https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-276-President-I-Will-Walk-the-Same-Path-as-You-/12920653/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-278-Playing-with-Fire-Bringing-Trouble-to-the-Celestial-Assembly-/12920661/
Chapter 277: The Immortal City Changes Hands, Lifespan Nearing
Chapter 277: The Immortal City Changes Hands, Lifespan Nearing
The President's Seclusion, Striving for Foundation Establishment!
This news swept through Crimson Peak like a gust of wind.
All Celestial Assembly cultivators, regardless of age or gender, learned of this news within a short time.
This female president, who would be a sect leader in other sects and a family head in cultivation clans, held a complex place in the hearts of Celestial Assembly cultivators.
She was incredibly strict, intolerant of any deceitful behavior, and imposed severe punishments upon discovery.
She focused on production and development, even sending the Battle Hall cultivators, who were supposed to be combat-oriented, to farm during their free time.
She was also stingy, slashing the generous salaries set by the president.
And this wasn't the first time she had done so!
Back in the Dahedao Market era, she had drastically reduced the basic salaries.
It could be said that no one in the Celestial Assembly liked her.
Mostly, they felt a mix of aversion and fear towards her.
However, it was evident to all that under her direct management, the Celestial Assembly was well-organized.
While developing rapidly, it didn't neglect the weak.
For those who contributed significantly, she was generous with rewards and promotions.
Currently, the Celestial Assembly's strength was considered formidable among the surrounding hundred-mile radius of influences, even surpassing the established cultivation clan, the Geng family.
It far surpassed even the more distant Divine Art Sect.
Some cultivators who disliked the president attributed these achievements to the wise president. However, in the eyes of the discerning, Sima Huiwang's contributions were undeniable.
Therefore, amidst the aversion and fear, there was also a hint of reverence and admiration.
Now, she was about to attempt Foundation Establishment.
Some hoped she would fail, fearing that she would become even more ruthless if she succeeded.
Others hoped she would succeed, believing that her success would benefit both her and the Celestial Assembly.
A shared glory and a shared downfall.
Overall, the latter sentiment prevailed.
With these mixed feelings, in the absence of Sima Huiwang's presence, the air above Crimson Peak seemed to be filled with countless restless energies.
The hearts of the cultivators were agitated!
Even the cultivators who usually farmed became lax in using spells to loosen the soil.
It was like when a superior goes on a training trip, and the subordinates start slacking off.
Some high-ranking members quickly noticed this trend.
However, their positions made it difficult for them to intervene.
Even Duan Feng, the Foundation Establishment stage hall master, could only manage his Artifact Hall's affairs.
The other halls seemed helpless in this situation.
This wouldn't do! It was only at this moment that some of the cultivators who secretly resented Sima Huiwang when she was at the ninth layer of Qi Condensation realized how crucial her role in the Celestial Assembly had been.
Those who wanted to take her place during this opportunity also discovered, to their dismay, that they seemed to lack the authority she possessed within the Celestial Assembly.
It's only when someone is gone that you realize how much more important they were than you thought!
However, the restless atmosphere within the Celestial Assembly soon dissipated.
Because Luo Chen had arrived!
...
"Sister-in-law, how is your body?"
In the Celestial Hall, Luo Chen looked at Meng Juan Qinglian, who had put down the merit ledger, and asked with concern before examining the ledger.
It had been over a year since her failed attempt at Foundation Establishment.
Meng Juan Qinglian seemed to have recovered from that setback.
She smiled gently, "I'm mostly fine now."
"Speaking of which, I owe you a great deal for your timely rescue back then."
Luo Chen shook his head, "I can't take all the credit; it's thanks to Brother Qin's usual care."
"That big brute doesn't know how to take care of people!"
Meng Juan Qinglian smiled and scolded him.
But the happiness in her smile was evident.
Over the past year, Qin Liangchen had set aside his usual macho attitude and diligently cared for Meng Juan Qinglian, which was quite impressive.
Even outsiders were surprised, let alone those who experienced it firsthand, like her Dao companion.
"These ledgers summarize the merit policy before and after the changes."
"It's quite a lot!"
"It might take some time to go through it all."
Luo Chen clicked his tongue and picked up a merit ledger, feeling a bit awkward as it had been a long time since he last read them after handing over the presidency to Sima Huiwang at the Slanted Moon Valley.
At first glance, the ledgers appeared dense and tedious.
But he patiently delved into the details.
This was a necessity!
If his exquisite pill refinement technique was the foundation of his existence, then the Celestial Assembly was the pillar of his life.
Without the Celestial Assembly, the revenue from his pill refinement would be significantly reduced.
In fact, even without his personal involvement in pill refinement, the Celestial Assembly was already capable of self-sufficiency.
People like Uncle Mi and Wang Haichao didn't possess any remarkable skills!
They had still lived comfortably relying on their sect.
Although the Celestial Assembly had fewer members than the Mountain Breaker Gang and the Great River Gang, it was filled with elite cultivators.
It had talents in various fields, including pill refinement, artifact forging, array formation, farming, and even commerce.
Among them were industry experts!
The current Celestial Assembly was like a fully grown ferocious beast.
Luo Chen's task now was to personally take the reins in the absence of the beast tamer, Sima Huiwang, and guide this beast back onto the right path, preventing it from straying.
While Luo Chen examined the merit ledgers, Meng Juan Qinglian sat quietly beside him.
Whenever he had questions, she promptly provided answers.
Her year of recuperation didn't mean she had become indifferent to the world.
The Merit Hall was bustling with activity, and Sima Wenjie and Qin Liangchen had brought back copies of the files for her.
Recently, upon returning to the Merit Hall, various affairs were still under her meticulous management.
With her assistance, Luo Chen quickly gained a preliminary understanding of the personnel situation within the Celestial Assembly.
He had always paid close attention to the financial aspect.
Now, with the personnel matters under control, handling various tasks in the future would be more targeted and less rushed.
"The recruitment for the Outer Gate has been ongoing."
"Xu Zhishi is in charge, and President Sima approves it."
"Currently, the number of Outer Gate cultivators has exceeded a hundred, almost half of the Inner Gate. Some higher-ups within the Inner Gate are concerned that this might create an uncontrollable situation, and they suggest reducing the numbers."
When it came to matters concerning the Outer Gate, Meng Juan Qinglian was very cautious.
After all, the Celestial Assembly was not a sect with a traditional system, and it lacked the cohesion brought about by inheritance.
If the Outer Gate's power became too strong and threatened the Inner Gate, it would be no laughing matter.
However, Luo Chen wasn't too worried about this.
"As long as I'm in the Inner Gate, and with a few Foundation Establishment cultivators like Duan Feng, the Outer Gate won't be able to stir up any trouble."
"There's no need to follow the traditional sect system; instead, we should look to the Mountain Breaker Gang's peripheral forces for reference."
"These Outer Gate cultivators are mostly attracted by the shade provided by the Celestial Assembly's large tree, just like the thousands of loose cultivators who relied on the Mountain Breaker Gang in the Great River Gang."
"In my opinion, suppressing them is not the best option. Instead, we can expand recruitment as long as we ensure their backgrounds are relatively clean!"
When the Mountain Breaker Gang was mentioned, Meng Juan Qinglian understood immediately.
Back then, the core of the Mountain Breaker Gang was composed of mid to late-stage cultivators from the Nine Great Halls.
The early to mid-stage cultivators were basically treated like cattle, with almost no benefits.
When tasks arose, they were always sent to the front lines.
Now, in Heavenly Wave Immortal City, the same approach could still be applied.
After all, in the cultivation world, Qi Condensation Stage loose cultivators were the least valuable.
Once one batch disappeared, another would grow in their place.
Heavenly Wave Immortal City was located at a transportation hub, attracting loose cultivators from all directions every day.
Those loose cultivators who came to the immortal city seeking opportunities couldn't compare to the Celestial Assembly's cultivators, who could rent cave mansions on Celestial Wave Peak or settle down on Crimson Dawn Peak.
They needed a place to cultivate, and the Celestial Assembly provided them with this opportunity. Naturally, they had to pay a price.
The more people recruited, the easier it would be to support the high-level cultivators of the Celestial Assembly.
"Of course!"
"Exploitation and oppression are not advisable; we should provide them with appropriate promotion channels."
"There should be a bridge between the Outer Gate and the Inner Gate, giving them hope for advancement."
Luo Chen couldn't come up with specific promotion channels immediately.
He needed to first organize everything before he could act accordingly.
Speaking of cohesion!
Luo Chen paused from flipping through the ledger and fell into deep thought.
After a while, he snapped out of his reverie.
"It's time to establish a heritage!"
Meng Juan Qinglian hesitated, "What do you mean?"
"In the Celestial Assembly, including myself, there are already four Foundation Establishment cultivators. Although we can't compare to the large Golden Core sects, we can still compete with those declining small sects and families. If they can use the inheritance system to enhance cohesion, we can do the same!"
Luo Chen spoke confidently, and his mind was quickly made up.
"I've already taken Qu Lingjun as my disciple, and it's only right for me to take another disciple to inherit my legacy."
"Duan Feng has been teaching disciples, and he can select a few with good talent to pass on his artifact forging skills or cultivation techniques."
"Min Longyu has always wanted to revive the Min family. Now that the family is no more, his formation cultivation comes from the family, so he can pass it on in a different way!"
"As for Wang Yuan, whether it's just for show or sincere, I'll go and discuss taking on a disciple with him."
As Meng Juan Qinglian listened to these words, waves of emotions stirred within her.
This action seemed ordinary.
But she understood better than anyone what it implied.
The elders of the Celestial Assembly, no matter how much they trusted this power or how cohesive it was, ultimately saw it as a place to rest and earn spirit stones.
It was just a better-treated, closer-knit large sect shop.
However, if a true inheritance system were established, it would be completely different.
It would mean that the Celestial Assembly was evolving from an ordinary loose cultivator group into a sect with a traditional system!
And a traditional sect system was no less than, and even superior to, a family system based on blood ties.
Not to mention her own Qin family!
Since their son, Xiao Hu, joined the Cloud Descending Sect, more than ten years had passed.
In these ten years, although there had been wars, he had never returned home, not even once.
After reestablishing contact, their letters frequently mentioned fellow disciples, senior brothers, and uncles from the sect.
It felt like they had found a "new home" outside.
A mature sect system could truly give cultivators a sense of family.
It could even inspire them to dedicate themselves to the sect's survival from the bottom of their hearts!
If Luo Chen's inheritance system were truly implemented,
its influence would surpass that of Sima Huiwang's Merit Policy.
Meng Juan Qinglian swallowed her saliva and couldn't help but exclaim, "The President is wise!"
"Sister-in-law, your praise is so pleasant!"
Luo Chen smiled and continued, "However, how to establish the inheritance, how to take on disciples, and how to continue this system in the future are all matters that cannot be taken lightly."
"I'm just bringing up the idea; the specific details still need to be discussed."
"Alright, I'll continue reading. If you're bored, you can go out for a walk, and I'll call you if there's anything."
Meng Juan Qinglian shook her head and patiently remained seated beside him.
Luo Chen continued to flip through the Merit Ledger.
Time slowly passed.
Suddenly, Luo Chen's gaze paused on the corner of a page.
Looking at that page, he fell into deep contemplation.
Meng Juan Qinglian noticed something amiss and curiously asked, "What's wrong?"
With her control over the Merit Hall, she was well-versed in its details, and soon recalled the content of that section.
It was about the Crimson Dawn Pavilion rented on Yuelu Street.
As the lease term was approaching, Gu Caiyi made multiple trips to the Ice Wave Palace to maintain the annual rent of five thousand spirit stones.
In the end, the rent was negotiated to five thousand two hundred and one spirit stones.
An increase?
No, Gu Caiyi had already done her best.
The rent in Heavenly Wave Immortal City was rising year after year.
The fact that they only had to pay a small increase after three years was indeed a bargain.
During this process, Gu Caiyi contributed significantly, so it was only right to record a merit for her.
However, Luo Chen's focus was not on this.
"Why this time, there's no three-year minimum lease? Instead, it's been set as a short-term lease for one year?"
Meng Juan Qinglian replied matter-of-factly, "Of course, it's because the Ice Fortress's ten-year rotation period in Heavenly Wave Immortal City is coming to an end, and it involves handing over to the next Golden Core Sect. So, the lease can only be renewed annually."
"This is already a custom in the Immortal City."
She spoke as if it were obvious, but Luo Chen's expression rarely showed a hint of disturbance.
The Ice Fortress's ten-year rotation period is coming to an end!
This is not good news! His Celestial Assembly's backer is the Ice Fortress.
If the ruler of the Immortal City changes to another sect, the Celestial Assembly's various businesses will undoubtedly be affected!
"I didn't notice this until now."
"Accustomed to the Ice Fortress's protection, I forgot that six years have passed since coming to Heavenly Wave Immortal City!"
"It seems like the Immortal City is indeed changing hands."
Luo Chen's eyes flickered as he closed the Merit Ledger.
"I'm going to the Ice Wave Palace. Sister-in-law, please look after the Celestial Assembly in my absence."
Meng Juan Qinglian nodded; this was her duty.
However.
After watching Luo Chen leave in a hurry, she also belatedly realized something.
Her expression gradually became solemn.
...
Inside the Ice Wave Palace, Luo Chen was greeted by the familiar Shi Lan.
She delivered some bad news.
All the Foundation Establishment True Cultivators from the Ice Fortress had recently been out of contact, reportedly conducting a handover with the Verdant Pill Valley's cultivators.
"The next sect to take over the Immortal City's ten-year rotation is the Verdant Pill Valley?"
"Yes!" Shi Lan replied sweetly, "This is related to the hosting of the auction. The two sects will partner up for the following year's auction."
The previous auction was held by the Ice Fortress and the Verdant Pill Valley.
And the next one will be hosted by the Verdant Pill Valley and the Cloud Descending Sect.
In other words, the rotation order follows the Ice Fortress, Verdant Pill Valley, Cloud Descending Sect, and so on.
After that, it's Ailao Mountain, Hundred Flowers Palace, Flame Alliance, and finally back to the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.
Thus, it's a seventy-year cycle.
Upon receiving this news, Luo Chen's expression relaxed slightly.
He knew two Foundation Establishment True Cultivators from the Verdant Pill Valley, and it seemed the situation would continue.
However, the cautious Luo Chen would not place his hopes on Tao Yisheng and Xuan Yun Zi.
Xuan Yun Zi might have some status in the Verdant Pill Valley due to his exceptional pill refinement skills.
But Tao Yisheng could not be considered a high-ranking member.
Moreover!
If the Verdant Pill Valley sends someone other than those he knows to take over the Immortal City, his connections would be useless.
"Little Lan, when your grandmother is free, please tell her that I'd like to have a chat with her."
"If possible, it would be best to meet with Friend Dantai Yi!"
Shi Lan revealed a sweet smile and said, "Okay!"
Leaving the Ice Wave Palace, Luo Chen headed towards the nearby Celestial Wave Peak.
As he passed by Cave Mansion Number Six, Luo Chen paused.
"Without Sima Huiwang, I'm not used to these busy days!"
Luo Chen let out a faint self-mocking laugh and returned home.
With the Earth Mountain Spell and Wave Spell reaching perfection, he now had more time each day.
The Spirit Gate Pill had also reached the peak of perfection, and he only needed to refine it once a month for his use, freeing up more time.
Even without actively learning new spells, he still had plenty of time.
Aside from refining the Jade Marrow Pill and the Jade Dew Pill, he spent his free time reading various books.
'Fox Spirit Pill Explanation,' 'Heavenly Peng Transformation,' and several other first-rank pill formulas he had collected before.
As a third-rank alchemist, the 'Fox Spirit Pill Explanation' provided him with great insights.
Over the past two to three years, he had been studying it continuously.
Combining his profound pill refinement skills, Luo Chen now found those first-rank pill formulas extremely simple.
Even without the system's guidance, he felt he could easily grasp them.
He had even thoroughly deciphered Wang Yuan's 'Blood Slaughter Pill' formula.
If Wang Yuan could gather the main ingredients, Luo Chen could attempt to refine it on the spot.
Unfortunately, while Wang Yuan had gathered many cultivator's essence blood and could purchase Purple River Chariots from the black market, he had yet to acquire Yellow Springs Yin Sha.
Otherwise, Luo Chen could personally step in and refine a batch of Blood Slaughter Pills for Wang Yuan.
After a night of cultivation, Luo Chen took a brief rest for an hour and, as dawn broke, picked up a few books and prepared to go out.
However, just as he stepped out of the cave mansion's gate, a middle-aged man waiting in the morning breeze outside caught his attention.
"What brings you here so early?" Luo Chen asked.
The visitor was none other than Li Yingzhang, a cultivator from the Qinghua River Li Family.
A Foundation Establishment seedling and the future pillar of the Li Family.
He respectfully said to Luo Chen, "My family ancestor's lifespan is almost at its end. He wishes to meet with you before his sit and ascend."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
