"Greetings, Senior!"

The one leading was a venerable old man at the Qi Gathering Realm Layer I, considerably aged.

His vitality was drained, and his eyes were dim... Shen Mo somewhat doubted if he could defeat a Body Refining Realm Peak cultivator!

The other four were all Body Cultivation State Cultivators, ranging from Layer V to Layer VIII.

They were all past their prime, and it was likely impossible for them to make another breakthrough in their cultivation. Clearly, like the Qi Gathering Realm old man, they were all idling their days away in the Defense Division.

Without wasting any more words, Shen Mo handed over the Command Jade Slip and the commander token to the old man. Then, under the surprised gazes of the crowd, he headed towards the main hall. After confirming their names, backgrounds, and positions, he dismissed the four Body Cultivation State Cultivators with a wave of his hand.

With his five senses, he could still hear the whisperings of the four Body Tempering Realm cultivators as they returned to their respective residences.

"What say you, how many years can this new Commander last?"

"If he's discreet, he could probably last two or three years. The problem is if he's too ambitious, trying to make a name for himself," a Body Tempering Layer VIII cultivator named Zhu Dahai muttered.

Another one, probably new to the job, asked in confusion, "Shouldn't it be better for us if he accomplishes something? At least we'll get our full salary."

"You don't understand a damn thing!"

"The previous Commander, originally a Deacon from the Riverside Sect, meticulously strategized for a long time before attaining this position."

"He had wanted to achieve something too but ended up being humiliated by the Tian Family. Only half a year later, he shamefully fled back to the Riverside Sect."

"And the Commander before him was another one with more ambition than capability."

"He tried to seize the benefits and resources belonging to the Defense Division from the Tian Family, small families, and various immortal sects outside the city..."

"In the end, he inexplicably died outside the city."

"If it weren't for these incidents, our Defense Division wouldn't have fallen into such straits, unable to even pay our salaries."

Shen Mo's eyelids twitched as he listened!

In name, the Defense Division was co-established by the Five Great Sects and various other factions. These groups were supposed to jointly cover the cost of the needed cultivation resources. However, the Defense Division of Hongye City had been declining for a long time. Even if the Riverside Sect invested resources, it wouldn't stir up any ripples. Instead, their contributions were divided layer by layer, eventually disappearing into someone's Universe Bag. Over time, the Riverside Sect simply stopped investing resources here.

As for the smaller immortal sects, wealthy sects, small families, and rogue cultivators within the defended region, they naturally wouldn't bear this expense either. This left the Hongye City Defense Division's Treasure Hall so depleted that even a Spirit Storage Rat would enter and leave in tears!

If Shen Mo could make a name for himself in the future, besides having to submit seventy percent of the cultivation resources to the Defense Division in the Capital, the remainder would be used to maintain the daily operations of this local Division!

Shen Mo took the cultivator roster, account books, and manuals detailing the various subordinate factions from the old cultivator's hand. After looking through them for a long while, he let out a deep sigh.

What a mess!

There were plenty of registered cultivators, but they were all just names on the payroll, drawing salaries for no work.

The Hongye City Defense Division was already in such dire straits, yet it was still being exploited to the marrow.

Its main income came from a Blood Silver Mine located fifty miles outside the city, controlled by the Riverside Sect. When the Defense Division was first established, the Riverside Sect, as a sign of good faith, had transferred one-tenth of the mine's shares to it.

Currently, the mine yielded eight to twelve middle-grade Spirit Stones each month. Seventy percent of this had to be submitted to the Defense Division headquarters. The amount that truly reached the Hongye City Defense Division's accounts each month was... only about three middle-grade Spirit Stones.

Converted, this was approximately three hundred low-grade Spirit Stones. Most of this sum would then be claimed by the ghost-slot cultivators. What was distributed to the old cultivator and the other four amounted to fewer than fifty low-grade Spirit Stones.

As for other income, it depended entirely on the whims of the various factions.

Essentially, it was non-existent!

No wonder the talent in this city's Defense Division is dwindling. Let alone affording Spirit Stone resources to recruit powerful individuals from small immortal sects, cultivating families, and rogue cultivators to slay demons and eradicate evil, even the five people still remaining in the Defense Division can't receive their full monthly salaries!

"Tian, I roughly understand the situation now. What advice do you have for me?" Shen Mo closed the rosters and manuals, his gaze falling on the elderly cultivator below.

The old cultivator's name was Tian Shouren. Although he also bore the surname Tian, he was not from the Tian Clan. He was once a disciple of the White Crane Sect. Decades ago, the White Crane Sect was destroyed by the Heavenly Demon, and he had fortunately escaped with his life. But he also became a rogue cultivator. After much wandering, he came to serve in the Hongye City Defense Division, and more than thirty years had passed since then.

Although Tian Shouren's cultivation was low, his age and experience meant he was at least quite familiar with the various forces both inside and outside Hongye City.

"I dare not." Tian Shouren adopted an extremely humble posture, waving his hands repeatedly to show he couldn't presume to use the word 'teach'.

Then, a flicker of Essence Light flashed in his slightly dull eyes. "This old one doesn't know what Master Shen is thinking, so how could I presume to offer my humble opinions?"

"If I may be so bold as to ask Master Shen... did you come here seeking a peaceful life, or do you aspire to achieve great things?"

Shen Mo uttered a soft "Oh?" Interest sparked within him. "What would a peaceful life entail? And what about achieving great things?"

"If you want to lead a peaceful life, prepare a Heavy Gift and pay a visit to the Tian Clan."

"As for the various immortal sects under your jurisdiction... both Gold Toad Tower and Thriving Gold Sect have Spirit Sea Realm experts presiding over them. Their influence is considerable, so they too should be visited."

"Once you gain the approval of these three powers, you can comfortably preside over the Defense Division. Even matters like demon slaying and evil eradication can be delegated to them."

"As for the other small families and immortal sects, you need not concern yourself too much with them."

Seeing that Tian Shouren was not as muddle-headed as he initially appeared, Shen Mo's expression grew solemn, and he continued to listen.

"If Master Shen wishes to achieve great things, Spirit Stone resources are indispensable."

"However, you must not act recklessly, lest you offend the various powers and suffer the tragic fate of your body perishing and your Dao dissipating."

"Within the city, you could perhaps unite with other small families and rogue cultivators to counter the Tian Clan."

"Among the immortal sects outside the city, Gold Toad Tower and Thriving Gold Sect are already at odds. You could align with one to suppress the other."

"By doing so, you might be able to restore the prestige of our Defense Division!"

Shen Mo couldn't help but regard Tian Shouren in a new light. These words largely coincided with the plans forming in his own mind.

"Tian, we've known each other for less than two hours..." Shen Mo took out spiritual wine and Spirit Fruits from his Universe Bag, placed them before the two of them, and poured Tian Shouren a full cup of the wine.

Then, with a smile, he said, "And yet you've told me all this. Aren't you afraid of speaking so frankly with a new acquaintance? What if I turn around and betray you?"

Tian Shouren took a delightful sip of the spiritual wine. SLURP.

For an impoverished cultivator like him, when had he ever tasted such high-grade wine from the Riverside Sect? He seemed somewhat intoxicated by its fragrance. After a moment, he chuckled.

"Master Shen, please don't test this old one!"

"This old one is truly not a spy planted by the Tian Clan or any other power."

"It's just that... the demonic calamity is rising again. And this old one... I can no longer go to the battlefield to slay demons."

"The Defense Division was originally established to quell demonic incursions; it should not have fallen to such a state."

"By offering Master Shen some ideas, if it can help restore our Division's prestige, then this old one will have contributed his meager strength to the great cause of slaying demons."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.