The Volunteers' Warm Gathering Dispels Old Worries; a Golden Core's Swift Victory Raises New Hope

Ten days later, Xian Prefecture and Tang County

Tang County, the seat of Xian Prefecture, is slightly different today. The autumn sun should be warm enough to scorch the rice ears, but today it is covered by a layer of light gray clouds. Even the spiritual grass on the field ridges is drooping and has lost its usual luster.

The usually useless Mirage Qi Screen at the city gate kept displaying notices from the Chongming Sect recruiting followers. The conditions listed were extremely good, attracting a large number of Rogue Cultivator to stop in front of the Mirage Qi Screen.

Seeing the eager anticipation in everyone's eyes, the recruitment points in the county remained deserted.

While the Chongming Sect has been stationed in Xian Prefecture for several years and the situation is indeed much more peaceful than under the Ghost Sword Sect, it is still a difficult task to gain the complete respect of all cultivators in Xian Prefecture.

After all, even the Ghost Sword Sect, which had ruled Xian Prefecture for hundreds of years, had never accomplished such a feat. If the Sect Leader Kang Da of the Chongming Sect could achieve such a situation in just a few years, he would truly be a god-like figure.

Lan Geqing the prominent figures among these Rogue Cultivators. He carefully swept the notice over and over again, then turned around and strolled back to the main hall of his own restaurant.

As soon as Lan Geqing stepped across the threshold of Shizhenlou, an atmosphere mixed with the mellow aroma of spirit wine and murmured discussions enveloped him.

At this time of day, the hall would usually be packed.

Because Lan Geqing was willing to give up some profits, peddlers carrying spiritual materials, monks traveling through the mountains, servants from the county official's household, and people from all walks of life loved to gather here to hear some interesting stories.

Today, only seven or eight tables were occupied, and the usual hustle and bustle was gone. People were huddled together, their voices huddled low, as if afraid the wind outside the window would steal their voices.

He wasn't in the mood for pleasantries today, so he simply bowed slightly to a few familiar guests as a greeting before settling down at a mahogany table in the corner.

The waiter, with his keen eyesight, quickly brought over some warm spirit wine and a few side dishes, but unlike usual, he didn't strike up a conversation. He merely glanced quickly at the door before retreating back inside.

Lan Geqing held his wine bowl, his gaze sweeping across the hall: at the table near the door, three unfamiliar rogue Rogue Cultivator, clearly from out of town, were gathered around a copied notice.

They huddled very close together, speaking in hushed tones, being quite cautious. However, due to his slightly lower cultivation level, Lan Geqing, standing at a distance, could still hear the following:

"Those who recruit twenty Spirit Stone and ten stones from White Spirit Valley, and whose cultivation level is above the Late Qi Refinement Refining, may apply for a Law Artifact as needed. All spoils belong to the individual and do not need to be paid to the public or recorded in the nine ranks of merit. The beauties of the Immortal Mountain are all to be obtained." This message was relayed intermittently to my ears.

At the innermost table, Wang Laoshuan, with his full head of white hair, was stroking his beard and sighing, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly.

His cultivation level was average, but he was quite senior among the Rogue Cultivator in Tang County. This old man had gone on a mission with the Ghost Sword Sect in his early years and lost an arm. After that, he only helped people look after spirit fields in the county and rarely got involved in these kinds of things.

"Senior Wang, do you think Chongming Sect is truly generous, or does he have ulterior motives?"

The young Rogue Cultivator, who had no Spirit Stone to buy vegetables and could only drink by the door, couldn't help but speak up, his voice revealing a hint of barely concealed excitement.

This young man had no respectable name or elder brother; outsiders called him Li Erlang. He had only Qi Refinement cultivation for seven or eight years, Qi Refinement hovering around the first or second level of Qi cultivation for a long time.

He only had a rusty iron sword to pretend to be Spirit Artifact. He spent his days guarding people's homes at the town entrance, exchanging spirit grains for food to make ends meet. Therefore, the conditions in the notice were really tempting to him.

Wang Laoshuan raised his eyes, his cloudy pupils sweeping over the young man. Chongming Sect had been in charge of Xian Prefecture for several years, yet this old man was much bolder than the three outsiders.

He tapped his withered fingers on the table for a while. "What could they possibly want? Besides your worthless life, what else could a major Golden Core sect possibly want from you?!"

The old man's voice wasn't loud, but as soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell silent for a moment.

"Back then, the Ghost Sword Sect also recruited righteous followers, and the conditions were even better than this. They agreed to Spirit Vein, but when we went there, they made us charge into battle. Those in front died and were given coffins, but those behind couldn't even have their bodies retrieved!"

Countless lives were lost, yet none of those who claimed the reward were ever seen alive. Eventually, they even stopped bothering to lie. Their Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, each carrying a black sword like a ghostly messenger, wielded spirit locks and seized any cultivator they encountered in the market. There was no place for us to argue or reason!

To be honest, even when the Great Ancestor recruited cultivators from all sides, he wouldn't have offered such terms. No matter how benevolent and righteous he, the Great Sect Leader Kang, is, can he compare to the Great Ancestor?

What about the other prefectures of Huangpi Circuit outside of Huo Prefecture? Disciples of the Ghost Sword Sect would be considered of good birth there; their lives would be incredibly difficult, even if they survived by the skin of their teeth.

These words were like a bucket of cold water, turning Li Erlang's face pale, and he loosened his grip on the paper he was writing.

Zhang Laomu, a Rogue Cultivator next to Wang Laoshuan, chimed in. He had worked as a handyman in a Foundation Establishment sect for several years. Although he was exhausted and sick and didn't earn many Spirit Stones, he still considered himself to know a little about the ways of these major sects.

Seeing that all the cultivators in the hall had been lured over by Wang Laoshuan's words, he immediately put down his wine bowl and confidently declared:

"That's not entirely true. In the few years since Chongming Sect settled in Xian Prefecture, they haven't mistreated us rogue Rogue Cultivator. Last year, when there was a locust plague in Mayang County, that so-called elder of their Spirit Plant Hall even led his disciples to help, which is much better than what happened with the Ghost Sword Sect back then. However..."

He paused, then deliberately lowered his voice. "We are Rogue Cultivator, without any sect or faction. If we really go to the camp, the credit will go to the disciples of other sects, while the hard and tiring work will be ours."

"If we perish inside, just as Brother Wang said, forget about any Dao Path, we won't even be able to leave behind a corpse."

These words were reasonable and well-founded, and all the cultivators agreed with them, but they also dampened Li Erlang's enthusiasm.

Lan Geqing listened, took a sip of wine, and let the alcohol go down his throat. He wasn't particularly surprised by what he saw in the hall.

He had been running the Shizhenlou restaurant in Tang County for four or five years, and had the opportunity to meet several disciples from various sects. In his opinion, the disciples of the Chongming Sect were slightly different from the disciples of other major sects.

But that was only part of it. He shared the same opinion as the two long-time Rogue Cultivator in the hall, but he didn't believe that the Sect Leader Kang Da was truly the reincarnation of Maitreya and had cultivated a Bodhisattva's heart.

Lan Geqing had a family and a business, so he wouldn't be interested in the small amount of merit he could gain by joining the ranks of Rogue Cultivator. He was just afraid that the newly settled Xian Prefecture would be thrown into chaos again, which would affect the family he had acquired with all his savings.

You must understand, if the Ghost Sword Sect hadn't been Chongming Sect Ghost Sword Sect, how could a mere rogue Rogue Cultivator like Lan Geqing have been qualified to rent such a vital thoroughfare as the city gate?

With the two old men setting the tone, the hall suddenly became lively.

Just as Lan Geqing was feeling increasingly anxious, realizing that even the soundproofing of his restaurant might not be able to block out the noise, he heard another guest stepping in.

Looking up, they saw a group of unfamiliar cultivators from out of town.

The moment the group of out-of-town cultivators stepped inside, the discussions in the Food Treasures Pavilion paused for a beat. It wasn't for any other reason than that these people's appearances were completely out of place among ordinary Rogue Cultivator.

The leader was a burly man, about thirty years old, wearing a dark-colored robe with spiritual patterns. The material was "cloud-patterned cotton," which was rare in Xian Prefecture. The collar and cuffs were embroidered with light gold flowing cloud patterns, and when he walked, there was a faint spiritual light flowing in the patterns, indicating that it had been soaked in spiritual power and made by a proper spiritual tailor.

He had a bulging magic bag tied around his waist, with half of a steel halberd protruding from the bag's opening. The scabbard was engraved with fine anti-slip patterns. Although it was only a mid-grade flying sword, it was as shiny as new, clearly indicating that it was regularly maintained with entry-level beast oil.

Those who can use Law Artifact artifacts all know the benefits of such careful nurturing, but judging from the group of Rogue Cultivator in the hall, only disciples from Foundation Establishment sects could afford such extravagance.

He was followed by several companions, whose clothes, though not as fine as the leader's, were still secondhand robes that had been heavily starched.

The group entered with steady steps, showing none of the awkwardness often seen in Rogue Cultivator; instead, they seemed to be returning to their own territory. The leader's gaze swept across the hall, finally settling on the empty table next to Lan Geqing.

"Shopkeeper, bring four jars of 'Azure Mist Brew,' and if you have spirit deer meat, cut two more catties, braised thoroughly." The leading man glanced at the food menu hanging on the wall and spoke in a loud voice, unlike the Rogue Cultivator of Tang County who lowered their voices. He then added, "And a few more plates of refreshing spirit vegetables, quickly."

The waiter was taken aback for a moment, then quickly agreed and went to do so.

This Azure Mist Brew is the signature dish of Shizhenlou. One jar costs two Spirit Stones, and ordinary Rogue Cultivator wouldn't even dare to drink one jar in half a year. But these people just asked for four jars. One meal of theirs was equivalent to an average person's annual income. They were really very generous.

In Shizhenlou, a place Rogue Cultivator impoverished rogue cultivators, this could be considered a lucrative business.

Wang Laoshuan squinted at the man, fiddling with his fingers on his cut sleeve, and couldn't help but ask, "Are you from out of town?"

The leading man turned around and saw that it was an old cultivator with a missing arm. He was quite polite and cupped his hands in greeting. "I am Zhao Wu, from Cloud Horn Prefecture. These gentlemen are my fellow townsmen, all from the Shangzong Yicong."

"Cloud Horn Prefecture? Yi Cong?" These words immediately caused a stir in the hall.

Li Erlang suddenly raised his head, his hand gripping the paper tightening even more; Zhang Laomu also came closer, his eyes full of curiosity.

Seeing that everyone was interested, Zhao Wu didn't hide anything. He picked up the wine jar that the waiter had just brought over, poured himself a bowl, and the wine shimmered with a faint, almost negligible light as it entered the bowl.

"Back when Lord Marquis hadn't yet Core Formation, a few of us answered the call of the Chongming Sect and became their followers." He took a sip of wine, smacked his lips, and didn't find the taste particularly good. However, seeing the expressions of the cultivators in the hall, a hint of pride appeared on his face.

Wang Laoshuan was quite surprised, but after hesitating for a moment, he couldn't help but ask cautiously, "Since Fellow Daoist Zhao has already applied, why is he still..."

The old man's hesitant manner was rather annoying, which made Zhao Wu less inclined to show off.

So he turned away and stopped talking to the old monk, simply focusing on eating the spiritual food on the table and giving a perfunctory reply:

"Who would complain about such wealth and Dao Path?! You have no idea how difficult it is to enlist in Cloud Horn Prefecture. I won't say any more. After this meal, we will go to our tents to await orders, so please forgive us for not speaking further."

Zhao Wu's few words left the cultivators deep in thought. Just then, a laugh came from a corner of the hall, "So this is why you're all being so lavish! It's your last meal before you're executed! You should eat more."

Upon hearing this, the expressions on the faces of the cultivators became quite varied.

Zhao Wu, who was drinking, frowned. He was new to the area and didn't want to cause trouble, but at this moment, one of his young men couldn't hold back and brandished his Law Artifact: "You dog, how dare you bark again?!"

The cultivators in the corner did not back down either. It seemed that a fight was about to break out in the hall, but in the end, it was the manager, Lan Geqing, who stepped forward, bowed to both sides, and then gently advised:

"The superior states that within a ten-mile radius of the city, except during life-or-death duels, no fighting is permitted; otherwise, one will be apprehended and punished by the authorities. I urge you two fellow Daoists to reconsider."

After hearing these sarcastic remarks, the man merely snorted coldly, glared at Zhao Wu and his group, and then stepped out of the restaurant.

On the contrary, the young cultivator who had displayed his Law Artifact looked terrified and hurriedly bowed Lan Geqing: "Thank you for reminding me, fellow Daoist. If I had really been arrested by the authorities, I certainly wouldn't have been able to continue serving as a righteous follower."

Zhao Wu then followed suit and expressed his gratitude. Lan Geqing, unable to contain his curiosity, asked, "Judging from what you fellow Daoists are saying, being a volunteer for the Upper Sect seems like a good job?!"

"It's certainly a good job. As long as you're willing to risk your life and achieve merit, the sect will never be stingy with elixirs, magical Law Artifact, Cultivation Method, and beautiful women. We Rogue Cultivator have neither lineage nor resources Cultivation Method, so even risking our lives for the sake of our Dao Path is worthwhile."

Zhao Wu also felt indebted to Lan Geqing, so he generously offered a few more words without being asked:

"One of my former loyal followers has now been promoted to deputy commander of the city's garrison in a major Xuanwei City, thanks to his merits. Compared to before, he's truly become a figure of immense importance."

Zhao Wu's words immediately enlivened the atmosphere in the hall, and Wang Laoshuan and the others asked questions one after another:

"May I ask, fellow traveler, is everything stated in the notice true?"

"Fellow Daoist, please speak freely: will there truly be no deductions during the post-battle commendation ceremony?!"

"So, are there really any compensations for those who die on the battlefield?!"

Finally, even Li Erlang, who could only lean against the door and drink, couldn't help but break the rules. He hurriedly stepped over the steps, pricked up his ears, and gathered around Zhao Wu's side.

Upon seeing this, the latter and the others behind him displayed somewhat strange expressions.

Ignoring the words of the other cultivators, Zhao Wu instead asked, "If even Marquis of Martial Peace and the others don't believe it, then who among the important figures nearby can we trust?!"

He spoke with great confidence, and those around him believed him simply by looking at his expression.

Just as the cultivators hesitated, a figure suddenly leaped out of the hall and rushed towards the recruitment point.

"It's Li Erlang!"

"This little brat is quick on his feet!"

"Come on, I know how to set up formations. I was almost at the next level. Who knows, I might actually be able to make a name for myself there. Let's go take a look."

Most of the people in the hall had visibly left, with only a handful, such as Wang Laoshuan Zhang Laomu, remaining calm. After all, having been tricked many times before, they were naturally much more cautious than the younger generation.

However, Zhao Wu didn't care whether they believed him or not. He simply sat back down, drank his wine, and answered the curious questions from the cultivators sitting next to him in a nonchalant manner.

Before long, even the prudent Wang Laoshuan could not hold back, leaving only Lan Geqing and the ordinary shop assistants to serve Zhao Wu and the others.

After seeing Zhao Wu and his party off, the shopkeeper used his spiritual eyes to search the recruitment site again, only to find it already bustling with activity.

As groups of experienced righteous men from Cloud Horn Prefecture appeared throughout the county, these men, of varying heights and builds, were all incredibly generous.

It was only through subtle and gradual influence that people began to yearn for change.

And before he knew it, even Lan Geqing gradually began to have some confidence, feeling that Chongming Sect could protect the peaceful place he was in.

---- Tang County Office

The Chongming Sect True Disciple, who had been dispatched by the county magistrate, gave up the main seat to the elders of the sect, while he himself stood respectfully at the bottom, ready to serve.

Kang Rongquan, seated on the high seat before the desk, withdrew his divine sense, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face. He then praised:

"Junior Brother Jin's method is truly excellent. On the surface, it is to send a small number of volunteers who are about to go to battle to be stationed in various counties of Xian Prefecture to serve as the backbone of the newly recruited volunteers, but in reality, it is to use them as the mouthpiece of the sect."

The effect was immediate, and it seemed that in another ten days, the number of followers would be sufficient. Indeed, Junior Brother Jin's move had some of the sect leader's skill in using grand and imposing forces.

Hearing this, Zhu Yunsheng seemed somewhat Qi Ingestion and spoke up, "It's all because Senior Brother worked so hard at the Spirit Plant Hall that we were able to raise enough funds for the relief and rewards for the volunteer soldiers in each county, which led to what we have today."

"Heh, don't always have such petty thoughts," Kang Rongquan shook his head, casually remarked to his junior brother beside him, and then asked, "Are the nineteen heads of the sects in Tang County that I mentioned I wanted to see all here?"

Shan Yong stepped forward and replied, "Senior brother, everyone is here and just waiting for you to call them."

Kang Rongquan seemed to glare at Shan Yong slightly, causing the latter to panic for a moment before he spoke up, "Go and invite him over properly."

Shan Yong suppressed his temper and soon after, the heads of the two False Core sects and seventeen poor families all came to the hall.

After the two sides had exchanged greetings, Kang Rongquan, who was at the head of the table, said in a gentle voice, "I will have to trouble you all this time."

Although he was the True Cultivator, none of the people opposite him, including the two Pill Masters, showed any disrespect despite Kang Rongquan's warm tone. They all bowed and said, "Elder, you flatter us."

Everyone in Xian Prefecture knows that Kang Rongquan is known as Spirit Plant, but his disciples are truly second to none in their efforts to eliminate bandit and Evil Cultivator in Xian Prefecture.

In just a few years, the number of Liang families that were jointly destroyed by this Elder of Spirit Plant and two Pill Master borrowed from the Kang family of the Chenjiang Kang Clan was as high as three, which was truly alarming.

He heard that his elders in the sect had told him to focus on his main profession and not to steal the limelight from other sects.

However, thanks to the superior bone fertilizer made from the spiritual fields of those families and the corpses of Evil Cultivator, Kang Rongquan managed to get the Spirit Plant business of the Chongming Sect on the right track within a few years, leaving the sect's elders speechless.

Therefore, the various families in Tang County who were assigned to serve under the Spirit Plant Hall inevitably felt uneasy.

Kang Rongquan seemed to quickly notice the unusual situation. He tapped his fingertips, and a stack of silver papers on the table in front of him fell neatly into the hands of the group of officials in the hall.

"This is..." the silver-haired Pill Master the group asked.

Kang Rongquan immediately replied:

"My sect leader is aware of your concerns. All the assets of the sect that you previously reported, including Spirit Vein, immortal mountains, mines, forests, rivers and seas, have now been copied into the sect's register."

The sect leader has already affixed his seal, promising that everyone must not treat this battle as a mere formality. For the next two hundred years, regardless of the decline of any family, the Chongming Sect will not allow outsiders to lay a finger on these family businesses.

As soon as these words were spoken, the complexions of the cultivators improved considerably within moments.

You must understand that even if they are not as heinous as those families wiped out by the Chongming Sect, these leaders still lived under the rule of sects like the Ghost Sword Sect. If you really look closely, how many of them are truly clean?

Normally, life is precarious, and people are afraid that the Chongming Sect will find fault with them and cut off their lineage. Although they still have to risk their lives, at least they have a calming talisman by their side, which makes them feel much better.

As for believing or not believing? How could I dare not believe?!

Fortunately, the reputation of the Sect Leader Kang Da Chongming Sect for his integrity was as deeply ingrained as his penchant for deceiving women, enough for everyone present to take a gamble.

"Furthermore," Kang Rongquan reached out and brushed the xiezhi (mythical beast) handle on the table, and a beam of light shot from the beast's eyes as it appeared in the hall and spoke:

"The sect leader has already opened up the Double Brightness Treasury. Families who perform meritorious service can Merit Points to exchange for valuable items within, and may also receive tax reductions in the future."

This made all the cultivators in the hall happy. After all, it was good to have something to look forward to, something that would benefit their own cultivation. It wouldn't be a bad idea to give some of their own disciples and children a piece of the pie.

It seems that Chongming Sect is much as rumored. Although they usually treat wealthy families harshly, they are still willing to give some benefits to those who are willing to work hard.

Working for this family is much more profitable than working for the Ghost Sword Sect back then!!

Before the joyful smiles of the cultivators in the Tang County had faded, a streak of blue light suddenly shot through the air from outside the eaves and landed directly in front of Kang Rongquan's desk.

A talisman wrapped in spiritual light arrived. Kang Rongquan lightly tapped his fingertip, and the talisman transformed into a stream of light that entered his palm. He only glanced at it twice, but a glint of light flashed in his originally calm eyes.

When he looked up, the heads of the various families in the hall had stopped whispering and all eyes were on him. Even the silver-haired Pill Master, who had been somewhat cautious just moments before, unconsciously clenched the silver paper in his hand.

"Please rest assured, everyone." Kang Rongquan's voice was a few decibels louder than before as he slowly recounted the contents of the message: "We just received a message from the front lines that the Fei Household patriarch led the Cloud Horn Prefecture army to attack Huangpi Circuit and won the first battle. Our clan's Elder Jiang encountered the Rouge Temple Golden Core Kongchenzi of the Hongfen Temple and killed him in ten breaths."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted in low gasps of astonishment. The silver-haired Pill Master looked up abruptly, his cloudy eyes filled with disbelief.

Kongchenzi was considered the last remaining Golden Core Rouge Temple, having achieved his Golden Core state over two hundred years ago. Back then, even Wu Jiang Qing at the Ghost Sword Sect Swordless High Cultivator, could hardly match him. Yet Chongming Sect of the Chongming Sect, who had only recently achieved the Golden Core state, was able to kill him in battle?

The news of this victory was more effective than any amount of reassurance; the tension within the hall dissipated. The heads of various households in the Tang County were no longer forcing smiles; their eyes revealed genuine confidence.

Kang Rongquan avoided looking at the crowd and gazed out the window.

I noticed that the pale gray clouds that had been shrouding Tang County seemed to have dissipated somewhat.

The autumn sun shone through the clouds onto the sacred fields outside the county government office. The sacred grasses between the field ridges regained their luster, and even the wind felt less oppressive and more cheerful.

He remembered what his great-uncle had said, "This messy war won't last long, don't worry."