Chapter 318: Don’t Waste My Time

Chen Fei remained silent.

Wang Situ laughed.

“I know you’re someone who values practicality. Yes, members of the Dark Gate are always busy, and the missions they undertake are extremely dangerous. But the benefits… well, they’re not small either.”

“I heard you’re in debt—about 800,000 contribution points, right? If you’re willing to join the Dark Gate, I can guarantee you’ll pay off that debt within a year.”

He paused, then added meaningfully,

“Of course, in order to earn that many contribution points, the tasks you’ll face will also be more dangerous. I’m sure you understand what that means.”

Chen Fei still didn’t reply.

“If you have any hesitations, just say them. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll grant it,” Wang Situ offered.

Chen Fei looked straight at him.

“I want to compete for the position of Holy Son. If I join the Dark Gate, will that affect my chances?”

Wang Situ wasn’t surprised at all by the question.

“Of course not. In fact, the Dark Gate is the very power the Holy Son is meant to command. If you can make the people here submit to you, then becoming the Holy Son will be as easy as lifting a hand.”

This time, Chen Fei didn’t hesitate any longer.

“Very well. I accept.”

Wang Situ flicked his hand and tossed over a token.

“This is your personal Dark Gate token. It’s also a small storage device. Inside, you’ll find a special jade slip for spiritual communication and your standard mission attire.”

Chen Fei didn’t hold back. Right in front of Wang Situ, he retrieved the clothes from the token.

The material was light and soft. As soon as Chen Fei touched it, the outfit transformed into a stream of black light and fused into his body—it was a high-grade magical artifact!

With a mere thought, the sleek, pitch-black outfit wrapped tightly around his body. At the edge of the robes was a small sword hilt insignia, marking it as Dark Gate attire. It came with a face mask that completely concealed his identity.

Chen Fei tested his movement—light, flexible, and perfect for stealth or assassination.

“Thank you again for helping Wang Feng,” Wang Situ’s tone softened after the official matters were settled.

“I’ve arranged for him to cultivate spiritual-body techniques. He won’t be coming out for a while.”

“I understand,” Chen Fei nodded.

“The Dark Gate is currently monitoring demonic cultivator movements. If we need you, I’ll contact you through the jade slip. You can go now.”

“Understood,” Chen Fei replied and turned to leave the mountain.

Once Chen Fei had left, the Heavenly Apex Patriarch appeared silently beside Wang Situ.

“Isn’t it a bit too early to let him get involved in all this?” Wang Situ frowned and looked at the Patriarch.

The old man sighed as he stood.

“Peace has reigned too long in the Xuanhuang Continent. We’ve grown complacent. But the reappearance of the Blood Burial Secret Realm signals the return of the Cycle. The opportunity may lie in this very chaos.”

“In an era of great contention, what matters is struggle. Chen Fei might understand this truth better than both of us. Situ, it’s time you moved forward too.”

His figure slowly faded away.

Wang Situ turned to the broken wall mural. With a wave of his hand, the missing half of the sculpture reappeared. On that other half were carved grotesque, twisted creatures. Their bodies were covered in foul sores, and their crimson eyes radiated madness.

“This time around… what kind of world-ending beasts will we face?”

His eyes flashed coldly, and he too descended the mountain.

Chen Fei left the Dark Gate and reentered the central Heavenly Apex Plaza. The atmosphere here was the polar opposite—peaceful and serene.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the Holy Son himself!”

A mocking voice broke the quiet.

Chen Fei turned his head, but instead of anger, his face showed a glint of delight.

After all, he still owed 800,000 contribution points. It wasn’t that such a number was impossible to earn, but balancing that with training and cultivating was no easy feat.

Although he had stepped into the Mystic Realm, Chen Fei was well aware that his current power meant little. His ambitions extended far beyond the Heavenly Apex Sacred Land.

But ambition alone meant nothing—right now, his top priority was to pay off the debt.

He looked at the group approaching him, wearing robes marked with bright red corners—signifying that they were from the Fire Gate.

“Who are you?” Chen Fei asked flatly.

The question wasn’t meant to provoke. After all, he had only joined the sect recently. Between the attack by demonic cultivators and his ongoing challenge period, he barely had time to meet people—let alone remember their names.

There were tens of thousands of disciples. It would be stranger if he did recognize them.

But the man he spoke to scowled.

“Of course the exalted Holy Son wouldn’t remember the likes of us. I’m Liu Yong of the Fire Gate. A nobody, naturally beneath your divine notice,” he sneered sarcastically.

Without a word, Chen Fei took out his challenge token.

“I accept your challenge.”

Liu Yong: ???

“Who said I was challenging you?!”

Chen Fei gave him a sidelong glance, full of indifference and contempt—nothing stings like casual dismissal.

“Then don’t waste my time. Move.”

Chen Fei was in no mood to play games with fools. He had better things to do—like collecting contribution points.

“Hold it!” Liu Yong’s face turned red with anger.

His companions tried to hold him back, but he shook them off and pulled out his own token.

“I’m just a regular Fire Gate disciple, but as the Sect Master said, only those at the Mystic Realm may challenge you.”

“And as it happens, I’m also in the Mystic Realm. I’d love to see what a ‘Holy Son’ can really do!”

His eyes locked onto Chen Fei’s, full of fiery provocation.

Without hesitation, Chen Fei raised his token and slapped it against Liu Yong’s.

He was so fast it looked like he feared Liu Yong might run away at any second.

“W-what are you doing?!” Liu Yong stammered, startled.

Chen Fei gave him a sideways glance.

“Senior Brother Liu, the challenge has already begun. I just checked—you’ve got a nice little stash of 30,000 contribution points. I’ll be taking those, thanks.”

“W-wait! What are you doing?!”

Liu Yong’s face turned pale with panic as Chen Fei grinned darkly and pulled out his massive, bladeless greatsword.

In that moment, Liu Yong suddenly felt like he wasn’t facing a man—but a hulking, evil monster radiating overwhelming pressure.

His legs started trembling uncontrollably.

This… was not looking good.