Qin Xuan looked over and saw that it was the Female Cultivator from the Joy Altar with a cold and aloof temperant, the one called Qin Xin.
"Of course," Qin Xuan said with a pleasant smile.
However, to Qin Xuan’s surprise, Wu Yuanji also volunteered, approaching him.
"Master Qin, I wonder if this old man might team up with you for the journey?"
Qin Xuan’s gaze was profound, a strange light flashing in the depths of his eyes. He then burst into loud laughter.
"You are more than welco! With Senior Brother Wu’s help, this trip to the Southern Border is sure to be a swift success!"
The three made an agreent to set out in one year.
...
「Ten Thousand Poison Peak, Huaizhong Altar」
Demonic light surged, the air gloomy and mysterious.
Qin Xuan sat high upon the Profound Yin Stone Chair, dressed in a black cloak, radiating a heroic aura. Wisps of Nether Ghost Fire flickered around him.
Four figures stood respectfully below him.
Zhao Youliang was the first to step forward. He presented a Blood-colored Jade Scroll and said with a serious expression:
"Lord Altar Master, this year’s tribute from the Cyan Talisman Ape Altar has been tallied. Please review it."
Qin Xuan nodded slightly. "Mm, bring it up."
Zhao Youliang hurried forward.
"Two hundred eighty thousand Spirit Stones, forty-three thousand liters of Spiritual Blood, fifteen thousand catties of Spirit Bones... Not bad!"
Qin Xuan’s eyes lit up as he exclaid in admiration.
Hearing this, Zhao Youliang’s face broke into a sycophantic smile. He spoke clearly, "It’s all thanks to using the Bone-Eroding Gu in tandem with the Blood Loan. It forces those brats to not dare slack off."
"Especially those two, Wang Jian and Sun Yuan. They figured out a thod using the Blood Burning Pill together with a Soul Lock Contract. Taking the pill skyrockets their Cultivation in the short term, but under the contract’s binding, no one dares to default on their debt. It’s incredibly effective!"
His tone held no small amount of praise for Wang Jian and Sun Yuan.
In the corner, Wang Jian and Sun Yuan glanced at each other. Seeing their own and each other’s mutilated bodies, they wept silently.
Next, Gan Tang, the Incense Master temporarily in charge of the Wanshou Turtle Altar, also took a half-step forward.
Her voice was as cold and clear as an icy spring striking stone.
"The Black Flood Dragon Altar has submitted three hundred fifty thousand Spirit Stones, fifty-one thousand liters of Spiritual Blood, and eighteen thousand catties of Spirit Bones."
’So much?!’
’It’s even higher than Old Zhao’s harvest from the Cyan Talisman Ape Altar!’
Qin Xuan was startled, then even more pleased. Inwardly, he was grinning from ear to ear.
"The might of the Purple Mansion is truly different."
Qin Xuan said, "I wonder what thod Junior Sister Gan used?"
"I had my subordinate Demon Cultivators all implanted with the Yin Marrow Worm. It draws on their marrow and Essence Blood to nourish oneself, and then I use that greater strength to squeeze out their potential."
"Repeating this cycle increases efficiency."
’It can be done like that?’
Zhao Youliang imdiately lowered his head, secretly and quickly taking note.
However, the face of Wu Qiaoi, the Incense Master managing the Purple Thunder Yin Altar, was a little pale.
She hesitated before stepping forward to report, her voice slightly rushed.
"Altar Master, this year the Purple Thunder Yin Altar... only collected two hundred twenty thousand Spirit Stones, thirty-five thousand liters of Spiritual Blood, and twelve thousand catties of Spirit Bones."
"We mainly relied on traditional Thunder Attribute Technique contracts to force the Demon Cultivators to produce Spiritual Blood and Spirit Bones, supplented by the ’Yin Soul Loan’ to exploit the Demon Disciples... The losses have been quite heavy recently, and we haven’t been able to replenish them in ti..."
Wu Qiaoi’s voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, terrified that Qin Xuan would bla her.
Last was Duan Ning, the acting Incense Master for the Wanshou Turtle Altar.
Sweat was now beading on Duan Ning’s forehead. Steeling himself, he said, "Lord Altar Master, the Wanshou Turtle Altar collected two hundred ten thousand Spirit Stones, thirty-two thousand liters of Spiritual Blood, and eleven thousand catties of Spirit Bones..."
"This slave used the ’Blood Burst Gu’ to stimulate the Demon Cultivators’ potential, but I lost control a few tis and lost so manpower... The interest on the ’talismanic coins’ has also been collected to its limit..."
As Qin Xuan listened to the latter two reports, his face showed not a trace of anger. Instead, a reassuring smile appeared.
"No matter. As long as you did your best."
Qin Xuan’s fingers tapped lightly on the Jade Chair, making a soft TAP TAP sound.
"Master Wu, Master Duan, although the amounts you two collected do not match Gan Tang and Zhao Youliang, being able to keep your Magic Altars from collapsing is also a rit."
"Especially Master Duan, for daring to use a dangerous item like the ’Blood Burst Gu’. Although there were losses, it shows your dedication."
Qin Xuan’s gaze swept over the four of them as he continued.
"Master Zhao, you are good at managing people. Wang Jian and Sun Yuan should be rewarded."
"Junior Sister Gan’s Cultivation has advanced, and her Magic Altar is thriving. She is a pillar of my Huaizhong Altar. There will be rewards—heavy rewards for all of you!"
The four of them were stunned.
Duan Ning and Wu Qiaoi, in particular, trembled with excitent, not expecting the Altar Master to praise even them, the ones with the worst results.
Only Gan Tang’s eyes shifted slightly, as if she understood sothing.
With a wave of his sleeve, Qin Xuan sent four streaks of black light shooting toward each of them.
"This seat is most gratified by this collection. I reward each of you with a bottle of Tier Three Profound Yin Pills to aid in your Cultivation."
"I hope you will continue to strive next year. Do not disappoint this seat."
"Thank you for the reward, Altar Master!" the four chorused.
Zhao Youliang was all smiles.
Wu Qiaoi and Duan Ning let out a sigh of relief, yet a trace of fear remained.
Gan Tang, on the other hand, shot Qin Xuan a look from her beautiful eyes, a mixture of languidness and feigned anger.
Her look seed to say, ’I am a dignified Purple Mansion cultivator. I’ve done so much for you, yet in the end, I get the sa reward as them?’
"Junior Sister Gan, don’t be angry. It’s been a long ti since we’ve discussed the Dao and cultivated together. This seat is about to depart for the Southern Border. We must cherish this last tender mont!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Xuan swept Gan Tang up into his arms and walked into the inner chamber.
"Ngh..."
A shy blush crept over Gan Tang’s cheeks. With a soft cry, she buried her face in Qin Xuan’s chest.
Looking at the beauty in his arms, then at his respectful and terrified subordinates below, Qin Xuan laughed with wild abandon.
"This is the unfettered freedom of being a Demon Cultivator!"
What he wanted was never peace and harmony.
In the Demon Dao, balance and counter-balance were far more effective than simple brute force.
There was a powerhouse like Gan Tang to set the standard, and a scher like Zhao Youliang striving to catch up.
Finally, there were those at the bottom like Wu Qiaoi and Duan Ning, constantly terrified and struggling to survive, keeping each other in check and competing amongst themselves.
Only in this way could he squeeze out even more resources!
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