68: Incident

“At noon, I’ll treat you all to Second-Order Demon Beast Meat.”

“This second-order musk deer is a herbivorous Yao Beast; its meat quality is better than other second-order demon beasts, and its taste is even more delicious.”

“You’ve all worked hard during this period. When you leave, I’ll give each of you another two to three hundred catties of Second-Order Demon Beast Meat.”

Zhang Qingxiao saw the expressions on their faces and knew that the deterrent effect he wanted had been achieved.

“Thank you, Zhang Laoda!”

“Thank you, Brother Zhang.”

“……”

Their eyes lit up, and they all began to compliment him.

They usually couldn’t bear to eat Second-Order Demon Beast Meat.

Two to three hundred catties of Second-Order Demon Beast Meat, if sold, could fetch twenty to thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

With these Spirit Stones, they would have enough to buy Pi Gu Pills for two years.

“Alright, next, let’s talk about business.”

Zhang Qingxiao waved his hand, telling them not to continue flattering him, “I’m sure you’ve all seen that our business has been very good recently, and we’re earning more and more Spirit Stones.”

“This is a good thing for us, but also a bad thing.”

“To avoid attracting the attention of Families with Foundation Establishment Cultivators, I have a solution here that requires your cooperation.”

“……”

Zhang Qingxiao explained in detail the solution he had thought of yesterday.

The best way to avoid attracting the attention of those Families with Foundation Establishment Cultivators was to prevent these Families from knowing how many Spirit Stones they were actually earning.

This was the principle of not flaunting one’s wealth.

Zhang Qingxiao’s plan was not that complicated; it only required each person present to manage a group of people separately.

The Cultivators with specialized skills who were currently cooperating would also be divided according to different regions.

Subordinates were not allowed to inquire about the daily acquisition of Medicinal Pills, Talismans, and Magical Artifacts from each other.

Subordinates responsible for selling Medicinal Pills, Talismans, and Magical Artifacts must be completely separated from those responsible for acquiring them, and must not disclose acquisition and selling prices to each other.

Alternatively, a new batch of subordinates could be recruited specifically to handle sales.

Under these circumstances, the subordinate Cultivators would have no way of knowing their daily profits.

If managed properly, they wouldn't have to worry about Families with Foundation Establishment Cultivators targeting them in the short term.

“This solution is good.”

Luo Fei didn’t initially see the benefits of this method, but the more he listened, the more excited he became.

Those responsible for acquisition didn't know the selling price, and those responsible for selling didn't know the acquisition price.

Then they wouldn't be able to know how large the profit was.

And to achieve this was also very simple.

It only required spending some Spirit Stones to purchase some Oath Talismans, allowing everyone to make an oath, which could largely prevent it.

The rules and regulations Zhang Qingxiao had originally set for them already included punishments in this regard.

With both approaches, the effect would be even better.

“Starting today, each of you four will be responsible for one area and manage a group of subordinates.”

“From now on, you can take one-tenth of the profit generated in your responsible area each month as a reward.”

“I hope you can manage your subordinates and the Cultivators cooperating in your respective areas according to my requirements.”

“How to specifically divide it, you can discuss it after you go back.”

“Do not do anything that would disappoint me.”

“I can make you earn more Spirit Stones, and I can also make you lose everything, including your lives.”

Zhang Qingxiao’s gaze swept over the four Cultivators Luo Fei had brought, and he spoke with an extremely serious tone.

“Zhang Laoda, rest assured, I, Zhao Si, will never let you down.”

Zhao Si stepped forward, guaranteeing with a sincere tone.

Such a good opportunity was like a pie falling from the sky; how could he be so foolish as to betray him?

He knew very well that even if he told this matter to those Families with Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he wouldn't be able to gain more benefits.

The other three also stepped forward, promising with some excitement.

“Zhao Si, Wang Tong, Wang Qian, Sun Qiang, remember what you said today.”

“Following me, although I cannot guarantee that all of you will become Foundation Establishment Cultivators, I can ensure that you live more prosperously in Xiaoyao Sect than most Cultivators.”

Zhang Qingxiao nodded at the four with great satisfaction.

At noon, after lunch, when Luo Fei took the four people away, he gave each of them about three hundred catties of Second-Order Demon Beast Meat.

For the next day or two, Xiaoyao Sect had no movement.

It wasn’t until the seventh day that an Inner Sect Disciple, while checking the soul lamps of the Inner Sect Disciples, discovered that Kang Jian’s soul lamp had extinguished.

This matter was immediately reported to the Xiaoyao Sect Enforcement Hall.

The Xiaoyao Sect Enforcement Hall attached great importance to this matter.

Kang Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Kang Family was furious and publicly declared that he would definitely find the murderer of Kang Jian and dismember him into ten thousand pieces.

After Zhang Qingxiao received the news, his heart, which had just relaxed, tightened again.

Especially seeing the Xiaoyao Sect Enforcement Hall Disciples and the Kang Family Cultivators investigating almost daily in the Outer Sect Disciple, Inner Sect Disciple, and Utility Disciple areas, a strong sense of unease surged within him.

Especially when the Enforcement Hall Disciple asked him about his whereabouts that day, his entire back was drenched in cold sweat.

Fortunately, he had anticipated this situation and was prepared for the questioning, so he left no flaws in his answers.

After the Enforcement Hall Disciple and the Kang Family left, Zhou Yun still noticed some abnormalities.

After all, his entire back was soaked, which seemed a bit too nervous.

Zhang Qingxiao did not tell Zhou Yun the reason.

He only said that he was hunting Yao Beasts in the back mountain at that time, and he was so nervous because he was worried that Kang Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator would recklessly kill all the Cultivators who went to the back mountain to hunt Yao Beasts that day.

After Zhou Yun heard him, she also felt a chill down her spine and was terrified.

The situation Zhang Qingxiao described was entirely possible.

These Outer Sect Disciples and Utility Disciples like them would not be valued by the Sect at all.

Even if Kang Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator really killed them all, he would at most receive some symbolic punishment.

Fortunately, such a thing did not happen.

Kang Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator still had some reason and did not do such a thing.

This situation continued for two months, after which the Enforcement Hall Disciples gradually reduced their investigations, and the Kang Family Disciple shifted from overt to covert investigations.

According to the information Zhang Qingxiao received, the Kang Family Old Ancestor would not let this matter rest easily and would continue to investigate until the culprit was found.

This also kept his heart hanging.

“Finally, I’ve broken through to the Qi Refining Stage Seventh Level.”

“I’m also one step closer to Foundation Establishment.”

Although he had been on tenterhooks every day for the past two months, he hadn’t delayed his Cultivation for a moment.

His Cultivation progress had consistently increased a little every two days.

A few days ago, his Realm progress finally reached 99/100.

And just as Zhang Qingxiao expected, he encountered no Bottleneck when breaking through from the Qi Refining Stage Seventh Level to Cultivation Level 8.

It only took him two more days than usual to smoothly Breakthrough to Cultivation Level 8.

……