"Lord Su, this is Tong Baixiong, an elder of the Sun Moon Holy Cult. He wishes to discuss something with you." Liu Zhengfeng introduced Tong Baixiong to Su Chen.
Tong Baixiong smiled and cupped his hands. "Greetings, Mr. Su."
Su Chen's eyes flickered, and he felt somewhat curious.
He knew of Tong Baixiong. He was one of Dongfang Bubai's most trusted subordinates.
However, Su Chen seemed to have had no dealings with the Sun Moon Holy Cult.
Tong Baixiong's sudden visit was rather unexpected.
His thoughts turning, Su Chen said, "So it is Elder Tong of the Sun Moon Holy Cult. May I ask what business Elder Tong has with me?"
"By order of the Cult Master, I have come to invite you to join our Sun Moon Holy Cult."
Tong Baixiong was straightforward. Once Su Chen asked, he immediately stated the purpose of his visit.
Upon hearing this, a trace of understanding flashed through Su Chen's eyes.
Tong Baixiong continued.
"I witnessed the battle just now. You alone killed two Grandmasters. That level of strength truly earns Tong's admiration."
"With your strength, if you join the Holy Cult, you will surely be valued by the Cult Master. At the very least, you could become an Emissary of Light. You might even have a chance to become the Deputy Cult Master."
Dongfang Bubai had naturally made no definite promise regarding any position.
However, in Tong Baixiong's view, Su Chen's ability to kill two Grandmasters by himself made him more than qualified to serve as either the Left Emissary of Light or the Deputy Cult Master.
Liu Zhengfeng was startled upon hearing those words.
The Left Emissary of Light, Deputy Cult Master!
The Sun Moon Holy Cult is offering such terms to recruit Lord Su. It seems they are determined to have him.
The Left Emissary of Light and Deputy Cult Master were unquestionably high-ranking positions within the Sun Moon Holy Cult.
Their status was second only to that of the Cult Master.
Moreover, everyone in the martial world knew that before Dongfang Bubai ascended to the position of Cult Master, he had successively held the posts of Left Emissary of Light and Deputy Cult Master.
That made the significance of those two positions all the more extraordinary.
After Dongfang Bubai became Cult Master, those two positions had remained vacant.
Even to this day, no one had taken them.
Yet Tong Baixiong was now using those two positions to recruit Su Chen.
How could Liu Zhengfeng not be astonished?
Tong Baixiong wore an expression of complete confidence.
He believed no one could resist such temptation.
However, Su Chen did not agree at once.
The reason most martial world people joined a faction or sect—
Was for no more than two things.
The first was superior martial arts inheritances.
Martial World Rogue Cultivators had no masters or lineages. Obtaining superior martial arts was exceedingly difficult for them.
But after joining a major sect, their chances of acquiring superior martial arts greatly increased.
Thus, if a major sect extended an olive branch, most Martial World Rogue Cultivators would not refuse.
However, Su Chen had the system. Whatever martial arts he wanted, he only needed to spend money to exchange for them. He had no need to consider that.
As for the second reason, it was to gain a patron and protection.
As the saying went, the martial world was not all about fighting and killing; it was about connections and worldly ways.
Martial World Rogue Cultivators who fought alone were always at a disadvantage when facing disciples of major sects.
After all, it was common in the martial world for the elders to come after the younger ones had been beaten.
But this was not a problem for Su Chen either.
As long as he kept spending money, his strength could grow rapidly. He had no need for anyone else's protection.
Besides, with his current strength, he was already among the strongest in the Sun Moon Holy Cult.
Other than Dongfang Bubai, the Cult Master, likely no one could be Su Chen's opponent.
Therefore, joining the Sun Moon Holy Cult held little appeal for him.
Not only would he gain no benefits that tempted him, he would also have to shoulder responsibilities and lose his freedom.
How bored would he have to be to agree to such a thing?
Still, Su Chen did not refuse immediately.
Instead, he looked at Tong Baixiong and asked, "Elder Tong, let me ask you something. If I join your cult, what would my monthly salary be?"
"Ah?"
Tong Baixiong froze, failing to react at first.
"Monthly salary?"
He had considered that Su Chen might ask for power, beauties, profound martial arts, or divine weapons.
But he had never imagined that Su Chen's first question would be about a monthly salary.
Beside them, Liu Zhengfeng was also stunned, but he quickly recovered.
He looked at Su Chen, an indescribable smile in his eyes.
Yes, this is exactly it. Lord Su really is greedy for money to the bone, Liu Zhengfeng silently grumbled.
At that moment, Tong Baixiong also came back to his senses. Looking at Su Chen, he asked somewhat uncertainly,
"Mr. Su, are you sure you are asking about a monthly salary?"
"Mm-hm, a monthly salary." Su Chen nodded in reply.
"Hiss."
This time, Tong Baixiong was completely dumbfounded, sucking in a breath through his teeth.
Over the years, he had encountered all kinds of martial world people.
There were lechers, drunkards, martial arts fanatics, and greedy men.
But someone as strong as Su Chen, capable of killing two Grandmasters alone, being so fixated on money—
That was something Tong Baixiong had never expected.
With such strength, would he lack silver?
He could casually rob a few wealthy landlords and rich gentry. How much money could he not get?
Besides, something like a monthly salary was utterly foreign to martial world sects.
They were not court officials. What monthly salary would they receive?
He had never heard of any martial world sect paying its disciples a monthly salary.
After standing there blankly for a moment, Tong Baixiong regained his senses, a bitter smile appearing on his face.
"Mr. Su, to be honest, the Sun Moon Holy Cult has no monthly salary. Even the Cult Master does not receive one."
"Then that is a pity. Sorry, I cannot join your cult."
Hearing that there was no monthly salary, Su Chen refused with remarkable decisiveness.
Tong Baixiong showed no surprise at Su Chen's refusal.
The moment Su Chen had asked about a monthly salary, Tong Baixiong had already guessed that Su Chen would most likely reject the recruitment.
Tong Baixiong believed that Su Chen had never intended to join the Sun Moon Holy Cult from the start.
As for the matter of a monthly salary, it was merely an excuse to turn him down.
After all, what martial world person would refuse to join the Sun Moon Holy Cult just because there was no monthly salary? It sounded downright ridiculous.
"Haha." Tong Baixiong laughed twice. "Everyone has their own ambitions. Since you have no intention of joining the Holy Cult, Tong cannot force you."
"The martial world road is long. When we meet again, we will still be friends." As he spoke, Tong Baixiong cupped his hands toward Su Chen.
The scene of falling out after a failed recruitment did not come to pass.
Tong Baixiong was no fool. Given Su Chen's immense strength, even if he could not recruit him, he absolutely could not afford to offend him.
Su Chen returned the gesture with cupped hands.
"Mr. Su, Second Master Liu, Tong must return to report. I shall not disturb you further."
"As you please."
Tong Baixiong turned and left without hesitation.
Watching Tong Baixiong's departing back, Su Chen muttered softly, "Not very sincere, are they? They did not even name a price..."
Liu Zhengfeng's mouth twitched at those words.
He now believed that Su Chen truly had rejected the Sun Moon Holy Cult's offer because of the monthly salary.
Thinking of this, he looked at Tong Baixiong's retreating figure and silently thought, If Tong Baixiong learns someday that Lord Su would have agreed to join the Sun Moon Holy Cult if he had only named the right price today, I wonder what expression he would make?
Before you continue