Chapter Thirty-Three: Shock

Canglan Sword Sect, Outer Sect.
Task Hall.

Within the mist-shrouded grand hall, the air was thick with the bustle of people coming and going. Huo Qing and his companions had returned to the sect after several days of travel. As they entered, many disciples gathered around, their eyes fixed on Huo Qing with undisguised schadenfreude.

"Heh, so that kid actually managed to coast his way through it."
"So what? Even if he did, rewards are distributed based on contribution. Since he didn't contribute anything, he won't get any Spirit Points."
"Hahaha, this is going to be a good show."

The whispers reached his ears, but Huo Qing merely cast a faint, indifferent glance before looking away. Beside him, Jiang Moying chuckled, her tone playful. "It seems you’re being looked down upon. Though, I suppose it’s fair—who would have thought that someone at the Earth Spirit Realm could possess such terrifying strength?"

Huo Qing shrugged helplessly. "I never cared for such talk. Getting what I came for is what matters."

Hearing this, Gu Shiya looked over with keen interest. "In that case, I’m even more eager to see the looks on their faces in a moment."

"Heh, I imagine their jaws will hit the floor," Ling Fengbo chimed in, his laughter tinged with a hint of malice.

Huo Qing rubbed his brow. Just then, a man stepped out from the crowd. Clad in white robes with an arrogant expression, he pointed mockingly at Huo Qing. "Huo Qing, you still have the nerve to show your face? Do you really think you succeeded because of your own efforts? If not for the three people behind you, you’d be lucky to have even made it back alive!"

As expected, these words ignited the atmosphere in the hall, turning the low murmurs into a roar of laughter. Huo Qing narrowed his eyes—it was none other than Yan Hao.

"Yan Hao, it seems Zhang Mingyuan’s failure didn’t teach you a lesson after all..." Huo Qing glanced at him, his gaze filled with disdain.

"You!" Yan Hao’s face turned livid. Ever since that previous incident, he had been frequently scolded by Zhang Mingyuan, to the point where he barely dared to walk with his head held high. However, he quickly regained his sneering composure. "You’d better worry about your own situation. You might just become the first disciple in the history of the Canglan Sword Sect to complete a mission with zero contribution!"

"Hahahaha..."

A wave of laughter erupted around them. Yet, as the laughter died down, Yan Hao noticed that Gu Shiya and her two companions were staring at him as if he were a fool. Feeling that something was wrong, he watched in stunned disbelief as the three of them walked toward the registration desk.

Gu Shiya whispered into the ear of the elderly deacon. The old man’s expression shifted to one of shock as he glanced at Huo Qing, then took a deep breath and announced: "For this mission, Huo Qing is credited with seventy percent of the contribution."

The hall fell deathly silent.

Countless smiles froze as people struggled to process the old man's words, wondering if they had misheard. However, when they saw Gu Shiya and the others nod in agreement—their expressions revealing a sense of relief—the crowd stood paralyzed, their faces flushed, gulping down hard.

"Seventy percent?!"
"And it’s that damn Huo Qing! How is that even possible?!"

Yan Hao was equally incredulous. He slumped onto the ground, his eyes vacant, as if all his strength and schemes had been drained away. "This... how is this possible...!"

Suddenly, he scrambled to his feet and rushed toward Huo Qing, his face twisted in agitation. "It’s impossible! You couldn't have earned seventy percent! You’re only at the Earth Spirit Realm! You must have colluded with them to cheat! You promised them Spirit Points, and they agreed to act out this play, only to split the points with you later! Isn't that right!?"

Jiang Moying stared at him, stunned, before her expression shifted to one of pity. "Are you sure your brain hasn't been damaged by some cultivation technique gone wrong?"

Huo Qing looked at him coldly, too indifferent to even respond. The man was truly gifted at making up his own reality. Regardless, none of it mattered; the mission was complete, and the Spirit Points were his.

The old man at the desk pressed his hands down to calm the crowd. "Based on the contribution distribution, Huo Qing receives seven hundred Spirit Points, while the other three receive one hundred each."

As he finished speaking, the Spirit Point badge in Huo Qing's hand pulsed. Upon checking it, he saw the extra seven hundred points had indeed been credited.

"Everyone, disperse," the old man said calmly.

The crowd began to drift away, though their departing glances were still filled with disbelief and envy. "The four of you, come with me," the old man added, watching the others leave.

The four of them exchanged looks and followed the old man into a private room.

"Tell me, what exactly happened?" The old man’s voice was grave, clearly influenced by the hints Gu Shiya had dropped earlier.

Gu Shiya proceeded to recount the events that had transpired in Linwu County in full detail. The old man’s expression shifted between gloom, anger, and shock. By the end, he was staring at Huo Qing as if trying to see through him.

Huo Qing felt uncomfortable under the gaze and couldn't help but laugh dryly. "Old man, that’s enough."

The old man looked at him deeply and shook his head. "How can it be enough? A Level Three mission turned into a Level Four mission—this kind of massive error, this failure in judgment, nearly cost the sect a genius like you..." His expression remained solemn. "I will report this to the Council of Elders. This matter might even alarm the Great Elder of the Outer Sect, and perhaps even reach the Inner Sect. However, this must remain confidential for now, as knowing the sect misjudged a Level Four mission as a Level Three would incite panic."

The four of them nodded without hesitation, fully aware of the stakes.

"Very well, you may go. The sect will provide compensation for this blunder; after all, the responsibility lies entirely with us." The old man waved them away.

...

After leaving the Task Hall, Huo Qing made his way back to his living quarters without pause. As he was about to step through the courtyard gate, he saw a familiar figure—Ye Hongling.

Seeing Huo Qing, the tension in her face vanished, replaced by a smile. "Huo Qing, you’re finally back. I heard there was danger on this mission, and I’ve been worried sick."

Huo Qing smiled, his voice gentle. "It was fine. See? I’ve returned in one piece."

"You, I knew you weren't as simple as you look." She then asked with excitement, "So, how many Spirit Points did you get?"

She had heard the total reward for the mission was a thousand Spirit Points. Given his strength, she assumed he had easily secured at least three hundred.