Throne of Seals: Underworld Priest, Demon Nightmare

Chapter 49 Team Championship! Goodbye, Master Ruoshui!

That evening, Chu Zichen and his six companions returned to their barracks, laden with spoils.

Next, it was time to divide the merits equally. All six people took out their merit gems and collected them into Chu Zichen's hands.

When all the merit points were added together, they actually exceeded an astonishing 5!
This includes the 10,000 merits awarded to Chu Zichen as a personal reward, the 35,000 merits awarded to the entire No. 1 Demon Hunter Team of the Warrior Rank, and the nearly 10,000 merits they earned over the past three months for hunting demons and completing missions.

“Zichen, you don’t need to share the 1 merit points you received as a personal award with us,” Cai’er suddenly said.

“Yes, Commander,” Li Xin replied, “that’s a reward for you, you deserve it.”

Wang Yuanyuan nodded slightly, her voice simple yet firm: "Agreed."

Li Xuefei and Chen Ying'er also expressed their agreement.

Chu Zichen wanted to say something, but at the unanimous suggestion of the women, he agreed.

In this way, after deducting the 1 merit points he personally awarded, there are more than 45000 merit points remaining, which, when divided equally, will give each person more than 7500 merit points.

This is a huge sum of money!

Once they return to the Holy City, they can certainly splurge and purchase more advanced equipment and pills.

"Hooray!" Chen Ying'er cheered first, her little face flushed with excitement. "It just so happens that McDull is about to advance in rank, so I need to buy it the pills for advancing magical beasts! I also need to buy it lots of pretty clothes!"

Li Xin grinned and said, "I need to go pick out two good swords! The two Spirit Demon-level knight swords I'm using now are badly worn out; they'll be completely unusable if I keep using them!"

Wang Yuanyuan thought for a moment before replying, "I don't need any weapons; the Giant Spirit God's Shield is enough. However, my defense is indeed a weakness, so I just need to buy a piece of armor for self-defense."

Li Xuefei had already made her shopping list: "I plan to stock up on more magic scrolls, since we'll be going out on missions on our own in the future."

Cai'er didn't specify what she wanted to buy, but looking into Chu Zichen's purple eyes, the dependence and peace she felt were more precious than any material reward.

"Then it's settled." Chu Zichen confirmed everyone's wishes and activated the transfer function of the merit gems.

The six merit test gems on the table flashed with a soft light, each adding more than 7500 merit points.

At the moment the numbers froze, everyone felt an unprecedented sense of peace and fulfillment.

……

The next morning, the majestic city gates of Exorcism Pass slowly opened in the dawn light, and ten elite demon-hunting teams were ready to set off.

After bidding farewell to their great-grandfather Shengyue, Holy Spirit Heart, and the Lan Yanyu couple who came to see them off, Chu Zichen and Cai'er rejoined the No. 1 Demon Hunter Team, boarded a carriage, and embarked on their journey back to the Holy City.

Along the way, the members of the No. 1 Demon Hunter Team were all immersed in their own cultivation.

Chu Zichen devoted more of his time to consolidating his sixth-level cultivation.

Moreover, after her second evolution, the light element spirit Yating's power became more refined and pure, and her fusion with Chu Zichen's life force became more seamless and smooth.

The women were no exception. It is worth mentioning that on the way back, Chen Ying'er finally broke through to the fifth level and caught up with the progress of the other members.

In this way, all six of them reached the fifth level or above in cultivation. They only needed to pay another 1 merit points to advance the Demon Hunter Team from the Warrior level to the General level.

Compared to a warrior-level demon hunter group, a general-level demon hunter group has many advantages.

They can accept missions with higher merit rewards and have higher privileges, such as going up to the second floor of the trading center to exchange for Brilliant or even Legendary equipment.

In addition, each member of the team has one chance to choose a special skill for each profession. Therefore, after discussing with the women, Chu Zichen decided that the first thing they should do upon returning to the Holy City was to upgrade their Demon Hunter Team to the General level.

……

Upon returning to the Holy City, the ten newly formed Demon Hunter groups held another meeting in the Holy Alliance's Grand Conference Hall.

The final results of the team competition for this year's Demon Hunter Selection Tournament were announced, jointly presided over by the deputy temple masters of the six major temples.

Without a doubt, Chu Zichen's elite-level Demon Hunter Team No. 1 won the championship.

The runner-up was the No. 2 Demon Hunter Team, led by Long Haochen;
The third place went to the fourth demon hunter squad led by Lu Xi.

After winning the team competition, Chu Zichen and his six teammates each received a reward of 1000 merit points.

After the meeting, Chu Zichen also met privately with his master, Ruoshui.

"Master." Chu Zichen looked at the still elegant figure in front of him and a sincere smile appeared on his face.

Ruoshui turned around, her eyes instantly filled with tenderness. She stepped forward and carefully straightened the slightly wrinkled collar of his priest's robe, her movements gentle and full of love.

"It's good to be back." Her voice was as gentle and pleasant as ever, as if it could soothe all the weariness of a journey.

Chu Zichen also told Ruoshui about his three months of experience in the Exorcism Pass. Ruoshui listened quietly, sometimes nodding slightly, and sometimes her eyes flashed with a mixture of amazement and heartache.

"Good boy..."

Ruoshui's voice trembled with a barely perceptible sob as she gently patted Chu Zichen's shoulder again, her gesture filled with strength and pride.
“You’ve really grown up. Seeing that you can now protect yourself, safeguard your comrades who fight alongside you, and even create miracles... fills me with immense pride.”

She gazed at Chu Zichen's increasingly resolute and composed face and said from the bottom of her heart, "You are the pride of our pastoral temple, and the greatest pride of my life."

This sentence carries more weight than a thousand words.

The master and apprentice spoke in hushed tones for a while, exchanging some words of concern and advice.

Finally, Ruoshui said gently, "Go, your companions are still waiting for you. Remember to take good care of yourself and them too."

"I will, Master." Chu Zichen solemnly promised, bowed, and turned to leave.

The gentle and comforting gaze behind him had always been there to protect him.

After bidding farewell to his master Ruoshui, Chu Zichen quickly reunited with his waiting teammates.

Led by team leader Gao Yingjie, they headed to the base that the Holy City had specially assigned to the Demon Hunter Team.

Before you stands a row of elegant and tidy two-story buildings, nestled among carefully planted green trees and flowers, creating a tranquil and pleasant environment.

The small building belonging to their No. 1 Demon Hunter Squad was in an excellent location.

Inside the small building, there is a spacious circular hall with a six-meter-high ceiling, a fully equipped kitchen with pots, pans, and kitchen utensils, as well as eight bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms and a large 30-square-meter terrace.

In addition, the building also has a spacious basement that has been designed as a dedicated wine cellar, storing jars of precious wines.

However, Chu Zichen also knew that although the living conditions here were good, he had to pay 1000 merit points for rent every year, and that the rent would increase by 1000 every year thereafter.

……

(End of this chapter)