Hearing Tiantian's words, the system and Hong Yue felt somewhat relieved.
"It seems that because of the Empress Houtu (Qin Xuehua), this Heavenly Dao's Incarnation is extremely close to Zhang Yu."
They actually didn't intend to pursue his crime of 'Rebellious Karma'.
The system analysis stated.
She said there were two other thieves. If I count as one, then who is the other one...?
Hong Yue, however, was more concerned with another matter. "Are you one of your other clones?"
"No."
The system shook its head, its tone grave:
"If it were my clone, residing in the same realm, I would surely be able to sense it."
It's probably... an avatar of another Rebellious Dao Seed.
As for who it is specifically, that remains unknown.
Zhang Yu breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that Tiantian had "let go" of the system inside his body, but the tension in his heart tightened even more.
Tiantian saying that there was another "Rebellious Dao Seed" stealing her power...
Who is that person?
Will it come knocking and devour me?
A sense of crisis lingered with him, and he urgently needed to improve his strength quickly.
But Crimson Flame Peak only had so many resources, which he had already "greedily" taken, leaving nothing left to greedily acquire.
"By the way, it seems that the Disciple Selection Ceremony hasn't officially started yet, nor has the allocation of Inner and Outer Sect Slots, because of Jiang Feng's attack..."
Zhang Yu's mind raced, and he suddenly remembered Wu Siyuan, who had "gifted" him forty Spirit Stone.
It seems I haven't yet fulfilled the promise I made to him.
After a moment's thought, seeing that it was getting late, he decided to deal with it the next day, and while he was at it... ask Zhou Wentao for some power.
Nothing more was said that night.
No, overnight, he started talking a lot more.
Tiantian, like a curious child, she would surround Zhang Yu with questions, especially showing great interest in the "system" inside his body:
"Brother, how did that thing inside you bypass my senses and steal my power?"
"Could you call him out so I can ask him?"
With his experience, I can better prevent other thieves from stealing my power!
She blinked her Lapis Lazuli Eyes, her face filled with eager curiosity.
Helpless, Zhang Yu had no choice but to secretly ask the system for its opinion.
After discussing it with Hong Yue, the system still felt that "cowardice" was the best approach and decided to observe for a while longer.
Zhang Yu casually brushed it off, saying that the system and Hong Yue were "dormant," and he would introduce them to each other when he had the chance.
Tiantian isn't impatient; she only developed intelligence after hundreds of thousands of years of chaos, so patience is the least of her worries.
She simply nodded obediently upon hearing this, without urging him on.
The next day, at daybreak.
Zhang Yu then summoned Qing Mu and asked:
"Does our Crimson Flame Peak also have quotas for recruiting Outer Sect and inner disciple every year?"
"That's right."
Qing Mu bowed and replied:
"Each peak has the right to select its own disciples; they only need to report to the sect."
"So, how many spots are available for our Crimson Flame Peak?"
Zhang Yu pressed for further details.
There is no specific quantity limit.
Qing Mu explained:
"As long as each peak can afford to support itself and has sufficient resources, it can collect as much as it wants."
However... they can only be selected from among the disciples who have passed the assessment.
Are there any exceptions?
Considering Wu Siyuan's situation, Zhang Yu knew he would most likely fail the assessment, but since he had already accepted the Spirit Stone, he had to do his job.
"Could we select some... unqualified disciples?"
"Um?"
Qing Mu was taken aback, looked up at Zhang Yu, and a look of understanding flashed in his eyes.
He's lived for thousands of years; how could he not understand the implied meaning?
This Young Peak Master probably wants to "manipulate" a few spots to do something convenient.
"According to the sect's rules, this is not allowed."
Qing Mu carefully considered his words:
"However... if the Peak Master were to specially recruit him, it wouldn't be out of the question."
He paused, then lowered his voice:
"It's rare for Peak Master to do this; recruiting disciples with poor aptitude is detrimental to the development of the various peaks' techniques."
It's alright.
Zhang Yu waved his hand, completely unconcerned.
"You just need to keep an eye out for me to see if there are any disciples with mediocre or below-average talent but substantial family wealth at this Disciple Selection Ceremony."
Especially those who are eager to enter the Inner Sect or Outer Sect, but have no way of doing so.
Qing Mu understood instantly.
This is about selling spots!
His lips twitched slightly, but considering this guy dared to "confiscate" 90% of the Peak Master's warehouse, what was selling a few slots?
"Understood."
He bowed in agreement, and then added:
"However, this matter should not be publicized; it must be carried out secretly to avoid controversy."
"Don't worry, I understand."
Zhang Yu nodded in satisfaction and then gave the following instructions:
"In addition, please compile a complete list of Crimson Flame Peak's accounts, resource inflows and outflows, and details of its affiliated industries over the past ten years, and send it to me."
"I want to verify this myself."
"Yes."
Qing Mu accepted the order and withdrew, but his heart was already in turmoil.
This Young Peak Master is probably going to thoroughly 'sort out' everything on Crimson Flame Peak, inside and out.
I just wonder... how much will they 'covet' this time?
Zhang Yu stopped thinking about it. He took out the Storage Bag that Wu Siyuan had given him, weighed it in his hand, and a smile appeared on his lips.
Forty Spirit Stone can be exchanged for a spot in the Outer Sect.
This deal is a good one.
As for the other 'customers'...
We need to find someone suitable.
With a plan in mind, Zhang Yu went straight to find Zhang Lingyun.
She is the peak master of Crimson Serpent Peak, a specially recruited disciple, and requires her warrant and seal.
"Is this what you call... 'making money yourself'?"
After hearing Zhang Yu's "plan," Zhang Lingyun's lips twitched slightly, and her scarlet eyes were filled with helplessness.
She was once again defeated by this "Eldest Brother's" shamelessness and "creativity".
Selling sect quotas for personal gain—this kind of thing is not uncommon in the Demonic Sect, but to "report" it so openly and brazenly as he does is truly a first.
How many spots are you planning to sell?
She rubbed her temples, too lazy to lecture her, and asked directly.
"Of course—the more the better!"
Zhang Yu grinned, his eyes gleaming with the light of "Spirit Stone":
"One Outer Disciple spot costs forty Spirit Stone, ten spots would cost four hundred, and one hundred spots would cost four thousand."
Crimson Flame Peak is currently in dire need of reconstruction and is desperately short of resources; this is a sure-fire way to make money!
"..."
Zhang Lingyun was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked:
"How much do you plan to sell them for?"
"Forty Spirit Stone," Zhang Yu said matter-of-factly.
"Forty?"
Zhang Lingyun raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes:
Do you know how much a spot as an Outer Disciple of the Soul Refining Sect is worth on the black market?
"How many?"
"Minimum price is one hundred, but there's no market for it."
Zhang Yu was somewhat surprised, but he didn't feel that Wu Siyuan had tricked him.
Given his situation, forty Spirit Stone were probably all he had left.
"As for the number of inner disciple," Zhang Lingyun continued, "Don't even consider anything less than five hundred Spirit Stone. Don't be fooled."
She actually took the initiative to make plans for Zhang Yu.
"However, people are scrambling to become disciples at various peaks, firstly to seek guidance from renowned masters, and secondly to obtain resources for cultivation."
If you grant special permission to bring someone in, but then leave them stranded on Crimson Flame Peak and ignore them completely.
Given the current state of Crimson Flame Peak, they can't afford to support them; you're just ripping them off."
Zhang Lingyun pointed out a key point.
Zhang Yu fell silent.
He desperately wanted to be a "conscientious middleman," and he didn't want to do anything that ripped people off.
"Then... I'll go talk to the Sect Master and ask him to allocate a few disciple slots from each peak of the Soul Refining Sect to me, so I can distribute the people among the peaks, right?"
As Zhang Yu spoke, he pondered:
With the Soul Refining Sect's resources, raising a few hundred more disciples shouldn't be difficult.
"Share the cost?"
Zhang Lingyun was taken aback, then a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.
This method is quite interesting.
Nominally, he was recruited with special approval from Crimson Flame Peak.
However, in reality, the disciples were assigned to cultivate on various peaks, which not only ensured the availability of renowned teachers and resources but also avoided the infamy of Crimson Flame Peak for only taking money and not doing anything.
"The method is good, but do you think the Sect Master and the Peak Master will approve of your nonsense?"
She shook her head slightly.
"Don't worry, I'll handle the Sect Master and Peak Master."
Zhang Yu was confident that Zhou Wentao wouldn't dare to embarrass him.
As for the Peak Master, he pulled Zhou Wentao and Xia Hongjue along to intimidate them, to see who dared to disrespect him.