Chapter 177 - Is My Identity Worth That Much?

On a deserted path.Fang Yong watched as the trio seemed to reach a decision.

But he didn’t speak first.

"There’s no one else here. You can talk now, right?" the man in the lead asked.

Bai Fan, a Sword Cultivator from Red Water Peak’s Fifth Courtyard.

He had come over early in the morning to discuss matters.

"You must have overheard our discussion. Is that why you sought us out?" the woman beside them asked calmly. "And you did so secretly, at that."

Jiang Yingcai, a Magic Cultivator from Luoxia Peak’s Fourth Courtyard.

"He looks a little nervous," the tall, sturdy man said with a smile. "But since he went to the trouble of coming, he’s bound to say something. If he doesn’t, it just means he wants something from us first."

Duan Wu, a Body Cultivator from North Plate Peak’s Fourth Courtyard.

At this moment, all three looked at Fang Yong, waiting for what he would say next.

After all, for him to have run over to find them, it must have been for something important.

This was the first time they had ever taken this path, so his appearance was undoubtedly related to their recent conversation.

Fang Yong took a deep breath. "You want to know who Number 210 is?"

Hearing this, they were all a little surprised.

Bai Fan asked tentatively, "You know who he is?"

"I do," Fang Yong said with certainty.

"Who is it?" Jiang Yingcai asked.

Fang Yong composed himself. "I remember there used to be a thirty-thousand reward for this information."

The three of them were taken aback.

"You knew about that?" Bai Fan asked, curious. "Then why didn’t you collect the reward back then?"

Fang Yong told them the truth.

By the time he’d found out, the reward had already been canceled.

He had also heard the rumors that Number 210 wasn’t all that impressive.

"So now you expect us to pay you thirty thousand?" Duan Wu asked.

Fang Yong held up four fingers. "Forty thousand."

The trio fell silent for a moment, staring at the man before them.

Bai Fan sneered, "And you think his identity is worth that much?"

"You might not think so now," Fang Yong said with certainty, "but once you know, you’ll find it’s a bargain."

"How would you know his identity?" Jiang Yingcai asked.

Fang Yong was silent for a moment before saying, "We’re good friends. He told me himself."

"You’re betraying him?" Duan Wu asked, his eyes narrowing.

Fang Yong said dismissively, "We’re friends, and friends have value. He has demonstrated his value, so doesn’t that just prove he’s a friend worth having?"

For a moment, the three of them were silent.

What a despicable little man.

Utterly disgusting.

Jiang Yingcai and Duan Wu looked at Bai Fan.

Because he was the one who needed the information most.

Bai Fan feigned innocence. "Why are you staring at me? You’re not blameless, either. When I was being ridiculed, were you having a good time?

"I could just drag you both into this."

After a brief discussion, the three of them gave Fang Yong forty thousand Spiritual Source.

The moment he received the Spiritual Source, Fang Yong’s hands trembled.

He had thought they would try to haggle.

He then told them the truth as promised.

The instant they heard Number 210’s identity, the trio was stunned.

Their first reaction wasn’t belief, but doubt.

They even felt like they had been tricked.

They were on the verge of attacking him to snatch the Spiritual Source back.

"Don’t believe me?" Fang Yong wasn’t surprised. He just said, "How do you want to verify it? If you want to go and fight him, I can help arrange it. But on one condition: you can’t expose me.

"If it’s not him, I’ll return what you paid and throw in an extra twenty thousand Spiritual Source."

Hearing this, the trio was skeptical but intrigued.

But the claim was so outrageous. How could they believe it?

"If he’s that amazing, why isn’t he on the annual rankings?" Bai Fan asked.

"He entered a Secret Realm while he was still in the Ninth Courtyard, so he just missed the annual rankings," Fang Yong said.

Hearing this, they recalled some faint rumors from before.

Number 210 was from the Ninth Courtyard.

This...

For a moment, they were starting to believe it.

But it was too ridiculous.

Especially Bai Fan. He had thought *he* was young.

But the truth was hard to accept.

Any comfort from Duan Wu now seemed utterly feeble.

In the end, the three discussed it again and gave Fang Yong another thirty thousand Spiritual Source.

This sudden influx of Spiritual Source confused Fang Yong.

"This is to buy the exclusive rights. You can’t tell anyone else," Bai Fan said.

As he spoke, he took out a piece of paper and wrote down the terms.

"This is a contract form issued by the Sect. If you casually tell anyone else this information before it becomes public knowledge, we have the right to reclaim all the Spiritual Source," Bai Fan said, handing the paper to Fang Yong.

’As long as they sealed off this source, they would have ways to earn back their Spiritual Source.’

After taking the paper and looking over the contents, Fang Yong held up one finger. "Add another ten thousand, and I’ll make sure he himself doesn’t tell anyone either."

For a moment, the trio looked at the man before them with contempt.

To have a friend like him was truly Number 210’s tragedy.

But without someone like him, they wouldn’t have gotten this kind of information either.

It was all about self-interest.

After Fang Yong left, Duan Wu looked at Bai Fan. "If the information is true, it just means Number 210 is too young. He lacks real combat experience, has average judgment, a simple mind, and has learned very few Magic Skills.

"With your accomplishments in Magic Skills and your wealth of combat experience, you can still beat him.

"Worst comes to worst, you’ve been in the Hidden Spirit realm for five years to his two. You can still beat him."

Bai Fan looked at him. "You’re a real comfort."

「Red Water Peak.」

When Jiang Man arrived, he found the others chatting.

They all seemed to be in good spirits.

They just had dark circles under their eyes, though they hadn’t lost any weight.

Seeing him approach, Song Qing immediately took out three thousand Spiritual Source. "Jiang Man, I’ve saved up another three thousand! I’m depositing it with you."

Jiang Man accepted the three thousand Spiritual Source and gave fifteen hundred back to him. "This is the interest from before. I’m past my crisis period now, so the interest rate has dropped.

"An investment of three thousand for a year will now pay back thirty-five hundred."

Song Qing seemed a bit disappointed. "If I didn’t need some for my Cultivation, I’d definitely deposit another three thousand."

Jiang Man: "..."

’For some reason, Song Qing’s actions made him feel like he was the one working for Song Qing.’