The news of the procurement mistake spread like wildfire throughout the Spirit Crane Palace. Everyone, from ordinary disciples to elite and core disciples, rushed over upon hearing it.

Each person who arrived knelt without hesitation, pleading on behalf of Chu Xinghe.

This scene made Wei Deqian's scalp tingle.

He found it hard to imagine how one person could inspire the entire Spirit Crane Palace to come out and plead for him.

Not only Wei Deqian, but the Great Elder was also shocked.

However, beyond the shock, he felt more joy.

The Great Elder knew that Chu Xinghe was well-liked in the Spirit Crane Palace. Previously, his senior brothers had gone to great lengths for his trip to the Spirit Tomb.

But witnessing today's scene, the Great Elder realized he had underestimated Chu Xinghe.

It's easy to share wealth and honor, but difficult to share adversity.

If Chu Xinghe had been rewarded today and everyone came to congratulate him, the Great Elder wouldn't have found it strange at all.

But today, Chu Xinghe had made a grave mistake. In his anger, the Great Elder expected the children to know his temper. In the past, those who pleaded were punished along with the offender.

"Stand up, all of you! Anyone who dares to plead again will be punished!" the Great Elder shouted sternly.

Yet, at that moment, not a single person stood up. Everyone remained kneeling, unmoving.

This scene truly shocked the Great Elder... but it also filled him with comfort.

He had uttered those words just to see if, faced with his punishment, these people would turn away out of fear or truly stand by their Junior Brother Xinghe.

Now the Great Elder had his answer.

This brat, Chu Xinghe...

Since the founding of the Grand Sky Sect and the establishment of the Spirit Crane Palace, never had there been someone with such charisma, who could, in such a short time, make the entire Spirit Crane Palace willing to be punished for him!

But thinking carefully, the Great Elder understood that Chu Xinghe hadn't done anything extraordinary... He simply remained true to himself, showing utmost humility to every senior brother, eagerly taking on all the hard and tiring tasks.

From an elite disciple to a core disciple, and then to his personal disciple, he almost became the Sect Master's personal disciple. If it were someone else, wouldn't they be arrogant beyond measure?

But not Chu Xinghe. He remained the same exemplary junior brother in everyone's eyes, never changing his attitude towards his senior brothers, regardless of his status. Even when meeting the most ordinary disciple of the Spirit Crane Palace, Chu Xinghe would respectfully greet them with a "Good morning, Senior Brother."

No matter who sought Chu Xinghe's help, he always obliged. Tasks others were unwilling to do, he would do. Things others found tiring, he didn't mind.

Such a Chu Xinghe had, invisibly, influenced the entire Spirit Crane Palace. And no matter who made a mistake, if others didn't dare to plead, Chu Xinghe dared.

Even when the Great Elder, in his angriest moments, had said that anyone who dared to plead again would be expelled from the Grand Sky Sect.

Yet the Great Elder still remembered Chu Xinghe's determined eyes and words at that time.

"Great Elder, if expelling me from the sect can appease your anger, then please, Great Elder, expel me. Although my senior brother made a mistake, it was unintentional and shouldn't be punished so severely. If punishment is necessary, punish me instead! Please spare my senior brother!"

These were Chu Xinghe's words. Since he entered the Spirit Crane Palace, whenever a senior brother made a mistake, there was always Chu Xinghe pleading to take the punishment in their place.

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Once... twice... every time...

The Great Elder couldn't recall how many times it had happened, but he knew that in the Spirit Crane Palace, Junior Brother Xinghe was someone everyone talked about daily. Even in private, he had never heard anyone speak ill of Chu Xinghe.

Elders from the Spirit Crane Palace also rushed over from all directions, each one shocked by the scene.

But soon, the elders spoke up: "Great Elder, no one is perfect. You know Xinghe's disposition best. This is indeed his first time handling such a matter, and mistakes are inevitable. Not to mention Xinghe, even you and I made mistakes in our youth."

"Yes, Great Elder, using the Grand Sky Token was indeed a transgression, but since the Sect Master entrusted it to Xinghe, he didn't say it couldn't be used!"

"Exactly! The Sect Master didn't say it couldn't be used. Besides, Xinghe didn't use the Grand Sky Token for any wrongdoing. You've been so busy these days, Great Elder, that he probably couldn't find you at the time, and not knowing the rules, he had no choice."

"Wei Deqian, did Xinghe say he couldn't find the Great Elder because he was busy?" an elder glared at Wei Deqian.

"Uh... yes... yes... I remember Xinghe was desperately looking for the Great Elder but couldn't find him, fearing a delay in procurement, so he reluctantly used the Grand Sky Token. It's my fault for not explaining things clearly to Xinghe at the time, so it wasn't intentional on his part!"

Wei Deqian was completely making things up!

But at this point, if Wei Deqian had even one functioning brain cell, he knew what could and couldn't be said.

If he were to recount the situation truthfully, wouldn't the people of Spirit Crane Palace skin him alive?

Never mind that he weighed over three hundred pounds; it wouldn't be enough for each of them to take a bite.

Someone who could make the entire Spirit Crane Palace plead for him—would you dare speak ill of such a person?

The Great Elder looked at Wei Deqian, clearly satisfied with his response.

Everyone was satisfied, except for Chu Xinghe!

You damn fatso... what nonsense are you spouting? Was that how it happened?

Chu Xinghe wanted to jump up and give that fatso a slap, but he couldn't. The scene of so many senior brothers and elders pleading for him was a huge shock to Chu Xinghe as well.

There are things one should and shouldn't do. With so many senior brothers and elders pleading, he couldn't say another word, no matter what.

"Chu Xinghe!"

"Disciple is here..."

"Using the Grand Sky Token without permission is a serious crime in the Grand Sky Sect. But considering your short time in the sect and your unfamiliarity with the rules, it's understandable. However, mistakes must be punished. Do you accept this?"

"Merit must be rewarded, and faults must be punished. Disciple is willing to accept any punishment. Please, Great Elder, pass judgment." Chu Xinghe was excited inside!

I'm finally going to be punished!

"Very well. This procurement mistake also involves Feng Fei, so he will be penalized with six months of resources."

"Disciple thanks the Great Elder for his mercy." Feng Fei expressed his gratitude, knowing that this punishment... in the Spirit Crane Palace, which handles pills, was merely a formality.

"Chu Xinghe, for using the Grand Sky Token without permission, but considering the circumstances, you are sentenced to confinement in the Medicine King Palace for three months. During this time, you are only allowed to practice alchemy and cannot step outside the Medicine King Palace. The Grand Sky Token will be reclaimed by the sect, and I will report this matter to the Sect Master."

"Thank you, Great Elder, for your mercy..." Countless senior brothers and elders bowed in gratitude to the Great Elder, finally showing smiles on their faces.

Confined in the Medicine King Palace for three months? This punishment was nothing. Junior Brother Xinghe could focus on cultivation in the Medicine King Palace for three months, and if he needed anything, couldn't his senior brothers bring it to him?

Everyone laughed... but Chu Xinghe cried.

Is that it? Great Elder... couldn't you at least strip me of my personal disciple status?

Losing the personal disciple status would directly promote him to Fifth Grade, so what was the point of just confinement?

But at this point, Chu Xinghe had no choice. Three months of confinement it was, better than nothing.

And as the Great Elder's words fell, Chu Xinghe felt a jolt in his head. The next second, the Compass of Misfortune hidden in his mind spun for the first time.

The needle quickly stopped on the three-month confinement punishment, indicating the completion of his task, and the reward appeared before Chu Xinghe.

Punished with three months of confinement, rewarded with a peak Second Grade Martial Master cultivation level...

Chu Xinghe felt an invisible force released from the compass, and his spiritual power suddenly surged. Having just broken through to the initial Second Grade, Chu Xinghe instantly reached the peak of the Second Grade Martial Master realm...

Awesome!

Though the reward was small, it was still something. Finally, he saw hope!

The Great Elder left the Spirit Crane Palace with the Grand Sky Token. This matter was too significant and had to be reported to the Sect Master.

Many senior brothers came to comfort Chu Xinghe.

"Junior Brother Xinghe, it's Senior Brother Feng's fault. Your good intentions were misplaced!" Feng Fei said, full of guilt.

"Senior Brother Feng, you are mistaken. It's I who should apologize to you. My oversight led to this result, and now you're punished along with me. I feel... I feel..."

"Sigh... Junior Brother Xinghe, Senior Brother Feng's punishment isn't really a punishment. In the Spirit Crane Palace, where pill resources are abundant, it's nothing. So, Junior Brother, don't blame yourself."

"Exactly, exactly. Last time, when I made a mistake, without Junior Brother Xinghe, I might have been expelled from the Spirit Crane Palace."

"And me... Junior Brother Xinghe, you've always been so righteous to us senior brothers. We won't just stand by and watch you get punished!"

"Yes, yes! Junior Brother Xinghe, don't worry. Three months will pass quickly. Just focus on your cultivation in the Medicine King Palace. If you need anything, just let us know, and we'll get it for you."

"Thank you, senior brothers." At this moment, Chu Xinghe was truly moved.

Many elders also came to comfort Chu Xinghe, saying things like not to harbor any resentment towards the Great Elder's punishment, as it was out of deep love and concern.

Deep love and concern... Chu Xinghe almost spat. Was this even a punishment?

The punishment I wanted wasn't like this at all...

The Great Elder personally went to the Grand Sky Palace to return the Grand Sky Token. Upon hearing the situation, the Sect Master was also shocked.

It's not difficult for a disciple to have a group plead for them, but for a disciple to have the entire Spirit Crane Palace plead for them was simply incredible.

Regarding the Great Elder's punishment, the Sect Master merely said he understood and instructed the Great Elder to keep an eye on that brat Chu Xinghe, ensuring he not only learned alchemy but also didn't neglect the cultivation of the Grand Sky Battle Intent.

Hearing this, the Great Elder breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he had passed the Sect Master's test as well.

After all, the Great Elder knew his punishment was nothing, and whether the Sect Master would be dissatisfied. But since the Sect Master said so, it meant he was pleased with the Great Elder's approach.

The news quickly spread throughout the Grand Sky Sect.

The fact that the entire Spirit Crane Palace knelt to plead for Chu Xinghe's mistake left many in disbelief.

"I'm telling you, if I were there, I would definitely plead for Senior Brother Xinghe!" Wan Lin, now an elite disciple of the Hill Forest Palace, declared upon hearing the news. She didn't care what other senior sisters or junior sisters in the Hill Forest Palace thought; she was firmly supporting Chu Xinghe.

"Senior Brother Xinghe is the most virtuous person I've ever met. He's impeccable towards his fellow disciples. I'm not good with words, but if Senior Brother Xinghe is in trouble, I, Wan Lin, would risk my life to help!"

Wan Lin had unknowingly become a little fangirl of Chu Xinghe...