Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

In early April, a sudden cold wave attacked the north, immediately sweeping across the country, making many people put on their jackets again.

Strange rumors began circulating online, saying that the sudden and unexplainable cold wave at this time was actually caused by Yang Linhui, the vice-captain of the Dragon Soar Team, who had formed a Golden Core and was practicing a powerful Taoism Method in the Great Northwest.

Why would a Golden Core True Man create a cold wave within the country? The logic is entirely nonsensical, yet quite a few people believed it.

Many people believed that a Golden Core True Man must have the great power to change the weather at will.

In reality, changing the weather on a large scale is impossible, but altering a local region is feasible. For example, Zhou Hongyu's Great Bright Fire could burn down an entire forest on a mountain within 20 minutes.

With various data reports coming in, the strength of the Golden Core True Man was being constantly overestimated. Regardless, a previous conclusion was becoming increasingly clear:

The team system really cannot continue.

Establishing a new system from scratch is usually easier because most people are unsure if the system is good or bad; reforming an existing system is relatively more difficult because it inevitably touches upon certain people's vested interests.

For example, if a Golden Core Cultivator took advantage of the team system to build a harem, and the team system was suddenly abolished, how could he justifiably stay with those beautiful girls?

Without the team as a cover, they wouldn't be colleagues anymore. If they wanted to stick together, they would need to formalize their relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend, which is relatively easy. But what about so many people? Isn't it just creating trouble for themselves?

To prevent this Golden Core True Man from having unnecessary misunderstandings, someone needed to talk to him.

After returning to the Wudang Mountain base, Yan Yu began to think about the restructuring of the Yin Department and what would be the best way to proceed.

The "Reward Good, Punish Evil" proposed by Chen Lingyun was a good idea, but it couldn't guarantee it won't become rigid in the future. Based on Yan Yu's understanding of her, she wasn't the type who enjoyed upholding justice—Mr. Mei would be more suitable.

More likely, Chen Lingyun had disguised her true, unspeakable purpose under the guise of "Rewarding Good, Punishing Evil," aiming to deceive everyone, including Yan Yu.

Of course, if someone can lie for a lifetime, then that lie eventually becomes the truth. What Yan Yu was considering now was supervising her to ensure the implementation of "Rewarding Good, Punishing Evil," insisting on it for ten thousand years without waverance, and leaving no room for her to cause trouble.

After careful consideration, among the responsibilities of the entire Yin Department, only she was in charge of Fengdu City to judge good and evil, while others were designated as executors, which was obviously inappropriate.

Because no one could supervise Chen Lingyun's actions, she could judge as she wished. If she said you did good deeds, even if you committed murder and arson, it was considered a good deed; if she said you were wicked, even if you did countless good deeds, you were wicked. Apart from feeling blissful, everyone had no other comment.

So who should supervise her?

Yan Yu quickly confirmed his choice without much thought.

Mr. Mei!

First, Mei Yingxue had a very proper worldview, and she was intolerant of deceit; secondly, Mei Yingxue also enjoyed working... Judging good and evil is very mechanical and tiring, and others might easily slack off over time, but Mr. Mei definitely wouldn't.

But thinking about it carefully, with Chen Lingyun's mind, would she not foresee that I would find Mr. Mei to supervise her? If she had foreseen it, would she have devised a way to deal with and even manipulate Mr. Mei?

If so, letting Mr. Mei supervise her would be sending a sheep into a tiger's lair!

Yan Yu was troubled by this until an unexpected guest interrupted his thoughts.

His father-in-law came to visit.

"How have you been lately?" Chen Tianming asked as he washed the cup, then added the tea leaves he brought and began brewing the tea, "From the look on your face, it seems you have something on your mind?"

"Nothing much." Yan Yu forced a smile, thinking that it was his daughter's actions that had been troubling him.

Seeing he was unwilling to speak further, Chen Tianming didn't press but simply said:

"The team system issue has been decided."

"Isn't it something bound to happen?" Yan Yu asked in surprise, "After forming the Core, everyone operates independently from the team. Even those uninformed should have sensed it themselves."

"From trial implementation to formal implementation, there's always a process." Chen Tianming handed him the cup of tea, "You can still stay together now, but with more tasks coming up, you will have to follow the tasks, and won't be residing in one place for long. Inevitably, it will lead to more separations."

"Hmm..." Yan Yu held the cup in both hands and pondered.

Is this old man testing me? But he made a point too. Five or six Golden Core True Men living together like a family—indeed, it leads to disruption, so disbanding the team becomes inevitable.

Other teams are easier to disband. Only I have emotional bonds with them, and even if the team is disbanded, the bonds remain. Thus, attempting to keep us apart through heavy tasks and long-term separation to dilute our relationships?

Damn, this isn't pure love at all!

Seeing Yan Yu's expressionless face and silence, Chen Tianming suddenly said:

"Generally, if a married couple within the system is working in different locations, the organization might consider their living needs and adjust their work locations together for convenience."

"For couples as opposed to married individuals, it's slightly more difficult but still manageable if they have a formal relationship."

"Hmm." Yan Yu understood immediately, asking, "Then I have a question: what if it's a one-to-many open relationship?"

"Such a multiple-person relationship cannot be publicly acknowledged." Chen Tianming said indifferently, "It can't be used as a basis to apply for adjustments either."

"Got it." Yan Yu smiled, "Then, for example, I can first apply for a long-term mission with Lingyun on the grounds of being in a relationship."

"Then, I'll use another relationship reason for the next one... I can submit multiple applications at once, each based on a one-to-one relationship, will that be okay?"

Chen Tianming was speechless at how quickly he came up with such a sleazy idea.

However, he had to agree eventually. After all, Yan Yu was Lu Country's strongest Golden Core Cultivator. The rules had to adapt to his needs, not the other way around. Otherwise, if he chose to ignore the rules, their authority would vanish.

If he was willing to follow the rules, even if it meant giving him a legitimate reason, it would positively guide and regulate other cultivators—since even Yan Yu obeyed the rules, how could others dare not?

"Don't submit everything at once," Chen Tianming said after taking a sip of tea, "Submit them separately. Once one is approved, submit the next. If it's too troublesome, you can let Lingyun handle it."

Having the daughter help her husband push forward his harem plans—indeed, you are impressive, my dear father-in-law! Like father, like daughter!

In that moment, Yan Yu almost felt admiration for Chen Tianming but quickly collected his thoughts, confirming, "How long will it typically take to approve such applications? I have nine applications to submit."

"How could there be nine?" Chen Tianming, who was calm earlier, nearly spit out his tea upon hearing this number.

Hold on, where did nine come from? Isn't your team just five girls?

Chen Tianming, known for his deep schemes and intelligence, was momentarily caught off guard but quickly figured it out.

Could it be he slept with other teams' female cultivators and now wants to bring them in under the guise of disbanding the teams?

Numerous female cultivators outside his team admiring Yan Yu was no secret. For example, the Elixir Medicines Li Minghu used to regulate her body had side effects that specifically required Yan Yu's help to resolve; or Zhou Hongyu once brought her team to Jinling to seek Yan Yu's help with training; and Ye Jun had stayed temporarily in Jinling... These were all confirmed information long ago.

Having entanglements with so many girls, occasional overnight stays were understandable, but wanting to form an open relationship with all of them at once was mind-boggling, even for Chen Tianming.

Too many, simply too many!

"Does Lingyun know about this?" the father-in-law asked with a frown.

"Of course," Yan Yu responded, "She even thinks there aren't enough and wants to bring Anna in. I laughed and told her, 'Anna's a Queen in the Northern Border, how could she possibly cohabit with me? At most, she'd visit occasionally.'"

Chen Tianming didn't speak further, entering contemplation again.

The original intention of splitting the team was to avoid six Golden Core True Men living together as a family. But now, Yan Yu wanted to form a big family with nine Golden Core cultivators. Before, at least there were barriers between different teams, but soon these would be gone!

It had backfired impressively.

Having ten Golden Core Cultivators crammed into one place—what long-term tasks could accommodate so many? Not only would it waste combat power allocation, but it also posed a significant instability to Lu Country.

But refusing was not an option either. Clearly, it wasn't something Yan Yu alone wanted; Lu Country could never afford to offend ten Golden Core True Men at once. But agreeing meant the responsibility would fall on me, and I definitely didn't want to shoulder that.

I am too principled to deal with such matters!

"You should let Chen Lingyun handle submitting the applications," Chen Tianming quickly advised, "Submit them all at once, and ensure each applicant signs their respective forms."

Submitting them would implicate my son-in-law, and I should avoid conflicts of interest, leaving the decision to other officials.

Ten Golden Core cultivators—a collective application… Tch, could it be rejected still? No matter who gets the responsibility, it won't be my problem anymore.