...
"I will say it again. If you have no intentions of getting stronger, get out of the sect." I say.
No one moves from their spot. However, I can see some trembling at what I said.
It's fine. They will eventually leave.
"I see... If so, I will explain a new implementation. First of all, missions. There will be a pillar in the middle of the main hall just beyond the entrance to the sect. It was recently built and Elder Luo Yang is in charge of the dissemination and authorization of missions."
A new gigantic building is built directly connecting the entrance gateway to the sect, so one must pass through the building to enter.
"If you complete it, 80% of the revenue you earned will go to the sect while the remaining can be kept. Completing missions will earn you contribution points and you can exchange them for pills, martial arts, or weapons." I say.
Some of the disciples look intrigued, Some frightened. There are a lot of people who joined the deteriorated sect for the sake of having the "Practitioner" title and gaining respect from people in Nielong. They are similar to weed, and I have to pull each out one by one.
"Secondly, we will be implementing a ranking system."
!!!
Li Ye, Gaoming, and I discussed this decision yesterday night after I addressed the issue of how weak our sect disciples are. If they cannot hold out against a simple assassin, they will not only tarnish the sect's reputation but also humiliate the higher-ups.
Li Ye argued and stated that the disciples at the bottom ranking will suffer from bullying and severe disputes might trigger fights between fellow disciples.
Truth be told, who am I to care? The method is the fastest and most efficient way of motivation to grow the sect's strength. If those at the bottom are weak, that's their problem.
I explained that those at the bottom have to endure bullying and that can be another form of motivation. After all, if they are at the bottom, it can only be that they are slacking and not putting in enough effort. However, we must reinforce and enforce our rules such that no major incidents occur.
What I explained was very biased, I purposely excluded the fact that external factors such as talent or background play a huge role.
"Li Ye, I need to revive the sect. To do so, the disciples need to make the effort to become stronger." I said.
Li Ye after pondering agrees with our decision and moves on to writing administrative paperwork.
"The rankings are determined by two things: Contribution and Strength. There will be yearly inter-competitions to gauge the strength and adjust our rankings accordingly. Contributions, however, are a larger factor than strength. The higher your rankings are, the more advantages you receive."
Some disciples are confused by the dump of information. "If you didn't catch what I said, you may refer to the information posted on the wall in the main hall."
...
The atmosphere is tense. There are clear distinct groups: Some are blatantly motivated to do better with shining eyes, while the other half is frightened that their peaceful life will be threatened.
I sigh. "What's your purpose for joining the sect?" I emphasised 'your'.
...
"I want to become stronger." A disciple with many bandages says. He is the most hardworking among all the outer disciples.
"I want to prove to my family that I can become a martial artist."
"I want to show that a nobody can become somebody!"
One by one a certain group shout out their reasons.
"That's right. We are here to guide and train you on the path of martial arts, not to babysit you. To reach the peak, you must earn it." I say.
"Yes!" They say in unison.
"Great. I will be overseeing your training and all of you will adopt the core disciple's training with less intensity."
!!!!!
The training involves climbing up a very steep mountain behind the sect and running down on the other side. Afterwards, the disciples must run around a gradual mountain and run back to the steep mountain, which will be one set. Their training is to achieve 15 sets a day for the outer disciples and 40 sets a day for the inner disciples.
Most faces turned pale when they heard of the training.
"What's wrong? I asked if you are prepared to face hell. For your information, the core disciples do 100 sets a day."
!
With gritted teeth, the disciples prepare and changed into the sect robe and start their trek to the mountains. Gaoming and I facilitate them.
-------------------
"Huff Huff..." After two sets, the outer disciples are twitching and have no stamina to climb. At the same time, the core disciples grab whatever tiny gaps and space to exert themselves into the air.
"Tch."
Seeing how they are doing it effectively, the outer disciple tries once more.
At the end of the day, 8 outer disciples and 7 inner disciples requested to leave the sect.
----------------------
Gatekeeper of the Void
[Upgrade](requires 100m)
----------------------
100 million...
---------------
Current Cultivation Realm: 9th stage of Core Formation
The number of Infected people: 9.63m
The number of people killed: 421,723
Recovered: 1.32m
Evolution Points: 39.2m
----------------
----------------
-Infection count reaches 5 million[Claim]
+1 Virus Slot
+Recovery of the Middle Dantian
----------------
Pressing "Claim" ignites a sudden throb in my chest.
!!!
Argh!!
I grasp the table and use it as support.
Something is constructing or materializing itself inside me, connecting with my meridians.
The pain disappears after 10 minutes and I attempt a Qi Circulation.
Phew... Amazing. Circulation becomes more fluent and I can absorb more Qi.
I have 5 virus slots now. Should I use the fifth one as a points generator as well? I will leave it empty for now.
------------------------
New Mission Available.
-Infect 50 million people.
+1 Tier 5 Virus property
+2 Tier 5 Virus character
+1 Tier 6 Virus Symptom
------------------------
Alright, I should check out the spiritual pool, it should be somewhere below the sect.
"The spiritual pool?" Li Ye says when I asked him about it. "Ah, it's below at the base of the mountain. The array can only be negated by the Patriarch Plate so bring that along."
"Alright, I plan to let the core disciples use it soon."
Li Ye is recovering smoothly.
Afterwards, I jump down to the base of the mountain and find an illusion barrier concealing the entrance to a cave.
!!
W-What the?
Waves of condensed Qi drown me once I pass through the array, virtually expelling lethal amounts.
Such a condensed place! Why haven't I visited this place sooner?
I infect the atmosphere with my virus.
-------------------
The time for evolution has been readjusted.
2 days left till the attainment of "Qi Immunity 4"
--------------------
Besides, where is this Qi coming from?
Deeper in the cave, I arrive at a large space with a bright glowing pool.
That's the spiritual pool. Can my body handle it?
With all the defence I've cultivated, I should be able to hold on for a limited amount of time.
I take off my robe and take a deep breath. It's been a while since I swam.
Leaping into the pool, continuous stabs of Qi penetrates through my skin and into my dantian.
The deeper I swim, the stronger the condensation of the Qi.
At the bottom of the pool lies a big gleaming crystal stone. However, any further endeavour is proved futile when the Qi burns my skin if I attempt to swim deeper.
Uck...
I have no choice but to leave.
"Ack!...huff...huff..." I pull myself out of the pond, drenched.
Li Xing should visit this place soon.
----------------------
At the demonic territory, every demonic sect head has gathered for a meeting held by the demonic emperor.
"Ah... It's been quite some time since I've descended from the upper realms." Says Jie Sheng. "I will need to return soon so I planned a little something. All of you will help, right?"
"Y-Yes..." They say.
"Good, I am sick and tired of laying around, I want to exercise a bit. We will be going on an all-out war against the Murin Alliance."
!!!!!
"B-But they have many powerful-"
"Huh? What are you scared of? You have me. Besides, is this the extent of your conviction? Tch, how petty." Says Jie Sheng
...
Jie Sheng smirks. "Are there any other objections?"
The room remains silent. No one wants to die under his authoritarian presence.