My construction materials are weird

“Since Chief Steward Sun has said so, then I will speak first, hehe. Furthermore, thank you to all fellow cultivators for your kind support.”

Yan Lai cupped his hands, thanking Sun Tong for letting him go first, and also offered a polite acknowledgment, thanking everyone for their support.

To be honest, he's been the first to speak all these years, and he's a little tired of it himself. He really doesn't want to be the first to speak.

But, it seems, like, there's no way around it, he still has to go first.

“Reporting to the Grand Chief Steward, and all fellow cultivators, over the past year… the Confucian School has adhered to its original intention, both to save living beings and to protect ordinary people. The new government formed by the Confucian School has been working diligently for ten years… protecting countless cities, nearly a trillion living beings… In the future, we will continue as always, both to cultivate diligently and to exaggerate the efforts of the new government in the secular world, and to strike down aggressions…”

It was a very ordinary report.

This book is first published on the entire network by 𝕥 𝕨 𝕜 𝕒 𝕟 . 𝕔 𝕠 𝕞

It reported the achievements of the past year and also looked forward to the future.

Moreover, looking forward to the future was not just empty talk. The summary at the beginning was a report on last year's outlook. Forces like the Four Superpowers would not leave any handles behind.

“Very good. Not bad.” Sun Tong nodded, satisfied with the Confucian School's achievements.

“Is there anything else?” Sun Tong asked.

“Yes.” Yan Lai continued, “According to the reports from my subordinates, especially from the new government, they have reported some problems to me.”

Seeing Yan Lai's suggestive manner, Sun Tong said, “Speak without fear.”

“Yes!” Yan Lai said, “It's not that I'm deliberately complaining about my fellow cultivators, but some things really need to be resolved. The new government has reported to me that some cultivators are not abiding by the rules set by the Mystics, violating the Mystics' initial intention to protect ordinary people, and the new government can't do anything about these people, creating a very bad situation.”

Although Yan Lai's words seemed light and slow, they weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.

Furthermore, this was not the first time this issue had been raised. Many people vividly remembered that it seemed to be brought up every three or four years.

Every three or four years, there would be a purge, and each time Chief Steward Sun Tong would be very angry.

“Outrageous!” Sure enough, Sun Tong was very angry.

She sometimes couldn't understand why this was happening, why there were always some people who liked to bully the weak.

Even if the price was high, so high that they could hardly bear it, some people would still take the risk.

Every few years, they would forget the pain once the scars healed, so forgetful.

They always relied on their powerful cultivation to bully the weak ordinary people.

The people in attendance were very uneasy, because there might be their own friends or family involved. It was always like this.

They had also worked hard, not that they hadn't taught their family and friends, but there were always accidents.

“What are your opinions?” Sun Tong asked.

Everyone quickly stood up and said, “We are at the Grand Chief Steward's command.”

This was not the time to be perfunctory. They needed to express their attitude, to be irreconcilable with these bad seeds, and to firmly support the Merit Hall's instructions.

“Hmph, the Mystics have repeatedly warned us cultivators that the world of cultivators is the world of cultivators, and the world of ordinary people is the world of ordinary people, and we must not drain the pond to catch all the fish… Did the Mystics impart the Dao to you so that you could bully ordinary people?”

Everyone was very ashamed, but could not speak.

However, some of the evildoers were often among the Four Superpowers and Eight Great Families, which was equivalent to letting them investigate themselves.

She believed that the high-level figures present would not be so confused, but she didn't quite trust the investigators from the Four Superpowers and Eight Great Families. Who could guarantee that there wouldn't be collusion between them?

Over the years, it had always been like this, and each time it wasn't cleaned up completely. There must be some secrets involved.

“Grand Chief Steward, my Demon Subduing Department is willing to take on this task.”

Suddenly, during Sun Tong's pause, Bi Xia once again stood up.

Similarly, this was not the first time he had stood up to take on this task. This was already the second time.

The first time was three or four years ago, when the Demon Subduing Department had just exposed its purpose, and the entire Merit Hall was most wary of them.

At that time, Sun Tong did not agree, feeling that the Demon Subduing Department was gradually seizing power.

But after three or four years, Sun Tong's mentality had changed, understanding what the Demon Subduing Department wanted to do.

In fact, it couldn't threaten her position at all. Logically, she agreed, but she couldn't help but think of the vast number of colleagues in the Merit Hall.

Bi Xia had stood up again, and she hesitated.

She inexplicably thought of the original intention of the Mystic when he asked her to establish the Merit Hall. What was it for?

Was it for being the only one who mattered?

No, it was to fairly handle some disputes and justly treat every cultivator.

She had only had this idea and change in mentality in recent years, especially after her cultivation reached the top of True Cultivation.

In other words, after becoming stronger, coupled with the accumulation of time, she had changed.

From a little girl in her twenties to the age of thirty-something at this moment, it was a change in mentality under the passage of time, a kind of self-growth in life.

Many things cannot be taught, and only the accumulation of time and the increase of age will allow one to understand them.

She had also had moments of pride and arrogance. At that time, she had a childish mentality. Below the Mystic, she had the final say. Even if he told her not to be proud, she found it difficult to do so.

Slowly, as time passed, her initial pride gradually changed.

At this moment, the previous pride was gone, and even the mentality of five years ago was not the mentality of this moment.

She was more rational and wiser now.

For example, Bi Xia's purpose, the Demon Subduing Department's purpose, she could accept it.

It was not bad to have such a force on par with the Merit Hall. Her own Merit Hall also needed competition internally.

Due to being in the Merit Hall, the cultivators within the Merit Hall were constantly immersed in the glow of profound yellow. Although there were no wrongdoings or violations of the Merit Hall's original intention, inertia was difficult to stop.

This was also a flaw.

“Good, it is commendable that the Demon Subduing Department is willing to take on the responsibility. Let's follow Minister Bi Xia's suggestion and let the Demon Subduing Department be responsible for the investigation and disposal this time.” Sun Tong agreed.

“Hiss!” Everyone gasped.

Due to the special occasion, no one dared to shout loudly, but the shock in their hearts was imaginable.

When the Merit Hall personnel heard this, they immediately felt uneasy. What was wrong with the Grand Chief Steward? Didn't she know the Demon Subduing Department's ambitions?

Only Xia Qing, who was at the high level, and Wan Ling, who didn't show her face, didn't have any expression, just nodded silently.

They approved of Sun Tong's decision, especially Wan Ling. She felt that Chief Steward Sun Tong was doing well, and had finally grown up.

After a moment of shock, the people in attendance quickly recovered, and their brains were rapidly working, considering the pros and cons.

However, those present were all high-level figures or experts. They wouldn't be so lacking in character as to bully ordinary people.

They were also willing to let the Demon Subduing Department take over. Several times before, it hadn't been cleaned up completely, and they also felt that there were secrets involved, that someone under them was fooling them.

With the heavens high and the emperor far away, who knows how these evil cultivators might be shielded in some remote, unknown corner?

If the evil cultivators are their own family and friends, then it's even more unimaginable.

This time, the Demon Suppression Department is taking action, and it seems they will thoroughly clean out a batch of parasites.

Of course, can it be completely eradicated in the future?

No, it cannot be eradicated. Eradicating this is equivalent to eradicating human thought and ideas.

Humans are as dazzling as the sun when they are great, but when they are despicable and sinister, they are darker than hell.

Preventing cultivators from doing evil cannot be eradicated. After a long time, some people will forget the pain once the wound heals. This is definitely, certainly, and absolutely the case.

"Do you have any opinions?" Sun Tong asked routinely.

"We defer to the Grand Manager's decision. We support the Merit Hall's decision," everyone said in unison again.

"Good, it's decided then. After this is over, Sect Leader Yan Lai, you hand the list over to the Demon Suppression Department," Sun Tong said.

"Yes!" Yan Lai bowed.

"Thank you, Grand Manager, for your trust!" Bi Xia also said.

"It's not a simple matter of trust, but rather, the better the cultivation world is, the better we are. For the stability of the cultivation world, you need to be brave and take responsibility. This is my idea, and it also fulfills the teachings of the Mysterious Master. What do you think, Minister Bi Xia?"

"Yes, you're right. The original intention of the Mysterious Master was to save all living beings from fire and water in this dark, hellish world, to open up a path of light for humanity, and to establish a foundation for us common people," Bi Xia replied.

He seemed to understand, through Sun Tong's actions and words, he understood.

No one made a mistake, not a single word, not a single hair, not a single detail, not a single content, all in sight!

The Grand Manager is no longer so repulsed by the Demon Suppression Department and is slowly accepting the Demon Suppression Department's ideas. This is much more important than this entanglement mission.

Everyone present wasn't a fool; they could all see a hint of something.

It feels like the world is about to change. The Demon Suppression Department, which has been under pressure for five or six years, is really about to achieve its goal.

Being ostracized by the Merit Hall for five or six years, this kind of pressure, it's easy to say, but even the Four Greats can't imagine it.

They couldn't help but look at Bi Xia and Dragon Master, thinking: As expected of the helmsman of the Spiritual Master era, this ability is beyond my reach.

I can't learn it either, amazing!

With more important things appearing, the previous worries dissipated. Compared to the rise of the Demon Suppression Department, weeding out parasites is really a small matter.

"Alright, is there anything else you want to ask?"

Sun Tong waved his hand, signaling to continue.

"Yes!" Bi Xia said.

"Speak!"

Bi Xia said, "Grand Manager, can we use some special methods in this operation?"

"? Such as?" Sun Tong said.

"Such as some strange methods, psychedelic and hallucinatory, for getting to the bottom of things," Bi Xia said.

"Yes, absolutely. There's no need to be merciful to parasites. They are destroying the stability of the entire cultivation world; they are our biggest internal enemies," Sun Tong strongly supported.

Bi Xia saying this means that this investigation will be very thorough.

She also doesn't want to see a cleanup every few years. The Merit Hall is, after all, the headquarters that manages cultivators on behalf of the Mysterious Master. Always having these parasites, even if the Mysterious Master doesn't say anything, I would lose face.

Therefore, she strongly supports Bi Xia using some methods, preferably to eradicate them completely.

"Thank you, Grand Manager, for your support."

Bi Xia finished speaking and stepped aside, obviously confident.

"Good!" Sun Tong also placed his hopes on him, and then said, "Continue."

Indicating that this topic has passed, the Confucian School's report is over, and the next one begins.

The second to report was the Martial Dao Alliance, which has also become a tradition; the Confucian School is first, and they are second.

"Reporting to the Grand Manager, in the past year, under the protection of the Mysterious Master and with the support of Grand Manager Sun of the Merit Hall, our Martial Dao Alliance has been pioneering and enterprising, and has successfully achieved last year's vision… Protecting hundreds of billions of living beings, rescuing more than thirty cities in crisis, eliminating one hundred and thirty-six anomalies, destroying dangerous secret realms…"

Sun Hui gave a similar opening speech, listing this year's achievements and looking forward to next year's future.

Sun Tong nodded in approval as a matter of routine.

In fact, as long as there are no special issues to report, the mid-year meeting is very simple, as long as you do what you say.

Don't just look forward to the future and talk about it in flowery language, but fail to achieve the results when the achievements are verified. That would be bad.

Of course, no one is a fool who would brag randomly.

After all, your vision and plan are equivalent to dividing the cake. If you can't do it but block so many tasks, it will arouse public anger.

The Grand Manager won't say anything, but other forces will sarcastically ask you to hand over some tasks. If you can't do it, we'll do it.

"Are there any special reports?"

"Yes!" Sun Hui said, "The Martial Dao Alliance has made great progress, and the achievements are visible to the naked eye, but some contradictions have also emerged, such as the lack of some essential Five Elements spiritual objects, the demand for anomalies is also very large, and the need for Holy Pills is also increasing. We would like to specially apply for some."

Sun Hui said, looking upright and impartial.

But it aroused everyone's contempt. Who doesn't lack what he said?

Everyone lacks the Five Elements spiritual objects and Holy Pills that only the Merit Hall can provide, as well as the output of the hundred-art cultivators gathered by the Merit Hall, etc.

"Grand Manager Sun, I'm confused. I was just thinking about the problem of parasites, after all, this problem makes it difficult for me to sleep and eat, so I forgot to say that my Confucian School also has this need," Yan Lai immediately stood up, 'Really forgot.'

No matter what others think, I really forgot.

Ask, can you know me better than I know myself?

"Cough cough, my Buddhist School also needs it."

"Grand Manager, although the Daoist School has not yet reported, it also needs it. It's better to say it together, so there's no need to mention it separately later, saving everyone's time."

Seeing this situation, the Four Greats were like a single entity, immediately following up and saying they needed it too.

After all, the Merit Hall only releases so much each year, which is fixed. If you need it, you need to apply separately, and the application may not necessarily be approved.

"Alright, I know. Considering your achievements this year, find Grand Manager Xia Qing after the meeting," Sun Tong waved his hand, used to it.

He Ge's privileges are only dared to be asked by the Four Supers, and the Eight Greats dare not mention it.

Mentioning it would be questioned by the Four Greats, and it seems that the fixed share each year is enough. It's really not like the Four Supers, whose vast power always means it's not enough.

"Continue, Master Minghui, you come," Sun Tong directly named him.

The Buddhist School is the third to report, also a fixed tradition.

"Grand Manager, the Buddhist School…"

"Not bad, the Buddhist School has always been steady. Under your leadership, Master Minghui, it is thriving. Not only am I very satisfied with you, but the Mysterious Master also often mentions that he is also very satisfied with you," Sun Tong said, seemingly as a matter of routine.

But it is also the truth. The Buddhist School is almost the one among the Four Supers and Eight Greats that causes the least trouble, has the fewest disputes, and is the most obedient.

The reason is that they started with a limp. Once upon a time, Buddhist monks were notorious on the streets.

… (End of this chapter)