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Chapter 168: The Contract of the Spirit World

Zhang Caidong had no understanding of the plans of Green Leaf Group and Zhang Bo.

He also had no right to understand.

After all, he was not currently within the sphere of influence of the Green Leaf Group; he was merely a pawn of Zhang Bo, a casual move made on a whim.

However, this casual move of his successfully developed into a crucial role that could not be underestimated or ignored, and he even gained the privilege of managing all Blue Star Humans in this New Leader of Human Race’s territory.

This meant that Zhang Caidong’s power was, in fact, immense.

No Spiritual Realm Lord would dare to casually bestow such great power upon a Blue Star Human whom he had not known before, and who was even an enemy.

Yet, in reality, Shen Mu, the New Leader of Human Race, not only bestowed this power upon Zhang Caidong with such generous behavior.

He also trusted him unconditionally, almost handing over all the management authority of the Spiritual Realm Commander, which all Blue Star Humans had obtained through Spiritual Realm inheritance, to Zhang Caidong.

It could be said that by handing over both personnel management and military deployment rights to Zhang Caidong, it was completely equivalent to establishing another powerful force besides Shen Mu, the Spiritual Realm Lord.

Moreover, it had already formed a monopolistic power.

At least for those Blue Star Humans, obeying Zhang Caidong’s arrangements meant obeying the arrangements of Shen Mu, the New Leader of Human Race.

In a sense, Zhang Caidong was the agent of Shen Mu, the New Leader of Human Race.

However, Zhang Caidong, this agent, truly did an excellent job.

At this time, he set up his office at the junction of Deherim’s Castle District and Town Area.

Behind him was the towering rock formation, and the Castle District built upon it.

Including the stone walls built on the Castle District, as well as the arrow towers and the soldiers patrolling and standing guard on the walls, holding bows, crossbows, and long spears.

All of this gave Zhang Caidong a sense of deterrence, like a fox borrowing the tiger’s prestige.

He appeared to be leaning on Rodok Castle, owned by Shen Mu, to suppress those Blue Star Humans who had been selected, deemed trustworthy, and stationed in the Town Area.

And Zhang Caidong now quite enjoyed this respected position.

After all, for him, Shen Mu’s trust indeed made him quite comfortable in this Human Race town named Deherim.

Many Blue Star Humans were complimenting him, surrounding him, flattering and currying favor with him.

If this wasn’t enjoyment, then nothing was.

The only thing Zhang Caidong regretted was that he hadn’t obtained many spiritual realm mark fragments.

Of course, this was also related to his recent joining of this New Leader of Human Race territory named Deherim.

He also understood that he had only been there for two days and had not yet fully gained Shen Mu’s trust, although previously, as spies, Shen Mu had promised to give them a certain amount of spiritual realm mark fragments as compensation.

But now was not the time to ask for it.

After all, he was now working under Shen Mu, trusted and entrusted with important responsibilities.

Including the 17 friends who were spies with him, all of them had now become high-level executives among the Blue Star Humans.

Each of them had gathered a group of relatives and friends, forming a group of middle-level executives under them, only then able to manage the nearly 20,000 to 30,000 Blue Star Humans gathered there.

It could be said that it was by relying on these sixteen or seventeen people, plus his relatives and friends, that a large number of high-level and middle-level managers were formed, who could then manage these Blue Star Humans.

The flattery and favors received every day were countless, and just Spiritual Realm food alone was enough to fill them up.

That’s right, these high-level managers had Spiritual Realm food for all three meals a day.

Although it was just some black bread, and salty meat stewed with wheat porridge, minced meat, and chopped vegetables.

They were well aware of how precious these Spiritual Realm foods were.

After only two or three days of eating them, they felt warm all over and had inexhaustible strength.

Compared to the Blue Star World’s local food they used to eat, which made them hungry quickly and often left them feeling a chill all over, it was simply incomparable.

Because they had already received rule-level protection for their physical bodies.

This was not to say the protection they received by living in Deherim, a Human Race territory under rule protection, but rather because after consuming Spiritual Realm food, they received rule-level protection directly applied to their physical bodies, and it could also protect their spirits.

As long as they regularly consumed this Spiritual Realm food, it would have a nourishing effect on their souls.

And even if they didn't have a soul now, it could make their will stronger and enable them to resist the corrosion of death spirit rules in the darkness.

Furthermore, because they had begun to resonate with their contracted Spiritual Realm creatures, regular consumption of these Spiritual Realm foods could also help them resonate better and faster, making their souls more solidified.

It could be said to be beneficial in every way.

The only downside was that Spiritual Realm food was indeed too coarse; compared to the scientific and systematic diet of the Blue Star World, it was truly so coarse that it was somewhat difficult to swallow.

However, even eating this sour black bread and this very strange-tasting, only salty, minced meat and vegetable porridge.

For high-level managers like Zhang Caidong, it was still a privilege.

After all, only ordinary Blue Star Humans would eat those Blue Star foods; in a situation where the Blue Star World was about to be destroyed and replaced by other worlds, still eating Blue Star food meant being inferior and having no future.

Therefore, eating Spiritual Realm food was the true privilege of the elite class.

“This is truly comfortable.” At this moment, Zhang Caidong also finished his portion of minced meat and vegetable porridge from the wooden bowl, then stuffed the last bit of black bread into his mouth, chewing and swallowing it in large mouthfuls.

He looked at the good-natured middle-level managers next to him, who were also eating the minced meat and vegetable porridge in large mouthfuls, looking quite satisfied.

A smile also appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“I’m telling you guys, as long as you follow your Brother Zhang, you’ll definitely not miss out on benefits.” Zhang Caidong leaned back in his chair contentedly, his feet on the table in front of him, lying there quite comfortably.

He also said with a rather smug tone, “Even these Spiritual Realm foods couldn’t be eaten in the Diesel Company’s office tribe back then. Now that you’ve followed me, you get to eat these Spiritual Realm foods for all three meals a day, so don’t forget your roots.”

There was a hint of warning in his words.

The seven or eight middle-level managers in front of him quickly nodded, very respectfully flattering Zhang Caidong and saying, “Of course, Brother Zhang, it was you who led us through the gates of Deherim. Even if we forget anyone, we can’t forget you.”

“Hmm.” Zhang Caidong was quite satisfied with these middle-level managers under him.

However, there was a reason for him to say that.

Especially seeing these guys, who were outwardly very respectful, but secretly arranged quite a few drinking parties.

And they didn’t even invite him.

This made Zhang Caidong quite displeased.

Moreover, just this afternoon, a drinking party was arranged in the mobile apartments outside Deherim. Although it was just some Blue Star food and no Spiritual Realm food, it also meant that they had actually formed a clique.

This was not a good omen.

“You guys seem to be getting very close lately, and none of you call me when something happens. If I didn’t say it directly, I would have thought you forgot about me, your big brother.”

Zhang Caidong said this.

He also made his point clear.

“So that’s what this is about, Brother Zhang.” At this moment, these middle-level managers were originally uneasy, wondering when they had offended Zhang Caidong to make him say such words.

But upon hearing about this matter, smiles immediately appeared on their faces.

They quickly began to explain, “Brother Zhang, don’t you know you’re busy? We had a small conflict behind the scenes earlier. A few younger brothers below us weren’t quite convinced of each other, and they caused a ruckus over competing for spots to enter Deherim. When we saw there was no other way, we went over and mediated, and we even invited Zhang Bo along to help mediate.”

“Zhang Bo.” Zhang Caidong raised his eyebrows slightly at this moment, a little surprised to hear such words: “How could anything manage to invite Zhang Bo?”

Everyone knew the relationship between Zhang Bo and him, although most people didn’t know they were from the same surname and clan, originating from the old city village.

But now, Zhang Bo and he had such a close relationship.

That basically meant Zhang Bo and Zhang Caidong were implicitly considered sworn brothers, and everyone else looked at Zhang Bo with new eyes.

There was no other way; look at Zhang Caidong, who now held great power in Deherim and was deeply trusted by Shen Mu.

Zhang Bo himself was a Prophecy-type Mage.

He had a bright future.

Neither of them could be easily offended.

Their combined relationship basically made them influential figures in front of Shen Mu, the New Leader of Human Race.

Who would dare to offend them casually?

Therefore, they were quite submissive to Zhang Caidong.

Since he had just asked, they explained in detail why the conflict occurred and why Zhang Bo was invited. They also explained that inviting Zhang Bo was out of respect for Zhang Caidong, to mediate the matter.

After all, those two young men were their own people, and they were the children of brothers they had previously nurtured.

One must look at the monk’s face for the Buddha’s sake. Of course, they had to take good care of them.

Otherwise, their subordinates might think their senior management lacked capability and couldn't get their children into Deherim first, which would be problematic.

After all, this was a matter of prestige.

So, Zhang Bo was sent to arrange for the two young people to enter Deherim, using Zhang Caidong's name.

This not only appeased the two young people but also calmed the restless small groups among his subordinates.

After all, having just joined the New Leader of Human Race's territory, there were many positions of power they could take over, and if they could advance further, it would clearly be beneficial for their future development.

Everyone desired power.

Especially those temporary workers who had just emerged from the collapse and disintegration of the Orc Tribe of the Diesel Company, and who originally had no power.

They had all witnessed the various benefits, treatments, and rights of the official employees back then.

Their hearts were already filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred.

Now that they had this opportunity to be like those official employees, they simply couldn't hold back.

Therefore, they were all eager to make their move.

Of course, Zhang Caidong also understood the thoughts of these former temporary workers who had followed him.

After all, he couldn't help it; he himself was a temporary worker at the time and also longed for the treatment of official employees.

Now that he held great power, directly becoming the second-in-command under Shen Mu, the sense of Expansion brought by this power was unparalleled.

Therefore, regarding these people, he didn't express much disapproval or rejection of Zhang Bo using his name to appease those young people and small groups.

Instead, a smile appeared on his lips, and he nodded, saying, "You all just honestly follow me and work hard; strive to become official employees in the future. I can't promise much, but enjoying the treatment of official employees is definitely possible."

"Of course, Brother Zhang, you are now a favored person in front of Lord Shen Mu; we all hope you will take care of us more."

"That's right, Brother Cai Dong, we are the first batch of temporary workers who followed you. We went through hardships together back then. If we don't support you, then there's no one else."

"True friendship is seen in adversity, Brother Cai Dong. Our group will all follow you well in the future, live well, and enjoy our future lives. There will absolutely be no second thoughts."

These middle-level managers quickly pledged their loyalty.

This was also a good time to pledge loyalty.

"Mm, that's enough."

Zhang Caidong was also complacent at this moment.

Thinking of what Shen Mu had told him before leaving—to select some Blue Star Humans to join Deherim as soon as possible, to make them believe in Shen Mu, the New Lord of Human Race, as soon as possible, and to provide him with a continuous stream of spiritual energy—a wider smile appeared on his lips.

So he instructed, "I understand what you mean, but I don't care about anything else, whether it's your conflicts with others or whatever. But there's one thing I must state: you must quickly arrange all the Blue Star Humans and have them pray to Lord Shen Mu, allowing their spiritual energy to quickly store energy for Lord Shen Mu's energy core."

"Understood, we have successfully organized all the male Humans into teams."

These middle-level managers no longer dared to joke. Hearing Zhang Caidong talk about serious matters, they immediately began to answer respectfully.

They clearly reported how they had organized the Blue Star Humans into teams of 50 people each over the past two days.

This not only made it easier for them to gather their own people and form their own small groups.

It also allowed their own people to join Deherim's prayer queue more quickly and conveniently, to enjoy Deherim's care and treatment.

After all, Blue Star Humans who came to Deherim to pray could receive 30% Spiritual Realm food with each meal to replenish their spiritual consumption.

If they were their chosen people, this could be directly increased to 50% Spiritual Realm food to replenish their spiritual consumption.

Don't underestimate the seemingly small amount of 30% or 50% Spiritual Realm food.

However, just one bite of Spiritual Realm food was enough to compensate for the loss of spirit and physical strength, forming a partial replenishment of rules. For these Blue Star Humans who had become quite weak under the erosion of death spirit rules, it was an excellent tonic.

The effect was quite sufficient.

This was a good thing.

"Hmm, you all did very well. Just follow this plan." Zhang Caidong nodded after hearing their report, quite satisfied.

Then he waved his hand, signaling these middle-level managers, who had finished eating and listened to his instructions, to go about their business.

The real work still required him to supervise his subordinates to complete it.

But the true credit would certainly be his, Zhang Caidong's.

After all, this was the work Shen Mu had assigned him.

Then Zhang Caidong effortlessly mobilized all the Blue Star Humans, forming a management structure of high, middle, and low levels.

He perfectly integrated these Blue Star Humans into Deherim's management system.

"When Shen Mu returns, perhaps he will see that I have already arranged for my subordinates to complete the deployment, and these Blue Star Humans are beginning to continuously provide spiritual energy."

Zhang Caidong felt Shen Mu would be surprised too.

After all, this time he greatly approved of this New Leader of Human Race's territory, and thus he put all his effort into helping build the command system for the Blue Star Humans under this New Leader of Human Race's territory.

And such credit was a solid recognition for any Spiritual Realm Lord.

And all this credit was his, Zhang Caidong's, hard work.

"Just waiting for Shen Mu to return. I think his trust in me is not misplaced. Although he forced me to be a spy before, which made me feel a bit down, I found that he doesn't have many Blue Star Humans as subordinates, so joining him isn't a wrong choice after all."

Zhang Caidong stroked his chin, the smile on his face growing brighter.

He suddenly felt that living in Deherim, this New Leader of Human Race's territory, wasn't bad at all.

Moreover, anyone with an discerning eye could see that this New Leader of Human Race's territory was truly a territory of Human Race order, completely different from the cruel survival laws of the Pig-Headed People tribe within the Orc Tribe of the Diesel Company, which practiced survival of the fittest and the law of the jungle.

Furthermore, seeing those Human Race individuals, whose appearance differed from their own Blue Star Humans with black hair and black eyes, one could easily distinguish between Humans and Human Race. However, aside from differences in hair color, eye color, and slightly different skin color, they were essentially the same species.

Zhang Caidong also felt that living here was much better than being under the cold and cruel gaze of the Pig-Headed People in the Diesel Company.

At least now, living among a group of Human Race was quite relaxing.

"And if I'm not mistaken, there's an opportunity to actively approach the Spiritual Realm Lord core that Shen Mu possesses, allowing for another soul-level co-frequency resonance. If chosen, one could then summon Human Race troops through Shen Mu's Spiritual Realm Lord core."

At this moment, Zhang Caidong suddenly had an idea.

He suddenly remembered the reason why those official employees in the Orc Tribe of the Diesel Company could each summon Pig-Headed People, a Spiritual Realm creature Follower.

It was because once they were all recognized by the Spiritual Realm Lord's core, they could then summon the Spiritual Realm creature inherited by that core through the Spiritual Realm Lord's core.

For example, those former official employees of the Diesel Company could summon Pig-Headed People to become their Spiritual Realm Follower through the Orc Tribe's Lord Mark core.

Then, through co-frequency resonance, they also became Spiritual Realm creatures like the Pig-Headed People, having a quite powerful bonus in close combat.

Of course, this bonus was irrelevant.

The main thing was that they could summon Pig-Headed People to become Spiritual Realm Commanders, and they could also lead these Pig-Headed People to unite closely around the core circle of the Orc Tribe.

Otherwise, how could they have been called official employees?

Their status was simply worlds apart from those temporary workers who had various strange desert races as their Spiritual Realm creature Followers.

Now Shen Mu also had his own power, and of course, he had to distinguish who were his own people.

So now, if they voluntarily gave up their previous soul co-frequency resonance, abandoned the Spiritual Realm creatures they had previously chosen, and joined the Spiritual Realm power behind Shen Mu, hoping to become the commanders of those Spiritual Realm powers.

It was not impossible.

As long as there was sufficient spiritual energy and spiritual realm mark fragments.

And a sincere heart.

Then it could be done.

After all, Zhang Caidong had previously understood why those official employees became official employees, and why they could become commanders of Pig-Headed People through Xue Zhigang's Spiritual Realm Lord Mark.

"If that's the case, perhaps it's really possible, and becoming a Spiritual Realm Commander of the Human Race is safer than becoming a Spiritual Realm Commander of those savage races."

Zhang Caidong stroked his chin at this moment, becoming more and more tempted by his idea.

Although he had some Gnolls before, he also understood the wolfish ambitions of those Gnolls.

Even if he was the commander, the key anchor point that allowed them to escape the time seal.

But every time he fell asleep and let these Gnolls guard him, he could sense the covetousness in their green eyes.

If he weren't a Human, if he weren't the key anchor point to rescue these Gnolls from the time seal, he would probably have been killed and eaten by these Gnolls with their scimitars long ago.

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