Immortality: Raising an Ant Queen to Cultivate by increasing stat points

Chapter 490: Chapter 482 Successor_1

Behind Deputy Gang Leader Gongsun, there followed two close attendants of the Gang Leader.

They were both acquaintances.

It was Iron Tiger and Ye Ji who had protected Qin Niu last time.

The two still wore masks, and as soon as they saw Qin Niu, they immediately bowed respectfully.

“Greetings, Master Qin!”

If it weren’t for Qin Niu’s timely rescue last time, these two attendants of the Gang Leader would have long met their end.

Now that they saw Qin Niu, their eyes betrayed respect and warmth when they looked at him.

“There’s no need for such formalities!” Qin Niu extended his hand in a supportive gesture, and the two straightened up. “Gangsun Leader, you are quite the rare visitor, have you not eaten yet? I will have my people prepare a meal immediately.”

“Brother Qin, no need for such courtesy! The recent battles are still rather intense, and there are many affairs in the gang, so I won’t be eating. I’ll take the opportunity to enjoy the countryside dishes at your place next time,” Gongsun Jin said, and then he took out several items from his sleeve. “We’re old friends, and with no strangers around, I’ll skip some formalities. You made an incredible contribution in the last defense battle, and after the gang’s high council deliberated, they decided to reward you for your achievements.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The Gang Leader knew you do not like to be constrained, so he did not assign you any official duties.

You have been promoted exceptionally to be a Grade One Executor of the gang, awarded a thousand mu of good land, and a Blood Silkworm.”

Such generous rewards left Qin Niu pleasantly surprised.

“Brother Qin, here is the Blood Silkworm, please take good care of it. It’s your own profound fortune that during our gang’s campaign against the Nine Insect Gang, who occupied the territory of the Seven-Star Sect, we accidentally found a Blood Silkworm. Several Insect Masters within the gang wanted to buy it at a high price, but were refused by the Gang Leader.

I believe that this Blood Silkworm will realize its greatest value in the hands of Brother Qin Niu.”

Gongsun Jin’s words carried a hidden message, as if he already knew Qin Niu had acquired the Blood Silkworm from the He Family.

At their level of influence, many things were well understood without being said openly.

It was an understanding unspoken between them.

“Please convey my thanks to the Gang Leader! He truly takes great care of me,” Qin Niu said as he received the Blood Silkworm, feeling immensely grateful in his heart towards the Black Tiger Gang Leader.

Their encounters hadn’t been many, and Qin Niu did not know why the Black Tiger Gang Leader had taken care of him – a countryside Insect Master – so repeatedly.

If it weren’t for the Black Tiger Gang Leader’s instruction for Gongsun Jin to protect Qin Niu, the annihilation of the entire He Family would not have ended so favourably last time.

This time, during the campaign against the Nine Insect Gang, obtaining a Blood Silkworm, the Black Tiger Gang Leader once again went against popular opinion to reserve it for Qin Niu.

This silent support made Qin Niu even more grateful.

“Brother Qin, the Gang Leader truly goes to great lengths for you. Given my understanding of him, such arrangements imply he hopes you will achieve even greater things in the future,” Gongsun Jin said, able to hint only so much in front of so many people – some matters could not be spoken outright.

“I’m just a country boy who got lucky and became an Insect Master. Our Black Tiger Gang is full of talents, and I’m sure even if Chairman Li were to age one day, there would be someone else to take over. For instance, Master He Shan is very strong.”

Qin Niu had achieved no small feat in controlling insects, but the idea of taking over from Chairman Li had not crossed his mind.

Especially after witnessing Madame Zhao’s terrifying strength yesterday, he realized that no matter how strong the Insect Pets are, they are useless without personal cultivation.

Personal cultivation is what matters most.

“Brother Qin, you mustn’t just focus on the Insect Master Association! With your abilities and strength, you can certainly set your sights much farther! Do you understand what it means to be exceptionally promoted to a Grade One Executor?”

Gongsun Jin asked with a wink and a smile.

“I really don’t know, please enlighten me, older brother Gongsun!”

Qin Niu’s address for Gongsun Jin had changed as well.

Since Gang Leader Gongsun had already called him “Brother Qin,” it would have been somewhat impersonal if he continued to call him “Gang Leader Gongsun.”

“The Executors in our gang are divided into three grades. Only those who have made great achievements and possess Innate Realm cultivation are possibly promoted to Grade Three Executor. If one continues to perform excellently after becoming a Grade Three Executor, and makes further significant contributions to the gang, only then they may have the chance to be promoted to Grade Two Executor.

There are quite a few talented individuals lucky enough to be promoted to Grade Two Executor, but Grade One Executors are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

The majority of the Grade Two Executors end up advancing to become protectors, and then, once their cultivation reaches the Spirit Qi Realm and their contributions to the gang are sufficient, they automatically become elders of the gang.

Only an extremely small number of outstanding Grade Two Executors who have also passed the scrutiny of the gang’s upper echelons might be promoted to Grade One Executor.

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After being promoted to a Grade One Executor, as long as one doesn’t make any major mistakes, once their cultivation breaks through to the Spirit Qi Realm, they can be discussed by the Gang Leader and deputy gang leaders in a meeting to be promoted to deputy gang leader.

“What sets the Black Tiger Gang apart from other factions is that it’s easy to become an elder, but extremely difficult to become a deputy gang leader,”

Gongsun Jin patiently clarified for Qin Niu.

It seemed to be indeed the case.

The Black Tiger Gang had two high-level circles, one was the elder circle, and the other was the main circle.

The elders basically had no real power; they only had the right to make suggestions and vote but no actual managerial or military authority.

But every deputy gang leader held real power, either in charge of law enforcement or military forces.

In terms of status, the elders couldn’t even begin to compare with the deputy gang leaders.

Another point was that in other gangs, elders could replace the Gang Leader if needed.

For instance, in the Shennong Sect or the Nine Insect Gang, if the Gang Leader died in battle or joined an Immortal Sect, it was highly likely that the Great Elder would take over as Gang Leader.

But for the Black Tiger Gang, an elder could only ever be an elder, with no chance of becoming the Gang Leader in their lifetime.

On the contrary, the deputy gang leaders could become the official Gang Leader at any time.

This unique talent selection mechanism was precisely why the Black Tiger Gang had steadily advanced over the years.

The internal stability was solid, with virtually no incidents of internal strife due to power struggles ever occurring.

“Now that Brother Qin has become a Grade One Executor, as long as your cultivation breaks through to the Spirit Qi Realm in the future, I estimate you’ll quickly be promoted to a deputy gang leader position.”

“I… I can’t even dare to dream of such good fortune!”

Qin Niu finally understood how valuable being a Grade One Executor was.

It was a lot better than the first-class noble title he got last time.

After all, there were several hundred people in the Black Tiger Gang who had been conferred the title of first-class nobles, but very few who could become Grade One Executors.

“Haha, so you see, you should be bolder and look further ahead,” Gongsun Jin said with a laugh as he stroked his beard.

“The thousand mu of fertile land awarded to you is on the other side of the Tianshui River. During this campaign, our Gang wiped out the Shennong Sect and acquired a large amount of their land. A portion of it was set aside as rewards for the meritorious soldiers. Here are the land deed and map, you should take some time to take possession of it. You can rent it out, cultivate it yourself, or sell it, as you see fit.”

Qin Niu accepted the land deed with both hands.

The Black Tiger Gang was always clear about rewards and punishments, and the reward given to him was indeed quite generous.

Keep in mind that it took years of diligent management for the Yan family of Jade Stream Town to accrue a thousand mu of fertile land.

The reward Qin Niu received now was directly equivalent to the estate of a local landlord.

“By the way, these two personal guards of the gang leaders are also awarded to you. Their salaries are covered by the Black Tiger Gang, and they are assigned to protect you and be at your disposal. Each personal guard is a valuable asset to the Gang, so I ask that you treat them well, Brother Qin.”

After Gongsun Jin finished speaking, he waved his hand at Iron Tiger and Ye Ji, who immediately went to stand behind Qin Niu.

“This, I should probably not accept these personal guards! The Gang Leader is the soul and core of the Black Tiger Gang and needs more protection than I do. Besides, I live in the countryside and rarely encounter any dangers.”

Qin Niu didn’t want these two guards.

Mainly, he was afraid of being surveilled.

These two were like the loyal retainers and personal soldiers trained by the Gang Leader, and they would undoubtedly have greater loyalty to him. Placing them by Qin Niu’s side was like installing two spies next to him, wasn’t it?

Moreover, the cultivation of these two was only in the Innate Realm, not even a match for Qin Niu’s Green Demon Bee.

“Brother Qin, this decision comes from the Gang Leader himself and is also the usual practice in the Gang. Every Grade One Executor in our Gang is a core talent that we cannot afford to risk. If they come from prestigious families, they will find their own personal guards, whose salaries are paid by the Gang.

If they are from common roots or small families, the Gang Leader will assign two personal guards.”

Gongsun Jin explained to Qin Niu.

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