The Scum Is A ***

Night, banquet.

"This concluded the second stage of the Intersect Competition!" Zheng Fu Gong said as he raised his drink. "The ones who will advance to the third stage are – " he said as he looked at the fifty people before him. " – Li Tian of Xinfaxian Sect, …, Jing Cheng of Zunjingde Sect, Xi Ming of ShanliangdeSect, …, Wu Xi – " he said and looked at Wu Xi.

The crowd warily looked at Wu Xi. Their eyes are filled with vigilance because they still haven't forgotten what happened to Pei An.

" – Fei Yin of Xinfaxian Sect, …, Yu Sheng – " Zheng Fu Gong continued and glanced at Yu Sheng who was sitting beside Zuo Zhe. " – Jing Kang of Zunjingde Sect, Xi Xing of Shanliangde Sect, …, Feng Mo of Xinfaxian Sect, …, Jing Hei of Zunjingde Sect, Guo Cheng of Huakai Sect, Tang Yun of Huakai Sect, Shan Lu of Huakai Sect, …, Chen Han of Youxiwang Sect, …, Qian Lin of Qianxu Sect, …, Tang Zhe of Huakai Sect, …, Jing Bai of Zunjingde Sect, Sun Yi of Youxiwang Sect, …, Cheng Sheng of Xinfaxian Sect, …, and Gong Xian of Shanliangde Sect." he finished.

A loud applause can be heard as the fifty contestants advancing to the third stage of the competition saluted to Zheng Fu Gong as they bowed. "Many thanks, elder Zheng!" they said.

The crowd made a round of applause again as they welcomed back their contestants to their seat. "I'm glad Gong Xian also passed!" Xi Ming said and sighed in relief as he looked at Gong Xian who went to sleep again. His smile turned to a grimace.

After Cheng Sheng had dealt with the demonic cultivator, the matches left resumed and Gong Xian was the last one to be called. Gong Xian's opponent is a rogue cultivator and he lazily kicked him, but his kick is actually filled with strength! His opponent flew and hit his back on the wall. Then, he fainted.

Xi Ming knew Gong Xian ended his fight in a hurry because he wanted to sleep again. This guy is fond of sleeping. Is this the reason why he can be so strong? He thought. Then, he turned to look at Cheng Sheng who was called to be awarded by monetary prize for defeating the demonic cultivator. The prize was originally a badge from the Righteous Alliance signifying their favor. However, Cheng Sheng and Xie Lan requested for the prize to be money.

Jing Xian, Pai Lie and Zheng Fu Gong were speechless by how shameless the two. They wanted money instead of our favor?! The three thought as their face darkened. However, they can't do anything since it's what Cheng Sheng, and Xie Lan, had wished.

"A new array master!" the crowd exclaimed when Pai Lie and the other elders promoted Cheng Sheng.

"A pill master, too!" another one said when Jing Xian, with a dark face because he still can't get over from before, approached Cheng Sheng and promoted him, too.

"Will Cheng Sheng's Exploding Pills be available in the market?" someone curiously asked.

"I think not. You can only buy it for justifiable reasons." Someone answered. "After all, it's a weapon. It'll be dangerous if an ordinary person would use it." He explained.

"That makes sense." Somebody said.

"AH! They also promoted him as a potion master, talisman master and master spell caster!" someone exclaimed when they saw Qi Ling and Su Yuan shook Cheng Sheng's hands.

"Huh?" someone said when he noticed something. "Why are the Alliance's elders' face looked strange?" he asked.

"Maybe they're overwhelmed for meeting a genius of the century?" someone guessed. He guessed wrong.

The scenario between the elders and Cheng Sheng is –

"Congratulations, apprent – ah, no. You're also a master now!" Pai Lie excitedly said. He wanted to hug Cheng Sheng but restrained himself so he can only shake the young man's hands.

"Congratulations for being a pill master and potion master." Jing Xian unwillingly greeted. He said 'potion master' through his gritted teeth.

"Congratulations for being a talisman master." Qi Ling said. "You should have been promoted earlier after making Cleansing Talismans and new Cleansing Talismans then helping the Youxiwang Sect with your talismans. It's not too late to promote you now." he said and faintly smiled.

"Congratulations for being a master spell caster." Su Yuan said. There's a difference between a spell master and master spell caster. A spell master is limited to knowing spells or creating them. On the other hand, a master spell caster is both a spell master and has a mastery in casting spells. Obviously, master spell caster is a higher position.

"Congratulations." Zheng Fu Gong said and shook Cheng Sheng's hands, too.

Cheng Sheng looked at them before looking at the five badges, with three colored lines and a colored bead, tied on his waist by a belt.

Badges are exclusive to mages. Each line represents one level. The first line indicates that one is a mage. The second line indicates you're a junior apprentice. The third line indicates you're a senior apprentice. The bead indicates that one is a master. The color of the lines and bead is respective to the area of the alchemy one specializes in. Blue for array, yellow for spells, red for talisman, green for pills, and violet for potion. The orange bead represents you're a master. Pai Lie has a blue bead. Su Yuan has a yellow bead. Qi Ling has a red bead. And Jing Xian has a green bead. Their badge is also tied on their waist.

"Hmm. Thanks." Cheng Sheng said. His face and voice lukewarm.

"What's wrong?" Pai Lie asked.

Cheng Sheng looked at Pai Lie. Since Pai Lie is the most enthusiastic towards him, he smiled at him. Though it was forced. "Nothing… just – " he said and paused. Then, he sighed.

"What is it?" Su Yuan asked. He suddenly felt curious. Cheng Sheng looked like he was bothered.

"Well…" Cheng Sheng looked at the badges on his waist. "These looked like they're valuable…" he said.

"And?" Qi Ling said.

"They looked really shiny." Cheng Sheng said.

"Your point is?" Jing Xian asked. He felt impatient.

Cheng Sheng heard him asked and he turned to him. "Elder Jing. Can I sell them?" he asked.

In the Xinfaxian Sect's side, Lei Ling saw the scene. "What happened to them?" he asked seeing the change of the five elders' complexion.

"If it's Cheng-shidi… it's definitely something outrageous." Feng Mo said and looked at Jing Xian who had the worst expression.

The five great elders paused for a second before their face cracked. Zheng Fu Gong, their leader, was the first to recover. "This…" he said, feeling hesitant.

Cheng Sheng's face lit up. "Elder Zheng. If you've got something to say, just tell me!" he said and patted his chest.

"Well… elder Pai – " Zheng Fu Gong called Pai Lie who was startled.

"T-this…" Pai Lie said. "The badges are the mages' honor." He answered. His hidden meaning is that: you plan to sell your honor?! He thought in incredulity.

"Oh…" Cheng Sheng said. His face looked like he was disappointed.

The crowd saw it. "Did they scold Cheng Sheng?" someone said. "Why?" he asked. "Cheng Sheng's good, right?" he said.

"Maybe they had a disagreement?" somebody asked. He's not wrong, but – "It must be the elders' fault, right? They must have high expectations of him!" he said.

"Yeah! Cheng Sheng's already good. What would they ask from him more?! He's already this good even if he's young!" someone said, feeling indignant.

The Xinfaxian Sect disciples who heard their conversation suddenly felt awkward and guilty. "Somehow… I want to apologize to the Alliance's elders." They said. Then, Lei Ling, Li Tian and You Rou were called together with Xi Ning, Guo Cheng and other mages. They will also be given their mage badges.

The badges will be given during the Intersect Competition after the second stage. The ones who passed during the preliminary stages will be given their badge also. The reason why the badges will be given after the second stage is to determine each mage's strength to give them their badge with their corresponding level. Thus, Cheng Sheng had his master badge – one from each area of alchemy.

"Amazing…" the mages exclaimed as they stared at the five badges on Cheng Sheng's waist. Each one is a master's badge.

"Cheng-shixiong is really amazing!" Lei Ling and You Rou exclaimed as they danced around Cheng Sheng while Li Tian laughed on the side.

The mages applauded Cheng Sheng after they received their badge. Only Cheng Sheng had the blue badge. Meanwhile, Jing Kang already has his own badge since his father had given it to him after he said he won't participate in the Intersect Competition. His father's badge is, of course, a talisman master's badge. His badge is the senior apprentice badge. They never have seen it since Jing Kang hid it somewhere he couldn't see, because he hates the Righteous Alliance.

Cheng Sheng looked at his fellow disciples as they returned to their seat. Then, a smile formed on his lips.