The reputation plan brought an unknown amount of income to the Grand Sky Sect, and Chu Xinghe was clueless about it.
All Chu Xinghe knew was that, damn it, he was suddenly promoted from an ordinary elite disciple to a senior elite disciple, and he accidentally set the record for the fastest promotion after having his status stripped!
For others, having their status stripped was basically the end of the road.
But after Chu Xinghe had his status stripped, his rise was even more terrifying than before...
The Sect Master even expressed willingness to accept Xinghe as a personal disciple on the spot, but was unanimously opposed by all the elders led by the Great Elder. The Sect Master then suggested making Xinghe a core disciple at the Grand Sky Palace, only to be met with strong opposition again, leaving no choice but to promote him to a senior elite disciple.
What? You say there were no senior elite disciples before? Well, now there are!
As for the resources crazily repaid by various sects, Chu Xinghe was so angry he nearly wet himself.
"Increase the benefits for all Grand Sky Sect disciples!"
"Increase them like crazy!"
"We're so damn rich we don't even know how to spend the money, you know?""Double the resources for all inner sect disciples... and give the outer sect disciples the resources that used to be for the inner sect disciples!"
"And for the miner disciples, give them the resources that used to be for the outer sect disciples."
Logically, a senior elite disciple like Chu Xinghe had no right to make such decisions, but after he proposed it, neither the Sect Master nor any of the elders said a word, and all the disciples obediently followed Xinghe's plan. After all, Senior Brother Xinghe was a senior elite disciple, wasn't he?
Of course, privately, the fellow disciples were endlessly grateful to Xinghe.
Even though the resources given by our Grand Sky Sect were already insane, who would mind them being even more insane?
Not only was Xinghe praised within the Grand Sky Sect, but the external evaluation of him was even more terrifying.
Things like "Chu Xinghe is as smart as a demon" and "Chu Xinghe's plans are flawless" were all positive.
There are always bad people in this world, and soon the rumors spread that Chu Xinghe was unparalleled in virtue.
Chu Xinghe had already surpassed Gu Mingchao...
Chu Xinghe was the most talented disciple in the history of the Grand Sky Sect, and Gu Mingchao couldn't even compare!
It's hard to say where these rumors originated, but they were definitely crazily over-praising Chu Xinghe.
Especially the rumors suggesting that Gu Mingchao should step down and let someone more capable take over, which were truly malicious.
Because in most sects, even if you are the Sect Master's personal disciple, you can't guarantee that you will be the future successor.
Those outstanding disciples from various sects, which one of them isn't desperately trying to showcase themselves?
What's the purpose? Isn't it to show the big shots of the sect how excellent they are and that they deserve better?
If it were just about showcasing, that would be fine, but in countless sects, disciples who seem friendly on the surface often stab each other in the back.
If I take you down, I have a chance to climb higher. Deception and betrayal are nothing because only the one standing at the top is considered successful.
So countless rumors over-praising Chu Xinghe were flying everywhere, but after several days, those shady characters hiding in the dark realized, why the hell is the Grand Sky Sect not reacting at all?
We've been saying Gu Mingchao should step down... we've been saying Chu Xinghe has surpassed Gu Mingchao...
And you, Grand Sky Sect, have no reaction at all?
According to the usual script, even if Gu Mingchao doesn't say anything... shouldn't some disciples jump out to stir up trouble?
Look at some sects, they go to any lengths to climb up, framing and slandering are considered legitimate means.
Don't your Grand Sky Sect disciples have anything to say? Other disciples, quickly jump out and slander Chu Xinghe! Gu Mingchao, quickly make things difficult for Chu Xinghe!
Of course, Gu Mingchao had heard the rumors from the outside.
Regarding the claims that Xinghe had already surpassed him, Gu Mingchao agreed.
When he was Xinghe's age, the gap between them was too vast...
As for those saying he should step down, Gu Mingchao thought they were late; he had considered it last year, mainly because Xinghe's cultivation level hadn't caught up. If he reached the Martial Emperor level, Gu Mingchao would immediately declare himself the Supreme Elder.
What do they mean by over-praising Xinghe?
Gu Mingchao found it absurd... Is that what they call over-praising?
Over-praising is elevating someone to a height they shouldn't have, but the height you're elevating Xinghe to doesn't even reach his actual level.
Do you know you're actually slandering Xinghe?
Comparing me to Xinghe? Even the tenth Grand Sky Emperor of our Grand Sky Sect isn't as excellent as Xinghe, okay? Aren't your over-praising tactics a bit too ridiculous? Are you afraid to praise him higher?
As for the Grand Sky Sect disciples, their reaction to the external over-praising was the same as the Sect Master's.
Is that what you call over-praising?
You don't understand Junior Brother Xinghe at all. Ever since Junior Brother Xinghe joined the Grand Sky Sect, we've been invincible!
Our resources have doubled and doubled again, and we ourselves feel it's a bit insane to have so many resources.
But listen to what Junior Brother Xinghe says...
Whenever Junior Brother Xinghe disagrees, he says he'll continue to increase our resources. Who wouldn't support such a Junior Brother Xinghe?
Do you have the ability of Junior Brother Xinghe?
Do you have the skills of Junior Brother Xinghe?
You have nothing, so what gives you the right to compete with Junior Brother Xinghe?
Competing requires you to have the qualifications to compete, and you don't even have a ticket to enter the competition, so what are you competing for?
However, the over-praising wasn't entirely ineffective. As the rumors continued to spread, the disciples of the Grand Sky Sect also started to compete.
One day, Ma Liang came out of Chu Cheng's room, panting heavily. Ma Liang now truly understood the pain of Xiao Bo... Educating Chu Cheng was no easy task.
But compared to that, Ma Liang felt that the atmosphere among the Grand Sky Sect disciples had changed a bit recently.
Everyone started competing at the drop of a hat.
Of course, this competition wasn't because of Senior Brother Xinghe; Ma Liang felt it was somewhat targeted at him.
Listen to what Senior Brother Feng Fei said...
How could you say that in the future, you will surely be the best assistant to Junior Brother Xinghe?
Have you asked me, Ma Liang?
I, Ma Liang, am Senior Brother Xinghe's number one confidant! Senior Brother Feng Fei, why don't you just go and be the King of Dark Rigid?
Competing with me, you have no chance of winning, do you understand?
If it were just Senior Brother Feng competing, that would be fine, but even Mu Bai, that little thing, has shown some promise. A few days ago, when I was criticizing him, he suddenly thanked me for my guidance and said he would definitely assist Senior Brother Xinghe well in the future.
Does that sound like something a person would say?
What do you mean by assisting Senior Brother Xinghe well?
In terms of assisting Senior Brother Xinghe, how can you, Mu Bai, compare to me, Ma Liang?
Aren't you just a bit more talented, a bit more skilled in alchemy, and capable of cultivating the Crystal of Xinghe, and a bit better at fighting?
What else do you have besides that?
Ouyang Ming, that shameless guy, what do you mean by saying the Ouyang Family is Senior Brother Xinghe's strongest backing?
Do you have any shame? Isn't your Ouyang Family just a bunch of blacksmiths?
Why don't you just be the Head Elder in the Artifact Refining Palace in the future? Do you still want to compete with me, Ma Liang, for the position of Great Elder?
I'm telling you now, no one is going to take the position of Senior Brother Xinghe's number one assistant from me!
You want to compete with me, Ma Liang? I'll outcompete all of you!
At the Spirit Crane Palace, Chu Xinghe didn't know if Ma Liang could outcompete others, but Chu Xinghe only knew, why the hell did things develop in such a strange direction?
I was just trying to repay a debt, so why did it cause such a commotion?
You all just returned the debt I repaid and even doubled it. Did you ever consider my feelings?
And that was fine, but when I first heard about the external over-praising, I was thrilled.
According to the usual script, shouldn't a few sect disciples jump out to express dissatisfaction when faced with so much praise?
Shouldn't they compete with me?
Chu Xinghe was all prepared. Fellow brothers, if you start competing, I'll immediately admit defeat and bow down, okay?
But why the hell did no one jump out?
No, it's not that no one jumped out... I heard that recently quite a few have, and they're making a fuss over who is the first confidant of Xinghe.
Even Feng Yuzheng, who is usually silent, spoke up.
Yuzheng said, although I haven't fully mastered the Divine Engraving Technique yet, once I do, you'll have no chance...
Isn't your competition direction a bit too ridiculous?
Have you ever considered my feelings? Have you considered the Great Elder's feelings?
Especially Ma Liang, that rascal, who openly stated he would become the Great Elder in the future. I heard that because of this statement, the Great Elder was so angry he punished him to clean the halls.
And he was still smug about it, saying, "See... the Great Elder is letting me familiarize myself with the halls in advance!"
Ma Liang, do you have any shame?
But regardless of whether Ma Liang has any shame, Chu Xinghe swore to the heavens that he wouldn't be involved in any debt repayment in the future.
I was initially planning to find some older and more bizarre debts to repay.
But looking at the current situation, if I repay any more, who knows what kind of mess will happen.
So Chu Xinghe decided to lay low.
But just as he decided to lay low, Senior Brother Shen Chun suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"Junior Brother Xinghe, today the Sect Master is holding a sect meeting at the Grand Sky Palace, and you're invited."
"Is it good news or bad news?"
"It should be good news!"
Chu Xinghe: "..."
Is this good news never-ending?
Despite his reluctance, Chu Xinghe still arrived at the Grand Sky Palace as scheduled, and soon he learned what was happening.
The Millennium Grand Festival!
This time, the Sect Master called the sect meeting because of the Millennium Grand Festival, and when Chu Xinghe heard about it, his eyes lit up.
This time, Senior Brother Shen Chun wasn't wrong; it really was good news!
Great news!
The Millennium Grand Festival is the most grand and solemn event on the Blazing Sun Continent, and the key point is that this time it's hosted by the Grand Sky Sect, which will naturally bear all the expenses.
The key point is, this Millennium Grand Festival isn't a wedding, so we don't collect any gifts!
We just give!
Such a grand and solemn event, and we don't collect any gifts. If I, Chu Xinghe, were to handle it, wouldn't the sect go bankrupt?
Tell me how we could lose!