I am becoming the ultimate demon.

Chapter 66: The Chen Family Submits, A New World Begins; Expanding the Team, A New Landscape

Outside the door, the wind and snow fell softly, and the fine snowflakes gradually covered the half-dead face inside the wooden box.

As the two talked, their breath condensed into wisps of white mist that dissipated in the cold air.

At the top of the steps, Ji Lin stood tall and straight, while Chen Wang stood below with his head bowed, looking like a child who had done something terribly wrong, constantly nodding and bowing, his posture humble.

Looking at his expression, he was expressionless, his face was deathly pale, and his eyes were empty and lifeless.

His whole body exuded a dazed aura, as if his soul had been ripped out; he had clearly suffered a great shock, and even his fingertips trembled slightly in the cold wind.

"Thank you for your magnanimity, Young Master Ji. My Chen family is willing to submit and obey the orders of the Ji family from now on."

Chen Wang held the wooden box and bowed deeply to Ji Lin.

Ji Lin waved his hand, indicating that he could go back without worry, and that he would send people to the Chen residence to negotiate with the remnants of the Li family later.

The Chen family's hundreds of elite troops are probably already like frightened birds; without a leader, how can they possibly organize themselves?

At this point, they had no choice but to stay hidden in the Chen residence, hoping that the Ji family would not cause them any trouble.

He watched Chen Wang's retreating figure as he boarded the carriage, a man who looked utterly forlorn.

Yet, one can't help but admire him. With such determination, he is sure to achieve great things in the future, and at least he hasn't tarnished the reputation of the former head of the Chen family.

The lingering influence of the Li family's downfall had not yet dissipated when the Chen family had already humbled themselves and submitted.

The power structure of Xiong'an County was completely redrawn, and the Ji family firmly established itself as the undisputed hegemon, with no one daring to challenge them.

From then on, the wealthy merchants and gentry of Xiong'an County only recognized the Ji family.

The gates of the Ji residence were constantly bustling with carriages and horses, and the residence was filled with distinguished guests every day, displaying a prosperous and thriving atmosphere.

Seeing that the situation was settled, the powerful and wealthy families were willing to follow the rules of the government and no longer openly confronted the government. The governance of the county finally got back on track.

The county magistrate already relied heavily on Ji Lin, and now with the Ji family's solid power backing him, the government's authority was more secure than ever before.

In the past, government orders that were slow and difficult to implement were now being carried out smoothly and effortlessly.

But anyone with discerning eyes knows perfectly well that this so-called official authority is nothing more than a halo bestowed upon him by Ji Lin.

Every official document and every decree issued by the county government would be nothing more than a piece of waste paper without the Ji family's approval. The real power in Xiong'an has always been in Ji Lin's hands.

Ji Lin's plans always concealed the deep foresight and ruthless precision of a tyrant. Every step he took was aimed at the heart of people's hearts and the key to power, and his calculations were flawless.

He did not greedily swallow all the benefits; instead, he deeply understood the principle of "giving up benefits to maintain power."

The proactive decision to dismantle and dispose of non-core businesses such as suburban shops, grain stores, and fish stalls demonstrates a strategic vision.

Some of the industries were transferred to the government, directly filling the empty county treasury.

This not only saved face for the county magistrate but also secured the government's full endorsement and cooperation for all his actions, completely silencing any potential accusations of "abuse of power."

The other portion was precisely allocated to Chen's former subordinates. It seemed like a benevolent act of appeasement and concessions, but in reality, it was an invisible rein that tightly bound the Chen family.

After the Chen family lost power, their morale was already low. Ji Lin's move not only gave the Chen family a way out, but also allowed them to take advantage of their familiarity with local business to manage mundane affairs, saving him a lot of trouble.

This also eliminates the possibility of the Chen family's ambitions expanding from the root, achieving multiple benefits and resolving all potential criticisms and obstacles.

But a ruthless leader's concessions are always based on absolute control. When it comes to core interests that are fundamental to his foundation, Ji Lin did not yield an inch or a single step.

He swiftly integrated and incorporated the elite private soldiers left behind by the Li family and the valiant fighting force that had surrendered to the Chen family, eliminating dissidents, reshaping discipline, and greatly expanding the force after merging it with the night patrol team.

He specially promoted Kong Zhi and Sun Xiaolong to serve as squad leaders, and personally selected thirty elites to strengthen the team. Each of them had undergone rigorous screening and was a loyal and capable fighter.

Including the teams led by Huang Yu, Liu Qingmei, and Tang Wu, there are a total of five teams with eighty members.

He regarded the rare resource of Shadow Crystal, which could amplify strength and contained strange and abnormal power, as his lifeline.

All Shadow Crystals are stored in the system's inventory and will be distributed later.

Even for trusted confidants like Huang Yu, Liu Qingmei, Tang Wu, Kong Zhi, and Sun Xiaolong, only a small amount was allocated according to their needs.

We never allow anyone to touch our complete resource reserves, keeping our core military strength and special forces firmly in our hands, leaving no hidden dangers whatsoever.

The expansion of the night patrol team was not a blind recruitment. Ji Lin personally established a strict hierarchy, with clear division of responsibilities from the captain and deputy captain to ordinary members.

His existing strength was not even enough to deal with a normal high-level anomaly, and the shadow cast by the Blood Lotus Cult in his heart could not be shaken off.

The reward and punishment mechanism is extremely strict, with those who make contributions receiving generous rewards, such as the blessing of abnormal substances like shadow crystals, and a leap in status.

Those who commit offenses will be severely punished, ranging from caning and demotion to execution on the spot, with absolutely no leniency.

He not only publicly posted notices to recruit skilled martial artists and young men from the countryside, but also personally presided over the selection process, his sharp eyes able to see through people's hearts at a glance.

Anyone with ulterior motives, unclear background, or opportunistic tendencies will be excluded. No unstable element will be allowed to infiltrate the team.

In just a few days, an airtight network of vigilance and rapid response was established, covering the entire Xiong'an area.

There are sentries in the streets and alleys of the county town, and guard posts in the corners. There are checkpoints on the main roads between towns and villages, and soldiers stationed in the villages.

The night patrol teams moved around day and night with great fanfare, cooperating openly and covertly with the government's patrol teams.

Any disturbances, banditry, or secret rebellions by powerful figures were swiftly quelled without a trace.

The public security in Xiong'an County has been completely transformed, reaching a state of peace and order where doors are left unlocked at night and lost items are not picked up.

The common people no longer had to suffer from gang disputes and oppression by powerful figures, and their respect and gratitude for Ji Lin were deeply ingrained.

Praises were heard everywhere, and its popularity among the people reached its peak, making it the "Guardian of Xiong'an" in the hearts of the people.

But those seasoned veterans who had been entrenched in the local area for many years, and the old foxes in the officialdom, were all walking on thin ice and secretly trembling with fear.

They saw things far more clearly than ordinary people; this young man was no ordinary person, and he was not content with being just a "guardian."

He commands an elite night patrol team and possesses extraordinary strength.

It can win people's hearts and stabilize the situation by offering concessions, and it can also eliminate dissidents and deter others with an iron fist.

What they hold in their eyes is never just the small area of ​​Xiong'an County, but a much wider world and a more overwhelming power.

Some praised him as a pillar of strength in troubled times, while others cursed him as a tyrant in troubled times, but Ji Lin never cared about these empty titles.

With such a deep mind and decisive action, he could both appease the people and establish his hegemony. Looking at the surrounding counties, no one dared to easily provoke him.

Even powerful figures and officials in neighboring prefectures and counties secretly sent people to inquire about his movements, doing everything they could to curry favor with him and to be wary of him.

The sky over Xiong'an County is already the sky of Ji Lin.

His sights had already been set on the more powerful state capital, the gathering place of many powerful forces.

At the same time, they all have their eyes on Xiong'an County, a special city with ancient altars. Any wrong step could lead to annihilation.

Simply strengthening our own power is no longer enough; we must further expand our influence...