Collecting Protection Fees
Bi Changchun's decision to have Yue Qianchou cultivate the "Deficient Flame Mysterious Fruit" was absolutely the wisest choice. Most importantly, this guy had experience in this field and could start working immediately without any training. In particular, his work attitude was commendable; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe him as hardworking and dedicated.
The area where he cultivated the Deficient Flame Mysterious Fruit had about two hundred plants, He Li left behind about eighteen hundred, totaling around two thousand. Calculating this, it would consume over two thousand high-grade Spirit Stones daily. After this calculation, the busy Yue Qianchou pondered when to visit the Demon King and ghost kings to familiarize himself with their families. Two thousand a day, that adds up to over seven hundred thousand high-grade Spirit Stones a year. In the Cultivation World, that's enough to support several small sects. Everyone else is working under Bi Changchun; why should he be the one footing the bill?
Thinking about the large number of people I have to support, and the high salaries I pay them, the expenses are huge! Since I'm already Bi Changchun's disciple, what's mine belongs to my master. It's my duty to support a large number of people for my master. Uh... it's best not to tell my master for now. I'll secretly support them for him and tell him when the time is right.
Having found a reason to comfort himself, Yue Qianchou finished his work. He turned his gaze to the distance beyond the Thousand Mile Flat Lake. Those Demon King and ghost kings who operated in his master's territory should pay some taxes. What pretext should he use to collect them? Hmm... let's say it's protection money!
Yue Qianchou let out a long sigh of relief, feeling great! From today onwards, he could roam freely in the Demon Ghost Domain. This was something he never dared to dream of when he first came here. Thinking back to when he first arrived, Meng Yan showing off to him. Now he really wanted to return the favor, but unfortunately, that guy was killed by Bi Changchun. It seems he can only find an opportunity to show off to his widowed wife.
Speaking of Yu Ji sat in the Ghost King's Palace, overjoyed. Meng Yan's death had indeed saddened her for a long time; their countless years of fate had come to an end. Meng Yan, his body and soul annihilated, could never rekindle their bond in the next life—it was impossible. The dead are dead, but the living still have a future to walk. Having experienced the splendor of the mortal world, and after undergoing tribulations, transformed into a ghost cultivator for a thousand years, Yu Ji was filled with sorrow. She had thought that without Meng Yan's protection, given her appearance, she would likely be reduced to serving other ghost cultivators. Who would have thought that Bi Changchun would actually grant her the power of the Ghost King in this place? It was truly an unexpected surprise. Although her cultivation wasn't very high, as long as she remained in the Demon Ghost Domain, who would dare disobey Bi Changchun's decree!
However, Bi Changchun's message today gave her another surprise. Yu Ji was stunned for a long time. "He Li betrayed his master and ancestors, committing heinous crimes and has been executed. My new disciple is named Yue Qianchou. I hope he will cooperate with me in my actions in the Demon Ghost Domain." She thought she had misheard. Yue Qianchou? That Yue Qianchou? That Yue Qianchou had actually become Bi Changchun's disciple? After regaining her senses, she immediately confirmed her guess. Who else could Yue Qianchou but the one who broke into the Demon Ghost Domain and was detained by Bi Changchun?
"He became Bi Changchun's disciple? He became Bi Changchun's disciple..." Yu Ji sat on the throne, her expression inscrutable, muttering to herself. She still remembered the vow Yue Qianchou had made to her years ago. He said that once he had the ability, he would take her and her husband away from the Demon Ghost Domain. Now that Meng Yan was dead, but she was still alive, Yue Qianchou would surely fulfill his vow. Otherwise, cultivators would be punished by heaven.
Yu Ji's bright eyes sparkled, revealing her undisguised joy. Her forward-thinking investment back then was just for a possibility, but she never expected such a thing to happen. It seems that her chances of leaving the Demon Ghost Domain are very high.
Beneath the throne stood two rows of armored ghost generals, a group of officers looking on with suspicion, all noticing Yu Ji's unusual behavior. Sai Zhang Fei stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and asked, "Madam, has something happened?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Ji composed herself, her expression solemn. She surveyed the crowd with the gaze of a superior, her heart churning with turmoil. "I've had enough of this inhuman existence," she thought. "I have no desire to be this all-powerful ghost king. Let whoever wants to be one be it. I only wish to linger in the mortal world. Among the talented men and beautiful women under the dim lights, I should be one." After a moment of silence, Yu Ji said calmly, "Mr. Yue is now a disciple of the Immortal Master. Pass down the order: if you see Mr. Yue, report back immediately. I will personally go to greet him."
The other person spoke calmly, revealing nothing amiss. She had learned a lesson from the deaths of Meng Yan and Ao Li; it was best not to let anyone know of her intention to leave the Demon Ghost Domain, otherwise, the consequences would be dire.
Everyone understood that in the Demon Ghost Domain, only Bi Changchun was worthy of the title "Bi Changchun Immortal Master," but the identity of that Immortal Master's disciple was somewhat of a mystery. Sai Zhang Fei, who was relatively familiar with Yue Qianchou in the Demon Ghost Domain, asked doubtfully, "Is the Mr. Yue that Madam is referring to Mr. Yue Qianchou?"
Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly realized, yet some still couldn't believe it. Amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd, Yu Ji smiled and said, "That's right, it is indeed Mr. Yue Qianchou. I just received a message from the Immortal Master."
The Ghost King's Hall erupted in chaos, with everyone buzzing with discussion. Sai Zhang Fei clasped his hands in a fist and said happily, "Yes, Your subordinate will immediately pass on the order." With that, he gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist, dragging his clattering armor as he strode out of the Ghost King's Hall.
Leaving aside Yu Ji and others who knew Yue Qianchou, the other Demon King and ghost kings in the Demon Ghost Domain were all busy after receiving Bi Changchun's message. They sent their subordinates to inquire about the identity of this suddenly appearing Yue Qianchou. Some even began ordering their subordinates to prepare lavish gifts. Most people knew He Li before, but now that He Li was dead, few knew Yue Qianchou. Since they didn't know him, they had to prepare a gift in advance.
In short, after this news spread, the Demon Ghost Domain became extremely lively. Demons roamed freely during the day, and ghosts lurked at night, all because of Yue Qianchou, whom most people had never met. The Demon Ghost Domain was in a state of chaos. If Wu Sihai of the Four Great Families knew about this, he wouldn't find it strange at all. He had long ago concluded that wherever Yue Qianchou went, trouble was bound to follow; it would be strange if it didn't. Wu Sihai had already experienced this many times.
Actually, it must be said that those who were preparing to send such a generous gift were quite shrewd. They were unaware that Yue Qianchou, far away on Shuntian Island, was already plotting how to extort protection money from them. They were sure Yue Qianchou would be very pleased to see the gift.
At this moment, Yue Qianchou was on the shore of the lake on Shuntian Island, a blue flame burning in his palm, reforging the hundred flying swords that He Li had destroyed. The clear water in the lake was just right for quenching the swords. He had to reforge them! His current cultivation level wasn't high enough for him to fly, and without flying swords, he couldn't leave Shuntian Island. He couldn't rely on rowing and swimming! Although Chen Feng had many flying swords in Utopia, they certainly weren't as useful as these mixed with Profound Gold Sand. Besides, if he encountered a few fools while collecting protection money, he couldn't bring up Bi Changchun for every little thing! Better flying swords would always be more useful.
He wasn't afraid of Bi Changchun discovering it, since Bi Changchun already knew the secret of the Azure Flame, so there was no need to hide the sword forging anymore. Little did he know that as those clumps of molten metal were skillfully and casually stretched, extended, and forged into flying swords in the Azure Flame in his palm, Bi Changchun, who was sitting cross-legged in the central room of the island, suddenly opened his eyes. His Divine Sense quickly reached Yue Qianchou's surroundings, observing Yue Qianchou, who was engrossed in forging swords, while the latter was completely unaware.
After forging a hundred flying swords, he sheathed one on his back and put the rest back into his Storage Bag. He originally wanted to go and collect his fees from the Demon King and ghost kings now, but then he thought he should greet Bi Changchun first. He obediently went to the door where Bi Changchun was sitting and bowed, saying, "Master, this disciple doesn't have enough Spirit Stone to cultivate the 'Deficient Flame Mysterious Fruit' tomorrow. May I go to...?"
Before he could finish speaking, Bi Changchun interrupted him, saying, "I already told you before that you can ask any Demon King or ghost king in the Demon Ghost Domain for Spirit Stone. You don't need to come to me for such things in the future. Just handle it yourself. In short, the 'Deficient Flame Mysterious Fruit' must not be lost."
"Uh... disciple understands, disciple will go and do it right away." Yue Qianchou respectfully withdrew. After walking a distance, with a "clang," his longsword was drawn, transforming into a streak of light that carried him away. A strong wind Yue Qianchou's face turn into a lewd smile. His gaze fell on the distant, gloomy Demon Ghost Domain. Stepping onto his sword, he flicked his sleeves, put his hands behind his back, and increased his flying speed again. He was getting impatient...
.