When Zhi emerged from his courtyard, he gathered Zhishi, Feng, Fanghong, Long Clan Ancestor, Hide, Hedi and the others. It was time to put his plan into action. When everyone had converged in main hall, where they usually had their meetings regarding the Island, Zhi told Feng and Zhishi about his idea. Feng and Zhishi had a complicated face on and seeing this, Zhi just lightly patted Zhishi on the shoulder and said, “I am not implying that you are doing a bad job or anything. It is actually the opposite, you are doing a very good job.”

He took a breath and sighed, “However, I have pushed all the matters onto your shoulders. The Hall Master system is meant to decrease the burden on your shoulders so that you would have time to spend with your families or train or just relax every once in a while.” After saying the reason behind this decision, Feng and Zhishi felt relieved.

Since the founding of Dragon Cross, they had been the ones in charge of everything. When Zhi suddenly said that he wanted to make the Hall Master system, they had thought that they were doing a bad job and Zhi was replacing them. It was also true that they had not had the time to spend with their families and had actually grown akin to a stranger to their children. After Zhishi and Feng had gotten an explanation on the situation, they visibly relaxed.

Seeing this, Zhi nodded his head and said, “Now then, we will have to discuss the power Hall Masters have and the merits they will have in return.” Since Zhi had started the agenda, everyone turned serious. This was something that reshaped Dragon Cross from the core. Until now, everyone in the Halls had been equal but still those that were more accomplished were more sought after. So, a certain hierarchy still developed on it’s own amongst the Hall members.

The discussion lasted for quite a long time actually and it wasn’t as smooth as everyone had expected. For example, Hide had been adamant on the condition that all the outgoing products of his Hall were to be thoroughly inspected to be the best ones available. However, Feng retorted saying that then the number of Artefacts leaving the Hall would decrease dramatically and then the supply would not meet demand.

Finally, they agreed that before the Forging of the Artefact began, the Master of the person that forges the Artefact will discuss with the Forger about which materials to use and which Formation Diagrams to use. It will still lengthen the Forging process a bit but not as drastically as Hide’s proposal. Hide also thought that this idea would be good and had no more objections. Since everyone present knew that the structures of the Halls they agreed on today will be the ones going into use.

They wanted to leave as little loopholes and build as thorough and solid system as possible. The other Halls also had their own ideas for structures and such and all of them were discussed amongst them all with everyone getting to say a piece without being discriminated or rebuked harshly. After the structures of the Halls and the privileges and obligations of the Hall Masters were set in stone, Zhi moved on to the next point on their agenda.

Feng and Zhishi were alarmed for a second but when Zhi said that the people in the room are the Core of Dragon Cross, they accepted everyone being present here. Feng then gave a report on all of the External Subordinates situations and also how their integration into strength of the Island is going. After Feng finished his report, Zhi just shook his head lightly and said, “Give them a few benefits and they will all act like the war did not even happen.” Everyone else nodded their heads as well with a bitter smile.

As “compensation”, Feng handed each of the Clans and Sects a few techniques and gave them a few benefits in the appearance of discounts on materials and Artefacts, Pills, Arts when trading with Dragon Cross. This didn’t encompass the whole Sect or Clan but rather the Leader or a few high up Elders. Also, the Arts they had gotten surpassed their own Core Arts by a level, so they were even more willing to serve under Dragon Cross. They did not take the “Iron Fist” style when approaching the surrender of the Clans and Sects but rather they took the soft approach.

Although, they had become Dragon Cross’s subordinates, they gained a few benefits out of this entire mess. This was to decrease the chances of these hundred plus Clans and Sects rebelling. Currently, Dragon Cross itself was weak and Zhi himself could not take on the hundred plus Clans and Sects. He defied common sense and logic but even he was not as heaven defying as that. If the Clans and Sects discarded everything and decided to fight Dragon Cross to the end, Dragon Cross might win but the losses would be far too immense. Also, Dragon Cross winning was only a “might”, they had no guarantee that they would be able to win.

As everyone were thinking of the situation with the External Subordinates, Long Ancestor asked, “Zhi, how about we unify this world as the Head Quarters of Dragon Cross? The Core would still be the Island but the people that can enter the Core will be specifically selected.” Hearing this, Zhi’s ears perked up as he looked at the Long Ancestor with an interested gaze. Zhi’s biggest weakness was that he did not know very much about the hierarchy and the workings of the Realm. Yes, he was strong and had an enormous amount of Artefacts, Pills and Arts but he that did not make up for the deficiency of knowledge. The workings of the Realm were actually very intricate and the lack of knowledge could not be blamed on Zhi.

Every Plane had a different structure in terms of hierarchy and such, so unless you were from the Ascended Plane, you would not know about the whole workings. Zhi asked, “Mind explaining in detail?” The Long Ancestor nodded and said, “Usually, the big Clans and Sects of the Ascended Plane are in control of a Minor World like ours. That place serves as their “base” so to speak.” He took a breath and continued, “They have branches spread out all over the World and the best talents are picked out and sent to the Main Headquarters. Also, the most inner Core region of the Clan or Sect hold only the best talents or the Core Members of the powers.”

He let it sink in a bit then continued, “For example, we could dominate the entire World and unify it under the Banner of Dragon Cross. Then we found various branches all over the World and keep the Island as the “Core Region” where all the best talents are sent or where our Core Members are.”

Zhi was interested in this solution and asked the Long Ancestor, “How long would it take for us to carry out this plan and how many branches are we talking about?”

The Long Ancestor thought for a few minutes and then said, “Taking over this World will not take long, about a year at maximum thanks to our reputation and overall might. As for establishing the Branches, it would take a few decades in the least. As for the exact number of Branches, that is hard to say, we need to select the people in charge of the Branch and the size of their sphere of influence and such.” Zhi nodded and opened his mouth but the Long Ancestor continued before Zhi could say anything, “We can also use the Sects that already exist and give them the choice of extermination or servitude. If we also offer them our protection and give them benefits for the talents they send, I’d say most of them would be happy to comply.” Zhi pondered on it for a moment.

Although Zhi did not like the idea of “servitude or extermination”, he could do nothing about it. The world of cultivation was survival of the strong and might makes right. If they took the soft approach to everything, they would be looked down upon by the others. However, they could not be truly tyrannical and not offer any benefits at all, otherwise, they would only rule over an army of corpses, since no one would want to follow them.

Also, he liked the idea very much because they can’t accommodate entire Dragon Cross on the Island. Currently, the Island was at maximum size it could be, ten thousand square kilometers. Currently, there would be no problem of accommodating everyone on the Island but as time passed and newer generations sprung up or new people joined Dragon Cross, eventually they would just run out of room to put all of them. Zhi thought seriously about this and then nodded his head.

He said in a cold tone, “As we are reforming the Halls, we will also take over this Minor World to serve as our Head Quarters and everyone who agrees to become the subordinate force of Dragon Cross, will be spared and rewarded. Anyone who declines….” He did not even need to finish his sentence for everyone present to understand the fate of those that decline. Although this method was cruel, it was not beneficial for them to leave these kinds of unpredictable variables by their side.

Also, if they could take over this World, they would be able to lay down World Scale Formations to increase the Qi in the surroundings. These kinds of benefits were not something they would be willing to give to some random people that did not even pay them tribute for it. A few more things were discussed at the meeting and one of them was a suggestion from Hide.

Hide suggested that the Main Hall would stay on the Island but every continent would have a miniature version of the Island that serves as the main Branch. There would be a “replica” of all of the Halls and this would also allow them to find good seedlings. Zhi agreed to this plan and after all of these kinds of nuances were talked about, Zhi dispersed all of the people and let them go make preparations.

The personnel to take over the World needed to be picked, also you can’t build a replica of Dragon Cross from thin air, you needed materials and such as well. Also, various people needed to be chosen to take charge of the Branches. So, there was a lot to do and even more to prepare carefully. As Zhi sat there in the meeting Hall by himself, he just sighed as he massaged his temples. This time, the meeting ended with a lot major decision being done that would change Dragon Cross from the core.

As he sat there, suddenly a young man in white appeared next to him silently. Of course Zhi felt that the young man appeared next to him and he slowly raised his head and asked, “What bring you here Uncle?” The young man just softly smiled and then asked fro permission to sit down. Zhi gestured him to take a seat and asked him, “Do you think I did the right thing?” The young man pulled out a wine gourd and two cups. He filled the cups and after taking a sip, he said, “It is something that you would have had to do sooner or later.”

He took another sip and said, “Actually, right now is the most optimal time to do it. There are a few people that are currently at threshold of the Third Tribulation and if they manage to pass, they will elevate your status even on the Ascended Plane.” Zhi looked at the young man silence. Every time he was in deep thoughts like this, the young man appeared and talked with him. Zhi had learned everything about him protecting him and such.

The young man then said, “When the first person passes the Third Tribulation, it will be the time that I and all the other Origin Realm people can finally step into the light.” Zhi nodded to his words. Currently, there were over 20 people on the Island that Zhi felt that were at least in the Origin Realm but they could not come to light with it because it would disrupt the delicate balance quite harshly. If these Origin Realm experts hadn’t held back during the war, their casualties would have been a lot smaller and the war would have ended a lot earlier than it had. Every single one of them had their own reasons for masking their true cultivation and Zhi’s policy was not to ask about it.

Zhi asked, “When the first person passes the Third Tribulation and you can finally exit the shadows, would you be interested in becoming the Hall Master for Sleeping Dragon?” Hearing this, the young man was startled and then smiled, “If the Island Master wishes for me to take the position, then I have no other option than to do so.” Hearing this response, Zhi just smiled. After the incident with the Black and White Emperor’s Soul Fragment, Zhi and the young man met quite often and Zhi truly viewed him as family. He also knew that he only survived the Ancient Battlefield thanks to the young man not letting him die. If it had truly been him alone, he would have died after the first month if not before.

Zhi looked at the young man and said, “I don’t like the “serve or be destroyed” kind of things. It makes me look like a power hungry tyrant.” Zhi’s Uncle just smiled and said, “Well, no matter what, if you left such variables under your side, you would regret it in the future. Also, the Formations that can increase the purity and density of Qi in the surroundings that are cast at the World Level are something that need the World to submit to you.” He took a sip of wine and said, “Why should Dragon Cross be magnanimous enough to help the Sect’s and Clan’s grow without getting any compensation for it? Besides, this kind of bases are far too common amongst Ancient Clans and Sects. Some Clans and Sects even have multiple Minor Worlds under their control.”

Zhi nodded to the explanation provided by his Uncle. It was the same conclusion he had come to and besides, after a few centuries the people that originally felt unhappy about serving Dragon Cross would have changed their views after they got the benefits from Dragon Cross.

Everyone would put on a stubborn act but in face of benefits that would allow them to advance by leaps and bounds in the Martial Path or any other path, there were very few that would stay strong headed.

Also, Dragon Cross was a new power. Although, they had a lot of powerful Arts and Artefacts, they still lacked numbers. Everything of Dragon Cross at the moment was built up single handedly by Zhi. The young man in white just shook his head and said, “However, something needs to be done about the fanatical trust in you by the current members of Dragon Cross.”

Hearing this, Zhi also sighed as he said, “Yea, something needs to be done about this. Currently, they are loyal to me not to Dragon Cross. At the moment, it may not be a problem but in the future it may cause Dragon Cross to face a calamity again if they get too conceited.”