The main hall of the Slaughter God Pavilion was brightly lit.
Eight ancient-looking storage rings, faint spatial undulations emanating from them, were neatly arranged on the central jade table. Even unopened, they caused the spiritual energy within the hall to stir restlessly. Lin Che sat imposingly in the host seat. To his left was Luo Jiayin, dressed in white, a hint of playful mockery in her eyes. To his right was the newly joined Meng Qingcheng, her cool demeanor tinged with a trace of curiosity. Shi Jin and several other core hall masters stood respectfully below, their eyes filled with anticipation and excitement.
Lin Che's gaze swept over the crowd, pausing briefly on Shi Jin. His voice, clear and resonant, filled the hall. "Our victory in exterminating the Eight Diamond Guardians of the Profound Sword Sect was achieved through our united efforts. Before distributing rewards, I have an announcement."
He looked at Shi Jin, his tone solemn. "Shi Jin, ever since the Heaven's Gate Stronghold, we have been brothers bound by life and death. Now, our Slaughter God Pavilion grows stronger daily and requires a Vice Pavilion Master to oversee its overall affairs. From this day forward, you shall hold the position of Vice Pavilion Master of the Slaughter God Pavilion, commanding all internal and external matters. You may appoint a capable successor for your current role as Outer Hall Master."
Upon hearing this, Shi Jin's body trembled violently. Unbelievable excitement and a flush rushed to his face. He stepped forward, knelt heavily on one knee, his voice choked with emotion. "Pavilion Master! Shi Jin is unworthy of such honor… I will not betray your trust! I pledge to spare no effort in guarding our foundation!"
Luo Jiayin and Meng Qingcheng gave slight nods, showing no objection to Lin Che's appointment. They had both witnessed Shi Jin's loyalty and diligence.
Lin Che raised a hand, gesturing for Shi Jin to rise. Then, his tone shifted, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "The Profound Sword Sect will not let this defeat slide. I will soon head to the Profound Heaven Realm to settle this grudge once and for all. When that time comes, the foundation of our Slaughter God Pavilion here in the Canglan Realm will require a steady and reliable person to hold the fort. Shi Jin, you must shoulder this heavy responsibility for me."
"This subordinate will fulfill his duty even at the cost of ten thousand deaths!" Shi Jin straightened his back, his gaze resolute. The Pavilion Master entrusting him with their very foundation was a trust heavier than any mountain.
[Ding! Host has completed personnel appointment, stabilizing organizational structure. Reward: Organizational Cohesion slightly increased. Slaughter Points +5,000.]
Lin Che gave a slight nod and said no more. He reached out and picked up the first storage ring. "Enough talk. Let us now jointly audit these spoils of war, replenish our treasury, prepare for the Profound Sword Sect's next retaliation, and stockpile supplies for our expedition to the Profound Heaven Realm!" First came the spirit stones!
With a thought, a small mountain range of Upper-Grade Spirit Stones came pouring out with a clatter, instantly filling one corner of the hall. Their radiant glow and dense spiritual energy invigorated everyone present, even causing a flicker of light in Meng Qingcheng's eyes. Following them were hundreds of dazzling, peerlessly pure Peak-Grade Spirit Stones, embedded in the stone mountain like stars, making the disciples' breathing grow rapid.
"Heavens… how… how much is this?" Shi Jin couldn't help but swallow hard, his voice trembling slightly. And this was just the wealth of one of the Eight Diamond Guardians!
"A rough estimate suggests the spirit stones in this single ring alone could support the full operation of our Slaughter God Pavilion for ten years," Lin Che said calmly, a trace of satisfaction in his tone. He categorized this ring as "Grade A Resources" and set it aside.
Then came the second, the third ring…
A vast quantity of high-grade pills were taken out, their bottles labeled: [Six-Cycle Spirit Restoration Pill], [Nine-Aperture Golden Core Pill], [Soul-Tempering Liquid]… all cultivation resources treasured even by Nascent Soul and Spirit Transformation realm cultivators. Various glowing materials for artifact forging and array formation were even more dazzling. Many were things even Meng Qingcheng couldn't name, only sensing the astonishing energy they contained.
"The Profound Sword Sect's main sect is truly drowning in wealth," Luo Jiayin said lightly, playing with a piece of [Warm Soul Jade] that could nourish the soul. "It seems our Pavilion Master won't have to worry about resources anymore."
Lin Che smiled and continued the inventory. When he reached the fifth ring, beneath a neatly stacked pile of jade slips and materials, he found a booklet made of peculiar material that seemed out of place. He curiously pulled it out. On its cover, written in ancient script, were the words: "Profound Sword Sect Inner Disciple Code of Conduct."
"Oh? The Profound Sword Sect issues this stuff?" Lin Che found it somewhat amusing and casually flipped it open. The first few pages were indeed filled with high-sounding sect rules and prohibitions, boring enough to put one to sleep. But upon turning to the last page, a line of text written in dark red, resembling dried blood, abruptly caught his eye:
"Rules? Those are for the ants to see! Want to climb up? Remember three points: 1. Talent; 2. Background; 3. If you lack both, then bootlicking and blackmail are your only ladder to heaven! — Left in darkness by a disheartened former Diamond Guardian."
Lin Che: "…"
[Ding! Discovered unofficial internal Profound Sword Sect publication: "Survival Guide to the Unwritten Rules" (Hand-annotated Edition). Recommended to archive. May prove useful for 'knowing your enemy' in the future. Reward: Insight +1.]
Lin Che calmly closed the booklet and set it aside, though inwardly, his mind was racing. This thing might be more useful than a divine weapon at a critical moment.
The inventory continued. The owner of the sixth ring seemed to be a "collector." Besides a massive amount of resources, there was actually a large pile of memory crystals. Lin Che casually activated a few. What they recorded wasn't cultivation insights but rather unsavory scenes of Profound Sword Sect members: a sect elder privately accepting enormous bribes, core disciples scheming against each other, and even a highly respected Transmission Elder secretly practicing cross-dressing dance steps late at night…
[Warning! Host has accessed the Profound Sword Sect's 'Confidential Blackmail Archive.' Information sensitivity: High. Recommended to encrypt and save, establishing a classified index.] The system's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible excitement.
Luo Jiayin leaned over for a look, her pretty face instantly flushing with a mix of blush and disdain. "Ugh! Hypocrites!" Though Meng Qingcheng remained cool, a flicker of disgust also passed through her eyes.
Lin Che hurriedly put away the memory crystals, clearing his throat twice. "Ahem, these… will have other uses."
When checking the seventh ring, the style changed again. Amidst a pile of sharp swords and forging materials lay a set of… exquisite embroidery tools? From fine needles made of mysterious iron to colorful, radiant spirit silk threads, everything was present. Underneath them was a manual titled: "On the Commonality Between Ultimate Sword Dao and Embroidery Art — How to Embroider Vast Landscapes with a Needle as a Sword."
[Detected special auxiliary skill: Mystic Iron Embroidery (Master Level). Skill Effect: Can channel spiritual energy and sword intent into needle and thread. Embroidered patterns possess weak array effects (e.g., ward off evil, gather spirit) or physical properties (e.g., toughness, sharpness). Does host wish to learn?] The system's appraisal result made Lin Che's mouth twitch violently.
This Brother Diamond Guardian was truly… an artist delayed by the Sword Dao?
The last Diamond Guardian's storage ring was full of life's pleasures, most of its space occupied by various spirit wines and spirit foods, resembling a mobile luxury cafeteria, which somewhat diluted the previous strange atmosphere.
Finally, all the loot was accounted for. Precious resources were piled up like mountains, while those few "peculiar" items were separately stored away by Lin Che. The entire hall was filled with the joy of a bountiful harvest.
"Shi Jin, have these resources registered and cataloged, then stored in the treasury. Distribute the pills and materials as needed, prioritizing improving the strength of our brothers," Lin Che ordered.
"Yes, Pavilion Master!" Shi Jin's voice was loud and clear as he began busily directing the others.
Luo Jiayin walked over to Lin Che, looking at him with a half-smile. "Quite the haul… But, Pavilion Master, how do you plan to handle those… special items?" she asked in a low voice, meaningfully glancing at the things Lin Che had put away.
Meng Qingcheng also quietly approached. Though she didn't speak, her cool gaze held a question.
Lin Che looked at the two peerless beauties before him, each with their own style, and rubbed his nose. Just as he was about to speak, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.
A guard disciple rushed in, knelt on one knee, and presented a violently vibrating jade slip flashing with dangerous red light.
"Pavilion Master! An urgent message… from the Profound Sword Sect main sect!"
Instantly, the cheerful atmosphere in the hall turned solemn.
Lin Che took the jade slip, sent his divine sense into it, and his expression instantly turned grave. Luo Jiayin and Meng Qingcheng also sensed the change in his aura, their expressions turning serious.
[Ding! Detected high-intensity threatening message! Emergency countermeasure task triggered!]
Within the jade slip, only one domineering, overwhelming spiritual imprint, brimming with monstrous sword intent, transformed into a rolling thunderous roar in his mind:
"Three days! We will trample you vermin into dust!"
Lin Che slowly lowered the jade slip. Instead of fear, a blazing fighting spirit ignited in his eyes. He looked at Luo Jiayin and Meng Qingcheng, then at the memory crystal in his hand recording the Profound Sword Sect's dirty secrets, a cold arc curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Perfect timing… Just in time to test the power of our new 'treasures'."