Chapter 206: A Mere Core Formation Steward Dares Bark in My Face
Not long after, Shen Mo led Huang Caiying on a full tour of Dragon Serpent Mountain.
The mountain was roughly divided into three areas: the pastures, the lakeside, and the caves. These three regions were further sectioned into various enclosures, each home to different types of demon beasts such as the Long-Maned Cattle, Flying Cloud Silkworm Mothers, and Jade-Eyed Pythons.
Some of the gentler demon beasts had already been tamed as spirit beasts and no longer needed to be confined within enclosures. They could roam freely outside, like the celestial cranes and big tigers that Shen Mo had seen at the Jade Cauldron Sect, creatures that had entirely lost their wild nature.
Suddenly, a figure arrived outside Dragon Serpent Mountain, shouting loudly, "Qian Fangyong! Get out here now!"
His booming voice, infused with spiritual energy, caused the weaker demon beasts to scatter in terror, fleeing in all directions.
Shen Mo frowned. The primary rule in raising demon beasts was not to disturb them. Repeated disruptions like this would ruin even the most carefully cultivated beasts.
Shen Mo immediately flew over with Huang Caiying to confront the man. "I am Elder Shen Mo, in charge of Dragon Serpent Mountain. Who are you?"
When Huang Caiying saw the man, she shrank back in fear behind Shen Mo.
The man looked Shen Mo up and down with disdain. "Ah, so they replaced the old guy with a newcomer. No wonder you don't know me."
"Let me tell you—I am Steward Xu Ziqiang, serving under the Second Elder! From now on, I'll be the one assigning tasks to Dragon Serpent Mountain."
"This year's quota from Dragon Serpent Mountain is 400 pounds of Long-Maned Cattle gallstones, 1,000 pounds of Flying Cloud Silkworm cocoons, and 600 pounds of Jade-Eyed Python molts."
"Qian Fangyong fell short last year. Now that it's your turn, don't even think about failing again!"
"If you do, you won't get a single contribution point!"
With that, Xu Ziqiang gave a dismissive snort and turned to leave, his attitude dripping with arrogance.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow, and suddenly his aura surged.
In an instant, Xu Ziqiang felt as if an invisible giant hand had clamped down on him. No matter how much he struggled, he couldn't move an inch.
He strained with all his might, his face turning red, yet he was unable to break free from Shen Mo's hold.
"A mere Core Formation cultivator, a lowly steward, and you dare bark in my face?" Shen Mo spoke calmly, looking down at Xu Ziqiang.
Xu Ziqiang snarled, "What do you think you're doing? I'm under the Second Elder's protection! Release me immediately!"
There wasn't a hint of respect for a Nascent Soul elder in his tone.
"Caiying, cover your eyes. Don't look," Shen Mo said calmly.
"Yes, Caiying understands," Huang Caiying replied, obediently covering her eyes.
"It is a great disrespect for a steward to fail to bow to an elder."
"If you don't wish to kneel, I'll help you."
Shen Mo flicked his finger lightly, sending a sliver of spiritual energy shooting forward, severing both of Xu Ziqiang's legs below the knees.
With a scream, Xu Ziqiang collapsed onto his knees with a thud.
"You think that being favored by Yang Qiye allows you to bark at me, an elder?"
"Perhaps you should consider whether you've already offended Yang Qiye. Otherwise, why would he send you here to deal with me?"
Shen Mo's voice was chillingly calm.
Xu Ziqiang's face turned deathly pale. He understood now. This Shen Mo was nothing like the meek Qian Fangyong; he was a fierce man of the highest order. His earlier arrogance had clearly provoked Shen Mo's wrath.
Xu Ziqiang immediately kowtowed, wailing, "Elder Shen, I was wrong! I was wrong!"
Shen Mo replied coolly, "Tell me the actual task requirements from the sect. If you lie again, I'll shatter your dantian."
Xu Ziqiang shuddered in terror. Losing his legs could be remedied with rare pills, but if he lost his dantian, he'd be a cripple for life.
Not daring to lie, he quickly said, "I exaggerated the numbers earlier. The sect only requires 200 pounds of Long-Maned Cattle gallstones, 500 pounds of Flying Cloud Silkworm cocoons, or 300 pounds of Jade-Eyed Python molts—any one of these."
Shen Mo let out a cold smile. "You've got some nerve, doubling the requirements and demanding all of them."
Xu Ziqiang kowtowed repeatedly, "I was wrong, I was wrong! Please punish me according to the sect's rules, Elder!"
Shen Mo's expression remained indifferent. He understood Xu Ziqiang's intention in bringing up "sect rules."
The larger the sect, the more complex its rules, and the stricter the need to adhere to them.
Elders of the Jade Cauldron Sect have no authority over the lives of stewards or disciples. Only after a ruling by the sect's Disciplinary Hall can any punishment be officially decreed.
Shen Mo said coldly, "Go back and tell Yang Qiye to properly discipline his stewards. If he won't, next time I will do it myself."
"Yes, yes, I'll go immediately!" Xu Ziqiang, as if granted a reprieve, fled hurriedly.
Huang Caiying then opened her eyes and said angrily, "That scoundrel used to come every year, and both Elder Qian and my grandfather had to bow and scrape before him. Sometimes, they even had to bribe him with spirit stones."
"He deliberately inflated the quotas, causing us endless work day and night."
Shen Mo patted her on the head. "That won't happen anymore. As long as I'm here, no one will dare pull such tricks."
Huang Caiying nodded eagerly. "Yes, Caiying can tell right away that you're different from Elder Qian and the other elders my grandfather used to talk about. You have vigor and spirit, unlike those other elders, who were all so… spineless."
Shen Mo laughed heartily.
At that moment, he heard a low humming sound echoing from deep within the mountain. "What's that sound?" he asked.
Huang Caiying blinked her large eyes and replied, "That's the sound of the Flying Cloud Silkworm Mothers, Elder Shen. The previous Elder Qian never contributed enough to buy heavenly resources, so they haven't been fed properly for a long time."
"I've been growing some Blueblood Mulberry trees in the pastures of Dragon Serpent Mountain just to keep them alive."
Shen Mo patted her head again. "So, it's the Flying Cloud Silkworm Mothers. But how did you know they needed Blueblood Mulberry leaves?"
Huang Caiying blushed. "Sometimes, my grandfather would tell me about these things, so I just remembered."
Shen Mo nodded slightly. "You've done well. Let's go check on the silkworm mothers. I brought plenty of heavenly resources with me this time, enough to sustain them for a while."
Huang Caiying lit up with joy. "Thank you, Elder Shen!"
A short while later, the two entered a dim cavern through a small opening.
Inside, there was almost no light, but Shen Mo's cultivation allowed him to see clearly in the dark.
Ahead of them was an enclosure, filled with small, white, palm-sized insects—the Flying Cloud Silkworm Mothers, which resembled regular silkworms but produced silk that was exceptionally resilient and provided warmth in winter and coolness in summer.
The elders' robes from the first to the third rank were crafted primarily from this silk. Higher-level elder robes required even more durable and sturdy silk as the main material.
"The sect's three assigned tasks are easiest to accomplish with Flying Cloud Silkworm silk," Shen Mo observed. "However, these silkworm mothers have grown thin from hunger, and their bloodline is rather diluted. We'll be lucky to meet half the required quota each year."
After glancing over them, Shen Mo shook his head repeatedly.
Huang Caiying asked softly, "Elder Shen, do you have a solution?"
"I like you, Elder Shen, and I don't want you to end up like Elder Qian."
Shen Mo chuckled. "Of course, I have a solution."
"I won't just fulfill the sect's task—I'll exceed it."
"Then not only will I gain contributions, but so will you, your grandfather, and everyone!"
Huang Caiying cheered excitedly, "Yay! Caiying will get contributions too!"
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