Dominating Martial King-Chapter 1159 - 430: All Heavens Secret Ceremony

Inside the room, everyone was taken aback by the words.

Everyone exchanged glances filled with shock and amazement, excitement and joy, along with a trace of relief.

It turns out these people didn’t want to act, but rather they didn’t dare!

"To say they all came for my life isn’t entirely accurate; some of them have other purposes."

As Chu Xisheng spoke, he opened the Martial Arts Treasure Vault and used many of the advancement Talent Cards he had stored on his trusted subordinates.

These people, though not very advanced in cultivation, were those who had followed him before his rise, and using them gave him peace of mind.

The Blood Vengeance Blade Lord’s 20% talent discount card had already been used on Zhoou Liangchen.

But the rest, including Qin Muge’s 40% discount card, Lu Luanti’s 30% discount card, Ji Qianqian’s 30% discount card, Su Fengdao’s 20% discount card, and Li Changsheng’s 30% discount card, totaling over a dozen cards, were now used on these trusted subordinates.

These people were his fundamental base; the higher their cultivation and the stronger their combat power, the more solid the foundation of the Iron Banner Gang.

Only the Divine Turtle Wanderer’s 20% discount card remained unused.

Chu Xisheng didn’t want to use this card, with its powerful sorcerer talent, on these martial cultivators. However, for now, he hadn’t found a suitable recipient.

"Actually, their exact motives don’t matter; our own strength is the root. As long as we’re powerful enough, we can suppress all the treacherous ghosts and fiends."

Chu Xisheng then looked at Tie Xiaosheng: "How are the gang members doing below?"

Tie Xiaosheng’s expression immediately became serious: "In the past year, the Iron Banner Gang has massively expanded. Currently, we have 40,000 formal gang members and as many as 1.37 million peripheral members. Along the Shenxiu River in the East State, the laborers, ship workers, hunters, miners, and fishermen have basically all joined our Iron Banner Gang."

He showed an unusual gleam in his eyes: "At the Flag Leader’s command, we can immediately mobilize 27,000 highly skilled archers among the hunters, along with 1,700 warships, 120,000 in the navy, and 90,000 in the land army."

This military strength, compared to the time when the Iron Banner Gang swept over Xiushui and Xunyang County, seems not to have grown much.

In reality, the enhancement is considerable.

At this moment, whether in terms of the quality of warships, the quality of personnel, or the distribution of battle armor and weapons, it’s incomparable to a year and a half ago.

The current Iron Banner Gang can produce troops all at the Ninth Grade level, no longer relying on young adults who couldn’t even enter the ranks a year and a half ago.

Chu Xisheng nodded slightly: "How is the morale?"

"It can be said to be aligned with the leader!"

The one responding was Lu Pingyuan, the Internal Affairs Hall Master. He raised a hand and smiled: "Whether laborers or boatmen, as long as the Iron Banner Gang is advocating for them, their income can greatly increase, and they can even take some time to rest each month. There’s nothing unsatisfactory about it.

However, the ones truly able to handle matters are still those old brothers from the past. Additionally, over the past year and a half, we’ve focused our efforts on them, and most have reached Ninth Grade cultivation. It’s just—"

Lu Pingyuan paused: "Our territory is indeed not enough to support so many people."

The brothers at the bottom don’t actually cost much money.

The key is still their high-ranking martial cultivators.

The Iron Banner Gang now has eight people at Third Grade, seventeen at Fourth Grade, and even more at Fifth Grade, totaling over thirty.

The salaries for these people alone account for 70% of the Iron Banner Gang’s current expenses.

During the incense hall appointments in the morning, Chu Xisheng cited the difficult times as an excuse to temporarily reduce all Tributor Officials’ salaries by half.

Lu Pingyuan did not expect these people to accept this as well.

But even so, it remains a massive expense, making it difficult for the Iron Banner Gang to bear.

"If the territory isn’t enough, then take it! First take down the whole East State Eight Counties, and also the counties to the west in Fei State. If we can seize it, we should, and if we can occupy it, we must. We can’t keep so many people idle.

And those new sub-branches and halls, which you couldn’t control before, were unavoidable. Now that I’m back, rules will be established, and they must make up for all their dues within a month."

Chu Xisheng laughed coldly: "Since they fly the flag of my Iron Banner Gang, they should contribute to the gang."

Once in the Iron Banner Gang and sworn a blood oath, there will be no room for such wanton behavior.

Those present were invigorated by these words.

Chu Xisheng’s return greatly boosted everyone’s confidence; they had a reliable leader.

Bu Yancheng of the ’Eight-Armed Vajra Sword’ was especially eager, with an excited look in his eyes, thinking it was worthwhile to follow the Flag Leader.

This suited him perfectly.

In the near future, a storm of blood and violence would surely rise across East State and Fei State!

The comrades he had recruited would also have a place to demonstrate their skills.

"In any case, we must try to open up new sources of revenue. If that’s not enough, I’ll think of another way."

When Chu Xisheng said this, he looked again at ’Corpse Dog’ Li Manshan: "Old Li, has your father sent any message for me? What is the Corpse Mountain Sect planning?"

Li Manshan, with a grave expression, cupped his hands: "Flag Leader, there are other reasons concerning Taishan County. My sect needs to accomplish something there, borrowing the flag of the Iron Banner Gang. I don’t actually know the details, only that it involves one of the Ancient Four Ancestor Corpses. I’m not clear on which one."

"Ancestor Corpse?"

Chu Xisheng couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.

The Four Ancestor Corpses—Yiing Gou, Hou Qing, Drought, Jiang Chen—what exactly does the Corpse Mountain Sect intend?

Seeing Chu Xisheng frown deeply, Li Manshan quickly explained: "Flag Leader, although our Corpse Mountain Sect is not a prestigious orthodox, it has a fairly good reputation and would never commit acts against justice and reason. I can assure you, everything my sect does in Taishan County will not harm innocent civilians. Additionally, our sect has substantial gifts to present."