Chapter 9: Cliques and Factions

A degree of ambiguity can easily breed unknown fear. This is the Demonic Sect, not a charitable hall.

Seeing Wang Yu leave the corner, the two men remained both fearful and hesitant, never daring to approach him again for a conversation.

And so, when the day's instruction period ended, everyone returned to their stone huts.

Day twenty-two of his life as a spirit slave.

Wang Yu was using the same approach to win over his fellow townsfolk from Stone Lake City, but for others, he needed a different tactic.

There are three types of people willing to learn:

The resigned, the pragmatic, and the ambitious!

The first group was the largest, followed by the second, and the third was the smallest. Wang Yu found it easiest to persuade the ambitious, as Manager Duan's declaration that day served as a powerful endorsement, making his reputation very effective.

For anyone who aspired to become an outer disciple, he simply explained the pros and cons, using the Ice Sword Technique as bait and showcasing the benefits he had gained. These individuals were quickly persuaded.

In a single morning, he convinced seven people.

Just then, the two "acquaintances" approached him cautiously and whispered to Wang Yu.

"We all have mixed or weak spiritual roots; it's impossible for us to enter the Dao in just two months. What's more, we couldn't even read before this. You're deceiving us."

Wang Yu couldn't help but let out a scoff.

"This is the Inverse Spirit Blood Sect, not a charity! Do you think my aptitude is particularly good? As long as you're willing to sacrifice lifespan, getting started is simple, and that applies to you too."

This kind of ignorance is common among the lower classes in any world, but once convinced, they become the most steadfast supporters.

The two were speechless once more. After a moment of silence, they agreed to Wang Yu's demands.

"Very good."

Wang Yu smiled, painting a picture of future benefits.

"If you wish to escape your status as spirit slaves, you must increase your monthly offering of spirit sand to one tael and six qian. Only by distinguishing yourselves from others will you have a chance to be noticed by the Cold Blood True Disciple."

"But—"

The two exchanged glances, not daring to say another word, and could only nod repeatedly.

Seeing their compliance, Wang Yu departed once more.

Over the next few days, he focused on securing the allegiance of the "resigned" group. These individuals were most easily swayed by threats and a show of force, though they were also the most prone to switching sides.

The spirit slaves were overseen by three managers. While Manager Duan had chosen him, it didn't mean he was the only one. The other managers would also employ similar methods.

The extensive efforts to recruit followers around the plaza did not go unnoticed.

Consequently, he was being watched!

Day twenty-eight of his life as a spirit slave.

A group of "elders" with haggard, aged faces and unruly white hair gathered. All three were at Qi Refining Stage Two and served under Manager Liu, one of the three overseers.

"Boss Fang, that kid Wang Yu has amassed quite a few newcomers recently, at least fifty or sixty. Do you think Manager Liu will be displeased?"

Boss Fang glared unhappily at Wang Yu, who was still moving about.

"What if he is displeased? We can't simply kill him. Spirit slaves are property of Cold Blood Peak. Privately harming one means not only forfeiting your life but also enduring inhumane torture before death, with no escape for your soul."

"So what do we do?"

"First, a verbal warning. If that doesn't work, we'll break his limbs."

"What if that still doesn't work?"

Boss Fang narrowed his eyes at his deputy, who instinctively recoiled before speaking again.

"If conventional methods fail, then kill a dying old man and dispose of him in Wang Yu's stone hut."

It was an act of framing.

It wasn't that they were simple-minded or easily exposed; rather, there were simply few effective tactics available to spirit slaves in the stone hut area without violating regulations.

At that point, the managers backing them would need to intervene.

The more dominant manager would secure the loyalty of more spirit slaves.

"If you agree, not only will you be safe, but you'll also have the chance to become an outer disciple like me in the future. Your prospects will be bright."

"One tael and eight qian of spirit sand," he confirmed.

Having just persuaded a fellow townsman from Stone Lake City, Wang Yu quickly calculated that his recruitment target was largely met and could be fully achieved within ten days.

He wasn't sure if Manager Duan would fulfill his promise, but he had to take the gamble. The weak had no voice, and questioning authority was courting death, so he could only choose to believe for now.

Whether through deception or coercion, he always remembered the saying: "One tael of spirit sand belongs to Cold Blood Peak; only the excess goes to True Disciple Su!"

There were two prerequisites for him to turn his situation around:1. Manager Duan's willingness to speak on his behalf.2. True Disciple Su's willingness to help him out.

Offering greater benefits was his way of demonstrating his value—a highly effective method within the demonic path.

He could only put his fellow townsmen through some hardship. Just as he was about to seek out his next target, a dozen spirit slaves encircled him, effectively blocking his path.

From among them stepped three individuals, none other than the spirit slaves, led by Fang, who had planned to teach him a lesson.

"Hey, kid, do you know you've crossed the line?"

Wang Yu frowned. This was Bluestone Plaza, where twenty outer disciples observed, and several managers were regularly present.

Crucially, for the Stone Lake City residents Wang Yu had either persuaded or was still working on, any sign of cowardice or being beaten black and blue would mean his downfall.

Most of the "resigned" group would certainly flock to the stronger side.

Their act of surrounding him was clearly meant to cut off his path!

Perhaps the spirit slave named Fang hadn't considered the full implications, merely intending to intimidate Wang Yu into abandoning his efforts to recruit more spirit slaves.

But Wang Yu's eyes immediately reddened.

A spirit slave could never truly rise. He not only needed to tread carefully, constantly vigilant, but also to be utterly ruthless—cold-hearted, firm-handed, and even more ruthless as a person—to establish himself.

He could not afford to lose this opportunity!

Manager Duan must have taught him this spell with such situations in mind.

"Ice Sword Technique, strike!"

Centered on Wang Yu, the temperature within a ten-foot radius plummeted. Three ice swords materialized around him. With a flick of Wang Yu's finger, the three Qi Refining Stage Two cultivators, led by the spirit slave Fang, simultaneously lost an arm and a leg, which dropped to the ground.

Thick, dark blood oozed out.

"Ah ah ah—"

The onlookers recoiled sharply, fearful of being splattered with blood.

There was no exchange of words; they were dealt with the moment they displayed hostility.

The spirit slave Fang was terrified, yet could only writhe on the ground. The three ice swords didn't vanish after their initial strike; instead, they returned, controlled by Wang Yu's hand seals.

The Burning Blood spiritual energy and fresh blood intermingled on their surfaces, transforming them completely into crimson ice swords.

"Wang Yu, you can't kill me! Spirit slaves are forbidden from killing each other! If I die, you'll pay with your life too!"

Wang Yu remained unmoved. With a shift of his hand seals, the three blood-stained ice swords shot forth again. Just then, a small seal descended, rapidly expanding as it approached.

It crushed all three of Wang Yu's ice swords into dust.

Manager Duan arrived abruptly, sweeping his hand to retract the artifact into his sleeve, and frowned at Wang Yu.

"Calm down."

Upon seeing his patron, Wang Yu quickly put on an aggrieved expression. He was feigning madness, not genuinely insane, and spoke first.

"Manager Duan, you're finally here! You must deliver justice for Wang Yu! I don't even know this man! I was just gaining insights from the outer sect elders' lecture when they surrounded me without a word, intending to dismember my arms and legs! I've sacrificed half my lifespan for the Holy Sect, striving to deliver spirit sand quickly and make my contributions, yet these individuals tried to murder someone like me, who is so devoted to the Holy Sect."