He’d killed Xu Ping with a single sword strike, making an example of him.
By the lake, the Martial Arts Ninth Layer Heaven experts approached one by one, their heads lowered. Circumstances forced their hand.
Xu Ping wasn’t just a High-tier dicine Boy; he was the strongest among the many Martial Arts Ninth Layer Heaven experts present.
Fear showed in their eyes. Though they harbored complaints, they were terrified of Qin Feng’s vicious might and dared not show any dissent. One by one, they obediently stepped forward to make their mark.
"Cave Master! This is everyone’s testimony. What are your instructions?" one of the cleverer ones asked, stepping forward to pledge his loyalty.
A pri example was a short, clever young man who followed behind Qin Feng with a deferential air.
"Luan Xiaochuan, you’ve done well," Qin Feng said, his gaze encouraging as he looked at the first High-tier dicine Boy to pledge loyalty. "The Cave Master of Heavenly Red Peak’s Green Water Cave was originally supported by three Outer Disciples and five High-tier dicine Boys. The three Outer Disciples were in charge of coordinating all outer sect affairs on Heavenly Red Peak. Since they died, you will temporarily take their place!"
’Of course, I can’t just kill all the Outer and Servant Disciples on Heavenly Red Peak the mont I arrive.’
’After killing off the defiant, the natural next step is to win over one group and suppress another.’
As the Cave Master of Heavenly Red Peak’s Green Water Cave, Qin Feng couldn’t just focus on his cultivation in seclusion. He also had to manage all the affairs, large and small, of Heavenly Red Peak.
The number of Spirit dicine varieties on Heavenly Red Peak!
Which Spirit dicines needed to be watered and when, which needed pest control, which Spirit Woods and Spirit Flowers required tending—the list of chores was endless.
If all these miscellaneous tasks fell on his shoulders alone, he wouldn’t get any cultivation done for the next three months.
After killing the three Outer Disciples, promoting a few of his own people was the next logical step.
Heavenly Red Peak had to be stabilized. If anything happened to the Spirit dicines on the mountain, according to dicine King Hall’s rules, rit Points would be deducted.
If too many rit Points were deducted, Qin Feng’s position as the Cave Master of Heavenly Red Peak’s Green Water Cave would be in jeopardy.
He might even be demoted to a Fourth-level Disciple. If the error was severe enough—say, if sothing happened to Heavenly Red Peak’s Cave Guardian Spirit Object—all the rit Points he currently possessed wouldn’t be enough to cover the penalty.
Luan Xiaochuan was very smart and quick to read people. Most importantly, he was willing to pledge his loyalty to Qin Feng.
As he spoke, Qin Feng kept his eyes on the three remaining High-tier dicine Boys. He noticed that when his attention landed on Luan Xiaochuan, two of the others looked on with envy. Their gazes toward the black-robed youth now held a spark of fervent hope.
Clearly, seeing their peer Luan Xiaochuan receive such a boon had tempted them.
The last one, however, remained expressionless and appeared utterly indifferent.
Qin Feng’s gaze fell upon the three dead Outer Disciples.
These three Outer Disciples had been the three Outer Sect Stewards of Heavenly Red Peak. One was the Miscellaneous Affairs Steward, responsible for procuring living supplies for the disciples.
One was the Spirit Garden Steward, responsible for supervising and monitoring the growth of the various Spirit dicines.
The other reported directly to the Cave Master and was in charge of internal affairs as the Grand Steward of Heavenly Red Peak, helping to lead the many dicine Boys.
Each had their own duties.
In terms of status, the Grand Steward of Heavenly Red Peak naturally held the highest position.
Now that Luan Xiaochuan had taken the position of Grand Steward, the other two steward positions couldn’t be left vacant.
"Cave Master, we, Xu Jie and Zhao Yuan, are willing to pledge our loyalty to you, even unto death!" Seeing Qin Feng fall into contemplative silence, two of the three remaining High-tier dicine Boys finally couldn’t hold back any longer and stepped forward.
’They finally broke,’ Qin Feng thought to himself, his face remaining impassive. His expression made Xu Jie and Zhao Yuan both apprehensive and uneasy.
The three steward positions were incredibly lucrative posts. Leaving aside the benefits one could gain by abusing the office, the Cave Mansions alone were enough to make anyone’s mouth water.
They were located closest to the Cave Master’s own Bishui Cave, where the Spiritual Qi was incredibly dense and rich. The cultivation speed there was more than double that of any other location.
For the two of them, who were already at the Peak of Martial Arts Ninth Layer Heaven, this temptation was imnse.
After a mont of quiet contemplation, Qin Feng looked up at the two anxious n and nodded. "Good. Since you are willing to pledge your loyalty to , then I will not treat you unfairly!"
Qin Feng glanced at the slightly restless crowd, then his gaze returned to Xu Jie and Zhao Yuan.
His gaze finally settled on the shrewder of the two, Xu Jie.
"From now on, Xu Jie, you are the Miscellaneous Affairs Steward of Heavenly Red Peak. All procurent matters for the peak fall under your jurisdiction. I hope you won’t disappoint ."
"Yes! Thank you, Cave Master! I will not let you down!" Xu Jie exclaid, a flicker of excitent on his face.
Qin Feng then looked at the more reserved Zhao Yuan. "Zhao Yuan, you will serve as the Spirit Garden Steward. I hope you can help manage the various affairs of the Spirit Garden. Do not disappoint ."
"Thank you, Cave Master," Zhao Yuan said, raising his head and cupping his hands in a salute.
Qin Feng’s expression remained serious. The Spirit Garden of Heavenly Red Peak was of the utmost importance. If anything went wrong there, he, as Cave Master, would bear significant responsibility.
The dicine King Hall had explicit rules: every peak’s Spirit Garden had a set number of Spirit dicines. The Spirit Garden on Heavenly Red Peak, for example, contained only nine types.
If even a single Spirit dicine withered, Qin Feng, the Cave Master of Bishui Cave, would be in trouble.
A minor infraction would an a deduction of rit Points. A major one could get him stripped of his status as a Fifth-level Inner Sect Disciple, demoted to the lowest rank, or even expelled from the dicine Garden entirely.
Luan Xiaochuan, ever the opportunist, noticed Qin Feng’s concern. He quickly stepped forward and whispered, "Cave Master, please don’t worry. Zhao Yuan’s cultivation may not be the highest among us High-tier dicine Boys, but he is by far the most knowledgeable about the Spirit dicines in the garden. With him watching over the Spirit Garden, I guarantee nothing will go wrong!"
Qin Feng nodded.
"Luan Xiaochuan, Xu Jie, and Zhao Yuan will stay. The rest of you are dismissed," Qin Feng said coolly. The other dicine Boys scattered one by one.
As they left, their gazes were furtive and their expressions complex. The events of the day had left them deeply unsettled.
Overnight, all their familiar superiors had been killed, replaced by a Cave Master who seed ferocious and ruthless. Anyone in their position would be filled with misgivings and anxiety.
By Celestial Pool Lake, only the four of them remained.
After receiving their instructions, the three departed, vowing their loyalty. But as they left, they eyed one another with a newfound wariness.
’Now that the troublemakers were dealt with, the next step was to calm the masses.’
’Leaving that task to these three would be sufficient.’
’Once this period passed and morale was stabilized, his control over Heavenly Red Peak would be absolute.’
’By then, even if so people harbored dissent, they wouldn’t be able to cause any real trouble.’
’Now, I can prepare to cultivate those two secret techniques in peace.’
"CAW CAW! Boss, you don’t need to worry. I can sense that apart from that High-tier dicine Boy nad Zheng Bing, who’s harboring ill intentions, everyone else is terrified of you!" Eighth Master suddenly squawked from his shoulder.
"Xiaoba, has your bloodline awakened?" Hearing Eighth Master’s voice, Qin Feng’s eyes suddenly lit up.
"Boss, you know my origins?" Eighth Master’s eyes went wide, its pair of beady black orbs filled with shock.
Eighth Master’s bloodline was exceptionally mysterious. Apart from itself, having awakened a sliver of its inherited mories, those in the world who could discern its origins were few and far between. But Qin Feng was undoubtedly one of them.
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