Qi Ping looked at the thousands of cultivators who held the ruling status of the Qingtian Domain. He hadn't come to ask for their opinions; he was here to issue a decree. Those who supported it would rise; those who didn't could leave; those who caused trouble... would die.
He had already discussed the details with the core leadership through his Treant clone (as Lin Ya). Two notable figures among them were the Silver-Masked Golden Core, who had provided information on the Celestial Alliance, and Meng Yan's master.
The Silver-Masked Golden Core was none other than Lin Yue, the Sect Master of the Qingyuan Sect, who had often appeared as a fence-sitter. In reality, he was a shrewd strategist with followers throughout the domain, providing the intelligence that allowed the Bee Daoist to slay the Alliance masters. He was also the one who had cut off Gu Yunxiao's investigations. He was a man of great ambition who wanted to cleanse the domain.
Even Lin Yue had been stunned by Qi Ping's sheer power. He had spent years plotting, only to see Qi Ping slaughter every major enemy in a single afternoon. If he had known the Bee Daoist was this fierce, he wouldn't have bothered with all the complex schemes; he would have just assisted Qi Ping from the start.
Qi Ping had spoken with Lin Yue at length and reached an agreement. Lin Yue's administrative skills and grasp of intelligence would be invaluable, and his status as Sect Master made him a perfect front-man. To find such a capable manager was rarer than finding a Nascent Soul-tier genius. Most importantly, Lin Yue had become a follower of the Earth Immortal Druid class, making him trustworthy.
Additionally, Meng Yan's master, Daoist Dan Ding, was the most respected alchemist in the sect. He would provide alchemical support in exchange for Rank 4 herbs and assistance in breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm. Wang He, of course, offered his full support.
Having secured these pillars, Qi Ping announced his decision to the masses. The first rule left everyone reeling.
"From this day forth, the Qingyuan Sect is renamed the Qingyuan Academy. I, the Bee Daoist, shall serve as the Honorary Dean. Lin Yue and Wang He shall serve as Vice-Deans, responsible for husbandry, spirit fields, economy, security, appointments, and discipline!"
"The former headquarters shall become the main campus. Furthermore, branch academies shall be established throughout the Qingtian Domain. All foundational Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment techniques, as well as cultivation experiences, shall be opened to the public for free. Mentors will be assigned to provide free lectures periodically."
"Furthermore, a household registration system shall be established. Higher-level resources and techniques will be open to all residents of the domain, provided they earn the necessary merit points!"
"In short, the Qingyuan Academy will support the stable development of all cultivators through fair and just means. Anyone who hinders another's path shall be slain by me personally!"
"Within the domain, any activity that promotes husbandry, farming, or economic trade will be protected by the Academy!"
"Finally, every Rank 4 manual, spell, and the Rank 4 spiritual vein itself will be open for exchange. Any cultivator of the Qingtian Domain can obtain them through merit!"
After his announcement, Lin Yue distributed jade slips containing the detailed regulations. These had been drafted by Lin Yue and reviewed by Qi Ping, covering every aspect of governance. Qi Ping was impressed; Lin Yue was truly a management genius.
The crowd was so stunned they were almost speechless.
Everyone read the slips, seeing the official seal of the Qingyuan Academy. They realized the continent was about to change. They had expected a simple reshuffle—a new leader, new elders, same old system. But this was something entirely different.
Senior Bee Daoist was making the domain take flight!
First, by opening techniques and resources, the number of cultivators would explode. It would attract rogue cultivators from every domain.
Second, by supporting farming and trade and resolving issues like pests and disease, and with a Rank 4 spiritual vein as the backbone, the economy would boom.
But the real "nuke" was opening the Rank 4 manuals and the spiritual vein. Throughout the continent, sects guarded their Rank 4 techniques like their own lives. No one could learn them without a blood-oath, and leakers were hunted down. And a Rank 4 spiritual vein? Powers would fight to the death over one; who would share it?
But the Qingyuan Academy was offering them all! And the merit points weren't impossible to get—donating seeds, providing new techniques, or offering construction advice for the domain could earn them. One "Recruitment Decree" even stated that anyone providing constructive advice for the domain's growth could be granted direct usage rights for the spiritual vein!
Qi Ping left after the announcement, leaving a shell-shocked crowd.
"Senior Bee Daoist's magnanimity is peerless in history!"
"It is our fortune to have him!"
"Our domain's era of prosperity has finally arrived!"
"When this news spreads... the continent will go mad!"
As people began to recover, the cheers and praise grew. Almost everyone—except the lazy, connection-based elders—saw their chance. They were the first generation of the new regime and could eat the first piece of the cake. It was a thousand times better than the days of being oppressed by Gu Yunxiao!
Qi Ping had promised to protect those who were breaking through. Where else on the continent could you find such security?
The news spread like wildfire. The Qingtian Domain boiled with excitement, and the Star-Sea Continent followed. The names of the Bee Daoist and the Qingyuan Academy were on everyone's lips.
In the Cloud-Mist Mountain Range, Qi Ping was grinning from ear to ear. His Power of Living Beings was skyrocketing! Simultaneously, the number of his Sentient Faith followers was surging and showed no sign of stopping. His strength was rising with it!
'Good, good!'
'This was the right move! I have to thank Lin Yue; I never could have drafted such an explosive policy on my own.'
As long as he played this hand well, the Earth Immortal Druid class would take off. Many people could think of these policies, but few had the power to implement them. You had to be willing to let go of hoarded interests, and you had to be strong enough to suppress the entrenched interest groups.
Only Qi Ping, with his overwhelming power and his willingness to share the Rank 4 vein, could do it.
'I have to thank my competitors for being so terrible. If the world weren't so rotten and the monopoly on resources so severe, it wouldn't have been this easy to gain so many followers.'
And this was just the beginning. Countless rogue cultivators were already racing toward the Qingtian Domain. Once they arrived, his numbers would spike again.
Of course, trouble followed. Some questioned if the domain had enough resources to support so many people, and others began to ambush the rogue cultivators heading toward the domain.
But Qi Ping wasn't worried. He had prepared for this.