Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

As night fell, the Dragon-Slaying Cliff was as bright as day. The light from the array, the glow of healing spells, and the light from the campfire intertwined. The air was thick with the stench of blood, medicine, and smoke.

On a relatively flat open space, dozens of tents were temporarily erected to serve as a camp for wounded soldiers. Groans and suppressed moans of pain could be heard from time to time.

The disciples of the Pill Hall and the recruited rogue cultivators with some medical skills bustled about, working tirelessly. Li Xiaocao personally oversaw the operation, directing with composure. Her usual charming and innocent demeanor was nowhere to be seen, replaced only by focused concentration and exhaustion.

"Apply this 'skin-regenerating powder' externally! Tighten the bandage!"

"Quick! The internal energy is flowing in reverse. Use acupuncture to guide it to the acupoints, supplemented with a 'Tranquilizing Pill'!"

"Stretcher! There's another seriously injured person over here!"

The atmosphere was somber, yet orderly. Wounded soldiers whose conditions had stabilized were carried out periodically, while new, seriously wounded soldiers were brought in.

On the other side, the logistics officers sent by Han Lin had set up a table in front of a large tent and began registering and tallying the casualties of each faction, and distributing the first batch of emergency compensation.

As per Shen Mo's orders, the compensation standards were extremely high. The immediate family members of the fallen would receive a substantial amount of contribution points, enough to guarantee their future cultivation. Younger members would also have priority admission to the Qingyun Dao Academy. Those severely injured or disabled would also receive generous compensation and resettlement.

"Wang Meng, a member of the Qingyun Sect's Battle Hall, was in the early stages of Foundation Establishment. During the Battle of Wild Wolf Slope, he fought three Ironback Wolves to cover his fellow disciples, but was seriously injured and died... He was given a compensation of 3,000 contribution points. His son, who is twelve years old, is eligible to enter the top class of the Dao Academy..."

"Li Yan, a Crimson Flame Guard of the Blazing Sun Sect, was injured by the poisonous mist of the Crimson Phosphorus Python during the defense of Broken Dragon Cliff. He was rescued in time, but his cultivation level dropped to the seventh level of Qi Refining, and his right arm was crippled... He is given 1,500 contribution points as compensation and a bottle of 'Crimson Sun Meridian Restoration Ointment' to help him rebuild his meridians..."

"Zhao Han, a Sharp Golden Sword Guard of the Heavenly Sword Sect, mid-Foundation Establishment stage, engaged in guerrilla warfare on the flank, slaying seven second-tier demonic birds with his sword, covering the enemy's rear, sustaining seventeen wounds, and falling into a coma after the battle... Awarded a major merit, rewarded with 2,000 contribution points, and bestowed with one 'Sword Nourishing Pill'..."

The deacon read the instructions in a steady voice, while someone else took notes. Jade tokens representing contributions, along with corresponding pills and spirit stones, were distributed on the spot.

Whether it's the main sect of Qingyun Sect, or Lieyang Sect, Tianjian Sect, or Xuanbing Pavilion, Baibao Pavilion, or even those small and medium-sized sects and independent cultivators, the standards are the same. In fact, because small and medium-sized sects and independent cultivators have less resources, the distribution is slightly biased.

The disciples and fellow practitioners who received the compensation were initially saddened, then astonished, and subsequently overwhelmed with indescribable excitement. Especially those from smaller sects and independent cultivators, who had never witnessed such a "generous" compensation before.

In the past, if someone was injured while serving, they were lucky to get a few spirit stones as a reward; if they died, they were treated like dirt.

Today, not only are the compensations generous, but there are also clear regulations and reassuring commitments.

"Senior Brother Zhang...you can rest in peace now...Sect Leader...Alliance Leader, he hasn't forgotten us..." A rogue cultivator with one arm missing, clutching a heavy contribution jade token and a bottle of precious pills, this tough man actually started to sob.

"It was worth it! Losing this arm was worth it!" A young sword cultivator from the Heavenly Sword Sect, his face pale, gripped the "Sword-Nourishing Pill" tightly, his eyes burning with fervent light. Within the Heavenly Sword Sect, without great merit or a powerful background, one could never even dream of obtaining this pill!

"Qingyun Alliance... Alliance Leader Shen... is so benevolent!" Someone murmured softly, but it expressed the sentiments of many.

In contrast, the distribution of those monster materials and inner cores is more complicated.

However, the stewards sent by Han Lin had already received instructions to be open and transparent. All spoils of war were to be collected, registered, and appraised, and then distributed according to each faction's contribution and casualties in the battle, converted into contribution points.

Those who put in more effort and suffer more casualties naturally receive more. There are dedicated disciples from the Array Hall and Weapon Hall responsible for valuation, the manager of the Treasure Pavilion is present to witness, and representatives from various factions supervise, making it difficult to cheat.

The elders leading the Lieyang Sect and Tianjian Sect initially thought of using their power to intimidate others and get a larger share.

But seeing the clear and concise account book in black and white, seeing the increasingly hostile gazes of the disciples from various sects around him, and thinking of Shen Mo's unfathomable methods and the formidable prestige he had just established, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

I had no choice but to grit my teeth and collect my share according to the rules. I felt aggrieved, yet there was nothing I could do to complain.

"Did you see that? This time, the Qingyun Sect is serious! They're really going by merit and casualties!"

"Absolutely! Before, when we went on missions with the Blazing Sun Sect, they always took the lion's share of the profits, and we only got scraps and had to be subservient to them! Unlike now, it's all clear and straightforward!"

"Alliance Leader Shen... is a man destined for great things! Following such a leader gives me peace of mind!"

"Sigh, if only this alliance and these rules had existed a few years earlier, my brother wouldn't be in this situation..."

Whispers arose everywhere, and people's hearts were quietly changing under the reflection of bloodshed and compensation, merit and reward. Something called "fairness" and "integrity" began to take root in the hearts of those monks who had once been regarded as worthless.

And this kind of thing is often more cohesive than any powerful force.

Huo Lie and Ling Feng stood side by side on a secluded cliff edge, gazing at the brightly lit, bustling yet orderly camp below, their expressions shifting in the shadows. Behind them were their respective trusted disciples.

"Hmph, trying to win people's hearts!" Huo Lie lowered his voice, his tone bitter yet carrying an undisguised complexity. "All this talk about generous compensation and rewards based on merit, making it seem like Shen Mo is so benevolent! Without the Lieyang Sect disciples risking their lives to defend the right flank, could Duanlong Cliff have been held? What they received wasn't even enough to cover the medical expenses for the wounded disciples!"

Ling Feng held his sword, his cold, hard face expressionless, but a hint of emotion flickered deep in his eyes: "At least, the accounts are clear, and no one dares to withhold anything. Within the sect, Zhao Han's 'Sword-Nourishing Pill' is something he might not be able to obtain even if he performs ten meritorious deeds, without the approval of Uncle-Master Jian Wuying."

The Zhao Han he mentioned was the seriously injured Foundation Establishment sword cultivator from the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Huo Lie paused, then said sullenly, "That's what he earned with his life! Besides, you think you can be bought off with just one 'Sword-Nourishing Pill'? Ling Feng, don't forget, the more Shen Mo acts like this, the bigger his ambitions become! Look at those people below, the way they look at him, like he's their ancestor! If this continues, will there be any place for my Lieyang Sect in the Southern Region?"

Ling Feng remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Elder Huo Lie, do you think that if the Xuan Yang Sect Master or the Wuji Sword Master were here today to command, could they, like Shen Mo, use their Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining abilities, along with the formation, to jointly injure a fourth-tier demon king?"

"Is it possible to command and deploy the various forces with such precision? Is it possible to provide relief, reward merit, and reorganize the army so efficiently and without any disorder, right after this fierce battle has just ended?"

Huo Lie opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word. He asked himself honestly, and the answer was no.

The Xuan Yang Sect Master is stubborn and self-willed, and the Wuji Sword Master is aloof and arrogant. Why would they be so meticulous in considering the lives of lower-ranking disciples?

Are you suggesting they "condescend" to fairly distribute the spoils of war? Are you suggesting they treat small and medium-sized sects and independent cultivators equally? Impossible. They believe in the supremacy of the strong and the paramount importance of sect interests.

"This man's abilities are far beyond those of ordinary Golden Core cultivators." Ling Feng's voice was soft, yet carried immense weight. "His ambitions are likely not limited to the territory of a single alliance. Today he bestows favors upon us; tomorrow he will be the heart of the masses. Perhaps our Heavenly Sword Sect was wrong back then."

Huo Lie was startled and looked at Ling Feng: "You..."

Ling Feng said no more, turning and walking towards his own camp, his figure appearing somewhat desolate in the night. Some things are better left unsaid. After this battle, Shen Mo's prestige, like the Broken Dragon Cliff, stands firm and unshakeable.

It wasn't just because he defeated the Demon King, but also because of the terrifying power he displayed—a power capable of controlling the entire situation and uniting people's hearts. This power was more awe-inspiring and more chilling than mere brute force.

Huo Lie stood there for a long time, gazing at the disciples in the camp below who had received their compensation and whose eyes had been rekindled with hope. He then looked at the simple command tent in the distance, which was still lit up. Finally, he let out a long, complex sigh, which dissipated into the blood-scented night wind.