Fang Zheng won the MVP

Having been beaten to the first claim, Xiao Chunan and Zhao Gao could only chime in to share some scraps.

[Villain Seeking Redemption (Zhao Gao): Sister Yuanyuan is right. The admin of Group 98 harbors ill intentions. We urge the admin to investigate.]

[The Fallen Genius (Xiao Chunan): Here’s the evidence (chat log screenshot.ipg).]

[I Hate Cilantro (Li Yuanyuan): I’ll also submit evidence (chat log screenshot.ipg).]

[Villain Seeking Redemption (Zhao Gao): +1 (chat log screenshot.ipg).]

The truth proved that if you connect heart-to-heart with your group members, they won’t play mind games with you.

Chen Yi glanced at the chat screenshots. While they weren’t as exaggerated as Li Yuanyuan had claimed, Mu Chen’s probing into his recent activities was still blatantly obvious.

But it was understandable. Given the recent upheavals, ordinary mortals and low-tier cultivators might not sense anything, but high-level cultivators like those at the Divine Transformation or Unity stages were all on edge.

Unable to decipher Chen Yi’s intentions, it made sense for Mu Chen to gather intel through group members.

No need to bother with it.

Instead, Chen Yi was deeply moved by the tragic pasts of the three new members.

Reading the blood-and-tear confessions in those chat logs, he could hardly imagine the suffering they must have endured under their former admin in Group 98.

No wonder they acted so cautiously and timidly after joining his group—that heartless ex-admin had clearly scarred them.

They’ve suffered enough. Oppressing my group members? If they ever visit the Purple Star Continent, I’ll make sure Mu Chen gets a proper "welcome"!

Cultivation is all about resolving inner demons. If you’ve been wronged, you must seek vengeance!

Mu Chen, that black-hearted admin, bullied them with his superior cultivation. The best revenge? Surpass him in strength, then sit back and watch as he serves tea with a forced smile!

Only this kind of silent, overwhelming retaliation can truly cleanse the darkness of their past.

What?

You say Mu Chen’s cultivation far surpasses theirs, and as the admin, he has vast resources to stay ahead?

Nonsense! Anyone under Chen Yi’s wing won’t lack for resources.

Let’s be blunt—three minutes ago, even the lowest-ranked among them snatched a 50,000-point red packet!

Sure, their earnings might pale compared to Mu Chen’s as an admin, but that’s the chat group’s limit, not Chen Yi’s!

Forget the countless hidden perks—just take the free download of the "Great Devouring Heaven Art," worth 800 million points. How would Mu Chen even compete?

And with Chen Yi as their admin, feasting nine times in three days is the norm. Sometimes, if luck strikes, they even get nine meals in a single day!

Like right now!

"Claim the last mission reward."

With a free moment, Chen Yi got to work.

[Reward for overcompleting group member ‘Sword Immortal of Empty Pockets’ assistance mission updated: 800 million points, 30 million group EXP.]

[Ding! 800 million points have been deposited. Current balance: 1.03 billion.]

[Ding! Group member ‘I Really Don’t Want to be a Sacrifice’ has completed an assistance mission. Admin’s 400,000-point share has been deposited. Current balance: 1.037 billion.]

The next second, Group 108’s system announcements flooded in.

[Ding! The admin has claimed the mission reward. Group EXP +30 million.]

[Ding! Group member ‘I Really Don’t Want to be a Sacrifice’ has claimed the mission reward. Group EXP +500,000.]

[Group level upgraded to 39. 2 million EXP remaining until next level.]

[Group welfare check-in rewards upgraded. Daily check-in now grants 3,900 points.]

[Group red packet system upgraded. Daily cap increased to 390,000 points. Today’s limit refreshed.]

"Huh? Fang... Zheng’s quite capable, isn’t he? Wasn’t it just a 2-million-point mission? With a 50% admin cut of 400,000, does that mean he pulled off 8 million? Interesting..."

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled but mostly impressed.

How hard is it to persevere alone?

Fang Zheng could answer that.

As a transmigrator without a registered fate in this world, he was constantly crushed by the tides of destiny, his path fraught with hardship!

Even his cheat-like golden finger was banned, forcing him to survive in a treacherous environment with nothing but his wits!

With such a disastrous start, he still reached a combat power of 300,000 in just twenty years—equivalent to a Nascent Soul cultivator!

If not for his abysmal luck, getting cornered by the protagonist’s son (Fang Fan) and having his plans collapse, he wouldn’t even have needed the group to thrive!

If anything, Fang Zheng was the real protagonist, not his son.

What’s so impressive about rising quickly with heaven’s favor?

Back in his youth, Chen Yi made a name for himself by beating protagonists—only those who dominated their worlds even qualified to face him, paving his way to supremacy and conquering the lofty Purple Star Heaven’s Will!

A protagonist? Pah. If not for Fang Zheng, I wouldn’t even glance at Fang Fan!

In Fang Zheng, Chen Yi saw his own reflection—self-reliant, relentless, the only difference being Chen Yi’s superior talent, which let him power through early struggles, while Fang Zheng, with his mediocre aptitude, would’ve died early without his clan’s protection.

Hence, Chen Yi’s high regard for Fang Zheng was no accident.

But seriously, what did this guy do over at Zhao Gao’s side?

Turning a 2-million-point mission into 8 million? There had to be more to it.

[Damn Tribulation Still Chasing Me: @I Really Don’t Want to be a Sacrifice, Fang Zheng, what happened? You good?]

As the admin’s most loyal follower, Fang Zheng, who’d just gotten home and hadn’t caught his breath, replied instantly.

[I Really Don’t Want to be a Sacrifice: Thanks for your concern, Admin. I’m fine. This was all thanks to the Star-Suppressing Seal you gifted me—otherwise, Zhao Gao and I would’ve been done for.]

His lingering fear was palpable. Normally, he’d have piled on praises for the admin, but this time, he skipped the flattery.

Zhao Gao quickly jumped in to explain.

[Villain Seeking Redemption: Admin, this was completely unexpected. One second, Brother Fang was beating Lin Hao to a pulp while I cheered from the sidelines, even casually chatting in the group...

Then out of nowhere, a deranged Saint Realm expert with 2 million combat power showed up, mistaking Lin Hao for his long-lost son, and charged at Brother Fang!

I swear, my heart nearly stopped from the sheer pressure!

But Brother Fang? Absolute legend. Under that crushing force, he stayed ice-cold, tossed Lin Hao aside, whipped out the Star-Suppressing Seal you gave him, and smashed it straight onto that Saint Realm geezer’s head!

Seriously, it was downright badass. That old bastard got smashed until his head was bleeding, howling like a ghost and wailing like a wolf. He scrambled away on all fours, fleeing into the clouds without even bothering to look back at Lin Hao—his so-called "long-lost son"!

That’s how things went down. The mission’s difficulty changed, which is why the reward got bumped up.

And finally, let me say this with complete sincerity—Bro Fang, damn it, I think I might be falling for you. What the hell do I do now?