Chapter 1342: Yan Guying

Sect contribution points could be exchanged for martial arts, medicinal pills, materials, divine weapons, and Earth Emperor Tokens. Within the Dongling Immortal Pool, contribution points were nothing less than wealth itself.

For this mission, capturing the enemy alive was the primary objective for the Flowing Flame Hall leadership. They needed to uncover the orchestrators behind this plot and identify exactly who had been bold enough to strike at the disciples of the Dongling Immortal Pool.

If it had been a secret killing carried out in the shadows, it would have been difficult to investigate. Instead, the enemy had openly ambushed an entire team of Dongling Immortal Pool disciples. The location was the Blood Crystal Mountain Range, which lay not far from the Immortal Pool itself. Such blatant provocation was intolerable.

It was said that the Flowing Flame Hall Master had been so furious upon hearing the news that he nearly took action personally.

Because of this, a large number of elite inner sect and outer sect disciples were dispatched for this mission. That was also why the reward for capturing an enemy alive was double that of killing one.

If the enemy leader could be captured alive, the reward would be fifty thousand contribution points. That was enough to exchange for a single Earth Emperor Token!

Of course, the enemy leader possessed Extreme Human Emperor strength. Ordinary outer sect disciples had no reason to dream about those fifty thousand points. At best, they would provide support on the sidelines and make up the numbers.

The true focus of this mission lay with the inner sect disciples. More precisely, it lay with Wang Ruquan and Li Fei, both of whom were ranked on the Creation Star Ranking.

"You are Ling Feng, right? That was impressive. Killing Meng Jiande is more than enough to prove your strength."

The green-robed man who had watched the fight near the Life-or-Death Platform hurried over to Ling Feng. He gave Ling Feng a light, appreciative pat on the shoulder and spoke with a calm, admiring tone.

Ling Feng looked at him closely and saw a refined scholar dressed in green. Ling Feng shook his head slightly and replied, "Senior brother, you flatter me."

"I forgot to introduce myself." The green-robed man smiled. "My name is Yan Guying, the Third Tianjian. I watched your battle with Meng Guizang earlier, and I have to say your movement technique was quite impressive. Still, agreeing to that wager so rashly was not a wise decision."

Ling Feng rubbed the bridge of his nose. He found Yan Guying's lecturing somewhat amusing, though the man's sincerity was obvious. Ling Feng said nothing, letting the words pass straight through his ears.

Yan Guying knew that Ling Feng had not taken his advice to heart. He could only shake his head and smile wryly before continuing, "Very well. I will not say more about that. However, for this sect mission, we outer sect disciples must remember not to compete for merit. We only need to cooperate properly with the inner sect disciples."

𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Yan Guying looked at Ling Feng seriously and went on, "First, those enemies are not weak. Our strength as outer sect disciples falls far short, so we should focus on providing support. In the past, outer sect disciples have always played auxiliary roles during missions. If we truly seize contribution points from the inner sect disciples, the consequences..."

He stopped there and did not continue. He trusted that someone as sharp as Ling Feng would understand the unspoken meaning.

After all, Ling Feng had dared to accept Meng Guizang's wager, which showed that he could be impulsive. Yan Guying felt it was only right to offer a few words of warning to a fellow disciple.

Ling Feng frowned slightly and asked, "Then does that not mean we outer sect disciples work ourselves to exhaustion, take risks with our lives, and gain nothing in return?"

Yan Guying shook his head and smiled. "That is not entirely true. Based on past precedent, once a mission succeeds, those of us who assist will receive roughly one tenth of the contribution points earned by the inner sect disciples. For example, if you help an inner sect disciple kill an enemy, you can receive fifty contribution points. Of course, whether those points are granted still depends on the judgment of the inner sect disciple involved."

"No matter what, this is still an opportunity for us outer sect disciples to earn contribution points. It is far faster than earning ten points over an entire month."

Ling Feng listened quietly and laughed at himself inwardly.

We are all disciples of the Dongling Immortal Pool, yet the gap between inner sect and outer sect is enormous!

It was bad enough that outer sect disciples could only cultivate in the lower regions. Even when carrying out missions, they served merely as expendable pieces for the inner sect.

"Also, Junior Brother Ling, do not feel that this is unfair. If we perform well while cooperating with inner sect disciples and gain their recognition, they may specifically call on us to assist in future missions. That creates more opportunities to earn additional contribution points. Over time, it is a net gain."

Yan Guying spoke slowly and earnestly.

"A net gain?"

Ling Feng shook his head with a bitter smile. He finally saw things clearly. So called outer sect disciples were, in plain terms, little more than lackeys for the inner sect!

The status of outer sect disciples was truly miserable...

In fact, even outer sect elders likely held lower status than inner sect disciples.

Watching Yan Guying speak with such earnest concern, Ling Feng felt a twinge of sorrow for him.

As the Third Tianjian of the outer sect, Yan Guying still had to curry favor and show deference before inner sect disciples. It was undeniably tragic.

Yet Ling Feng understood the reality. The path of martial cultivation was brutally difficult and demanded vast resources. Not everyone possessed supreme alchemy skills or access to the immense wealth of the Five Elements Heavenly Palace.

Ling Feng himself lacked little in resources, but ordinary outer sect disciples did not share that luxury. They could only endure in silence and seize any slim chance to grow stronger.

That was reality, a cruel reality.

If he were in Yan Guying's position, without backing or wealth, he would likely have had no choice but to swallow his pride as well.

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Yan."

Ling Feng bowed respectfully to Yan Guying. In an outer sect filled with backstabbing and schemes, it was rare and honorable for someone to act like a true senior brother and offer such guidance.

Whether Ling Feng would heed the advice was his own matter.

Nearby, Zhu Lianshan, Sixth Tianjian, glanced at Yan Guying and curled his lips. "Senior Brother Yan, you really cannot shake your habit of playing the good man. Why say so much to him? Once we return, he will still end up dying at Meng Guizang's hands."

Yan Guying sighed softly. "No matter what, I have done what I should."

He then turned back to Ling Feng and said, "In truth, Meng Guizang's younger brother Meng Jiande has long oppressed fellow disciples and caused trouble in the outer sect. I have wanted to act against him for a long time, but sect rules tied my hands. I could only turn a blind eye. By getting rid of that menace, you've done everyone a great service."

After a brief pause, Yan Guying continued, "For this mission, stay close to me if you can."

As he spoke, he shot a sharp look in Meng Guizang's direction. The glance carried a clear warning.

Meng Guizang snorted coldly. Although his strength had surged recently, he did not dare underestimate Yan Guying, the Third Tianjian. With Yan Guying watching over Ling Feng, Meng Guizang would not dare make any underhanded moves.

Ling Feng rubbed his nose. He did not actually need Yan Guying's protection, but he genuinely respected Yan Guying's character.

If the opportunity arose, he would not mind returning the favor.

Yan Guying had no idea that this simple act of righteousness would one day bring him an unexpected stroke of fortune.