138: Chapter 138: V2.0 Mergers and Acquisitions Panel Appears for the First Time

Late at night, most of the candles in the Council Hall of Hengchuan Peak had been extinguished, leaving only a solitary lamp flickering in the corner.

Shen Xingzhou sat alone at the desk, toying with the Sect Head token that symbolized the "Reform Pilot Program." The cold jade rubbed against his fingertips, carrying a touch that felt unreal.

The noise of the day seemed to have faded, but the sense of crisis, like walking on thin ice, weighed on him like a boulder, making it hard to breathe. Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou's "separate handling," the undercurrents within the Elder Council, the public opinion storm outside... all the pressure converged on one point:

Not enough resources.

To support the big family of Hengchuan Peak, to maintain the "12% combat loss miracle" that had just gained a foothold, and to appease external expectations, the meager, dead resources granted by the Sect Head were simply a drop in the bucket. Reform required money, SOPs required Spirit Stones, and the pensions for the Disciples required hard cash.

Where would the money come from?

From the places where resources were being wasted.

Shen Xingzhou took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and awakened the newly upgraded System interface in his consciousness.

"System, open the V2.0 core functional module."

Following his command, the deep blue and gold interface unfolded silently in the darkness. Unlike the previous calmness and restraint, this time, the data stream on the System interface carried a chilling, metallic texture.

A striking pop-up window slowly rose before him, every word appearing as if engraved on an iron plate.

[New Module Unlocked: Merger Negotiation Panel]

Function Unlocked:

Peak Asset Perspective: Detect the true financial status, hidden debts, and spiritual reserves of all peaks under the Qingheng Sect.

Merger Index Assessment: Calculate the comprehensive cost-effectiveness of "annexing a certain peak" based on resource efficiency and political risk.

Plan Generator: Assist in generating "Hostile Takeover Proposals" or "Bankruptcy Liquidation Drafts" that comply with Sect regulations.

Special Note:

This module will directly interfere with the distribution of power within the Sect.

Using this module means declaring war.

"Declaring war, huh..."

Shen Xingzhou murmured, his fingers trembling slightly as he clicked the [Confirm Entry] button.

The screen changed, and the previously calm map of the entire Sect instantly transformed.

The icons representing each peak were no longer simple dots, but had turned into bar charts of different colors. Red represented deficits, green represented surpluses, and gray represented... Death Qi.

That was the first time Shen Xingzhou had viewed the Sect where he had cultivated for ten years through the lens of capital.

[Qingheng Sect Peaks · Merger Index Overview]

A. Lingxiao Sword Peak (Strong combat power, extremely high debt)

Current Status: Outwardly glamorous, but in reality, to maintain the "Face" of the "Number One Sword Peak," it had overdrawn the Sect's Spirit Stone quota for the next five years, incurring massive debt to the Internal Affairs Treasury.

Talent: Strong combat power, but management costs are extremely high, and extortion and corruption are severe.

Merger Index: Medium (Reason: Although there is plenty of meat, the bones are too hard. A forced merger is likely to trigger a bloody civil war, which is not worth the loss in the short term.)

B. Danxia Peak (Limited output, high resource consumption)

Current Status: Occupies the three best Spirit Medicine mountains in the Sect, but the success rate of Alchemy has been falling year after year. Elders embezzle funds, claiming "medicinal herbs are exhausted" to the outside world, while in reality, it is resource waste.

Risk: Involves the interest chains of multiple core Elders.

Merger Index: High (Reason: Output is significantly lower than expected, and a large amount of inefficient redundancy has accumulated. As long as their resource quota is cut, the Sect as a whole will be healthier.)

C. Luopo Peak (A certain unfinished peak, negative image)

Current Status: The Peak Master is obsessed with the ghost path, the Disciples are scattered, and the Spiritual Vein is exhausted. Not only does it have no output, but it also requires annual relief funding from the Sect; it is a bottomless pit.

Risk: Extremely low (No one wants to save it).

Merger Index: Extremely High (Reason: This is a necrotic piece of flesh. Excising it will not only stop the losses but also allow its assets (including land and remaining spirit mines) to be repackaged and utilized.)

Looking at this raw data, Shen Xingzhou felt a chill run down his spine.

He had originally thought that "restructuring" meant calling everyone together, teaching them how to keep accounts, how to schedule shifts, and how to use Spirit Stones sparingly. He thought this was a technical reform.

But this panel told him he was wrong.

Behind these cold Merger Indices lay bare plundering. This was not just about "keeping his own peak alive"; it was about dismantling other peaks, smashing others' rice bowls, dragging those once high-and-mighty Elders down from their positions, and using their flesh and blood to fill the holes in Hengchuan Peak and the entire Sect.

"Merger Index..."

Shen Xingzhou's gaze lingered on the [System Explanation], the line of text appearing like the tip of a scalpel:

"The Merger Index synthesizes the following two dimensions:

'How much can be saved by getting rid of it' (Economic benefit).

'How much scolding will be endured by getting rid of it' (Political cost).

System suggestion to the Host: Start with the targets with an 'Extremely High' index. This is the survival of the fittest in power, and it is also the optimal allocation of resources."

"Is this what optimal allocation is..." Shen Xingzhou's finger hovered over the "C. Luopo Peak" icon.

On that peak, there were still hundreds of Disciples. Although the reputation was bad, and the Peak Master was unreliable, those were still hundreds of living human lives. Once merged, or to put it more bluntly—annexed—those Disciples not suited for the new System would be eliminated, the Elders would be dismissed, and their original way of life would be completely shattered.

This was the boundary between "saving lives" and "killing."

He had saved the people of Hengchuan Peak to let them live. But if he continued to use this set of tools in his hands, it would turn into a sickle that harvested other people's lives.

"System, generate a... merger draft."

Shen Xingzhou's voice was somewhat dry. He knew there was no turning back. If he didn't annex others, the Sect would die. If the Sect died, Hengchuan Peak wouldn't survive either.

[Calling document template...]

Document Draft Title:

《Proposal for Compulsory Asset Restructuring and Management Trusteeship of Luopo Peak (Draft)》

Core Content:

Asset Assessment: This peak is insolvent, with a credit rating of D, belonging to non-performing assets.

Debt Restructuring Suggestion: Freeze all Spirit Stone reserves of this peak, to be taken over by the Sect liquidation team.

Resettlement of Original Management: The Peak Master and core Elders are to be suspended for investigation, and a Commissioner will be dispatched to take over.

Retention and Compensation of Disciples:

Through SOP testing, they will be diverted to Hengchuan Peak or other departments lacking personnel;

For those who do not pass, they will be given severance pay, demoted to miscellaneous laborers, or expelled from the Sect.

Looking at the words "suspended for investigation" and "expelled from the Sect," Shen Xingzhou felt his stomach churning. Is this the business logic of the Immortal Realm? Using the most elegant words to do the most ruthless things.

The words on the interface were still flickering, as if urging him to make a decision.

Immediately after, the [Risk Warning] column below turned into glaring red text.

[Risk Warning: Cost of Submission]

If the Host formally submits this merger proposal to the Elder Council:

Hostile Backlash: The hostility of the Elders of the merged peak (and their cronies) towards the Host will be directly maxed out to the "Death Enemy" level.

Internal Confrontation: Elders of other peaks will develop a panic of "when the lips are gone, the teeth are cold," internal factions will accelerate their confrontation, and there may even be assassination attempts against the Host.

Image Label: Your reputation in the Immortal Realm will undergo a qualitative change.

Current: Reformer, Demon Race Senior Brother

Future: Institutional Butcher, Internal Vampire of the Sect

"Institutional Butcher..."

Shen Xingzhou looked at this new label and suddenly laughed. The laughter sounded exceptionally eerie in the empty room.

Compared to "Demon Race," perhaps "Butcher" suited him better. Demon Race is lineage, Butcher is a profession. In this man-eating world, only a butcher can survive and protect the people he wants to protect.

He slowly stretched out his hand, not clicking submit, but choosing [Save Draft].

Now was not the time. If he submitted it now, that "separate handling" collar would be placed around his neck at any moment. He needed to wait for an opportunity, a moment where everyone would be forced to nod and admit that "this is the only way."

Shen Xingzhou turned off the panel.

Darkness once again enveloped the room. But he knew that some things could never go back. What he held in his hand was no longer just an abacus and an account book, but a blade that had just been forged and was still warm with body heat.

On the bottom bar of the System interface, a line of gloomy small text slowly emerged on his retina, like a whisper from Hell:

"Don't be fooled by that golden light of 'Reformer.'

This set of V2.0 tools in your hands,

Is both a life-saving scalpel,

And a bone-dismantling butcher's knife.

And you,

No longer have the qualification to put it down."