What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 316 Assassination Attack! Su Mo is Severely Injured!
Su Mo felt the demon-slaying pestle on his chest becoming increasingly hot.

It's incredibly hotter than ever before!

He was wondering whether to take it out and see what was going on.

A sudden change occurred!

Su Mo discovered that the Vajra Pestle, which had been filled to its limit by the power of incense offerings, suddenly released itself at an astonishing speed.

This time, however, the release did not surge into his body as intensely as before.

It spread directly outwards into the void around the body!
A cloud of pitch-black mist emerged!

The power of vows released by the tens of thousands of people present, including those who remained in various parts of Lonely Peak Mountain and did not come here, were all present.

Instead, it surged towards the black mist that enveloped Su Mo!
Furthermore, many houses on Lonely Peak Mountain continuously release the power of incense offerings, which gathers into the black mist.

It's probably a house with Su Mo's memorial tablet!
As a massive amount of incense and prayers poured in, the black mist rapidly expanded and became more condensed, as if it had turned into liquid!
Su Mo was dumbfounded.

I looked up subconsciously.

Then I saw a familiar-looking giant black spider, like the legendary "Heaven and Earth Manifestation," majestic and awe-inspiring, yet also carrying a ghostly and evil aura, floating in the void above my head!
Eight Gates Ghost Spider Gathering Formation?
wrong!

Su Mo could clearly see that the giant spider he had conjured was significantly different from the Eight Gates Ghost Spider Gathering Formation.

The Eight Gates Ghost Spider Gathering Formation is like a dead object, extremely sluggish.

His own giant spider was even more agile, closely connected with the demon-subduing pestle and even his own soul!
The weirdest thing is.

This giant spider's body is the most solid part, and one of its eight legs is also solid.

The other seven spider legs were barely visible and not clearly discernible.

As Su Mo's thoughts shifted, the giant spider's body moved accordingly!

What is this? A Dharma image?
The question is, why is the Dharma image like this?
How did I become a spider demon?

wrong!

Su Mo suddenly realized what was happening.

I am only at the Divine Realm level, how could I possibly reach the level of Dharma Heaven and Earth and condense a Dharma form?

Legend has it that this is a realm that only terrestrial immortals can reach!

Could it be the spirit of the demon-subduing pestle?
An idea suddenly popped into Su Mo's mind!
Leng Liuxi once said that the Demon-Subduing Pestle was originally a top-grade nine magic weapon, but its spirit was broken into six parts by the combined efforts of Wu Taizu and the eight Heavenly Infant True Persons.

Equally strange is...

Such a gigantic, five-zhang-long, jet-black spider.

It was as if only he could see it.

Even Lin Moyin, who was at the Returning to the Aperture Realm, seemed completely unaware of the giant spider's movements.

Instead, he looked at Su Mo with a hint of suspicion!
No matter how hard Su Mo tried to control his soul and mind, he could only slightly control the giant spider, but he couldn't retract it!

They were at a loss as to how to handle this unexpected turn of events.

Another anomaly has occurred!

Suddenly, seven spider silk threads shot out from the giant spider's abdomen, spreading towards the sky as if piercing into the endless void, their destination unknown.

Immediately, Su Mo sensed familiar auras emanating from all corners of the world!
Clearly, these should be the other seven pieces of the Demon-Slaying Pestle that were scattered in various places!
Su Mo became suspicious again.

He clearly remembered that Leng Liuxi said that the Demon-Subduing Pestle was broken into six parts.

Why are there seven different auras now?

Including my own, that makes nine!
Su Mo thought about it again and realized that what Leng Liuxi said might not be correct.

After all, she didn't personally experience that great battle, and it's even possible that Ye Wenshan himself didn't know how many parts the Demon-Subduing Pestle had broken!
The aura transmitted back by the seven spider silk threads was felt most strongly in three places, some near and some far from Lonely Peak.

They are located in the southeast, the northern border of the empire, and the vast sea to the east!

The nearest point is to the southeast, about three or four hundred miles away.

However, Su Mo could only roughly determine the direction and distance, but could not determine the exact location.

He couldn't help but frown and ponder.

The next second, a horrifying discovery was made!
An incredibly terrifying power of the soul... or rather, divine consciousness, clearly carrying a mixture of surprise and chilling, knife-like killing intent, spread rapidly along the black spider silk connecting to the East Sea at an alarming speed!
Su Mo gasped sharply!
This terrifying divine sense was beyond his comprehension!

It could even be said that it surpassed the limits of strength that any living being or spirit in the mortal world could reach!

Under heaven, who could possess such terrifying divine consciousness!

I'd guess it's that legendary former imperial advisor—Master Nine Dragons!
Clearly, allowing this divine sense to seep into the black giant spider's body along the spider silk would not be a good thing for me!
Su Mo took a deep breath and mobilized all the power of his soul.

Just as that divine sense was about to spread to Lone Peak Mountain, it was forcibly severed!
As the spider silk was severed, the fear and sense of crisis that had arisen in my heart slowly dissipated.

For some unknown reason, the giant spider's form returned to the Demon-Subduing Pestle like a tide!
Many changes can happen in an instant.

The Demon-Subduing Pestle returned to normal, looking exactly the same, except that the capacity of incense offerings and prayers had greatly increased!
Even Su Mo himself thought that what he had seen before was just an illusion!
After this incident, the Demon-Subduing Pestle finally became closely connected with Su Mo's mind!

Previously, we could only draw upon the magical power stored within the Demon-Slaying Pestle!
Now, however, it can unleash the power of the Demon-Subduing Pestle to kill enemies!
According to Su Mo's assessment, the incense and prayer power stored in the Demon-Subduing Pestle had increased by four to five times its maximum capacity.

If all of them were released instantly, delivering a fatal blow to the enemy, even a Golden Core cultivator would likely find it difficult to withstand!

This is a truly deadly weapon!
Even with only a fragmented spirit and two parts fused together, the Demon-Subduing Pestle possesses such terrifying power.

This shows just how terrifying a top-grade ninth-rank magic weapon was at its peak!
No wonder that when Wu Taizu and others joined forces to besiege the Nine Dragons Taoist, they suffered heavy casualties before the Nine Dragons were finally defeated and forced to flee!
Su Mo secretly broke out in a cold sweat!
Fortunately, the divine sense of the Nine Dragons Demon Path was severed in time.

Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable!

Clearly, there is another fragment of the Demon-Subduing Pestle in the hands of the Nine Dragons Taoist!

If he discovers that the fragments of the Demon-Subduing Pestle Spider Body are in my hands, I will definitely fight my way back from the East Sea to the capital and take the Demon-Subduing Pestle from my hands!
Of course, the Nine Dragons Demon Path wouldn't mind crushing this little bug of theirs in the process!
Lin Moyin noticed Su Mo's unusual behavior and couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "My lord, what happened?"

Su Mo shook her head: "It's nothing!"

He paused, then smiled and explained, "I was just a little surprised to see so many people on Lonely Peak Mountain."

Since the Nine Dragons Demon Path's divine consciousness was severed, he should not know that the Demon-Subduing Staff was on his body.

Saying it aloud won't help; it will only make Lin Moyin worry for nothing.

She could never be a match for the Kowloon Demon Path!

However, I need to find an opportunity to talk to Leng Liuxi about this.

Su Mo recovered from the shock of the unexpected turn of events.

Despite the threat from the Nine Dragons Demon Sect, even if the Demon-Subduing Pestle wasn't in his possession, the Nine Dragons Demon Sect probably wouldn't have any goodwill towards him, the Great Martial Emperor's Tutor.

If one can further master the Demon-Subduing Pestle and activate its spirit, it can even be used like a nuclear bomb to deliver a sudden and devastating blow to a Golden Core cultivator.

This is great news!
Su Mo was in a great mood!

He glanced back at Lin Moyin, Liu Siyun, and the others, and smiled, saying, "Almost everyone's here. Let's begin the awards ceremony!"

When Su Mo rented the Gufeng Mountain Artisan Camp, he obtained a number of blank official documents from the Empress, which allowed him to appoint officials below the rank of centurion in the Artisan Camp, thus incentivizing the artisans in the camp.

Needless to say, appointments such as Captain of the Strongman were also made.

Su Mo only sent out four or five blank notices, such as to Ding Bashi and Zhou Dashu.

Only Ding and Zhou were granted the position of junior flag officer.

Ding Xiaochui is only one strongman.

The others were simply removed from the artisan class and returned to their status as commoners.

There's not much to say about the commendation ceremony.

It simply means that those who have made meritorious contributions, performed outstandingly, or have the highest scores will be granted official titles, appointed as officials, or removed from the artisan register!
However, Su Mo's move shocked the thousands of villagers and laborers present!

They never imagined that points could have such benefits!

When the audience saw that two artisans from the artisan battalion had been promoted to junior officers of the seventh rank by Su Mo, they gasped in surprise!
Also, there's Geng Yi, the junior officer who usually patrols and guards Shenma Rock with a few strongmen!

They became the trial households.

Everyone was completely speechless!
Aside from the veterans of the artisan battalion, Su Mo was also generous with the rewards from his fiefdom.

The Zhou brothers, who were in charge of the paper mill, were also directly appointed as junior officers!

In addition, the heads of cement plants, textile plants, and garment factories, although they did not hold official positions, also received the title of "factory director".

Although the villagers and laborers did not understand what a factory manager was, they knew that he must be of a much higher status than them and could control them.

I estimate it's similar to that of a captain.

Because, in addition to announcing that these people would be rewarded with silver ranging from ten to fifty taels, Su Mo also...

Several factory managers have had their monthly base points increased to one thousand!
A monthly salary equivalent to ten taels of silver would amount to more than one hundred taels a year!
The county magistrate's official salary wasn't even as much as the factory director's!
Following that, Su Mo seized the opportunity to announce that the mortgage payments for the top 100 families with the highest annual total income points would be waived, bringing the atmosphere to its peak!

Everyone finally realized the benefits of points!

Those families who were just a little short of making it into the top 100 in terms of total points are now filled with deep regret!

If we work a little harder, could we get that brick house for free?

Those who received all sorts of generous rewards would probably be willing to die for Su Mo now!
Chen Xiaolan stared blankly at the radiant young marquis on the stage.

My feelings are very complicated.

She had originally planned to return to her hometown once she had accumulated enough points and her husband's health improved.

After all, they had more than ten acres of land that had been washed away by the flood. If they went back and tended to it, they could still continue to cultivate it.

Although the income from working on Gufeng Mountain is high, the lack of land ownership makes me feel insecure.

They might be kicked out any day.

Now, this idea has begun to waver without me even realizing it.

Such a kind and benevolent lord, becoming a resident of his fiefdom should be a good thing, right?

He shouldn't excessively oppress the people in his fiefdom?

As Chen Xiaolan was thinking, Su Mo's guards had already brought in boxes of New Year's goods from the warehouse and were distributing them to everyone.

The team moved very quickly.

Those in line only need to give their house number.

Lord Su, who was in charge of distributing the supplies, and his equally beautiful and kind-hearted wives, could easily find out the family circumstances of those queuing by simply checking the Yellow Register.

Then they had the guards distribute the New Year's goods, which was quite efficient.

Chen Xiaolan's eyes welled up with tears.

The amount of New Year's goods distributed far exceeded her expectations!

There was fatty cured pork, whole bolts of cloth, fine salt, ten pounds of rice, and even a few sheets of good paper!

Families with higher points will receive more New Year's goods.

Even the smallest one is worth at least one tael of silver!
Chen Xiaolan was truly shocked.

There are probably no more than 5,000 households in Gufeng Mountain!

If this continues, wouldn't it cost tens of thousands of taels of silver?
Going back to my hometown? What a load of rubbish!
A dozen acres of barren land washed away by the flood could be worth ten taels of silver.
Just work hard here for a year and you'll have it!

Not to mention that their children could attend school for free and learn great knowledge from the master.

Only by reading and learning to read will you have a chance to get ahead in the future!
Who would be willing to leave such hopeful days?
If I really want to go back, I should work for ten years first, save up more money, and then I can buy better land back in my hometown!
Chen Xiaolan became more and more excited as she thought about it.

Secretly calculating how much New Year's goods his family of four would receive, he unconsciously moved to the front of the line.

Madam Zhang, who was a few places ahead of Chen Xiaolan in line, had already received a full bamboo basket of New Year's goods from the guards, and her eyes were almost slits from smiling.

Su Mo, who was in charge of distributing the New Year's goods to her, smiled and said, "Zhang Ercheng's family has six members, so they can get two pieces of cured meat, three feet of cloth, fifteen catties of rice, and one catty of salt!"

"Yes, if a family has a seven-year-old child enrolled in school, they will receive an extra three sheets of cold Su paper and two eggs!"

After Su Mo finished speaking, he said to Madam Zhang, "Take a look at the distribution of supplies to see if there are any omissions. If there are no omissions, just sign the paper or put your fingerprint on it."

Madam Zhang quickly replied, "No, no, no!"

"I received everything, nothing was missing!"

As he spoke, he quickly pressed his fingerprint on the paper, and then looked at Su Mo with great excitement: "Lord Marquis, you are so kind!"

"I will definitely work hard for you, Lord Marquis, at the garment factory from now on!"

Su Mo's forehead creased with annoyance: "It's work!"

Madam Zhang nodded repeatedly: "Yes! Let's get to work!"

Su Mo smiled and nodded: "You can go now. Go back and have a good New Year! As long as you work hard, things will get better and better next year!"

"Next!"

……

Chen Xiaolan stared in shock at Madam Zhang, who walked past her with the speed of the wind.

I can't believe she got so many New Year's goods!

Another moment passed.

There were only two people ahead of me, and it would be my turn soon.

Suddenly, Zhang Xiaolan was shocked to see that the thin, middle-aged man in front of her was awkwardly hiding his hands behind his back.

As he rubbed his sleeves, a dark, pointed blade was revealed!
Chen Xiaolan suddenly became alert!
It must be said that the safety awareness campaign at Gufeng Mountain has been quite effective!

The villagers and laborers weren't stupid; they knew that only good things were produced here, and that someone must have come to spy on their secrets.

In fact, Gufeng Mountain has already captured quite a few spies and agents who intended to find out the secrets of Gufeng Mountain!
The guards of Lonely Peak Mountain, the factory foremen, and so on, often talked to the hired workers.

Those ill-intentioned fellows who wanted to steal the secret recipe of Lonely Peak Mountain.

They're really here to take away everyone's livelihood.

Everyone must remain vigilant at all times!

If Lord Su's secret technique falls into the hands of others, those people are not as kind-hearted as Lord Su. Even if they recruit employees, they certainly won't treat them so well!
Since their own interests were at stake, the employees and residents of Gufeng Mountain were very vigilant and had a strong sense of counter-surveillance.

It's like everyone's a detective!
When queuing to receive New Year's goods, you need to bring a sharp blade that looks like it's coated with poison, and secretly hide it in your sleeve.

Chen Xiaolan isn't stupid; she knows exactly what's going on.

In her panic, she didn't realize that her actions could put her in mortal danger, and blurted out to Su Mo, "Sir, be careful! He has a knife!"

Su Mo was taken aback upon hearing this.

Lin Moyin instantly became more alert.

Before he could even observe the surroundings, a cold light flashed in his hand, and he had already moved in front of Su Mo with lightning speed, protecting Su Mo behind him!

Unfortunately, although Lin Moyin reacted quickly, it was still too late.

Su Mo suddenly saw it.

Two gaunt, hunched men in front of him simultaneously raised their hands and released two incredibly foul-smelling green mists, enveloping him, Lin Moyin, Xue Yishu, Liu Siyun, and the others!
Then, two jet-black lights, like extremely fierce venomous snakes, simultaneously stabbed towards his chest and left waist with lightning speed!

Su Mo's expression suddenly changed drastically!

These two assassins were actually peerless masters at the Martial Grandmaster level!
Two Martial Grandmasters launched a sudden attack from such close range. Caught off guard, they could even kill a Daoist sorcerer at the Returning Aperture Realm!

Although Su Mo was already a Grand Sorcerer at the Divine Realm and his martial arts cultivation was at the Martial Grandmaster level.

However, they ultimately lack practical experience.

Unexpectedly, the two seemingly ordinary hunchbacked men who came to collect the New Year's goods were actually assassins!

The assassin who stabbed at Su Mo's chest was mercilessly knocked away by Lin Moyin's palm strike!
Su Mo only had time to hold her breath.

Then I felt a chill run down my waist as the other person's dagger slashed through my flying fish robe and swept past my waist!
The blood, as black as ink, seeped out instantly!
This dagger looks incredibly sharp; even a fully mastered Green Wood Technique couldn't withstand it!
Su Mo's expression darkened, and his body suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light!
A golden bell phantom suddenly appeared outside the body!
The Golden Bell that Suppresses the Sea, bestowed by the Empress!
(End of this chapter)