"Nonsense!" Xia Lengling fiercely flicked her purple sleeve and shouted angrily, "As an advisor in the Chen Long Army of the Gu Family in Heroic Spirit City, do you think I'm afraid of a mere third-stage Qi Refining good-for-nothing? Silence! If you don't leave now, don't blame the Chen Long Army for being ruthless!"

"Chen Long, form up! Charge!"

With her command, the squad of golden-armored cultivators behind her let out a low growl, their overwhelming battle intent rising, intimidating the artifact refiners so much that they didn't dare to breathe.

"Oh my, Fifth Sister-in-law, what a commanding presence you have!" Gu Feng exclaimed, leading Jiu Long and Manager Wu forward.

Xia Lengling turned her head, slightly surprised, then sneered, "So it's the good-for-nothing sequence of our Heroic Spirit City!"

Sensing the mockery in her words, Gu Feng didn't mind, leisurely fanning himself as he signaled to Manager Wu with his eyes.

Having worked with Gu Feng for many years, Manager Wu, though not telepathic with him, understood the tacit signal and immediately shouted to the hundred Chen Long Army soldiers behind Xia Lengling, "The first in the Heroic Spirit City sequence is here! As members of the Chen Long Army, why haven't you withdrawn your formation and come to pay your respects?"

Hearing this, Xia Lengling was displeased and turned angrily, "Without my command, who dares?"

The hundred golden-armored cultivators exchanged glances, feeling conflicted. On one side was the pampered first in the sequence, and on the other, their direct superior—offending either was not an option!

Damn it! You "immortals" fight, but don't drag us "mortals" into it!

They stood there, bewildered, not knowing what to do.

Manager Wu, experienced and shrewd, glanced at Gu Feng for approval. Seeing Gu Feng nod slightly with his eyes closed, he understood.

He slowly walked to Gu Feng's side, took out an item from his robe, raised it high for all to see, and shouted, "The Order of Heroic Spirit is here! Seeing this order is like seeing the City Lord himself! Why haven't you come to pay respects to our young master?"

The Order of Heroic Spirit!?

Xia Lengling was shocked, and looking at the hundred golden-armored Chen Long Army soldiers behind her, each was equally astonished. They immediately withdrew their formation and hurriedly bowed to Gu Feng, shouting, "We obey the sequence's decree!"

The over a thousand artifact refiners were now also awakened from their stupor, quickly bowing to Gu Feng, echoing, "Greetings to the sequence!"

Only Xia Lengling stood there dumbfounded, not knowing what to do.

"Bold Xia Clan!" Manager Wu shouted angrily, "As an advisor in the Chen Long Army of Heroic Spirit City, do you not know to pay respects when the Order of Heroic Spirit is present? Or do you intend to rebel? Kneel!"

Gu Feng almost laughed out loud at these words, not expecting Manager Wu to be so adept at turning the tables.

Seeing the Order of Heroic Spirit was like seeing the City Lord himself. The holder of this token could command all of Heroic Spirit City, a rule set by the Gu Family of Heroic Spirit City!

Slowly kneeling, Xia Lengling finally lowered her noble head, gritting her teeth, "Xia Lengling... obeys the sequence's decree!"

Cold sweat dripped from Xia Lengling. Despite her arrogance, she didn't dare to act rashly. Though she was unwilling and angry, she had to endure.

Fanning himself, Gu Feng smiled as he approached, gently helping Xia Lengling up, "No need for formalities, Fifth Sister-in-law. We're family, no need for such courtesy!"

Trembling as Gu Feng helped her up, Xia Lengling felt utterly humiliated.

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Once, this family good-for-nothing was merely a joke among her friends during idle chats, but now, she had to bow to Gu Feng.

Gu Feng took the opportunity to sneak a glance at the scenery within Xia Lengling's purple collar, secretly clicking his tongue.

In this world, female cultivators all practiced Qi Refining and nurturing their spirit, making it impossible to discern their true age from appearance.

Despite having a child, she maintained herself well, showing no signs of aging.

Meeting Xia Lengling's resentful gaze, Gu Feng awkwardly coughed twice and smiled, "Fifth Sister-in-law, this Artifact Crafting Department is my business. Bringing people to cause trouble is a bit inappropriate."

"Hmph! Gu Feng, you've set up a private army. As an advisor in the Chen Long Army, responsible for the order and security of Heroic Spirit City, I naturally have the right to investigate." Xia Lengling's face was full of disdain.

Gu Feng chuckled coldly, lightly fanning himself, "I've made a bet with the family elders. Didn't you know, Fifth Sister-in-law?"

"I've heard of it." Xia Lengling raised her chin arrogantly, "So what? I'm just doing my duty!"

"Very well! Very well indeed!"

Gu Feng laughed heartily, then suddenly turned serious, "In that case, I'll speak to my father tomorrow. Fifth Sister-in-law is so dutiful, he must reward you, or it wouldn't be fair, would it?"

Xia Lengling was momentarily speechless. She had come today with her subordinates purely for personal revenge, to vent her anger. If Gu Feng hadn't appeared, it would have been fine, but now that he had, she couldn't be too reckless.

Moreover, Gu Feng held the Order of Heroic Spirit, and her subordinates, being from the Chen Long Army, dared not offend him. Continuing this would not benefit her.

"Hmph! We're leaving!" Realizing the situation, Xia Lengling didn't say more, coldly snorting as she prepared to leave with her people.

"Hold on!"

Gu Feng spread his hands, sneering, "Fifth Sister-in-law, causing such a commotion and leaving just like that doesn't seem right, does it?"

"What do you want?" Xia Lengling paused and asked.

Ordering the corpse of the unfortunate artifact refiner outside to be brought in, Gu Feng pointed at him and then at the mess on the ground, extending his hand, "One artifact refiner lost, five hundred medium-grade spirit stones, various artifact refining materials and furnaces, one hundred medium-grade spirit stones. Fifth Sister-in-law, compensate before you leave!"

Xia Lengling nearly stumbled. After all this, Gu Feng was extorting her. Six hundred medium-grade spirit stones—her monthly salary in Heroic Spirit City was only fifteen hundred medium-grade spirit stones. This kid was ruthless!

Seeing her glaring, her purple robe fluttering without wind, Gu Feng knew she was angry and quickly hid behind Jiu Long, snatching the "Order of Heroic Spirit" from Manager Wu's hand and deliberately waving it in the air.

Facing Gu Feng's almost rogue-like coercion, Xia Lengling suppressed her anger. She had intended to give Gu Feng a show of power today, but ended up losing both face and soldiers.

She immediately took out a silk pouch from her robe, threw it to the ground in frustration, and turned to leave with the Chen Long Army.

As they took to the sky, Xia Lengling's cold voice echoed, "Gu Feng, a year is but a short time. When the time comes, I want to see how you handle yourself!"

Manager Wu stepped forward to pick up the pouch, using a trace of divine sense to check, and reported, "Young Master, there are six hundred and fifty medium-grade spirit stones inside."

Nodding, Gu Feng watched Xia Lengling and her group disappear into the distance, his gaze cold, "Take out six hundred spirit stones and deliver them to the family of the deceased artifact refiner, comforting them well. Distribute the rest to the injured cultivators."

Manager Wu bowed in acknowledgment.

Turning to look at the corpse on the ground, Gu Feng felt a wave of sadness.

In this vast world, the lives of the powerless were as insignificant as grass!

If not for his noble status and the protection of his City Lord father, his fate might have been the same.

Strength!

He desperately needed the strength to protect himself! Gu Feng felt an unprecedented sense of urgency!

His plans and ideas needed to be implemented as soon as possible!

With this in mind, he immediately led Jiu Long towards the inner courtyard of the Artifact Crafting Department, leaving the aftermath to Manager Wu.

***

The Artifact Crafting Department consisted of four divisions: the Technical Department, the Production Department, the Verification Department, and the Logistics Department.

The Technical Department was responsible for the design and conception of cultivation artifacts and tools, with 227 cultivators. They were provided with three pavilions for their work, and each artifact refiner received a monthly stipend of fifty medium-grade spirit stones.

The Production Department was responsible for implementing the designs developed by the Technical Department, producing samples, and mass production on schedule. It had 2,643 cultivators and two large workshops for production, with each receiving a monthly stipend of twenty medium-grade spirit stones.

The Verification Department was responsible for inspecting and correcting the samples produced by the Production Department, testing their practicality and safety. It had 94 cultivators and two pavilions for their work, with each receiving the same monthly stipend as the Production Department.

The Logistics Department managed the daily needs of over three thousand cultivators in the Artifact Crafting Department, procured various artifact refining materials, and handled tasks such as data collection and bookkeeping. It had over twenty cultivators, personally overseen by Manager Wu, with each receiving a monthly stipend of forty medium-grade spirit stones.

Aside from the Logistics Department, each of the other departments had a head, and Manager Wu, in addition to managing the Logistics Department, had oversight over the other three departments.

Such a massive expenditure, if not for the profitable loan business of the Loan Treasure Pavilion, would have been unsustainable even for Gu Feng's wealthy family.

Money had to be spent wisely, and technological development and production capacity were top priorities!

Gu Feng didn't mind these huge expenses at all.

***

Standing in the research room on the third floor of the Technical Department's pavilion, Gu Feng furrowed his brows.

The three department heads were so tense they didn't dare to breathe. In their understanding, someone of Gu Feng's status was high above them and wouldn't usually give them a second glance. Though their personal cultivation was low, they dared not underestimate him.

Moreover, they had witnessed Gu Feng's methods today, subduing the aggressive Xia Lengling and handling the deceased brother's affairs with care, unlike the other arrogant and unreasonable sequences of the Gu Family in Heroic Spirit City.

The three, from humble backgrounds, felt that Gu Feng treated them as "people."

Manager Wu had already dealt with the earlier incident and now stood respectfully by, waiting for Gu Feng's instructions.

"What do you think of this blueprint, gentlemen?" Gu Feng asked, sweeping his gaze over them.

The blueprint before them was drawn by Gu Feng a few days ago. Though rough, it conveyed the general idea.

The drawing depicted a palm-sized rectangular box, with annotations indicating the use of the "Mystic Light Mirror" formation for displaying images.

Jiu Long glanced at it, puzzled, "What is this strange thing?"

"A revolutionary artifact, I call it—Immortal Spirit Communication!" Gu Feng pointed to the blueprint, feeling a sense of pride.

This was his idea, using existing cultivation formation technology to mimic the smartphones of his previous life, creating a cultivation version of the "wireless mobile end"!