Of course, not everyone wanted to continue the fight.

But many things are beyond one's control. The Cultivation World is a huge fame and fortune scene with intricate relations and power networks. The sects gathered by the Su Yuan Sect are all inevitably involved in these power relations. The truly independent sects without entanglements, like those of Youxia Mountain and Wukang Mountain, which dare not and do not wish to vie for fame or fortune, have to find a place to hide upon arrival and just scrape by until the end.

The rewards for sects and individuals with good rankings from the Shengshen Continent are just symbolic. What Shengshen Continent really provides, establishing Xun Gates for the states, is the grandest and most valuable reward.

For the sects under each state, it is the states' rewards that are more substantial and widely beneficial.

For instance, having a Xun Gate built right at one's doorstep.

The sects that have made contributions in the competition will certainly be rewarded by their states upon their return. Being given certain conditions as rewards could potentially elevate a sect's standing by a notch, which is far better than just being rewarded with a set of houses by the Royal Court.

Without tempting conditions, which sect would be willing to fight to the death?

As long as one's name is on the merit register, this register becomes one's future within their sect.

Previously there was no chance, but now the opportunity is right before their eyes. Clearly seeing hope, and having already invested so much, who could easily give it up?

At the moment, Shi Chun was unaware of everyone's thoughts, happily chatting away with Wu Jinliang and Chu Jingtang.

Although the two had been out of the Land of Exile for quite some time, they were often limited by circumstances and hadn't truly enjoyed the world; there was so much they hadn't seen or tasted.

Once they went out, they found themselves in the bustling capital. Since Chu Jingtang had visited a few times before, Shi Chun and his companion naturally wanted to borrow his experiences to broaden their horizons. They had nothing else to do anyway, and just the mention of unfamiliar food nearly had them drooling.

They were already imagining living in the capital with money and a house after achieving good rankings, their faces brimming with the radiant smiles of potential mothers-in-law.

The sound of footsteps like a gathering storm outside caught their attention, and a Bilan Sect disciple went to check before running back, looking alarmed.

Before he could speak, someone outside shouted loudly, "Would the Master please come out for a meeting."

Then a collective voice echoed, "Would the Master please come out for a meeting!"

The call echoed through the hills and fields.

What the hell? Shi Chun and the others immediately rose and quickly stepped out of the cave to see.

They'd only fought one battle today and returned early. It was now mid-afternoon, the mountain's shadow partially obscured the people in front.

Seeing a group of people with a murderous aura and naked swords at ready, it was clear that ill intentions were afoot, and Chu Jingtang was petrified.

Chu's first thought was, had those pile of stones given them away?

Having boarded the thief's ship, the disciples from the Four Sects who helped guard the Insect Extreme Crystal were also nervously defending the cave entrance.

Master Mai, usually so lively, now stood off to the side in the crowd; he didn't want to come, but had no choice, being dragged into it, and it wouldn't be proper not to participate.

Shi Chun scanned the crowd and arched an eyebrow, opening with a cold laugh, "What's this, came to rob the Insect Extreme Crystal, did you?"

The brave leader replied loudly, "Master, you jest. No one would dare to rob your merits."

Another person chimed in, "Right, rob anyone but not you. Without the Master's spies laying out plans for achievements, nothing would succeed."

Someone exclaimed, "Without the Master's training and proper command, no one would have been able to gain momentum."

Someone in the crowd shouted, "We've all seen the Master's ability to fight head-on and overcome strong enemies."

Another person clamored, "Master, no disrespect, but when we first heard you were Miss Mulan's fiancé, we looked down on you. Now we must admit, we were too shallow. There's no question of being unworthy."

"Absolutely right, completely worthy."

After such flattery, Shi Chun was curious, "Then what are you doing blocking my door with such a rebellious display?"

The leader promptly said, "We are here to tell the Master, this is no reason to rest on your laurels!"

Hearing this, Shi Chun suddenly realized, and Wu Jinliang and the others exchanged glances, roughly grasping what was going on.

During the past two days, the number of battles had decreased, and the group had already vented a lot in front of them. Apparently, their grievances stemmed from dissatisfaction.

With this understanding, Shi Chun was speechless. A daily income of several thousand had grown to over sixty thousand coins. Was that not enough? The tall tales Mulan Qingqing and others had told had come true at their hands. What more did they want?

Their morale was commendable, but he had to inject a dose of reality, "Brothers, we already have over sixty thousand coins. The first place should be secure. With nearly a thousand of our brothers down, what use is a better ranking if we can't make it out alive? I'm thinking of everyone's well-being."

Someone challenged, "Master, sixty thousand coins might sound like a lot, but it's nothing because we've never touched the real rich folks. Who knows how much they've got? If we don't maintain our advantage now and build up, we might lose to Miss Mulan's side overnight."

"Yeah, Master, there's no time to rest."

"Master, one must not be too self-righteous."

"Master, don't ever be complacent."

"Master," said one of the faction elite, "just as a boat must row against the current to make progress, so must we act or risk falling behind."

Facing the tide-like objections, Shi Chun gestured with his hand for silence and then, with earnest persuasion, said, "I never said we wouldn't attack. Of course, we'll strike when the opportunity arises."

The lead challenger asked, "What kind of opportunity qualifies as the right moment to strike?"

Shi Chun replied, "One where we can achieve the maximum gain for the least cost is an opportunity worth taking. Don't tell me you actually believe that randomly attacking someone will allow us to seize Insect Extreme Crystals? I only ordered an assault after the spies had done their work and confirmed the number of crystals in the enemy's possession. Why bother attacking recklessly, incurring unnecessary sacrifices with no corresponding gain? What would be the point?"

Someone said, "The big players on each continent must surely have a significant quantity of Insect Extreme Crystals."

The leader spoke gravely, "Master, during our last sortie, we captured a Di State prisoner who, on interrogation, revealed that Di State's core forces are now reduced to just over two hundred. I believe we have the strength to confront them in battle."

"Yes, we can take them on."

"Indeed, locate them and a long-distance raid would be sufficient."

"No doubt, enough to annihilate them!"

Confronted with their impassioned cries, Shi Chun was a bit startled. Di State's core forces had among them Xiang Laner's personnel. Though numbering only in the low two hundreds now, were they not Di State's premier sect's finest elites? Was that not substantial strength?

These fools had somehow become blind to such might and dared boast of crushing them in one fell swoop. From where did this confidence arise?

Even if victory were possible, if those masters sought to escape, could these people really stop any of them?

He quickly realized that this was the outcome of his own intentional guidance—albeit taken too far. His people had grown complacent with victory, their minds swollen with an inflated sense of invincibility.

But he had no desire to see them march to their deaths.

Once they had left alive, they would come to their senses and understand it was his foresight that saved them.

Indeed, he had deceived them, but he hoped that after being deceived, they would remember his intentions were good—a gain in itself.

So, with a sneer, he said, "After you leave here, remember my words. Killing you would be easy for me; I simply don't wish for your deaths. My goal is to preserve your lives, not see you sacrificed in a struggle for profit.

You think I've been playing games up to now after all our struggles? Do you think I don't want victory?

When I say advance, you advance. When I say retreat, you retreat. When I say stop, you stop. My commands must be followed without question. That is our guarantee for the victories we've achieved. I know when to strike and when to lie low, how to fight, and how to win. My plans are clearer in my mind than in any of yours; there's no need for your lessons on what to do.

If I say we can fight, then we fight. If I say we cannot, then we don't. Now, all of you go back and rest. If anyone dares to grumble, I'll immediately contact Mulan Qingqing and break the deal, handing over all the Insect Extreme Crystals to them. Think they would want that? You know I am a man of my word, and I am not joking here. Get lost!"

The crowd fell silent, their earlier fierceness becoming looks exchanged among themselves—eyes asking each other what to do next.

Awkwardness hung in the air, yet not a single person showed any sign of dissent.

Even to the observer tucked away in the corner, Master Mai found it amusing. Only the Master could command such respect and easily quell the uproar. The men had arrived in a tumult and now stood in embarrassing silence.

Shi Chun flicked his sleeve, turned, and walked into the cave, too indifferent to pay them any more mind.

After making a spectacle of themselves, the disgruntled group lingered a moment but soon dispersed.

Nevertheless, the "military counsel" that had inflamed half of Xuan State's troops eventually did alarm Mulan Qingqing and her entourage—a matter not to be taken lightly.

That very night, in the central cavern, Mulan Qingqing and several other leaders gathered.

Master Mai was there, too, brought in as a spy planted by Wan Daoyuan himself, summoned face-to-face due to the gravity of the situation, which was clearer spoken than with sending talismans.

Wind Scale had personally fetched him to avoid wasted time and not to arouse suspicion.

The questioning was naturally about the detailed circumstances of the "military counsel," and Master Mai provided a full account.

The fact that the "military counsel" had failed was still deeply unsettling to the leaders—not because of the rebellion itself, but because of the strong will to fight shown by the rabble. These men, usually prone to shirking their duties, were now eager for a fierce battle—it took the overpowering authority of Wang Sheng to subdue them. What did that signify?

Combined with the credits accrued over a series of battles, the leaders felt a profound shock.

Mulan Qingqing, who had been silent and listening intently throughout, finally spoke, "Based on your observations, by what means did he command those people to act at his whim and fearlessly face death?"

Her main concern was not the military counsel but why troops transformed utterly under Wang Sheng's command.

"What methods..." Master Mai pondered for a moment and then, shaking his head, said, "I didn't see him do anything special, no offense, but he's quite lazy. He just throws tasks at the Shopkeeper and neither opens up to the men personally nor expends effort to organize them. He constantly abandons us, leaving us in disarray.

He also treats us who attempt assassinations with contempt, as if we aren't human, only caring about his own pleasure.

Even matters of troop deployment and duty rosters are beneath his notice—he's not concerned about surprise attacks. We're unsettled by his actions, and we constantly figure out how to cover for his negligence on our own. The Master's style is too casual, too unrefined. We curse him behind his back, but somehow, everyone seems to respect his authority when he speaks."

Wan Daoyuan and the others exchanged looks, confused. Is that even possible? We leaders worry ourselves sick over such matters.

Mulan Qingqing tested the waters, "Is it because he is my fiance?"

Master Mai smiled inwardly, thinking she might be overestimating herself, and shook his head, "The reputation of your betrothed can't cover every minor detail, I don't think that's it. Everyone curses him behind his back, but when he speaks, they listen. I can't really explain it."

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