Judge Yan, upon hearing Dream Jia's less-than-friendly tone of accusation, quickly conjured up a smile and said, "Oh my! Dream Lady, where are you taking this? Although the three of you did not apprehend Elina during this journey into the Black Hole, nor did you discover her whereabouts, which gives me reasons to refuse paying your compensation. But considering that entering the Black Hole itself is a highly dangerous act, you all have merits even if you haven't achieved the main objective. Moreover, you successfully found Yue'er's family and brought them back to the Spirit City. So, aside from the task of capturing Elina, I have enough reasons to pay you all a certain amount of compensation!"

Although Judge Yan's justification for continuing to honor the promise to pay Haoyun's group sounded like an act of generosity, it still irked them deeply. However, since Judge Yan finally fulfilled his promise before their departure, they decided not to pursue the matter further. They reluctantly suppressed their annoyed expressions and glanced collectively at Judge Yan.

Judge Yan was surprised by the sudden change in demeanor from Haoyun's group. However, not wanting to deal with these money-minded individuals any longer, he instructed Master Gu to settle accounts with them. With a disdainful look towards Haoyun's group, Judge Yan turned to Master Gu and said, "Master Gu, give them the stuff."

Haoyun's group eagerly awaited the counting of the money. However, when they saw what Master Gu pulled out, they immediately exclaimed in anger, "What the hell is this stuff?!"

Ignoring the furious reaction from Haoyun's group, Master Gu continued to empty out his pockets while checking a list of items in his hand. He said, "Uh, according to Judge Yan's request, I've prepared for you all a box of Haha Le purified water, refreshing all-night gaming toilet paper roll, delicious visible soap bars, and a pair of stylish fist-shaped slippers. Let's see, one, two, three, four—yes, that's all. Please check carefully."

"What the hell! Are you kidding me with this stuff?!" Dream Jia interrupted before Master Gu finished, raising her weapon, Equal Existence, and taking aim at Judge Yan, ready to fire. At the same time, Dao Lao, who was already infuriated, raised a foot to kick Judge Yan. Haoyun, although unwilling to provoke Judge Yan, still glared at him with dissatisfaction, muttering incomprehensible words of discontent.

Judge Yan had anticipated the reaction from Haoyun's group and, while instructing Master Gu to settle accounts, had already taken shelter behind Erma at the Shaba Dome. He pretended to be wronged and shouted, "Please calm down, sirs! Please listen to my explanation! Oh my! Wasn't it because of Yue'er's death that Madam Qingyan has been unable to recover from her grief? So, in order to comfort her as much as possible, I voluntarily handed over my wallet to her for discretionary spending. Moreover, as a grandfather figure, I have to raise Xiu Lin and Xiu Qi with all my heart and soul. This has left me quite tight on funds lately, not even enough for my own meals! So, these items I've prepared for you are what I managed to get on credit from Master Gu!"

"Damn! Since you're in debt with Master Gu, why don't you just owe us some real money directly?! What's the point of trying to settle our account with this junk?! Come on! We don't want this stuff, give us cash instead!" Dao Lao spat at Judge Yan and then turned to Master Gu, gesturing for money. Haoyun and Dream Jia followed suit, surrounding Master Gu and demanding money.

Master Gu, surprised that these three were shamelessly asking him for money, immediately adopted an indifferent attitude, saying, "What's this got to do with me?! Anyway, I don't have any money! Because He Baimei and Nazha recently released a lot of fan benefits, I exchanged all my Divine Shield Coins for Soft Sister Coins through them and had them delivered! I'm broke now! These items were bought by me earlier! Whether you want them or not! If you don't, wait until you're back on Earth and go ask Chuihua for money!"

"Damn it! Can Chuihua just give us Divine Shield Coins for free?! Besides, once we're sent back to Earth, will you two still acknowledge the debt?" Dream Jia aimed Equal Existence at Master Gu's head.

Haoyun, still relatively calm, quickly calmed down Dream Jia's hostility, emphasizing that the priority now was to demand money from Judge Yan, not to turn them into hornets' nests. Moreover, if they really beat these two badly, wouldn't that force them to cough up money even more?

Therefore, after persuading Dream Jia and Dao Lao to remain calm, Haoyun turned to Judge Yan and said, "Judge Yan, if you're tight on funds right now, why not use public funds to pay us? After all, our journey into the Black Hole was also to assist our jurisdiction in carrying out official duties!"

"Oh my! Haoyun, my friend, you don't understand! Using public funds requires approval from the Economic Director of the Spirit City, Madam Qingyan! You know, due to Yue'er's death, Madam Qingyan has been in a bad mood lately. So, it's not appropriate for me to disturb her. Moreover, even if Madam Qingyan agrees, we still need to go through many procedures to approve the funds for you all. That would delay too much time! Besides, I promised to pay your compensation in my personal capacity. If I use public funds to pay you, wouldn't I be suspected of misappropriating public funds?!" Judge Yan explained.

Stolen novel; please report.

Although Yan Chaoyue's fall indeed brought great pain to Judge Yan and Madam Qingyan, Haoyun's group couldn't bear Judge Yan constantly using Yan Chaoyue's demise as an excuse. But what else could they do about Judge Yan's behavior that they found unbearable? They had to look the other way out of respect for Yan Chaoyue, reluctantly accepting Judge Yan's petty schemes after he brought her up.

One had to admit, Judge Yan was truly cunning! He lacked the magnanimity and courage expected of a superior. Helpless, Haoyun's group could only grit their teeth and glare at Judge Yan, sending venomous curses his way through their eyes as much as possible.

Seeing his argument taking effect, Judge Yan quickly continued, "Oh my! Please calm down, sirs! We're all facing difficulties, let's understand each other! Besides, even if you receive Divine Shield Coins, aren't they meant to buy these items? Moreover, the value of these items I've given you already exceeds what I should have paid you in Divine Shield Coins. So, you're not at a loss; instead, you're profiting!"

"Hmph! Don't think I don't know that your Shadow Spirit World can procure these items through special channels! Especially you officials, buying these things at very low prices!" Dao Lao couldn't contain his anger, clenching his fists and shouting at Judge Yan.

"Oh my! Dao Lao! Think about it yourself! Even if we can buy these items at a discounted price, purified water, toilet paper, soap, and slippers all cost a lot of money!" Judge Yan grabbed Dao Lao's swinging fist and said pitifully.

Honestly, Judge Yan's various excuses to refuse payment in Divine Shield Coins did indeed irk Haoyun's group. However, Judge Yan was not entirely wrong; the items Master Gu presented were indeed valuable. Just considering the pair of plastic slippers, they sold for 280 Divine Shield Coins per pair in the system's mall. Even if Judge Yan could purchase them at a discount, the value of these worn-out slippers alone far exceeded what he should have paid Haoyun's group in Divine Shield Coins by many times. From this perspective, Haoyun's group did make a profit.

"Alright! Since that's the case, we'll just have to make do! But remember, we're not compromising with you this time! We're just willing to take a small loss out of respect for Chaoyue! But if next time you dare not fulfill your promise, don't blame me for not having mercy!" Finally, Dream Jia put away Equal Existence, reluctantly stating her position. At the same time, she intimidated Haoyun and Dao Lao with a fierce look, then took the most valuable pair of slippers and stuffed them into her pocket.

Seeing Dream Jia had taken the most valuable item, Haoyun and Dao Lao decided not to continue arguing with Judge Yan but rushed forward to divide the remaining items among themselves. Judge Yan and Master Gu both sighed in relief, finally managing to deceive these three money-minded bandits. At the same time, they began to plan what to do next with the remaining Divine Shield Coins in their pockets.

Erma, who had been watching the entire altercation between the priests over compensation, was stunned in place. Although Erma had witnessed these priests quarrel over money matters without regard for their image several times during this period, he was still incredibly surprised each time, reshaping the image of the great priests of the Spirit World in his mind.

"Alright, now that your compensation has been settled, let's not delay any longer! You three, go back and rest early!" Seeing Haoyun's group had gained something, Judge Yan urged with a smile. However, anyone could see Judge Yan was eager for the troublesome trio to leave, lest they come up with more ways to pester him later.

Then, Judge Yan walked up to Haoyun and, after scrutinizing him satisfactorily, said, "Haoyun, my friend, you're truly a rare talent! I really admire you! So, if you don't want to be a Shadow Spirit Energy Pursuit Priest in the future, why not return to the Spirit City and take a position? I'll definitely arrange a high position for you in the Thirteenth District of the Shadow Spirit World!"

Although Haoyun didn't understand why Judge Yan suddenly said this, he understood that Judge Yan appreciated him because he was Dao Lao's designated assistant, and Judge Yan trusted Dao Lao's judgment. Moreover, although he had only recently become a Shadow Spirit Energy Pursuit Priest, he had indeed done two major things for the Thirteenth District of the Shadow Spirit World under Judge Yan. Wasn't that why Judge Yan refused to return the Phoenix Blade to its rightful owner, Yan Chaofan, and claimed he was the best successor to the Phoenix Blade?

After Haoyun learned that the "Blade of Speed and Fury" he had supposedly drawn from a blind box was originally Yan Chaofan's exclusive celestial weapon, the Phoenix Blade, Haoyun had expressed several times to Judge Yan his desire to return the Phoenix Blade. He felt unworthy of such a significant weapon, especially since it carried Judge Yan's memories of Yan Chaofan. However, Judge Yan adamantly refused to take it back, insisting that it was not he who gave the Phoenix Blade to Haoyun but rather the blade itself chose Haoyun.

Thinking about this again, Haoyun once more hesitated and said with embarrassment, "Judge Yan, this dagger— are you really letting me keep it? Otherwise, wouldn't it be better for you to take back the Phoenix Blade and give me another weapon? After all, this belongs to Yan Chaofan, and Xiulin and Xiuqi are its true owners."

As expected, Judge Yan again shook his head and rejected Haoyun's request, saying, "Let's not discuss the Phoenix Blade anymore. The blade has the ability to choose its own master, and I cannot interfere with that. Otherwise, even if the wrong person possesses the Phoenix Blade, it cannot fully unleash its power. Since the blade has chosen you, I must trust its judgment. Moreover, in my view, this isn't just the blade's choice but also Chaofan's choice. So, Haoyun, use the Phoenix Blade well and don't disappoint Chaofan's expectations of you."

Seeing the atmosphere turning serious once more, Old Man quickly intervened, "Alright everyone, let's not make this feel like a farewell. We should maintain an optimistic and positive outlook and look forward because the road ahead is still long."

Haoyun and the others nodded in agreement, but at the same time, they also criticized Old Man for his choice of words. What did he mean by making it seem like a farewell? They were only returning to the temporary space base that Dao Lao had set up on Earth; it wasn't like they were being separated forever and unable to meet again.