As the crowd outside the Divine Shrine gradually dispersed, Qin He found a secluded tavern and sat down. He tapped the table with his fingertips, and the Black Demon Banner silently floated above his knees, laying down a concealed soundproof barrier.
"Tell me about Everbright Commandery in detail." He poured himself a cup of cool tea, his tone calm.
Long Qingyun's soul shadow swayed inside the banner, his voice carrying a certain familiarity. "This place is a rotten patch of no man's land. The Lingyue and Weiwu dynasties fight over collecting taxes, while the Blazing Flame Monster Kingdom comes every few days to snatch cultivators for food. None of them has any interest in actually governing it."
"Purple Sun High Person, the man stationed here by the Divine Court, is really just a well-connected loafer." He scoffed. "He used his lineage's connections to secure a position as an Earth God of the Lower Realm. Supposedly, he guards this region. In reality, he just throws his weight around Ziyang City and scrapes the land bare more ruthlessly than anyone."
Qin He raised an eyebrow slightly. "At the Mid Other Shore Realm, he certainly has enough strength to swagger wherever he pleases in this barren place."
"Doesn't he just!"
Long Qingyun raised his voice. "He's a fire cultivator with a temper like a firecracker. The slightest displeasure, and he burns down someone's residence. Of Ziyang City's cultivators, those he oppressed either died or fled. The aristocratic clans across all thirty-six cities have to send him tribute on schedule, too."
"The funny thing is, plenty of those aristocratic clans aren't actually afraid of him. He's just utterly shameless and has the Divine Court backing him, so many of them pinch their noses and toss him a few worthless things."
"Purple Sun High Person