Chapter 81: Recruiting New Members

“Hoo...” Yang Wenhao exhaled softly, withdrawing from his cultivation. The spiritual energy on Earth was still far too thin; if he continued to practice like this, it would probably take him more than a week to break through. Fortunately, Yang Wenhao had previously gathered a considerable amount of items that could collect the essence of heaven and earth.

Morning had arrived, and there was no time left for cultivation—if he continued, he would be late. After breakfast, he and Yang Ying set out together for school. Perhaps he had grown too accustomed to freedom, but even attending school now felt dull and meaningless. He spent almost the entire day cultivating, consolidating his strength.

After school, Yang Wenhao took out his phone and dialed a number. A few minutes later, a taxi pulled up in front of him. Two men stepped out of the car—one thin, one burly, like two extremes.

“Master,” the two greeted Yang Wenhao with deep respect.

“Let’s go,” he said.

They drove off together. The reason Yang Wenhao had summoned these two today was to find a place to settle down. He felt that, since he had chosen to establish the Heavenly Court, there would inevitably be more followers in the future. First, he needed a base of operations.

In the end, Yang Wenhao chose a villa located on the outskirts of the city. The villa complex was vast, but its distance from the city center meant few people were interested in it. Zhang Dawei and Li Qiuming, meanwhile, were both impressed by their master’s wealth. Several tens of millions were spent without the slightest hesitation.

But to Yang Wenhao, money meant nothing. The things he truly needed could not be bought with money.

“I suppose I’ll have to find an opportunity to set up a Spirit Gathering Array,” Yang Wenhao mused. The world’s spiritual energy was too scarce—within a ten-mile radius, it was pitifully thin. Without the array, he would have to spend enormous amounts of rare treasures to make up for it.

In the long run, a Spirit Gathering Array was clearly the most cost-effective option.

“System, how much does a Spirit Gathering Array cost?” Yang Wenhao asked.

In short order, the system displayed the entire series of Spirit Gathering Arrays.

In the end, Yang Wenhao chose a small Spirit Gathering Array. For now, that would suffice. Even so, it cost him two thousand points—almost half of his more than five thousand points gone in an instant, which made his heart ache. Yet, after a few days spent setting up the array, Yang Wenhao felt that those two thousand points had been well spent.

The area around the villa was planted with trees, per Yang Wenhao’s specific instructions. Once the Spirit Gathering Array was completed and began operating, Yang Wenhao could feel the spiritual energy rapidly condensing within. Over time, the concentration of spiritual energy here would surely reach a significant level.

“From now on, this will be the base of my Heavenly Court,” Yang Wenhao said to the two men before him.

“Yes, Master!”

In the past few days, Zhang Dawei and Li Qiuming had willingly submitted to him. Yang Wenhao taught them martial arts—each technique enough to make any martial artist in the world green with envy. With the aid of the Spirit Gathering Array, their cultivation progressed at a breakneck pace. In less than a week, both had reached the peak of the second tier.

“By the way, do you have any friends or brothers who could be brought in as well? But be clear about one thing: their backgrounds must be clean,” Yang Wenhao said to the two.

Zhang Dawei hesitated. “I do, but my friends are a rowdy bunch, hard to discipline. Maybe...”

“It doesn’t matter. Bring them in, and I’ll pay a monthly salary,” Yang Wenhao replied.

“Yes,” Zhang Dawei nodded.

A few days later, during the monthly holiday, Yang Wenhao found some free time to come by. As soon as he entered, he noticed several unfamiliar figures lounging in the living room.

“Who the hell are you? Coming in without knocking—get out, or I’ll break your legs,” threatened a man sprawled lazily on the sofa.

Yang Wenhao frowned. Just as Zhang Dawei had said—a bunch of unruly, incorrigible men.

Right then, Zhang Dawei came out from within. Upon seeing Yang Wenhao, his eyes widened, and he barked at the others, “Get up! The Master is here!”

“Master?” None of the newcomers knew Yang Wenhao, but they recognized Zhang Dawei. If not for him, they wouldn’t be living this life of ease.

“Where’s Li Qiuming?” Yang Wenhao asked.

“He said he had something to take care of outside,” Zhang Dawei replied. “Master, these are the friends I mentioned.”

Yang Wenhao’s gaze swept over the ragtag group.

“Who are you?” one of them asked.

Zhang Dawei, a little embarrassed, glared at the man. “This is the Master I told you about.”

Someone in the group sneered, “Master? What era do you think this is? Is this a joke? I’m a Holy Master myself…”

Before he could finish, a wave of powerful force bore down on him. In the next instant, he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen, followed by agony in his back—his bones nearly shattered.

The others were stunned by the scene. What on earth was going on? Was this some kind of joke? With a single kick, someone was sent flying as if it were nothing.

Yang Wenhao looked over the group and said coldly, “I don’t care what relationship you have with Zhang Dawei. Since you’re here, you need to understand one thing: I’m in charge of this place.”

After what had just happened, no one dared to talk back, fearing another strike from this fearsome man. Unlike Zhang Dawei, they were just ordinary people. When it came to fighting, they were used to picking on the weak; if they ever faced someone truly strong, they’d be lucky to escape without begging for mercy.

Yang Wenhao continued, “I’m giving you two choices. First, you can leave like he did, flat on your back. Second, you can become martial artists like Zhang Dawei and serve under me.”

The first was clearly a beating. As for the second—everyone had seen just how strong Zhang Dawei had become lately. Lifting hundreds of pounds was nothing to him; he could move massive stones as if they were feathers.

“Martial artists? Like them?” someone asked.

Yang Wenhao nodded. “I’ll give you an hour to think it over. In the meantime, you’re free to leave.”

They weren’t fools—they understood exactly what Yang Wenhao meant.

Yang Wenhao turned and headed to the only room on the top floor, his private quarters. Whenever anyone tried to enter during this time, Zhang Dawei had stopped them, forbidding all others from entering.

The room contained only a bed, nothing else. It looked utterly ordinary. But only cultivators would know its true significance.

This was the core of the entire villa’s Spirit Gathering Array—the place where spiritual energy was most concentrated. That was why Yang Wenhao had chosen this as his room.

(End of this chapter)