153: Chapter 153 A Leisurely Move and the Positive Cycle

When Meng Ning received the news that many Elders from the Fang Family had arrived outside, his first reaction was: Are they here to cause trouble so soon?

"Interesting. It seems the lesson I gave you before was too light. You actually dare to come to our doorstep? In that case..."

Seeing that Meng Ning had misunderstood their intentions, Patriarch Fang Hong quickly took a step forward, bowed to him, and explained with a smile plastered all over his Face.

"Lord Envoy, please do not misunderstand. We came this time to replace the clan members we sent over previously."

Meng Ning's gaze swept across the Faces of the Fang Family Elders in front of him. Regarding Patriarch Fang Hong's words, he had only one thought: Did they suddenly change their tune because they saw how many people we have on our side?

Behind him, Pavilion Master Yan Yao, Guan Hong, and the other deities also had strange expressions on their Faces. Weren't these people supposed to be here to cause trouble? Why did things seem a bit off?

"Are you saying that all seventeen of you deities came to replace people? If I remember correctly, the Fang Family only sent five deities, didn't they?"

As the temple manager personally appointed by Lin Xiao, Meng Ning had already thoroughly investigated the situation of the deities who had been sent over.

The commotion on their side had already attracted the attention of the queuing Divine Beings. Although none of them turned their heads,

their ears were perked up high. Some who were further away even pressed their bodies tightly against the backs of the people in front of them, wanting to hear more clearly.

After all, this was gossip about a powerful Family!

The deity Elders of the Fang Family naturally noticed this situation as well. Patriarch Fang Hong bowed to Meng Ning once again.

"This is not the place to talk. Could we go somewhere else to discuss this in detail, Lord Envoy?"

Meng Ning glanced at the massive crowd queuing around them, nodded, and led everyone to the reception hall.

During the day, the Divine Beings sent by their families had already put their bedding and other belongings back into their Divine Kingdoms.

Hearing that the reception hall was needed now, they all scurried out quickly, thus avoiding any Face-to-Face encounter with the Elders of the Fang Family.

As soon as they entered the reception hall, the Elders immediately noticed its extraordinary nature. The more they looked, the more shocked they became. Was it really necessary to decorate a mere reception hall so luxuriously?

Just how many divine power points must this have cost...

"There were too many people outside just now, so we didn't explain very clearly. It is true that our Fang Family only sent five deities before, but aren't there also demigods and Divine Beings?

As for the two extra people, they are Fang Yuan's parents. They were delayed by some trivial matters before, which is why they arrived a bit late..."

Hearing Patriarch Fang Hong's explanation, Meng Ning and the others were slightly taken aback. But they quickly realized that the other party seemed to have noticed something.

"So, the purpose of your visit this time is actually to pledge allegiance to our Lord, right?"

He hadn't expected the other party to be so direct. Patriarch Fang Hong was only slightly stunned before he immediately bent his waist even lower and spoke in an earnest tone.

"The Lord Envoy is wise. If Lord Lin does not reject us, our Fang Family is willing to submit to his command. We are willing to offer fifty percent of all our monthly gains as a tribute!"

Fifty percent was basically the limit for the Fang Family. The remaining forty percent had to be used to grease palms above, and their daily maintenance would require at least ten percent.

Although they were determined to come and ride on his coattails, they certainly couldn't say that for the sake of their Face. This excuse was perfect right now.

As for tributes and such, Meng Ning and the other deities now cared very little about them. After all, no matter how much it was, could it compare to how much their Lord spent?

Each of them now received thirty thousand divine power points a day, and including the one thousand points per day for each of the fifty demigods under their command, that was a whopping eighty thousand divine power points daily.

Although they hadn't recruited enough people yet, their Lord still distributed the full amount to them every day.

That was 2.4 million per person each month, totaling over fifty million divine power points for the twenty-odd of them in a month. For a mere Fang Family, could a fifty percent tribute even reach half of this amount?

Not caring much about the tribute was one thing, but Meng Ning did not dare to casually reject Patriarch Fang Hong's request to submit. After all, their Lord seemed very keen on recruiting subordinates.

Although his attention seemed to have shifted recently because of the Intermediate Gods, he still had to report such matters.

"I need to contact our Lord about this matter."

"Of course, of course. Please speak a few good words for our Fang Family, Lord Envoy. The Fang Family will definitely never forget today's kindness!"

Patriarch Fang Hong spoke with a Face full of gratitude, but he couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He could tell that when he mentioned the fifty percent tribute just now,

not only this Second-order Deity, but even the surrounding First-order Deities showed no signs of being tempted. The other party didn't even ask how much fifty percent actually amounted to!

One had to know that even the Third-order Deities under the Intermediate Gods that their Fang Family bribed would haggle with him for a long time over the monthly tribute.

After the sigh in his heart, what followed was an unstoppable wave of joy and yearning. This attitude of not caring about resources was the true style of a great clan.

If their Fang Family submitted to them, they would surely enjoy a life of luxury.

"You're saying the Fang Family wants to submit to me? Didn't you just teach their Elders a lesson earlier? Are these people masochists?

Not only did they not get angry after being taught a lesson, but it actually unlocked some hidden trait in them and made them want to submit?"

After listening to Meng Ning's report, Lin Xiao only felt that it was absurd. If he had known this earlier, would he have united Anping County long ago if he had just sent Meng Ning and the others to beat up these families?

This ridiculous thought flashed through his mind, but Lin Xiao knew that couldn't be the reason.

After contemplating for a moment, he sent a reply to Meng Ning.

"Have them come to my room. I will speak with them in person."

Seeing his Lord's reply, Meng Ning knew that his Lord had likely agreed. Glancing at the lucky Fang Family Elders in front of him, he spoke in a flat tone.

"Follow me. Our Lord has agreed to meet you."

"Thank you, Lord Envoy!"

Following Meng Ning to the door of the central room on the second floor, everyone immediately felt the surging waves of Divine Power coming from Xuan Liu and the others, and their Faces couldn't help but fill with shock.

Third-order! There were actually four Third-order Deity-level guards?!!!

After Xuan Liu and the others swept their Divine Thoughts over the crowd, they paid no further attention, continuing to stand silently like blocks of wood.

The waists of the Fang Family Elders bent even lower at this moment, and Fang Yuanming was secretly rejoicing in his heart: Thank goodness I didn't act on impulse!

"This subordinate greets my Lord. As per your instructions, the Fang Family Elders have been brought here."

"This lowly one greets Lord Lin..."

After Meng Ning spoke, the Elders respectfully bowed and saluted Lin Xiao in unison.

Lin Xiao didn't waste any words and went straight to the point.

"I heard your Fang Family wants to submit to me? Is there someone among you who can make this decision?"

Hearing his question, Patriarch Fang Hong bowed and took a step forward.

"This lowly one is Patriarch Fang Hong, the former head of the Fang Family. On behalf of the entire Fang Family, I hope to have the honor of becoming the sword in your hand, Lord, to slay all enemies who defy your will!"

"You want to be the sword in my hand? For now, you are not sharp enough. You should have heard of my rules, right? Can you accept the Slave God Contract?"

He already had the intention of subjugating these local forces, so since they were willing to surrender, Lin Xiao naturally had no reason to refuse them.

He hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. A trace of unwarranted wariness flashed through Patriarch Fang Hong's mind: Could we have fallen into a trap?

But soon, he tossed this wariness to the back of his mind. How could an existence with Third-order Deities as guards deceive them?

His Fang Family's annual income wasn't even a third of the resources the temple distributed monthly, so what did they have that was worth being deceived by their Lord?

Once the contracts were all signed, Lin Xiao immediately began to generously hand out rewards. However, as they were latecomers who submitted later, he still lowered their benefits slightly.

"Starting today, First-order Deities will be rewarded with ten thousand divine power points daily, and Second-order Deities with thirty thousand. If you perform excellently, your benefits can be increased accordingly.

After you return, continue as you did in the past, doing whatever you need to do. I will summon you when I have need of you."

Subjugating these local forces didn't have a specific purpose for Lin Xiao at the moment; it was just a casual move. In any case, he had plenty of divine power points and could easily afford to support them.

Although he hadn't signed contracts with any more outsiders recently, his daily income had still slightly increased by several hundred thousand divine power points.

If he hadn't been careful, he might not have even noticed. After a brief thought, he understood. It must be because of the divine power points he had distributed.

With divine power points, the demigods and deities would naturally invest in themselves. All those newly purchased resources would become new settlement points.

As for the Fang Family Elders, after hearing about the benefits, they were first stunned, and then their Faces filled with ecstatic joy.

The look in their eyes as they raised their heads to look at Lin Xiao was filled with fanaticism.

"From now on, we will risk our lives to accomplish everything you command, Lord. If there is even the slightest mistake, we are willing to accept all punishments!"

With these benefits, they would gladly die for him!