Chapter 53: Jade Dragon Platform Completed

What was going on?

Chi Yixuan tapped the tabletop. He had always been in the habit of using the soft pads of his fingers, so it did not make any sound. His gaze swept once around the employees’ faces, and Chi Yixuan said, “If you have any doubts, you can say them directly.”

Because their employer had always been very amiable and never put on airs, everyone also lacked the bad habit of holding themselves back and not daring to speak. After a moment of silence in the hall, they began speaking one after another.

Wan Tianyou, the Right Envoy of the Xuanyuan Guard, said, “At present, the Xuanyuan Guard has five hundred people in total. All of them were selected from among the former slaves. They are very grateful to Zhaoge, very willing to work, and also very obedient. If we recruit more people to form the Black Tortoise Guard, I am worried we will not be able to find suitable candidates inside the valley. Then we can only choose from the newcomers outside the valley. I am afraid they will not be loyal.”

Ma Hongxuan nodded. “Moreover, the Xuanyuan Guard now works in shifts. Each person is only on duty for four double-hours a day, which is already very easy. If they have ambition, they naturally have plenty of time to cultivate. If they have no great aspirations, then no matter how much free time they are given, they still will not make progress.”

Qiu Ping’an said, “I see that the Xuanyuan Guard is very diligent in their work. This month, Zhaoge’s population has grown tenfold compared to before, yet public conduct is even better than it was in the past. That is all thanks to them. They wish they could be on duty every day. If they are only made to work two days a week in the future, I’m afraid they will worry their positions will be snatched away by newcomers from outside the valley.”

Qiu Ping’an had the most to say. He even listed out his own daily schedule. For example, he got up every day when the rooster crowed and only slept when the dogs stopped barking. He spent less than a quarter-hour eating each day, carried account books with him while walking so he could think over them, and even strictly controlled the time he spent in the privy, and so on. Even so, he could still squeeze out time to study the books their employer had issued to them. It seemed he wanted to use this to prove to their employer that there was no need to give them extra rest time. Those who had the will to cultivate could squeeze out time by themselves. There was no need to waste Zhaoge’s manpower because of this.

Chi Yixuan was left dumbfounded. He said, “Isn’t that much too hard? You have too much work, don’t you? I think we should recruit a few more people to share the burden with you.”

Yet the moment he finished speaking, he saw Qiu Ping’an’s face fill with terror. Even his small face had gone pale.

Chi Yixuan thought, No way. Is he really that happy working 996 every day?

In fact, the one truly worried that newcomers from outside the valley would snatch away his position was Qiu Ping’an.

Even without the life-bound artifact’s reminder, Chi Yixuan had noticed Qiu Ping’an’s unease. Chi Yixuan did not look at Qiu Ping’an again. Instead, he turned his gaze to the others. “What about all of you? What thoughts do you have?”

Guo Qianshan said, “Whatever our employer says, I will do.”

Fan Huilan said, “I will obey our employer’s instructions entirely.”

Lu Wuxing and the others nodded in unison.

Chi Yixuan therefore looked toward the two sisters, Tie Di and Gang Qin.

Tie Di thought, Compared to people like Guo Qianshan, we are later arrivals. It was fine when we were only instructors before, but if we become the Left and Right Envoys of the Black Tortoise Guard in the future, we will naturally divide away some of the Xuanyuan Guard’s authority. Perhaps it will draw dissatisfaction from certain old hands.

And Guo Qianshan, the Left Envoy of the Xuanyuan Guard, was calm and unhurried. He seemed uninterested in power or position, only single-mindedly serving their employer. Wan Tianyou was worried that the new recruits would not be as loyal as the old ones. Ma Hongxuan felt there was no need to give them so many days off. But Qiu Ping’an, the chief steward who had nothing to do with the Xuanyuan Guard, was actually very anxious. Was he worried that he would be the next one whose authority was divided?

Ever since their first meeting, Tie Di had discovered that Qiu Ping’an was a mortal who had yet to enter the Dao. For a Perfected One like Senior Chi to let a mortal hold such an important position, his breadth of mind and boldness were far beyond ordinary. Yet Qiu Ping’an, whom he valued, seemed overly attached to power and position. Was it because he still had not entered the Dao, and so it had affected his state of mind?

Perhaps this was also one of the reasons Senior Chi wanted more people to share authority. Once the responsibilities were smaller, there would be no need for a person’s whole heart to be tied to their duties.

In the silence filling the room, Tie Di pondered, then chose a middle-ground answer. “I feel Right Envoy Wan’s concern is not unfounded. After all, the people who want to enter Zhaoge now are all coming for the spiritual vein. They may not necessarily be loyal to Zhaoge. If some people with ill intentions are hidden among them, perhaps they will bring harm to Zhaoge.”

The Tie Di sisters already knew about the Book of Truth, but as people who had grown up in Immortal Continent, she did not believe that the Book of Truth could guarantee absolute safety.

She continued, “So I feel the matter of the Black Tortoise Guard can be postponed for the moment. Or rather, the assessment method needs to change. We cannot only use the life-bound artifact to check cultivation. We must also investigate their parents and three generations above them. In addition, Market Supervisor Ma is also right. If they are only on duty two days a week, I fear some people may slack off in their duties. We might as well nominally change it to three days a week, while in practice they are on duty four days a week. The extra day can be saved up. If someone happens to be breaking through, or if there are weddings or funerals at home, or if they are moved by some insight and wish to go out for training, they can draw on those holidays.”

She said slowly, “I remember that when I served as an instructor, I signed an employment contract. There were seven fixed days of leave for weddings and funerals, and seven days for the New Year as well. Suppose I usually save up these days off, then when the New Year comes, I can withdraw them all at once and rest at home for a longer period of time.”

After Chi Yixuan finished listening, he thought, Isn’t that just transferred leave? It was just that transferred leave back home was usually a negative term, while the transferred leave Tie Di had proposed was actually positive.

Tie Di continued, “I remember the immortal gates over in Immortal Continent were also like this. Aside from the sect master and some elders, other positions were not fixed. Whoever lacked cultivation resources would take a token and go do work. It did not delay cultivation.”

As she spoke, she smiled. “Besides, being on duty, doing work, and interacting with people—is that not also a kind of training and cultivation?”

Seeing that the others could accept it, and that even the unease on Qiu Ping’an’s face had faded somewhat, Chi Yixuan also felt that immediately implementing a two-day workweek was not very realistic. Thus, he made the decision. “All right. Before we recruit trustworthy candidates to form the Black Tortoise Guard, we will temporarily do as Tie Di says. However, you cannot fall behind in cultivation either.”

“I will build a Jade Dragon Platform in the city to replace the original drill ground, specifically for your cultivation.” He looked toward Guo Qianshan and Wan Tianyou. “Among those in the valley, the two of you are progressing the fastest. When you have time, look after the people under you more. If anyone shows signs of breaking through, arrange time for them to go cultivate on the Jade Dragon Platform. The Tie Di sisters are more experienced in the use of spiritual power. In your free time, you should also exchange insights with them often.”

“Yes!” Guo Qianshan and Wan Tianyou said, invigorated.

Chi Yixuan then looked toward Qiu Ping’an. “Although you have not entered the Dao and still cannot cultivate, do not feel inferior because of it. We have no rotten rules like that in Zhaoge. If your duties are too busy, go recruit a few people yourself to share the burden. Leave yourself some free time to perceive more and try more. Otherwise, how will you summon your life-bound artifact?”

Qiu Ping’an seemed to have received sudden enlightenment. His drooping brows and eyes lifted all at once, and he said loudly, “Yes!”

Ma Hongxuan and the others took another look at Qiu Ping’an. In fact, they had said words like this to Qiu Ping’an more than once, but they had simply not been as effective as when their employer said them. They did not find anything strange about that. Could what they said be the same as what their employer said?

Although the one being comforted was Qiu Ping’an, everyone’s hearts felt warm. Their employer handled countless affairs every day, yet he could still notice the worries of the people under him. Their employer really was too good to them!

Wan Tianyou discovered that he had forgotten to bring a handkerchief. He tilted his head and buried it against Ma Hongxuan’s shoulder, wiping both his tears and snot onto him.

Ma Hongxuan: …

He thought, Good. Today, I don’t need to wash my own clothes.

After the meeting adjourned, Chi Yixuan brought everyone to the northern city.

The northern city wall had been the first to be completed. In the planning, this area was meant for garrisoning troops. Aside from the brand-new city wall, this place was like the other parts of the new city: completely empty, with only a stretch of flourishing grassland that had grown because of the spiritual vein.

A few wild birds from outside were pecking at grass seeds on the grassland. The next moment, the ground rose two zhang into the air out of nowhere. These ungraded wild birds were so frightened that they cawed a few times and spread their wings, about to flee. Yet they seemed to sense something and actually stopped where they were, refusing to leave even as this piece of land rumbled loudly.

A moment later, the spreading dust dispersed. A rather imposing circular platform had appeared out of thin air. In the center was a staircase wide enough for several people to go up and down. The doorways to the left and right led inward to an array of newly arranged weapons of all kinds. Following the stairs upward was a flat space much broader than the drill ground inside the valley. The paved stone bricks shone under the sun. Around the edge of this imposing high platform was a ring of two-story buildings, divided inside into individual quiet rooms. The furnishings within were simple, yet they had another kind of refinement. One felt relaxed and refreshed at a glance.

Although it had only just been built, with a single look, everyone knew the benefits of this Jade Dragon Platform.

Wan Tianyou cried out in awe and took the lead, leaping onto the high platform. He excitedly ran a lap around the flat, broad drill ground. “This place is huge! In the future, even a few thousand people can drill here without it being crowded!”

Guo Qianshan first went into the armory and looked around. He pulled out a saber from inside and swung it a few times, then said in delight, “It’s a refined steel saber. It is also ungraded, just right for newly recruited soldiers. When sparring, it will have an effect, but there is no need to worry about cutting up the heart-protecting armor.”

Once Guo Qianshan said this, Ren Rubi began to laugh. Half a month ago, the new soldiers had used long spears produced by the Artifact Refining Workshop for drills, accidentally cut through the heart-protecting armor, and went to Qiu Ping’an to be reimbursed. Qiu Ping’an had scolded them the whole way and demanded to know why they had not used wooden weapons.

Qiu Ping’an blushed and said, “Isn’t it because you people cut up too much heart-protecting armor?”

Ma Hongxuan entered a quiet room to try it out, then was astonished to discover that once the door closed, all sound from outside became inaudible!

No, not all sound was inaudible. He could still hear the sound of wind, birds, and branches and leaves swaying. Only human voices that would affect cultivation could not be heard.

He told everyone about this discovery. Everyone went in and out of the quiet rooms several times to experience it, clicking their tongues in wonder.

The two sisters, Tie Di and Gang Qin, were once again deeply shaken. Although when they had just arrived in Zhaoge, they had witnessed the process of the Heavenly Garment Workshop’s construction, the Jade Dragon Platform was different from the Heavenly Garment Workshop. The spiritual qi here was clearly denser than in other places. A spirit-gathering array should have been inscribed here, and the difficulty could be imagined. Moreover, so many quiet rooms had been arranged as well.

The two sisters imagined Senior Chi patiently assembling the Jade Dragon Platform in his small residence, installing the quiet room doors one by one. A sense of warmth could not help rising in both their hearts.

In their view, the method of constructing the Heavenly Garment Workshop and the Jade Dragon Platform was the same as refining a small cave residence. It consumed an enormous amount of spirit and effort.

“Judging from his bone structure, Senior Chi is very young, yet his cultivation is actually so formidable. Even if he were placed in the Spirit Sword Sect, he would be a favored son of heaven.”

“To be able to use a sleeve-held cave residence with such skill and delicacy, he must love this path.”

“I wonder when we will be able to reach this level?”

The two sisters wanted to take a look at Senior Chi, only to discover that at some point, there was already no one in that place.

Tie Di cast her gaze toward the people excitedly running up and down around the Jade Dragon Platform. She said to Guo Qianshan, who had walked over to her, “Your luck is truly good. You follow such a lord. Even a master and disciple, or the closest of relatives, would be no more than this.”

Pride emerged on Guo Qianshan’s cold face. “Our employer has always been this good.”

Tie Di said, “About our employer establishing the Black Tortoise Guard, do you truly not mind at all?”

Guo Qianshan frowned slightly, somewhat displeased. “You are looking down on me, and also looking down on my brothers and sisters. Among them, even if someone truly is dissatisfied because of this, it absolutely will not be out of selfish desire. It will be for Zhaoge.”

He glanced at the excited people not far away, then continued, “If possible, I would rather lay down my duties in the Xuanyuan Guard and concentrate on cultivation in search of a breakthrough. Everything in Zhaoge, whether the spiritual vein, the Jade Dragon Platform, the Heavenly Garment Workshop, or the rest, is far too likely to draw envy. And our employer is open and upright, unlike the common lot. I fear he will not be able to handle those sinister schemes. Only if our cultivation improves can we protect Zhaoge and share our employer’s worries.”

Tie Di said approvingly, “It seems you also understand that in this world, cultivation equals everything. Yet many people in Immortal Continent still do not understand this principle.”

Guo Qianshan frowned again. He said seriously, “You are wrong. Our employer is what equals everything.”

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