Chapter 416: Administration

The Rift Scepter is Yan Buji's destined Accumulation Device; as the second destined Accumulation Device on his cultivation path, Yan Buji is extremely careful in choosing his destined Accumulation Devices.

Unlike the Shura Accumulation Armor, this is a life‑preserving item, so naturally the stronger the better.

However, the Rift Scepter is a third‑stage Accumulation Device that Yan Buji fashioned on the Cosmic Dao according to his own understanding; because it needs to leave ample room for future refinement, its expectations are naturally different.

Moreover, by now Yan Buji is also pondering a supplemental Accumulation Device that could aid his meticulous cultivation of magical power or spiritual awareness, but he has had no clue.

"But we have to go back now."

Yan Buji has been in seclusion for years; he still doesn't know what the Dragon People have become.

Returning to Snow Island, Yan Buji watches the busy Dragon People on the island and walks through calmly.

Upon arriving at the Inner City District, Yan Buji actually detects a few new Golden Core auras; it seems new geniuses have broken through in recent years, hasn't it?

Good news, good news.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, on emerging from seclusion," the Dragon Priest says, walking over with a smile.

"Who are those few?"

"They are the geniuses who have just broken through to the Golden Core stage, the officials I have selected as reserves."

"Not bad," Yan Buji nods.

The Dragon Priest bows and says, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the praise."

Yan Buji looks around and says, "Summon the officials."

"Yes."

After a short while, Yan Buji sits upon the throne in the Great Hall of the Inner City, looking down at the officials.

The reserve Golden Core officials also arrive, standing below with blazing eyes fixed on Yan Buji.

"All departments, attend court!"

"Present yourselves before the King!"

The Dragon Priest stands beside Yan Buji and says, "Your Majesty has emerged, gathering the ministers to discuss Dragon People matters. If there is business, submit a report; if not, retire from court."

"Report to the King: the city has been fully constructed; the naming matter awaits Your Majesty's decision."

"Then just call it Dragon City."

"Understood!"

The Internal Affairs Department official steps forward and says, "Report to the King, the Dragon People's population migration is complete; aside from those remaining to work in Ten Thousand Dragon Palace, everyone else has arrived."

"Implement a rotation system: every year the craftsmen of Dragon City are swapped for those of Ten Thousand Dragon Palace."

"Agreed."

The other officials step forward with questions; this court session lasts from noon until the afternoon of the next day before concluding.

Yan Buji rises and returns to the rear palace, the Dragon Priest following, and asks, "Your Majesty, now that Dragon City is newly established, the crucial issue remains the protective formation."

"Priest, won't you set up the protective formation?"

"The truth is, the formation I use isn't suitable for arranging protection over such a massive Dragon City; in this regard I think a specialist should be invited to assist."

"What does the Shark People say?"

"They are willing to help, but their price is steep."

Yan Buji pinches his chin, "What about the Fox Tribe?"

"Fox Tribe?" the Dragon Priest looks puzzled, "We haven't had contact, but previously a cultivator named Hu Xue'er came to see Your Majesty..."

"How could she have come?" Yan Buji is taken aback.

Shouldn't she have died after being possessed by the Heavenly Fox?

It seems the matter isn't as I thought.

"Are there any others who have come to see me?"

"Yes, members of the Snake People and Snow People have come for you."

"Is it Xue Qing and She Junshu?"

"She Junshu is probably here for a trade matter, right?"

"However, the other side says they have business and wish to meet you; the Snow Person Xue Qing likewise," the Dragon Priest says.

Yan Buji nods, "Alright, I understand."

"Since they have business, it's unacceptable to keep postponing the meeting."

"After being in seclusion for so many years, I must at least ask the reason."

After spending a few days sorting out the Dragon People's internal affairs and touring the entirety of Dragon City to fully grasp the current situation, Yan Buji formulated a series of measures—some radical, some gentle—and, in short, set them in motion.

Now is the time for the Dragon People to give back.

Having been the Dragon People's king for so long, I haven't reaped the perks of authority and still spend every day pulling orders and mediating inter‑tribal relations—truly exhausting.

Finally emerging from seclusion, Yan Buji discovers that internal problems still plague the Dragon People, so he cares little about what the lower ranks think and seizes a large cache of Spiritual Stones for his own cultivation.

The amount is considerable; Yan Buji also diverted Spiritual Stones that should have been allocated to the Dragon People's education, agriculture, and foreign trade, so soon he possessed millions of Spiritual Stones.

Of course, this amount of Spiritual Stones isn't sufficient for him to cultivate to the Magic Core Formation stage.

As for whether anyone in the Dragon People, from top to bottom, dares to impose strict regulations on Yan Buji, those with power stand with him, and the very rules are his own—does telling him that the rules matter have any effect?

Obviously, it's useless.

Only after Yan Buji takes the Spiritual Stones and leaves Dragon City do the Dragon officials dare to grimace and complain, "Your Majesty has taken so many Spiritual Stones; how shall we proceed with the work now?"

"Indeed, if the share is reduced, the subordinates will also complain, but that's not our fault."

"Everyone's here, right?" the Dragon Priest walks over, smiling.

"Priest!"

"We haven't said anything."

The Dragon Priest looks at the startled officials, smiles, and says, "Since everyone's present, let's go."

The officials looked bewildered: "Where are we going?"

"Naturally, we're going to raid a household."

"Raid a household?!" The officials' faces changed; who in these times doesn't covet a bit?

It can't be that they raid just because they don't covet that bit, right?

That's too ruthless.

Clearly, the moment power appears, people are divided, and the division of natural benefits becomes even more unequal.

And when the Dragon People priest led a group to raid a Dragon People's home, they personally beat the resident to death and uncovered millions of Spiritual Stones!

"Do you know where these Spiritual Stones came from?" the bloodied Dragon People priest said, smiling while holding the official's head.

The surrounding officials trembled; everyone knew this man was the Commercial Department's Minister, high‑ranking and powerful, yet they hadn't expected him to covet so much.

Not to mention the Dragon People have only been rising for a few years; the underwater Spiritual Stone mine alone, plus recent trades with other races, has already pushed Spiritual Stone reserves beyond ten million.

Moreover, the Dragon People have gradually abandoned their isolationist policy, allowing civilian Dragon People to trade with the Shark People or other non‑humans; naturally, agriculture and commerce have become the coveted career fields for all Dragon People.

This move against the Commercial Department head was also because his greed was excessive; a monthly salary of tens of thousands of Spiritual Stones wasn't enough, even covertly profiting from resources wasn't enough, and he even illegally sold the scarce Sky Snake Stones to the Snake People, causing huge losses.

They, this group of Dragon People, could not have been unaware of any of this.

So, looking at the trembling, silent Dragon People officials, the Dragon People priest smiled: "Greed drives progress, as the King once said. But I have warned everyone that actions contrary to the overall interests of the Dragon People are best avoided; not even a touch."

"Use these Spiritual Stones to fill the void the King took."

"Yes!!"