Chapter 27: The Twenty-Seventh Day as Cult Leader (Part 4)

He could not help spending one thousand merit points to purchase a copy of Breathing Exercise and cultivated for a while according to what was written in it. Only after he exhaled a breath of turbid air and opened his eyes did he subconsciously smile faintly.

He did not feel this thing called qi and blood, but his internal energy had become slightly thicker, and his strength had increased a little as well. As expected, it was a basic martial art.

This kind of thing was of no benefit to martial arts experts such as Demonic Cult elders and hall masters, but for those with ordinary martial arts like him, it was still somewhat beneficial.

Thinking of this, Qin Ming’s heart suddenly stirred, and he seized a bit of inspiration.

Since he had already bought these martial arts manuals, why not turn them into a kind of reward mechanism and find something for those Demonic Cult disciples to do?

Moreover, he would only choose manuals that would not greatly increase martial arts but would benefit the body. That way, he would not have to fear someone abusing the martial arts to commit evil.

In any case, Demonic Cult disciples loved cultivating martial arts. Wasn’t this perfectly suitable?

Qin Ming slapped his thigh and felt more and more that this strategy was pretty good.

It was just that exactly how to make them happily cultivate martial arts still required some calculation… Qin Ming stroked his chin and began thinking hard. In the end, he even paced back and forth across the study floor, suddenly remembering something called a merit system.

Or in other words, contribution points!

As long as Demonic Cult disciples made contributions to the cult, they could obtain contribution points. Those ranked relatively high could receive martial arts manuals issued by the Cult Leader!

And after reaching a certain level, there would also be special rewards.

This way, the Demonic Cult disciples would thoroughly get moving in order to chase contribution points and temporarily stop thinking about attacking the righteous sects!

Not bad! This was it!

Detected new mission objective: Establish a complete contribution system.

Mission Reward: Randomly obtain ten beginner-level martial arts manuals!

Because he had thought of a good idea, Qin Ming’s brain cells were practically active at this moment. In only a few steps, he walked to the desk, wanting to perfect the contribution system. However, reality proved that proposing an idea that had once existed was much simpler than actually doing it. Qin Ming designed it for a long while, but still made a complete mess of it.

In the end, he decided to use his final trump card—call for people!

He would hand this matter over to his think tank.

As the saying went, when the superior moved his mouth, the subordinates ran until their legs broke. After Chen Lue took over this task, Qin Ming could be said to have been completely liberated. Finally, with his whole body relaxed, he went off to study his lightness skill, Treading Snow Without Trace.

Chen Lue truly handled matters steadily and skillfully. Quietly and without a sound, he could complete a major task. After nearly three days passed with no trace of him, this person unhurriedly appeared before Qin Ming and submitted a detailed contribution point standard.

For example: Repairing the outer perimeter for one day, contribution points plus ten. Clearing weeds from one area, contribution points plus ten. As for relatively major contribution tasks, the contribution points would be doubled.

After reaching three hundred contribution points, one could become an inner disciple and exchange for beginner-level martial arts manuals. Qin Ming was thinking of putting up some green- and white-grade martial arts and heart methods from the System store. Although their quality was not especially good, their advantage lay in variety. Sword arts, fist arts, palm arts, saber arts, lightness skills—everything one could think of was there.

After reaching eight hundred contribution points, one could become an advanced disciple and exchange for advanced martial arts manuals. Some good things could be placed here, such as blue-grade martial arts. However, in order to prevent contribution points from increasing too quickly, Qin Ming shamelessly stipulated that blue-grade martial arts required a minimum of one thousand contribution points, and so on…

After reaching two thousand contribution points, one could be promoted to elite disciple. After reaching five thousand contribution points, one could become a personal disciple. After reaching ten thousand contribution points, one would become a sole disciple…

In short, the further one went, the more absurd the contribution point requirements became, exceeding sky-high prices. Chen Lue had even thoughtfully included a Demonic Cult disciple contribution point ranking list from this period of time.

First place was impressively Shen Fubai, with three hundred and thirty points, becoming the only inner disciple, standing head and shoulders above the rest.

Thinking about it, this was not strange. After all, Shen Fubai was very useful. Qin Ming liked to hand all the miscellaneous tasks to him, causing him to be busy every day. His contribution points therefore grew desperately.

The second tier consisted of Zhang Daniu, Qian Xiaodou, Zhou Ji, and others who had made great contributions. Qin Ming also conveniently placed Chen Lue in there as well. They had roughly more than two hundred contribution points, just a bit away from advancement.

The third tier consisted of the remaining Demonic Cult disciples who worked and exerted effort. These people lacked strength and also had relatively low status, but because they did their work diligently, they had more than one hundred contribution points.

The lowest tier consisted of some Demonic Cult elders and hall masters. Every day, they only moved their lips, handed every task over to the people below them, and had not put forward any constructive opinions. Their contribution points were within one hundred.

Seeing this, Qin Ming could not help raising his eyes to glance at Chen Lue. He saw Chen Lue standing in place with lowered eyes, indifferent as drifting clouds and wild cranes, and there was no proud or self-satisfied expression on his face. Yet Qin Ming wanted to praise him fiercely a few times. Sure enough, Chen Lue knew his thoughts!

The reason he divided the tiers was to cultivate those young Demonic Cult disciples while also slightly suppressing those elders and hall masters with excessive power.

The young disciples had recently been attending classes and learning new knowledge. It was very easy to change their dangerous thinking. Qin Ming was not afraid that teaching them martial arts would cause them to make trouble. As for the elders and hall masters, he had to be cautious. He could not allow their contribution points to be too high and truly let them learn some vicious martial art, but he also could not make them too low and give them nothing at all.

And Chen Lue’s division clearly fit this point. However, if those elders and hall masters learned that their points were this low, they would probably make a scene on the spot. That was the countermeasure Qin Ming should think of.

“You did well.” Qin Ming closed the booklet and looked at Chen Lue approvingly. “Designing this detailed division system is itself a great contribution. You are permitted to advance as an inner disciple, same as Shen Fubai.”

He had originally thought Chen Lue would be very happy, but unexpectedly, the other party’s expression remained calm. He merely bowed lightly. “Many thanks for the Cult Leader’s favor. However, this is all within this subordinate’s duties. I truly cannot bear such generous favor. Please rescind your order, Cult Leader.”

“…” Qin Ming now understood. Chen Lue was truly a salted fish with no ambition. He would decline any credit and did not want to actively do anything. He was like a turtle. He would only move when pushed, and the rest of the time, he shrank inside his shell and refused to come out.

Since he did not want to attract attention and was also very obedient, Qin Ming did not need to go against him. He casually nodded and agreed. “Tomorrow, this seat will once again hold a meeting in the council hall to announce this matter. Notify everyone on my behalf and have them make sure to attend.”

Chen Lue respectfully cupped his hands, yet a contemplative light flashed through his eyes. He did not know what this Demonic Cult leader was up to now.

…

The next day, in the council hall.

After Qin Ming briefly ordered Chen Lue to explain the division of contribution points and the rewards obtained, it immediately caused an uproar.

“What does that mean, contribution points? Rank will be divided according to contributions??”

“Then what about the contributions we made to the cult in the past? Do they not count anymore!”

“After reaching a certain level, we can exchange for martial arts manuals? What kind of martial arts manuals?”

The Demonic Cult disciples each had different thoughts. For example, the ones most opposed were those elders who relied on their high status and did not want to do anything. The ones most in favor were the new Demonic Cult disciples. Hope appeared in each of their eyes. People probably all realized that the Cult Leader intended to train newcomers!

As for the remaining scouts and undercover agents, vigilance rose in their hearts. They did not know what exactly the Cult Leader was planning now.

Every time the Cult Leader acted, the intent hidden within was unfathomable. They had to guard against it!

Seeing the people below becoming a noisy mess, Qin Ming immediately waved a hand, making everyone settle down at once.

“Since this seat succeeded to the position, many disciples within the cult have made considerable contributions. In order to encourage these disciples’ efforts for our cult, this seat has decided to grant these people certain martial arts manuals as rewards. These contribution points are the standard for judging which disciple has made greater contributions. Do you have any questions?”

Once the Cult Leader spoke, anyone who wanted to refute had to weigh whether they would anger him. But there were still a few fiery-tempered elders who said furiously, “Cult Leader, with this action, are you not making us elderly ones lose all face? Could it be that we are supposed to go repair walls and farm the fields like those juniors?”

Qin Ming had of course thought of the elders’ dissatisfaction, so he spoke unhurriedly. “Of course not. Everyone has their own strengths. With the elders’ high martial arts, you will certainly be heavily relied upon in the coming unification of the jianghu. Why be anxious at this moment? This seat’s action is also intended to strengthen the younger generation. The elders are not actually included in this category.”

The elders’ expressions eased, but they still felt it was not very fair. However, before they could speak, Qin Ming said in advance, “However, all the elders once followed the old Cult Leader and rendered meritorious service as well. This seat cannot attend to one thing and lose sight of another…”

He pondered for a moment and deliberately waited until everyone’s expectant gazes were about to overflow before striking the final note. “…In that case, this seat has decided that originally, only Shen Fubai, whose contribution points reached three hundred, should have been rewarded. But now, all of you will be specially promoted. As long as you are a disciple of my Demonic Cult, you will receive a reward! And Shen Fubai, who has the highest contribution points, may receive two rewards alone. Are you all willing?”

When the elders heard this, they finally revealed satisfied smiles. Although they were not moved by the so-called reward, being treated equally and not being separated out was still decent. They also wanted face. Regardless of what the Cult Leader rewarded them with or whether they needed it, in any case, they had to have it!

As for the new Demonic Cult disciples, they were even happier. They had received martial arts manuals gifted by the Cult Leader for nothing. This was simply a good thing that had fallen from the sky like a meat pie. Who would be unwilling?

Thus, everyone shouted one after another, “The Cult Leader is wise!”

Then they respectfully received the martial arts manual the Cult Leader bestowed, one copy for each person—Breathing Exercise.

Breathing Exercise?

Everyone looked at one another for a moment, their expressions strange.

“Why have I never heard of this kind of martial art before?” A Demonic Cult disciple could not hold back and quickly voiced the doubt in his heart inside the hall. Only after belatedly realizing that everyone was looking at him with strange expressions did his face change. He hurriedly said to the Cult Leader, “This subordinate, this subordinate absolutely does not mean to question the Cult Leader!”

“It is only right that you have never heard of it.” Yet the Cult Leader only glanced at them casually and, in the most indifferent tone, spoke the most shocking lines. “In the entire jianghu, only our cult has it. Cultivate it properly, and do not let it spread elsewhere.”

…The entire jianghu does not have it, and only our Demonic Cult does??

Everyone was first stunned, then sucked in a breath.

Could it be… this was a martial art the Cult Leader created himself?!

Heavens, at such a young age, he had already begun creating martial arts himself? The Cult Leader’s strength had already reached such a level. Truly terrifying beyond belief!

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