"Commander Li Xuan, you've truly returned!"
Outside the wooden pavilion's mission hall, upon seeing Li Xuan emerge, Gong Hanfeng and others who had been waiting for a long time immediately rushed forward, saying with excitement.
Seeing Li Xuan, their previous suspicions were confirmed.
The purple mission Li Xuan and his team had undertaken was completed!
"I just submitted the mission, why are you all here?" Li Xuan nodded upon hearing this, then looked at Qiu Jiuqian and Gong Hanfeng with some curiosity.
After all, Li Xuan had previously instructed that the mission details were not to be leaked, and the current situation also surprised Li Xuan. There were more than just Li Xuan's team members in the plaza at this moment; a throng of over a hundred people were looking at Li Xuan, which left him somewhat bewildered.
"Commander Li, Brother Qiu and I haven't leaked any details of the mission. It's just that after seeing that purple beam of light, we guessed you might be back. And indeed, it was you!"
"Moreover, you have no idea how restless our days have been for the past half month," Gong Hanfeng said immediately upon seeing this, and then recounted what had happened over the past fortnight.
"That's right, Commander Li, we've had to listen to their nonsense almost every day for the past half month. If it weren't for the formations, they probably would have charged into our courtyard," Wen Qing and others added with nods.
"Something like that happened? But it doesn't matter. They probably won't continue like this now. Alright, the mission has been submitted, let's head back," Li Xuan said with a smile, glancing at the crowd in the plaza with some surprise.
Everyone nodded with excitement. With Li Xuan's return and the preceding purple beam of light, which only appeared upon the completion of a purple mission, serving as the most powerful proof, those who had spoken disparagingly or looked down on them would now have to shut their mouths.
"So Commander Li Xuan actually completed the purple mission?"
"Is there any reason to doubt it? Not only was there the omen of the purple beam of light, but we also saw Commander Li Xuan emerge from the mission hall with our own eyes. I never expected a purple mission to be completed by someone whose strength had only just broken through to the Quantitative Change realm."
"This Commander Li Xuan is truly unfathomable. I wonder what the content of his mission was, to have actually completed it."
"Purple missions are decreed by the Supremes above, so there's no room for falsehood. Forget it, it seems I should interact less with the members of Commander Li Xuan's team from now on. What if I get snubbed again one day, that would be too embarrassing."
"..."
As Li Xuan and his party departed, the onlookers in the plaza discussed with complex expressions.
At Li Xuan's courtyard, after Li Xuan and his team returned, Li Xuan sat down and said, "Everyone, please sit and talk."
"For this purple mission, based on its requirements and everyone's strength, I could only choose to bring Brother Qiu and Brother Gong. Fortunately, the mission was completed successfully, and the rewards are naturally extremely generous."
"The rewards this time consist of one hundred and twenty Taiyuan Fruits. In addition, our team will receive an exemption. For the next three months, we will not be required to complete the monthly tasks."
"Brother Gong had previously proposed establishing a system of rewards and punishments. At that time, to complete the mission, all the Taiyuan Fruits were distributed among everyone. Now, I have decided to divide these one hundred and twenty Taiyuan Fruits into four portions. Brother Qiu, Brother Gong, and I will each receive one portion."
"Another portion will serve as the basic prize pool for rewards and punishments. If opportunities arise in the future, I will add to it."
As Qiu Jiuqian and others sat down, Li Xuan reiterated his plans.
"Commander Li, this cannot be!" As soon as Li Xuan finished speaking, everyone in the hall immediately voiced their objections.
"Commander Li, we are not saying the share is too small, but rather that it is inappropriate. This mission was completed by you, Commander Li. The rewards should naturally belong to you."
"Although Brother Qiu and I participated, we know that you could have completed it without us. And we didn't help much at all. To receive thirty Taiyuan Fruits for nothing, we truly feel undeserving."
Seeing Li Xuan frown slightly, Gong Hanfeng quickly said.
"Commander Li, I concur with Brother Gong's words. I have no objection to establishing a reward and punishment system, but if it is to be given to me, I will not agree," Qiu Jiuqian said in agreement after Gong Hanfeng finished speaking.
From beginning to end, the two of them were only undergoing trials on the Heavenly Ascent Road, and after being pulled out of the Heavenly Ascent Road by Elder Wan Feng, the mission was completed. It could be said that they had not made any significant contributions.
"Commander Li, we appreciate your intentions. However, to set aside thirty Taiyuan Fruits as a prize pool is truly a waste. With our current strength, let alone not bringing glory to Commander Li, we have instead caused you to suffer from their criticisms."
"I think it would be better for Commander Li to use them to improve your strength. At least then they would not dare to look down on us in the future," Wen Qing said.
"..."
Following Wen Qing's words, Bai Xinghan and others also spoke up. The general sentiment was that Li Xuan directly allocating a quarter of the rewards to promote their strength was too wasteful.
"Alright, this matter is settled. No one is allowed to have any objections. A team is not only about the leader's strength. True strength lies only in the collective improvement of the entire team's power."
After some discussion, Li Xuan had to make some adjustments.
Ultimately, out of the one hundred and twenty Taiyuan Fruits, Li Xuan received sixty. Qiu Jiuqian and Gong Hanfeng each received ten.
The remaining forty Taiyuan Fruits were distributed among the entire team, with everyone except Li Xuan, Qiu Jiuqian, and Gong Hanfeng receiving two each. The remaining six were set aside as a prize pool, entrusted to Gong Hanfeng for safekeeping.
"We thank Commander Li!"
"We will surely remember Commander Li's teachings and cultivate diligently!"
As Li Xuan finished speaking, Wen Qing, Bai Xinghan, and others immediately rose, clasped their fists, bowed to Li Xuan, and shouted.
"Alright, everyone disperse and go cultivate," Li Xuan said with a smile and a wave of his hand, then gestured for Qiu Jiuqian and Gong Hanfeng to stay behind. Wen Qing and the others bowed and turned to leave.
"Upon the completion of this purple mission, we indeed also received a spot reward for entering the Forge of Creation. However, Elder Geng Tian did not inform me when it would be. If I am absent, you two must ensure they cultivate diligently."
As everyone left, Li Xuan spoke again.
"It's true that we can enter the Forge of Creation! Commander Li, do you think you'll directly reach the Qualitative Change realm after cultivating in the Forge of Creation?" Gong Hanfeng's eyes lit up upon hearing this and he said.
"Do you think the Qualitative Change realm is that easy to cultivate?" Li Xuan chuckled back, then said, "It would be quite good to reach the advanced stage of the Quantitative Change realm."
"Commander Li, rest assured, I will watch them closely," Qiu Jiuqian said.
Li Xuan nodded, then stood up and looked outside, saying, "Next, we can only wait."