Who Says Civil Engineering Isn't the Best Way to Toughen People Up?

Su Yuan watched as everyone gathered, then slowly rose to his feet and spoke:

"Alright, everyone's here. All you Great Sages are sensible, pragmatic heroes, and the Heavenly Court appreciates your sincerity. Enough small talk. As for the terms of recruitment..."

Before he could finish, the Flood Demon King could no longer wait. Forgetting to conceal his identity, he cut in directly.

"Just say it, envoy! As long as the terms are fair, this old Flood has no objections!"

The other Great Sages chimed in as well.

"Exactly! Tell us the terms!"

"Stop dragging this out!"

Though they had no idea what benefits the Heavenly Court could offer, seeing so many Great Sages gathered together made them instinctively want to seize the initiative, afraid they would lose out if they hesitated.

Wukong, hidden in Su Yuan's ear, ground his teeth in fury and transmitted his voice.

"Pah! These animals, every last one of them putting on a righteous face! They're all liars! Cowards! Traitors! Opportunistic schemers!"

Su Yuan secretly sent back a calming reply.

"Alright, cool down. Stop slapping labels on people. Everyone has their own ambitions; you can't force them."

He waved a hand, and the crowd temporarily quieted.

"Today, we have gathered men of talent from far and wide, young and old alike."

"Not only do we have the seven Great Sages of Flower-Fruit Mountain, but also the ancestor of Moon-Holding Mountain, the Great Sage of the Southern Border Myriad Demon Nation, the Ruthless Great Emperor, and other demon king supremes from minor worlds!"

Su Yuan casually made things up, inventing several impressive titles for "Moon-Holding Mountain."

First, he needed to put them above the six Great Sages and knock down their arrogance, making it easier to bargain them down later.

Next, he would have to properly wear down their tempers and let the Heavenly Court seize the initiative.

"Now, I'll briefly say a few words."

A standard official smile appeared on Su Yuan's face.

"First, welcome, everyone, for actively answering the Heavenly Court's call. This recruitment is not a simple act of surrender and appointment. Rather, it is an important measure by the Heavenly Court to deepen economic pilot programs in the lower realms and promote the development of 'Heavenly Demon Integration'!"

He paused, then began reciting in an impassioned tone.

"In recent years, under the wise leadership of His Majesty the Jade Emperor, the Heavenly Court's economy has generally maintained stable and positive growth, with its long-term favorable fundamentals remaining unchanged. However, it also faces certain structural and cyclical issues... Therefore, opening up the vast markets of the lower realms and promoting the descent of high-quality Heavenly Court magical treasures and medicinal pill products is an important lever for revitalizing existing assets, creating new growth, and boosting the economy of the Three Realms..."

"...At the same time, this carries immensely significant political and strategic importance. It marks the official arrival of an era of 'sharing the Heavenly Court's development achievements and jointly building a community with a shared future for the Three Realms'! We must encourage and support a group of visionary demons to cultivate first, ascend first, and serve as examples, ultimately leading those who cultivate later and ascend later toward shared ascension..."

He cited classics and expounded endlessly, moving from macroeconomics to micro-regulation, from strategic planning to tactical execution.

The six Great Sages below listened until their heads spun. The Bull Demon King could not help yawning, the Roc Demon King stared blankly ahead, and the Lion-Camel King no longer knew heaven from earth.

They had wanted to lash out, but when they saw the other black-robed figures—characters like the ancestor of Moon-Holding Mountain and the Ruthless Great Emperor, whose names alone suggested they were not to be trifled with—

sitting there obediently and listening, they did not dare make trouble either. They could only force themselves to endure.

Wukong in Su Yuan's ear was even more bewildered.

"What? What? What is all this?"

Yet Venus Star Lord and Xu Jingyang, standing at the edge of the valley, nodded repeatedly as they listened, stroking their beards with smiles.

"Broad in vision, yet accessible and progressive! This child's political sensitivity is truly growing sharper by the day!" Venus Star Lord praised.

"He's also remarkably skilled at discussing economics, with clear logic and broad horizons."

Xu Jingyang agreed.

"Making him do civil engineering is truly wasting his talent. Such a waste!"

Venus Star Lord shook his head.

"On the contrary, plum blossoms gain their fragrance from bitter cold. Who doesn't know that civil engineering is the best profession for toughening people up? If he can't endure even this much hardship, he certainly won't succeed at anything else!"

Only when the eastern sky began to glow pale with dawn did Su Yuan reluctantly finish his opening remarks.

The Great Sages' patience had nearly run out, but the moment they heard he was finished, they hurriedly pulled themselves together and sat up straight.

"Next," Su Yuan said, taking out a jade slip,

"I will preside over the fair procedures for this recruitment."

"After preliminary review, five entities, including Flower-Fruit Mountain, Moon-Holding Mountain, Sacred Ruins, and the Southern Border Myriad Demon Nation, are participating in this recruitment and meet the minimum candidate requirements."

"The various entities are generally comparable in key indicators such as demon population, territorial area, and average annual spirit stone output, satisfying the requirements for procedural standardization."

"Now, in accordance with Article Seventeen of Chapter Three of the <Interim Measures for Heavenly Court Bidding and Tender Management>, we will conduct post-qualification review and compliance examination... Review items include, but are not limited to, entity qualifications, credit ratings, and proof of no major legal or regulatory violations..."

He spent another full incense stick's worth of time reading procedures and regulations.

"The fair procedure is complete!"

"Next, I will announce the specific rules and details of this recruitment."

Su Yuan picked up another thick scroll.

"This recruitment will conduct qualification evaluations and resource allocations by mountain faction. Please proceed to your designated areas according to the numbered tags distributed earlier, fill out the Heavenly Court Recruitment Intent Application Form and the Integrity Commitment Letter, and submit audit reports for your mountain's spirit stone output and demon population over the past three years..."

He had barely begun when a black-robed figure below abruptly stood up, ripped back his hood, and revealed a pair of upturned eyes brimming with ferocity. It was the Roc Demon King!

He had the most impatient temperament and had long since had his patience ground away by the earlier procedures. Now, he could no longer restrain himself.

"Shut up! Shut up!" the Roc Demon King shrieked.

"Endless nonsense! When are we getting to the point? Keep dawdling like this, and see if I don't..."

Faced with the overwhelming demonic aura, Su Yuan remained perfectly composed. That was the confidence granted by the Heavenly Emperor's imperial decree protecting him.

He leisurely picked up the jade slip containing the registry at his side, glanced through it, then looked up at the Roc Demon King with calm eyes.

"Flower-Fruit Mountain, Great Sage Confounding... Great Sage Confounding Heaven, Roc Demon King, correct?" Su Yuan pointed beyond the valley. "If you find this recruitment process too lengthy, its rules unreasonable, and cannot accept it, then under Article Fifty-Three of Chapter Seven of the <Heavenly Court Regulations on Recruiting Special Talents>, you have the right to withdraw now. Please do as you please. Do not interfere with our subsequent procedures here."

Though Su Yuan said that aloud, he had another calculation in mind.

When had the Roc Demon King ever endured such humiliation?

His temper immediately flared. He tore off his black robe and viciously threw it onto the ground.

"Then I'll withdraw! I won't serve you anymore!"

With that, he shook on the spot and revealed his true form. The Roc spread its wings, stirring wind and dust as it prepared to soar into the sky.

Su Yuan was full of confidence and did not panic in the slightest. He thought to himself.

As long as I play word games within the rules, forget the Roc Demon King—even if you brought the Golden-Winged Roc here, I'd still play you to death.

Without even looking at him, Su Yuan continued holding the scroll and read aloud.

"Next, I will announce the first detailed rule: in light of the special circumstances of the lower realms, this recruitment pilot program will adopt a 'collective recruitment, joint liability' model. Should any member of the same alliance withdraw without cause midway, the entire alliance will lose its qualifications."