Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions suddenly lit up with delight.
"However, I won't allow you to open your shops right away,"
Yi Feng added, "After all, there is no population on the island yet, so you wouldn't be able to do business. For now, you can take up positions at my sect first. We'll discuss opening your shops later when there are more people."
The reason for this arrangement was that Yi Feng also realized that many things needed to be done in establishing and eventually building up the sect.
And this group of elderly folks were free and also knew the ins and outs. Most importantly they were easy to provide for without needing high salaries.
Might as well put them to good use.
"For example, Granny Zhang, since you can cook, you can be the cook for the sect!"
"The rest of you, rowing boats around the island and back will be needed since that is the only way on and off the island currently." Yi Feng instructed.
"No problem," they readily agreed, "We old folks are satisfied just having food to eat."
After settling everything,
the group set off in succession toward the small island.
"This island is mine now, Yi Feng's! From now on, everything here will be as I dictate, haha......"
As soon as they set foot on the island, Yi Feng couldn't help but cry out loudly.
However, just as his voice faded,
the clouds above the entire small island suddenly began to roil, and a unique heavenly law enveloped the small island as its core, including the surrounding lake surface, in its domain.
caused the strange expressions to appear on the faces of all the elderly folks present as well as the construction workers.
"It seems this gentleman's cultivation level has surpassed our previous guesses!"
"Establishing his own small world with but a word, tsk tsk, such means..."
"That's right, within this domain, the rules have completely changed, it seems I can no longer fly."
"Yes, my cultivation has also been completely suppressed."
"What's more bizarre is that I can no longer sense the summons of the Immortal Realm, it looks like I won't need to go there for at least a year."
"That's right, it looks like we won't need to worry about having to deal with going to the Immortal Realm, we can stay by this gentleman's side."
"It appears that this place has completely transcended the jurisdiction of the laws of the Immortal Realm and the Immortal Continent."
"Hmph, you old geezers were just thinking about going to the Immortal Realm earlier!"
"Damn straight, when was I ever thinking of leaving this gentleman's side to go to some Immortal Realm!"
"What are you old fogeys mumbling about back there?" Yi Feng couldn't help asking from up front.
The crowd quickly quieted down and caught up to Yi Feng.
"Let me take you around the island first," Yi Feng said with a smile.
Everyone nodded and followed along.
After making a circuit around the small island, Yi Feng began drafting plans on a piece of paper.
"Look, these are some of my initial plans,"
"The northern mountain forests of the island will become like a backyard mountain for our sect. I'll probably put some small beasts in there. While not very dangerous, I still don't want you elderly folks going in there," Yi Feng warned.
They quickly nodded in understanding upon hearing this.
Not daring to refute Yi Feng either.
To them, those small beasts did seem somewhat dangerous after all.
"Our sect itself will be established next to the backyard mountain,"
Yi Feng sketched out an area on the paper.
"Additionally, there's the Mountain Gate, Martial Arts Field, Residential Area, Library Pavilion..." He assigned the other locations one by one.
Everyone nodded along.
"Next, I'll need to assign some tasks to everyone," Yi Feng said, looking towards the elderly people.
"Please instruct us, sir!"
"Mn, I need an exceptionally large tree, but I don't know where to find one. Since all of you are quite seasoned, I'm sending two people to help me locate one," Yi Feng ordered.
He wanted such a tree for the sake of his sect.
After all, swindling one hundred disciples was his primary goal, so having some lofty looking things was necessary.
So carving a dragon totem at the center of the sect grounds was called for.
And such a large carving of course required a suitably sized tree.
"What kind of tree are you looking for, sir?"
The two elders couldn't help asking.
"Mn, the quality definitely needs to be good since I intend to carve it," Yi Feng replied. "As for type of wood, you've all seen my carvings before, so you should understand my standards, no?"
The elders looked at each other, their faces full of pressure, "We do happen to know the location of one tree that can barely meet the gentleman's standards, however, I'm afraid it would be quite difficult to obtain..."
"It's just a tree, I have faith in you two," Yi Feng stated plainly, "And if there really are difficulties, whether needing money or whatever means, everything must be done to obtain it. Don't worry, I will support you two."
Hearing this, the elders who were just under pressure suddenly regained confidence.
"We understand. With you backing us up, sir, we will obtain it no matter the cost."
Yi Feng nodded satisfactorily and shifted his gaze to Ye Bei and company.
"Please instruct us, sir!"
Ye Bei and the others quickly came forward, waiting respectfully for Yi Feng's instructions.
"To be frank, the people you've found are not great," Yi Feng hesitantly gave voice to what he was thinking.
It wasn't that he was being petty.
Mainly because most of them were elderly folks who looked to be lacking in energy. He really was somewhat worried about their work capacity.
Ye Bei and company's faces were full of awkwardness.
Every single one was at least a Martial Venerable, and many sect lords and elders had been pulled over. How were they still not great?
Were this brick lugging gentleman's standards truly so high?
"Of course, I still trust your judgement. They've come all this way already so might as well have them stay. However, the manpower is still insufficient, so your next batch needs to be stronger," Yi Feng stated.
"Stronger... for example?" Ye Bei carefully ventured.
"Around the same as that young fellow over there," Yi Feng's gaze settled on a waiter from a certain inn, one of the few youths that had come over to the island from Pingjiang City.
He looked sturdy and able to work hard. So using his physique as a benchmark for recruiting would be perfect.
Ye Bei and company sucked in a cold gasp.
"What, is it too difficult?" Yi Feng looked at Ye Bei and asked.
"No, not difficult at all!"
The group nodded woodenly with iron faces, acquiescing since they had to agree and put all effort into fulfilling Yi Feng's requests no matter what.
"Finally, there is one more thing I need to instruct," Yi Feng added towards Ye Bei's group.
"We await your command, sir!" They replied respectfully.
"Since transportation around our island is inconvenient, and many building materials are difficult to transport, in addition the local materials here are quite lacking, I plan to teach you all how to manufacture bricks to be self-sufficient for construction," Yi Feng stated.
"Make our own bricks?"
They looked at Yi Feng in confusion.
"Correct, DIY bricks. I'll teach you the brick firing process shortly," Yi Feng affirmed. "But before production, I also need to set a standard for the finished products."
"Because you're all working for me, shoddy workmanship won't do. So the manufactured bricks must all reach this level of quality."
With that said, Yi Feng took out a brick from his sleeve and slammed it onto the ground.