People from Yun Province Stranded in Qi Province

On the thirteenth day of the eighth month of the eighth year of Chengping, after more than twenty days of continuous flight, Jiang Liu finally arrived at Luo County, the border county between Qi Province and Yunzhou.

Jiang Liu looked at the massive city walls of Luocheng, then stopped the Frostwing Dragon and the Three-Eyed Flying Tiger in the Exotic Beast Plaza. This startled the other Exotic Beast in Exotic Beast plaza.

However, Jiang Liu had no time to care about these things. After leaving Qi Province, there was no longer a special Exotic Beast square to take care of the Exotic Beast. Today, he would let these two Exotic Beast King rest properly.

Jiang Liu then leaped into the air and headed towards the city wall.

As soon as Jiang Liu reached the city wall, three figures flew out.

Upon seeing Jiang Liu, the leading disciple of the Exotic Beast Valley immediately bowed respectfully and asked, "Senior Brother Jiang, are you preparing to Qi Province Jiang Liu? Or have you just returned?"

"Junior brother has a good eye. I'm on my way to Yunzhou and just stopped here to rest. You don't need to worry about me," Jiang Liu said, bowing in return.

"Yes! Then if you need anything, Senior Brother Jiang, just look for me. My name is Qi Yi!" Qi Yi quickly replied.

Jiang Liu nodded and flew into Luocheng.

Jiang Liu walked along the street, observing the surroundings, and noticed that Luo City seemed more prosperous than before, with many people from Yunzhou having come here. The clothing of the Yunzhou people was quite different from that of Qi Province, Jiang Liu recognized immediately.

Jiang Liu wondered if these people couldn't make a living in Yunzhou anymore. Otherwise, why would they all be heading here? Because Jiang Liu saw that the people from Yunzhou were all coming in groups, families, and none of them were alone. He could imagine that they were all relocating as a family.

Adjacent to Qi Province Luo County is Yunzhou Xia County, which is currently controlled by the Sun Moon Sect Xia County.

This gives an idea of the extent of exploitation the Sun Moon Sect inflicted on its subjects. If one could survive there, who would want to leave their homeland?

Moreover, as far as Jiang Liu knew, Yunzhou had been suffering from drought for years. When Jiang Liu was in Cloud Sun City, the lives of ordinary people were already very difficult.

Jiang Liu had spent more than half a year in the western market of Cloud Sun City, so he was very familiar with the price changes there.

Jiang Liu put aside his complicated thoughts and headed towards the Ascension Tower. Soon, the iconic pavilion of the Ascension Tower Jiang Liu into view.

As soon as Jiang Liu stepped into the Ascension Tower, a female attendant came up to him, bowed, and said, "Young Master Jiang Liu, how can I help you?"

It turns out that Jiang Liu's portrait has spread throughout the entire Ascension Tower. Jiang Liu is now not only the son-in-law of the Murong Family, but more importantly, one of the thirteen True Inheritor Disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect.

Therefore, Jiang Liu is now considered one of the most important figures in the entire Ascension Tower. As for the rumor that Jiang Liu has advanced to the Grandmaster level, only the Tower Masters of Ascension Tower know about that.

Jiang Liu nodded and said, "I'm looking for your sect leader."

The waitress bowed and said, "Young Master Jiang, please come with me." Then she turned and led Jiang Liu toward the top floor.

As soon as the waitress led Jiang Liu to the top floor, she saw Bai Luohe standing at the bottom of the stairs to greet them, her plump belly protruding.

Jiang Liu stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Uncle Bai, how have you been?"

Bai Luohe looked at Jiang Liu and laughed heartily, "Nephew Jiang, it's been a few years, and your strength has advanced too quickly! It makes your uncle quite ashamed!"

Upon seeing this, the waitress bowed to the two men and then went downstairs.

Jiang Liu laughed heartily and said, "Uncle Bai, you're still as dashing as ever!"

Bai Luohe patted his belly smugly and said, "That's right, I'm just relaxed and carefree, and now that Qi Province is the territory of the Exotic Beast Valley, I'm living even more comfortably."

Jiang Liu smiled but didn't say anything. Bai Luohe led Jiang Liu into the last secret room.

"Nephew Jiang, congratulations on your advancement to Grandmaster. Are you planning to return to Yunzhou?" Bai Luohe asked.

Jiang Liu replied, "Yes, Uncle Bai, I saw many people from Yunzhou here. Is the situation in Yunzhou very bad right now?"

"Alas! The situation in Yunzhou can no longer be described as bad. The martial arts community is doing a little better, but the common people are living in misery," Bai Luohe said with a sigh.

Jiang Liu frowned slightly upon hearing this and asked, "Oh? What do you mean?"

"Sigh! It was better before when the government was in charge, at least it wasn't so chaotic. Now, several forces are governing their own territories."

These forces are desperately exploiting the civilians, because they don't know how long this situation can last.

"What if they get driven away or defeated by others tomorrow?" Bai Luohe said helplessly.

Jiang Liu understood immediately. It seemed that the biggest drawback of the major Jianghu forces in governing local areas was now beginning to emerge.

Because those Jianghu forces do not engage in production and are at risk of being driven away at any time, they can only use every means to exploit the common people in order to live well.

The common people were exploited to the point of being unable to survive, and they couldn't fight back. What could they do? They could only flee.

Those from Yunzhou can escape to Qi Province, but what about the others? Where can they escape to?

Currently, only three states are truly stable: Qian Province, Tian Province, and Qi Province. As a result, the population of these three states has exploded. Jiang Liu didn't really notice this when he first left Qian Province.

Luo County is now the closest to Xia County. Although the road is densely forested and fraught with danger, there is an official road through it, so it is the most popular place to go.

Then, Bai Luohe told Jiang Liu in detail what he knew about Xia County.

Jiang Liu listened with his brows furrowed the entire time. He never expected the Sun Moon Sect to go so far, not to mention the exorbitant taxes.

The sheer number of fees levied under various pretexts is unbearable. There are all sorts of reasons, like who got promoted, who had a birthday, or who died. In short, there are always fees to be levied every day.

Even worse, if a disciple of the Sun Moon Sect took a fancy to a woman or girl on the street, he would abduct her and take her back to the sect under the pretense of teaching her martial arts. As for what would happen to her afterward, one can imagine.

Disregarding human life was commonplace, as any ordinary person who offended a member of the Sun Moon Sect was sentenced to death.

Business at Ascension Tower in Yunzhou has plummeted, as most of the smaller factions have been absorbed and divided up by those few.

Murong Aotian was reluctant to act due to the previous alliance, and the Sun Moon Sect, the Deity Summoning Society, the Exotic Weapon Valley, and the Five Poisons Sect did not provoke the Ascending Ascension Tower.

However, it's obvious to anyone with eyes that if things continue like this, the Yunzhou Ascension Tower will eventually collapse.

As for the major Lineage native to Yuncheng, they are in an even worse situation, because now they can only keep their businesses in Yuncheng, whereas such large Lineage were previously supported by the entire state.

Now only Cloud City remains, and Cloud City is now divided equally among the Sun Moon Sect, the Deity Summoning Society, and the Exotic Weapon Valley.

However, Jiang Liu estimated that those families were not to be underestimated either, and they were definitely trying to find ways to deal with these major forces, especially the branch families of those major clans.

So now they're probably all waiting for an opportunity to strike at these three major forces, either directly or covertly.

Perhaps before long, Yunzhou will continue to be in chaos.