61: The disciples should go down the mountain and wreak havoc on the Central Plains.

Days passed by, one by one.

Ever since the Hidden God Sect unified the Eastern Wasteland, the Fallen Mountain Range had become the most... boring place in the entire Eastern Wasteland.

The Sects at the foot of the mountain were now more well-behaved than anyone.

Forget about coming to provoke; even if they were just passing by the foot of the mountain, they would first have to burn incense, bathe, and kowtow three times before leaving, for fear of disturbing the immortals on the mountain.

This led to a very serious problem.

There were no fights to be had.

No opportunities to show off.

No wool to pluck.

Li Daoxuan slumped in his rocking chair, looking at his equally idle Disciples in the courtyard, a deep sense of worry welling up in his heart.

Xiao Chen was holding that "fruit knife" capable of splitting mountains and was... peeling an apple.

Shi Tian was lying on Da Huang's soft belly, rubbing the dog's head while belching.

Leng Yanran and Su Mo, two Demonic Path big shots, were squatting in a corner, focused intently on... cricket fighting.

As for Ye Fan, he was giving an ideological and political lesson to those hundred thousand "reform-through-labor prisoners," teaching them how to farm scientifically and increase radish yields.

The entire Sect was permeated with the "salted fish" aura of an early retirement lifestyle.

"No!"

"Absolutely not!"

Li Daoxuan suddenly sat up from his rocking chair.

"Life lies in movement; cultivation lies in stirring things up!"

"If the Disciples all lie flat, where am I going to pluck wool? Won't my Ten-Thousand-Fold Return System grow weeds?"

For the sustainable development of the Hidden God Sect.

For his future Immortal Artifacts and divine techniques.

Li Daoxuan decided he had to find something for this bunch of salted fish to do.

"Meeting!"

With one command.

The five Disciples, currently in their "sage time," listlessly shuffled into the main hall.

"Revered Master, what is it now?" Shi Tian rubbed his eyes, looking like he hadn't fully woken up. "Is someone here to deliver their head again?"

"Deliver my foot!"

Li Daoxuan, frustrated by their lack of ambition, poked their heads one by one with his finger.

"Look at yourselves now! Every one of you so young, yet acting like retired old cadres!"

"Do you still have any of the vigor of youth?"

"Back when I was your age, I had long since..."

Li Daoxuan paused, thinking for a long time, only to realize that in his past life, he seemed to have been a shut-in too.

"Cough, cough. In short, I am very dissatisfied with your current state!"

He paced the hall with his hands behind his back, his tone heavy.

"The Eastern Wasteland is too small."

"This pond can no longer hold you few true dragons."

"A towering tree cannot grow in a greenhouse. You must go to a wider world, experience the wind and rain, and see the world."

Li Daoxuan stopped his pace, looking at the five Disciples with burning eyes, his voice suddenly rising:

"Therefore, I have decided!"

"From today onwards, all five of you, get the hell down the mountain for me!"

"Go to the Central Continent!"

"Go to that place where geniuses are as common as dogs and Saints are everywhere, and make a name for me!"

Silence.

A deathly silence.

The five Disciples looked at each other, their expressions not of excitement, but... "Revered Master, do you not want us anymore?" Shi Tian was the first to pull a long face, grabbing Li Daoxuan's leg. "Is it because I've been eating too much lately? I'll change! I'll only eat eight meals a day from now on!"

"Yeah, Revered Master!" Xiao Chen was also anxious. "The Central Continent is too dangerous! I heard that even Nascent Soul Old Ancestors can only guard the gates there! If we small Foundation Establishment cultivators go, aren't we just delivering ourselves like side dishes?"

Although Leng Yanran and Su Mo didn't speak, their eyes were also full of resistance.

What a joke.

In the Sect, they had food and drink, Revered Master's protection, and didn't have to care if the sky fell. Why give up such a divine life to go to the Central Continent and fight to the death with others?

Only a fool would go!

Ye Fan was more practical and asked directly: "Revered Master, going to the Central Continent... is there a salary? Are room and board included? Is there insurance and a pension?"

Li Daoxuan: "..."

Good grief.

I painstakingly nurtured you, and I ended up raising a nest of shut-ins?

Looking at these Disciples who refused to budge, he felt his blood pressure soaring.

It seemed he wouldn't succeed without using some trump cards.

"Cough, cough."

Li Daoxuan cleared his throat, his face hardening as he assumed the majesty of the head of the house.

"Do you think I'm discussing this with you?"

"This is an order!"

"You're going whether you like it or not!"

He looked at the still unmoved Disciples, gave a cold laugh, and pulled something out from his robe.

It wasn't some Emperor Weapon or divine technique.

It was an... account book.

"Xiao Chen."

Li Daoxuan flipped to the first page and read slowly:

"Three months since entry, consumed five bottles of Peerless Grade Marrow Cleansing Pills, three Heaven-rank Cultivation Techniques, one Emperor Weapon 'fruit knife'... converted to Low-Grade Spirit Stones, roughly... ten billion?"

Xiao Chen's face instantly turned pale.

"Shi Tian."

"One drop of Innate Creation Fluid, ten phoenix eggs, one Divine Artifact 'hoe'... You eat quite a lot, I'll give you a discount, let's say eight billion."

Shi Tian's legs began to tremble.

"Leng Yanran, Su Mo, Ye Fan..."

With every name Li Daoxuan read, someone's face turned a shade whiter.

After finishing, he closed the account book and looked at the five Disciples, who were on the verge of tears, with a smile.

"I'm not some kind of monster."

"You can pay this debt back slowly."

"However, the Sect's finances have been a bit tight lately. Starting tomorrow, all supplies of spiritual fruits, Medicinal Pills, and Yao Beast meat are suspended."

"Supplies will resume only when you go to the Central Continent and earn back this debt for me."

"What?!"

Shi Tian was the first to break down.

"Revered Master! Cutting off supplies? How is that any different from taking my life?!"

"I don't care! I'm not leaving! I'll just die in the Sect!"

The kid started throwing a tantrum on the floor.

Li Daoxuan didn't get angry either.

He just added faintly:

"Oh, right."

"The System also just issued a task."

"[Central Continent Check-in Task], must be completed by you Personal Disciples. If not completed, all snacks in the System Mall, including but not limited to 'Spicy Qilin Leg', 'Fried Phoenix Wing', 'Braised Kunpeng'..."

"Will all be taken off the shelves."

Boom!

This sentence was like a Nine Heavens divine thunder, striking hard upon the five Disciples' heads.

Especially Shi Tian.

His crying stopped abruptly; he looked as if his Soul had been sucked out, his eyes vacant as he slumped to the ground.

Spicy Qilin Leg... gone?

Fried Phoenix Wing... also gone?

Then what's the point of living?!

"I'll go!"

Shi Tian suddenly leaped up from the ground, his eyes tearful yet filled with an unprecedented determination.

"Revered Master! This Disciple has seen the light!"

"A towering tree cannot grow in a greenhouse!"

"For the future of the Sect! To not fail your expectations! This Disciple is willing to go to the Central Continent and turn it upside down!"

That righteous appearance made him look like a hero about to sacrifice himself.

Xiao Chen: "..."

Leng Yanran: "..."

This change was way too fast, wasn't it?

Whoever has food is the mother!

With Shi Tian taking the lead, the others couldn't hold out either.

After all, they all relied on Li Daoxuan's "feeding" to reach their current cultivation levels.

Cutting off supplies?

That was more painful than killing them.

"This Disciple is willing to go!" Xiao Chen sighed helplessly and cupped his fists.

"This Disciple obeys."

"Revered Master, can travel expenses be reimbursed?" Only Ye Fan was still making a final struggle.

"Get out!"

...After some threats and inducements.

The Hidden God Sect's "Central Continent Pioneer Group" was finally assembled.

Li Daoxuan looked at the five dejected Disciples in front of him, who looked like they were going to an execution ground, and nodded with satisfaction.

"That's more like it."

"Young people should go out and see more of the world."

He cleared his throat and began the final pre-battle mobilization.

"This trip to the Central Continent is long, and the hearts of men are treacherous."

"The five of you must be united and help each other."

"Xiao Chen is the Eldest Senior Brother, responsible for commanding."

"Leng Yanran is the Second Senior Sister, responsible for... finishing off enemies."

"Shi Tian is the Third Junior Brother, responsible for... eating and taking the blame."

"Ye Fan is the Fourth Junior Brother, thick-skinned and sturdy, responsible for being the meat shield."

"Su Mo is the Fifth Junior Brother, the youngest, so he'll be responsible for... shouting 'Senior Brother, save me!'"

After the division of labor, the five of them looked even more miserable.

How did this division of labor sound so unreliable?

"Alright, stop looking so gloomy."

Li Daoxuan saw their expressions and knew that just drawing big cakes wasn't enough; he had to give them something practical.

He waved his sleeve, preparing to get some "local specialties" for these children who were about to travel far.

"Before you set off, I will give you a few small gifts."

"I guarantee that once you reach the Central Continent, you'll be able to walk with your heads held high."