novelraw Chapter 15 – Ruling by virtue is nonsense; ruling by strength is more reliable
Chapter 15 – Ruling by virtue is nonsense; ruling by strength is more reliable
In no time, the area outside the Heaven Vault Pavilion was bustling with people. Except for those on missions or stationed elsewhere, nearly all the deacons and disciples from both the Inner and Outer Sects had gathered. Over five hundred people crowded the once spacious square, leaving no room to move.
Although many disciples had previously looked down on Mu Xiaochuan, thinking he was just a mediocre cultivator who took over sixty years to reach the fourth level of Qi Refining, now they all stood respectfully, not daring to make a sound. This was the law of the cultivation world, where strength reigns supreme.
There is a natural chasm between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment, difficult to cross. Take Mu Xiaochuan's cohort who entered Yunqi Peak as an example; they were selected every five years, and two hundred entered together. Yet, seventy years later, only three had successfully reached Foundation Establishment, with Liu Ruyan and Mu Xiaochuan being two of them, and only about ten had entered the Inner Sect. Most disciples, like the former Mu Xiaochuan, remained in the early and middle stages of Qi Refining. However, many were drawn to the mortal world and returned to enjoy a life of luxury, or took up positions at Qingling Sect's Outer Sect outposts.
The deacons stood in a separate line, exactly thirty of them. These deacons were older, higher-ranking cultivators from both the Inner and Outer Sects. Generally, Outer Sect Deacons were at the fifth level of Qi Refining, while Inner Sect Deacons were at the eighth level. The Inner Sect disciples formed three rows, numbering less than a hundred, while the remaining four hundred were Outer Sect disciples.
Mu Xiaochuan stood on the steps of the Heaven Vault Pavilion, hands behind his back, his robes fluttering, his gaze as deep as the starry sea, surveying the crowd before him.
Seeing that most people had arrived, Mu Xiaochuan did not rush to take inventory or review the main processes of the Heaven Vault Pavilion. What he needed to do first was establish his authority!
He wanted to settle old scores!
He wanted to reckon with those who had oppressed him!
He wanted everyone to know that Mu Xiaochuan was not someone to be trifled with!
"Zhao Defang!" Mu Xiaochuan suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.
A short, stout deacon with a face full of flesh trembled upon hearing his name called by Mu Xiaochuan. He hurried forward, nodding and bowing, saying, "Elder Mu, disciple present!"
Zhao Defang, at the eighth level of Qi Refining, was responsible for distributing stipends to Outer Sect disciples in previous years and now distributed stipends to Inner Sect disciples. Back when Mu Xiaochuan was at the third level of Qi Refining, Zhao Defang frequently docked his stipend for various reasons, such as "slacking in cultivation," "insufficient contribution," "poor conduct," and so on, always finding ways to skim a little off Mu Xiaochuan's stipend. The monthly stipend of five Spirit Stones usually ended up being three or four.
Mu Xiaochuan looked coldly at Zhao Defang, a mocking smile on his lips. "Zhao Defang, do you know your crime?"
Zhao Defang's face turned pale at these words, his legs nearly giving way. He quickly said, "Elder Mu, I have always been diligent and conscientious, never daring to slack off. I don't know what crime I have committed?"
Mu Xiaochuan sneered, "Did you think I forgot? When I was at the third level of Qi Refining, you never gave me my full stipend." Saying this, he waved the notebook in his hand. "I just checked the records; my distribution records are all full, never missing a single one."
Zhao Defang's heart trembled, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. He had long forgotten how he used to find excuses to dock Mu Xiaochuan's stipend. It wasn't just Mu Xiaochuan; he would find reasons to dock the stipends of almost all Outer Sect disciples without backgrounds and with seemingly little future in cultivation.
"Elder Mu, I was wrong. Docking Outer Sect disciples' stipends is a common practice, and we have to make offerings as well," Zhao Defang hinted to Mu Xiaochuan.
Mu Xiaochuan was even more infuriated. Back then, he had reflected on himself, striving to perform better because his stipend was docked, only to find out that this bastard docked stipends at will, unrelated to his performance.
Mu Xiaochuan: "Oh, and who did you make offerings to?"
"Elder, I was momentarily possessed, please show mercy and spare me this time," Zhao Defang pleaded tearfully as Mu Xiaochuan pressed on.
Mu Xiaochuan smiled slightly and said, "Then guess if I will be magnanimous?"
Seeing a glimmer of hope, Zhao Defang quickly flattered Mu Xiaochuan, "Elder Mu is clearly a virtuous and respected elder, destined to enter the Golden Elixir Realm, and naturally wouldn't trouble us Qi Refining disciples. Being magnanimous is surely no problem."
Mu Xiaochuan burst into laughter at these words, "You guessed wrong. I am narrow-minded and hold grudges. I have never forgotten how you docked my stipend. Now, as an elder, I strip you of your deacon position. Do you accept this?"
"At Elder Mu's disposal," Zhao Defang resignedly accepted, thinking that being an Inner Sect disciple without being a deacon wasn't too bad.
"Haha, you agreed quite readily. Now, hand over the Spirit Stones you docked over the years," Mu Xiaochuan said, seeing Zhao Defang's pained agreement, unwilling to let him off easily.
"At Elder Mu's command," Zhao Defang complied straightforwardly, handing over a thousand Spirit Stones before turning to leave.
Looking at the pile of Spirit Stones before him, Mu Xiaochuan felt no satisfaction. Zhao Defang had troubled him for years, and such a simple punishment hardly eased his resentment. With this thought, he suddenly shouted, "Stop! Hand over your Storage Pouch and remove the restrictions; I want to inspect it personally!"
Zhao Defang's face changed dramatically, "Elder Mu, I have been stripped of my deacon position and have handed over the docked stipend. You have no right to inspect my personal Storage Pouch."
Mu Xiaochuan felt assured, "You handed over a thousand, but did you only dock a thousand? If you don't hand over the Storage Pouch for inspection, you'll face sect punishment."
Zhao Defang clutched his Storage Pouch tightly, his face flushed.
Mu Xiaochuan stared at him steadily.
Suddenly, a deacon from the back of the group jumped out.
"I report, I expose, I must act righteously, I must atone for my sins," this fifth-level Qi Refining Outer Sect Elder crawled and knelt before Mu Xiaochuan.
He Ziqian, Mu Xiaochuan recognized him at once. He had planned to deal with this guy today, yet he jumped out on his own. He was the deacon who ignored the queue-cutting incident earlier. However, he became a deacon later, by which time Mu Xiaochuan was already a deacon, so he hadn't docked Mu Xiaochuan's stipend, but according to Su Qianmeng and others, he had docked theirs.
Zhao Defang's face twisted with rage as he cursed at He Ziqian, "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you want to die?"
He Ziqian ignored him, "I expose Zhao Defang. He docked thousands of Spirit Stones and used them to buy shops and lend at high interest. The contracts and IOU notes are in his Storage Pouch."
Zhao Defang, in a fit of desperation, suddenly stood up, a flash of light in his hand as he drew a Magical Artifact—a short blade—and lunged straight at He Ziqian.
Mu Xiaochuan, already a Foundation Establishment cultivator, was far more agile than a Qi Refining cultivator. Zhao Defang's sudden attack seemed like slow motion to Mu Xiaochuan. Infusing spiritual energy into his fingers, he pointed like a sword at Zhao Defang. Zhao Defang was struck heavily, falling to the ground.
Two disciples then came forward to restrain Zhao Defang, who, like a defeated rooster, hung his head in dejection, allowing himself to be at their mercy, obediently removing the restrictions and handing over his Storage Pouch.
Without restrictions, the Storage Pouch was like an unlocked safe. Mu Xiaochuan emptied it completely. There were over three thousand Spirit Stones, dozens of Spirit Herbs, three Spiritual Artifacts, two boxes of Elixirs, and seven or eight contracts and a stack of IOU notes as He Ziqian had accused.
Haha, finally subdued this villain, Mu Xiaochuan thought with satisfaction, then loudly announced that all resources would be confiscated, Zhao Defang's spiritual power would be completely sealed, his deacon position stripped, and he would be sent to labor at the Outer Sect Spirit Mine for ten years as punishment.
Seeing this, He Ziqian quickly removed his own restrictions, handed over his Storage Pouch, admitted to docking Outer Sect disciples' stipends, and offered to hand everything over.
Mu Xiaochuan used his Spiritual Sense to probe, and goodness, it was quite a bit, a full two thousand Spirit Stones, though little else. Seeing that He Ziqian was somewhat clever, Mu Xiaochuan took the Spirit Stones and returned the Storage Pouch to He Ziqian.
He then announced publicly, "He Ziqian, as a deacon, abused his power to dock Outer Sect disciples' stipends. He should be stripped of his deacon position, but given his voluntary confession and exposure of Zhao Defang's crimes, he will not be pursued further, and his stipend will be docked for one year."
After dealing with Zhao Defang and He Ziqian, goodness, those who had bullied him or docked his resources in the past all jumped out to plead for mercy. Mu Xiaochuan punished them according to the severity of their offenses, dismissing those who needed to be dismissed and promoting those he favored.
Having dealt with everything, Mu Xiaochuan thought to himself that he didn't care about ruling by virtue; exacting revenge was far more satisfying. Whether it was abusing power for personal gain or retaliating against enemies, he didn't care about his reputation or the opinions of the disciples; his own satisfaction was most important.
With this in mind, he looked at the disciples, who were all awed by his methods. Those who had previously looked down on him now regarded him with respect and fear.
Indeed, this was human nature. When he was a deacon and ruled by virtue, didn't those Outer Sect disciples bully him? After he disciplined them, they all became obedient, and these people were no different.
Having dealt with those he wanted to deal with and gained the disciples' respect, haha, satisfying.
Just then, a "ding" sounded in Mu Xiaochuan's mind.
"Congratulations to the host, you have gained 30 Thrill Points," the system's voice echoed in his mind.
Mu Xiaochuan was delighted, reflecting, "Ruling by virtue is nonsense; ruling by strength is more reliable."