In the peach garden, Li Yun and the other were seated on the table like usual, everyone was talking about the success in getting the cooperation of the Sun Clan, no one said anything about the young man that had an eye blackened like a panda.
Xiao Ling'er was feeling very curious but after several days of interaction with these humans ( and cat), even a little system spirit like her learned a thing or two, don't pull the tiger's tail when it's sleeping, as for who was the tiger it was up for debate…
She then said in a serious tone:
"The first mission was accomplished with brio, it's time for the system rewards."
The familiar large blue screen appeared before them.
[MISSION]: Recruit the Sun clan
Result: Congratulations! You managed to bring the Sun clan under the coup of the Li clan, with a brilliant tactic of the carrot and stick they succumbed and raised the white flag becoming your first sunordinate clan. You have taken an important step forward to reach the Great undertaking of the system.
Completion level: S rank [The system didn't think you would go that far, it felt very gratified to have chosen the right hosts.]
Rewards: 1000 CP for everyone! Plus the unlocking of the System spirit Xiao Ling'er[ she can now follow any family member outside of the Peach garden]. Unlocking of the first level of the system store[ You can purchase many useful things inside now] . P.s.: Special rewards for those who achieved the mission, they can take it on their personal panel later on.
Everyone looked at Xiao Ling'er with a blank face, when did they use the carrot and stick tactic? The Sun Clan became their subordinate?
The system spirit seemed quite pleased with the news that she could go out with them from now on, her smile was almost infecting. Children should go outside to play regularly, closing themselves at home all the time wasn't good for health.
But her diligence for work triumphed in the end as she held back her excitation, and answered the question of these people that seemed stuck like the image on some old tape recorder. She cleared her throat for a bit to snap them back before saying:
"The Sun Clan patriarch contracted an illness that couldn't be healed, but no one outside knew what exactly it was. In desperation he contacted the Dark Cult from the Dark Miasma region, they possessed a cure that suppressed the symptoms but he was constrained to take them regularly to be able to live on, so he became the dog of the Dark Cult, sending critical information about the Blue River region." She paused for a bit and continued seeing that everyone was back on earth.
"But with the alchemy pill that brother Li Yun delivered here, the illness was healed successfully; the Sun Clan must have thought that you already knew about their association with the evil cultivators and took the visit as a last warning, they then capitulated and accepted to be a subordinate of the Li Clan from now on."
Father Li showed confusion as he asked successively:
"What do you mean by the Dark Cult? Why didn't you say anything about the connection between them and the Sun Clan? And why would they target a clan in the Blue River region?"
Xiao Ling'er looked at him strangely before saying:
"It is because of father Li, their leader is your sworn enemy."
"My sworn enemy?" Did he have such a thing?
"Don't you remember? I have already explained that before, the cult leader is called the Great Devil God Wang Dafei, he fought with you since your youth and moth…"
"Yes, I remember now! There is no need to talk about it anymore." He hurriedly stoped her, what a close call!
He didn't see the mischievous smile on Xiao Ling'er's face, they wouldn't pretend to listen to her anymore and really pay attention from now on, Xiao Ling'er is the smartest; she was a fast learner …
Everyone stopped asking about that and accepted the explanation? for now, they then decided to broach the next subject that needed their attention: how to cooperate with the Sun Clan to make some changes in cities in the vicinity first.
Li Cheng began to talk with seriousness:
"I think that the best option is to spread the Blue River school to the different cities, what we need the most is a place to nurture the next generation of cultivators that would rise the level of the region as a whole."
Li Kun then responded:
"But father, that would only work as a long term solution, we need to think about the current situation. It may not be as dire as we thought before, but it is not that good either. Another plan must be made in parallel, like helping the spiritual herbs farmer cultivator and give them more freedom in what kind of poduct they are planting, that would increase the production and…"
They couldn't continue their boring discussion as another feed appeared on the large blue screen:
[MISSION]
For the clan to become the greatest in the whole universe, it need to take care of the people it lead. Give a man a fish and he will be fed today, teach him to fish and he will be fed for a lifetime. Please introduce the new cutting edge methods of plantation of Spiritual herbs to the people in the Blue River region.
Mission prop: A manuscript about the legendary farming methods. It was written by a certain Divine spirit when he walked around the world bellow and saw the suffering of the people. P.s.: Please don't make any illegal copy or a divine punishment may fall on your head.
Rewards: Depend on completion level (All the clansman must take part to get the highest reward)
Father Li and Li Kun looked at each other before looking at the book on the table; did they still need to use their heads then? The system seems to have a solution to everything, were they just here to act as pawns ?
As they fell into existential crisis, and wondered their uses in this world, Xiao Ling'er interrupted their thoughts.
"The mission given isn't made up by the system but generated following your thoughts and opinions, it just take the situation of the cultivation world that you are clueless about into consideration and show the best answer."
They were relieved after hearing that, so they weren't just decorations. It's not the children alone that needed comforting nowadays…
They then discussed about how they were going to accomplish the mission together when Li Ya showed some reluctance to go out with them; she encountered some unpleasant experiences when she went out several time since she arrived here, she stopped going outside three days ago . This world was weird, how could there be so many young masters?!
As the other thought about leaving her in the mansion and give up on the highest reward, Li Yun who still held some grudge wasn't concerned about that and checked his personal reward instead; what a petty young man…
[STATUS]
Name: Seven Star robe
Rank: 4th rank Spiritual
Use: Cloths Type: Equipment
Description: [A beautifully weaved night blue robe made of spiritual blue silk produced by a Star beast, it is so enchanting it seems to attract the stars in the night sky. Very resistant to elemental attacks and increase the mysteriousness of the one who wear it. P.s.: Special edition that can't be bought in the system store, please take care of it.]
"I won't leave the family down when you need me the most!" Such a grand announcement came from the eldest daughter. Getting cloths isn't guaranteed…
...….
The next day, the Li clan was headed to the Blue River school of the Blue Sky city, they were followed by Steward Han, Sun Jia and the surprising Liu Guan. He earned the approval of the Head Steward when he got an evaluation of nine out of ten stars from young master Li Yun, it was a remarkable result. He was so happy to be of use to the clan that was his benefactor; as well as for the rise of his salary by forty percent, what a devoted young man!
Liu Guan was the driver today, while steward Han was seated beside him looking like an evaluator.
The family members were seated behind with Sun Jia sitting beside Li Ya, she was feeling a bit confused looking at the little girl with rainbow colored hair sitting on mother Li's lap, but there was no way she would dare ask anything.
Xiao Ling'er was in a very good mood, it was actually a sad thing that she was the last one to see the world outside after all of the hard work she put to learn about it; but she wasn't a pessimistic system spirit, she would enjoy this moment as best as she could.
Li Yun was feeling it was a bit funny looking at her admiring the cityscape bellow with sparkling eyes, he then asked her pointing at one of the largest building they were passing by :
"Xiao Ling'er, do you know what that building is for?" It was such an innocent question but when she answered with a bit of sadness:
"Yes, brother Li Yun; this is a place where the corpses of hunted or raised magical beasts are processed, even though many of them have already gained intelligence; but what can be done? This is the cultivation world."
"...."
Silence reigned.
Hong Xi who was asleep on Li Ya'a lap shot a glance full of disapproving to Li Yun, this kid really never learned from his mistakes. He then stood up and went to Xiao Ling'er jumping on her lap, comforting the little girl with his round body full of fur; there were some tasks that only a cat like him could do, human were not dependable at all…
No one said anything but they all felt gratified that Hong Xi was here.
After several minutes, Steward Han announced to break the silence:
"Master, we have arrived to the Blue River school."
The car then landed on a campus tens of kilometers wide just before the door of the main building where several people were already waiting for them respectfully.
...
The Blue River school of the Blue Sky city was welcoming some distinguished guests today. The Principal was wearing some proper cloths unlike usual, his long white beard was more fitted with a daoist robe instead of a janitor's working cloths. But, the other Heads in the school weren't in the mood to admire him, the true boss behind the school contacted them yesterday that she would come today to have a very important discussion.
The boss wasn't a scary person despite her standing and was quite reasonable to talk to; but when she said that her family, the husband included, would come with her, it made such an uproar that the mysterious old man cleaning the campus all day around gave disappeared overnight.
The other heads were even more nervous and frightened as they went out of their houses in the middle of the night and made a meeting until the morning to discuss and debate about what to do; in the end when they saw that there wasn't any time anymore, they concluded that they concluded nothing. The strategy then shifted from 'We must think of something' to 'Just leave it up to fate'.
A car parked before the main building, and from the front seat two men walked out; when they saw the younger one, some hope ignited in their hearts but seeing the other one any trace of spark was doused by the cold reality. There was no way Head Steward Han would act like some footman if it wasn't for a single person. Their worries were confirmed when a man walked out of the car spreading an oppressive aura without trying to. It was the Tyrant Saber God Li Cheng!
The heads all went forward under the Principal's lead and bowed in unison saying respectfully:
"Welcome to the Blue River school Venerable master Li, we are honored to receive you here."
Father Li answered calmly:
"You can rise your heads."
The crowd raised their heads and waited there as the other people in the car descended. Their boss Madam Li, she was as radiant as ever. The eldest son Li Kun, his cultivation was only bellow the Principal's despite his age. The daughter Li Ya who inherited her mother's grace, but she was holding the hand of a little girl with rainbow hair and a fat cat was walking under her feet; then the young lady of the Sun Clan Sun Jia appeared which surprised them more. What was going on? They were too confused to admire the youngest son Li Yun with his beautiful Daoist robe...
The principal then acted as a proper host and said:
"We are very honored to receive you all, if you could follow us please."
He then led them around the campus showing his great familiarity with it; the other heads were apprehensive that the Saber God wouldn't appreciate it, but he seemed quite pleased so they didn't say anything. They just followed and answered some questions of the Principal when they passed by their department playing along with him.
This continued until they reached the conference room where the discussion could finally begin.
.....
Father Li was feeling quite happy right now, he was pleased with the Principal and the heads of the Blue River school, he couldn't help but sigh inside:
'It is rare for a leading figure to be so knowledgeable about the whole place he work in, his familiarity make it look like he spent a long time looking around the whole campus. And the heads that follow his order so diligently, this school does have a bright future ahead of it. It is all the work of the boss behind the scenes.'
He then stopped his mind from wandering, and began the important talk that needed to be done.
"I'm here to bring a change to this school, a change to the live of people…."
The long speech could be resumed with: ' I want to use your school to spread a new way to cultivate Spiritual herbs in the city nearby, it was called the Small Leap Forward plan'.
At the end of the speech, the Principal was sighing in relief, he was safe. The heads on the other hand showed solemnity, but there was a hint of anticipation…