199: Chapter 199: Heading Towards Central Continent

The morning at Qingheng Sect was devoid of the usual melodious morning bells, replaced instead by a chaotic yet vibrant sound of busy activity.

The plaza of Hengchuan Peak was piled high with bags and luggage of all sizes. Spiritual Plants were uprooted and packed into flowerpots, the Pill Furnace was wrapped in straw ropes like a zongzi, and even the iron wok in the kitchen, used for frying dishes for decades, was carried out by several Utility Disciples who were debating whether to bring it along.

Shen Xingzhou stood on the high platform of the plaza, facing this mess, and activated the System's "Sect Migration Packaging" function.

[Function Activated: Sect Migration Packaging Module]

Scanning in progress... Asset classification in progress:

1. Spiritual Vein Resources:

Main Peak Spiritual Vein: Cannot be migrated (Foundation-level resource, cannot be detached)

Reserve Spirit Stones: Migratable (Packed, 100% capacity)

Spiritual Liquid Reserves: Migratable (Encapsulated, handle with care)

2. Building Assets:

Scripture Pavilion (Main Body): Dismantling and reconstruction value: Low (Recommend abandoning/keeping the empty shell)

Artifact Refining Room: Dismantling and reconstruction value: Medium (Core equipment already dismantled)

Disciple Dormitories: Recommend abandoning (Central Continent real estate costs are lower than transport costs)

3. Human Resources (Core Assets):

Core Team: Binding rate 100% (Shen Xingzhou, Peak Master Luo Qingyi, Senior Sister Xie Handeng, Su Ciyao, Wen Xi)

General Staff (Disciples): "Central Continent Dispatch Labor Contract (Draft)" signed

Outsourced Partners: Some members of the Loose Cultivator Alliance (Proposed to be converted to temporary workers)

Shen Xingzhou looked at the "Recommend abandoning" building tags on the list and sighed slightly. This was not just moving house; this was a complete asset liquidation. What the Qingheng Sect left behind were nothing but empty shells.

"Deacon Shen! Should we bring that stone lion?"

A Disciple below shouted while carrying a half-person-tall stone, "This was picked up from the foot of the mountain by our founding Ancestral Master, they say it's a treasure that suppresses the mountain!"

The System instantly provided an appraisal:

[Item: Unknown Broken Stone (Aesthetic Value 5 / Practical Value 0)]

Suggestion: Throw it away. The stone content in the Central Continent is higher than this, and the transport capacity wasted is 0.5 Spirit Stone kilometers.

"Throw it away." Shen Xingzhou waved his hand ruthlessly, "We are going to the Central Continent to work, not to collect junk. Clean the medicinal dregs out of that Pill Furnace, don't dirty the Cloud Carriage."

With Shen Xingzhou's order, the packing work at Hengchuan Peak came to an end. Next was an even more important step—personnel restructuring.

This trip to the Central Continent would not be a motley crew of extras, but a tightly structured company.

Shen Xingzhou pulled up the System interface and pointed to the "Employment Letters" that had just been printed.

[System Announcement: Qingheng Sect (Central Continent Pilot) Organizational Structure Adjustment]

1. Lingjian Combat Division (Formerly the team merged from Lingjian Peak)

Positioning: Vanguard / Execution Layer

Responsibilities: As the first batch to enter the Central Continent, responsible for undertaking the "dirty and tiring work" assigned by the Central Continent, exchanging combat power for Early Stage resources.

Note: You are newcomers and also the litmus test; the casualty rate is expected to be high.

The young deacon from Lingjian Peak stepped out with his brothers, and not a single one retreated. They accepted the appointment letters in unison, their eyes filled with a fierce determination.

"Understood! We are going to the Central Continent to show those pampered big shots whether or not we border soldiers are easy to bully."

2. Hengchuan Peak R&D and Management Center

Positioning: Brain / Decision-making Layer

Core Position Appointments:

Senior Sister Xie Handeng: Head of Combat and Law Enforcement Department

*Responsibilities*: Whoever dares to touch our ledgers, chop them; whoever dares to owe us money and not pay, also chop them.

Su Ciyao: Brand and Public Relations Director

*Responsibilities*: Package the Qingheng Sect as the "only conscientious enterprise in the cultivation world," responsible for bragging in the Central Continent social circle.

Wen Xi: Data and Risk Control Director

*Responsibilities*: Keep an eye on every contract in the Central Continent, ensuring we sign "cooperation agreements" and not "indentured servitude contracts."

Senior Sister Xie Handeng looked at the appointment letter with the words "Head" printed on it and curled her lips: "Flashy. Isn't it just being the leader?"

"This is called professional management, Deacon Xie." Su Ciyao snatched the appointment letter from her and playfully helped pin it to her chest, "In the future, when we go out to talk business, you will be 'Director Xie.' Don't just draw your sword; you need to have a 'business vibe'."

"Business my foot." Senior Sister Xie Handeng snorted, but still stuffed the appointment letter into her bosom, patting it firmly, "Anyway, it's yours truly covering you all."

Wen Xi didn't speak, just silently hugged her abacus and ledger, her eyes already calculating the travel expenses to the Central Continent and the first batch of startup capital.

Just as the main force was ready to set off, a hunched figure stood quietly at the mountain gate.

Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai did not bring any luggage. He wore that washed-white old Daoist robe, leaning on the law enforcement wooden staff that had been polished to a shine.

Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou stood beside him, and the two old men were like two silent boundary markers.

"Elder Lu, are you really not coming?" Shen Xingzhou walked over and asked softly.

Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai shook his head, and that face, which always looked like it hadn't woken up, revealed a rare seriousness at this moment.

"This old bone of mine can't handle the tossing. Besides..." He glanced at the young Disciples who were excitedly chattering, "If you all leave, the incense of the Qingheng Sect cannot be cut off. Someone must stay behind to leave a lamp for those children who want to come home."

As he spoke, Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai raised his wooden staff and knocked heavily on the void three times.

"Thud."

"Thud."

"Thud."

The dull sound echoed in the valley, not like a decree of the Daoist Sect, but more like some older, more rustic oath.

"Go." Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai withdrew his staff, "Go and poke a hole in the sky. If you lose... remember to come back, I'll collect your corpses."

Shen Xingzhou's eyes grew hot, and he bowed deeply.

A new line of tags slowly appeared on the System interface above Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai's head:

[Character Role Update: Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai]

Status: Staying behind

Position: Mountain-Protecting Elder

Function: The anchor of the Qingheng Sect in the Nine Provinces. As long as he is here, this place is home.

After saying goodbye to the old man staying behind, Shen Xingzhou turned around and looked into the depths of the main hall. There was the secret passage leading to the Yellow Springs Backend.

At this moment, there was no one there, only a piece of parchment floating quietly.

[Yellow Springs Backend · Audit Office]

File: "Qingheng Sect War Debt Liquidation Pilot Summary Report"

Status: Audit Passed

Note:

Sample survival rate exceeded expectations.

Reform logic has promotion value (Risk: Extremely High).

Enter the next stage of observation: Central Continent Pilot.

*Postscript: Since you survived in the quagmire, go try the water depth in the ocean.*

That invisible hand from the netherworld silently stamped a bright red seal. It was recognition of their past and expectations for the future.

"Set off!"

With Shen Xingzhou's order, the five slightly dilapidated Cloud Carriages on the plaza outside the mountain gate roared to life.

These Cloud Carriages were not any immortal Magic Treasures, but second-hand goods that Shen Xingzhou bought at a low price from a neighboring province, even carrying the "Good Fortune" stickers left by the previous owner. But at this moment, in the eyes of the Disciples, this was the ark to the new world.

[Vehicle Formation Confirmed]

QHZ-01 (Command Vehicle):

Personnel: Shen Xingzhou, Peak Master Luo Qingyi, Sect Leader Ning Chenzhou

Cargo: Core Ledgers, War Debt Bureau Deferred Stamp

QHZ-02 (Vanguard Vehicle):

Personnel: Lingjian Combat Division (50 people)

Armed Rank: High

QHZ-03 (Supply Vehicle):

Cargo: Spirit Stones, Medicinal Pills, Su Ciyao's full set of cosmetics

QHZ-04, 05 (Personnel Vehicles):

Personnel: Hengchuan Peak Core Disciples and Utility Disciples

Full Load Rate: 120% (A bit crowded, but saves money)

The Disciples were carrying big and small bags, noisy and pushing to get on. Some even stuffed their family chickens into cages and brought them onto the carriage, saying they had to eat hometown flavors when they arrived in the Central Continent.

"Squeeze in! Move inside!"

"Get your foot away! You stepped on my Spirit Stone bag!"

"Oh my, my chicken! Don't let it poop on the carriage roof!"

Amidst the noise, the five Cloud Carriages spat out unstable cyan tail flames and wobbled as they lifted off the ground.

Shen Xingzhou stood on the bow of the QHZ-01 vehicle, watching the Qingheng Sect getting further and further away beneath his feet. Those familiar peaks, those dilapidated halls, the poverty and despair he once thought he could never escape, were all gradually shrinking into black dots.

"System, start map navigation."

As the Cloud Carriage accelerated, the void in front was torn apart, and the System interface abruptly unfolded, covering the entire field of vision.

[Navigation Mode: Nine Provinces -> Central Continent]

Estimated time: 7 days

The perspective on the map began to zoom out rapidly. First from the Qingheng Sect, then to the edge of the entire Nine Provinces, and then to the vast sea of clouds.

The Nine Provinces was just a dusty corner on the map.

And ahead, was a dazzling, golden continent—the Central Continent.

Just as the Cloud Carriage fleet rushed out of the border of the Nine Provinces and entered the chaotic cloud sea passage, Shen Xingzhou felt a strange gaze.

It wasn't the greed of the War Debt Bureau, nor the helplessness of Lord Bai Heng.

It was a higher-dimensional, absolutely rational overlooking gaze.

Above the System map, in the originally pitch-black Universe background, a huge, pale golden ring suddenly appeared. It circled outside the three thousand Major Thousand Worlds of the entire cultivation world, like a huge eye, slowly opening.

That was... the Ring of Judgment.

Lord Bai Heng's words echoed in Shen Xingzhou's ears: "Some debts are settled on the Ring of Judgment."

At this moment, that light representing the final judgment was piercing through layers of the Void Realm, locking onto this dilapidated Cloud Carriage fleet. It was like a god looking at a group of ants trying to move a sugar cube.

Shen Xingzhou gripped the railing, facing that gaze from beyond the sky, without bowing his head.

The last line of words on the System interface looked particularly dazzling under the radiance of the Ring of Judgment, yet carried a chilling anticipation.

[New map loading...]

[Welcome to: The chessboard shared by multi-party shareholders.]

[Wish you, a pleasant game.]