Conquering with Virtue

Li Dongze hurried back to his desk, rubbed his hands together vigorously, and opened his computer in high spirits to draft a message.

"Centurion Fu, I have a report to make. I have just received news that the Night Wanderer I recruited has successfully passed his trial mission and returned to reality. Yes, he has successfully cleared Sheling Tunnel."

He clicked send.

Within the White Tiger Corps, subordinates are not permitted to call their superiors directly unless it is a matter of life and death; reports are typically handled via email or text.

Yuanshi clearing Sheling Tunnel was a major event, but not an urgent one.

Ten seconds after the message was sent, the phone on Li Dongze's desk rang. The caller ID displayed Centurion Fu.

A direct call? Li Dongze immediately grabbed the phone and answered.

"Li Dongze, you must be responsible for your words."

The cold, clear voice of a young man came through the speaker.

"Centurion, this matter is indeed surprising." Facing the Centurion's warning, Li Dongze remained incredibly relaxed. "I just finished speaking with him on the phone."

"Is there a walkthrough?" Fu Qingyang asked immediately.

"I need a moment longer."

Centurion Fu was silent for a few seconds before his cold tone softened.

"I held no expectations, yet I have been met with a pleasant surprise. Anyone capable of clearing Sheling Tunnel must have extraordinary qualities."

"Li Dongze, you have recruited talent for the White Tiger Corps. I will report this to the Elder Council and ensure you receive a major merit."

Oh God, this is simply wonderful. The smile on Li Dongze's lips widened, then he remembered something and lowered his voice.

"Do I need to keep this confidential?"

The fact that he had recruited a Night Wanderer was no longer a secret among the team-leader-level figures in the Kangyang District. Even if he tried to avoid mentioning it later, people would notice eventually.

It couldn't be hidden for long.

Especially since the Five Elements Alliance and the Taiyi Sect had signed an agreement: the Taiyi Sect held priority rights to select any Night Wanderer that appeared within the country.

This agreement resulted in the Five Elements Alliance having almost no Night Wanderers of their own, save for a few scattered individuals.

Fu Qingyang scoffed.

"Why hide it? The Taiyi Sect has already made it clear they do not want this Night Wanderer; they cannot go back on their word now."

"What you need to guard against are people within the Five Elements Alliance. I do not want a repeat of that incident with the Hundred Flowers Society. We must win people over with virtue and bring him into the fold."

This aligned with Li Dongze's own thoughts, so he immediately asked for guidance: "Please, Centurion Fu, enlighten me."

"Make him a permanent member and give him a raise."

Huh? A raise?

Is this what winning people over with virtue looks like?

"I do not like using money to buy hearts, because those who gather for profit will inevitably scatter for profit. I prefer to win people over with virtue, but virtue takes time to manifest, whereas money is immediate."

Centurion Fu's tone was calm. "Have him write a walkthrough as soon as possible; I need to know the core information regarding the Mountain God Temple. And while you're at it, pay back the favor we owe the Taiyi Sect."

Any S-rank spirit realm inevitably contains valuable information and intelligence that ordinary spirit realms cannot compare to.

"Understood!"

Li Dongze ended the call.

What kind of "winning people over with virtue" is this? Though, this is indeed the Fu Family's style, Li Dongze shook his head.

The family of this young Master Fu had traveled abroad during the turbulent years to escape the fires of war. After a century of operation, they had grown into a massive capital conglomerate.

Later, the Fu Family accepted the olive branch extended by the state, returning to the country with vast wealth to participate in economic development.

The Fu Family was not only a massive capital force but also a family of Spirit Walkers passed down through generations; the family produced a certain number of Scouts every year.

They were a family faction within the White Tiger Corps that could not be ignored.

Centurion Fu was young, yet he was proficient in all sorts of "money-based abilities," earning him the nickname "Money Prince," one of the four young masters of the official organizations.

At this moment, Li Dongze saw someone tag him in the "Kangyang District Spirit Walker Management Group."

Green Vine: "@Li Dongze, Squad Leader Li, how is the situation with that new Night Wanderer you recruited?"

Green Vine was a captain of the Hundred Flowers Society. If any other Wood Demon had asked this, Li Dongze would have suspected they had ulterior motives.

But this female captain had a gentle and kind personality; she wasn't one of those treacherous, flashy vixens.

White Dragon: "Wow, that's a heart-piercing remark. You know full well that no one could possibly clear Sheling Tunnel, yet you still want to provoke Squad Leader Li?"

Before Li Dongze could speak, White Dragon, who had a grudge against Green Vine, was the first to jump out and stir up trouble.

Big Muscle Tyrant: "He definitely perished in Sheling Tunnel. Yesterday, someone in the district I manage also went missing in Sheling Tunnel. That poor wretch still hasn't been found; he's basically dead in the spirit realm."

The straight-talking Fire Master was as annoying as ever.

Aside from these three active captains, the others remained silent, seemingly having lost interest in the matter.

My friends, you will be jealous of me in the next second! Li Dongze casually sent out a large red envelope worth 1,000 yuan.

He was the first to grab it, snagging five yuan.

Green Vine: "Thanks, boss."

White Dragon: "The boss is generous."

Big Muscle Tyrant: "The boss has a strong waist and healthy kidneys."

They all instinctively snatched the red packets and offered their thanks, but once the process was complete, they suddenly realized what had happened.

White Dragon: "No way, right?"

Big Muscle Tyrant: "Li Dongze, what do you mean by that? Speak clearly."

Green Vine: "Squad Leader Li?"

Li Dongze: "Thanks for everyone's concern. The Night Wanderer I recently recruited has successfully cleared the Sheling Tunnel."

The group chat went dead silent, as if everyone had been muted.

Yuan Ting: "Li Dongze, don't joke around."

The Night Wanderer from the Taiyi Sect, who rarely surfaced in the Five Elements Alliance management group, was the first to speak up.

Unlike the other captains, this was a major matter concerning his own profession; he couldn't ignore Li Dongze's message, even if the possibility of it being a joke was higher.

The other captains remained silent, waiting for Li Dongze to reply.

At this moment, Centurion Fu sent a message to the group:

"As of today, the first clear of the Sheling Tunnel belongs to our Five Elements Alliance. I will synchronize the Spirit Realm strategy to the database shortly. As an S-rank trial Spirit Realm, it can produce Night Wanderers of higher quality than other Spirit Realms. I believe this will be of great help to the organization's plan to cultivate Night Wanderers."

Looking at this long paragraph of text, the captains were stunned.

Centurion Fu was a deacon-level figure whose words carried much more weight than Li Dongze's. Since he said so, this matter had to be true.

The Sheling Tunnel had actually been cleared? What kind of freak had Li Dongze recruited?

At this moment, the captains suddenly realized the value of that newcomer. He was no longer just a "rare profession"; he himself might be the most worthy investment.

Big Muscle Tyrant: "I want to have a team-building event again."

You're trying to poach my talent, aren't you? Li Dongze's mouth twitched.

Water Strider: "I'm not sailing this month. Let's set a time for a party, how about today?"

Tang Guoqiang sent a red packet.

White Dragon: "A party is fine, but I don't think the Hundred Flowers Society should be allowed to attend."

Green Vine: "Heh."

Boxing King: "I'm very curious about how that newcomer cleared the Sheling Tunnel. Whoever can do this is likely no ordinary person. Li Dongze is lucky to have recruited such a talent."

Seeing the "restlessness" in the group, Centurion Fu sent another message: "I will use the Sheling Tunnel strategy as a bargaining chip to negotiate Night Wanderer quotas from the Taiyi Sect. I will try my best to equip every team with a Night Wanderer within five years."

Green Vine: "Thank you, Centurion Fu."

Big Muscle Tyrant: "Holy crap, there's such a good thing?"

The atmosphere in the group suddenly became heated.

The Centurion's move is brilliant. With this carrot dangling... Li Dongze let out a breath.

Following this, several captains began enthusiastically discussing long-term plans for cultivating and assigning Night Wanderers, while also probing Li Dongze, both directly and indirectly, about who the hero behind the first clear was.

Was it a man or a woman? How old were they?

But Li Dongze simply refused to tell them.

While the captains were having their pleasant discussion, Yuan Ting of the Taiyi Sect felt quite the opposite.

He stared blankly at Centurion Fu's message, reading it over and over again until he finally managed to digest this major event.

The Sheling Tunnel, which even the Taiyi Sect couldn't find a way to handle, had actually been cleared?

How did that rookie do it?

As a Night Wanderer, and as someone whose own profession was tied to that Spirit Realm, he was even more desperate to know the truth than the other captains; it was as if his heart were being clawed at by a hundred claws.

But now was not the time to dwell on the truth; he had to report this to the organization.

Shouldn't such an excellent Night Wanderer join the Taiyi Sect?

Elder Sun is confused. How could he make such reckless promises and let the Taiyi Sect lose a talent for nothing! Yuan Ting felt a hint of resentment toward that elder.

Zhang Yuanqing took a taxi to the police station, navigated the familiar route behind the building, and stepped into the glass building that exuded an elite vibe.

Ascending to the second floor, he immediately spotted the mixed-race beauty sitting on the sofa drinking tea, her supermodel-like long legs crossed, wearing a shirt, a skirt, black silk stockings, and high heels.

Her waist was slender, her chest was ample, and her makeup was exquisite with a trendy hairstyle. If a workplace goddess needed a standard image, Zhang Yuanqing felt it would be her.

Fortunately, his aesthetic threshold had been trained to an extremely high level by his aunt, so he greeted her without changing his expression:

"Sister Guan Ya."

Guan Ya put down her teacup, stood up to welcome him, and said with a smile:

"Tsk tsk, I thought our college student was a little puppy, but it turns out he's a little wolf dog. Congratulations on becoming a Night Wanderer. Sister will reward you with a hug."

She opened her arms, her embrace vast and welcoming.

Having already grasped the nature of her personality, Zhang Yuanqing didn't fall for the trap and sneered, "Witch, how dare you insult me!"

Had it been any other girl, Zhang Yuanqing certainly wouldn't have said such a thing, but Guan Ya was a seasoned veteran; stepping on the gas was the only proper way to interact with her.

Guan Ya was stunned for a moment before she giggled and said:

"Let's go, the Squad Leader wants to see you."

After walking a few steps, she suddenly turned back and smiled faintly:

"You must have gained quite a bit in the Spirit Realm. No, don't tell me; concealing one's strength and methods is an essential quality for every Spirit Realm Walker."

I wasn't planning on telling you anyway. Zhang Yuanqing was taken aback, then immediately realized she meant for him to keep his secrets and not reveal all his cards.

Following Guan Ya, Zhang Yuanqing entered the luxurious office once again to see Li Dongze reclining comfortably in a soft chair, a cigar held between his fingers.

"Do you know what I'm most worried about right now?"

Li Dongze scrutinized Zhang Yuanqing as he stood up and walked toward the reception sofa.

"What?" Zhang Yuanqing asked, playing along.

"I'm most worried that you might have been intercepted on your way here." Li Dongze opened the liquor cabinet, took out three glass cups, and said, "What would you like to drink?"

"Cola!"

Zhang Yuanqing replied.

"Guan Ya, have someone go buy some." Li Dongze ordered immediately.

Not bad, my status has clearly improved. Zhang Yuanqing sat down with Li Dongze, who took a sip of his drink and went straight to the point:

"The younger generation is truly formidable; you did an excellent job.

"I'll need you to write a detailed walkthrough of the process later, but before that, I'd like to ask: did you discover any unusual information at the Mountain God Temple?"