Hehuan Demands People

---- Huangpi Circuit, Xian Prefecture, Ghost Sword Sect Dojo

"Core Formation Manual?" Kang Dabao frowned slightly upon receiving the letter. After pondering for a moment, he stood up from his high seat and took a few steps.

After all, the current Sect Leader Kang Da has a deep connection with the Ying Prefecture Fei Household, and he owes so many favors. Having the opportunity to repay some of them can be considered a good thing.

Therefore, Kang Dabao did not hesitate for long before handing a previously abridged copy of the manuscript to He Degong, and softly instructed him:

"This is a very important item. When you return, don't Xu Liuxian, lest you miss something. Once you hand it over to the Second, the matter will be considered settled."

But a solemn expression immediately appeared on He Degong's brow as he took the brocade box containing the Jade Slip from the hands of the Sect Leader Kang Da and said in a resounding voice:

"Brother, rest assured, even if I lose my life, I will not lose this thing."

"Haha, relax, this isn't as serious as you think, brother," Sect Leader Kang Da said with a light laugh, then added:

"The Double Brightness Caravan's business is of utmost importance, so please keep a close eye on it these days. Buy any healing pills or rare Spirit Plant you can, regardless of how much more expensive they are than usual. Don't worry about saving money for me."

"I understand," He Degong replied, knowing that Kang Dabao's explanation made sense.

Although the He Household head's cultivation aptitude was rather ordinary, and he was now over a hundred years old and could not do much for long, he had experience in business and managing his household over the years, and was able to sense the impending storm outside.

This skill is something that many True Cultivators and Pill Master may not possess, and it is one of the reasons why he can still lead the Double Brightness Caravan to this day.

However, He Degong has not yet decided which member of the He Household will succeed him after his death.

After all, the Double Brightness Caravan is quite large, and if He Degong, who has a close relationship with the leaders of the Chongming Sect, were to die, and if the Sect Leader Kang Da were to find someone trustworthy in the He Household, then this assignment might not necessarily remain with the He Household.

For example, Shan Shijie, the head of the Shan Household, has made considerable progress in his cultivation and is also ruthless. He specifically added Zhang Le as a connection and seems to have some insight into the matter of commerce. He is a good candidate to succeed He Degong.

Many of the younger generation of the He Household family are engaged in commerce, but they all lack a certain shrewdness. To be honest, they are no match for their son-in-law Double Brightness.

As He Degong was deep in thought, another talisman came in on a gentle breeze and slowly landed in the hand of Sect Leader Kang Da.

"Hmm?" The latter unfolded the letter and glanced at it, his expression changing slightly. He then folded the letter and tucked it into his sleeve, smiling softly at He Degong:

"Brother, you've had a long and arduous journey. Old Ye 've carefully prepared all the goods that need to be brought back to Mountain South for sale, as well as the local products that need to be brought back to the gentlemen of the Duke's mansion."

Other items to be delivered to the Double Brightness Treasury have also been listed, labeled, and sealed with spiritual seals. Don't forget to carefully check them on the return journey.

There's a nice restaurant in this city called Songshi Tower, which sells mutton from West Prefecture. The chef's preparation makes it incredibly delicious. I'll have Shilun go and prepare a feast. I'll come find you for drinks tonight after I've finished my business."

He Degong knew that this was Sect Leader Kang Da of saying goodbye, and he was about to bow and turn to leave when the latter tugged at his sleeve and added, "That mutton is very nourishing; don't eat too much."

He Degong couldn't even remember the last time he joked with this elder brother. This warmed the old man's heart, and he smiled, "That's just what I like."

After the two laughed for a while, and He Degong left the room, Sect Leader Kang Da gradually stopped smiling and sent out a talisman to summon Jiang Qing.

Although the latter was practicing swordsmanship in seclusion, upon hearing that his senior brother had summoned him, he immediately put aside his urgent matters and rushed over.

After Jiang Qing entered the hall, Kang Dabao dismissed his attendants and handed him the letter he had just received. Jiang Qing examined it for a while, his expression unchanged, but when he spoke, there was still some doubt in his eyes:

"Is Martial Uncle Lian telling us to recruit more cultivators and send them to Three Ting Prefectures? Senior Brother, what's going on? Is something else brewing?"

"I don't know, but the Hehuan Sect wanting people can't be a good thing, right?"

The letter contained very little information, and even Kang Dabao couldn't glean much from it. He could only furrow his brow further, and after some thought, came up with a rather unwise idea:

"It's alright. Xian Prefecture is so big, there are plenty of evil cultivators and Evil Cultivator. First, identify those villains who were selected to be recruited into the army, lock them in their spirit shackles, and hand them over to Shilun and Bian Hu. Tell them to quickly take a group of men and escort them to Three Ting Prefectures to be handed over to Martial Uncle Lian."

Jiang Qing didn't care much about the fate of these villains, but upon hearing this explanation, he immediately became tense and hurriedly said, "Then we'd better hurry. Yesterday, Anle seemed to say that he would take them and bestow the talismans upon them today. If we're slow, I'm afraid there won't be many left."

"Yes, go quickly. But even if they've all been given talismans, it won't matter. This Xian Prefecture has been managed by sects like the Ghost Sword Sect for so long, it's hard for many good cultivators to survive. If it's not enough, just go and capture some."

"Yes, Junior Brother, I'll take care of it right away!"

----Outside the Ghost Sword Sect Prison

Having just received his brand-new armor, You Xiaobao slowly approached the Double Brightness Alliance disciple guarding the cell. He had just finished handing over a group of captured cultivators and was about to chat with him when he saw another acquaintance emerge from among them. He immediately stopped what he was doing and quickly clasped his hands in greeting.

"You Xiaobao greets Senior Zhu. It has been a long time since I have seen your esteemed face. It is truly an honor to meet you today!"

Zhu Yunsheng, who was stopped by him, did have some impression of You Xiaobao, after all, he was the one who guided the latter when he rented that spiritual land in Phoenix Forest Mountain.

Moreover, over the years, among the more than four hundred families in Cold Crow Mountain, there have been few heads of families who have managed their businesses to such a great degree of prosperity as You Xiaobao.

"So it's You Household. It's been a long time. Judging from your armor, you've been promoted to the rank of General. How was it? Did you achieve any success this time?"

Unexpectedly, this dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator would actually take the time to exchange pleasantries with him. You Xiaobao felt flattered and his tone became much more excited:

"It's all thanks to your guidance, senior. Last time, I accompanied Steward He to lead the elite troops to surround a group of routs from sects. That's how we managed to cut off some worthless Qi Refinement heads and capture a seriously injured True Cultivator."

"A true warrior indeed!"

Upon hearing Zhu Yunsheng's praise, You Xiaobao felt that the scene of the Grass Deer he had just acquired dying tragically under his crotch was no longer particularly horrifying.

However, the former had no time to say more, and simply said in a low voice, "It seems there are vacancies in the Crimson Zhang Guard. If You Household is interested, you can also write to the Chongming Sect to seek me out. I am but a lowly person within the sect, but it is not difficult for me to mediate such trivial matters."

"Thank you, senior."

"I have other duties to attend to, so I will take my leave now,"

"Respectfully seeing off Senior," You Xiaobao said, bowing and looking up, his smile still lingering. After all, the Pine Wind Volunteers was not a regular army, while the Crimson Zhang Guard was different.

If one is selected, not only will one's resources be far greater than before, but one will also receive genuine teachings from True Cultivator and even hear False Core teachings.

While it is true that they will have to go through many tough and arduous Pine Wind Volunteers cannot fight, it goes without saying which side has a better fortuitous opportunity for Foundation Establishment.

You Xiaobao is still some time away from being eighty, but as his luck has improved over the years, he has also developed some ambition.

The Double Brightness Alliance disciple on duty in that cell clearly understood the value of Zhu Yunsheng's promise. After all, even disciples like him might not be able to join the Crimson Zhang Guard.

At this point, there was no need for You Xiaobao to strike up a conversation. The disciple on duty immediately dropped his icy expression and took the initiative to approach him, becoming quite warm and friendly.

You Xiaobao was not Chongming Sect disciple of the Chongming Sect, a Golden Core sect, he was still an invaluable connection for the head of his small family.

Before long, the tightly closed door was suddenly pushed open from the inside.

"Ahhh!!"

A sharp, piercing scream suddenly burst forth from within, causing You Xiaobao's heart to tremble violently, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

However, he had not completely lost his mind. Seeing that the Double Brightness Alliance disciples beside him had the same expression, he knew that something must have happened in the cell, which was why the voices that were not supposed to come out were leaked, making his heart tighten.

"Please, senior, don't struggle! Perhaps you can still retain some dignity!"

A gentle voice came from inside, easily drowning out the shrill scream. A few moments later, the cell door was blown shut by a gust of wind, the loud noise making You Xiaobao's face turn pale and his legs tremble.

"That sound is truly terrifying! Could it be a high-ranking cultivator from a powerful sect refining a human elixir inside?!"

----Inside the cell

Liu Ya, glancing at the Foundation Establishment True Cultivator lying on the ground, now a pool of blood, sighed towards Jin Shilun, "Is this because we failed to control the spell? Senior Brother, another one has been crippled."

The latter also frowned, after all, this Second Tier Enlisted Army Talisman was quite valuable. But now, there were only about 51 Foundation Establishment True Cultivator had successfully converted into spirit slaves.

If this continues, I'm afraid I'll have to explain myself to my stingy master.

Jin Shilun pondered for a while, but still had no solution, so he could only explain:

"Hmm, let's try one more person. If they still cannot be granted the talisman, then let's drop this matter for now. I'll go to the sect leader to apologize first, and then we'll make further plans."

"Yes,"

After receiving the order, Liu Ya threw a red talisman out the door.

At this moment, disciples were already waiting at the door. Upon seeing the commotion, they picked up a braided cultivator who had been placed in a spirit True Cultivator and rustled as they stepped inside.

Jin Shilun, who was seated at the head of the table, sized him up for a moment and asked, "Who are you?"

The cultivator below, seeing the blood everywhere, was not afraid; he simply raised his head and replied, "Yes, sir."

"Insolence!!" Liu Ya slammed a golden brick down, slapping the braided cultivator True Cultivator, nearly taking his life.

Seeing this, Jin Shilun's tone remained emotionless; he simply asked, "Is it possible to speak properly now?"

Before the True Cultivator could respond, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of black blood. After recovering for a while, instead of answering Jin Shilun's question, he gave a bitter laugh and said:

"I, Wu Shigu, have dominated Xian Prefecture for so many years, yet I am to be humiliated by you two brats! This damned Heaven is truly unjust!"

Jin Shilun ignored the man's lamentations; since the latter remained silent, he began to recite the charges against the True Cultivator:

"Wu Shigu, originally from the Water Bridge Barbarians. He was Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator and once founded a sect in Stone Chamber County, Xian Prefecture, causing havoc within a hundred miles. He believed in the barbarian religion's treacherous methods, eating a thousand young boys alive and dissecting pregnant women to extract their virginity."

"Hey, hey, hey, if you want to kill, kill; if you want to torture, torture. Don't pretend to be a judge and think you can get away with it!"

"Nairmu!"

Jin Shilun possessed some self-control, but Liu Ya, standing to the side, could hardly contain herself. She wished she could smash Wu Shigu in half with the gold brick in her hand, leaving him with a breath to bestow the talisman.

However, having retained some rationality, he simply added another layer of spiritual restriction to the barbarian cultivator, causing Wu Shigu to feel an unbearable stinging pain in every acupoint of his body, as if his bones were being eroded.

"Heh, cough cough. You little brats of the Chongming Sect have really learned your sect leader's hypocritical manner perfectly." With just a bitter laugh, Wu Shigu drew the attention of the two people in the room back to him.

"Cough, cough." Wu Shigu hunched over and coughed incessantly, his disheveled braids smearing blood from the corners of his mouth, making his dark face appear even more vivid. He seemed oblivious, however, and instead grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowish-brown, decayed teeth.

"In the end, isn't the goal still to capture us and make us into slaves? Only people like you from the Chongming Sect can endure being treated as lackeys of the Immortal Dynasty Chongming Sect."

As the saying goes, "When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked," meaning that once the Kuang Household clan truly reclaims the empire, even if your family produces a True Person, you will still be controlled by them.

Haha, what good do you think you'll get? Supplies, women—which of those can you keep?

At this point, Wu Shigu's tone became even more solemn, and he stared at Jin Shilun with sharp eyes, coldly asking:

"You accuse me of poisoning the land for miles around, yet your family's cultivation doesn't use human pills?! Your family has such strict rules, boasting that no one within your jurisdiction is allowed to use mortals as materials or resources for cultivation?! Isn't this corrupting cultivation and blocking the Dao Path?!"

Tell me, where in the world is there a family as demanding as yours?! Does your sect leader really think that what even the Kuang Household struggles to accomplish, your family can do?!

Wu Shigu seemed to genuinely believe he was not at fault.

These questions landed with a resounding force, so powerful that Liu Ya, standing to the side, clenched her teeth and gripped the gold brick in her hand tightly.

However, Jin Shilun, who was clearly more experienced, was not particularly annoyed by Wu Shigu's arrogant demeanor, nor did he have the mind to explain to Wu Shigu that the Chongming Sect truly did not accept the Human Elixir. He simply said in a cold voice:

"Fellow Daoist, your crimes are already unforgivable. If it weren't for my master's benevolence, who specifically instructed me to give you a chance to confess, do you think I would have wanted to go through this ordeal?!"

A surge of savagery welled up within Wu Shigu, and his eyes turned bloodshot as he stared directly at Jin Shilun without showing the slightest fear.

"Junior Brother Liu, bestow the talisman!"

Liu Ya had been waiting impatiently. Upon hearing the sound, she immediately took action. Just then, the door to the quiet room opened, and a sword-wielding cultivator stepped in.

"Third Martial Uncle/ Martial Uncle Jiang."

"Hmm," Jiang Qing responded lightly, his bright eyes glancing at Wu Shigu killing his Water Bridge Barbarians Clan's Pill Master, and the blood courage in his body immediately dissipated, and even his usually proud neck could no longer be held up.

Even though he knew that Jiang Qing was a cultivator of the same level, the feeling that Wu Shigu was no less than that of the Golden Core cultivators he had been fortunate enough to see before.

Furthermore, if we are truly discussing the aura of killing and ruthlessness, then perhaps it is this Double Brightness Jiang Third who is even more terrifying.

With just a glance, Jiang Qing subdued the previously arrogant Wu Shigu. He wasn't particularly pleased, and simply asked, "How much is left here?"

Liu Ya immediately understood, and without even glancing at the register in her hand, respectfully replied, "Reporting to Martial Uncle Jiang, there is one Pill Master, twenty-two True Cultivator, and fifteen hundred Qi Refinement."

"Hmm, that's enough." Jiang Qing nodded in agreement, then added, "By order of our senior brother, the sect leader, you, Shilun, must immediately gather Fellow Bian Hu and these people and head to Three Ting Prefectures. Hand them over to Martial Uncle Lian for his use."

"Martial Uncle Lian Uncle-Master?!" Jin Shilun murmured in surprise, but did not utter a word, only respectfully replying, "This disciple obeys."

After speaking, Jiang Qing didn't want to linger and was about to leave the cell when he glanced at Wu Shigu, who was slumped on the ground, and suddenly asked, "If I remember correctly, I was the one who captured you?"

Wu Shigu trembled at these few words, completely losing his previous fearless demeanor. He immediately knelt down. "Yes, yes, I was indeed ignorant of my own limitations. I was captured by Elder Jiang!"

"I thought you were really fearless."

A brilliant sword light descended upon him, causing even the True Cultivator Wu Shigu to squint his eyes. Only after reacting did he realize the danger.

"Oh, this is terrible! I'm no longer alive!!"

Just as Wu Shigu felt a pang of sorrow, he did not feel anything unusual about his vital organs, except for a lightness at the back of his head.

Originally, his disheveled hair had been cleaved apart strand by strand by a sharp sword light, and the dirt in between had been wiped away. His messy hair was now smoother than freshly applied putty.

However, Wu Shigu felt no discomfort whatsoever; on the contrary, he was filled with the joy of surviving a calamity.

But at this moment, Jiang Qing didn't even glance at them, and instead turned to Jin Shilun and said, "There's no need to pity such filthy goods. If they behave disrespectfully on the way, just kill them."

Upon hearing this, Wu Shigu trembled and hurriedly kowtowed repeatedly.

Amidst the thumping sounds, Jiang Qing Qingfu whispered another instruction, "There might be some people in Three Ting Prefectures who want to make things difficult for my family. Be vigilant. If Martial Uncle Lian has any trouble, remember to come back and report to me and Senior Brother Sect Leader. Don't be negligent."

"Disciple understands."