After the battle at the Ma mansion, the various prominent families under Qingfeng Sect sent people everywhere to gather information.

  They urgently wanted to know the reasons for the destruction of the two prominent families, the Ma and Li.

  And also, who the current master of Qingfeng Sect was.

  But the answer was revealed in less than three days.

  "Sect Leader Lin, I had my family run all over the place, and finally got all the paperwork done."

  Inside the Sect Leader's quarters at Qingfeng Sect.

  Yan Siwen, with a travel-worn face, arrived at the mountain gate, picked up the teacup on the table, and downed it in one gulp.

  Feeling it was not enough, he picked up the teapot and refilled his cup several times.

  Lin Lin looked at the package on Yan Siwen's back, full of anticipation.

  "So, you brought my things back too."

  Yan Siwen put down his teacup and untied the package. "All done. Baiyue City is busy dealing with the demon race and restoring the supply of Foundation Establishment Pills. They are swamped."

  Lin Lin took the package and found it contained surprisingly few items.

  One was a golden woven document, made of pure gold.

  Opening it, inside was the seal certifying Baiyue City's appointment of Lin Lin as the Sect Leader of Qingfeng Sect.

  With this document, Lin Lin's position as Sect Leader was legitimate, and no cultivation family would casually cause trouble for him for the time being.

  If they did, any military action Lin Lin took against these challengers would be supported by Baiyue City.

  The document praised Lin Lin's actions in eliminating Liu Fenghai and his group, not only not investigating his killings but also commending him.

  Next was a secret letter from the elder on duty at Baiyue City.

  The letter ordered Lin Lin to promptly eliminate demons and demon beasts under Qingfeng Sect's jurisdiction, while also monitoring the movements of the Canglong Gang.

  Sure enough, Baiyue City was still very concerned about the Canglong Gang's spirit mine plan.

  After all, it was five spirit stone mines. If developed, the cultivation world could temporarily escape the predicament of deflation.

  At that point, the Canglong Gang would be fully capable of launching a vigorous financial war against Baiyue City in the cultivation world.

  If Baiyue City then used force against this money god, it would only make the situation more turbulent.

  Interesting, very interesting.

  Lin Lin immediately decided to send disciples to probe the Canglong Gang.

  Ideally, he could also retrieve Li Rushi's hidden assets within the Canglong Gang.

  But thinking it over, this might require his personal attention; there was no slacking off.

  After all, the Canglong Gang was not easy to deal with.

  The last item was what Yan Siwen considered the most valuable and practical gift. "This is the Foundation Establishment Pill bestowed by Baiyue City. With this, Sect Leader, you can advance to the Foundation Establishment stage."

  Lin Lin said nothing, simply circulating his true energy, revealing the unmistakable foundation of Foundation Establishment level power.

  "The Sect Leader is already at Foundation Establishment, and with such formidable cultivation, congratulations are in order. But this Foundation Establishment Pill is not entirely useless, as I am sure the Sect Leader knows."

  Yan Siwen's words clearly had another meaning.

  Now that Liu Fenghai and the three elders were dead, and most of the inner disciples who supported the Ma family were also lost,

  Qingfeng Sect was internally extremely hollow.

  At the same time, aside from the eleven disciples who had sworn allegiance, the others were probably all harboring their own thoughts.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  As Sect Leader, the urgent task was to figure out how to paint a rosy picture for the Qingfeng Sect disciples.

  But with this Foundation Establishment Pill, the situation was different.

  Although Lin Lin really did not want to use the pill as bait,

  deep down, he still hoped to recruit more researchers, engineers, and craftsmen for Qingfeng Sect.

  "Alright, this Foundation Establishment Pill will be sect property. In the future, whoever first breaks through to Foundation Establishment and has rendered meritorious service to the sect will be granted this pill by Qingfeng Sect."

  In front of Yan Siwen, Lin Lin confirmed he would not touch this pill himself, but keep it as a public resource for the sect.

  Yan Siwen understood the hint, realizing Lin Lin implied the pill was meant for him.

  Because in terms of cultivation progress and backing family strength, he, Yan Siwen, was currently far ahead among the disciples.

  As for meritorious service to the sect, besides Lin Lin, it was him, Yan Siwen.

  After all, this trip he made helped Lin Lin legitimize his position.

  And incidentally preserved Qingfeng Sect's reputation.

  As a scion of a prominent Baiyue City family, Yan Siwen naturally knew how to play the game.

  He immediately bowed in thanks. "Thank you, Sect Leader, for your cultivation."

  Lin Lin glanced out the window, revealing a creepy smile.

  "Yes, good, hahaha. Xiao Yan, I want to discuss something with you."

  Yan Siwen knew the Sect Leader before him was a past master at killing and plundering treasures.

  Hearing this, he trembled with fear. "Sect Leader, just give your orders."

  Lin Lin walked to the window and gestured outside. "No need to put those in the ice room. Bring them over."

  Soon, Feng Jinbao and Zuo Yong each walked in carrying a package.

  Lin Lin pointed at the two packages.

  "Junior Brother Yan, not long ago, Li Rushi of the Canglong Gang killed our Qingfeng Sect disciples, and on top of that, he was himself a minion of the Blood Demon."

  "Even more detestable, he tricked our Junior Brother Li Wangxuan into falling to the demonic path. He even summoned Bloodletters to slaughter innocent people."

  "These are Li Rushi's head, the remains of the Bloodletters, and evidence of Li Rushi's secret dealings with the demon race."

  Seeing this, Yan Siwen's scalp tingled. "Sect Leader Lin, you are not asking me to take all this stuff back to Baiyue City to claim credit again, are you?"

  Lin Lin cupped his hands in salute. "Junior Brother Yan, your long-distance running around has been hard. But this matter still needs your attention. Travel expenses will still be reimbursed by the sect."

  "Ah, alright, alright. I will make the trip again." Yan Siwen looked dejected as he carried the things out.

  It probably never occurred to him that he had become Qingfeng Sect's dedicated courier.

  Next came the arrangement of the power structure within Qingfeng Sect.

  "Zuo Yong, immediately contact all the prominent cultivation families under Qingfeng Sect. Have them send representatives to gather at Qingfeng Sect."

  Zuo Yong immediately understood. "Should we re-set their tribute?"

  "No need. Qingfeng Sect will need their support in the future. Besides discussing cultivation matters, we also need to talk about trade."

  Hearing this, Zuo Yong was puzzled. "Trade and commerce are mortal affairs. Why should we bother with them?"

  "Because trade can bring wealth and craftsmen. We will need many craftsmen from various trades in the future."

  Zuo Yong still did not understand what this eccentric Sect Leader was up to.

  "Sect Leader, are you rebuilding the mountain gate?"

  No, I am rebuilding this world.

  Lin Lin silently answered in his heart.

  Confidently, he spread out a map and pointed at a red line. "I will find a way to create a cheap and effective road-building material to connect the three cities under Qingfeng Sect's jurisdiction."

  Zuo Yong rubbed his forehead, thinking of something else. "That might not be good. My father said that if roads are built, refugees will come. Refugees are terrible; they eat their way through wherever they go."

  Hearing this, Lin Lin clenched his fists.

  Sigh, the typical shortsightedness of the landlord class.

  What is wrong with refugees? Did they choose to be refugees?

  Who would leave home to beg if they had enough to eat and wear at home?

  A bunch of celestial demon overlords actually thought they could manage without mortals?

  And Qingfeng Sect had mineral deposits and an industrial base. What it lacked was labor.

  Incoming refugees could be absorbed and put to work in the future.

  More refugees would stimulate internal demand and create an economic cycle.

  "If more refugees come, more grain carts will come too. Qingfeng Sect has plenty of resources; we are not afraid of being eaten out of house and home. Besides, do not refugees all go to the Canglong Gang?"

  Zuo Yong did not catch the first few sentences, but understood the last part. "Right, now everyone knows that if you cannot get enough to eat, you flee to the Canglong Gang for refuge."

  Lin Lin did not want to waste more words. "Alright, go quickly. Finalize the route during the busy farming season, and we can start building the road in the slack season."

  "Sect Leader, I will take my leave."

  Contacting the various families was a matter of prestige. Zuo Yong accepted this task and left cheerfully.

  Lin Lin looked at Feng Jinbao and gave the final instruction of the day. "Are the townspeople of Pingyuan Town all buried?"

  "Most are buried. But there is a shortage of coffins. It will take another two days." Feng Jinbao answered honestly.

  "If there are orphans, take them into the sect. In the future, I will recruit more young servants. You outer disciples should focus on your cultivation from now on."

  Hearing this, Feng Jinbao was even more convinced he had chosen the right person to follow. "Thank you for your consideration, Sect Leader. Is there anything you need me to do?"

  Lin Lin waved his hand. "There is, but I do not need you for it."

  Feng Jinbao, unconvinced, tried to argue. "Sect Leader, I can do it. You gave tasks to Senior Brother Yan and Junior Brother Zuo, but I..."

  "Go. I do not need you now because you are too weak. You need to get stronger, strong enough to do things for me."

  Lin Lin placed a bottle of pills in Feng Jinbao's hand, patted him on the shoulder, and turned to leave.

  These pills were not sect property, but from Lin Lin's own private stash.

  Even someone as dense as Feng Jinbao could feel Lin Lin's expectations through this act.

  Feng Jinbao respectfully kowtowed, his head hitting the ground with a thud.

  A scholar dies for one who appreciates his talent, a flower blooms for its admirer.

  He, Feng Jinbao, swore that in the future, he would redouble his efforts to repay Lin Lin's kindness for recognizing his potential.