Seclusion and a New Batch
"Understood." Mo Xuan nodded, then asked, "What standards apply to the offerings and obligations?"
"It will be determined according to the size of the sect and the grade of the Spirit Vein it obtains," Li Yunjing said. "For low-grade Spirit Vein, the sect must pay 100,000 Spirit Stone and a certain amount of spirit medicine herbs and ores annually, and must send at least twenty disciples to be deployed during wartime. For mid-grade Spirit Vein, the sect must pay 300,000 Spirit Stone annually and send fifty disciples."
"In addition, Provincial Governor's Office will be established to oversee the civil affairs, military affairs, and construction of Luozhen Province. I will serve as the governor, and you will serve as the deputy governor. Each department will perform its duties and be stationed in the sect, all under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Governor's Office."
Mo Xuan's eyes lit up. "The Provincial Governor's Office? Great! This will make the governance of Luozhen Province even more orderly."
With the establishment of the Provincial Governor's Office, the Luozhen Sect would no longer be the sole dominant force. Instead, it would govern all sides in the name of the Prefectural Governor's Office, making it legitimate and easier for other sects to gain their trust.
"You will lead the drafting of the Provincial Governor's Office's charter," Li Yunjing said, "And implement it as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir!"
Two weeks later, the list of the second batch of people to be stationed in the sect was announced.
There are four sects in total: Medicine King Valley in Flying Immortal Prefecture, Artifact and Talisman Sect in Qingyang Province, Bi Shui Pavilion in Central Divine Province, and a Rogue Cultivator Alliance.
They are all small to medium-sized forces with good reputations and disciplined practices.
The news brought joy to some and sorrow to others.
Those who were selected were overjoyed and immediately went back to prepare for the relocation.
Those who weren't selected were disappointed, but they didn't dare cause trouble.
The rules set by the Luozhen Sect are there for all to see; people follow them, and there's no use arguing about it.
Many sects that were eliminated began to discipline their disciples, encouraging them to accumulate merits in order to be selected in the next round.
The allure of Luozhen Province is growing stronger.
A month later, Departing Maple Sect was the first to complete its relocation and officially established its sect in Clear Wind Valley.
On the day the sect was established, Li Yunjing personally came to offer his congratulations and presented a batch of Foundation Establishment Pill, Golden Core Condensation Pill, Nascent Soul Condensation Pill, and a high-grade Law Treasure as a gift.
Wearing a brand-new sect leader's robe, Su Zhen stood in front of the newly built Sect Grand Hall, looking at the more than three hundred spirited disciples below the stage, at the babbling spiritual stream in the valley, and at the faintly visible immortal light in the distance, his eyes slightly warmed.
So many years have passed.
Departing Maple Sect finally saw a glimmer of hope for its rise.
"Greetings, Sect Leader!" The disciples bowed in unison.
Su Zhen took a deep breath and said loudly, "From now on, this will be our new home. Remember, we were able to come to Luozhen Province entirely thanks to the guidance of Sect Leader Li."
From now on, you must strictly abide by the rules, devote yourself to cultivation, and never betray the trust of Sect Leader Li, nor waste this great fortuitous opportunity!
"I will heed the sect leader's teachings!"
The voices were clear and resonant, echoing through the valley for a long time.
Li Yunjing stood aside, watching this scene, and was quite moved.
The small sects that fought side by side in Five Aggregates Plain back then have now gained a firm foothold in Luozhen Province.
I believe that before long, more sects and more cultivators will gather here.
The news that Departing Maple Sect had moved the entire sect to Luozhen Province was like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating ripples among the major and minor sects in the Five Provinces.
At first, some people hesitated, feeling that the Luozhen Sect just established its sixth prefecture and its foundation was unstable, so moving there rashly would be too risky.
However, in just three months, the changes in the Departing Maple Sect were obvious to all: with the blessing of the mid-grade Spirit Vein, the disciples' cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds. Three elders who had been stuck in the Golden Core Late Stage many years broke through to the Golden Core Perfection one after another. Sect Leader Su Zhen even broke through the bottleneck in one fell swoop by borrowing the Daoist charm of Luozhen Province and steadily stepped into the Nascent Soul Early Stage.
Not to mention the first batch of pills and Law Artifact supported by the Luozhen Sect, the public Cultivation Method pavilion and training ground opened by the Provincial Governor's Office, as well as the stable order and a wealth of mission opportunities.
With tangible benefits right before their eyes, the sects that had been waiting on the sidelines could no longer remain passive.
In no time, envoys flocked to Luozhen City to apply for residency, and the threshold of the Provincial Governor's Office was almost worn down.
The situation is even more chaotic than before.
Inside the Provincial Governor's Office in Luozhen City, the First Elder Mo Xuan, held a thick register of sects and reported to Li Yunjing one by one:
"Senior Brother Sect Leader, we have received applications from a total of 62 sects to join us in the past three months."
After verification, 27 organizations with shady backgrounds or ties to Evil Cultivator were eliminated; 18 organizations were too weak to even defend their own territory; and the remaining 17 organizations all met the basic requirements.
Li Yunjing sat in the governor's seat, his fingertips tracing the unfolded map of Luozhen Province, and nodded slightly. "Read it."
"Hundred Flowers Valley possesses High Antiquity heritage and can craft exquisite robes; Spirit Deer Academy is an established power in Guizhen Province, with a history spanning three thousand years..."
Mo Xuan read out seven names in one breath, all of which were ranked first in the comprehensive evaluation.
After listening, Li Yunjing tapped the map lightly a few times with his finger:
"Hundred Flowers Valley will be relocated to the eastern Verdant Fertile Plain, given a low-grade Spirit Vein as a base, and an additional 3,000 mu of public Spirit Field to manage, with the output to be turned over to the state government in proportion."
"Spirit Deer Academy will be located in the southern Luo River Plain, responsible for flood control and trade route escort along the Luo River, as well as managing the southern docks and educating the Awakened Intelligence beings in the south."
"..."
Li Yunjing spoke slowly but clearly, explaining that the characteristics of each sect corresponded to the most suitable territory.
Mo Xuan nodded repeatedly, "Senior Brother's arrangement is excellent. Dividing functions according to region not only allows each sect to give full play to its strengths but also enables them to cooperate with each other and stabilize the four territories of Luozhen Province."
"Let's do it this way." Li Yunjing put down his charcoal pencil. "This time, let seven families move in first. The settlement, Spirit Vein, and start-up supplies will be distributed according to the standards."
Before settling in, a contract with the prefecture government must be signed, clearly defining rights, responsibilities, and obligations. Anyone who violates the rules will be immediately expelled from Luozhen Province without exception.
"Understood." Mo Xuan bowed in response, then added, "By the way, news has also come from the Fallen Star Ore. The mine has been dug three miles deep, producing three thousand catties of Fallen Star Iron per day, with the quality consistently at the medium to high grade."
The Artifact Hall upgraded the fleet's main cannons with Fallen Star Iron, increasing their power by 20%, and the forging of the second batch of escort ships is also on the agenda.
"Hmm." Li Yunjing nodded slightly. "Fallen Star Iron should be prioritized for the fleet and the Artifact Hall. The standard weapons for disciples can be delayed. Luozhen Province has just been established, and defense is the top priority."
Having finished explaining everything, Mo Xuan, seeing Li Yunjing's calm expression, suddenly asked, "Senior Brother, you said you were going into seclusion..."
"That's about it." Li Yunjing stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the rolling green hills and faint spiritual light outside the city. "The framework of Luozhen Province has been set up. I'm at ease with you handling the daily affairs. For the next period of time, I plan to go into seclusion to break through to a higher realm."
With the blessing of the Dao Realm's ascension, the backflow of fortune from the destruction of the Daozhen Sect, and the daily nourishment from the Immortal Vein, his foundation Middle Void Refinement Stage had already been honed to an incredibly solid level.
A few days ago, he had vaguely touched the barrier of the later stages, but he was busy with Jianzhou and the war, and had not had time to cultivate in peace.
Now that Luozhen Province is on the right track, all forces have been properly settled, and the fleet and mines are operating steadily, it is the perfect time to go into seclusion.
"Sect Leader, please rest assured and go into seclusion. With me here, there will be no trouble in the sect and the prefecture." Mo Xuan said solemnly, bowing deeply to assure him.
Having followed Li Yunjing for so long, he knew his senior brother's cultivation pace best. Each time he went into seclusion, it was a leap in strength.
Three days later, inside the Sect Master's cave abode.
Li Yunjing sat cross-legged on the jade bed, his body surrounded by a faint aura of crystal.
"Let's begin."
He closed his eyes, Supreme Unity Pure Subtlety Scripture full speed, his spiritual power surging through his meridians like the Yangtze River.
The barrier of the Middle Void Refinement Stage realm began to slowly loosen under the impact of massive spiritual energy.
The door to the Seclusion Chamber slowly closed, isolating it from all the noise of the outside world.
No one expected that this closure would last for half a year.