Chapter 180: Managing a Sect is Truly Troublesome

Two days later, the various areas on the mountain of the Six Suns Study had basically been tidied up.

As expected of Cultivators, their work speed was indeed fast; basic Magic Arts could be used in many places, and issues like transporting materials could also be solved with Storage Bags.

For now, only the main hall and the plaza had been built; other residential houses and functional buildings had yet to be constructed.

Ruan Xing then proceeded to assemble this foundation.

She was the Sect Master, Ruan Tao and Hu San were Deputy Sect Masters, and the Fairy and the Demon Lord were Supreme Elders.

Under them were divisions such as the Law Enforcement Hall, headed by Cui Yurong, whose office was the dungeon; the rest of the positions in the hall were currently vacant, to be selected by Cui Yurong herself once the number of disciples increased and their cultivation levels rose in the future.

This was mainly because Ruan Xing had seen that Nether Ghost Fire of Cui Yurong's, which was very suitable for interrogation and forced confessions.

Of course, once that Ghost Fire touched a body, even Cui Yurong herself would find it hard to extinguish; if it were truly used, it wouldn't be interrogation but silencing, so let it serve as a deterrent to keep other disciples from betraying the Sect.

Additionally, there were the Benevolence Hall and the Consulate.

The former was headed by Cai Wen, with Ruan Tao assisting; they were mainly responsible for managing the flow of Spirit Stone resources, both internal and external, as well as liaising with the various families in the towns and villages within their jurisdiction, and handling the various hidden dangers left behind by the original Six Suns Study.

The latter was managed by Hu San, with Wang Dongxing as his deputy; they were mainly responsible for leading the various disciples brought out from Xumi, plus all other miscellaneous affairs.

The sect rules and operational standards were largely modeled after the Xuanbing Sect.

In this way, it could basically be considered a proper, formal Sect.

Cui Yurong had completed her task well; Ruan Xing had harvested some new corpses, and the number of Puppets in her own Storage Bag had returned to double digits.

It was just that these Puppets were lacking in strength, and Ruan Xing was truly too lazy to give them names or serial numbers.

She could finally erase the characters above the plaza behind the mountain gate and replace them with Fengling Yueying Sect.

Although she had Ruan Tao's help, the busiest person in the entire sect right now was still Cai Wen; he hadn't rested for two days and two nights, and once Ruan Xing had clarified the sect rules, systems, and various tasks, he hurried over to report.

"Sect Master, please take a look at these case files." Cai Wen looked a bit weary, but his expression was very composed.

Although he hadn't been this tired when working at the Six Suns Study before, he had to worry every day about whether he would be discovered or if he would die, and he couldn't even sleep well due to his constant fear; it had truly been difficult for an old man.

Now that he took orders from Ruan Xing, although he didn't know how long or how far this Fengling Yueying Sect could go, his and Cai Jiao's lives were tied to Ruan Xing alone, so he actually felt much more at ease.

Ruan Xing flipped open the top layer and took a look.

It was a document sent from Yunyang City.

It stated that there had been Monster Beast disturbances on the roads and farmland near the city gates over the past two days.

This matter had to be handled by the affiliated Sect; although there were Cultivators in the city, subduing Monster Beasts was a thankless task, and more than half of the valuable materials from the hunted beasts had to be handed over anyway. Since the Sect collected taxes, which was equivalent to protection money, naturally, the Cultivators in the Sect had to be the ones to solve the problem when something happened.

Because Cultivators often passed by that road outside the city gate, Monster Beasts basically wouldn't come out from the depths of the forest, but... the Demon Lord had taken away the Monster Snake, and the Monster Snake's original territory had been seized by other Monster Beasts; the defeated beasts had been driven to the periphery, and since they were injured, they had no choice but to run out.

This matter could be said to be easy to handle, or it could be said to be difficult.

Because all the disciples under her were at the Qi Refining stage and lacked actual combat experience, and half of them were Demon Cultivators who couldn't perfectly conceal their demonic aura, none of these people could be sent out to handle the matter.

Cui Yurong was a Ghost Cultivator, and the Fairy and the Demon Lord were Puppet Bodies. Cai Wen had low cultivation and was not skilled in Magic Arts.

After counting them all, the only ones who could go out were she and Ruan Tao.

"Let Ruan Tao go; it will build up her experience. Take a few more disciples who practice Immortal Methods along with her," Ruan Xing decided.

The two busiest days had already passed, and Cai Wen had no objections to Ruan Tao being transferred away from his supervision to do other things.

However, dispatching a Golden Core Stage Cultivator and seven or eight Qi Refining stage Cultivators to deal with only a few Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Monster Beasts was truly overkill.

When the time came, she would distribute Pills as rewards to these disciples who went out to handle the matter, so they could improve their cultivation as quickly as possible.

The second matter concerned the City Lord positions for Yunyang City and Huayang City.

The previous titular City Lords had all been Golden Core disciples of the Six Suns Study, but they were now dead.

Yet, it wouldn't look right for a city not to have even a single Golden Core Cultivator.

The families managing things within the city were demanding that the Fengling Yueying Sect appoint a new City Lord.

Adding this matter to the previous one, their intentions were very clear.

They wanted to test the strength of the Fengling Yueying Sect.

Firstly, by looking at the disciples sent out to handle affairs, one could discern the quality of most of the disciples; secondly, by looking at the core of the sect, as small sects judged strength mainly by how many Golden Core Cultivators they had.

"Where am I supposed to conjure up two Golden Core Cultivators... it's truly a headache." Ruan Xing smiled bitterly and rubbed her brow. "Forget it, it's just a title anyway; I'll change my appearance and go over, showing my face from time to time will suffice."

Most of the families in the city only had two or three Foundation Establishment Cultivators in their households and didn't have much obsession with Cultivation; possessing a bit of strength and heritage, they lived their lives guarding their own little plot of land in the city. They seemed to have no aspirations, yet they lived much better than most low-level Cultivators and mortals.

Although they were attached to the Sect, they were much freer than the disciples.

Normally, there would always be one or two people from these families who were Inner Sect Disciples in the Sect.

But given the cultivation method and the inside story of the Six Suns Study... they couldn't take in other disciples either.

Thinking of this, Ruan Xing said: "If any of these families want their descendants to enter the Sect, test their Spirit Bone and take them in as Outer Sect Disciples. Keep them separated from the others for the time being, and after a long period, if there are no problems, then bring them into the Inner Sect."

By then, have them enter the Xumi Realm to see the Boundary Tree; with the restrictions in place, it would be much safer.

Although Ruan Xing herself hated being bound by restrictions, how could one expect protection without paying a price?

At the very least, they were doing it voluntarily; for the sake of loyalty to the Sect, there had to be some checks and balances.

After all, this was just a newly established Sect, with neither sentiment nor foundation, and no means to retain people. "Yes," Cai Wen replied. "However, there is a third matter, also related to those families in the city. There are two families in Huayang City who were previously brought out by the Six Suns Study as servants; relying on the protection of their ancestors, they have operated and taken root in Huayang City for several hundred years."

"Who were their ancestors?"

"Golden Core Cultivators of the Six Suns Study, but one of those two died six hundred years ago, and the other died four hundred years ago."

Ruan Xing stroked her chin. "In other words, the people originally brought out at the very beginning should all be dead by now."

They didn't have cultivation methods in their hands, and even if they practiced basic Qi Refining techniques and luckily reached Foundation Establishment through some incomplete methods circulating on the market, their lifespans were only two hundred years.

The people remaining were all the descendants who had developed since then.

They had long since lost the memory of the Xumi Realm.

"Then let's first observe their attitude. If there are no problems, treat them the same as the other families; if they harbor resentment, find a reason and kill them all," Ruan Xing said.

"Why are there so many things? Managing a Sect is truly troublesome." Ruan Xing sighed. "What is the fourth matter?"

Cai Wen's expression became a bit more solemn. "The fourth matter is related to those account books."

"Through checking the various records, it can now be confirmed that there are thirty-two people currently operating normally who send Spirit Stones every year. Among them, two are in the Grade A files, seven in the Grade B files, and twenty-three in the Grade C files."

These classifications are actually determined based on the other party's strength and the amount of Spirit Stone sent; the C-scroll is nothing to worry about, even if we cut them off, they wouldn't dare come knocking, and the B-scroll is also no cause for concern. I have looked at these seven people; they are currently still in the Xumi Realm. They lack Spirit Bone and can only follow the path of military officers using Luoqi Pill, but there is no warfare within the Xumi Realm, so a military officer's career ends at General Manager, and there is only one General Manager... Cultivator cannot forcibly interfere with the transfer of officials, so these people will have no problems for at least several decades."

Ruan Xing sneered and said: "If they come to demand people, it doesn't matter if we return these seven, but it is best not to return them. If they receive news and know that this territory has changed masters and come to demand people, just tell them we conduct business as usual; this way we can delay the time of the Xumi Realm's manifestation even further. However, judging by your tone, is there a problem with the two people in this A-scroll?"

Cai Wen nodded, "Yes, of the two people in this A-scroll, one is a retired old official who entered the National Teacher Palace with me three years ago. He had just reached Foundation Establishment Early-stage and died in the turmoil two days ago. The other person is currently still in the Xumi Realm, but this case file started eleven years ago; I fear that person is still just an ignorant child within the Xumi Realm today."

This child has not died yet, but they probably won't be able to catch up to the cultivation of official fortune, because Ruan Xing intends to complete the reform of the Xumi Realm within two years; by then, where would official fortune exist within the Xumi Realm.

But those who haven't died are easier to deal with than those who have.

"Among these case files, are the Cultivator who successfully reached Golden Core sent to the underground of the Xumi Realm, or are they released back?" Ruan Xing asked.

"Released back. Don't they spend so many Spirit Stone just to seek a stable Golden Core Cultivator for their own family? One hundred years of support in exchange for a Golden Core of their own bloodline, and without the mandatory requirement of having Spirit Bone, it is a very cost-effective matter for those families at their wit's end." Cai Wen replied, "However, these people who are released back have restrictions left by the Sumeru Tree on their bodies, so they have no way to reveal the inside story to others."

"Could it be that not a single one died halfway? All case records were successful?" Ruan Xing said incredulously.

That Six Suns Study was simply playing a massive game of chess.

Steadily and continuously supplying every trade and profession with a fast-tracked Golden Core that only has the realm.

"I thought of this too, and specifically checked the past years." Cai Wen stroked his beard, "Very few died young. Before they died, they would be urgently brought out, but that counts as a failure; the transaction is terminated, and the initial Spirit Stone will not be refunded."

"Then in this cooperation,."

Cai Wen bowed and left after paying his respects.

Having dispatched Ruan Tao to lead people to clear out the Monster Beast, and incidentally send replies to Yunyang City and Huayang City, Ruan Xing planned to take office in two days, leaving them to cool their heels first.

Then she called Sun Xian and went to the Xumi Realm together.

After sending Sun Xian to the National Teacher Palace and having the Boundary Tree place a restriction so that he was not allowed to leave the Xumi Realm, she let him see the truth of the underground bubbles.

Sun Xian wailed for a while before calming down, much faster than the acceptance speed in the Simulation.

Perhaps it was because the Six Suns Study had already been destroyed.

He sobbed and said: "This disciple has a sincere heart toward the Sect Master and will never dare to have two minds again."

Looking at Sun Xian's old face, which was wrinkled like tree bark, with some disgust, and seeing that he had lost all the demeanor of a Cultivator, she said crossly: "Be normal. You are not some handsome young man in his prime, don't put on this appearance."

Sun Xian then put away his act and said submissively: "What does the Sect Master want this disciple to do?"

Ruan Xing instructed: "You have served as National Preceptor before, so just continue to do so now. When you were National Preceptor before, what things did you need to do?"

"I didn't do much; I watched over the operation of the dynasty to maintain the fortune, but there was no need to intervene unless necessary. There was also selecting new disciples who met the criteria, testing the Spirit Bone of old officials who reached the age, and taking care of the list given by the Study Master. If the people on the list were in life-or-death danger, I would take action to save them and bring them into the National Teacher Palace; I ignored the rest."

The list was likely those people in the account book Cai Wen mentioned.

But... what about the imperial family?

"I haven't seen you select any imperial relatives to enter the National Teacher Palace, why?"

Sun Xian said: "The imperial clan must naturally know nothing from beginning to end so that it is easier to comprehend the indications of fortune. What they think and do in their hearts appears to be their own will, but it is actually controlled by the Heavenly Dao. Sometimes some emperors may not understand the true meaning contained in the National Teacher Palace; one only needs to show a few illusions to bluff the emperor and make him hold the National Teacher Palace in high esteem."

"I understand." Ruan Xing nodded, "Those emperors are all ordinary mortals; apart from having some fortune, there is nothing different about them. You just do as you did before, but I need you to give the emperor a little suggestion."

"Suggestion?" Sun Xian did not quite understand.

"Have him issue a few decrees. Don't the private schools run by the government in various places only accept boys? Establish a Women's School that only accepts girls. Establish an Inner Court within the palace and only accept women to serve as officials. If he doesn't listen to such decrees, then change the emperor." Ruan Xing said.

If she were to drastically change everything within the Xumi Realm according to her own ideas, the common people at the bottom would likely panic, as this does not conform to the educational ideologies they have accepted for thousands of years.

Since she wants to manage the Xumi Realm well, she must start from subtle influence.

As long as the emperor agrees to issue such decrees, the officials below will naturally discuss a countermeasure.

Unless they want to hollow out the emperor's power, wouldn't that just give Ruan Xing a reason to purge the court and the noble clans? Sun Xian nodded as if he understood.

Ruan Xing turned and went to find Liu Shouye.

Three days were almost up, and she didn't know how he had considered it.

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