Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!

Chapter 1304: Chapter 983: New Year! Big Fortune!

Jiang Yuan couldn’t be bothered with him, because this guy doesn’t have any real power.

The Ugly Slave had explained that the Great Protector had at most twenty or so idiotic minions. The Sixth Elder simply put on a show for the little demon, using it for appearances; it didn’t even measure up to a Little Incense Master.

Holding all the power, and plotting against him seemed rather futile. It would just be something dealt with when the big cleanup happens later.

Instead, it was You Lai, the Four Guardian, who needed careful deliberation in replying to messages to avoid detection. It would be best to trick him out and meet secretly; then, the Mirror of Evil would be mine!

"I’ve been targeted. Be careful these days." Jiang Yuan ensured that the list of those previously killed was shielded; unless the Sixth Elder checked personally, no one would find out. So he replied: "An hour ago, I dispatched the black riders, awaiting the news."

"Understood." You Lai was as terse as ever, only replying with two words.

Two out of the four squad leaders were secretly detained; others remain unaware.

Sub-squad leaders, altar masters, and banner masters were privately contacting each other with various suspicions. Eventually, only two inquiries from two squad leaders came together–first, the Immortal Peak Tribulation Crossing Holy Land has ceased operations, where should disciples collectively cross tribulations;

Second, if necessary to halt cultivation and all activities, how should the monthly essence dues be handled.

How would Jiang Yuan know that? He had just obtained Qi Baijun’s merit token, making it barely manageable for him.

As for the location of other holy lands, how to open them, essence inventory, and all other details were still in Qi Baijun’s mind and had not been disclosed.

He could only placate them by instructing them to await notification, then continued plotting how to capture all evil cultivators together, while patiently awaiting the intelligence from the Elder Scholar.

Meanwhile, within the Flame Sea.

The scorching heat of the raging flames engulfed the air, with nothing but fire and twisted red currents to be seen; a mere glance made it feel like the breath and lungs had taken in a burning dryness.

And the bizarre army bustling about cleaning debris within the sea of fire, inwardly grumbling yet too afraid to complain, fearing that if discovered and reported, they’d lose their daily ration of water and food.

On the beach away from the fire sea was a pavilion.

Though in such a ghostly place, the pavilion was useless, merely existing as a psychological suggestion — seemingly cooler beneath the pavilion.

Under the pavilion sat the Elder Scholar and Qi Baijun, each with two graceful women behind them, one fanning them; the other pouring tea.

The fanned wind remained scalding, and the iced tea was heated by the air to emit steam.

But unlimited access to water was a special blessing for those bizarre entities who are undying and immortal, yet retain primitive eating instincts.

"I just don’t understand." Qi Baijun held a black piece, seemingly hesitant about where to place it, though his eyes were full of bewilderment, forced into acceptance after being deeply hit.

He looked up at the Elder Scholar enjoying juicy grapes, his voice hoarse: "In the past, when I was a righteous cultivator, I heard that evil cultivators could act recklessly, as if they had nothing to fear but divine punishment.

Even when shouted at and hunted by righteous cultivators, they still had endless despicable means.

Time and again, they massacre towns, devour demon cultivators to strengthen themselves, and even use helpless mortals to prop themselves up, killing them to vent their frustrations, secretly scheming against those they dislike, leaving righteous cultivators helpless, which I so envied.

But back then, I didn’t dare to become a fallen evil cultivator for fear of experiencing divine punishment, and years of cultivation becoming void.

Witnessing the Sect Leader of the Leisure Sect using essence to mislead perception successfully crossing thunder tribulation afterward, I was completely relieved! Fallen evil path offers shortcuts in cultivation yet doesn’t fear divine punishment. To find such loopholes in the world, why not enjoy it?"

The Elder Scholar ate another grape, gesturing for him to make a move.

If the opponent won a match, they’d earn a bunch of sweet and juicy grapes, going to great lengths to extract information for Jiang.

Urgently waiting over there, there’s no time for such dawdling delays.

"Pa!"

The black piece seemingly fell carelessly, yet made the Elder Scholar frown slightly, wondering what chess route he was on, it’s so hard to win even if I try to let this amateur win?

"But upon falling into evil cultivation, I found it wasn’t as good as I imagined." Qi Baijun spoke to himself: "After all, not on the righteous path, holding a major loophole in Heavenly Dao, yet had to live like a mouse in the shadows.

Even becoming a protector, I dared not appear openly, how come my evil cultivation is completely different from the Great Evil Cultivators I’d heard before?"

The Elder Scholar didn’t raise his head and replied: "That’s because you’re too greedy, aiming for more than just a cultivation shortcut and avoiding divine punishment, you want power too. Power requires others to accompany you — the more people you manage and the wider your control, the greater your power.

So, having power in hand implies having a fixed area of activity and relatively fixed subordinates.

Not every cultivator falling into evil can be promoted to a high-level cultivator, nor can every evil cultivator unite sincerely with you, their petty-minded subordinates causing more burdens.

Trading freedom for power, how could you be as carefree and joyful as those renegade evil cultivators living alone, carefree as they wish, or moving locations after a single shot?"

"I see..." Qi Baijun was stunned, not even looking at the board, casually placing a black piece with a sigh: "Earlier as a cultivator, I would shy away from anything bizarre.