Mingyue frowned because it meant she really had no choice for a Dao partner other than Alex.
She didn't know how to make sense of it; at least for now, she needed to get to know him better.
"Well, it's good if you're alright.
Do you have any other requests?
By the way, can you send me one of those storage rings?
I've always wanted to have one."
"I did have a few here.
I'll send them to you, along with some other stuff," Mingyue said and then started telling Alex what had happened with Linghua.
From being attacked by Linghua and falling into the void crack to going to the secret realm and setting a trap for Linghua.
Hearing all of this, Alex had an idea.
"Since you already have a secret realm now, why not make your own Sect, Mingyue?"
"My own Sect?
Even with the resources I got from this secret realm, it wouldn't be enough, Alex.
The cultivation methods the previous owner used were also not suitable for that purpose."
"That's fine.
Don't you forget about me?" Alex chuckled.
"Look, Mingyue, instead of trying to recruit those so-called geniuses, find common people, those who have been trampled by cultivators."
"Commoners?
But what can they do?
They are too weak; a single Foundation Stage cultivator can easily trample over them," Mingyue asked.
"I have some understanding of your world from Vesa.
Even commoners can cultivate; it's just that no one thinks it's worthwhile to train them because the efficiency is so low.
But what if we don't focus on cultivating them?
Instead, give them weapons from my world?
A machine gun can easily overpower a Foundation Stage cultivator.
You just need a few non-genius cultivators with the right element to produce all the items.
I will then send you some training and production methods for you to implement."
Hearing Alex's idea, Mingyue found it feasible.
Recruiting commoners as cultivators wouldn't be hard; as long as she could provide them with food, a warm house, and protection, they would come flocking to her.
She could also bind them with a contract to ensure their loyalty.
Alex then added, "Look, Mingyue, you should stop depending on others to raise your cultivation like your sect and family do.
You should just take over both of them and create your own organization.
Make one with a concept similar to those of ancient families.
Your world has big opportunities compared to mine."
"Big opportunities?
What do you mean by that, Alex?"
"Yes, every single sect and prominent family is looking for heaven-blessed geniuses with overwhelming talent.
Since one can beat a thousand, they neglect the most important resource: the common people.
Even your sect can't maintain their daily needs without these so-called commoners.
Why else would they take over many cities under them?"
Mingyue still felt disbelief.
Why were common people considered an important resource?
"But why?
There are so many of them.
Even if one or two cities were decimated, it wouldn't take long for others to fill the numbers."
Alex laughed.
"You're so focused on cultivation that you've barely grown in economy and technology.
Even cultivators need to eat before they become immortal.
You also need furniture and a place to live.
Who works to produce the wheat and rice you eat?
Who takes out the logs to build all of those?
Isn't it the commoners?
None of the so-called cultivators want to dirty their hands doing it.
But you all neglect them and treat them like trash.
Without commoners, can your sect survive?
Can the cultivators focus on their cultivation?
No, right?
Even many new geniuses come from these so-called commoners.
If you start taking over their roots one by one, they will start to feel the impact and weaken.
I heard you plan to hide your identity before returning to your family.
Try to hide as a commoner and mingle with them, Mingyue.
Become one of them.
Then you will understand what they really do."
"What?
Hiding as a commoner?" The idea baffled Mingyue.
Every cultivator looked at them as if they were a lower species.
"Yes, you might think that as long as you provide them with good food, a house, and a contract, it's enough, right?
No, it's not, Mingyue.
We also need to really understand how they think, what they are capable of, and how they live their lives.
Only then can we plan out a suitable community that is ever-growing.
Anything motivated only by fear won't last long.
Don't forget, we need to find people to become real vampires; they cannot be bound by slave contracts.
If they are only loyal out of fear, it will put us at high risk; they will also not really try their best."
Hearing his words, Mingyue understood he wanted to use the sect she would build as a foundation for growth, not just for short-term goals.
"You know about the idea of school and education in my world, right?"
"Yes." Mingyue was baffled when she first learned about this, wondering why Alex's world invested so many resources into the education system.
"It's not just about skills, Mingyue.
The most important aspect of that system is to instill group values in people, such as what is right to do and what is wrong to do.
To put it simply, it's about shaping them into suitable individuals who will work most beneficially for us.
For example, my world teaches people to work under others, keep their word, and think about others' benefits first.
Many believe this and spend half their lives following this route, only to face the reality that it's all bullshit.
But in your world, we don't need to worry about this.
We will make sure that everyone who follows the teachings will be rewarded."
"Why would my world be any different, though?
In the end, people will follow their own desires, Alex.
Even I know that when their basic needs are fulfilled, they will start wanting more."
There were a few cases like this; she had heard some cultivators treat the commoners very well only to get stabbed in the back.