Chapter 370 Deceive Yourself First
Inside the observation room, Chen Jianguo's hand, holding a teacup, froze in mid-air, his mouth slightly open.
"Am I...am I dreaming?"
He looked down at the elites below, who were bustling about, gathering in twos and threes, taking out their tablets to start modeling and discussing.
"They...they're planning a cultivation sect using modern methods?"
"It seems so."
Commander Qi's expression was equally strange, a mixture of amusement and a hint of anticipation that she herself was unaware of.
"Look, Zhao Sizhe has already started making a PPT. The title is 'Preliminary Ideas on the Construction of the Cultivation System for Disciples of the Xuantian Sect'."
Sun Jiuchou leaned closer to the screen and pointed to a corner.
"Look over there, a few people from the General Affairs Hall have already opened their Excel spreadsheets. Judging from their posture, they're calculating the sect's initial financial statements and break-even point."
Chen Jianguo almost spat out his tea.
"Nonsense! Utter nonsense!"
He said that, but his eyes were glued to the screen, as if afraid of missing any detail.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
The entire training camp was brightly lit for three days and three nights.
The sounds of arguing, debating, and occasionally even the sound of someone slamming their fist on the table due to disagreements over a particular technical approach could be heard.
When the hundred people stood in front of Zhou Jue again, each of them had red eyes and bloodshot eyes, but their spirits were extremely high.
Zhao Sizhe, as the presenter of the general outline, stepped forward, and a PPT was lit up on the large screen behind him.
"Xuantian Sect's Five-Year Development Outline and Centennial Strategic Outlook"
"metropolitan."
Zhao Sizhe cleared his throat, his voice slightly hoarse, but his thoughts were clear and logical.
"After three days and three nights of discussion among our 101 founding members, we have formulated this outline."
"Our core strategy is: to establish a foothold in the mountains, accumulate grain, and delay declaring ourselves king."
A detailed map appeared on the screen, marking territories, resource points, and potential threats in different colors.
"The first phase, 'Hidden Dragon in the Abyss,' will last for one year."
"Objective: To establish a sect base with basic defensive formations and self-sufficiency on the outskirts of the Ten Thousand Mountains. Initially, one hundred disciples will be trained, all of whom will break through to the Golden Core stage. The General Affairs Hall will establish stable trade channels with at least three surrounding mortal towns."
"The Enforcement Hall will complete the exploration of the distribution of demonic beasts and the direction of spiritual veins within a 500-mile radius around the sect, and establish a three-level security patrol mechanism."
"The second phase, 'The Dragon Appears in the Field,' will last for two years."
"Objective: The sect will officially open its doors to the public and begin accepting disciples. The initial plan is to recruit 300 outer disciples and a number of miscellaneous disciples. The Transmission Hall will complete the compilation of standardized teaching materials for the three stages of Qi Induction, Qi Refining, and Foundation Building. The Pill Hall and the Weapon Refining Hall will achieve mass production of commonly used pills and low-level magical artifacts."
"The third phase, 'Soaring Dragon in the Sky,' will last for two years."
"Objective: To have at least ten core disciples break through to the Nascent Soul stage within the sect. To make the Xuan Tian Sect a rising force that cannot be ignored within the surrounding ten thousand miles. To begin exploring the depths of the Hundred Thousand Mountains in search of ancient ruins."
As soon as Zhao Sizhe finished speaking, all one hundred people behind him straightened their backs.
This plan is perfect.
Every step and every piece of data has undergone the most rigorous analysis.
Everything is included, from the budget for each spirit stone to the sect's century-long strategy.
This is no longer a plan; it's an epic with a pre-written script.
They were all waiting for Zhou Jue's praise.
Zhou Jue listened quietly without saying a word.
She stepped down from the platform and walked slowly to the hundred people, her gaze sweeping over their faces, which were slightly haggard from staying up all night, yet full of confidence and pride.
"Your plan is excellent."
She spoke, her voice flat.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
“That’s good… If this is implemented, the Xuantian Sect will completely disappear from the Cangyun Realm within half a year.”
The training ground fell into a deathly silence; everyone's expressions froze on their faces.
"Why...?"
Zhao Sizhe was the first to react, and his voice was trembling.
This outline is the culmination of all his knowledge from the first half of his life, the sparks that flew when his ideas collided with those of a hundred top minds. How could it be wrong?
"Because what you wrote is not a history of the rise of a sect."
Zhou Jue's gaze fell on Zhao Sizhe.
What you've written is a business plan.
“You considered resources, efficiency, output, risk control... everything that can be quantified with data.”
"But you have forgotten that the foundation upon which a sect can stand has never been these things."
"What is that?" Cheng Gan couldn't help but ask.
"It is inheritance, it is rules, it is mystery, it is human relationships."
Zhou Jue's voice, word by word, struck a chord in everyone's heart.
"Where would a newly established sect get standardized teaching materials? Shouldn't cultivation techniques be taught orally by the master and then left for the disciples to comprehend on their own?"
"Where would a newly established sect get mass-produced pills and magical artifacts? Shouldn't good things be scarce, requiring disciples to risk their lives to obtain them with 'contribution points'?"
"Your Enforcement Hall has a patrol system that is accurate to the minute, and its personnel ratio is comparable to that of a modern army. But the real sect's enforcement team relies on the personal authority of the chief elder and a few bloody sect rules."
"Your plan is too 'scientific' and too 'advanced,' so advanced that it's out of step with that world."
"An organization that appeared out of nowhere, with such a bizarre style of operation and terrifyingly high efficiency—what do you think you are in the eyes of those ancient monsters in the Cangyun Realm who have lived for thousands of years?"
"Is it fatty meat? Or... an extraterrestrial demon?"
With a "boom," everyone's mind went blank.
They only thought about how to develop efficiently, but forgot the most important thing—disguise.
They disguised their identities and their language, but their most fundamental way of thinking was completely exposed.
Cold sweat trickled down the foreheads of many people.
"Then... then what should we do?" a young researcher asked in a dry voice.
Zhou Jue looked at them and suddenly smiled.
“Rewrite this five-year plan.”
Everyone was stunned.
"Your plan does have its merits. For example, the first point is that I need you to break through to the Golden Core stage as soon as possible. Those who are already in the Golden Core stage, such as Comrade Cheng Gan, should strive to reach the Nascent Soul stage."
“As for what needs to be changed,” Zhou Jue turned around and walked back onto the platform.
"Before you learn how to run a sect, you must first learn another thing."
"I want you to write something again in the next week."
"This time, no data, no models, no KPIs."
"I want a set of strange, complicated, and even seemingly unreasonable sect rules. I've already given you the information about the Cangyun Realm."
"Only by deceiving ourselves can we deceive the world."
Zhou Jue's gaze swept across the entire room; his voice was not loud, but it carried a certain power.
"Our sect cannot be like a cold factory."
"It must be like a temple, made up of countless stories."
"Build the temple first, then invite the gods."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com