the monthly exam and get on the list in one fell swoop.

Seeing Zou Feng looking deep in thought, He Wenxuan assumed that hearing even people from the potential rankings might act had finally made Zou Feng a little scared.

"But you don’t have to worry too much. There’s a way for you to avoid this trouble!"