Xu Wei was internally panicking the moment he saw Chu Xinghe.
The plan was for him to patrol the north, but here he was, suddenly showing up in the south. Xinghe, you're not playing by the rules at all.
But despite his panic, Xu Wei wasn't completely flustered.
After all, as the chief deacon of the meteorite iron mine, how could Xu Wei not know the shady dealings going on there?
The usual embezzlement... well, that's no secret.
And it's not just the meteorite iron mine, or even the Grand Sky Sect. Which deacon or steward doesn't secretly embezzle a bit here and there?
Xu Wei had been constantly telling Chu Xinghe how difficult things were, essentially playing the sympathy card in advance.
Even if embezzlement was discovered and reported to the sect, it wouldn't be too much trouble.
It's known that someone like Xu Wei, a chief deacon, holds a position in the Grand Sky Sect second only to the average elder. If it was just about embezzlement, even the notoriously strict Great Elder would at most give a minor punishment.
Including the stewards below, Xu Wei believed the Great Elder would punish them, but everyone would still be safe.So Xu Wei wasn't too panicked.
Embezzlement is just a small matter, right? Everyone understands that too much clarity leaves no room for fish.
But at this moment, when he saw the batch of supposedly top-quality meteorite iron meant for the sect had somehow turned into defective goods, Xu Wei was truly dumbfounded.
If it was just embezzlement, being caught by Xinghe and reported to the Great Elder would result in a scolding akin to berating a grandson, and that would be it.
But damn it, the nature of the problem has changed now.
Embezzling some spirit stones is a minor issue, but passing off inferior goods as resources for the sect is a crime that could cost lives!
Even as a deacon, if caught passing off inferior goods, even if I am under the Great Elder's protection, the Great Elder wouldn't dare to save me.
So Xu Wei was genuinely panicked for a moment.
Not only Xu Wei, but even Chu Xinghe was confused.
If today you told me someone was secretly selling sect information, Chu Xinghe wouldn't be angry at all.
Even if it was discovered that someone was a spy for the Demonic Sect, Chu Xinghe wouldn't panic.
But damn it, passing off inferior meteorite iron is truly intolerable.
As someone who used to spend years stationed at the Artifact Refining Palace, Chu Xinghe knows exactly what meteorite iron is.
To put it simply, the vast majority of spirit weapons in the world require meteorite iron as a base material. Of course, those legendary divine weapons might need better materials.
But the importance of meteorite iron is self-evident.
Using higher quality meteorite iron naturally results in stronger spirit weapons. Conversely, if inferior meteorite iron is used, the spirit weapon might seem fine at first, but could break when spiritual power is fully infused.
These top-grade meteorite irons submitted to the sect are used to craft spirit weapons for the sect's disciples and brothers.
If today I caught the meteorite iron mine selling inferior goods to outsiders, that would be one thing.
But you're even daring to deceive our own people?
Imagine if a sect disciple's spirit weapon, made from inferior meteorite iron, broke during a life-or-death battle. That would be a death sentence.
Chu Xinghe was truly furious at this moment.
When it comes to causing trouble for the sect, I, Chu Xinghe, may be the most troublesome, but damn it, I have my limits and responsibilities.
When I cause trouble for the sect, it's always about resources. I've never intended to harm my fellow brothers.
But damn it, you at the meteorite iron mine dare to mess with even our life-saving tools?
This isn't just about the sect losing face; mixing defective products with top-grade ones is a death wish.
So Chu Xinghe's gaze turned directly to Xu Wei, and the message was clear.
Deacon Xu, if you can't give me, Chu Xinghe, a satisfactory explanation today, then I'll have to bind everyone above the steward level in the entire meteorite iron mine.
Such egregious behavior leaves no room for leniency.
Seeing Chu Xinghe's gaze, Xu Wei naturally understood, so he didn't hesitate for a moment and immediately shouted, "Luo Zheng! Get out here!"
As Xu Wei's voice fell, a young man who had been hiding at the back of the group ran out with a pale face and then knelt before Xu Wei with a thud.
"Dea... Deacon Xu... it's... it's not my fault..." Luo Zheng was filled with terror.
"As the warehouse supervisor, every piece of meteorite iron here falls under your responsibility, and you tell me it's not your fault? Fine... then tell me, who did it!" Xu Wei's aura as a Martial Sovereign surged wildly.
As Xu Wei spoke, his gaze swept across the crowd. At that moment, Xu Wei felt somewhat relieved, because when he looked at the other stewards, they all met his gaze with calm expressions. From their eyes, Xu Wei could tell they weren't involved.
"Someone... take Luo Zheng away, we must have results by tonight!" Xu Wei ordered, and someone immediately moved to take Luo Zheng away.
"No need to trouble yourselves, Ma Liang, use the Soul Devouring Array to ask him what's going on!" With a wave of Chu Xinghe's hand, the Ghost Emperor beside Ma Liang flew out and grabbed Luo Zheng.
In an instant, the Ghost Emperor's Soul Devouring Array activated, giving Luo Zheng no chance to resist. Under the Soul Devouring Array, not only did he confess to passing off inferior goods, but he also admitted to wetting the bed as a child.
Soon, Chu Xinghe knew everything he wanted to know.
Luo Zheng, as the warehouse supervisor of the meteorite iron mine, held an unusual position. However, not only did he spend money like water, but he was also addicted to gambling.
As the warehouse manager, he usually embezzled various meteorite ores, but this time he set his sights on the most precious batch of top-grade meteorite iron meant for the sect.
According to Luo Zheng's plan, in just three days, this batch of ore would be transported to the sect. Once the ore was in storage, no one would notice the inferior goods mixed in.
But Luo Zheng never dreamed that it would be so coincidental that Chu Xinghe, instead of patrolling the north, came south and happened to catch him.
The Soul Devouring Array made Luo Zheng's scheme of passing off inferior goods crystal clear.
For such a heartless person, there was no need for Chu Xinghe to speak; Xu Wei stepped forward directly.
"Someone, drag Luo Zheng away! Chop him up and feed him to the dogs!"
As Xu Wei spoke, the mine's stewards rushed forward to take him away.
But just as Luo Zheng was being dragged away, he shouted loudly, "Deacon Xu, spare me... please spare me for the sake of my uncle, Deacon Zhang Peng!"
Hearing Luo Zheng's plea, Xu Wei was dumbfounded.
Of course, Xu Wei knew Luo Zheng's uncle was Deacon Zhang Peng, and Xu Wei himself was even close friends with Zhang Peng. But damn it, Zhang Peng, what a mess you've gotten yourself into with such a nephew... mentioning your uncle now is not pleading for mercy!
You're courting death.
Sure enough, as Luo Zheng's words fell, Chu Xinghe spoke calmly, "Heh... Deacon Zhang Peng, is it? By my order, demote Zhang Peng from deacon to steward!"
As soon as Chu Xinghe said this, Xu Wei was filled with helplessness. Zhang Peng, your nephew has truly ruined you.
But no one dared to plead for Zhang Peng. At this moment, Chu Xinghe represented Sect Master Gu Mingchao, and even if you were a deacon, he could deal with you as he pleased.
After dealing with Luo Zheng, Chu Xinghe didn't hesitate and directly instructed Ma Liang to announce the matter to the world!
Ma Liang greatly approved of Senior Brother Xinghe's approach. By using Luo Zheng's case to inform the entire sect and even the world, he was declaring that the Grand Sky Sect would not tolerate any actions that harm the sect.
Although Ma Liang knew that announcing this would surely stir up a lot of discussion and inevitably affect the sect's reputation, Senior Brother Xinghe was right: severe problems require drastic solutions.
If this isn't addressed now, what will happen if similar issues arise in the future?
Senior Brother Xinghe truly is someone who cannot tolerate any sand in his eyes.
"By the way, Senior Brother Xinghe, Luo Zheng not only had that issue, but from his memories, it seems the entire meteorite iron mine isn't clean. I think it needs a thorough rectification!"
Ma Liang quietly shared the information he discovered from Luo Zheng's memory through the Soul Devouring Array.
Upon hearing Ma Liang's words, Chu Xinghe was shocked!
What? There's more to it?
The entire meteorite iron mine isn't clean? Quick, tell me exactly what's unclean.
But soon, after hearing Ma Liang's account of the so-called uncleanliness in Luo Zheng's memory, Chu Xinghe was moved to tears.
In Luo Zheng's memory, almost everyone above the steward level at the meteorite iron mine was secretly embezzling something, even Xu Wei wasn't spared.
But after hearing it, Chu Xinghe just wanted to say, Ma Liang, you're being foolish!
You call this unclean? Don't you understand the principle that too much clarity leaves no room for fish?
Look at the stewards of the meteorite iron mine, how hard they work every day... so hard that they barely have time to go home, bringing so much profit to the sect. In such circumstances, is it wrong for them to take a little something?
And Xu Wei, as a deacon, living far from the sect with his family, isn't it tough... the meteorite iron mine ranks high in assessments every year, is it wrong for him to take some sect resources to compensate himself?
What? It's okay for you, Ma Liang, to cause trouble in the sect's treasure vault, but it's not okay for them to take a little something?
If you don't take, and I don't take, when will the sect ever suffer losses?
If the sect doesn't suffer losses, when will Senior Brother Xinghe ever become a Martial God? So even if we need to investigate, can't we wait until after Senior Brother Xinghe becomes a Martial God? Right now, they are all helping Senior Brother Xinghe on his path to becoming a Martial God!
Exposing someone like Luo Zheng is because his actions were already endangering the sect's disciples. After dealing with him and making it public, it somewhat tarnishes the Grand Sky Sect's reputation, right?
Moreover, if we really go to the extent of dealing with everyone in the entire meteorite iron mine, what will happen to its management?
After hearing Senior Brother Xinghe's words, Ma Liang also sighed, acknowledging that Senior Brother Xinghe was right. He was only thinking about how to handle the problem, but overlooked that handling the problem is one thing, and if everyone is dealt with, the management of the meteorite iron mine would fall into chaos.
If the meteorite iron mine really fell into chaos, how much loss would that cause the sect? Senior Brother Xinghe truly considers everything.
And just as Ma Liang was appreciating Senior Brother Xinghe's thorough consideration, Chu Xinghe gathered Xu Wei and the others.
In the next moment, amidst the anxious feelings of Xu Wei and the others, Chu Xinghe casually picked up an account book and, under everyone's confused gaze, burned it to ashes...