Chapter 90: I Intend To Reorganize The [white Feather Association]—who Objects?
Falling into the dream from the sky once again, Yuan Zhu had a brand new experience.
Last time he came, he was dazed and confused, mostly driven by curiosity, and spent money haphazardly before inexplicably returning to Running City.
But this time, he treated Yellow Millet Town as a dream version of a holographic network world. He discovered that it had everything for eating, drinking, and entertainment, and one could even trade primitive futures and stocks, with many major banks opening branches here. It was far from just a simple entertainment venue.
Nightmare World was fundamentally a reinforced version of a virtual network, with even richer functions.
Whatever could be done in Earth’s network world, it was pretty much all available here. Who knows if among the original builders of the Dream World, there were Earth traversers from the internet era who provided relevant ideas? Or if it referenced “networks” from other outer universes?
The only place where Yellow Millet Town fell short of Earth’s internet was the too-low number of users entering the dream.
Logging into the dream required a 3-yuan bottle of beverage each time. The price far exceeded monthly internet packages, trapping too many ordinary people and preventing them from accessing Du Ling’s deeper world.
But if one ignored the internet cafe price and converted Yellow Millet Echo into the cost of a full-body massage on Earth, it didn’t seem that expensive, and people’s spending power, enthusiasm, and positivity would increase exponentially, with tycoons emerging constantly, seemingly able to afford it?
So, business in Yellow Millet Town was actually booming? Du Ling’s hard days were only for the lower levels.
…
With a head full of confusion, he arrived at Dream Chasing Tower, which he had visited last time.
This time, Yuan Zhu did not order a familiar miss to enjoy song and dance. Instead, he booked a large living room, leaving enough seats, had attendants set up the alcoholic beverages and food, then dismissed everyone and locked the room door.
After completing this step, he switched to Tiger Demon Stance, tried his best to restrain the spread of Shadow Power, closed his eyes, and communicated with the mental threads in his mind.
Using the power of his soul, he dragged the other end of the thread out from the void, making it fall toward the current banquet hall.
After pulling dozens of times in a row, he was growing more familiar with this Summoning. He personally saw the other end of the thread unable to resist the call of the High-Ranking one, forced to escape into Yellow Millet Town and appear directly in this hall room.
He found this incredibly miraculous. Clearly everyone was in Running City, yet no amount of calling could bring them. But after dreaming into Yellow Millet Town, away from Du Ling, he could easily drag the spirit bodies of this group of peripheral members into the Nightmare World.
No wonder before the rise of the Spirit Level (Firewall), locals liked randomly eating mushrooms, attaining enlightenment in nightmares, and cultivating strange Evil Spirit Immortal Methods to pursue the path of immortality. There were occasional records of daytime ascension and becoming immortals.
“Huh? What is this place?”
“Didn’t I just fall asleep?”
“It’s you! Miss Li, how are you here too?”
“Wasn’t White Feather Wish Association destroyed? Are we summoned by the Cult Leader?”
“The Cult Leader is already dead!”
“I recognize this place, it’s Yellow Millet Town!”
One figure after another in different clothes appeared in the hall.
Some were confused and bewildered, not yet awake from sleep, not understanding why they were in this strange place. Others recognized each other’s identities and realized that the White Feather Wish Association destroyed by the Security Bureau was making a comeback. Still others had been to Yellow Millet Town before and quickly realized their situation from the view outside the window.
“Clap clap!”
Yuan Zhu had long since returned to human form, wearing a mask, reclining on the only main seat in the banquet hall. One hand propping his cheek, he watched the varied reactions of this group of differently dressed passersby; the other hand lightly tapped the table with a knuckle, making a crisp sound to interrupt their discussions.
In an instant, the peripheral members of the Wish Association stopped talking one after another, looking toward the masked man who was clearly the culprit, a inexplicable sense of suppression rising in their hearts, wanting to look but unable to resist lowering their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.
Yuan Zhu counted them: a total of 32 people, two fewer than expected. These 32 were all pulled in during their dreams by him, and the clothes they wore were not pajamas, but the outfits they most commonly wore in their subconscious.
Some were in formal attire, others in stage costumes… one could discern each other’s professions from them.
Seeing the master on the main seat, one middle-aged man stood out. It was the man who recognized Yellow Millet Town, clearly much more knowledgeable than the others: “May I ask who you are? What is your relationship to White Feather Wish Association? What is your purpose in summoning us here?”
Yuan Zhu raised his hand, signaling everyone to find seats: “Stay calm, everyone sit down. I invited you here for a gathering, of course for a purpose. I wish to rebuild White Feather Wish Association and reconvene you all to become core backbones of the association.”
Hearing the three words Wish Association, a hot-tempered burly man with a fierce face in the crowd angrily smashed his fist on the low table in front of him, knocking over the prepared alcoholic beverages and food, then stood up and roared at Yuan Zhu: “Damn it, hiding behind a mask, thinking some setup can scare people? If you’re remnants of White Feather Association, that’s even better! You bastards scammed my money, when are you paying it back?!”
Back then, the burly man had been tempted by someone to join this damn White Feather Association for big gambling wins and riches, saying they would perform a blood sacrifice together to the nameless god of fortune. As long as they offered a few goblins, they could enjoy strong luck from as short as one night to several days, ensuring dominance in the casino and overflowing profits.
He had believed those bastards’ lies, paid a large sum, and queued for a month and a half to participate in the sacrifice ritual. In the end, those wastes botched even the sacrifice? He heard they all died cleanly, and even the leader’s property manor was confiscated by the authorities.
How could he tolerate this? He was simply furious to the point of explosion!
He had thought this crap White Feather Association was dead and bankrupt, his membership fee down the drain. Unexpectedly, a twist: remnants were playing new tricks, thinking pulling him into a “dream” could intimidate him?
Simply dreaming! Even the Cult Leader and Deputy Cult Leader were dead; the remaining wastes would only be weaker. This setup was pure bluffing! Pay back what you owe me, plus ten times!
The more the burly man thought, the more he felt he saw through it all, seething with rage: “You crap White Feather Association, if you don’t return my membership fee tenfold tonight, I’ll kill you right here! Skin you and break your bones.”
As he spoke, colorful tattoos appeared on his arms, outlining two ferocious Evil Ghosts. The tattoos contained a small amount of polluted aura, stronger than Lu Rang who had just completed Blessing of the Sword, but not as strong as the goblin control group he had force-fed with shadow pollution.
Hearing the burly man’s shout, several young women and one old lady in the crowd also stirred restlessly, though they didn’t speak, their determination and desire to demand the membership fee were evident. Let this reckless man scout first; if possible, they would follow.
Yuan Zhu now realized that the peripheral members of White Feather Association varied greatly in quality, mostly ordinary people with only superficial knowledge of the supernatural circle. The core members who died in the sacrifice ritual knew more and understood reverence, having reaped many benefits from Evil God sacrifices.
This current group were mostly peripheral reserves, not yet absorbed into the core circle, ignorant and fearless. This was also related to the original White Feather Association Cult Leader’s low strength.
A small leader with some sacrifice knowledge but limited strength, who died on the spot when the sacrifice went wrong. So if he stayed silent and suddenly a successor popped up to take over, they would only be even weaker— no wonder these peripheral members dared to provoke.
“Bang! Bang!”
Yuan Zhu slapped the table twice, slightly activating the mental connections between them to suppress the group, then slowly spoke: “I have no relation to the previous White Feather Association. I merely bought your soul contact information from the deity you once worshipped, just like this.”
He raised his right hand, pointing remotely at the burly man demanding his fee, and the Holy Mark on his wrist began to glow.
At the same time, the burly man with Evil Ghost tattoos on his arms suddenly felt immense mental oppression; the Evil Ghost diagram nurtured in his body for years instantly crumbled, the gathered power collapsing effortlessly, and even his body couldn’t move.
Yuan Zhu then explained: “Everyone here is a spirit body manifested by leaving the physical body, which you can understand as soul wandering in a dream. Your physical bodies are still resting in Running City. So the supernatural powers carried in the physical body are invalid here, unless you are a Nightmare Scholar. Originally, I planned to give you a meeting gift first. But now it seems I was too amiable, causing misunderstandings. I should have given you a show of strength first.”
With a sigh, Holy Light erupted from his palm, and a cubic cage composed of Shielding Force Field directly enveloped and sealed the burly man’s body.
The other realized something was wrong, his body immobile but still able to speak: “Wait, what are you doing? I was just momentarily angry…”
Yuan Zhu interrupted: “Ah, of course I’m settling the debt. Though I don’t think I owe you the fee, since you insist, I’ll helplessly balance the accounts.”
“Wait, I was wrong, okay…”
Holy Light erupted, like incinerating flowers and grass in the Disease Garden, directly igniting and incinerating this spirit body—not much stronger than a Polluted Goblin—in the Holy Light cage. The spirituality ignited by Holy Light instantly burst into more light.
Yuan Zhu did not absorb the soul ash behind this inferior Holy Light; instead, he divided it into 31 portions and evenly distributed it along the mental threads in his mind, sending each person a Holy Cough gift package.
“No!” “Aaaah!” “Save me!” “Sir, spare me!” “I was wrong, I don’t want the fee anymore!” “I have money, don’t kill me!”
Seeing the Holy Light erupt, after burning one soul it split into over 30 portions floating toward everyone. The peripheral members were horrified to madness, their bodies immobile and unable to resist, only able to scream in despair with pleas for mercy unending.
Until the trace of Holy Light entered their spirit bodies, not only causing no pain, but making their “bodies” feel warm inside and out, emanating a holy glow, as if their souls were purified— an unprecedentedly good feeling.
“All shut up! I said I’d give you a meeting gift. Remember, though I want to reorganize White Feather Association, I’m unrelated to White Feather Wish Association; I just bought your soul contact info from gods and demons. From today, the new organization’s name shall temporarily be Taixi Chamber of Commerce!”
The peripheral members snapped back to attention one after another, not daring to question, lowering their heads and submitting. Though not fully understanding what happened, they knew their “souls” were in the other’s grasp, and he could easily summon them into dreams and kill, incinerating souls there.
Moreover, the “blessing (meeting gift)” from him might also be a control method. Long accustomed to Du Ling’s cruel rules, they decisively shut up, obeyed obediently, no longer thinking of refunds, even considering how much money they had left to hand over? They must show sincerity to the superior.
At this time, the middle-aged man who first asked spoke again: “Sir, what is your purpose in rebuilding Taixi Chamber of Commerce? What can we do to serve you?”
This man had the best eyesight and courage among this group of small fry. Yuan Zhu strongly suspected he was once a core member of White Feather Association, just not participating in the sacrifice ritual in time to escape. So he adapted quickly to the new unfamiliar Cult Leader, standing out and catching the great Cult Leader Yuan’s eye.
“As you saw, I use the power of Holy Light. Our Taixi Chamber of Commerce differs from White Feather Association; we have backing (Holy Church) as a proper organization, won’t casually sacrifice to unknown Evil Gods, have no regular illegal blood sacrifice activities, won’t treat your lives as a joke with risk of total wipeout. Taixi Chamber of Commerce won’t constrain your behavior, merely providing a high-end supplies trading platform. Additionally, when needed, we’ll issue missions to you with equivalent remuneration, mutual benefit.”
“Tonight, I summoned you: first, to say hello and make clear Taixi Chamber of Commerce is officially rebuilt. Second, to gather your information and select malleable talents to become core backbones of the organization, entrusting heavy responsibilities. Finally, to banquet you for a fun night in Yellow Millet Town, counting as Taixi Chamber of Commerce’s first team building.”
“I know you joined White Feather Association for different purposes and desires. Now, as long as you show enough value, I can similarly satisfy your cravings. Here, I show you a spirit medicine Blood Eggplant with life extension, wound healing, and vitality enhancement effects, no side effects, no need for Evil God sacrifice—just make contributions to exchange in the chamber.”
“One per person, also part of the meeting gift; you can consume, sell, gift, or appraise it yourself, I won’t interfere. With your soul contacts in my hands, no entry ceremony needed; I default you as the first batch of members, directly receiving benefits. In the future, unless necessary, I’ll summon you once a month in the dream. To continue getting Blood Eggplant, it depends on your value.”
After this spiel, Yuan Zhu took out 31 junk Blood Tomatoes exchanged from Happy Home, waved his hand, and instantly teleported them to everyone’s tables.
Looking at the blood-red tomatoes some with a single eye, some with ears, noses, or mouths, these Running City citizens trembled inwardly yet couldn’t look away.
A thought arose in their hearts: such a wondrously structured rare fruit must be the “spirit medicine” from stories! Du Ling commoners had a consensus: the more bizarre the fruit, the stronger the effect.
After this new White Feather Association changed leadership, not only did it not collect fees to gather wealth, but generously gave benefits. Holy Light blessings, Blood Eggplant for life extension—truly righteous light! A proper organization, we’re saved!
After the initial introduction, Yuan Zhu let these citizens eat, drink, and enjoy basics in Dream Chasing Tower, while in a small compartment, he called in the 31 members one by one for questioning, registering their identities, addresses, contacts, professions, etc.
The result: White Feather Association didn’t accept the poor, but all truly wealthy with social status died in that sacrifice ritual. The remaining peripherals were mostly so-called “middle class.”
Female dancers and singers working in grand theaters who once craved deity blessings for beauty, voice, and figure to join White Feather Association. Umbrella craftsmen and small merchants with workshops. Low-level finance workers, accountants, lawyers… doctors, etc.
Over thirty members, men and women, professions varied. Not bottom poor, but not much social status either—usable, yet not up to big tasks.
That man who dared question him was a small boss in the gem industry named Zheng Hao, frequently traveling between Running and Taixi. He strongly desired and was ambitious about joining Taixi Chamber of Commerce for supernatural protection, very willing to be the Cult Leader’s lackey, attitude extremely positive.
Thus Yuan Zhu did not disappoint, assigning him a small mission to acquire a Haunted House.
“No need to seem too eager; complete the transaction within a week, remember to haggle, cap at 38,000, lower the better—must harshly disparage this Haunted House. After buying the villa, don’t live in it; say you have business in Taixi, temporarily shelve the property, don’t let others enter.”
After hearing Yuan Zhu’s description, Zheng Hao knew the Haunted House had other secrets and games behind it. Clearly a loyalty test, but he had no choice. To continue his business, he needed a supernatural powerhouse as umbrella.
He had previously spent big to join White Feather Association, participated in a few sacrifices, but the Cult Leader performed poorly, showing no great ability. So he lost interest in later “sacrifice rituals,” instead pinning hopes on Yellow Millet Town.
Multiple dream entries here, wasting fortunes in indulgence, only keeping his spirit body from kidney deficiency, without befriending capable powerhouses.
This White Feather Association reorganization and Taixi Chamber of Commerce birth gave him a new opportunity to rise. This new Cult Leader had extraordinary origins, strong methods, generous spending—promising future. Worth betting on.
