The World Grows Used to Benefits but Forgets Gratitude

Bibi Dong looked at Qian Mochen in astonishment, her gaze fixed squarely on his face as if confirming whether he was joking.

"What? You think I'm joking?"

Qian Mochen said seriously, "Dong'er, Spirit Hall spends several million Gold Soul Coins every year. Why do you think Spirit Hall's reputation among ordinary Soul Masters is even worse than among commoners?"

Bibi Dong thought for a moment before answering, "Probably because Spirit Hall has never promoted itself."

"That's only a small part of the reason."

"In my view, Soul Masters are distant toward Spirit Hall partly because the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires are hostile toward Spirit Hall. The nobles beneath those two empires also dislike Spirit Hall, and their attitudes naturally influence the people below them."

"And my elder brother, father, and the ancestors before them were far too proud. They simply disdained the little schemes of the two great empires."

Qian Mochen revealed some history.

"Dong'er, a hundred years ago, Soul Masters did not receive even a single coin in subsidies. If they wanted money, they had to earn it with their own hands."

"It was an ancestor of the Qian Family, the Pope of that generation, who used his fists to convince the two great empires and hundreds of nobles, forcing them to contribute half the money as subsidies for Soul Masters."

"The remaining half was entirely subsidized by Spirit Hall."

"The world grows used to benefits yet knows nothing of gratitude!"

Bibi Dong recalled the attitudes of the Soul Masters she had seen while out these past days. It seemed that Spirit Hall did not have a single good reputation among ordinary Soul Masters; more often, they treated Spirit Hall with respect from afar.

Bibi Dong was not foolish. Having followed Qian Mochen for so long, she could already keep up with his wildly imaginative ideas. A conjecture quickly surfaced in her mind.

"You intend to sell the cultivation methods to Soul Masters?"

"That's right! Since the Soul Masters who have received Spirit Hall's kindness do not know gratitude, then I'll simply collect back the money we gave away."

"But if those four cultivation methods fall into the hands of other factions, wouldn't that..."

Bibi Dong did not finish, but Qian Mochen guessed what she meant.

Bibi Dong had already experienced the power of these cultivation methods. If they spread, the strength of other factions would naturally increase greatly.

Qian Mochen asked Bibi Dong an unrelated question.

"Dong'er, do you think Spirit Hall has spies planted by other factions?"

At those words, Bibi Dong immediately understood.

No faction could guarantee that it was one hundred percent clean. The moment the cultivation methods Qian Mochen had produced appeared, other factions would learn of them within days.

Spirit Hall was already feared by the two great empires, the Upper Three Sects, and other factions. Now that it possessed cultivation methods capable of rapidly increasing combat power, perhaps the major factions would begin plotting how to attack Spirit Hall on the very day they received the news.

But if Qian Mochen sold the cultivation methods and every Soul Master obtained them, everyone would have a means to improve their combat strength. That meant things would still be the same as before.

"Mo Chen, I'll personally go to the academy to select people. I'll definitely promote them properly for you!"

"Just choose people whose strength is roughly on par with those advancing teams. Our geniuses should naturally remain hidden."

Bibi Dong nodded and walked out with light steps. She could not wait to see the wonderful expressions on the faces of those major factions when the time came.

Qian Mochen had all the cultivation methods printed. He bound more than twenty detailed editions in exquisite covers and sent them directly to the Worship Hall's consecrated elders, elders, and the hall masters of major branch halls who had rendered outstanding service.

After distributing the cultivation methods, Qian Mochen also posted an announcement in the Merit Hall. In two months, the Merit Hall would stock four cultivation methods, each priced at five hundred Merit Points.

The news spread swiftly. By the time some distant branch hall masters received the message, the exquisitely bound cultivation manual had already been delivered into their hands.

"You have overseen a branch hall with outstanding achievements. His Highness hereby rewards you with four cultivation methods. These methods are for your personal cultivation only. If they are found to have been passed on, the matter will be traced to its source, and there will be no mercy!"

The instant the branch hall masters received the cultivation methods and flipped through them, their minds immediately sank into them.

After a long while, the branch hall masters raised their heads and offered a distant salute in Spirit Hall's direction, declaring aloud, "Thank you for Your Highness's great grace!"

With four mutually supporting cultivation methods, even a Soul Douluo could increase his strength by ten percent. And that ten percent was enough to secure victory in battle!

Moreover, Qian Mochen had given out two thousand Merit Points in one stroke. That amounted to more than half a year's achievements for many branch hall masters. Such generosity naturally filled many people with gratitude.

The methods Qian Mochen gave away were all detailed editions, thirty percent weaker than the originals. As for the original cultivation methods, Qian Mochen had given them only to his father and elder brother, intending for them to be passed down forever as the Qian Family's foundation.

In the future, only loyal and trustworthy people who had earned the Qian Family's trust and passed layer upon layer of trials would be allowed to learn the original cultivation methods.

Bibi Dong moved quickly. In just three days, she had found two teams with an average age of fifteen.

Qian Mochen personally inspected them. The members of both teams were around rank thirty-seven or thirty-eight, and the only two Soul Ancestors were their respective captains.

Only with strength like this could winning the final championship later push the atmosphere to its peak.

Qian Mochen's imposing gaze swept over the youths before him one by one. The natural aura of authority radiating from him alone made them instinctively straighten their backs.

"You are very fortunate, because what you are about to learn are cultivation methods worth two thousand Merit Points!"

"You have all spent quite some time at the academy, so I need not explain the value of Merit Points."

"From this moment onward, your trial begins. Everyone starts with one hundred points. Once you lose them all, get out!"

"In the end, only the strongest seven will be able to represent Spirit Hall in the competition."

"Tell me, do you have confidence?"

"Yes!"

The youths answered at the top of their lungs, veins silently bulging on their necks.

"Chief Instructor Bibi Dong, take them down for testing!"

Bibi Dong stepped out from behind Qian Mochen. Her cold gaze swept lightly across them, and the previously excited youths felt an icy chill descend upon them. Their eyes immediately cleared.

This chief instructor was clearly not someone they could afford to provoke. They had to behave themselves from now on.

Bibi Dong beckoned, and someone immediately brought over four simplified sets of cultivation methods.

"Testing begins now. I will tell you the circulation routes of the cultivation methods. Everyone, memorize them now. If you cannot recite them later, you will immediately lose ten points!"

"If you have no talent whatsoever in any of the four cultivation methods, you will be eliminated immediately!"

"These four cultivation methods are all confidential. If anyone dares spread them, even if your parents are both Titled Douluo, they will not be able to save you!"

After emphasizing her rules, Bibi Dong gave a look, and someone immediately delivered the first cultivation method to the students.

The instant the students opened the manuals, their eyes turned green. There were no fools here; every one of them eagerly devoured the cultivation manuals.