Chen Yi, filled with heartfelt joy, Fang Zheng wins MVP again

After reading Zhao Gao's account of the events, Chen Yi furrowed his brows and flipped open the mission feedback panel.

"One of my group members took down a powerhouse with 20 million combat power, and the mission reward is only 8 million points? Are you too cheap to hand out points or what?!"

[System busy. Please try again later.]

Chen Yi: "......"

After a moment of silence, he quietly closed the mission panel and reopened the chat interface instead.

At this moment, Fang Zheng felt slightly uneasy.

[I Really Don’t Want to Be Sacrificed: Zhao Gao, cut it out. I’m straight and already have a son. You better not turn into that historical Zhao Gao!]

[Unemployed God of Light: Oho~ Our Lord Fang Zheng is getting flustered, huh?]

[Runner-Up in Cultivation World: What’s going on? Ghost trouble at home again?]

[Two-Sleeved Sword Immortal: Life is but a dream, the mortal world an illusion. Having weathered the storm, I see through it all—my heart as calm as still water, only my sword hovering in silence.]

[Cold Palace Stalwart: Huh? Zhou Zheng, what’s up with you lately? Always spouting cryptic lines. Having an existential crisis?]

[I Refuse to Eat Cilantro: Feels like he’s permanently stuck in sage mode, but I’ve got no proof.]

[Fallen Genius: Boss, I’ve got a big fish in my net—a Great Spirit Sage with 66 million combat power. Should I reel it in?]

[Damn Heavenly Tribulation Still Chasing Me: Hold off. Keep baiting and wait for orders.]

For now, Chen Yi had to focus on optimizing the Purple Star Heavenly Dao to avoid mishaps. Group matters could be set aside when possible, and if absolutely necessary, he’d send a clone to handle them.

[Fallen Genius: Got it. Standing by then.]

[Cold Palace Stalwart: Boss, boss! Look at me! I’m almost at a million combat power now. Got any jobs for me? Signing papers and cultivating every day is boring me to death. I wanna work on a project too!]

Liu Ruyan had finally come to terms with it—flirting with the stingy group leader was pointless. He was like a rock in a latrine—stubborn and unyielding. Any attempts would just earn her a mute penalty. Better to play it straight and ask for tasks to earn more points for shopping.

The premium beauty elixir in the store was ridiculously expensive. The meager daily check-in rewards weren’t enough, and the leader’s occasional red packets barely covered necessities—so stingy it wasn’t even fun.

But with her current combat power, taking on a single project could net her hundreds of thousands of points. A few more, and she could bathe in premium beauty elixir...

Just thinking about it made her giddy!

[Damn Heavenly Tribulation Still Chasing Me: Your task right now is to cultivate properly. Projects can wait until you hit 30 million combat power—then there’ll be plenty!]

[The group leader sent a 390,000-point lucky red packet.]

In the blink of an eye—cultivator reflexes were no joke—the red packet was snatched clean.

[I Really Don’t Want to Be Sacrificed: Hahaha! Thank you, Boss! Your generosity knows no bounds! My admiration for you is like an endless river, or a flooding Yellow River—unstoppable!...[300 more words available if expanded]]

[Cold Palace Stalwart: Thanks, Boss! Always dropping red packets—I love it!]

[Fallen Genius: Sniff... I haven’t even completed a project yet, and the boss is already paying me. Thinking about my past struggles... I could cry...]

[Self-Redeeming Villain: It’s over. All in the past. Things will get better. With the boss’s help, I swear I’ll rise above and make those who looked down on me... look up to me!]

[I Really Don’t Want to Be Sacrificed: Oh, Zhao Gao, I haven’t split the mission rewards with you yet. 30% of 8 million is 2.4 million. The max for group red packets is 390,000, so it’ll take seven transfers. If you’re not in a hurry, I’ll send the rest tomorrow.]

[Self-Redeeming Villain: Bro Fang, you need it urgently? If so, take it first! If it’s not enough, I’ll go mess with Lin Hao again right now!]

[I Really Don’t Want to Be Sacrificed: Nah, that’s not what I meant. Today’s my first project, and I earned a ton—all thanks to the boss’s guidance. Seeing him struggle with the red packet limit every day, unable to share more with the group, breaks my heart.

Now that I can earn points through missions, it’s only right to ease the boss’s burden. So I’ll send another max red packet in his stead!]

[Self-Redeeming Villain: Bro Fang, you’re a real one! But don’t shoulder this alone—split it with me. Deduct half from my share!]

[I Really Don’t Want to Be Sacrificed: Zhao Gao, you’re solid! But keep your share—I’ve got this!]

[Self-Redeeming Villain: Bro, do I look like I’d slack off? Half’s on me, or I’ll fight you over it!]

[I Really Don’t Want to Be Sacrificed: No need. When your share comes through, handle it your way. This one’s on me!]

[Group member ‘I Really Don’t Want to Be Sacrificed’ sent a 390,000-point password red packet. Password: "The Boss is the Hottest!"]

[Damn Heavenly Tribulation Still Chasing Me: The Boss is the Hottest!]

[The leader claimed 30,000 points.]

[Self-Redeeming Villain: The Boss is the Hottest!]

[...]

"Tsk~ Fang Zheng, you really know how to make me happy!" Chen Yi was deeply moved. Usually, he was the one handing out red packets—this was the first time he’d claimed one.

Though 30,000 points was a drop in the bucket for him, the warmth of being "treated" by his own people was indescribably satisfying.

They’ve really grown up.

[Damn Heavenly Tribulation Still Chasing Me: Alright, alright. Just this once, since it’s your first mission success celebration. But don’t make it a habit—you’re not rolling in points yet. Save the big red packets for when you’re earning hundreds of millions effortlessly.]

[I Really Don’t Want to Be Sacrificed: Understood, Boss! I’ll train harder and strive to share more of your burdens soon!]

[Self-Redeeming Villain: Bro Fang’s a legend! Boss, same here!]

[I Refuse to Eat Cilantro: Wow, not only is the boss generous, but Brother Fang Zheng’s heart is huge too! I’ve claimed so many points without contributing—I’m ashamed. So here’s the deal: I heard that when the group reaches Level 40, location-sharing unlocks for offline meetups. Everyone can come find me then!]

[Runner-Up in Cultivation World: Really, babe? Anything goes?]

[The leader has muted group member ‘Runner-Up in Cultivation World’ for 30 hours.]

[Unemployed God of Light: I can’t wait, babe......]

[Unemployed God of Light has retracted a message.]

【Light God Unemployed: Wrong message! What I meant to say was, thank you, oh mighty Group Leader, for providing us with such a wonderful environment. Every time I think of your towering presence, I can’t help but feel the urge to kowtow. My admiration for you flows endlessly like a mighty river, or like the Yellow River bursting its banks—unstoppable and overwhelming! Really, Group Leader, believe me, I swear I’m not a bootlicker!】

【TMD the Ascension Tribulation is Still Chasing Me: Heh.】

【The Group Leader has muted the member ‘Light God Unemployed’ for 30 hours.】

【Two-Sleeved Breeze is a Sword Immortal: Bros, listen to this elder brother’s advice—beauty is a poison to the body. Quit while you can! Women will only slow down your sword draw!】

【I Absolutely Hate Cilantro: Zhou Zheng, something’s seriously off with you. Weren’t you always yelling about wanting to see legs before? Why do you sound like a completely different person lately?】

【Two-Sleeved Breeze is a Sword Immortal: Just a bit of hardship, that’s all.】

【I Really Don’t Want to Be a Sacrifice: Dude, what the hell happened to you? Why are you stealing my lines now?】

【Two-Sleeved Breeze is a Sword Immortal: Don’t ask. It’s all thanks to the Group Leader’s profound guidance. I’ve been reborn—my heart now holds nothing but unwavering resolve!】

【TMD the Ascension Tribulation is Still Chasing Me: Focus on your cultivation. Your environment is favorable. Also, pass my regards to the Flying Star Heavenly Dao. Tell it that its core essence was quite useful. If I succeed here, I’ll share my insights with it.】

【Two-Sleeved Breeze is a Sword Immortal: Understood. I’ve relayed your message. It says it’s honored to be of assistance and extends an open invitation for you to visit again. You’ll always be the Celestial Master of Flying Star Continent.】

【TMD the Ascension Tribulation is Still Chasing Me: Hmm, noted.】

After sending this last message, Chen Yi closed the chat interface, no longer idling in the group. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the heavens.

By now, the deafening roar of thunder had begun to fade, and the oppressive aura of the Ascension Tribulation gradually receded.

He wondered how many of those old fogies at the Unity Realm had survived.

Surely not all of them perished… right?