Chapter 217: Widely Recruit Virtuous Talents

"Hiss!"

Mu Yi looked at the number of respondents on the panel, a long string, couldn't count how many zeros were on it, so many that he thought his eyesight was failing.

After some consideration, Mu Yi used the comprehensive net to filter.

"Requirement: eighth-rank divine position!"

The number of applicants suddenly dropped by one-third, yet it remained an astronomical figure.

Mu Yi had no choice but to add various restrictions.

"Not native to Jiuzhou."

"Not from the Hundred Schools."

"Possessing special talent."

"Free of karmic entanglement."

Mu Yi sorted the qualified applicants by bid from high to low, and discovered that there were indeed many talents.

Shan Kui

Identity: Mountain God of Mount Meng in the Chaoyang Realm of Jiuzhou (ninth rank).

Biological rank: 19

Occupation: Level 10 Spirit Sacrificer / Level 9 Chief Sacrificer

Unlike other applicants, it's obvious this one has background, and what intrigued Mu Yi was that, because he slew the transforming dragon flood dragon, his reputation in the Four Seas Dragon Palace camp was lukewarm, yet he didn't expect a true dragon to come forward and apply.

However, the first one is an earth deity, not very good at controlling the sea, whereas Ao Mo, son of the Dragon King, is obviously a good choice.

Ou Zhizhu

Because they limited to non-Hundred Schools, the applicants that appeared were basically various spirits of mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas, though most of these spirits didn't have much ability.

Price: 50-year follow period, smelting clan forging inheritance

Although there's no hard rule, most true dragons join the Heavenly Court.

Mu Yi somewhat unexpectedly flipped through information about the smelting clan, finding that the smelting clan is still hard to plan, being neither human nor god nor immortal nor demon nor monster.

Immediately after, Mu Yi came across another special talent.

Ao Mo

"Hmm?" Mu Yi stopped flipping and saw an interesting candidate.

They even brought out their own inheritance, showing the smelting clan has spared no expense, probably wanting to make a lateral move, achieving merit in the Underworld to rise to the Fire Department of the Heavenly Court?

A mature master smith is still a great temptation for Mu Yi, especially since they can personally guide the inheritance; this counts as what Mu Yi needs most, and with a forging department, his army's transcendent equipment would have a place to land.

A true dragon, upon reaching adulthood, can become a legend; holding a seventh-rank divine post in the Heavenly Court and becoming a dragon king of a great river should be no problem, and even if Ao Mo strives, going to a subordinate world of Jiuzhou to become an East Sea Dragon King is also not impossible.

Mu Yi roughly flipped through; a high bid doesn't necessarily mean suitability, so he still needs to make as comprehensive an assessment as possible.

"Abundant incense."

Race: true dragon

Born from the spirit of heaven and earth within a volcano, generally belonging under the Heavenly Court's Fire Department, it can be considered a follower who worships the gods of the Fire Department.

Identity: Son of the East Sea Dragon King of the Mingming Realm of Jiuzhou.

Biological rank: 18

Occupation: Level 10 Dragon Guard / Level 8 Dragon Envoy

Mu Yi pondered, speaking frankly, he was a bit moved; the special abilities of those earlier applicant mountain and water gods and such spirits were basically to sort out the earth veins and water veins, and these abilities are quite useful.

Race: mountain spirit

Price: 10-year follow period, black gold trident (legendary)

Faction: Four Seas Dragon Palace

Identity: Smelting clan of the Xuyang Realm of Jiuzhou.

"Mingming Realm East Sea Dragon King's son……Ao Mo……"

Nevertheless, even after such filtering, those meeting the conditions still number in the hundreds of thousands, making Mu Yi realize for the first time how vast Jiuzhou's coverage is in the multiverse.

No matter the reason, a true dragon wanting to apply for a divine post in the Underworld has a rather interesting story behind it.

From any angle, Ao Mo seems like a good choice.

Race: spirit of heaven and earth

Special ability: command wind and rain

Recruit them, negotiate well, place them in the main world, and they can completely sort out water veins and earth veins, increasing the concentration of the world's heavenly-earth essence, all benefits and no harm.

Biological rank: 18

Occupation: Level 10 blacksmith / Level 8 master smith

Therefore Mu Yi wants some applicants as special as possible; this is also why he didn't orient the eighth-rank divine position toward disciples of the Hundred Schools.

Special ability: smelting clan iron forging

What they excel at is the forging method named after the smelting clan.

For those who would rather be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail, the Dragon King is far more appealing than the Underworld's petty officials.

Mark it down, then continue flipping; after Mu Yi has finished reviewing the hundreds of thousands, finding no other special seedlings, Mu Yi chooses to circle the highest-bid mountain god and water god.

They can't be compared to mountain gods like Kunlun Mountain God or Zhongshan Mountain God, nor to great deities like the Western Peak and Eastern Peak; most are just mountain gods of small hills and rivers.

Mu Yi marked it down; if there's no better candidate, this one will be the first applicant.

But, these abilities are completely crushed by the first one.

Special ability: sort out earth veins

Price: 10-year follow period, five hundred years of earth vein essence

Shui Chi

Identity: Jiuzhou Zhengde Realm Yishui Water God (9th Pin)

Biological Level: 19

Occupation: Level 10 Ritual Spirit / Level 9 Chief Ritualist

Race: Water Spirit

Special Talent: Regulating Water Meridians

Price: 10-year follow period, 500 years of Water Meridian Essence

Mu Yi was unsure of the value of the earth meridian essence and water meridian essence, but in the comprehensive network evaluation, these two were the highest bidders.

After confirming them, Mu Yi directly received the response from these four.

……

Zhao Ming Realm East Sea Dragon Palace

The Zhao Ming Realm East Sea Dragon King stared at his youngest son, his face full of disappointment that iron would not become steel.

"This is your choice: give up the Heavenly Court divine position and go to the Underworld to become a yin official?"

Just as Mu Yi had thought, the old Dragon King had already arranged Ao Mo's future; after Ao Mo becomes a Legend, he will recommend him and directly place him in a vacant world to serve as a Dragon King.

"Even if you want to go to the Underworld, why must you consort with these dragon-slaying rabble! Do you know the attitude of the native Four Seas Dragon Palace toward him?"

Accompanied by the old Dragon King's fury, the Zhao Ming Realm East Sea's waves surged, layer upon layer of huge waves crashing onto the sea surface.

"Father, that only proves he has the ability, right? The native Dragon Palace wouldn't even dare to act against the Scarlet Lotus Third Prince!" However Ao Mo wore a look of utter indifference.

The Four Seas Dragon Clan governs the waters of Jiuzhou under heaven, yet compared to true Heavenly Court great gods, they are utterly insignificant.

"You..." the old Dragon King spluttered, unable to speak from anger.

"I am now a god of the Underworld; even you, Father, cannot interfere—I'm leaving!" Ao Mo said, turning to respond to the comprehensive network and depart.

He dislikes coercion and being lectured; this Dragon Palace is strict with rules, and his own father is a nag, whose lectures always make him resentful.

"Wait!" the old Dragon King, face dark, reached into the void and pulled out a spear, throwing it to Ao Mo.

"Sea-Stabilizing Spear?"

Looking at the weapon in his hand, Ao Mo froze; this was the old Dragon King's treasured heirloom, normally not even allowed for the dragon princes and princesses to touch, yet he unexpectedly handed it to himself at this moment.

"You've already pledged your own weapon, the black-gold trident, to someone else—don't even think about taking it back; our Dragon Palace never lacks treasures!"

"Get lost!" Having said that, the old Dragon King turned away, unwilling to look at Ao Mo any longer.

"Father, take care!" Ao Mo bowed and departed.

"You've stepped into a great whirlpool!"

The old Dragon King watched Ao Mo's retreating figure, his eyes extremely complex; the reason for his anger ultimately stemmed from his own helplessness.

Just as Ao Mo said, although he is the East Sea Dragon King, in reality he holds the same rank as Mu Yi, making it impossible for him to change Underworld appointments.

Moreover, Mu Yi, who can directly put divine positions up for sale, and he, a Dragon King who merely relies on seniority, are completely different matters.

Even knowing that Ao Mo stepped into a whirlpool, he is powerless to change it—that is what makes him most furious.

……

"You are Ao Mo!" Mu Yi looked at the first respondent who answered the summons.

At a glance, he roughly understood why the other had given up his future Dragon King position to come answer his summons.

The other didn't look like a dragon prince but rather like a battle-hardened general who could conquer and fight well, wearing impressive armor, his eyes revealing a golden menace that was imposing without anger.

"Ao Mo pays respects to the Supreme God!" Ao Mo, though he dislikes rules, being of Dragon Palace origin, observed full etiquette.

"Originally I intended to let you manage a sea region for me, but after seeing you I changed my mind!"

Mu Yi cracked a smile; he sensed a belligerent aura from Ao Mo—letting such a person manage a sea region would be a gross waste of talent.

"Are you interested in joining me in conquering the four directions? You could be my vanguard!"

"Conquer the four directions?" Ao Mo laughed excitedly.

He had guessed right; when he first learned of Mu Yi's story, he suspected Mu Yi was no ordinary yin god, so when he heard of the god-conquering campaign, he unhesitatingly pledged his own weapons as the price.

Conquering the four directions is not merely the affair of mundane dynasties; the immortals and gods of the Heavenly Court and Underworld likewise bear this burden.

Otherwise, how could Jiuzhou's vast dominion have arisen, if not by immortals and gods conquering the four directions, robbing the rich to aid the poor?

"General, I, Ao Mo, am willing to serve as your vanguard!" Ao Mo bowed his head in salute.

In just a few words, the two had reached a tacit understanding, and the atmosphere instantly heated up.

"Come, come, come, Ao Mo, this is foreign tea—drink this cup!" Mu Yi enthusiastically greeted Ao Mo with Silver Moon red tea.

Ao Mo took the cup and drank it in one gulp, his eyes brightening; this flavor was indeed different from Jiuzhou's taste.

As Mu Yi and Ao Mo were bonding, the other three also arrived one after another.

After a brief discussion, Mu Yi sent Ou Zhizhu to Wen Ren, who then brought him to liaise with the authorities.

As for the Mountain God and Water God, these two deities had no intention of going into battle to slay enemies; instead they chose to stick to their old trade, regulating the mountain and water meridians.

"You two, during your follow period, are to follow First One Divine Lord in regulating the world's mountain and water meridians—any doubts?"

First One emerged from the earth meridian, glanced at Mu Yi, then turned his head toward the Mountain God and Water God.

"You two, during your follow period, are to follow First One Divine Lord in regulating the world's mountain and water meridians—any doubts?"

"We will obey the Supreme God's command!"

Sunflower and Water Edict directly bowed before First One; not only was it Mu Yi's appointment, but merely seeing First One made them feel the difference in rank.

Just as Mu Yi's Lord of Reincarnation controls the life-and-death cycle of the main world, First One's Kunlun Mountain God position in this world devoid of other deities holds sway over the main world's mountains and rivers.

Even without a Heavenly Court divine position, just by rank they utterly outclass the two Mountain and Water Gods.

"First One, this is entrusted to you!"

Mu Yi took out the earth meridian essence and water meridian essence and handed them to First One.

First One's eyes lit up; he directly struck the earth meridian essence and water meridian essence into Kunlun Mountain, bringing his two new subordinates to vanish into the earth and water meridians.

Just in an instant, Mu Yi felt that Kunlun Mountain seemed to be growing, and the heaven and earth essence around Kunlun Mountain became even richer, and vitality became even more lush.

Mu Yi grinned so wide he couldn't close his mouth; he had done nothing yet gotten all these good things for free, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Indeed, I should have found two more strategists to give me advice; this smart person's mind is just different—Wen Ren's single simple piece of advice yields more than the gains I would get from running several Dungeons.

After the four eight-rank divine positions were granted, Mu Yi no longer felt the restriction on the remaining nine-rank divine positions as heavy.

The reason I didn't give positions to the Hundred Schools is mainly because involving school disputes is indeed difficult to allocate; you can't let the Legalists take eight-rank divine positions and the Confucians take nine-rank, can you?

By then, handling internal conflicts would be a big hassle, so Wen Ren suggested that Mu Yi uniformly levy a nine-rank tax on the Hundred Schools' students, which would both show goodwill and maximally resolve internal conflicts.

Being a commander isn't just about combat strength; one must also consider balance, which is also a process a commander must learn.

The disciples of the Hundred Schools are obviously far more prosperous than those of the Mountain God and Water God's wild ways, and they seem to have focused their goals on the nine-rank from the start; Mu Yi didn't see anyone competing for eight-rank positions.

"Yang Family Manor, Yang Weiping? Rank 14 war commander, leading three hundred rank 13 dual-talent shock cavalry! Airflow control and high-speed movement? Taken!"

"Guan Family Temple, Guan Lingling? Rank 14 fierce general, leading three hundred rank 12 dual-talent sword-wielding officers? Sharp attack and stored-power burst? Taken!"

"Gongshu Family, Gongshu Ba? Overbearing mechanical art? Taken!"

"Shangqing Observatory, Shan Ruoxuan? Proficient in talismans? Taken!"

The seventy-two quotas vanished in an instant; Mu Yi recruited a large number of Hundred Schools' disciples, from all schools and sects, whereas, contrary to his original expectation of recruiting only Military Strategists, he ended up enlisting just ten.

However, these ten Military Family Descendants basically all brought their own retinues, which was exactly the effect Mu Yi had wanted from the start.

His own personal guard, the Mu Family Army, should by definition be considered heavy infantry, so the followers attached to these ten Military Family Descendants he chose are basically all sorts of flamboyant troop types.

Some are responsible for pursuing fugitives, some for breaking formations, some for long-range firepower suppression, and some for point-blank sniping…

After all this, Mu Yi's available tactics become extraordinarily rich.

Before, Mu Yi could only choose to charge forward in a single-line long snake formation, then flank the enemy from both wings; now at least he can execute a detouring flanking maneuver, attacking from both sides.

Mu Yi assigned the other Hundred Schools' disciples to Wen Ren for coordination.

For these disciples, although it's not quite what they originally thought, being able to obtain a divine position without restrictions is already the best choice for them.

After finishing with the trivial matters, Mu Yi began training his new army; after multiple military units gathered together, wanting to integrate the different units and coalesce the army's will became far more complicated than before.

Before going onto the battlefield, at least they need to break in.

This not only coordinates the cooperation among the various military units, but also coordinates Mu Yi's cooperation with those units.