"Then I'm sorry for the trouble, Fairy Xu."
After a moment's thought, Jiang Sheng agreed.
"There's no need to be so polite, Daoist Jiang. I came to Qingshan County at Qing'er's request in the first place. Now that everything has been settled, I naturally have to return to my sect."
"Dongjun Commandery City is right along the way, so it's no trouble at all," Xu Xiao said with a smile.
Jiang Sheng took an azure talisman inscribed with cloud-script from his storage pouch and offered it to Xu Xiao. "Whatever the case, you've helped me, Fairy Xu. I have nothing of much value on hand, only this azure talisman as a small token of my gratitude."
Xu Xiao accepted the azure talisman with a smile. "Then it would be discourteous of me to refuse. As it happens, I still have some unfinished business in Qingshan County Seat. You can come find me there in three days, Daoist Jiang."
Once they had agreed on the date, Jiang Sheng escorted Xu Xiao to the mountain gate. Only after watching her leave did he turn and return to the Daoist temple.
"Ming'an."
Hearing Jiang Sheng call him, Tian Ming'an hurriedly set aside his studies and came over. "Master."
"In three days, I'll be making a trip to the commandery city. You must look after the temple while I'm away. Don't let any riffraff disturb its peace," Jiang Sheng said.
Tian Ming'an paused, then replied, "Rest assured, Master. Your disciple will take good care of the temple."
Seeing how confident Tian Ming'an looked, Jiang Sheng couldn't help chuckling. "Heh, you haven't even drawn qi into your body yet. Your martial skills fall short of a mortal innate expert's, too. At best, you're second-rate. Where does all this confidence in guarding the temple come from?"
Tian Ming'an replied, "Your disciple certainly lacks the ability, but this temple is your cultivation ground, Master. Who in Qingshan County would dare set their sights on it?"
"Clever enough. Go back to your studies." Jiang Sheng waved a hand, and Tian Ming'an obediently withdrew.
Strolling into the rear hall, Jiang Sheng looked around and mused, "I still need an alchemy furnace and several medicinal herbs. Not only do I have to refine Tiger Bone Essence-Nourishing Pills, I also need a batch of Essence-Gathering Pills for my cultivation. Taking action this time really cost me."
"If I hadn't also obtained a formation set, I might have lost every last bit of my investment slaying these demons.
"Next time something like this comes up, I must investigate thoroughly. Taking action without first working out what the opponent is worth makes it far too easy to suffer a loss."
In truth, whether one was slaying demons or exploring a predecessor's cave abode, effort and reward had never been proportional.
No one could guarantee that a predecessor's cave abode held a legacy rather than a trap, nor could anyone guarantee that a notoriously evil fiend possessed great wealth.
Many cultivators laid all manner of traps in their cave abodes before dying to kill those who came after them. Besides, cultivators generally carried their wealth with them.
Often, after spending untold effort breaking into a cave abode, one might find nothing but an empty shell.
Thus, when rogue cultivators explored predecessors' cave abodes and searched for resources, their odds were generally two in ten, or even one in ten. Sometimes, there was only a ten-percent chance of avoiding a loss.
Jiang Sheng had now experienced firsthand how difficult life was for rogue cultivators.
Since arriving at Qingping Mountain, he had taken action in earnest three times. Yet only the first tiger demon had contributed a demon body at the Foundation Establishment Realm.
The Eight Wolves of Dongjun had left nothing behind. They had poured their entire fortunes into crafting that artifact, only for Jiang Sheng to destroy it in the end.
As for the River God, the less said, the better. A mighty demon of the Purple Mansion Realm, yet his cave abode was so empty that rats could run freely through it. It seemed all his resources had gone toward sustaining that sinister formation.
If not for the third-tier formation set and the batch of Scarlet Blossom Fruits Zhang Qingyun had given him, Jiang Sheng's Dao Heart might have suffered damage.
All this only strengthened Jiang Sheng's resolve to go out less when he had no pressing business.
On New Year's Eve, Jiang Sheng sent Tian Ming'an down the mountain to celebrate with his family. Watching fireworks fill the sky beyond the mountain, Jiang Sheng felt little stirring in his heart.
He had little time to spare, either. Besides his daily cultivation, he needed to draw an extra batch of talismans to sell. He had to stockpile resources.
After that, Jiang Sheng intended to devote himself to cultivation and ignore outside affairs. He would consider anything else only once he had opened the purple mansion between his brows.
New Year's Day was the date Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao had agreed upon. Jiang Sheng summoned Tian Ming'an.
After giving him instructions, he handed Tian Ming'an three talismans. "This is a second-tier Water Arrow Talisman I drew. If anyone attacks, use it against them. This is a Profound Water Talisman. If the attacker is too powerful, use it to preserve your life. This is a Hundred-Li Escape Talisman. After using the Profound Water Talisman to protect yourself, use this one to escape and wait for me to return."
"I understand." Tian Ming'an carefully tucked the three talismans close to his body.
Jiang Sheng nodded slightly, then rose into the air and flew toward Qingshan County Seat.
By noon, Jiang Sheng had reached the county seat.
The town was filled with decorative lanterns. Lanterns, peachwood charms, and bamboo decorations were everywhere, and the festive cheer had dispersed the fear and sorrow left by the River God's rampage.
Xu Xiao was sharing private words with Zhang Qing. Once the two women finished talking, Xu Xiao left with Jiang Sheng.
After discussing matters, Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao changed their attire and how they addressed each other.
Jiang Sheng shed his Daoist robes for flowing white robes patterned with drifting clouds, with a brocade sash around his waist. He replaced the pin in his Daoist topknot with a jade hairpin. Paired with his face, fair as fine jade, his otherworldly bearing made him look like a graceful young gentleman in a turbid world.
Even Xu Xiao couldn't help smiling at the sight. "With such an outstanding bearing, Young Master Yuanchen, who knows how many young ladies from Dongjun's aristocratic clans you'll leave swooning?"
Jiang Sheng merely smiled and said little.
Qingshan County was not far from Dongjun Commandery City, only about three days' journey.
Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao made no lengthy stops along the way. They reached Dongjun Commandery City at noon on the fourth day of the new year.
Dongjun Commandery City was much larger than Qingshan County Seat. Its walls towered high, with subtle formations inscribed upon them.
Apart from the several gates guarded by ordinary soldiers, one tall gate was watched by several cultivators in the early stage of the Qi Refining Realm.
Xu Xiao explained, "The gates guarded by soldiers are for mortals entering the city. Peddlers, porters, ordinary merchants, and travelers all use those gates. The one guarded by those qi-refining cultivators is for cultivators. The city's cultivation clans generally use this gate, too."
Unlike Qingshan County, Dongjun Commandery City housed more than a million people. Its markets, streets, and alleys were beyond counting. Gentry, wealthy merchants, commoners, peddlers, and porters each had their own streets, while cultivators and aristocratic clans had dedicated residential quarters.
Although cultivators and mortals lived together in the commandery city, the dividing line between them was as clear as the Jing and Wei Rivers.
As Xu Xiao and Jiang Sheng flew down to the gate, the qi-refining cultivators stationed there were already coming forward to greet them respectfully.
Anyone who could fly through the air and remain aloft for an extended time was undoubtedly a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.
Moreover, the man was strikingly handsome, while the woman was as beautiful as a heavenly immortal. Their immortal bearing was clearly extraordinary, and both were so young. They might well be distinguished members of some great clan or true disciples of a sect.
"Please enter, honored Foundation Establishment Realm seniors." The elderly man in charge, who was only at the third level of the Qi Refining Realm, smiled ingratiatingly and bowed as he ushered Jiang Sheng and Xu Xiao into the city.
Inside, the streets bustled and the population flourished. Markets teemed with people, shops stood in rows, and merchants and peddlers were everywhere amid an endless stream of carriages and horses.
With the New Year festivities underway, the commandery city was especially lively.
Xu Xiao led Jiang Sheng along the city's main road. Before long, they reached its cultivation market.
Clearly, the market had been specially laid out for cultivators' convenience. It stood close to their residential district, and two mid-stage Qi Refining Realm cultivators guarded its entrance.
The two cultivators wore matching outfits, each bearing the character "Cha" over the chest.
Xu Xiao explained, "This market is actually a joint venture between the Cha Family and the commandery city's Foundation Establishment Realm aristocratic clans. The Cha Family owns half, and the remaining clans share the other half."
"And the guards aren't limited to these qi-refining cultivators from the Cha Family. Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators from Dongjun's various clans and the Cha Family take turns overseeing the market."
"Under the rules, entering costs two spirit stones per person. If you sell anything inside, the market takes an additional twenty percent of the spirit stones. It might seem expensive, but transactions here are guaranteed by Dongjun's aristocratic clans and the Cha Family, so its reputation is trustworthy."
Jiang Sheng sensed the auras within the market. Most belonged to Qi Refining Realm cultivators and varied greatly in strength. Two stood out in particular, situated in the market's most conspicuous tall building. Both belonged to Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators.
They were evidently the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators from Dongjun's aristocratic clans assigned to oversee the market.
When Xu Xiao and Jiang Sheng reached the market entrance, Xu Xiao paid four spirit stones. The qi-refining guard took out two tokens and handed them to her.
Xu Xiao gave one to Jiang Sheng. "This is your entry pass. You receive it on the way in and return it on the way out, so keep it safe."
Taking the pass, Jiang Sheng looked at the finger-sized token in his hand and smiled. "This market really is meticulous."
"They can't afford to be careless. Do you know how much profit this market brings Dongjun's aristocratic clans every year, Young Master Yuanchen?" Xu Xiao asked with a smile.
Jiang Sheng thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I can't guess the exact figure, but I imagine it must be astonishing."
Xu Xiao said, "Each cultivator pays two spirit stones to enter. On top of that, shops pay annual fees, and rogue cultivators running stalls pay a twenty-percent tax. This market brings Dongjun's aristocratic clans at least several hundred thousand spirit stones a year!"
Several hundred thousand spirit stones!
The figure truly astonished Jiang Sheng. With annual revenue of several hundred thousand spirit stones, each clan's share would be considerable.
"These aristocratic clans control the market, collect spirit stones, then buy Foundation Establishment Pills and various artifacts and pills from the provincial capital to sustain their lineages. That's how they ensure they have Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators in every generation."
"And the Cha Family hardly needs mentioning. The spirit stones they spend on pills and artifacts every year amount to an enormous sum," Xu Xiao continued.
Jiang Sheng nodded. These aristocratic clans had many members, and the cultivation resources they provided each year were no small expense.
Besides, they had to maintain Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators in every generation and cover the consumption of various Foundation Establishment Realm artifacts and pills. Their earnings looked substantial, but little actually remained.
The ones who truly made money in all of Qing Province were still the three great sects at the very top.
After all, they controlled most of the Foundation Establishment Pills and the resources needed to open a purple mansion. These aristocratic clans might seem to earn a great deal each year, but most of it would flow back into the hands of the three great sects.
Accumulated day after day, the resources in the three great sects' hands had to be staggering!
My lords, Lin Yuan has made it into the second round of recommendations! Thank you all for your monthly votes, recommendation votes, and tips. Without your support, I'm afraid I would have been knocked out in the first round long ago.
The second round starts this Sunday. If you have monthly votes, my lords, please consider waiting until Sunday to cast them for me. Not only will they count double, they'll also help me get off to an early start.
Let me thank you all in advance for your tips.
PS: Tonight, I cooked noodles and had a bowl of stir-fried napa cabbage, too. The cabbage was really sweet.
(End of chapter)
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