Chapter 354 Can I join now?

"Great Master Zhou, you said just now... if I could identify it, you would eat this stone?"

Jiang Yun's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a heavy hammer slamming hard into Zhou Ming's heart.

Zhou Ming's legs went weak.

"Thud!!!"

He knelt straight down on the ground.

That dull thud was exceptionally clear in the deathly silent courtyard.

Everyone watched this scene, with no sympathy in their eyes, only complexity and shock.

The Mid-grade Appraiser, who had been arrogant and mocking Jiang Yun in every way just moments ago, was now kneeling on the ground like a dead dog.

Zhou Ming's face had lost all color.

It was as pale as paper.

His lips trembled frantically; he wanted to say something, but could only make wheezing gasps.

His eyes were wide open, his eyeballs almost popping out of their sockets.

Unbelievable.

Unacceptable.

He, a second-order Mid-grade Appraiser who had been immersed in this Dao for over twenty years, was actually... actually crushed so completely by a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy's appraisal technique?

Those details—Gilded Sand, Meteorite Beast Blood, spiral fracture lines, Heaven-Reaching Demonic Ape Essence Blood...

He couldn't see a single one of them!

Not a single one!

"No... impossible..."

Zhou Ming muttered, his voice as raspy as a broken gong.

"You... how could you possibly know these things..."

"You must... you must have heard it from somewhere..."

He was still struggling in his death throes.

But as he said it, even he didn't believe it.

Heard it from somewhere?

Even Tuoba Qingshan's High-Grade Appraiser old friend only saw the surface of such things; where could he have heard it from?

Tuoba Qingshan ignored Zhou Ming's loss of composure.

He suddenly turned to Jiang Yun, the wrinkles on his old face blooming into a wide smile.

"Hahaha! Good! Excellent!"

He laughed heartily, his beard trembling with mirth.

"This old man has lived for over sixty years, and today I've truly had my eyes opened!"

"Little friend, your appraisal technique is more than just High Grade. I'm afraid it's not far from the Grand Tutor Level!"

As soon as he said this, the entire audience gasped again.

Not far from the Grand Tutor Level?

Doesn't that mean... this young man before them might one day become the second Grand Tutor Dongxuan?!

Behind the long table.

Deputy Group Leader Fang Yuan of the Blood Thorn Mercenary Group had now stood up completely.

His hands were braced on the table, leaning forward, his eyes wide and round.

A powerhouse at the Purple Crystal Ninth Rank Peak was now like an inexperienced kid, his face full of disbelief.

"A High-Grade Appraiser..."

"He... he really is a High-Grade Appraiser?!"

He muttered, his voice trembling.

Then.

"Good! Good! Excellent!"

Fang Yuan laughed towards the sky, the sound shaking the leaves in the courtyard until they rustled and fell.

"Hahahaha! My Blood Thorn Mercenary Group has actually recruited a High-Grade Appraiser!"

He suddenly turned to Jiang Yun, his eyes full of burning passion.

"Little Brother, do you know what a High-Grade Appraiser represents?"

Without waiting for Jiang Yun's answer, he continued excitedly.

"It means standing on equal footing with the leader of my Blood Thorn Mercenary Group! That Falling Star Rank powerhouse!"

"It means all the major powers in Black Rock City will be scrambling to give you gifts!"

"It means with a single word, you can have countless Diamond Rank experts risking their lives for you!"

He took a deep breath, his gaze burning bright.

"And you, Little Brother... are still so young!"

"A sixteen or seventeen-year-old High-Grade Appraiser—your future is limitless! Absolutely limitless!"

The seductive woman beside him also stood up now, her beautiful eyes sparkling with wonder.

The way she looked at Jiang Yun was like looking at a rare and precious treasure.

"Little Brother, your big sister was blind before; I didn't realize you had such great skill."

She gave a charming laugh.

"Later, big sister will treat you to a drink; you must do me the honor~"

Jiang Yun smiled faintly and didn't respond.

Fang Yuan finished laughing and suddenly remembered something.

He suddenly turned his head to look at Zhou Ming, who was kneeling on the ground.

That gaze instantly became as cold as a blade.

"Someone, come!"

He shouted.

Several burly men in blood-red attire immediately stepped forward, cupping their fists. "Deputy Group Leader!"

Fang Yuan pointed at Zhou Ming, his voice chilling.

"This person, Zhou Ming, is kicked out of the exploration team from this moment on!"

"At the same time, place him on the Blood Thorn Mercenary Group's blacklist!"

"From now on, this person is banned from all properties, missions, and activities under the Blood Thorn Mercenary Group!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhou Ming felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

He suddenly looked up, his face as pale as paper.

"No... no..."

He crawled forward and hugged Fang Yuan's leg.

"Deputy Group Leader! Deputy Group Leader! I was wrong! I was truly wrong!"

"I beg you to forgive me once! Please give me one more chance!"

"I am a Mid-grade Appraiser! I can still be useful! I can still..."

"A Mid-grade Appraiser?"

Fang Yuan looked down at him, his eyes full of mockery.

"With Little Brother Jiang, this High-Grade Appraiser, here, what use is a second-order Mid-grade Appraiser like you?"

Zhou Ming trembled all over.

He let go of Fang Yuan's leg and crawled toward Tuoba Qingshan.

"Senior Tuoba! Senior Tuoba! Please say something for me!"

"We've known each other for so many years; you can't just watch me die!"

Tuoba Qingshan looked down at him, his gaze indifferent.

"Zhou Ming."

He spoke slowly.

"This old man gave you a chance before."

"I asked you, what would you do if little friend Jiang really was a High-Grade Appraiser?"

"You said it yourself, you were just curious about how it should be handled according to the rules."

He shook his head.

"Now, this old man will tell you how it is handled according to the rules."

"Offending a High-Grade Appraiser, according to the Appraisers Guild regulations, results in the revocation of one's Appraiser qualifications at best, or expulsion from the guild at worst."

"This old man only kicked you out of the team and blacklisted you; that is already being merciful for the sake of our acquaintance."

Zhou Ming's face could no longer be described as merely pale.

It was ashen.

It was despair.

It was a total breakdown.

He slumped on the ground, trembling all over.

Fang Yuan didn't bother to look at him anymore and turned to Jiang Yun, his face instantly piling up with smiles.

"Little Brother Jiang, this person has repeatedly provoked you. Do you have any additional punishments you'd like to add?"

He paused, his tone sincere.

"Just say the word! As long as it can be done, my Blood Thorn Mercenary Group will not hesitate!"

Jiang Yun looked down and glanced at Zhou Ming.

That gaze was as calm as water.

Yet it made Zhou Ming feel a bone-chilling cold.

Jiang Yun smiled slightly.

"Since he's already been blacklisted..."

He paused.

"Then if we meet in the future, naturally, he should be hunted down."

As soon as these words were out, Zhou Ming's pupils constricted.

Hunted down?!

This was calling for his life!

Fang Yuan was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly.

"Good! Good! Good!"

He said "good" three times, his eyes full of admiration.

"Little Brother Jiang, I, Lei, understand your words!"

He turned to the burly men, his voice cold and stern.

"Pass down my order!"

"From this day forth, any member of the Blood Thorn Mercenary Group who sees this person..."

He pointed at Zhou Ming.

"Hunt him down immediately! Kill on sight!"

Zhou Ming felt as if five thunderbolts had struck him.

He opened his mouth wide, wanting to scream something, but nothing came out.

The burly men cupped their fists and replied, "Yes!"

Fang Yuan looked down at Zhou Ming, a mocking curl at the corner of his mouth.

"Zhou Ming."

"What are you still standing here for?"

"Why aren't you running?"

His voice was as casual as if he were talking about the nice weather today.

But to Zhou Ming's ears, it sounded like a death knell.

Run!

Yes! Run!

Zhou Ming scrambled up and retreated, stumbling and crawling.

His hands trembled as he pulled a beast-taming token from his robes.

"Come... come out!"

A flash of light streaked by.

A cyan avian tamed beast appeared beside him.

Amethyst Rank First Order.

Zhou Ming scrambled onto the beast's back, his voice shaking.

"Quick... let's go!"

The avian spread its wings and soared into the sky.

In the blink of an eye, it disappeared into the distant sky.

In the courtyard, everyone looked up at the fleeing figure with varying expressions.

Some sneered.

Some sighed with emotion.

Some were relieved they hadn't joined Zhou Ming in his mockery earlier.

As for Jiang Yun...

He just smiled faintly and withdrew his gaze.

There wasn't the slightest ripple in that smile.

It was as if it wasn't his single sentence that had decided Zhou Ming's life and death.

But rather... like casually swatting a fly.

He hadn't originally wanted to make an enemy of Zhou Ming.

But this Zhou Ming, from the moment he stepped forward, had provoked him repeatedly.

First, with cold mockery, calling him a fraud.

Then, using Grand Tutor Dongxuan to suppress him.

Finally, stating bluntly that there was no need to waste time on him, wishing he could just kick him out.

If it were only that, it would have been fine.

But Zhou Ming's last sentence.

"If he can identify it, I, Zhou Ming, will eat this stone on the spot!"

These words seemed like mere mockery, but in reality, he wanted to trample him to death.

If Jiang Yun were just a Common Gold Rank Five, and if he really couldn't identify it today, what would his fate have been?

Humiliated in public.

Driven out of the Blood Thorn Mercenary Group.

Turned into a laughingstock by the entire Black Rock City.

He might even have been blacklisted, making it impossible to move an inch in the Barren Bone Region from then on.

Or even killed by the mercenary group.

This Zhou Ming wanted to ruin him.

Since that was the case, why should Jiang Yun be soft-hearted?

He was never a Saint.

Nor did he want to be one.

Jiang Yun pulled back his thoughts and looked at Deputy Group Leader Fang.

"Deputy Group Leader Fang."

He smiled slightly.

"So now... can I join your team?"