Chương 257: Story 11 - How to Save a Sect in Six Simple Steps (Part 33)

Little Spring and I pretended to listen to the surrounding discussion.:: For you to understand even a fraction of what I did, I'll have to explain quite a few concepts. It might be difficult for you.:: He stepped forward excitedly, so he was almost beside me.:: I'll be fine! Trust me! I'm already used to how you over-explain and give unnecessary examples.:: This brat!:: You want me to explain or not?!:: He winced.:: Please go ahead, Sister Lin!:: That's better!

:: When creating a karmically-binding contract, a clerk adds an enchantment to either a special spiritual paper or a sky-rank jade slip. This enchantment harms the karma of those who don't fulfill their side of the contract.:: Of course, if it's well written, then each side will have a way to back out amicably without taking a karmic hit, since that punishment is saved for when a side doesn't fulfill its obligations.

:: To clarify, this means that if Dominant Restraint Master and Peerless Cacophony don't give the money to Chi Qi Tan that they owe, these two sect masters — and possibly their sect — will be karmically fucked.:: That would mess up everyone's luck. Their disciples would find it difficult to transcend their tribulations, their resources might run dry, and their plants could inexplicably catch a blight.:: Wait! Can you back up? What enchantment?:: What? Did he not see?:: The enchantment on the paper, obviously.

:::: But, what is it? How does it work? How do you even add it?:: I glanced at the three parties that were deep into a very boring discussion that was going in circles and had nothing to do with me. It looked like I had plenty of time.:: You have heard me mention earthly and heavenly laws, right?:::: Of course!:::: Well, the Immortal Zhenren Ji developed the first contracts while studying heavenly laws related to karma. Along the way, he created a lesser version that Nascent Souls could handle.

After he ascended, his Ji family became karma experts and made a lot of enemies. One of them stole the contract research that they weren't even using at the time and sold it to all the sects and clans.:: During that era, everyone was tired of the Ji clan's arrogance. They were desperate for anything that might lessen their influence, even if that meant working together. It took them years, but their combined effort paid off in the form of a contract language and a series of enchantment functions.

:: Over the centuries, the clerks that they handed it to broke it down, added to it, and refined it by giving it more complexity and depth. Now, even the simplest variations that a Qi Condensation cultivator could create would still be effective against high-realm experts… with some caveats.:: I'd seen some of the first research stored in the sect's library. Frankly, what they did was as complicated as taking binary and turning it into a dozen different programming languages. The kid frowned.

:: That doesn't seem right. Shouldn't those powerful experts be able to easily break a contract made by a low realm clerk?:: I grinned.:: That's the fun part! It can still affect them because it is karmically based! Muahahaha!:: He blinked.:: Okay, think about this: how easily can an Immortal Ascension Stage cultivator affect the fabric of the world?:::: Very easily.:::: How much potential do they have for destruction?:: His hand clenched.:: An incredible amount.:::: Exactly!

The higher your cultivation, the higher your potential influence, then the more karma affects your future.:: I had a theory that this was partially why Immortals almost never descended to the lower realm. When they did, it was as a reincarnation, a weak clone, or after using an extreme sealing technique that completely bound their immortal energy and memories.:: That said, a weaker clerk shouldn't try to mess with a high-stage practitioner.

If their jade slip or paper, ink, and brushes are terrible, the stronger cultivator could destroy the contract themselves with just a minor hit to their karma.:: He nodded.:: So, the ingredients affect the strength of the enchantment.:::: Exactly. Of course, even with the best supplies, the more powerful cultivator could still squash a scheming clerk like a bug for taking advantage of them.:: I crossed my arms.:: Only an equal or more powerful organization can fuck over an expert with only a few consequences.

:: Which was what happened here. Chi Qi Tan was just too big and spread out for these medium-tier sects to fight head-on.:: Okay... I guess I understand a little more about contracts and how they work... but I still can't figure out what you did back then.:: I frowned. He couldn't extrapolate from what I said? Usually, this brat learned so fast I could barely keep up. Maybe he just didn't have much fate with the Dao of Paperwork.

:: The enchantments that are placed on documents always include some kind of loophole that allows the clerk to edit them given the right circumstances.:::: That sounds very suspicious.:::: Well, it's mostly for the benefit of the document creator. They need it to fix any mistakes before they get killed.:: He frowned.:: Is being a clerk really that dangerous?:: I was tempted to flick his glabella.:: Think about it. While not mortal, they're still human.

What would happen if they made a minor error with numbers, or switched the debtor and the lender, but no one realized it until after it was signed?:: You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. He briefly rested his hand on my shoulder. His face turned white.:: Exactly! They'd quickly become a smear of blood on the floor.:: I grinned.:: These enchantment loopholes, when accessed, allow for fair changes.

But they're rarely used since any clerk excellent enough to draft a contract for an Immortal Bone Creation cultivator would never make such mundane mistakes.:::: I'm sorry, Sister Lin. I didn't realize you put yourself in so much danger every day when we were back in the Indomitable Will Sect.:: Ah, shit. I had worried the kid.:: Hey, who am I?:::: Fairy Lin!:::: That's right! I'm a genius who would never make a dumbass mistake like that.:: From the corner of my eye, I saw him fight a smile.:: Of course!

I'm sure even you would leave a loophole for your own safety.:: I nodded.:: It's better to have them and not need them since even the most brilliant person can make a minor error. Besides, this universe isn't exactly static. A document that can't change could turn into hell for all parties when circumstances shift.:: For a moment, we both focused on the surrounding discussion since a lot of elders were blaming each other.:: Sister Lin, when did you access that loophole? I didn't notice anything.

:::: Did you see me touch it with two fingers?:::: Yes!:::: That was when I did it!::::... You're making it sound too easy.:: I grinned and straightened my spine.:: Well, it was a little more complicated than that, but you're not ready to comprehend my Dao of Paperwork's advanced contract enchantment mechanics. Just know that it looked effortless only thanks to my vast experience.:::: …:: Since he wasn't acting suitably impressed, I continued,:: I realized some things when I accessed it.

The first was that I couldn't edit the document to make it unfair to Chi Qi Tan. The thing would have exploded if I had tried.:: Resentful Shadow Snake slammed his palm onto the table and demanded that the sect receive more compensation. Startled, Little Spring took a step closer to me. The kid suddenly grabbed the back of my sleeve.:: Wait! You can do that?! Just make something that doesn't allow you to get taken advantage of?:::: If the clerk knows what they're doing, absolutely!

Actually, using enchantment functions similar to this in a mass-produced template was one way I helped our sect increase efficiency and decrease errors. Afterall, when a clerk writes the contract's terms, and the jade explodes, they know they've messed up.:::: …:::: Anyway, that was just the first step. After that, I infused a part of it with my spiritual energy, then I slapped it to hide the fact that I was adding some additional functions.:::: I knew there was more to it! What did you do?

:::: Well, I couldn't change too much, or it might have blown my arm off.:::: I feel like I should have known how dangerous being a clerk is by now, but for some reason, I thought it was mostly safe and easy. Something even a nine-year-old could do.:: I ignored him and continued.:: I added two functions. The first would switch the main copy over to mine once the requirements were met. And the other would overwrite the remaining copies in case of the main's destruction.

:::: That's how you pulled that magic trick off?!:::: Yes! But it's not magic. It's paperwork.:::: That's incredible.:: Damn straight it was.:: I bet you knew someone as greedy and prideful as Wealth's Herald wouldn't let that face-losing contract exist. He'd have to destroy it himself, leading to his own downfall.:: Not exactly. I had planned to shred the paper myself, but the kid didn't need to know that. I cleared my throat.

:: Well, the reason this plan succeeded was thanks to the sect leaders who worked with me to fulfill the requirements.:: His brow furrowed in confusion.:: When I sent them a mental copy, I gave instructions to get Wealth's Herald to say out loud that he accepted the more balanced changes before signing it… I also had them get a drop of his blood on the contract.:::: Was that because he owned it, like with spiritual tools?:::: No.

It was because the original clerk added a kind of spiritual biometric lock for Chi Qi Tan's benefit. Without his blood, I couldn't have made mine the main copy. Without that, my efforts would have gone to waste.:::: That sounds like something Wealth's Herald should have known about.:::: Ha! You think that arrogant peacock of a merchant would listen to a clerk's detailed explanation?:: He shook his head.:: No. And I'm shocked you figured that out! You're amazing, Sister Lin!:: I grinned proudly.

While I wasn't the best socially, I knew how to spot an asshole who looked down on the weak!:: But what did you say to convince those Immortal Bone Creation experts to follow your directions? You're… you.:: I turned and scowled at the brat. He blinked innocently. I crossed my arms and glared at the opposition's elders in front of me.:: I didn't tell them I'm an orthodox spy, if that's what you're wondering.:::: Of course not!:: That didn't sound convincing. Whatever.

:: I just explained what they needed to do to get out of their unfair contract, and they did it. Who wouldn't if it meant saving their loved ones and not having to pay an enormous fee? It wasn't that hard.:::: Oh! I think I understand! What you asked them to do was so easy for them that even if it didn't work, the only people who would lose face is the Irrepressible Beast Blood Sect.:::: …:: Shit. I hadn't considered that.

The negotiations droned on and on. Each group demanded the best deal for its own side. Alchemist Iron Fang glared at Vengeful Siren.

"Our sect is next to the northern ocean. Tens of thousands of li from here! How do you expect to send reinforcements in a timely manner if you don't use your city's teleportation array?" Vengeful Siren flung his sleeve back in irritation.

"And if it's a trap, we'll lose our disciples and the teleportation expenses. That's why you came here with your ships instead of using a formation." Iron Fang ground his teeth, unable to deny that.

"If we can't trust each other even this much, then how are we supposed to come together to fight the demonic sect?"

"I concur!" Icy Lotus Flower said and smiled at him. It figured she would. The two were rumored to be lovers. While it seemed like these two had no interest in forming this treaty, they made a valid point. It looked like this was a good time to interject with my badass wisdom. And it just might get these guys thinking in the direction I wanted.

"If trust is a problem for you all, then I have an idea that will help with that." Dealing with the contract must have earned me some respect. Everyone shut up and glanced my way.

"Think of building trust as giving someone an empty jade medicine bottle." I pulled one out and placed it in front of Noxious. [Image Link] Many of the elders gave me skeptical or hostile glances.

"Every time that person does something, like remembering your likes and dislikes, not killing you when they could, bringing you thoughtful gifts, or helping you or your friends in small ways, you add a precious pill." With each hypothetical situation, I dropped a Lin's Healing Dan into it. My in-name disciple stared at the bottle. The corners of his lips twitched.

"Over time, it slowly fills up. And when it's completely full, you know you can trust that person, or in this case, sect to some degree." A few of the elders across from me looked like they'd discovered a new concept. Their eyes were bright.

"But if we stay in our own little corners of the continent, how can we earn each other's trust pills?" I stoppered the bottle, stood up, and glanced at every person there.

"We can't."

"Then what do you suggest?" Peerless Cacophony asked.

"That we come together for regular meetings?" I grinned.

"That might work for the leadership, but what about the average disciple? The ones who will interact the most on the battlefield? They need exposure. So what I suggest is that we do what governments do, and send a team of at least two diplomats to each sect as a cultural exchange." Dominant Restraint Master stroked his beard.

"You're suggesting hostages?"