Becoming evil makes you ten times stronger, but becoming a demon gives you hundredfold strength

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Drizzle fell gently from the sky as Meng Yu walked upon the street.

The one guarding the marketplace was a False Core cultivator, although she was a good friend of Bai Qianqian. Due to over two decades of separation and failing to arrive at the most critical moment—it was too late when she showed up after the situation had stabilized.

No matter how valid her reasons were, no matter how much Bai Qianqian knew of her incompetence, being a False Core cultivator, she could not maintain her position within the Moon-Watching Sect for Meng Yu's safety in his Qi Refinement Realm. Bai Qianqian gave her the role of Marketplace Manager to oversee everything.

Nevertheless, she still needed to be assessed.

Meng Yu was also assessing the marketplace.

During his two years in the Enforcement Hall of the Immortal Sect, Meng Yu was constantly on the move, encountering countless troubled affairs, and naturally understood how foolish Bai Qianqian's belief was—thinking that handing over the Moon-Watching Sect to herself would enable her to quickly take charge and solve everything.

A father's loyalists are not necessarily loyal to the new emperor, and can turn ferocious in an instant; losing a well-established dynasty in the second generation is very common. Without Bai Qianqian, the Moon-Watching Sect would be in peril, and Meng Yu must always be cautious of losing his head.

That's why he insisted on descending the mountain today.

After walking from the front to the back of the marketplace, from the main streets to the alleys, hearing many rumors and observing various scenes, Meng Yu nodded his head.

"Let's go, we're going to meet Half-Tail."

"Your safety?"

"I'm the head of a sect, it's time I took a stand."

Meng Yu's features returned to their original state, while Hua Miaochai at his back holding the umbrella wanted to say something, perhaps suggest sending Bu Shixian down the mountain. She glanced around—if there was a Golden Core, she could cope, but what if there was a Nascent Soul? Could this be a trap to ambush Meng Yu? And...

"Don't overthink it, you have to bear responsibility when you act."

The man walked ahead, while the woman trailed behind him, holding the umbrella.

As her name suggests, Half-Tail was a fox with only half a tail. Voluptuous and beautiful, yet dignified, she was now at a crossroads, using foxfire to burn those captives.

Foxfire, also known as ghost fire, brought excruciating pain like being cut by a thousand knives and inherently damaged the soul. The infuriated her was merciless in her punishment.

She had hoped to retire in peace in the marketplace, but never expected to be stabbed in the back by her own people.

Now, she didn't even know how to explain everything to Meng Yu—that a Foundation Establishment patrol captain had caused such a big mess.

Just then, a cold voice rang out.

"Hu Qingquan, stop a moment."

The voice wasn't loud, but the False Core fox immediately halted. She saw a young man approaching, followed by a slender, stunningly beautiful woman holding an umbrella for him.

Meng Yu and Hua Miaochai.

"Greetings to the sect leader!"

Hu Qingquan quickly bowed, while Meng Yu had already arrived in front of her.

"Sect Leader, I am guilty."

The red-haired fox immediately knelt on the wet ground, completely disregarding her valuable robe and clean crimson fur.

"There's no need for you to work in the marketplace anymore. Things wouldn't have deteriorated to this stage if you hadn't let drinking cause you to err."

Meng Yu's words caused the red-haired fox to shudder all over, but she did not argue and merely wept loudly, signaling her remorse and hoping that Meng Yu wouldn't drive her away.

"You did well in the marketplace," Meng Yu's second sentence qualified her actions.

If only the surface was considered, the red-haired fox drinking and mistakenly trusting the wrong people this time should be severely punished.

But Meng Yu had seen everything in the streets and alleys. The main work was done, the details that needed repairing, the projects were completed, both the merchants and civilians said the Marketplace Manager was good, and meticulous in her work.

Meng Yu thought back to when she had come to apply for the job, clinging to Bai Qianqian, crying aloud in remorse, admitting her late arrival was her fault, that she was cowardly, quietly hiding without daring to help, begging not to be minded, and so forth.

She was a fox adept in accounting, timid and faint-hearted, serving as a financial officer in a Great Sect for one hundred and twenty years without embezzling a single Spirit Stone, later framed and losing half her tail and her savings, fortunately smart enough to flee back to the Western Wastes with nothing.

Everyone looked down on her, including the fact that her False Core was substandard, but Meng Yu valued her greatly—he knew the importance of financial personnel better than anyone.

Meng Yu was extremely grateful for the team Bai Qianqian had accumulated for him; these people were core forces in any organization.

"Accounts clear, construction superb, not accepting bribes, just a bit of a mishap with drinking. However, that wine was my Tao Hua brew that I sent you, so I bear some responsibility too. You're sentenced to half a year of confinement on the back mountain."

The decision made Hu Qingquan ecstatic inside. Bai Qianqian had told her that the mountain lacked an accountant; if you work well in the lower mountain for two years and gain trust, you can ascend the mountain. As for positions, how could they compare to the Spirit Veins and Spiritual Springs on the mountain?

Half a year of confinement was nothing; being allowed on the mountain was a show of trust, and after punishment, it seemed she was being prepared for greater roles.

"As for you."

Meng Yu turned to the patrol captain from the Bear Clan, a Loose Cultivator, already kneeling on the ground.

"Why?"

"I'm sorry, sect leader, it's my fault. I got confused momentarily, please spare my life. I have family to support, and I've been diligently working for you, please give me another chance..."

The patrol captain wept profusely, seemingly regretful of a momentary mistake. Meng Yu vaguely saw in him the typical traits of many Western Desolate People, submissive to the powerful, but ready to turn vicious when they don't see personal gain.

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Meng Yu didn't pay attention to him but took a glance around instead.

Among these people, there were Qi Cultivators, Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and even Golden Core Cultivators from other Sects hidden among them; it wasn't surprising. At the very least, Meng Yu knew that there were quite a few individuals in the Western Wastes still in cahoots, claiming that the Moon-Watching Sect was a part of the Demon Race Royal Court and should be eliminated immediately.
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Moreover, the power of the Moon-Watching Sect was actually very weak. The Long River Nine Bends Array could only protect the sect entrance. What if several more Golden Core Cultivators attacked the Marketplace or ambushed reinforcements halfway?

Qian Qian, you really do trust me.

Many pairs of eyes were watching him, curious to see his style.

Everyone was curious as to what the era of Meng Yu would be like after Bai Qianqian's absence, and it could even be said that many people considered Meng Yu to be a man without a spine.

That was the talk Meng Yu overheard on the streets just now.

Some people had participated in the Son of Heavenly Way project and naturally understood Meng Yu's actions in Great Wu in detail before spreading the word. Meng Yu reasoned, was easy to talk to, treated his own people well, and managed to restrain his motherly tendencies.

Like Bai Qianqian, both were cowards.

Failing to completely eliminate the Five Directions Tower was foolish.

With Bai Qianqian gone, he probably couldn't be bothered with this place.

Alright... Many times, you won't know what those below are really like if you don't dive deep, nor how they judge you. Who would have thought that the Immortal Sect's number one wanted criminal has become the Holy Mother here?

"Those directly involved will all be wiped out. The combatants of the patrol team who died or were disabled will receive the usual compensation and benefits, and all the old members are to get lost.

Those who lend a hand will be rewarded. Those who capitalize on the situation will be wiped out."

Meng Yu's order was simple, and the man kneeling on the ground suddenly panicked.

His family hadn't gone far when Meng Yu suddenly ordered their extermination.

This was an order, not a discussion, especially...

"Meng Yu, since you're leaving, why can't we..."

The next moment, a streak of sword light flashed, cutting off his throat. Meng Yu continued giving instructions to Hu Qingquan.

"Put out a bounty, wipe them all out."

"Yes."

"Leave his body at the crossroads, burn it for three days. Oh, and everyone, I've also heard a certain rumor recently."

Meng Yu raised his eyes to look at the people around him.

The four years of peaceful development of the Moon-Watching Sect, coupled with its rare fairness and justice, had made this area a paradise in the Western Wastes.

Although these people were curious about Meng Yu's mercy, they also looked forward to Meng Yu leading them to carve out a new realm.

"The Western Wastes is a good place, full of many wonderful things. Now that I am the Sect Leader of the Moon-Watching Sect, it's my responsibility to bring glory to the Moon-Watching Sect.

I'm glad that I could meet many friends here, including all of you. You are also my friends because I think you're all good people."

Meng Yu's words sparked laughter among the crowd.

"The Western Wastes isn't bad, and I have no plans to leave. What's more, I intend to build a large Teleportation Portal connecting the Western Wastes and the Central Plains, aiming to complete it within ten years."

"Ah?"

This really stunned the people around him.

The Western Wastes were extremely far from the Central Plains, and the journey was filled with dangerous territories and magical beasts, making it nearly impossible to traverse on foot. For Cultivators to try flying across was akin to seeking death, the only reliable method being merchant caravans forming Flying Boat fleets for a lengthy aerial journey.

This took a significant toll on time and manpower, and accidents often occurred en route, which led to the twelve great Sects of the Western Wastes jointly constructing a large Teleportation Array 7,000 years ago.

Once the Teleportation Array was established, it ushered in a millennium of prosperity for the Western Wastes. Countless valueless items were exchanged for Spirit Stones in the Central Plains, and a flood of Central Plains merchandise flowed into the Western Wastes, bringing unparalleled happiness to the people. The site of the Teleportation Array became the largest city in the Western Wastes, known as the Sleepless City.

Unfortunately, after a thousand years, due to internal strife and external enemies, the Teleportation Array was destroyed. The Western Wastes failed to reconstruct it and gradually fell into decline again.

"A large Teleportation Array is a Fourth Rank Magical Treasure, you..."

Someone asked this question.

"Is a Fourth Rank Magical Treasure very valuable? Is one million loads of Spirit Rice very valuable? Or do you think I can't accomplish this task?"

Meng Yu raised his eyebrows while asking this.

The surrounding crowd fell silent.

At that moment, many people remembered Meng Yu's extravagant reputation.

"However, the biggest issue is protecting that side if the Teleportation Array is successfully built in the Central Plains," Meng Yu said, shaking his head helplessly.

(There was a power outage today, which caused the delay until evening. Tomorrow's update will be around noon or afternoon, sorry.)