Over the next few days, Yun Jin kept a close eye on Shi Li and the others, wondering if they would try some underhanded tricks behind her back.
Yet the result was surprising.
Every single one of them acted unnaturally obedient. Whatever she ordered, they complied without complaint. Hand over resources? They handed them over. Make restitution? They complied. No matter what she arranged, they followed dutifully.
Yun Jin never believed for a moment that they had truly bowed their heads.
Their obedience reeked of a hidden scheme. Without a doubt, Zhai Ge had given them secret instructions. And when it came to Zhai Ge, Elder of Qingxiao Pavilion, Yun Jin always assumed the worst. Behind such docile behavior, something was brewing.
Still, she was in no hurry. Yun Jin had come here with a plan in mind.
In the first batch of Wushuang Sect disciples, not a single sect disciple had been included. The second and third batches would likely be the same.
These so-called sect elites were too deeply indoctrinated by Qingxiao Pavilion. That force poured every effort into roping them in as its chosen upper class.
Perhaps in the future, Yun Jin might win over a few from that stratum.
But not now.
Her focus would be on loose cultivators and cultivators from the Imperials. Those were the ones most likely to join Wushuang Sect, and the ones who could become a fighting force in the shortest time.
Of course, if Yun Jin advertised the existence of the disciple dorms and the Trial Tower to the outside world, she could draw countless people eager to improve their strength.
But she did not want disciples who cared only about profit.
For now, she would keep those heaven-defying structures secret. Only those who passed her scrutiny and officially joined Wushuang Sect would ever know of them.
Her reason for coming to Mingxin Hall this time was simple: she wanted to see whether there were loose cultivators here worth recruiting. If she could win over one group, word would spread from mouth to mouth, drawing even more people.
Then, Wushuang Sect might truly have a chance at breaking into the ranks of the super sects.
These thoughts she kept to herself. She treated the loose cultivators fairly but offered no special promises, leaving room for further observation.
During these days, Yun Jin carried out a sweeping reorganization of Mingxin Hall.
She showed no favoritism toward loose cultivators or sect disciples. She merely set down rules to ensure fairness for all.
And that alone moved the loose cultivators to the point of tears.
Even the sect disciples showed no outward discontent.
Thus five days passed.
Then Zhai Ge came to her.
"Hall Master," Zhai Ge began, bowing slightly. "Our intelligence division has gathered new information. Just as Hall Master said, the demonic forces have indeed run rampant. This is because of my incompetence, and for that, I am deeply ashamed."
He paused, then smiled faintly. "But now that Hall Master is here, young yet with strength that pierces the heavens, these demons will surely be crushed beneath your hand."
His flattery dripped like honey, neither too much nor too little.
Yun Jin regarded him with a half-smile. "Get to the point."
Zhai Ge's tone became solemn. "At present, there are several missions of great difficulty that require Mahayana strength to lead. Including Hall Master, Mingxin Hall has four Mahayana-level powers. The details are here. Please, Hall Master, assign them."
He offered her a jade slip.
Yun Jin scanned its contents and arched a brow.
Four Mahayana experts. But the jade slip listed sixteen missions that all required Mahayana participation.
She looked up slowly.
Zhai Ge lowered his head and said, "The backlog of missions has indeed grown. That is my failure. Hall Master may punish me as you see fit. Yet I have already reflected. These tasks must be resolved quickly, or the common people will continue to suffer. It is time we shoulder responsibility and contribute to the world. I ask that Hall Master lead the way."
Yun Jin's lips curved into a smile.
How amusing.
His incompetence was undeniable. But rather than argue, he admitted fault and even wore an expression of righteous submission.
The meaning was clear.
He had erred. He would accept punishment.
But Yun Jin had spoken boldly before. The mess was now hers to clean up. If she failed, then she too would be branded incompetent.
Closing the jade slip, Yun Jin said coolly, "The backlog truly is excessive. Vice Hall Master Zhai, your incompetence knows no bounds."
Zhai Ge bowed deeply. "This subordinate is indeed incompetent. But for the sake of the people, I beg Hall Master to make her decision swiftly."
Yun Jin narrowed her eyes.
Sixteen missions.
Each with Mahayana-level demons to face.
And each spread across different regions.
One by one, they could be completed, but the strain would be immense.
Zhai Ge pressed his advantage, face filled with upright concern. "The demonic scourge torments the people every hour. Hall Master, we must act quickly."
Yun Jin suddenly laughed. "Vice Hall Master Zhai, you truly do hold the world in your heart. Since demonic forces plague our territory, it falls to us of Mingxin Hall to eradicate them. These sixteen tasks can be divided into four regions. You and I are the strongest, so we will shoulder more. These five missions for you. These five for me. The remaining six will be divided between Hong Ye and Shi Li. What do you think?"
Zhai Ge glanced at the distribution and was momentarily surprised. He had expected her to deliberately make things difficult for him, perhaps assigning him impossible, far-flung tasks. If she had, he was ready with an excuse.
But her arrangement showed no hint of pettiness. It was logical, based on strength and distance, the most reasonable allocation possible.
Unable to find fault, Zhai Ge nodded.
It did not matter. These missions were merely the appetizer.
The real killing move would come after.
"Since Vice Hall Master Zhai has agreed, call Shi Li and Hong Ye. Let them each select their people to lead," Yun Jin said calmly.
Zhai Ge complied.
Soon, news spread: Mingxin Hall was clearing its backlog of missions.
All five hundred twenty-five members were gathered. Their cultivation levels varied widely. Not all could join high-difficulty missions, but Mingxin Hall had accumulated countless lower ones as well.
For missions involving Mahayana demons, those were ranked S-class at minimum. Participants needed at least Divine Transformation strength.
When it came time to choose, Hong Ye and Shi Li each had their own longstanding factions.
But this time, Zhai Ge suddenly proposed, "Hall Master, I have reflected these past days. The strife between sect disciples and loose cultivators runs deep, in no small part because they always worked separately, never forming bonds as comrades. This time, why not mix them? Scatter sect disciples and loose cultivators into different squads, let them fight side by side. Perhaps then, unity will grow."
Yun Jin's gaze sharpened as she looked at him.