The Eternal Heart - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Pleasant Surprise

Translator: Alsey

Editor: Chrissy

Outside the forest.

The party of five rushed out of “Yunyue Mountain Range” at the fastest speed possible as they appeared to not want to stay in the mountain range for a second longer at all.

“Hmm?”

Chen Yu stopped when he had just run out of the forest as a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes.

In that split second before, that formless fiendish aura he previously sensed ceased in an abrupt manner.

If his guess wasn’t wrong, that fiendish aura should belong to a powerful vicious beast that didn’t lose out to the Metal Brown Bear King.

“Everyone, don’t stop. If the powerful vicious beast behind is a speed-type, it might not necessarily be impossible for it to catch up to us,” warned Le Feng.

Two hours later, everyone arrived at the edge of Yunyue Mountain Range and found the place where they had previously stationed their horses.

“We broke away from the danger zone at long last.”

Ding Jiuhui heaved a long sigh of relief and could not help but look back in the direction of the Bear Cave in that forest.

The danger surrounding the mission this time naturally wasn’t small. One out of the original small team of six died under the claws of a Bear King.

But everyone had a mutual understanding between them and did not bring up the death of the “slim young lady”.

When Chen Yu recalled the details surrounding the slim young lady’s death, he always found it somewhat odd: was the girl stupid, or did Le Feng really neglect her safety at that time?

However, all of that wasn’t important anymore.

Outer sect disciples were only members at the lowest level of the pyramid in the sect. The death of one or two outer sect disciples in a mission was considered to be an ordinary matter.

Under ordinary circumstances, the sect would only show an interest in matters like this in a symbolic sense.

More often than not, the higher-ups of Yunyue Sect would deploy someone to investigate the death of a disciple only if they were from the inner sect.

“Should we distribute our rewards before we return to the sect?” Chen Yu suggested to the others.

Those few people on the scene were somewhat excited and expectant when he brought up the subject of the reward.

“That’s what we ought to do.” Le Feng nodded in agreement.

After a few moments, everyone laid out the Bear Galls and Claws they obtained in front of them.

After adding them all out, there were a total of about forty Bear Galls, whereas there were one hundred and seventy Bear Claws. They could be exchanged for more than five hundred Contribution Points at the very least. Naturally, this didn’t include the Gall and Claw of the Bear King.

Chen Yu reckoned that the value of the Bear King’s Gall and Claw wasn’t inferior to the immense amount of Bear Galls and Claws mentioned before.

After discussing this matter, the earnings from the ordinary Bear Gall and Bear Claw were divided into ten portions.

Chen Yu contributed the most as he naturally killed the most ordinary Metal Brown Bears amongst those at the Body Tempering stage and even killed more of them when compared to Ding Jiuhui.

As such, he monopolized seventy percent of the rewards alone.

Feng De and the young man with the pockmarked face had shown a limited display of their role, so they didn’t really object to being apportioned ten and a half percent of the profits.

Seventy percent of the profits was already more than what Chen Yu had anticipated.

Based on his original assumption, it would be good enough if he could get around sixty percent of the profits.

Soon enough, he understood the reason.

Le Feng and Ding Jiuhui apportioned the slim young lady’s share to Chen Yu and the other two.

As such, everyone naturally wouldn’t have excessive questions regarding the death of the “slim young lady” since they had gained more from this.

On the other side, Le Feng and Ding Jiuhui had reached an agreement as well.

“I used the treasured weapon in this mission and even paid out the rare book, [Towering Cloud Step]. At the very least, I want two-thirds of that Bear King’s Gall,” said Le Feng in a dull tone.

“Martial Brother Le claims the greatest credit in being able to kill the Bear King this time. How can this Martial Brother have any objections to that?”

Ding Jiuhui chuckled mischievously.

Le Feng was certainly the main force of this mission and paid a sufficiently large price for it as well.

“I just never thought that Martial Brother Le would actually be willing to give the [Towering Cloud Step] to that boy,” Ding Jiuhui said, finding it a bit odd.

[Towering Cloud Step] was a top-notch light bodied martial arts skill amongst those of the same rank. Its value was possibly not inferior to the Gall of the Bear King.

Even Ding Jiuhui’s desire was aroused at this light bodied martial arts skill.

“As long as I can enter the inner sect, paying a mid-ranked martial arts technique doesn’t count for anything,” Le Feng said as he played it down.

In reality, he was more or less depressed, as well as in pain deep in his heart.

Based on his expectations, it was practically an impossible task for Chen Yu to stall the Bear King over the time it took to burn half an incense stick with his cultivation at the Body Tempering stage.

“Oh? I understand. Younger Martial Brother Le is aspiring for the ‘Great Outer Sect Convention’ in three months.”

Ding Jiuhui suddenly saw the light.

Yunyue Sect had a “Great Outer Sect Convention” in the outer sect every year.

There was an ancestral rule that: whoever came out first in the Great Convention, they could enter the inner sect unconditionally and become inner sect disciples!

Other than that, some Sect Elders would be observing the battle during the Great Outer Sect Convention.

Normally, the disciples ranked in the top ten who had superior performance also had the odds of catching the eye of some Elder and enter the inner sect.

Based on previous experiences, the top three had a rather stable chance of entering the inner sect other than the disciple who ranked first, who was basically guaranteed a place.

“That’s right!”

Le Feng didn’t deny it. A surge of self-confidence was apparent in his words. “I am determined to get in through the Great Outer Sect Convention.”

He was one of the geniuses in the outer sect based on aptitude in martial arts skill.

But his only weakness was that it hadn’t been long since he had entered the sect; he had entered the sect half a year later than Chen Yu. As such, his cultivation still couldn’t compare to the peak disciples in the outer sect.

Moreover, he had obtained the Gall of the Bear King this time, and its quality surpassed his imagination. It was only logical that he could breakthrough to the late Connective Meridian stage.

“Then this Martial Brother expresses his congratulations in advance,” Ding Jiuhui congratulated him with a smile on his face as his tone appeared to be even more polite and complimentary.

Once Le Feng broke through to the late Connective Meridian stage, he would inevitably achieve a great advancement in strength. In addition to that, the treasured weapon he was holding in his hands was certainly a powerful competitor in the “Great Outer Sect Convention”.

“Great Outer Sect Convention?”

Chen Yu’s hearing surpassed that of an ordinary person’s. Even though the duo ahead had deliberately lowered their voices, he could faintly hear a few keywords.

He had heard of the Great Outer Sect Convention before as well.

Even to the extent that he had experienced the “Great Outer Sect Convention” once or twice before, but it was just that he didn’t have the qualifications to participate in it.

An individual had to be at the Connective Meridian stage at the very least to be able to participate in the Great Outer Sect Convention.

When he was observing and emulating the Great Convention that year, he had exclaimed in admiration as he watched the thrilling and marvelous showdown between those powerful disciples.

“There’s still three months to the Great Outer Sect Convention. I wonder whether I can participate in it this time,” Chen Yu thought to himself in his heart.

After all, that was an annual convention in the entire sect, so it held a great significance to the outer sect disciples.

But he couldn’t help but laugh bitterly when he gave it a second thought since, at present, he hadn’t even broken through to the Connective Meridian stage.

Fortunately, he had a considerably plentiful harvest from this mission. He gained seventy percent of the earnings alone, and they could be exchanged for more than three thousand five hundred Contribution Points, to say the least.

It wouldn’t be a problem for him to exchange so many Contribution Points for a martial arts skill that was mid-ranked or higher.

When he returned, his goal was to break through to the Connective Meridian stage!

Half a day later.

The party of five returned to the sect while riding their horses, making a beeline for the Sect Affairs Hall.

In a main hall within the Sect Affairs Hall.

“Huh? Your harvest this time actually isn’t that small. These Bear Galls and Claws can be said to have the best quality.”

There was a spiritual twinkle in the eyes of an elder in gray robes as he stared at the spoils of war before his eyes.

Soon, he saw Le Feng and Ding Jiuhui take out the Gall and Claws of the Bear King.

The eyes of the elder in gray robes shone even more as there was a look of praise on his face. “You guys can actually kill a Metal Brown Bear King with your strength? Under normal circumstances, it’s absolutely difficult to do so without the collaboration of more than two disciples at the late Connective Meridian stage, as well as a number of those at the Connective Meridian stage.”

“Senior, we lost the life of one disciple as a result of this mission,” Chen Yu reminded him.

“Huh? You only lost an outer sect disciple? It’s already pretty good for you guys to be able to come back alive.”

The elder in the gray robes was unconcerned as his eyelids didn’t even look up for a moment.

Chen Yu and the others were immediately speechless.

What did he mean by they had just “lost” an outer sect disciple? What they heard behind this old senior’s words was that this loss was still within his expectations.

“Cough! Could it be that the disciple who died was at the late Connective Meridian stage?”

The elder in the gray robes seemed to have realized his slip of the tongue.

Soon, he opened the list of missions and realized that the one who died was only a female disciple at the Body Tempering stage. He curled his lips and said, “Alright. I will present this matter to the higher-ups in the sect.”

Even if he was slow in his reactions, they could hear his half-heartedness.

She was merely an outer sect disciple and was even an unofficial outer sect disciple at the Body Tempering stage. It was very likely that the sect wouldn’t show an interest in this kind of death.

Chen Yu’s heart trembled with fear. He deeply felt how lowly an outer sect disciple was in the sect.

The sect would only value an individual and even give them certain nurturing only when the individual became an inner sect disciple.

After a moment, the spoils of war in their hands were converted into Contribution Points and Metastones one after the other.

Included amongst them were Bear Galls that could be exchanged for Contribution Points, as well as a small number of Metastones.

“A total of three thousand seven hundred and sixty Contribution Points and a total of one hundred and sixty-five Substandard Metastones. Little fellow, that’s not too bad…”

The elder in gray robes glanced at Chen Yu in surprise.

Those stated above were Chen Yu’s rewards.

As the attendant of the Sect Affairs Hall, the elder in gray robes was naturally very clear that small teams would normally split the profits of the mission based on the team member’s contributions.

“Many thanks, Senior.”

Chen Yu was happy from head to toe, especially when he touched the Substandard Metastones in his hands.

This Metastone was the currency of the sect world. Not only could it be used in Yunyue Sect, but it could also be used in the external realm as well.

On the other hand, Contribution Points were limited to being used within the sect.

“Alright, break it up everyone. We’ll get in touch with each other when our next mission comes.”

Ding Jiuhui laughed out loud in front of the Sect Affairs Hall.

Everyone dragged their exhausted bodies as they returned to their own respective residences.

Chen Yu planned to preserve and nurture his spirit for the night before going to the “Heavenly Martial Pavilion” to choose a main martial arts technique to cultivate tomorrow.

When he returned to his house, Chen Yu was still greatly excited as he considered how he was going to use the Metastones and Contribution Points he had placed in his bosom.

First, he would have a surplus of Contribution Points remaining after exchanging his three thousand seven hundred Contribution Points for a mid-ranked martial arts skill. In addition to a main cultivating technique, he could even choose another mid-tiered martial arts skill.

As for the Metastones he earned, there were even more uses for them.

He could purchase a few precious materials and spirit medicines with the Metastones which could assist him in making a breakthrough in his cultivation. He could also go outside and purchase a few powerful weapons and protective equipment to arm himself.

Chen Yu envied the treasured weapon Le Feng had in his hands very much.

The increase in destructive power a treasured weapon would bring really was astonishing. Above all, if they didn’t have this treasured weapon for the mission this time, they practically wouldn’t be able to kill the Bear King.

The only problem behind that was that the small amount of Metastones in Chen Yu’s hands was still far from being enough to purchase a treasured weapon, even if it was only a broken treasured weapon.

Bang, bang!

All of a sudden, the sound of someone knocking on the door interrupted Chen Yu as he was deep in thought.

“Law Enforcers?”

Chen Yu unexpectedly saw two Law Enforcers in black robes when the door opened as he felt his heart tremble with fear.

The Law Enforcer made Chen Yu hand over two Space Metal Meteorite fragments over the last time. He was still brooding over that matter until now, especially after he experienced the might of a treasured weapon for himself.

“Chen Yu. We are here this time because we have accepted orders from the sect to give additional compensation to those who handed Space Metal Meteorite fragments over,” said a Law Enforcer who had a slightly rounded physique with a smile on his face.

“Compensation?” Chen Yu was stunned. This was quite unexpected.

There was still a compensation after he handed over the Space Metal Meteorite fragments?

“That’s right. The compensation isn’t low. You handed two Space Metal Meteorite fragments over, so the sect is giving you compensation of six thousand Contribution Points.”

The other Law Enforcer was the one who came here before.

“Six thousand?”

Chen Yu’s heart suddenly leaped up with his mouth greatly agape. From the shock he felt, he could not help but keep his mouth open.