NOVEL NEXT Ch. 4
Chapter 4: Inferior Pills, Divine-Level Benefits!
A thin and frail disciple asked in disbelief, his voice trembling.
“That's right!” Chu Feng’s voice was filled with unquestionable certainty.
“This—this is the first benefit, the welcoming gift, that our 『Heavenly Dao Mutual Aid Association』 is giving to all family members!”
He swept his gaze across the crowd, taking in every trace of greed, desire, doubt, and hesitation in their eyes.
“I know what you’re all thinking.”
Chu Feng shifted his tone, speaking earnestly.
“You’re thinking—how could there be such a good thing in this world? Is this fellow named Chu Feng plotting something?”
He answered himself with a calm smile:
“That’s right, I am plotting something! My ‘plot’ is to lead everyone together, to escape from our current misery, and to climb to the peak of life! My ‘plot’ is to make those who once looked down on us—raise their heads and look up to us in awe!”
These words sounded grand and impassioned.
But most of the disciples were still hesitating.
Getting something for free—such things were instinctively hard to believe.
Just then, a burly man with a simple, honest face squeezed out from the crowd and asked in a deep, muffled voice:
“My name’s Zhang Daniu. I just wanna ask—if we join your Association, do we really get a pill? And… will there be more in the future?”
Chu Feng’s eyes lit up—this was his chance.
People like this, simple-minded and strong-limbed, were exactly the kind of die-hard followers he needed for his first batch of core supporters!
He immediately put on an extremely sincere smile, looked straight at Zhang Daniu, and nodded heavily.
“This brother Daniu asked well! You hit the key point!”
“I, Chu Feng, swear right here—today, every brother who joins the 『Heavenly Dao Mutual Aid Association』 will receive one ‘Qi Nurturing Pill’ as a start-up resource!”
“As for whether there’ll be more later—”
Chu Feng deliberately drew out his words, heightening everyone’s curiosity before shouting aloud:
“Not only will there be more—but they’ll become more and more abundant, and of higher and higher quality!”
He picked up another pill from the stone table and continued his performance.
“Everyone, look—our Mutual Aid Association operates on a ‘Contribution Points System!’”
“Today, once you join, you automatically become a ‘Founding Member’ and receive 1 point! With that 1 point, you can exchange it for this very Qi Nurturing Pill!”
“And next comes—the exciting part!”
Chu Feng’s eyes burned with fervor.
For a moment, it was as if he had returned to the lecture podium of his previous life.
“If you think our Mutual Aid Association is great, and you introduce it to your friends, and your friends join too—congratulations! As the referrer, you’ll receive 2 bonus points!”
“What can 2 points do? You can exchange them for two Qi Nurturing Pills—or later, for a superior-grade ‘Fine Qi Nurturing Pill!’”
“And so on! The more people you recommend, the more points you gain! The more points you have, the better the resources you can exchange! From pills to cultivation manuals, from artifacts to spirit stones! If your contributions to the Association are great enough, even having a Sect Elder protect you during Tribulation won’t be impossible!”
To modern people, this theory was nothing but a classic multi-level marketing recruitment model.
But to these simple-minded natives of the Cultivation World, it was an unheard-of, exquisitely ingenious incentive system!
No need for hard cultivation, no need for dangerous battles—just talk to people and recruit them, and you could gain far more resources than years of menial labor?
How could such a good thing exist in this world!
Zhang Daniu’s brain wasn’t the sharpest, but he understood the most crucial point: recruiting people brought rewards!
He immediately slapped his chest and shouted loudly:
“I’m in! Brother Chu Feng, I—Zhang Daniu—am the first to join your 『Heavenly Dao Mutual Aid Association』!”
“Good!”
Chu Feng was overjoyed. On the spot, he slapped a Qi Nurturing Pill into Zhang Daniu’s hand.
“Brother Daniu, from now on, you are an Elder Member of our Mutual Aid Association! You’re family!”
Zhang Daniu received the pill excitedly, feeling the faint spiritual energy emanating from it. Tears welled up in his eyes.
It had been so many years!
He had been in Qingyun Sect for five years, and this was the first time he had ever “earned” a pill by himself!
He tucked the pill into his chest pocket like a treasure and turned to the crowd, shouting:
“What are you all waiting for? Didn’t you hear Brother Chu Feng? This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance! Miss this village, and there won’t be another inn ahead!”
The power of example was limitless.
Seeing that Zhang Daniu had indeed received a pill, the crowd erupted in excitement.
“I’ll join too!”
“Count me in! Senior Brother Chu Feng, I want to join!”
“And me!”
In an instant, emotions surged. The previously lifeless chores disciples now acted like they had been injected with chicken blood, scrambling toward the platform, afraid of being left behind.
Chu Feng was inwardly ecstatic but outwardly maintained a calm and steady smile.
He took out paper and brush (borrowed from the Discipline Hall) and began registration in a formal manner.
“Name: Zhang Daniu, Founding Member, No.001.”
“Name: Zhao Si, Founding Member, No.002.”
“Name: Wang Mazi, Founding Member, No.003…”
In less than the time it took for one stick of incense to burn, all forty-plus chores disciples in the courtyard had become proud members of the 『Heavenly Dao Mutual Aid Association』.
Thirty pills were quickly handed out, and those who didn’t receive one began to grow anxious.
Chu Feng calmly raised his hand, pressing down the growing commotion.
“Family, don’t worry! Our pills are limited—but our opportunities are limitless!”
“For those who didn’t receive a pill today—your 1 point has already been recorded! Starting tomorrow, if you successfully recommend one new member, you can immediately exchange 2 points for your very own pill!”
“I promise everyone—the pills will come soon! And they’ll come continuously!”
The “pie” he painted successfully appeased the disciples who hadn’t received a pill and gave them a clear “goal to strive for.”
Looking at the crowd below—these wide-eyed, passionate, and utterly gullible “recruits”—Chu Feng knew that his “Immortal Dao Pyramid Empire” had just laid its very first foundation stone.
He cleared his throat, preparing to give his closing speech and put a perfect end to today’s “opening ceremony.”
But just then, a mocking and disdainful voice rang out from the courtyard gate.
“So it’s you spreading nonsense here, turning this place into a mess. I was wondering who it was—but it turns out to be you, the waste who hasn’t yet been expelled from the Sect, Chu Feng!”
Everyone turned to look, only to see a white-robed young disciple swaggering in with several attendants.
His chin was lifted slightly, his eyes sweeping over the crowd with contempt.
The newcomer was none other than the Inner Sect disciple—Li Aotian!
“L–Li Senior Brother?”
The previously roaring courtyard suddenly fell silent, as if doused by a bucket of cold water.