Chu Xinghe didn't know what it meant to make a move that shook the heavens and earth; he only knew that, damn it, life was becoming unbearable.
Was this what it meant when I went to talk to those subordinate forces?
I, Chu Xinghe, solemnly swear to the heavens that I genuinely want to repay my debts. My intentions are as pure as a little white rabbit.
Yet, why do you all treat me like I'm a big bad wolf? What do you mean by that?
I just want to return what I owe you, hoping the sect would lose a bit of resources. I only want to reach the seventh grade... What did I do to deserve this?
Now, you all suddenly decide to increase the annual tribute by twenty percent and hand it over to our Grand Sky Sect. Have you gone mad?
Are you not planning to live anymore?
Even if you really don't plan to live, can't you spare a thought for me, Chu Xinghe?
These past few days, the subordinate forces have been visiting one after another, and Senior Brother Feng Fei has been collecting so much from them that he can't even close his mouth.
The key point is, Senior Brother Feng, if you're going to collect things, just collect them... but why do you have to come to my room every night to tell me about it?Do you know that every number you mention is like a steel knife stabbing into my heart, Junior Brother?
Feng Fei is young, so I can let it slide...
But even the Great Elder came to join the fun.
Listen to what the Great Elder said—are those even human words?
"Xinghe... I never imagined this is what you meant by repaying debts..."
"Xinghe... not only did you solve the problem of the subordinate forces for our Grand Sky Sect, but you've also resolved this issue for the entire world. Now, everyone praises you for your virtue and also praises our Grand Sky Sect. You've earned us a great reputation."
Chu Xinghe really wanted to tell the Great Elder to his face that if he had even a bit of that intention, he would be...
Did I want both fame and fortune?
I simply wanted the sect to lose a little...
Great Elder, did you have to come and rub salt in the wound?
Then there's Sect Master Gu Mingchao... The Sect Master convened a meeting of the sect elders, stating that our Grand Sky Sect is clear about rewards and punishments. Since Xinghe has made such a great contribution to the sect, he must be rewarded. So, he proposed to promote Xinghe to a personal disciple of the Sect Master as a reward.
But this proposal was immediately vetoed by all the elders.
The Sect Master was so angry he almost spat blood on the spot, and it was the Great Elder who finally spoke up, saying, "What has Xinghe done that's so significant? How does he deserve to become a personal disciple of the Sect Master?"
So, the Great Elder proposed to reward Xinghe with ten thousand spirit stones and several pills...
Regarding the Great Elder's proposed reward, aside from the Sect Master who opposed it, all the elders unanimously agreed.
When the reward was announced to the entire sect, there was an uproar.
All the disciples were dumbfounded after hearing it.
What... this reward sounds like a lot... but why does it feel like there's no reward at all?
Ten thousand spirit stones... several pills, in any sect, this reward would not be considered small, especially for an ordinary elite disciple of the inner sect.
But... if this ordinary elite disciple is replaced with Chu Xinghe... then isn't this reward somewhat absurd?
Does Junior Brother Xinghe not have the key to the treasure vault, or can't he enter the Spirit Crane Palace's pill room?
Doesn't Senior Brother Xinghe have more spirit stones and pills in any random space ring than this?
This reward would be considered a heavy reward for a normal inner sect elite disciple, but for Senior Brother Xinghe, is that even a reward?
And what's more absurd is that, under normal circumstances, once a sect reward is determined, the Great Elder would surely arrange for someone to implement the reward.
But this time, whether it's because the Great Elder is getting old or something else...
There's no such arrangement at all, so this reward... apart from being announced, no one actually delivered the reward to Chu Xinghe.
So does our Grand Sky Sect still have any credibility?
What happened to rewarding the disciple? Was it just talk?
In the end, it was Senior Brother Feng who came over.
"Junior Brother Xinghe, about the reward... if you're interested, you can go to the treasure vault and pill room to get it yourself... You know the way to both places well, so there's no need for me to make another trip... I've been quite busy lately, with the Millennium Grand Ceremony coming up, it's our Grand Sky Sect's turn this time."
Of course, Chu Xinghe wouldn't actually go to the treasure vault and pill room to get the reward. For such a small reward... it's not worth the trip, damn it!
As for the Millennium Grand Ceremony that Senior Brother Feng mentioned, Chu Xinghe was aware of it.
A thousand years ago, evil spirits roamed the world, and the evil spirit clan lived by devouring humans. The war between humans and the evil spirit clan lasted for countless years, and finally, a thousand years ago, all sides, regardless of good or evil, worked together to completely annihilate the evil spirit clan, ushering in a millennium of peace.
The so-called grand ceremony is a sacrificial ceremony held to commemorate the strong who died in battle against the evil spirit clan.
The timing of this ceremony coincides with the millennium mark, and as the number one sect in the world, Grand Sky Sect naturally has to take on the responsibility of hosting this grand ceremony.
Moreover, this Millennium Grand Ceremony is not just about Grand Sky Sect; it's a major event for the entire world, regardless of good or evil. Because of this, Senior Brother Feng Fei has been so busy recently that he's dizzy.
After hastily saying a few words to Junior Brother Xinghe, Senior Brother Feng Fei got up again to continue working on this matter.
Chu Xinghe watched Senior Brother Feng Fei leave, almost jumping up with excitement.
The Millennium Grand Ceremony?
A ceremony involving the entire world?
Isn't this more exciting than Senior Brother Feng Fei's wedding?
And the key difference is that this grand ceremony doesn't involve collecting gifts like a wedding does.
Think about it... at Senior Brother Feng Fei's wedding, people from all sides came to attend. Even though I tried my best to drain the sect's resources, all sides damn well jumped out to sponsor it.
Even when I teamed up with the Deputy Sect Master, we ended up losing.
But the Millennium Grand Ceremony is different... has anyone ever heard of a sacrificial ceremony being sponsored?
As long as there's no sponsorship, our Grand Sky Sect is just pouring money out with no chance of making any money, isn't that right?
And the Millennium Grand Ceremony is a matter for the entire world, something that both good and evil factions take extremely seriously.
How much money will such a grand ceremony cost!
Chu Xinghe couldn't even calculate how many Hillside Villages would be needed to cover the expenses.
Such a major sacrificial event, with no opportunity to make money, is purely a blood loss. Is this a Millennium Grand Ceremony?
This is practically my Chu Xinghe's ascension ceremony.
However, Chu Xinghe didn't act rashly. After all, there was still some time before the Millennium Grand Ceremony, and he needed to thoroughly study all the rules of the ceremony to ensure that no mistakes could possibly occur this time.
We absolutely cannot repeat the mistakes made at Senior Brother Feng Fei's wedding!
But before studying the Millennium Grand Ceremony, Chu Xinghe knew he still had things to do.
The road to repaying debts wasn't over yet.
Did you think I, Chu Xinghe, would just give up like this?
Absolutely not! I, Chu Xinghe, am someone who becomes more courageous with setbacks. I've already reviewed the issues with this debt repayment attempt in the past few days.
The reason this debt repayment failed was mainly because I chose the wrong targets.
Those subordinate forces rely on Grand Sky Sect to survive, so when I went to repay the debt, it's no wonder they had wild thoughts.
Plus, with Ma Liang's big mouth spreading nonsense, it's understandable how they interpreted it.
But the debts our Grand Sky Sect owes aren't just to subordinate forces. Soon, Chu Xinghe started flipping through the account books again.
Heaven rewards the diligent, and after searching, Chu Xinghe finally found what he was looking for!
Indeed, our Grand Sky Sect owes a lot of debts that aren't to our subordinate forces, and the amounts are quite staggering.
Looking at the records of debts that could buy countless Hillside Villages, Chu Xinghe's eyes turned red with excitement.
Previously, when I repaid the subordinate forces, not only did they not dare to accept, but they even voluntarily handed over more, making the sect profit, right?
I, Chu Xinghe, admit that was my mistake, but this time I've found debts that aren't to subordinate forces. Tell me why they wouldn't want them?
How could I possibly lose this time?
With these accounts in hand, Chu Xinghe immediately went to find Senior Brother Ma Biao to ask why so many accounts hadn't been settled.
Regarding Junior Brother Xinghe's inquiry, Ma Biao looked at the accounts and provided an explanation.
"Junior Brother Xinghe, these accounts are indeed real. It's not that our Grand Sky Sect doesn't want to settle them; the main issue is a small problem. The owners of these accounts accidentally lost our IOUs or loan tokens, so it's not that we don't want to repay them. Without the IOUs and tokens, we can't repay them!"
Senior Brother Ma Biao's explanation was perfectly reasonable.
When Grand Sky Sect borrowed money, they left IOUs or tokens, and when the repayment date arrived, the sect was supposed to repay, and the other party would return the IOUs or tokens to settle the account.
But the problem is that these people or forces accidentally lost the IOUs and tokens, so it's not that Grand Sky Sect doesn't want to repay them, but they can't.
Grand Sky Sect wouldn't renege on a debt; they've already informed them that as long as they find the IOUs or tokens, the sect would repay the debts in full.
After hearing Senior Brother Ma Biao's explanation, Chu Xinghe expressed that Senior Brother Ma Biao was being foolish!
What are you telling me?
Our Grand Sky Sect borrowed money or goods, and just because they lost the IOUs and tokens, we don't repay them?
If our Grand Sky Sect does this, where is the sect's face? Where is the sect's credibility?
You're telling me this is the rule for repayment?
Rules are dead, but people are alive... Even for the sake of face, we must repay this debt.
So what if they don't have IOUs and tokens?
Our Grand Sky Sect is unparalleled in virtue, and even without these, we must repay the debt.
What? You're worried they might produce the IOUs and tokens later?
That would be great... wouldn't we just repay it twice?
And if they really dare to do that, do you believe that after we repay the second time, the Great Sage might accidentally visit these sects and perform a celebration for them after having a few too many drinks?