Mentoring the Younger Generation

Li Fan knew he didn't possess any kind of domineering aura.

However, he had already read about the experiences of these Danxue Mountain guards and knew that they had been besieged by a group of demons, fled for their lives, and lost the important Phoenix Nest. According to military law, they should be executed. Now that they had nowhere else to go, they wanted to seek refuge under the Ink Bamboo Mountain for survival, so it was not surprising.

Of course, he was still a little curious, "What kind of treatment do you receive from the Nangong Family?"

Chang Jian, "One hundred and eighty strings of cash and three hundred and sixty shi of rice per year..."

Li Fan was taken aback. "Oh, that seems like quite a lot."

That's quite a lot. Soldiers don't have many opportunities to spend money; they also receive rewards for looting and military merit. Besides, they give rice directly. Even when he reached the Golden Core, he only earned ten strings of cash a month...

Chang Jian smiled wryly, "We handed it over to the Nangong Family."

"What??"

"We have been military households of the Nangong Family for generations. We are responsible for cultivating land, paying taxes, and supporting ourselves. If we are in arrears with taxes or wages, we have to use our military merits and achievements to borrow money from our superiors."

"According to the old practice of the Imperial Guards, although we military households pay taxes and serve in the army, the Celestial Army also has armor, military Cultivation Method, Foundation Establishment pills, which are distributed according to military merit and seniority. Therefore, it is barely feasible for a village to work together to support a few Celestial soldiers as a backer..."

"But the harvest is getting worse every year, the Divine Astral Coin are worthless, the Foundation Establishment Pills issued by the higher-ups are often insufficient, and there aren't that many military merits to be earned. We even have to bribe our superiors to get the weapons!"

"In the past, serving the Immortal Palace could lead to immortality, but that path is long gone! Everything costs money! Elixirs cost money! Military merits cost money! Promotions cost money! Even the armor and weapons damaged during training have to be paid back to the military commander!"

"This is getting more and more outrageous! They haven't paid our wages for ten years! We haven't received our allowance for guarding the South Border for a long time either! I serve the Nangong Family and risk my life, yet I end up owing them several thousand strings of the Nangong Family every year!"

"Before, we could at least hunt some demonic beasts, steal some phoenix feathers to sell to merchants, and pay a large portion to the captain to make ends meet. But recently, we're not even allowed to kill demons anymore! It's ridiculous! What am I doing in the south if I can't kill demons? Even if I don't kill them, they'll kill me!"

Speaking of the Nangong Family, the immortal soldiers were full of complaints and furious, each one saying something as if they wanted to spit shit out the entire Nangong family.

Li Fan was stunned when he heard this, but after asking carefully, he understood.

The Nangong is ultimately an old-fashioned outer vassal immortal army. In terms of military system, it is not much different from the Imperial Guards. They are all ordinary people who cultivate the land for the Immortal Palace, and the immortals select qualified people from among their subjects and train them into heavenly soldiers and generals.

The promotion of immortals in those days combined the characteristics of merit-based selection by the Xuanmen sect and merit-based evaluation by the Shenjiao sect, and could be considered a formal upward path from mortal to immortal.

The problem is that as the Demon Race was driven out and almost wiped out, and the Immortal Palace enjoyed a long period of peace, this channel naturally disappeared.

The imperial guards in the Central Plains, through their military achievements and accumulated wealth, quickly became powerful clans. Their land had been divided up by these immortal cultivation families, and normal taxes could no longer be collected. Only by openly selling official positions could the Three Palaces court maintain its normal operations.

Oh, you want to inherit your father's position as a captain? Fine, pay up. Oh, you want to be a guard in the Immortal Palace? Fine, pay up. Oh, you want to use the Divine Infant Pill to level up, right? Fine, pay up.

So this is how all the Twelve Countries of the Immortal Palace operate now. The Nangong Family hasn't gone too far; they're just normal Imperial Guards. Who knows, an ambitious man like the Immortal King Nangong might even be selling his internal Cultivation Method and elixirs cheaply to organize a rebellion!

The problem is that the subjects under the Nangong Family are truly penniless!

Who are the Three Enclosures? They've been reaping the benefits of following the Immortal Venerable for thousands of years! What are a few external alchemy pills compared to that? Each of them has a ton of divine skills and secret techniques, family treasures and private armies! They can just send a servant to fight a war; they don't even have to go themselves!

Who are these people from Li Country? They're called the outer vassal army, but they're all poor people whose land was seized and who were driven out of the Central Plains to reclaim wasteland! Fighting monsters and wild beasts for land in the deep mountains and forests to cultivate and farm is bad enough! And now they have to pay protection money! They have to serve in the military! And they don't even get paid! Are they trying to kill us?!

Of course, the Nangong Family shouldn't be that stupid. Judging from the current size of their army of Golden Core Nascent Soul Stage and Nascent Soul cultivators, the Nangong Family's strength back then was probably indeed enough to support one of the strongest armies among the Eight Feudatories, so they wouldn't be in arrears with pay.

Considering that they were facing the Immortal Palace at the time, which had been repeatedly ravaged and crushed by various forces such as the Xuanmen, the Divine Sect, the Northern Expedition, the Luo Feng Army, the Luo Sect, Black Lotus Sect, it's possible that the Nangong Clan did indeed have a tiny bit of a chance of winning their rebellion.

The problem is, the Nangong Family still couldn't beat this kind of opponent; they lost in a single all-in bet. Who can they blame...?

After the abbot took Ink Bamboo Mountain and severed ties with it, losing even the titles of General of the South and Li Prefecture Governor, Nangong's economy inevitably suffered a huge deficit. However, for the sake of the family's survival, he had to maintain the army for self-preservation.

They used to act all high and mighty, but recently the Nangong Family has started waging war against the Xun and Kun Country. They must be really strapped for cash internally. It's understandable that they abandoned their troops in the Ten-thousand-mountains.

Moreover, Li Fan felt there was no need to treat everyone as trash. Compared to the Central Plains, the quality of the Nangong Family's immortal soldiers was just average, not that bad. After all, they were selected for the army because they had cultivation aptitude, and they were veterans who had guarded the South Border for many years.

The lower-ranking immortal soldiers are most sensitive to food and pay shortages, and probably don't have much loyalty to the oddballs of the Nangong Family. They certainly wouldn't be so shameless as to appreciate the Nangong Family's 'good intentions' of giving them a discount of several thousand strings of cash on Divine Infant Pill and Golden Core Core-level armor and weaponry, worth tens of thousands of strings of cash.

So Li Fan raised his hand to comfort the celestial soldiers who were so emotional they were almost in tears.

"The Nangong Family is despicable and shameless, and has acted against the tide of history! I, Ink Bamboo Mountain, have always despised these traitors! We only made a no-war pact with them to avoid bloodshed. Since you can't survive and are willing to abandon darkness for light, I will not cut off your path to life."

I can accommodate you temporarily at Lingqiu Mountain. If you relinquish your military status with the Nangong Family, you can also find a place to stay at Ink Bamboo Mountain.

But judging from your tone, you disdain associating with commoners and still want the treatment of disciples from Ink Bamboo Mountain, is that it?

"But with your current skills, you're not even qualified to be servants of the Li family of Moshan..."

Chang Jian and the others, having been seen through by Li Fan, dared not argue with such a fierce man. They quickly stopped complaining and volunteered one after another.

"Biao Xiadeng has been fighting against the Demon Race in Danxue Mountain for many years. He has made many meritorious contributions. He has killed every demon in every village. They are all old rivals!"

The reason they can't advance is simply because they lack the money to accumulate military merits and the ability to obtain Divine Infant Pill for breakthroughs!

"Ink Bamboo Mountain is going to destroy the mountain and its temples, and we are willing to be the vanguard. We can also help train these refugees, and we are well-versed in battle formations and military tactics! If your mountain suppresses the south and then attacks the north, we are willing to help the mountain lord win over the hearts of the people!"

These people are so eager to curry favor with someone powerful that they practically have "I want to lead the way! Let me lead the way!" etched on their faces.

Li Fan shook his head and laughed, "I don't need your fighting strength, and I'm not trying to seize the Nangong Family's territory. I just want to show everyone a new path. If you want to come, then come along."

However, let me be frank with you all: you're all veterans. I suspect that you've been following Nangong's banner as accomplices, cowardly, greedy, and afraid of hardship. Your moral compass has long been completely shattered.

If you were to switch your path now, I think you'd face a nine-out-of-ten chance of death. If you're not prepared to sacrifice yourselves, you'd be better off abandoning your armor and becoming commoners. Anyway, even farmers are scarce in my Ink Bamboo Mountain right now, and we'll even lend you pigs to help you plow the fields."

However, Chang Jian and his group of immortal soldiers would never abandon the path of immortality to farm. Their reasoning was simple: following the strongest would give them leverage and power. Even if they didn't have meat to eat, a little soup would be better than nothing. They just didn't want to be poor and bullied. So they all knelt down and did it again.

"I am willing to die for the mountain lord!"

With such a grand commotion on their side, Li Moyun, this seemingly burly rogue, had his own ambitions. So, with a wave of his hand, the group of refugee leaders, along with their relatives and adopted sons, all knelt down and proclaimed, "We are willing to die for our mountain lord!"

They were all yelling at the top of their lungs, like boys from different classes competing against each other at a school sports meet, drawing everyone's attention...

Chen Asha and a group of disciples from Ink Bamboo Mountain stared at Li Fan, their eyes saying, "Don't even think about it; we're not going to pull that off."

Li Fan coughed awkwardly twice, "Alright, alright, everyone, don't be so polite. This time, our Ink Bamboo Mountain is facing a major calamity, which coincides with the event of breaking mountains and destroying temples. Our fates are intertwined, which is a good opportunity for everyone to defy the heavens and change their destiny."

I've already eaten half my fill and wasn't planning on taking any more action, but I see you all as useless good-for-nothings, utterly incapable of doing anything of importance. Entrusting the important task of breaking down mountains and temples to you is unrealistic, and I simply can't rest easy about it.

Therefore, I have decided to take you juniors out to patrol the mountains and hunt monsters, to Yangjia Mountain for some training, to see your actual level, and to accumulate some luck before I teach you according to your aptitude. Don't die too quickly even if you level up a few times.

"Those who are willing to go out with me to fight monsters, please gather outside the formation. Those who are unwilling to take risks can stay in Zhonggu to guard the dojo."

So Li Fan waved to dismiss everyone and prepared to set off. He then turned and handed the Zhonggu array flag to Fuling, instructing her on how to open and close the Zhonggu Grand Array.

After all, Zhonggu, a strategically important location, had been besieged by demons for quite some time. The array set up by Real Person Huang had been refined over many years, tested and perfected, and had several sets of spiritual vein magic treasures to supply the array as backups. It also had sixty-four variations, capable of trapping and killing four Divine Transformation demon kings simultaneously. The enemy's tens of thousands of demon soldiers had been at a loss for a long time, and they were too cautious to dare to invade rashly, which shows how powerful the array was. In fact, there was no need to have a Master Huang specifically guarding it. Sending a disciple at the Golden Core stage to operate it would have been enough to hold the array to the death, thanks to the years of refinement.

Unfortunately, while Fuling was decent at business and logistics, her aptitude was lacking. In the rush, she could only remember how to perform hand seals and incantations to open and close formations. As for advanced techniques like calculating and changing formations based on the opponent's situation while fighting, that was out of the question. The level of a Xuanmen disciple could not be achieved through hard work and rote memorization.

So Li Fan took a look and repaired the great formation. He also gave Fu Ling the Thunder Talisman, sword talismans, and other items that Hengshan had given him for Fuling -defense. He did want to give her some pointers on Cultivation Method, but the problem was that Fuling's aptitude was really not up to par. After following Fairy Wangshu for so many years, she was only at the level of a disciple of Bamboo Mountain.

Fuling, on the contrary, was worried about him and gave him some calming and tranquilizing pills, repeatedly advising, "Qingyue, your cultivation level is unstable right now, so you must be careful and not get carried away with killing again."

Li Fan nodded in agreement, "It's alright, Sister Fuling, don't worry. I'm just helping the newbies gain experience; I'll be right back after a short while. See you later!"

In recent years, Fuling has mainly been responsible for coordinating matters between the Chamber of Commerce and Ink Bamboo Mountain. Before, she only led Jiang Ji's people to make a few money, but now she has to speak for the entire business in the south. She is so busy that she can only give a few instructions. Then, watching Li Fan's sword shadow disappear, she sighed and thought about how that brat with the lecherous look in his eyes, who was always staring at the young lady's lower body, has grown up so quickly. It's really a pity.

At this moment, Chen Asha, Li Moyun, and Chang Jian's three groups of people were also organized and ready.

Chen Asha's side has about thirty disciples from Ink Bamboo Mountain, all of whom are at the Golden Core stage and come from the nine peaks of Bamboo Mountain.

In Bamboo Mountain, apart from the group of mechanical engineers on Heavenly Craft Peak who have different upgrade paths and go directly to the Celestial Realm for postgraduate studies, there is no need for them to risk their lives on the front lines. The Golden Core disciples of the other eight peaks combined number only about a hundred. And those with some ability who can come to the Ten-thousand-mountains for training are reduced by half, with half of them on guard at Lingqiu Mountain and the other half on guard at Yangjia Mountain.

Since Lei Ze is not yet open, there are usually more monsters coming from Fei Shan in the west, so Ling Qiu Shan is actually the rear. The disciples of the Southern School of Mo Zhu Shan that Li Fan knew before, such as Yuan Tianxiao, Liu Qingyuan, and Xuan Bao, are now mostly on the front line of defense at Yang Jia Shan. Chen A Sha and Fu Ling, who have just reached the Golden Core stage and whose actual combat level is still somewhat lacking, have been left behind to help with supplies.

The group organized by Li Moyun wasn't large, about eighty Golden Core cultivators, which could be considered a gathering of all the refugee leaders and independent cultivators. These people knew they were outsiders seeking their fortune, and it was rare to have such a powerful expert Mountain Lord leading them out for cultivation. So, a large group of seemingly useless people who couldn't even reach the Foundation Establishment or Qi Refinement Stage also came. Thus, only those at the Golden Core stage who were confident in their cultivation came; the others, lacking some ability, didn't come to avoid embarrassment.

On the contrary, the Nangong Immortal Soldiers from Chang Jian's side, including not only the batch from Danxue Mountain but also a batch that had escaped from Lunzhě Mountain, totaled a whopping 250 Golden Core Immortal Soldiers. They were actually the largest in number, the best equipped, and the most eager to fight.

This large group of over three hundred people made an agreement with the merchant owners to board three large cargo ships with their cargo holds emptied. They probably genuinely thought Li Fan was taking them to hunt demons and gather some materials to make a fortune, and everyone was overjoyed and full of anticipation.

"Not enough, not enough! There must be many people from the other three mountains as well. Send three more ships. Bring all the Storage Jade; this time, I'm going to make a big splash!"

Li Fan also grinned.

Haha, you're still too naive.

With such a high-level character carrying him through monster-slaying so easily, how could Li Fan possibly leave Fuling out? He definitely brought her along too!

Yes, Li Fan wouldn't just patrol the mountain once and be done with it.

What's the point of patrolling anymore? He's already wiped out Demon Race in the vicinity, and the two demon kings didn't even make it to Lunzhě Mountain, where they're being chased by a group of thirsty old men. Fei Mountain, Li Fan had been there before; it was just a dilapidated mine, barren of vegetation, and certainly couldn't support many demons.

So the main hero is still Lei Marsh!

Yes, Lei Marsh! How can we let monsters come and go as they please? We have to give them a taste of their own medicine every now and then!

Yes, he promised the old men to guard the Central Valley and not to monopolize the resources, but he could mentor the younger generation! Moreover, by taking the initiative and sweeping away the monsters of Lei Marsh, there would be no need to worry about them invading the Central Valley!

At worst, he wouldn't eat alone anymore; he could just bring some takeout for the old men. Anyway, Li Fan had decided to only intervene in times of crisis, fighting powerful monsters to protect his disciples. As for the lesser demons, he'd generously let Asha and the others level up and undergo their tribulations—wouldn't that be wonderful?

So Li Fan planned to first travel around the other mountains, pick up some more people, and then go to Lei Marsh to cause some trouble. Of course, he also knew that this trip was a bit dangerous, and with so many people, some deaths and injuries were inevitable. If it weren't for Xuan Tian insisting that Asha inherit the Sword Immortal Path, he would have actually wanted to leave that girl behind.

Playing with bugs might be a bit disgusting, but it's safer than a swordsman hacking at people, isn't it?

Oh well, fortune favors the bold, let's see what fate has in store for her.