115: Chapter 115: Satisfaction Assessment Rules

High above the Martial Arts Arena, the originally glittering "Resource Assessment" leaderboard slowly faded away, replaced by a pattern of auspicious clouds that looked exquisitely carved and even somewhat gentle.

In the center of the cloud pattern, a line of text appeared that made every Cultivator present feel a tingling sensation in their scalps:

[Third Assessment: Disciple Satisfaction and Mental Stability]

If the previous assessments were about brawn and financial resources, then this assessment was simply about "conscience."

The Elder presiding over the assessment cleared his throat, his expression more serious than the previous two times. He knew very well that this item most often exposed the true foundation of a Sect.

"This assessment aims to measure the management level of each peak and the quality of life of the Disciples." The Elder's voice, amplified by his Qi, echoed in every corner. "The assessment consists of four parts, so please listen carefully."

As he spoke, the rules unfolded in the air line by line:

1. Anonymous Questionnaire Scoring: "The Heavenly Dao rules will be projected directly into the Sea of Consciousness of every Disciple. The questions will cover: 'Are you willing to die for the Sect?', 'Has your contribution received the due reward?', 'Do you consider the current management fair?', and so on. This segment is judged directly by the Heavenly Dao, with no possibility of forgery."

2. Random Disciple On-Site Interviews: "The System will randomly select Disciples from each peak for on-site questioning. The content is unlimited, aiming to examine the true mental state of the Disciples."

3. Mental State and Resentment Fluctuation Detection: "During the assessment, the subconscious resentment levels of the Disciples of each peak will be monitored around the clock. Excessive resentment will be judged as a 'Heart Demon risk' and points will be deducted directly."

4. Hard Metric Statistics: "Finally, comprehensive scoring will be conducted based on historical data from the past six months, such as 'departure rate,' 'defection rate,' and 'self-harm rate.'"

As soon as the rules were announced, there was an uproar from the crowd below, but this time it was not excitement, but the awkwardness of the Disciples from various peaks looking at each other.

And the most awkward ones were the Peak Revered Masters and Elders sitting on the high platform.

Usually, they only cared about squeezing the remaining value out of their Disciples; who cared if the Disciples were satisfied? As long as their fists were hard and their resources were plentiful, would the Disciples dare to be dissatisfied? But now, this rule was placed right here—the questionnaire was anonymous, and the Heavenly Dao was directly connected to the Sea of Consciousness. This was equivalent to giving every Disciple, who usually dared to be angry but not speak, an "invisible dagger."

"This... this is too ridiculous!" a Peak Revered Master couldn't help but complain in a low voice. "Managing strictly is for their own good, isn't this clearly sowing discord?"

"What are you complaining about?" Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou scanned the audience coldly. "This is the Heavenly Dao. If a Sect is filled with resentment, it is not far from collapse. You didn't do your homework during normal times, and now you want to make a last-minute effort?"

In a corner of the Martial Arts Arena, Shen Xingzhou looked at the rules in the air, his brow furrowed. In his field of vision, the System interface refreshed again, but this time, it didn't give any "victory strategy," but instead popped up a red risk analysis report.

[System Analysis: Satisfaction Dimension Risk]

Core Logic: Satisfaction ≠ "Giving all high scores." The Heavenly Dao detects "consistency." If the questionnaire is all full marks, but the resentment fluctuation detection shows the resentment value is off the charts, it is judged as "high-pressure camouflage"—a heavier deduction. If the questionnaire is all low scores, but the most benefits are distributed, it is judged as "management out of control"—points deducted.

Current Environmental Risk: Live broadcast effect side effects: The live broadcast of the previous two rounds brought external heat, but "being watched" and "being treated as a topic" will trigger the anxiety of internal Disciples. Feeling of being peeped at: Excessive exposure will make Disciples feel that their lives are like "performing arts," leading to a decline in the sense of belonging.

[Warning]

If handled improperly, Hengchuan Peak will Face the awkward situation of "looking cool from the outside, but feeling sold from the inside."

Shen Xingzhou took a deep breath and turned to look at Su Ciyao: "Second Senior Sister, turn off the live broadcast first, or switch to a long shot. Don't point the camera at the Faces of the Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters."

"Ah? But the heat is just right now..." Su Ciyao was stunned for a moment, then reacted, "You mean, they are annoyed?"

"Not annoyed, but tired." Shen Xingzhou sighed, "Everyone has times when they don't want to be watched. Our peak is already poor, and now we are being watched as a 'dark horse.' Those children must be tense. If they are pointed at by the lens again, who can still speak their true thoughts?"

He quickly called up the internal emotion panel of Hengchuan Peak.

[Hengchuan Peak · Current Internal Emotion Analysis]

Overall Resentment Value: Slightly high (15% above the baseline). Analysis: Not directed at management, but natural complaints about the "living environment" and "overtime." Resentment Attribute: "Complaining type" (benign). Explanation: Disciples dare to grumble and dare to speak out their dissatisfaction instead of bottling it up and brewing it into a Heart Demon. This is actually a manifestation of trust. Benefit Realization Rate: 92% (Recently, Shen Xingzhou has fulfilled the rewards and promises he deducted from himself). Trust in Management: Significantly increased (from "slack-off Peak Revered Master and redundant Disciples" to "a ruthless team that can lead us to survive").

[Estimated Satisfaction Ranking]

If there is no external interference: 2nd–3rd in the entire Sect. If interference continues: Drops outside the top ten.

At the bottom of the panel, a line of small text calmly emerged: "If there is no external interference, it is expected to stabilize at a high position. But now, the live broadcast camera is the biggest source of interference."

Shen Xingzhou immediately turned off the close-up lens set up by Su Ciyao, leaving only a fixed camera recording the panoramic view.

At the same time, he keenly sensed subtle fluctuations in the team.

Several of the most active Disciples were now intentionally or unintentionally avoiding the camera. A Junior Brother responsible for transporting supplies even subconsciously pulled down his bamboo hat to cover half his Face when the camera swept over just now.

"Senior Brother, do they... think we treat them as a cash cow?" Wen Xi pushed up her glasses and asked in a low voice. As a data fanatic, she was more sensitive to emotional changes than anyone else. "We got first place, the glory is yours, Senior Brother, but the suffering is still for those working below. If the satisfaction questionnaire asks them 'Do you feel exploited?', do they dare to answer 'No'?"

This was indeed a dead end.

[External Perception vs. Internal Feeling Comparison]

External (Live Audience): Seeing "finding joy in suffering," "unity," "dark horse counterattack." Evaluation: "This is the real cultivation, favorability ++."

Internal (Hengchuan Peak Disciples): Feeling "forced to work," "constantly tense," "having to watch the camera's expression even when complaining." Subtext: "We also want to win, but we don't want to become a monkey show in the eyes of others."

The System popped up a prompt again:

"The two do not have to be the same. But if handled improperly, there will be a collapse situation of 'looking cool from the outside, but feeling sold from the inside.' Satisfaction assessment does not test who acts like it, but who lives like a human."

Shen Xingzhou stood in front of the team, looking at those tired but trying to keep their spirits up Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters. He suddenly realized that this was the first time he had encountered a problem that could not be solved entirely by "models" and "calculations."

Resource utilization, that is a dead thing, it can be calculated anyway. Combat power, that is a skill, it can be practiced anyway. But the human heart is alive, it will change.

He frowned, his fingers tapping his thigh unconsciously, his brain running at high speed. How to turn the "resentment" in these people's hearts into a bonus item for "satisfaction" at this moment? How to make them give an answer that is neither against their will nor can be judged by the Heavenly Dao as "high loyalty" when facing such a stupid question as "Are you willing to die for the Sect?"

"Your eyebrows are so furrowed you could crush a fly."

A lazy voice suddenly sounded in his ear.

Shen Xingzhou turned his head and found that Revered Master Luo Qingyi had stood beside him at some point. She was still in that sleepy state, holding a wine gourd in her hand, her eyelids half drooping.

"Revered Master..." Shen Xingzhou was a little helpless.

"Turn off that damn thing." Luo Qingyi pointed to the System panel in Shen Xingzhou's field of vision that was frantically calculating "optimal guidance for words." "You always think about how to manage people, how to use people, how to turn people into resources on the ledger. But this satisfaction item is telling you that people are not resources."

Shen Xingzhou was stunned: "If not managed as resources, then how to manage?"

"Manage with 'heart'." Luo Qingyi looked up and took a sip of wine, laughing softly, "You want them to give you high marks, not by drawing cakes for them, nor by calculating how to answer the questionnaire. It is to make them feel that at this moment, even in this damn exam, they are not living for the Sect, but for themselves."

Her eyes, which were usually cold, now had a touch of piercing clarity, stabbing directly into the bottom of Shen Xingzhou's heart.

"You used to be a capitalist, now you have to learn to be a person."

Shen Xingzhou was silent.

He looked at the progress bar on the System panel that was constantly simulating but could not come up with a "perfect solution," and suddenly reached out and swiped in the Void Realm.

"System, stop the simulation."

He raised his head, the calculation and coldness in his eyes faded, replaced by an unprecedented sincerity.

"I won't rehearse anymore."

Shen Xingzhou turned around, facing all the Disciples of Hengchuan Peak, and said loudly: "Everyone listen carefully. For the next satisfaction assessment, I do not allow you to lie, nor do I allow you to fill out the form against your will to take care of my Face. If you want to scold, scold; if you want to complain, complain. Whatever the Heavenly Dao asks, and whatever you think in your heart, just answer that way."

The Disciples were stunned and looked at each other.

"But Senior Brother, that way our score will be very low..." someone reminded in a low voice.

"So what if the score is low?" Shen Xingzhou laughed, laughing somewhat freely. "The score is for the Heavenly Court to see, but the days are for us to live. If the people of our Hengchuan Peak don't even dare to tell the truth, then what is the point of getting one hundred in satisfaction?"

"And," Shen Xingzhou paused, his eyes sweeping over everyone, "I, Shen Xingzhou, promise here that as long as we are not eliminated this time, everyone's benefits will be doubled later. No matter how you scold me in the questionnaire, I acknowledge these benefits."

The crowd was silent for a moment.

Then, the Junior Brother who had been bowing his head and avoiding the camera tentatively raised his head. His tense shoulders slowly relaxed, and a real, slightly silly smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"That's more like it... I just said you were too stingy, Senior Brother. Since it's doubled, then I'll leave you some Face."

"Actually, I also think those few waste Spirit Stones are quite heavy. Can you equip us with a Storage Pouch?"

"And the food! It's all vegetarian! I want to eat meat!"

The originally oppressive and dull atmosphere suddenly felt like a punctured balloon, and the hustle and bustle unique to "Hengchuan Peak," full of the flavor of life, returned.

[System Real-time Monitoring]

Detected internal resentment value: Decreased by 20% (converted into venting complaints).

Detected mental stress value: Significantly relieved.

Detected trust in management: Increased again.

Evaluation: Since resentment cannot be eliminated, let the resentment be "legitimized." This is not just management; this is "empathy."

Shen Xingzhou looked at the true expressions on the Faces of the Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters and let out a long breath.

"Satisfaction, huh..." he muttered to himself, "So this is something that cannot be quantified."

But this feeling seemed to be much more solid than looking at that perfect resource utilization report.