Half a month later.
Just after the early morning hour, Cheng Xinzhan noticed the travel token the Thin Daoist had gifted him in the void realm glow.
He pulled it out, and a voice came from within.
"Strategist, come to the main hall for a council."
Cheng Xinzhan replied and rose from his residence, flying up to the peak to the Star-Plucking Hall.
Inside the hall were the same people as before, but every face wore a joyful smile — even the Thin Daoist's.
When Cheng Xinzhan entered, all eyes turned to him, full of reverence, awe, envy, and more.
Seeing their reactions, Cheng Xinzhan knew the measures he had proposed must have borne fruit.
"Sit," the Thin Daoist said.
Cheng Xinzhan took his old seat.
"You, You Jie, speak up," the Thin Daoist said, looking at the first man on the right.
Cheng followed the Thin Daoist's gaze.
The man was middle-aged, thin, wrapped in a pall of yin energy like someone not truly alive.
From his aura one could tell he was a corpse-refiner of around the Third Cleansing level.
He turned his head and grinned at Cheng Xinzhan.