"What Spiritual Artifact?"
Upon hearing the Elder of the Task Hall’s words, Chu Fengmian frowned and spoke.
He had not been informed about any Spiritual Artifact when he accepted the task.
Moreover, the jade slip had never mentioned anything about a Spiritual Artifact; it only stated that bringing back Mu Yuanhuo’s body would suffice.
"Don’t play dumb, what I’m talking about is the Spiritual Artifact on Mu Yuanhuo."
The Elder from the Task Hall sneered as he glanced at Chu Fengmian.
"This demon betrayed the Zongyan Sect for a Spiritual Artifact, and without this artifact, the task isn’t considered complete for you. You’ll get at most half of the Contribution Points."
Hearing the Elder’s words, Chu Fengmian’s eyes immediately turned icy.
Only half of the Contribution Points? It was clearly an attempt to find fault.
The task hadn’t mentioned anything about a Spiritual Artifact, and now these words from the Task Hall Elder were clearly just nitpicking.
"This task doesn’t mention that, does it?"
Chu Fengmian’s brows locked tightly as he spoke; he was confused by the Task Hall Elder’s baseless nitpicking.
After all, the Elder was also an Outer Sect Elder, and without a valid reason, Chu Fengmian didn’t want to clash with him.
"Oh? Is that so? Then I must have overlooked it, I will add it now."
The Task Hall Elder smirked at Chu Fengmian.
"Half the reward, a total of a thousand Contribution Points, are you going to accept the task?"
Chu Fengmian replied coldly.
A thousand Contribution Points wasn’t much to Chu Fengmian, especially now as he had acquired the wealth of a million Qi Gathering Pills and didn’t highly need Contribution Points.
But this loss, Chu Fengmian could not accept; if he did, he would likely be targeted everywhere within the Wusheng Academy in the future.
People bully the meek, a truth Chu Fengmian was well aware of. Today’s full two thousand Contribution Points, not one less, he must get them.
"Don’t go too far, Elder."
Chu Fengmian’s words were tinged with a hint of coldness.
He didn’t intend to take action, but if the Task Hall Elder continued to oppress and harass him, Chu Fengmian would not hesitate to fight back.
A Second Layer Divine Sea Realm Martial Artist, in Chu Fengmian’s view, defeating him was as easy as squashing an ant.
"Too much? I am the Task Hall Elder. Most of these tasks I can directly modify. Are you still not satisfied with a thousand Contribution Points?"
The Task Hall Elder said with a hint of mockery.
"Since that’s the case, just keep on holding onto that task for a few years, maybe three or five. Perhaps when I’m in a good mood, I’ll give you a few hundred more points."
"Moreover, you must understand that you can only take on one task at a time here at the Wusheng Academy. If you don’t submit, you won’t be able to take on other tasks for the next three to five years."
The words of the Task Hall Elder were extremely sinister.
Taking on tasks is one of the fastest ways to earn Contribution Points, and even some Inner Sect powerhouses take on tasks. Naturally, Chu Fengmian would need Contribution Points too.
Not letting Chu Fengmian take on tasks for three to five years would be a severe blow to him. He was intentionally forcing Chu Fengmian to submit today.
"Offending the Chu family, and still daring to come to the Task Hall."
"It seems this boy is going to be taught a lesson today; does he not know that the Task Hall is Chu family territory?"
"This newcomer to the academy is arrogantly offensive, first offending the Chu and Cheng families, then the Crown Prince and Enforcement Team, but he doesn’t understand how influential these powers are in Wusheng Academy."
"The days of suffering are yet to come; today is just a prelude."
A group of surrounding Martial Artists, hearing the Task Hall Elder’s words, showed no surprise but instead a scornful attitude.
And many spoke with a mocking tone.
Hearing the crowd’s discussion, Chu Fengmian suddenly understood.
This Task Hall Elder was definitely nitpicking, as the Task Hall itself was managed by the Chu family.
This Task Hall Elder, also linked with the Chu family, once made it impossible for Chu Beige to participate in the Ark Assessment because Chu Fengmian had defeated him.
Now, this Task Hall Elder was making things difficult for Chu Fengmian to curry favor with the Chu family.
Since there was already enmity, Chu Fengmian had no need for further caution.
"Is the Elder sure he wants to make things difficult for Chu?"
Chu Fengmian’s brows furrowed, and a hint of coldness flashed through his eyes.
The Spiritual Power within his body began circulating quietly, a formidable pressure bearing down on the Task Hall Elder.
This was his final warning to the Task Hall Elder.
"Making it difficult? Ha-ha-ha, what if I am making it difficult for you? What can an Inner Sect Disciple do?"
The Task Hall Elder laughed loudly.
"I know you’re extraordinarily powerful, but this is the Task Hall. According to the sect’s rules, anyone who dares to strike in the Task Hall will be imprisoned for ten years! If you dare to strike, you’ll spend the next ten years in the Black Water Zone!"
"I’m right here, let’s see if you dare to strike!"
The Task Hall Elder laughed arrogantly, watching the rise of Spiritual Power in Chu Fengmian.
His laughter hadn’t lasted long before a crisp sound suddenly rang out.
On the Task Hall Elder’s face, a clear slap mark was visible.
"So what if I struck?"
Chu Fengmian’s eyes showed a hint of mockery, as if laughing at the Task Hall Elder’s foolishness.
Today he had struck, so what?
Sect rules. Chu Fengmian had never cared about the Wusheng Academy’s rules, ever since the Crown Prince had dared to strike him during the assessment. He no longer believed in these rules.
The rules of Wusheng Academy only applied to the powerless; the Crown Prince never cared about them. He had attacked Chu Fengmian, retaliated against a Hall Master, yet faced no punishment.
Today, Chu Fengmian also wouldn’t care about the so-called rules of Wusheng Academy.
"You... you dare strike me?"
The Task Hall Elder, looking at Chu Fengmian, spoke dumbfoundedly.
This slap had definitely stupefied him.
As the Task Hall Elder, he had always oppressed others, and no one ever dared to retaliate because of his status.
But now, Chu Fengmian had ruthlessly slapped him.
"Is one slap not enough?"
Chu Fengmian uttered.
His hand, once again raised, delivered another slap to the Task Hall Elder’s face.
This second slap not only awakened him but seemed to awaken everyone present.