Chapter 53: Demon Sect Expanded Enrollment

In the darkness, a dozen pairs of eyes gleamed with an eerie light, like venomous serpents hidden within a cavern, fixed entirely upon the Branch Master as they awaited his words.

At that moment, the indolently seated Branch Master spoke, his voice rasping as though he had not uttered a sound in decades, yet every word carried an immense, crushing weight.

"Why are the lanterns not lit?"

A demonic cult deacon replied with profound reverence, "Branch Master, have you forgotten? At the last gathering, you mentioned attending a meeting of the upper echelons, describing how intense the atmosphere was there, and remarked that our Yanjiang Branch lacked the true ambiance of a demonic cult."

"I thought about it, and indeed, that seems to be the case. Our Yanjiang Branch ranks the lowest among all divisions, and perhaps this is the very reason why."

"I recalled how the storybooks always say our demonic cult prefers to plot conspiracies and treachery in the dark, so I intentionally forbade the servants from lighting the lanterns."

"And truth be told, this darkness really does conjure the perfect atmosphere for doing wicked deeds."

Evidently, this deacon possessed a remarkably clear self-awareness regarding his actions, fully cognizant that a demonic cult was no place for benevolence.

The Branch Master fell silent for a long while, pondering whether this deacon was subtly implying a desire to defect from the cult. Was he hinting that the Yanjiang Branch had not received an increase in its stipends for a long time? Or perhaps suggesting that insurance should be purchased for the cult members?

It was likely not an intention to defect.

The man had always been diligent and conscientious in committing evil, showing no distinction between ally and foe; he wrought havoc outside, and disrupted his own people's affairs within the cult—he was an unmitigated rogue through and through.

Nor was it a demand for a stipend increase.

The cult's stipends were tied to the local treasury, amounting to thrice that of the local officials, which was already exceptionally high. Yanjiang Prefecture was merely a remote and minor region; the stipends of the Yanjiang Branch could hardly match those of the headquarters.

Even less likely was a request for insurance. Most members of the demonic cult had no heirs; if insurance were purchased, to whom would the payouts go?

Furthermore, the Fortune Gold Chamber would never allow the demonic cult to buy insurance. Were they to sell personal accident insurance to cultists, the cult possessed the absolute confidence to leave the chamber stripped of even its undergarments through claims.

"Light the lanterns first."

"Understood."

The deacon blew a gentle breath, and specks of fire fell upon the lamps, igniting the wicks, instantly illuminating the entirety of the grand hall.

The Branch Master spoke once more, "Most of you have heard the rumors regarding little Qin to some extent. Let them spread no further, lest we become a laughingstock to outsiders."

"Little Qin’s character is plain for all to see: he flouts the law and commits every manner of evil. Were he to be captured by the authorities, decapitation would be a lenient sentence. This is more than enough to prove his character aligns with the doctrines of our demonic cult."

"As for the claims that little Qin belongs to the orthodox path, that is utter nonsense. Anyone capable of joining the demonic cult has passed the trials of the Cult Leader himself."

"The Cult Leader’s appraisal of him was 'demonic nature ingrained to the bone.' The venerable Cult Leader’s judgment could never be flawed."

Qin Yuanhao bowed deeply in salute, "The Branch Master is wise."

Qin Yuanhao felt a modicum of relief. He resolved in his heart that once he returned, he would absolutely slaughter the scoundrel responsible for spreading those rumors!

The Branch Master made no further mention of Qin Yuanhao's affairs; addressing it even briefly was already a favor granted in consideration of the chair Qin had gifted him.

"The reason I have summoned you all today is that headquarters has handed down a mandate."

The Branch Master paused before continuing, "Headquarters requires every region to recruit new disciples into the demonic cult."

Qin Yuanhao and the others froze in surprise, not expecting this matter. The demonic cult had not engaged in large-scale recruitment for thirty years; over the past three decades, entry had been strictly through personal introductions.

For instance, Qin Yuanhao had wished to recruit the tiger demon, but unfortunately, the beast steadfastly guarded Pine Mountain, unwilling to join the cult.

"You all ought to be aware of the prophecies concerning the Great Age. Over the past century, geniuses have risen, and renowned masters risk being defeated by unknown youths. Countless previously undiscovered ruins and hidden realms are reappearing across the world; this is a grand era where opportunity and challenge coexist."

"The five great immortal sects, the supreme sects, and the first-grade sects all boast a surge of geniuses. The once-rare dual spiritual roots are now commonplace. If these geniuses are allowed to truly mature, there will be no need to contest this Great Age."

"If we are to contend, it must be now!"

"Seize the opportunity, and one may transform into a dragon upon the rain, soaring through the nine heavens to become a carefree immortal!"

"But opportunities are not easily claimed. The accursed Great Xia Dynasty and the five great immortal sects have intensified their crackdowns upon us, and many of our comrades have fallen as a result."

"To secure a place in this Great Age, we must expand the ranks of our demonic cult. On this matter, the four great demonic cults have reached a unanimous agreement."

"What you must do is utilize your respective channels to disseminate the news of the cult's recruitment, striving to gather the demonic cultivators of Yanjiang Prefecture and its neighboring regions, or anyone with the intention of joining our cult."

Someone voiced a concern, "With such a large-scale recruitment, will it not afford the orthodox path a golden opportunity to infiltrate our demonic cult?"

He was not alone; many present harbored the same doubt.

The demonic cult already survived by treading with extreme caution; if a few orthodox moles were to emerge, the cult's situation would become perilously fragile.

The Branch Master shook his head, "This recruitment is organized by the Cult Leader utilizing a supreme divine manifestation. The trials he has established are absolutely impossible for anyone of the orthodox path to pass."

The voices of doubt vanished, replaced by an boundless, fanatical fervor.

To the members of the demonic cult, the Cult Leader was an omnipotent existence, the very sky above them, who would surely lead their Immortal Cult toward ultimate glory!

...

After the meeting adjourned, Qin Yuanhao immediately mobilized his connections, determined to find out exactly who was attempting to frame him.

Through various avenues, he eventually traced the source back to a small tavern.

"That patron stood eight feet tall and measured eight feet wide, his face marred with pockmarks—a towering brute who looked as though he could devour three children in a single sitting," the tavern owner gestured, holding an incredibly vivid impression of Lu Yang.

Based on the description, Qin Yuanhao quickly produced a portrait that bore absolutely no resemblance to the true Lu Yang.

When Lu Yang and his two companions had entered the tavern to spread the rumors, they had done so in disguise.

Qin Yuanhao’s expression was ice-cold. To dare spread rumors while possessing such a conspicuous appearance—did the fool take him for an easy target?

By now, the night was deep, but the Great Xia Dynasty enforced no curfew. Qin Yuanhao took a crowd of his subordinates to a roadside stall for barbecue, feasting on pork skewers, beef skewers, roasted lamb legs, roasted chicken feet, roasted chicken drumsticks, roasted pig skin, roasted tendon, roasted beef tendon, roasted river shrimp, tender roasted kidneys, roasted chives, roasted potatoes, roasted eggplants, roasted moist tofu...

The skewers were tender and generously seasoned, the spices penetrating deep to offer boundless flavor. Brushed with a dark, glistening secret sauce and provoked by the charcoal fire, they released an aromatic fragrance, sizzling and dripping with fat.

The pork was skewered on long bamboo sticks and roasted over a large fire pit, the fat rendering sticky but not greasy, while the lean meat burst with rich savor.

The lamb legs were placed into a tandoor oven, combining roasting and baking to ensure even heat, achieving a perfect balance of charred crispness and tenderness that tasted exquisite.

The chicken feet were braised before being roasted, offering a rich texture of tendon, skin, and cartilage that was immensely satisfying to chew.

The chicken legs were roasted raw with precise control of the flame, ensuring that moisture and fat were not excessively lost, allowing the skin, meat, tendon, and bone to attain a flawless harmony of flavor and mouthfeel.

The potatoes were baked and steamed, paired with a secret soy sauce, crisp on the outside and tender within, offering a dense, velvety texture.

The group ate until their faces gleamed with grease.

Having eaten and drunk their fill, Qin Yuanhao arrogantly commanded his underlings, "You lot, go scour the entire city for these individuals. Do not bother returning if you fail to find them!"

"Yes, Big Brother!" the underlings responded in unison before scattering in all directions.

Qin Yuanhao finished his skewers with thorough satisfaction, temporarily putting the annoying rumor-monger out of his mind. Concurrently, he failed to notice Lu Yang, who was lurking deep beneath the earth.

Few people ever paid heed to the ground beneath their feet, and Qin Yuanhao was no exception.