Chapter 14: The Three Axes of Reform

“Is it only about developing the Demon Cavern?”

Xu Gu once again became the Demon Lord of the Great Cool Demon Cavern. His cultivation reached the astounding early Combined Body stage, demonic energy surging to the heavens, his pressure almost tangible.

Just looking at him from afar was enough to make one’s legs go weak.

“This is really not challenging at all.”

Xu Gu looked lazy and relaxed, feeling that the task was far too simple.

“This…”

All the demon heads, hearing this, wore strange expressions, as if they had been insulted.

Sure enough, the difference between demon and demon was even greater than the difference between man and dog.

Clearly, after witnessing Xu Gu’s astonishing operations in the first two trials, they no longer had any doubts about him.

Inside the illusion,

Xu Gu issued his first order, continuing the whitewashing strategy of the second trial: change the name, do good deeds in the surrounding area, and build a good relationship with the authorities.

“If that’s all, then he is going to fail this time.”

“Whitewashing can only hide you for a while, not forever.”

“Because if the Demon Cavern wants to develop, no matter how hard you whitewash, you can never get truly clean. There will definitely be all sorts of handles left behind. If you keep a low profile and the righteous path doesn’t bother with you, you can enjoy a short period of peace.

“But once you grow to a certain scale and start to obstruct the righteous path’s interests,

“In the end, you will definitely be wiped out by them.”

The demon heads all spoke with solemn expressions, criticizing one after another.

They thought Xu Gu had finally used up his tricks.

Even Han Changsheng began to waver.

Then—

They saw Xu Gu issue a second order.

“From now on, the Demon Cavern will be split into two, following an ‘outer saint, inner demon’ strategy.

“All elite disciples and core members are to be incorporated into the Great Love Immortal Sect.

“All demonic cultivators who lack potential and strong strength will remain in the Demon Cavern.

“The Great Love Immortal Sect will act as a hidden sect, a holy teaching of the human race, concealing itself so that no one in the world can see through it. Even the Demon Cavern cultivators must not be allowed to know of it.

“The Demon Cavern cultivators will be scattered across the world, establishing bases everywhere. The Great Love Immortal Sect will send secret envoys to them, hiding their identities and giving one-way orders. If a crisis occurs, they are to directly abandon the Demon Cavern base.”

If the first order could be summarized as whitewashing, then this second order was simply righteous cutting.

The Demon Cavern would carry the black pot; the Great Love Immortal Sect would enjoy all the benefits.

The trusted aides’ expressions changed dramatically when they heard this order. Although they felt this was a good thing and would maximize the preservation of core strength from being discovered and destroyed by the righteous path, the reform was far too radical and would surely encounter unimaginable resistance.

“If anyone refuses, kill them.”

Xu Gu had already anticipated this. “Whoever you cannot kill, I will.”

“Yes…”

The trusted aides’ lips twitched. They almost forgot that this Demon Lord was different from others—he did not treat demonic lives as lives at all.

“This…”

Outside, all the demon heads sighed in admiration at Xu Gu’s boldness.

Regardless of success or failure, having the courage to enact such earth-shaking reforms already put him above the vast majority of Demon Cavern Lords.

In fact, after giving it some thought, they faintly felt it could work.

“This still won’t do,” Han Changsheng shook his head. “Although doing this would mean that, for a long time afterward, we wouldn’t have to worry about being wiped out by the righteous path,

“The fundamental problem for the Demon Cavern right now is not external enemies, but internal issues. The soil of the Demon Cavern itself is simply not suited for development.”

As acting Demon Lord, he knew better than anyone how impossible demonic cultivators were to manage.

They all harbored their own intentions, revered things like betraying masters and ancestors, and were extremely guarded against their own disciples. They only wanted to take advantage, never to give. Under such conditions, how could there be orderly inheritance or rising strength for the demonic path?

As for the methods of Illusion Colored Clothes and the other four, they were too extreme. In essence, what they strengthened was not the Demon Cavern, but themselves.

Then—

Came Xu Gu’s third order:

“Spread the word. The Demon Cavern is a safe harbor for all demonic cultivators in the world. Any demonic cultivator who has no way out can come seek refuge.

“But the Demon Cavern’s protection is not free. The Demon Cavern’s resources are likewise not for free use.

“If they want the Demon Cavern’s shelter, if they want to enjoy its resources, it’s very simple—they either bring money, or they make contributions.”

“Hiss—”

At those words, all the demon heads drew in a sharp breath.

It was as if a door to a completely new world had been flung open.

“So it can be done like this? He really is a genius at cultivating demons!”

“He’s definitely the boss of the heaven-sent demonic children!”

“My heavens, could it be the demonic path will rise because of him?”

The demon heads were thoroughly shocked, fully aware of how deep and far-reaching the influence of this order was.

Inside Han Changsheng’s heart, waves surged, and he was filled with awe.

“In this way, managing demonic cultivators becomes easy.

“All demonic cultivators have already hit rock bottom. Without the shelter of the Demon Cavern, they have only one path—death. If they want protection from the Demon Cavern, they must either pay up or work hard.

“In order to stay alive, they will definitely hand over all their wealth without reservation. And once they’re out of money, they’ll work extremely hard!”

All the demon heads were shocked by Xu Gu’s decision.

Their very understanding was overturned.

Until now, every demonic faction had developed itself following the same model as the righteous sects.

They relied on the internal drive of their disciples, cultivating in them a sense of belonging and responsibility to the sect so they would willingly contribute.

But the reason the demonic path was demonic was that demonic cultivators were extremely selfish. They could never truly develop a sense of belonging or responsibility toward a sect, let alone willingly pay a price for it.

For the sake of benifits, betraying masters, ancestors, partners, and relatives was daily routine.

So of course the demonic path never developed properly.

Now, Xu Gu had created a development model tailored specifically to the demonic path.

Extraction-based management—pay-to-work.

He did not care whether they willingly contributed to the demonic sect; as long as they brought enough money or effort, that was enough.

If you refused to pay or refused to work hard—then get lost.

The righteous path could never adopt such a model. If disciples had to pay to enter, who would join them? They would just go to another sect. Other sects would fight to recruit them.

But in the demonic path, a demonic cultivator with no way out would truly die if he did not join some demonic force.

“Hahaha, the demonic path will rise!”

All the demon heads smiled knowingly.

As those in power within the Demon Cavern, they would absolutely support this policy one hundred percent, as they were the biggest beneficiaries.

Previously, they had always sheltered the demonic cultivators of the Cavern, but their returns were minimal.

Now, all demonic cultivators would be exploited by them, and the gains would multiply many times over.

“This…”

Han Changsheng was both delighted and worried, his mood extremely complicated. It was still the same worry as before—he feared being replaced by Xu Gu and being sidelined by the other elders.

However, his worry did not last long before it vanished entirely.

He saw Xu Gu continue:

“The wealth you hand in or earn through hard work will not flow into anyone’s pockets. It will stay within the sect only. Whoever wants to gain benefits must exchange equal contributions for them.”

At those words, the demon heads became displeased.

They felt this line was completely unnecessary.

Even though they knew that Xu Gu’s decision was the best one and would help the Demon Cavern continuously grow instead of being drained dry by demon heads like them,

They were still demon heads. In truth, they did not care much about the Demon Cavern’s interests, only their own.

“Good! This is a good decision,” Han Changsheng said, very satisfied when he saw the demon heads’ displeasure. Xu Gu looked pleasing to his eyes again.

The demon path of lordship was about one thing—balance.

While they were whipped into towering waves by Xu Gu’s decisions,

Inside the illusion, the Demon Cavern, following Xu Gu’s three orders—whitewashing, righteous cutting, and pay-to-work—began its fervent reform.

(End of this chapter)