Afterward, they worked together to scrape off the crocodile's scales.
This was the only valuable thing on the crocodile.
As for the fierce beast meat, it was of little use—tough, woody, and difficult to digest. Some fierce beast meat was even poisonous, so unless a martial artist was on the verge of starvation, they would never eat it.
Subsequently, the group began to explore the surrounding area.
Inside a cave, they discovered a large pile of bones, presumably spat out by the crocodile after it finished its meals. Most of them were beast bones, with a few human bones scattered among them.
They walked deeper into the cave, and when they saw the pile of items accumulated in the center, everyone's eyes went wide.
This time, even Zhuang Xun was stunned.
Whoa! No way... Is that the Innate Creation Lotus?! The legendary, rare precious herb that can help a martial artist rapidly shape their martial physique...
Zhuang Xun stealthily glanced at the reactions of the others, only to find that their gazes were entirely fixed on the weapons and armor. No one paid any attention to the dusty, gray lotus in the corner.
Then again, not everyone has memorized the Classic of Precious Herbs like I have. How could they possibly recognize such an incredibly rare precious herb?
At that moment, the plump merchant coughed twice. “I believe Senior Brother Xue and Senior Brother Huang should have the first pick of these items. If not for them, we wouldn't have made such a grand harvest. Don't you all agree?”
“Yes!” everyone chimed in unison.
Xue Shiyu and Huang Renyong waved their hands repeatedly in feigned humility.
The plump merchant added, “As for the remaining items, we should distribute them based on everyone's contribution during the battle with the crocodile. That would be the fairest way. What does everyone think?”
This time, only a few disciples whose martial arts ranked near the top agreed, while the rest remained silent in tacit consent.
Distributing by contribution was essentially distributing by strength. The previously harmonious team now showed faint signs of brewing conflict.
Zhuang Xun silently retreated to the very back of the group. Since strength dictated the order, he was undoubtedly the weakest. There was no point in looking for trouble.
“I won't be greedy either. I'll just take a few items at random,” the Seventh Rank disciple from the Formless Courtyard said. Yet, his first grab consisted of several of the highest-quality items.
“Then I'll also take a few at random.”
“Exactly, exactly. Leave some for those behind us. Since we all came out together, everyone should get a share of the profits.”
“Hey, hey, Junior Brother Liu, Junior Brother Yan hasn't made his choice yet.”
“Right, I know. I'll leave these few items for Junior Brother Yan then.”
Everyone behaved in the same manner afterward. They spoke of generosity but snatched up the best things for themselves, completely lacking any consideration for those who would pick after them.
But Zhuang Xun did not care. He merely kept praying in his heart.
Don't take my Innate Creation Lotus, don't take my Innate Creation Lotus... Yes!
Once everyone had finished choosing, he suppressed the urge to grin. He swept the remaining pile of junk, along with the Innate Creation Lotus, into his bag, and returned to the martial academy while chatting and laughing with the group.
...
“This is... the Innate Creation Lotus?!” the deacon of the General Affairs Hall exclaimed in shock.
Hearing this, everyone from the mountain expedition team instantly locked their gazes onto the dusty, gray lotus.
Although they did not know what the Innate Creation Lotus was, they could tell from the deacon's tone that it was definitely worth a fortune.
“Wow! Senior Brother Yan! You're amazing! You actually brought back something so valuable from just one trip up the mountain!” Yi Wangyou leaped up, snatching the Innate Creation Lotus back from the deacon's hands.
Yan Pingsheng smiled sheepishly. “No, no, the senior brothers were just being polite and let me have it.”
Upon hearing those words, the faces of everyone in the expedition team turned green. They offered Yan Pingsheng their congratulations with strained smiles.
“They let you have it? Then they must have gotten even better things!” Yi Wangyou ran over to the plump merchant and unceremoniously pulled open his bag. However, the expectant smile on his face vanished the moment he saw the contents.
“Huh? Why did you pick up a pile of junk instead?”
The plump merchant's smile grew extremely awkward, his heart thoroughly drowned in regret.
The deacon of the General Affairs Hall said, “Junior Brother, are you willing to turn this Innate Creation Lotus over to the academy? I can make the decision to reward you with one thousand Contribution points.”
“That lotus has such an impressive name, and you're only offering a thousand Contribution points?!” Yi Wangyou ran back to the counter, hopping up and pounding on it loudly.
“We want one million Contribution points! One million!”
“This... True Disciple Yi, I cannot make such a decision,” the deacon said with a wry smile.
“Then why are you talking nonsense?”
One thousand Contribution points?! Everyone in the expedition team was shocked. Knowing the typical stingy nature of the General Affairs Hall, the actual value of the Innate Creation Lotus had to be at least a hundred times higher—worth at least one hundred thousand Contribution points.
That should have been mine! That thought flashed through everyone's minds, bringing a mix of jealousy, greed, and resentment.
However, seeing Yi Wangyou standing right next to Yan Pingsheng, they had no choice but to keep forcing their smiles and congratulating him.
After holding it in for a while, Huang Renyong could not help but speak up. “I believe this Innate Creation Lotus was discovered by all of us together, so we should divide it equally among...”
“Who do you think you are?! Why should my Senior Brother Yan's things be shared with you guys?!”
Huang Renyong looked down at Yi Wangyou and did not dare to say another word.
The last trace of wishful thinking in everyone else's minds was completely wiped away.
At this point, Yan Pingsheng spoke up. “I believe Senior Brother Huang has a point. After all, we did discover it together...”
“Hey! Senior Brother Yan, whose side are you on?! I, the Little Overlord, am speaking up for you! If you dare to share it with them, I'll sever ties with you! The kind where we never make up, ever!” Yi Wangyou said crossly.
“Junior Brother Yi, I...” Yan Pingsheng sighed helplessly, offering an incredibly apologetic smile to the members of the expedition team.
Instantly, all jealousy toward Yan Pingsheng vanished from the hearts of the team members. As they looked at the Innate Creation Lotus clutched in Yi Wangyou's hands, their gazes turned to pity and guilt instead.
Sigh, Junior Brother Yan probably won't be able to keep that Innate Creation Lotus either. What a shame.
But Junior Brother Yan is truly a decent guy. Despite how we treated him earlier, he didn't even think of keeping it all to himself and was even willing to share it with us. It's just a shame he got intercepted by that obnoxious true disciple.
Rate on N.U.
