Ning Qiu's Rules

"Village Chief, I suggest we pass the position of village chief to the Little Village Chief right now," a villager suggested eagerly.

"But he's still underage!" Old Jack replied stubbornly.

"Village Chief, everyone present, forgive me for speaking frankly. After Old Jack, looking across the entire village, there is no one more qualified to become our village chief. Though the Little Village Chief is very young, he is calm and steady in handling matters, and he repeatedly comes up with brilliant ideas that make indelible contributions to the village. Even if the Little Village Chief is still underage, I am willing to be one of his villagers," another villager declared on the spot.

"That may be true, but a nation has its laws, and a family has its rules. Since ancient times, no one has ever served as village chief at the age of six!" Old Jack stubbornly said.

"If there is no precedent, then we'll set one!" a villager said.

"Set a precedent?" Old Jack raised his brows slightly.

"Yes, we'll set a precedent. Besides, Village Chief, don't you always talk about how our village once produced a Soul Saint? You consider it the glory of our village and hope that someone from our village can become a Soul Master. So now that Ning Qiu has a way to make us Soul Masters, why are you unwilling?" One villager was clearly growing anxious and could not help reproaching the highly respected Old Jack.

"This..." Old Jack looked at Ning Qiu.

On one side was the village's future; on the other were worldly rules and the laws of the Balak Kingdom.

Old Jack remained silent for a long time as everyone's eyes fell upon him. Ning Qiu was no exception. Old Jack's decision would affect Ning Qiu's growth-type achievement mission.

The villagers were so anxious because they had suffered enough from being oppressed in the past. Once they gained the ability to become Soul Masters, they would no longer have to endure the oppression of gangs, wealthy merchants, nobles, and Soul Masters.

"Fine." Old Jack nodded.

"Grandpa Jack, you agreed?" Ning Qiu was delighted.

"Yes." Old Jack nodded heavily. "Ning Qiu, I hope you won't break your promise. Make every person in the village into a Soul Master."

"Grandpa Jack, don't worry. I'll make everyone in the village a Soul Master. I also promise you that Holy Soul Village will one day become the strongest village on the entire continent. The days when we were bullied and exploited by all sorts of people are gone for good. One day in the future, even Spirit Hall will have to treat us politely." Ning Qiu spoke solemnly.

"Very well. From this day onward, you are the village chief of Holy Soul Village. Come, everyone, greet the village chief." Old Jack announced solemnly.

"Greetings, Village Chief."

All the villagers of Holy Soul Village greeted Ning Qiu in unison.

"Yes, hello, everyone."

Ning Qiu nodded.

"Little Village Chief—no, we should call you Village Chief now. Village Chief, how do we obtain Soul Power and become Soul Masters?"

"That's right, Village Chief. Do we need to do what Gou Dan and Ning Chen did—go to your place to clean and farm?"

"Village Chief, my martial soul isn't a hoe or a broom. My martial soul is Blue Silver Grass. How can I obtain Soul Power?"

"Village Chief..."

"Village Chief..."

"Village Chief..."

With the prospect of becoming Soul Masters, every villager in Holy Soul Village was extremely excited. They rushed to ask Ning Qiu all kinds of questions.

"Quiet, quiet, everyone be quiet. I have something to say."

Ning Qiu shouted loudly. Once the crowd had quieted down, he continued, "Everyone, I know you all desperately want to become Soul Masters. And I do indeed have a way to make all of you Soul Masters. Our village has a total of 308 households and a population of 1,311. Given our current limited conditions, I can only issue identification for one thousand people, including Gou Dan, Ning Chen, and Xiao Wu. Everyone else will have to wait for a while."

"What? Only one thousand people can receive identification?"

"That means 311 people in the village won't be able to receive identification?"

"But what exactly is identification?"

The villagers of Holy Soul Village were once again puzzled by Ning Qiu's words.

Ning Qiu glanced at Xiao Wu, Ning Chen, and Gou Dan. The three immediately understood and took out their respective identification. Each was a transparent Crystal Card. Gou Dan and Ning Chen in particular activated a trace of Soul Power and poured it into their Crystal Identity Certificates. A holographic electronic screen appeared before everyone.

"How amazing!"

"So this is identification!"

"With this, can we gain Soul Power and become Soul Masters?"

All the villagers of Holy Soul Village looked at Ning Qiu expectantly.

"No, this is merely proof of your identity as villagers of our village. To gain Soul Power, you must contribute to the village. You all heard what Gou Dan and Ning Chen said earlier. Only by working in places I designate can you gain Soul Power. I currently have one hundred items that can transform land into miraculous land where Soul Power can be obtained simply through cultivation. There are too many people and too few opportunities. Holy Soul Village has 308 households, which means that, for now, only one hundred households can gain the qualification to evolve their land."

"What? One hundred households?"

Upon hearing that only one hundred households would have a chance to become Soul Masters, the villagers of Holy Soul Village began to panic.

"Also, I must make this clear in advance. Once I evolve your land, it will become common property of the village from then on. Who farms it in the future and what is planted will all be decided by me. In return, each month you will receive twenty percent of the land's net profits. The remaining eighty percent of the net profits will belong to the village." Ning Qiu then dropped another bombshell.

"What?"

"You want to take our land? That's our livelihood!"

"What are you getting worked up for? Didn't the Village Chief say we'd receive twenty percent of the land's net profits? That's basically like leasing out our land. But twenty percent is a bit too little. Village Chief, can you raise it a little?"

In response to Ning Qiu's words, some villagers were furious and found it difficult to accept, while others felt the share was too low and wanted a larger percentage.

"Twenty percent is already quite generous. In the future, the vegetable industry across the continent will certainly be monopolized by Holy Soul Village. Enough—I've made everything very clear. There are too many people and too few opportunities. This time, only one hundred households will have this chance. Once this round is over, you can only wait for the next one. This is entirely voluntary. Anyone unwilling may refuse. Who will go first?" Ning Qiu declared loudly.

As soon as Ning Qiu finished speaking, none of the villagers of Holy Soul Village acted rashly. They merely looked at Ning Qiu, the little boy who spoke with the poise of a seasoned adult.

After all, this concerned their land—the very foundation of their lives as villagers.

"I'll go first!"

A hoarse, aged voice rang out.

"Old Jack!"

Everyone looked toward the speaker. It was none other than Old Jack, Holy Soul Village's former village chief!

"Grandpa Jack!" Ning Qiu called softly.

"Let me be the first, then. Are we going to my land now?" Old Jack asked.

"Grandpa Jack, before that, you must solemnly swear: I, Jack, volunteer to join Holy Soul Village, uphold Holy Soul Village's Program, abide by Holy Soul Village's Charter, fulfill the obligations of a villager, carry out the village's decisions, strictly observe the village's discipline, keep the village's secrets, remain loyal to the village, work diligently, strive for the village for the rest of my life, be ready at any time to sacrifice everything for the village, and never betray the village!" Ning Qiu said solemnly.

"But I'm already a villager of Holy Soul Village," Old Jack replied in confusion.

"That's different. Only after you take the oath can I issue you an identity certificate. With an identity certificate, you'll be able to enter the Treasure Pavilion. Consider it a ceremony for becoming a villager of Holy Soul Village from now on—a ceremony I established after becoming village chief!" Ning Qiu said with a smile.