"However, the missions that earn points quickly involve going to the front lines at Seeking Plum Mountain and Luoyan Mountain to fight the Demon Cultivators."

"Kill a Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator, and you’ll immediately receive a large number of points. If you perform exceptionally well, there are additional rewards."

Zhu Hui spoke up, asking, "Song, do we choose our own missions, or will the Lingyuan Sect assign them?"

Elder Song replied, "After we arrive at the Lingyuan Sect, there will be personnel in charge of assigning the missions."

Zhu Hui pressed on, "Song, what if I want to go to Luoyan Mountain but get assigned to some other outpost? Does that mean I’ll have no chance to compete for the most points?"

Elder Song waved his hand. "Of course not. You’re worrying too much, Zhu."

"Each mission has a set duration, and we conduct rotations on a regular basis. For one, this is relatively fair. For another, it gives the cultivators on the front lines time to rest."

Liu Feng also spoke up. "Song, what if I want to stay at Luoyan Mountain permanently?"

"Let me be blunt. I didn’t come to Hezhou for any ’Demon Extermination and Protection of the Dao.’ I’m just here to rack up points."

Elder Song turned to look at him. "We’ve naturally taken your perspective into account, Liu."

"If you don’t want to be part of the rotation, there are two ways."

"The first way is to spend points to request a change in your assignment."

Liu Feng shook his head decisively. "That’s completely unreasonable. I have to spend points just to stay on the front lines? What kind of sense does that make?"

"Song, you’d better just tell me the second option."

But Elder Song offered an explanation first. "Liu, coordinating the war effort requires us to look at the big picture. Rotations are a necessary part of that."

"As for the second method, if you kill enough Demon Cultivators to earn sufficient merit, you can become a Demon-slaying Guard."

"From that point on, you can act independently, no longer bound by mission assignments, and earn points by hunting Demon Cultivators."

"If you don’t wish to be tied down, Liu, you can choose this path."

’Xiao Chen instantly understood the Lingyuan Sect’s arrangement.’

’Most of the cultivators who’d come this time were Loose Cultivators.’

’Compared to sect cultivators, they naturally prioritized their own interests, and there was an inherent lack of trust between them and the sect.’

’Therefore, whether they were allowed to choose missions freely or had them uniformly assigned, a large number of Loose Cultivators would have been dissatisfied.’

’So, for those cultivators who didn’t want to go to the front, the Lingyuan Sect used a rotation system to send them there in batches.’

’For one thing, having everyone participate in the rotation, regardless of status, created a sense of fairness.’

’For another, the higher point rewards for guard duty on the front lines would reduce complaints from the Loose Cultivators.’

’They also established a clear, public path for capable cultivators to earn the privilege of acting independently.’

’This benefited those capable enough to stay on the front lines long-term, especially cultivators like Liu Feng who were after the best rewards.’

’It also served to win over the masses and give those who didn’t want to go to the front a tangible goal.’

’Once they became a Demon-slaying Guard, they would no longer be under orders and could choose to stay in the rear.’

’Xiao Chen was fairly certain that the requirement to become a Demon-slaying Guard would be a task that seemed simple but was, in fact, incredibly difficult.’

’For most cultivators, it would be a goal within sight but forever out of reach.’

.

Elder Song continued to explain the various rules in detail.

Halfway through his explanation, a Sound Transmission Talisman at his waist suddenly lit up. He turned and stepped outside to check the message.

A moment later, he returned with a grim expression. "Everyone, I’ve just received an urgent message."

"Just an hour ago, a new Demon Dao Golden Core appeared at Seeking Plum Mountain."

Hearing the words "Demon Dao Golden Core," the crowd immediately erupted into discussion.

They had heard a few months ago that the Divine Fire Sect had two Demon Dao Golden Cores. Before they arrived, that number had already risen to three.

And now, just a few days later, there was another.

Elder Song raised his voice. "But please, rest assured, everyone. Master Fu Jian of the Lingyuan Sect is currently stationed at Seeking Plum Mountain."

"They clashed for only a few minutes before Master Fu Jian successfully repelled his opponent."

Hearing that their side’s Golden Core True Man had been victorious, the crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief, feeling much more at ease.

Some of the Loose Cultivators who had been apprehensive about the rotations were no longer so resistant, now that they knew a Golden Core True Man was stationed at the front.

After the meeting ended, Xiao Chen returned to his small room alone, carefully mulling over the current situation.

’The appearance of another Demon Dao Golden Core meant the war was bound to be prolonged.’ 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

’And how many more Golden Core True Men did the Divine Fire Sect have in reserve?’

’If they did, when would they choose to reveal themselves?’

’Keeping them hidden like this meant they were settling in for a war of attrition.’

’This War of Righteous and Evil was different from a typical war between sects.’

’Logically, it could only go one of two ways, with two possible outcomes.’

’The first scenario is a large disparity in high-level combat power.’

’In that case, the side with more Golden Core True Men could use their numerical superiority to overwhelm the enemy and achieve a swift victory.’

’That path seemed impossible now. The Divine Fire Sect had at least four Demon Dao Golden Cores.’

’Trying to kill four Golden Core True Men was an extraordinarily difficult task.’

’The second scenario was a contest of resources.’

’Over a long period, either the Demon Dao’s low-tier cultivators would be depleted—especially the Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators who were mass-produced using Demon Techniques—until they were all but wiped out.’

’Eventually, only a few generals with no soldiers would be left, forced into hiding before being hunted down one by one.’

’Or, the Righteous Sects’ resources—especially their Spirit Stone reserves—would be the first to run out, leaving them unable to sustain their various arrays.’