(Part 1 — Webnovel International Version)
Dao of Submission — Principle Eleven
True power is not making others fear you. True power is placing everyone on your chessboard in the position most comfortable for them—and letting them believe they chose it themselves.
Morning light filtered through the branches of the old locust tree in the small courtyard of the outer sect residence.
The sunlight scattered across the ground in broken patches of gold.
The courtyard was crowded.
Thirty-seven unfamiliar faces stood there, along with Wang Duobao and his five old companions. Together with Jiang Muchen and Shen Lingxue, forty-five people filled the tiny yard so tightly it felt like a sardine can.
Their outer disciple robes had been washed so many times that the color had faded into a dull gray.
The elbows of their sleeves were patched with different shades of cloth.
The soles of their shoes were frayed and uneven.
Yet every single one of them stood upright.
It was the stiff, unfamiliar posture of people who had spent their lives bent over—now suddenly forcing their backs straight.
Jiang Muchen stood on top of a half-collapsed stone table.
His gaze swept slowly across every face like the teeth of a comb.
A scar ran across one man's cheek—left by a mining cave-in last year.
Another man's knuckles were swollen and twisted from years of gripping a pickaxe.
One person stood slightly crooked. His leg had been broken by a noble clan disciple years ago and never healed properly.
Jiang Muchen noticed every detail.
"Everyone," he said.
His voice wasn't loud.
But in the quiet morning air, each word struck clearly like a hammer tapping metal.
"My name is Jiang Muchen."
"Qi Refining, Fourth Layer."
"Outer Sect Disciple."
He paused slightly.
"Just like you."
"My parents died during a beast tide."
"I grew up on the charity of my village."
"At ten, I nearly fell to my death while gathering herbs in the mountains."
"At twelve, I worked in the mines for three years and never once ate a full meal."
"At fifteen, I saved enough spirit stones to enter the Red Dust Pavilion."
"In my first year there, my monthly stipend was stolen three separate times."
Silence spread through the courtyard.
Even the soft rustling of falling leaves from the locust tree could be heard.
"But now," Jiang Muchen continued.
The Ice Lotus Ring on his left index finger glimmered faintly in the morning light.
"I stand here."
"I carry the guest token of the Frost Clan."
"Senior Uncle Huoyun from the Artifact Hall told me I could enter the material vault whenever I wished."
"Elder Sun from the Enforcement Hall personally gave me a token granting access to confidential archives."
He paused.
"In three days, I will stand on the arena stage against Xiao Chen."
"The number one genius of the Inner Sect."
"In seven days…"
His gaze swept across the entire crowd.
"I will take five of you into two B-Rank Secret Realms."
"The Infernal Core."
"And the Frozen Illusion Realm."
A wave of suppressed gasps rippled through the courtyard.
Hearing rumors was one thing.
Hearing it confirmed in person was another.
"I didn't call everyone here to speak empty words," Jiang Muchen said as he stepped down from the stone table.
His boots crunched softly over broken wood chips on the ground.
"I only have three things to say."
He raised one finger.
"First."
"If you join the Muchen Society, you will be openly opposing Xiao Chen's faction."
"They will block your missions."
"They will steal your contribution points."
"They may set traps for you inside secret realms."
"They might even ambush you when you leave the sect."
He pointed toward the broken doorway of the courtyard.
"If you're afraid…"
"Leave now."
"The door is right there."
"Well—Senior Uncle Huoyun kicked the door off earlier."
"But the threshold is still there."
Jiang Muchen fell silent.
Ten breaths passed.
Forty-five people stood there like statues.
No one moved.
Not even a blink.
A faint smile appeared on Jiang Muchen's lips.
Thin.
Cold.
Like the surface of winter ice.
He raised a second finger.
"Second."
"If you stay, I will help you as much as I can."
"But the Muchen Society is not a charity."
"Resources here are distributed according to contribution."
"If you want to become stronger…"
"You must fight for it."
"Compete for it."
"Risk your life for it."
"If you expect others to feed you—"
"This is your last chance to walk away."
Again, no one moved.
A thin young man at the back even pushed forward half a step, as if afraid someone might think he intended to leave.
Jiang Muchen raised a third finger.
"Third."
"And most important."
"In the Muchen Society, your background doesn't matter."
"What matters is what you can do."
"If you're strong, the Combat Division wants you."
"If you're good with numbers and trade, the Commerce Division wants you."
"If you're careful and organized, the Internal Affairs Division wants you."
"Even if all you know is farming or mining…"
"The Logistics Division will still have a place for you."
His gaze stopped on a thin boy hiding in the corner.
"Like you."
The boy jumped slightly, like a frightened rabbit.
People around him pushed him forward.
"What's your name?" Jiang Muchen asked.
"And what did you do before joining the sect?"
"C-Chen… Chen Tieniu," the boy stammered.
"My father worked in the Seventh Mine of Zhongnan Mountain…"
"I went down the mines with him when I was eight…"
"By twelve I could identify seventeen different ore veins."
"I know which rock layers collapse easily…"
"Which layers hide underground rivers…"
"I can even judge ore quality from the sound when you strike the stone…"
As he spoke about mining, the trembling in his voice slowly disappeared.
His eyes began to shine.
"Good."
Jiang Muchen nodded.
"From today on, you are the Chief Mineral Appraiser of the Logistics Division."
"Monthly salary: ten low-grade spirit stones."
"And twenty percent of the profits from any ore you identify."
Chen Tieniu froze.
He opened his mouth.
But no words came out.
Finally, he bowed deeply.
A full ninety degrees.
He stayed bowed for three breaths.
When he finally stood upright again, his eyes were red.
Jiang Muchen caught his shoulder gently.
"We don't do that here."
He stepped back onto the stone table.
"Now."
"Time to divide into groups."
"Combat Division — led by Lu Hanshan."
"Anyone above Qi Refining Fifth Layer who isn't afraid of blood—stand on the left."
"Commerce Division — led by Wang Duobao."
"Anyone who understands trade, accounting, or underground connections—center."
"Internal Affairs — led by Zhou Xiaohuan."
"Careful and organized people—right side."
"Logistics Division — led by Zheng Xiaoqi."
"Everyone else goes with you."
The crowd began moving.
Boots scraped across the dirt.
Cloth rustled softly.
Some whispered to each other.
Others took deep breaths as if making the biggest decision of their lives.
Within moments, four groups had formed.
Seventeen in Combat.
Nine in Commerce.
Seven in Internal Affairs.
Twelve in Logistics.
Jiang Muchen nodded slightly.
"Senior Sister Shen Lingxue is a Foundation Establishment cultivator."
"She will operate independently."
"Her role is external relations and emergency support."
"She is our insurance."
Shen Lingxue gave a slight nod.
Her icy blue gaze swept across the crowd.
Everyone she looked at instinctively straightened their backs.
"Good."
Jiang Muchen clapped his hands once.
Dust drifted lightly into the air.
"Now we talk about the real mission."
"In seven days…"
"We enter the secret realms."