Chapter 991 - 841: Burn the Bridge After Crossing

Upon hearing this, all four Commanders were shocked.

Tong Mingshan and Wu Jinliang looked at Shi Chun, having no concept of this matter, thinking to ask Shi Chun if this could be accomplished.

Shi Chun furrowed his brows as he stared at Manxi, suddenly understanding the meaning behind Mulan Jin's words — is this treacherous dog Manxi trying to burn the bridge after crossing the river?

The rationale behind burning the bridge after crossing the river is not hard to comprehend. Four Commanders, one of them is his, and the other two are also his people — the Domain Master's heart not being unsettled would be unusual.

The more he thought, the clearer it became.

Dongguo Shou couldn't help but voice out, "Domain Master, pulling in thirty million people a year seems too tense, doesn't it?"

Manxi replied, "Thirty million people tossed into the Heavenly Domain is no different from throwing a handful of sand into the sea — it's already very few. This is considering the beginning, it's not easy, so no heavy burdens are imposed on everyone."

Dongguo Shou: "It feels too rushed time-wise."

Manxi: "I'd like to take it slow, but can the Heavenly Court agree? As I just said, the Heavenly Court is not satisfied with our progress. This plan has been reported and has received the Heavenly Court's approval."

Dongguo Shou immediately turned to look at Shi Chun and the others, having never dealt with something like this himself, wanting to see their opinions. But seeing no reaction from them, he had to relent.

This scene made Manxi frown secretly. Tong Mingshan and Wu Jinliang looking at Shi Chun's expression was fine, but why was even Dongguo Shou doing the same?

This further solidified his determination to restructure the personnel framework of the Heavenly Domain.

Thus, the matter was settled.

Additionally, Manxi announced a major news — tomorrow, the Entrance Xun Gate to the Heavenly Domain will be fully opened!

The opening is naturally to facilitate various affairs.

When the four Commanders retired, Shi Chun suddenly remembered something and asked, "Domain Master, since the Heavenly Court has involved itself in opening the manor and building the city, can we still decide the scale and style of the city ourselves?"

Manxi laughed, "The Heavenly Court merely organized a batch of skilled craftsmen to help organize labor, not to intervene in our decisions. Those craftsmen work according to your instructions and have no authority to command you. What style you want is still up to you. I won't interfere with your aesthetics; having too much uniform expression is not good. I don't want the future travelers to question my taste — after all, you will be living in it once built, not me. I hear you, Shi Chun, are quite picky; this isn't good, that isn't good, wanting something luxurious and grand, that's your affair. I won't involve myself, but I'll remind you, the money is fixed, if you overspend, no one will subsidize it, keep accounts clear, if someone misappropriates funds, no one can protect you."

"Yes." Shi Chun cupped his hand in acknowledgment.

After their retreat, Dongguo Shou made a greeting and left first.

The Commanders of the West and North leaned towards Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang asked in a low voice, "Master, can we complete this task? If it's simple, so be it. If too challenging, it seems aimed at us, doesn't it?"

Shi Chun glanced at the surrounding guards, inclined his head, "Come to my place first."

Thus, Wu Jinliang rode the Wind Riding Scale, taking them into the air.

Shi Chun then took out the Mother-child Talisman to contact Feng Chi, relaying the matter of inducting thirty million people in a year, asking her to consult above about its feasibility.

Judging by the current sealing of the Exit Xun Gate, Shi Chun estimated those Demon Path leaders were still trapped within the Demon Realm and not yet out.

After a long flight reaching the Southern Central Hub, Feng Chi was already expectantly waiting for them, the matter clearly had already gained clarity.

The group entered the cave mansion together, seeing Tong Mingshan present, Feng Chi didn't know how to begin.

After Shi Chun indicated with a gesture upon seating, Feng Chi solemnly spoke, "Pulling in thirty million people within a year is challenging; the legal framework is in place, we can neither seize populations from other domains nor compel them. The present Heavenly Domain environment is not yet appealing, nothing is available, regular people wouldn't run over here. Some sects aiming to seize the initiative may indeed send men to establish a branch, but not in large numbers — a barren wasteland, Spirit Vein sites all occupied, before the Spiritual Energy fills the world, what's a lot of people to do? A sect might send a hundred people, at most. Even if ten thousand sects send people, only a million would come. Moreover, it's not plausible for ten thousand sects to all settle here with you; you all divided into three families, each needs three million, how does one manage that? My friend also thinks Manxi intends to act against you, you all took up three of the four departments; if you were Domain Master, you couldn't tolerate it either and would act similarly, earlier rewards were inevitable."

Wu Jinliang couldn't help but curse furiously, "Manxi, that dog bastard, dares to burn the bridge!"

Shi Chun asked, "Sister Feng, can your friends figure out a way to get us the numbers?"

Feng Chi: "I've asked too; basically impossible. If we exert all efforts, perhaps we can barely fill one family, but three is truly unfeasible. The biggest issue is the movement of tens of millions of people is too significant; it stretches beyond your capacity — anyone can see the ulterior motives behind it, bound to cause trouble, you understand. This help neither can be afforded, nor indeed rendered. My friend says out of you four divisions, perhaps only Dongguo Shou can complete this task."

Wu Jinliang, surprised, "Your friends can't even manage, does the Carefree Sect possess such great capability?"

Feng Chi shook her head, "It's different — the Carefree Sect has numerous disciples in the Heavenly Court and the Four Great Royal Courts as officials; combined with the sect's connections and prestige, if the sect's force is genuinely mobilized, many people would give face upon receiving greetings, shifting some industries with large personnel clusters or subsidiaries here should be feasible, although challenging. It depends on how much effort the sect is willing to put forth to assist Dongguo Shou. This thirty-million threshold Manxi should have contemplated repeatedly; he likely doesn't plan to move against Dongguo Shou, mainly targeting us."

"That bastard..." Wu Jinliang cursed profusely for a while and then asked Shi Chun, "Chun Tian, what should we do? The gate gets unblocked tomorrow, should I go find Young Master Nan and those friends to come up with ideas?"

Shi Chun contemplated, "Our connections are all apparent, Manxi calculating like this likely has them weighed too. But finding help is requisite — before you look, go back to execute something first."

Silver-haired Tong Mingshan, curious, "What is that?"

Shi Chun solemnly said, "After returning, allocate a portion from the funds for founding the manor and building the city to give all brethren a full five-year salary in advance."

"Five years?" Tong Mingshan was astonished.

Not just him, Feng Chi and Wu Jinliang also reacted similarly.

Seeing Shi Chun nod in confirmation, Wu Jinliang exclaimed, "Chun Tian, aren't you mistaken? Do you know how much it costs for five years? Averaging, a person needs at least ten thousand gold a month. One department, forty thousand people, each month needs at least four hundred million; roughly fifty billion a year, five years at least two hundred fifty billion. This from one family; we three together need at least seven hundred fifty billion. Each division only has three hundred billion allotted, immediately using two hundred fifty leaves insufficient for city construction funds — can't use mud walls, that's too shabby!"

Shi Chun steadfastly said, "Don't mistreat the brethren no matter what; the Xun Gate is unblocking tomorrow, after releasing money, grant brothers leave, let them buy what they need, spend what they wish. If questioned above, say the rescue framework in the Heavenly Domain has yet to formulate, the injured brethren urgently need treatment; surely can't stand idly as they perish, so send money promptly for them to seek treatment. Funds for manor construction can be deferred if possible, if not, sacrificially build mud walls; brethren's lives take precedence."