Chapter 903: I Want DingTalk (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

As the Southwest branch representative spoke, the room fell into a kind of silence, until someone from the Northeast branch let out a disdainful snort.

Qi Shan asked calmly, "What's the problem?"

The Northeast branch isn't afraid of Qi Yuanliang.

For them, Qi Yuanliang's "evil plot" was something they had only heard of but never seen, so they felt no real pain from it and naturally didn't fear it as much as other regions. When they were just observing the situation, they even thought the "evil plot" had been exaggerated.

Now living in seclusion behind the scenes, manipulating a mere woman to stir up trouble, even if she achieves some notable results, it will be greatly diminished within the Northeast branch. They don't believe Shen Tang can compete with a male lord, and Qi Yuanliang's manipulation of her is considered opportunistic.

If Qishan were truly given a male ruler, would things still turn out this way?

"Ha, nothing much. It's just laughable that heroes today lack yang energy, which is why the trend of yin prevailing over yang is becoming increasingly fierce. Otherwise, why would such heretical signs be spreading everywhere? You are all incompetent. If it were here or in Tianyuan, you would surely make them die when their power is weak! Especially in the southeast, that king has gone mad. Instead of eliminating heretics, he has created a crown princess, which only makes him a laughingstock. Yu Zhushe actually just watched as female rulers emerged in the northwest and southwest..."

Gu Chi couldn't help but roll his eyes, complaining that everyone in the Northeast branch had Alzheimer's. Had they forgotten that Qi Yuanliang's previous seven lords were all genuine men? And what was their fate? They were all killed by Qi Yuanliang in different ways.

It is clear that the ruler has little to do with men or women.

Qi Shan curled his lip: "I haven't seen any of your other abilities, but your skill in sucking up to Tianyuan is even better than your former head office. No matter how hard you try, your branch has still been lacking in quality over the past few years. What's the point of all this hard work?"

The Society of Gods has many branches.

Based on a broad geographical division, the society can be divided into five major branches and more than a dozen peripheral smaller branches, which generally follow the lead of the five major branches. If the Gods Society is regarded as a talent recruitment platform, the main competition among the various branches is for talent.

They frequently launch indiscriminate attacks on specific regions. This is because areas with abundant talent thrive, and prosperity attracts talent more readily. While members of the Pantheon can engage in verbal sparring within the Pantheon, outside of it, it's a matter of real combat between factions, plundering each other's lands, people, and wealth.

The Northwest branch has experienced a significant outflow of talent over the past few decades, showing a clear decline. The Northeast branch is in a slightly better position, but not by much. The Southeast and Southwest branches are also fiercely competing, engaging in both land and naval battles.

The "Tianyuan" mentioned by Qi Shan is actually the Central Branch of the Mainland, and it is said that the Inner Branch of the Gods' Association is also located here. In addition, with a relatively dense population and a lot of arable land, it has maintained a relatively leading position for most of the time, which is unshakeable.

The Northeast branch frequently engages in exchanges of interests with them.

With more interaction, feelings naturally deepened.

Unfortunately, being too close is also not good; during the diplomatic relations between the two countries, many outstanding young talents were drawn away.

Qi Shan deliberately targeted the person's weak point, striking at their vital spot. If they weren't both phantoms, separated by countless miles in reality, they would likely have drawn their swords and fought to the death. The black-clad warrior watched as the head of the Northeast branch clamored for murder, cursing and swearing, constantly spewing accusations that Qi Shan supported Shen Tang because of his lowly birth and his connections with the powerful, and that he was flattering and inviting trouble.

The black-clad warrior was dumbfounded beneath his mask.

She gently tugged at Yu Hai's sleeve: "Is it always like this?"

Yu Hai retorted, "What do you mean, 'like this'?"

The black-clad warrior hesitated, then continued, "Is it really that noisy? This is such foul language! Aren't all those who join the Gods' Guild supposed to be elites, nobles, powerful officials, and kings? They shouldn't be resorting to such vulgar street swearing..."

It's basically just street swearing.

The Northeast branch accused Qi Shan of stealing someone else's identity to gild her own reputation, claiming she came from a humble background but insisted on associating herself with an aristocratic family. Qi Shan casually listed the Northeast branch's dark history, which could almost fill a book. She even had a title in mind: "Flattery and Licking," a precise and vivid description of the content. This offended not only the main branch but also the entire Northeast branch, which was furious.

This is equivalent to the patriarchs and deputy patriarchs of two families hurling insults at each other, while the people on both sides watch from the sidelines. Suddenly, the deputy patriarch, along with some brave warriors, digs up the ancestral ashes of the other family and mixes them with rice, causing an uproar among the entire family.

They can't tolerate even the slightest bit of anger.

Yu Hai said quite naturally, "Aren't you used to it yet?"

Black-clad warrior: "..."

He was completely bewildered in no time.

I really should get used to it.

The insults exchanged between the elite members of the Gods' Society were not much different from the courtiers' frequent beatings of their rivals with their ceremonial tablets. Especially in the early stages of his plan to establish a crown princess, fights broke out at every court assembly, the only difference being the scale of the brawls.

The black-clad warrior couldn't understand why some elderly people with white hair who had to use canes to attend court could still make a sound as they swung their scepters, and could make someone's face swell up.

Those who tried to intervene, whether guards or brave warriors, were all accidentally injured. The most seriously injured had half a tooth knocked out, and still speaks with a lisp to this day.

These officials not only fight, but also hurl insults at each other.

The mere mention of the court assembly gave the black-clad warrior a headache.

"Indeed, they are similar in purpose but different in execution."

Yu Hai watched as Qi Shan skillfully dragged the other branches into the fray, expanding the infighting from two branches to seven or eight. He couldn't suppress the smile beneath his mask. He asked the black-clad warrior with interest, "Who do you think will win the argument?"

The black-clad warrior thought for a moment.

"I hope Mr. Qi wins."

Compared to the Northeast branch, which he was unfamiliar with and had no vested interests or grudges against, the black-clad warrior felt more favorably toward Qi Shan.

Oh, no, it's not that there were no grudges.

The Northeast branch just attacked his precious daughter. If he could still keep his identity secret, he wouldn't have been able to sit still.

In the years he's been the ruler, his greatest improvement hasn't been in his cultivation, but in his temper; he no longer displays his emotions as easily as before. In contrast, Qi Yuanliang of the Northwest branch, this "scheming" man, still fulfilled his childhood dreams back then. Whenever he reminisces about his travels, the black-clad warrior wishes time could stand still. Yu Hai easily discerned his bias.

He asked, "Mr. Qi? You know 'Evil Plot'?"

The black-clad warrior nodded: "Although many years have passed, and he is wearing a mask, his aura has changed slightly... However, if this Qi Shan is the same Mr. Qi from back then, then we do recognize him. He has a very good personality, and is very sincere and friendly."

Otherwise, why would I have agreed to let him "rise to the top in one step" and disguise his tiger tally as a 20th-rank marquis to have some fun?

Yu Hai's expression became indescribable.

It was only concealed by a mask, so it wasn't obvious.

The black-clad warrior and his brother were complete opposites; the latter was more cunning than a fox, and, crucially, shameless. His brother's eyesight was as sharp as his brother's—hopeless.

"Sincere and friendly? Heh..."

The black-clad warrior watched the increasingly chaotic scene unfold, feeling that this year's celebration was more lively than ever before. He secretly glanced up at the crimson veil beneath the sky. The figures behind the veil seemed completely unmoved by the commotion, making no attempt to stop it. In fact, the black-clad warrior had a subtle intuition that these people were watching the spectacle with great interest.

It wasn't the kind of mentality one has when watching a spectacle; it was more like watching a group of monkeys squawking and yelling over some fruit and vegetables, their arrogant attitude making the black-clad martial artist very uncomfortable. However, not many people realized this; most were dragged into it, manipulated by their emotions, becoming the same cunning monkeys fighting over the fruit and vegetables.

Yu Hai reminded him, "Don't look up."

The black-clad warrior abruptly lowered his gaze.

By this time, the various branches were fast-forwarding through each other's embarrassing pasts. Even the tomb raiders weren't as meticulous as them, making for quite a spectacle. It wasn't until the delays were too long, or perhaps the members of the inner circle grew tired of it and lost interest, that reconciliation finally arrived, albeit belatedly. However, this reconciliation was only temporary; there was no guarantee that the negative emotions wouldn't carry over into reality.

The black-clad warrior had the same thought as Shen Tang in his mind.

It seems that even the internal members don't want to see the external groups united. Is this a divide-and-rule strategy, or a complete split-and-conquer approach?

The most likely scenario is that it's both.

Possessing power is not difficult; the difficulty lies in maintaining that power and not relinquishing it. This is also true for the Council of Gods, or rather, its internal factions. Only through mutual hostility among external forces can they preserve their mystique and supreme status.

As long as the world remains divided, they can maintain their position as the uncrowned kings of the darkness through the organization of the Gods. They don't need to participate in worldly power struggles; competing forces will naturally gravitate towards them for their talent.

We offer all resources that can be traded.

Shen Tang pondered these things with great interest.

The argument that Qi Shan deliberately stirred up successfully diverted the members' attention from the female cultivator. They were all angry at the moment, so why would they care about the heretics emerging from a few small countries? As long as the heretics weren't on their side, that was fine.

Aside from those directly involved, no one else present believed this heresy could last. In this cruel world, such a weak force would inevitably be devoured sooner or later. For example, right now, some were already considering human trafficking…

Women are considered a resource, and female cultivators are no exception.

While cultivation can grant them the ability to protect themselves, before they mature, even the most gifted individuals are as vulnerable as infants. They can secretly infiltrate these countries and search the populace for girls with both cultivation potential and attractive appearances at exorbitant prices.

After raising them for a couple of years, they can be offered to other countries in exchange for greater benefits. Scarcity increases value; even deformed monsters are sought after by certain groups, let alone a woman with a kind heart and the ability to cultivate. Which powerful figure at the pinnacle of power, with absolute authority, wouldn't be moved by such a woman? Conquering them is no different than conquering a piece of land.

Gu Chi felt nauseous as he listened to these heartfelt words.

Because of her discomfort, she swayed, which caught Shen Tang's attention.

【What's wrong? 】

Gu Chi didn't use the [Sound Transmission Secret] technique, but instead used his finger to write down someone's plans on Shen Tang's palm, being cautious and wary.

The Divine Assembly is a melting pot of all sorts of people; even wealthy merchants can join, and these incredibly rich individuals are usually closely connected to powerful and influential families. Without powerful backers, it's impossible to amass such a fortune; they would have been robbed long ago.

It's perfectly normal for them to have such thoughts.

Shen Tang's face darkened, and she muttered a curse under her breath.

He only said one sentence: "Write down their identities."

She'll make a little notebook about it, and one day she'll use that list to slaughter all those bastards from top to bottom.

Gu Chi nodded in agreement.

Besides delivering reports and listening to speeches from internal committee members, the most important purpose of this annual meeting was to provide a platform for close communication, allowing elites from all over the mainland to represent local forces and communicate with others to facilitate various collaborations. Most of these collaborations were shady dealings, involving assassinations, treason, sowing discord, betrayal… and even selling out one's sovereign for personal gain.

Here, everything can be measured in terms of profit.

Each and every one of these things left people speechless.

In contrast, Qi Shan, the universally acknowledged "evil schemer," did little more than gather information about the neighboring country and see what business opportunities were available. This is just a brief overview; we'll send someone out to discuss things further. Who is the evil schemer, and who is the good one?

Who can tell the difference now?

Oh, I forgot to mention, the Pantheon takes a cut.

This rule is not explicitly stated; it is an unwritten rule.

Officially, it's said that these profits will be used to maintain the operation of branches in various regions, but the accounts are not made public. How much of it is invested in this area is probably only known to the internal committee itself.

Another half hour passed.

The final step was for members of the internal association to personally announce the list of changes for the several branches that would be in leadership positions this year, including the Northwest branch. Qi Yuanliang was elected with a landslide victory, and the former head of the association awkwardly congratulated Qi Shan with a forced smile, clearly trying to curry favor. However, his efforts were met with indifference; Qi Shan remained unmoved, seemingly unfazed by the change, as if the position of head of the association was rightfully his.

Other branches also experienced mixed feelings of joy and sorrow.

As the noisy annual meeting drew to a close, the twelve members of the internal council rose from their thrones one by one: "Gentlemen, wishing you a happy new year, and hoping to gather here again next time to share this grand occasion!"

The members returned the greetings one by one.

With each blessing of "Happy New Year," the crimson veil burning beneath the sky gradually extinguished, and the giant figure vanished. Shen Tang clearly felt her own illusory form disappearing. She turned to look in the direction of the Southeast Branch, where the black-clad warrior was about to leave. She opened her mouth, but ultimately refrained from making any move to acknowledge her companion; they would meet again sooner or later.

She sighed inwardly.

But not now.

She was still using the pseudonym Tan Shao, so she couldn't reveal herself.

Just then, the black-clad warrior seemed to sense something and turned to look at them, their eyes meeting for a fleeting moment.

The black-clad warrior opened his eyes again in the next instant.

Seeing that he was still in a daze, Yu Hai raised his hand and waved it in front of his eyes, as if afraid that something from the Gods' Guild had gone wrong.

"Returning Dragon".

"What's wrong?"

The black-clad warrior said uncertainly, "Why do I feel like the people around the new head of the Northwest Society have very familiar eyes?"

Yu Hai asked, "Who?"

"Perhaps I've mistaken him for someone else, but I always felt that his last look was very similar to Brother Shen... ah no, now it should be Shen..." The black-clad warrior hesitated for a long time, unsure of the correct way to address him, "...In short, he looked a lot like Shen Youli, but..."

Are you sure?

The black-clad warrior shook his head: "Unsure."

While he was agonizing over the matter and constantly replaying that look in her eyes, Shen Tang was also tormenting her subordinates.

"DingTalk, I need DingTalk!"

"Landlords can't live without Dingding!"

"Why can the Gods have DingTalk, but I, the Chosen Working Lord, can't? Do you know how great it is to clock in with DingTalk? I can catch every lazy bum who skips work and lies down! How can we dedicate ourselves to building a beautiful Kangguo without DingTalk? And this is a holographic online remote meeting..."

|ω`)

After the Great Cataclysm, the entire world's system and rules underwent a radical transformation. The basis and source of everything is the Qi of Heaven and Earth, which is theoretically capable of doing anything, as long as the power of these rules can be found.

While doctors can't bring the dead back to life, they can certainly regrow severed limbs—just a heads-up! _(:з」∠)_

PS: It's the third day of my private training session. Every morning when I wake up, I feel like my limbs don't belong to me. When I bend over, I feel like all my muscles are cursing.

(End of this chapter)