Chapter 94: New Leeks! Turmoil Rises in the Eastern Wasteland!

Chu Feng’s “Five-Year Plan” exploded like a bomb at the Qingyun Sect’s high-level meeting, igniting boundless passion and anticipation for the future.

And this wave quickly spread from the Main Peak Hall throughout the entire Qingyun Sect, sweeping outward in all directions at an astonishing speed.

“Have you heard? The Qingyun Sect has changed hands!”

“Changed hands? It’s practically a complete reshuffle! The new person in charge is a young man named Chu Feng—he’s founded something called the ‘Ascension Group’!”

“I know! I also heard they’re launching some ‘Ten Thousand Sects Franchise Plan’! Supposedly, as long as you pay a ‘franchise fee,’ you can get access to their pill production techniques and management model, plus enjoy their brand protection!”

“Is that real? Such a good deal? Then for small sects like ours that can barely survive, isn’t that our salvation?”

For a time, the entire Cultivation World of the Eastern Wasteland—especially the small and mid-sized sects and rogue factions struggling to survive in the cracks—was thrown into a frenzy by the news.

There were skeptics and observers, of course, but most were those who had long been suppressed, unable to see a way forward. In their eyes, hope once again began to burn.

Just as this undercurrent surged, the first brave soul to “eat the crab” appeared.

That day, a dusty group arrived at the Qingyun Sect’s mountain gate.

At the front was a middle-aged cultivator with a haggard face and furrowed brows. His robe was so faded it was nearly colorless, and his cultivation was only at the mid Foundation Establishment stage—he looked utterly worn down.

He was none other than Sun Desheng, Sect Master of the small third-rate sect in the Eastern Wasteland—Falling Sunset Sect.

As the name suggested, the Falling Sunset Sect was like the evening glow at the horizon—once bright and beautiful, but now dim and fading, on the verge of disappearing completely.

Their resources were depleted, their disciples leaving in droves. If nothing changed, in less than ten years the sect would be swallowed by others or forced to dissolve.

Driven into a corner, Sun Desheng had no other choice. Hearing rumors about the Qingyun Sect’s “franchise,” he came with a “dead horse as living horse doctor” mindset, bringing along his few remaining elders to try their luck.

When they timidly gave their names and said they wished to meet the head of the Ascension Group, they had expected to be brushed off or ignored.

But to their shock, the one who personally received them was none other than Wu Hao, the Group’s Chief Operating Officer!

Moreover, Wu Hao’s attitude was so warm and enthusiastic that they were nearly overwhelmed.

“Oh! Sect Master Sun of the Falling Sunset Sect and the elders! What an honor, what an honor! Our President already predicted that visionaries like your sect would soon come to visit! Please, please, come in!”

Without giving them a chance to react, Wu Hao clasped Sun Desheng’s hand and led him through the mountain gate with the warmth of a long-lost brother.

Sun Desheng and his elders had never experienced such treatment—each of them felt dizzy from the sudden hospitality.

What followed was the “VIP Inspection Tour” Chu Feng had carefully prepared for their first batch of “potential franchisees.”

Wu Hao personally acted as the guide, leading them through the Group’s core departments.

They first visited the Production Base of the West Mountain Pill Institute.

When Sun Desheng saw thousands of disciples working along the assembly lines, each performing their tasks like industrious ants while producing the “Qi Nourishing Pill · Beggar Edition” in an atmosphere of heated enthusiasm, he was utterly stunned.

The efficiency, the scale, the zeal—these were things he could not even imagine in his dreams.

“Sect Master Sun, look here,”

Wu Hao proudly introduced,

“This is our core competitiveness—standardized production! Low cost, high efficiency! As soon as you join us, we can replicate an entire production line like this in your Falling Sunset Sect within three days!”

Sun Desheng swallowed hard, his eyes filled with desire.

Next, they were taken to the Mission Hall—now renamed the “Group Business Center.”

The enormous jade wall no longer displayed miscellaneous sect missions, but instead scrolled through “Production Targets,” “Sales Performance,” and “Contribution Rankings.”

Countless disciples bustled about, handing over tasks, redeeming rewards. The hall echoed with the sounds of spirit-powered abacuses and heated bargaining. It looked less like a sect and more like a massive stock exchange.

“Sect Master Sun, take a look again,”

Wu Hao pointed at the lively scene.

“This is our incentive mechanism! In our Group, there are no useless people—only lazy ones! As long as you work hard, you’ll earn enough spirit stones and points to make your hands go numb!”

“This model—we can help you implement it in your Falling Sunset Sect too! I guarantee your disciples’ enthusiasm will increase at least threefold!”

Sun Desheng’s heart began to pound violently.

Finally, Wu Hao brought them to the Main Peak Hall.

Chu Feng—the legendary CEO of the Group—personally received them.

There was no oppressive aura, no cold arrogance.

Chu Feng was as approachable as a friendly neighbor, personally brewing Spirit Tea for them while kindly asking about the hardships of the Falling Sunset Sect.

After hearing Sun Desheng’s tearful account, Chu Feng did not mention “franchise fees” right away. Instead, he slammed the table in righteous anger.

“Sect Master Sun! I understand your suffering!”

“In this cultivation world where the strong devour the weak, you small and mid-sized sects have it too hard!”

“So!”

Chu Feng’s eyes shone with sincerity.

“I founded the Ascension Group and started the ‘Ten Thousand Sects Franchise Plan’ not to earn your few spirit stones! What for, then? For ‘common prosperity’!”

“For uniting all of us ‘peasants’ that the great sects look down upon—joining together as one rope to make our voices heard!”

He drew for Sun Desheng a vision as grand as it was irresistible.

“Sect Master Sun, as soon as you join us, you’ll become our Group’s ‘exclusive regional distributor’ in your area!”

“In the future, every small sect in that region that wishes to join must go through you! You’ll take thirty percent of their franchise fee!”

“Their performance will also link to yours! We’re not superiors and subordinates—we’re ‘strategic partners’! We’re a ‘community of shared destiny’!”

“Our goal is to build our own ‘Cultivation World Business Alliance’! To make money together, to face hardships together, and ultimately—to Go Public and Ascend!”

Sun Desheng was completely overwhelmed by Chu Feng’s barrage of “exclusive rights,” “strategic cooperation,” and “shared destiny.” His blood boiled with excitement.

He felt he wasn’t here to “join”—he was here to become a “partner”!

He could already see the bright future of the Falling Sunset Sect under his leadership—rising from its decline and soaring into power!

“I’ll join! I’ll join!”

Sun Desheng leapt to his feet, grabbing Chu Feng’s hand.

“President Chu! No, President Chu! Say no more! Whatever the terms, we agree! From today on, our Falling Sunset Sect follows you!”

A satisfied smile spread across Chu Feng’s face.

The first fish had taken the bait.

However, just as he was about to take out the pre-prepared “franchise contract” for Sun Desheng to sign—

A disciple stumbled in from outside, panic written all over his face.

“Report—! President! There… there are two urgent matters!”

Chu Feng frowned slightly, displeased by the interruption.

The disciple hurriedly presented two items.

The first was an invitation made of dark-golden silk, exuding a strange, alluring fragrance.

The seal was a peculiar wax imprint showing a faint image of a lofty tower.

Chu Feng opened it and saw a single elegant line written in enchanting, seductive script:

“President Chu’s performance was delightful. This little lady wishes to discuss a much greater deal—with regard to… the Immortal Realm. —Thousand Illusions Pavilion, Yao Yue.”

Thousand Illusions Pavilion?

Yao Yue?

Chu Feng narrowed his eyes. The name sounded familiar—Eastern Wasteland’s most mysterious and powerful intelligence organization.

Before he could think further, the disciple presented the second item—a transmission jade slip, still warm from being clutched too tightly.

“President, this is… the final message our spy near the Heavenheart Holy Land sent, with his dying breath!”

Chu Feng took the jade slip and swept his spiritual sense through it.

In the next instant, his expression darkened completely.

The message was brief—but utterly shocking:

“The Saintess of Heavenheart Holy Land, Murong Xue, has had her Dao heart shaken. Her Life Soul Lamp dims. She’s been deemed a traitor by the Holy Land’s upper ranks!”

“The Holy Land’s Grand Elder, the Nascent Soul Great Perfection ‘True Lord Lieyang,’ has personally led the Enforcement Squad and is heading toward the Qingyun Sect!”

“They’ve declared—they want you and Senior Sister Murong Xue, dead or alive!”

A greater storm—one that would engulf the entire Eastern Wasteland—was already on its way.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep