Lighting Lanterns in the Mountains and Seas

He could already foresee how every payday would inevitably cause headaches, with the brothers' grievances accumulating month by month, just thinking about it made his scalp numb.

Waking up from nightmares repeatedly because of debts, can a monk imagine such a thing happening to him?

Even he, a person like this, couldn't help but start cursing Shi Chun's ancestors, isn't it bad enough for us all to be paid poorly together, why make such a comparison.

He also didn't know how the Sect could help him complete his task this time.

"If you fail to complete the task, as your Domain Master might say, pardon as needed, demote as needed!"

Huang Xinghe suddenly raised his voice, speaking decisively.

But then his tone turned gentle, "Of course, if there's punishment, there will be rewards. The first one to complete the task will be awarded the three-year Sandalwood Gold mining rights of Yanfu State!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was moved, especially the craftsmen and stewards responsible for building the cities, who were in an uproar.

Not to mention others, even Shi Chun and his group knew what the mining rights of Yanfu State meant.

As the name suggests, it's the right to go to the Sandalwood Gold producing area to mine.

Yanfu State is located in the Nanshan Realm; this place is unlike others, reportedly shaped like an ancient tree spanning the starry sky, actually formed by flowing sand, not metaphorical flowing sand, but sand that truly flows like water, unknown where it comes from or where it goes.

The Sandalwood Gold used by everyone usually originated from that flowing sand, sifted out by resourceful people.

Though this treasure land is within the Nanshan Realm, it is jointly managed by the Heavenly Court and the Four Great Royal Courts because it's a treasure land.

The joint management is naturally to prevent one party from monopolizing it, although the Nanshan Royal Court is unwilling, there's no choice; such gigantic interests being hogged will surely lead the other four to join forces against you.

To avoid chaotic and unregulated mining, to prevent disorder, they established mining rights, and the forces united to draft this concept.

A single mining right allows one hundred people to enter Yanfu State and mine for three years; no matter how much they extract, they can take it away.

Due to the randomness of mining, with frequent fluctuations in output, the five significant forces took the easy route through auctioning the mining rights with a minimum price guaranteed through banks, and profited without effort.

Obtaining this mining right equates to diving into a heap of money; hence it's no wonder everyone is moved.

Those who previously thought the tasks issued by the Heavenly Court were too harsh, upon seeing such rewards, realized the difficulty was proportional to the reward, and had nothing more to say.

Seeing the reward had stunned everyone present, Huang Xinghe smiled slightly and said, "A three-year daunting task exchanged for three years of Sandalwood Gold mining rights. The Heavenly Court offers such substantial rewards because the newly founded Heavenly Domain urgently needs funds. Everyone must treasure it!"

Those craftsmen and stewards and some ignorant individuals naturally took it all seriously.

Only Shi Chun and others, who had recently understood the difficulty of population introduction, including Manxi, were not happy at all; upon hearing this absurd reward, they knew it was just a way to silence the public.

The reward indeed was substantial; the key was that no one could achieve it, because introducing one billion people in three years was almost an impossible task,

In other words, there was never any intention to give them rewards.

Manxi's gloomy face showed no loosening; Huang Xinghe knew he was the villain and left after handing over the heavenly edict to Manxi.

Manxi didn't bother to act, coldly smiled, "Brother Huang, have a safe journey!"

The sarcastic tone was evident, even carrying a hint of the threat to watch and see.

To him, the other party had cut off all paths, not only declaring the decree but depriving him of his right to argue.

In a fit of anger, he didn't even bother to see him off, nor did he summon anyone to escort.

A group of craftsmen leaders sensed something was amiss, but before they could ask more, Manxi directly dispersed them.

After everyone else was gone, Manxi faced a group of commanders under him, their positions irrelevant now; they were all unlucky, staring at each other wide-eyed.

Previously, the hatred Manxi felt towards Shi Chun because of the payday issues was now dissipating.

Though unlucky themselves, Shi Chun and his peers felt a certain schadenfreude, suppressing their laughter.

"Does anyone have a good plan for introducing a population?" Manxi couldn't help but ask, seeing no reply he focused on Dongguo Shou, wanting to say the Carefree Sect must have a good method to assist right? Hoping to share.

But the words were swallowed before saying, unnecessary to speak out loud, once spoken it becomes pointless.

Looking at Shi Chun and his group again, ultimately unable to utter even two encouraging words about the task, knowing he had become a joke, turned around, and flew away.

The followers brought by Manxi also quietly flew away after him.

On the scene, the four commanders were left looking at each other.

"Everyone, we shall meet again." Dongguo Shou broke the silence to bid farewell.

Shi Chun laughed, "Brother Dongguo is really carefree, with the Carefree Sect backing you up, such a task is naturally a breeze."

Dongguo Shou smiled bitterly, "Brother Chun, please don't joke about a billion people, it's not a billion Sandalwood Gold, even the Carefree Sect can't produce a billion people, I guess my Sect doesn't even know the Heavenly Court would pull this trick."

Shi Chun said, "No matter what hand the Heavenly Court plays, it won't affect you. I went out last time to inquire; if you were Domain Master, the Carefree Sect might not preserve your position, but keeping your Commander's position is still assured. Brother Dongguo, should my brothers fall into despair one day and seek you out, we hope not to be despised!"

"Just joking. I shall head back, must report this to the Sect promptly." Dongguo Shou used his single arm to cover his chest and respectfully bowed before flashing away.

The three of Mingshan Sect watched him go, Wu Jinliang spat a mouthful of saliva and cursed, "Damn, not a single good thing. Before the battle, they talked better than they sang, tricked us into fighting hard and grabbing tokens, and now after crossing the river, they dismantled the bridge immediately. That fool Manxi, well, here comes trouble, thought of a great way to screw himself too; if I were him, I'd bash my head in to apologize."

This city happened to be his Northern territory.

Shi Chun sighed, "Blaming Manxi is useless, even without his rotten idea, they would've come up with another one."

Tong Mingshan silently said, "Three years, a billion population, is it possible to complete?"

Shi Chun laughed self-deprecatingly, previously hoping the red-clothed woman's uncle would provide a good method, now he truly had no hope.

Tong Mingshan did not give up easily and mused, "If nothing works, we three can assist one entity to complete the task, save at least one entity."

Shi Chun bitterly laughed at him, "Sect Leader Tong, we have no power, no background; at thirty million we didn't expect all three families to complete."

Wu Jinliang said, "Brothers, since we have taken five years of salary, let's disperse the people, let them figure out ways to bring people in however many they can; we'll reward based on merit afterward."

Shi Chun sighed, "Now, we can only try that along the way."

The majestic and grand Domain Master Mansion is built like a fairyland, Spiritual Energy lingering.

Back in the mansion, Manxi smashed things, with a crashing heap, finally shouting self-deprecatingly to the dissuading Mo Hei, "See that, those people are clever, realizing the odds of winning the Battle of Great Pardon are unpredictable, unwilling to lose face, considering desolate lands to cultivate; the capable ones are lazy, now that the legendary Spirit Vein has recovered, immediately bringing forth tricks, a group of dogs shamelessly carelessly eat that way. It's not over; you keep the house, I'm heading to the Heavenly Capital!"