A New Chain Quest: Stop the Court's Tax Collection

"Ah!"

The Vampire Demon let out a bloodcurdling scream that pierced the night sky.

In the slums, many people trembled with fear, none daring to utter a sound.

To them, this was like gods fighting.

"Your Majesty, save me..." The Vampire Demon turned to look at the palace, his face filled with misery but also a glimmer of hope.

However, there was no movement whatsoever from the direction of the palace.

In the past, several experts would come to take a look, but at this moment, not a single one has appeared.

They let the headmaster take the Vampire Demon away.

Gao Linzhi has also gained a deeper understanding of the extraordinary social ecology.

Both sides have a limit to their tolerance; as long as their sense of security is not violated, a small loss of marginal interests is acceptable.

What are the boundaries of security?

It's not the imperial court, but an individual's sense of security.

This would be unimaginable in a society without extraordinary beings.

Can you imagine a rebel leader causing a huge disturbance near the capital, and the government taking no action?

That's impossible.

Now, the imperial court has adopted a more patient approach.

The headmaster didn't feel anything either.

Clearly, this is something they've become accustomed to.

"Alright, you can take this person."

Gao Linzhi nodded. "Thank you, Headmaster."

He suddenly realized that he could hire the other party to fight bosses in the future.

Of course, this is on the premise that the other party does not feel threatened.

That's all.

Two weeks later.

Gao Linzhi completed 99 levels of the challenge.

The later levels are all similar to challenges involving killing NPCs.

The level increased from 100 to 119.

The Game System is a bit flawed; it didn't break through the 120-level barrier.

After all, a level 120 NPC is the real Spokesperson of a region.

And at this time...

A game notification appeared.

"Ding! Congratulations to player 'Can Xue Waves Across the Map successfully completing level 99 of the temporary event challenge!"

"You have gained 600 free attribute points!"

Goodness!

Gao Linzhi was slightly shocked.

Once you clear the level, you'll receive a whopping 600 free attribute points.

Keep in mind that he had only accumulated 130 points of Freedom attribute so far, and this sudden gain of 600 points was remarkable.

He naturally accumulated these skills and wouldn't let them go to waste.

The challenge is that the rewards increase as you progress.

Of course, the greater the risk, including potential problems.

Since Gao Linzhi is hidden in the offline world, he is naturally not afraid of these hidden dangers.

Others wouldn't be able to do it.

Like Li Gun, is there really no other way?

Gao Linzhi naturally knew that wasn't the case.

However, Li Gun was worried about incurring public wrath and about various unknown Mystic System spells.

Curses, divination, assassination, psychic abilities, dream entry...

Li Gun, a veteran player, is well aware of all these tactics.

After all, the other party isn't a classic villain; they're still a normal person.

Normal people would worry about these things.

Therefore, things will not be taken to extremes.

Gao Linzhi, of course, didn't care about that.

Since he was the Only Ordinary Player, the other party's various methods could only affect his Game Character.

Game Character is just a string of data. Clearing negative buffs is simply a matter of a game item or a game command.

At the same time.

The entire event channel was also shocked.

"Amazing!"

"I never expected that the Canxue veteran would be able to clear level 99!"

"The Canxue boss is indeed powerful, I admire him greatly -- 219 Li Gun"

"Damn, this guy is a real pro. Even Li Gun couldn't handle him."

"Yeah, who said the top players in the new server are inferior to the top players in the old server?"

"Come out and see, they really did clear level 99!"

"Hey boss with Canxue, what's the reward?"

Does anyone know?

Anyone in the same group as the Canxue powerhouse?

"No, the big shot never joins other people's groups."

"I really didn't expect that. I heard that the next 89 levels all require killing NPCs over level 100. It's unbelievable that this guy was able to kill them."

The players were all shocked.

In a short time, another wave of player migration swept across Wolf Snake Island.

After all, with such a powerful and unfathomable figure protecting them, they are naturally much safer.

After all, many players still find it difficult to obtain Revival Stone.

For a time, the entire Wolf Snake Island was almost overflowing with people.

Players are everywhere.

However, economic laws are still at play.

They can come to Wolf Snake Island, but they find it difficult to settle down.

After all, there aren't that many lairs and bosses to farm here. Those with skills can settle down here, while those without skills can only come and visit before rushing back.

At the same time.

As this year has passed.

The strange occurrences along the sea route have mostly subsided.

According to observations of the sea on Wolf Snake Island, most of the strange creatures sank to the bottom of the sea or even disappeared.

They must have entered the mountains in the sea, or simply disappeared into the sea sand.

Many islands have also begun to take advantage of this opportunity to extract as much resource as possible from the sea.

Trade, fishing, pearl harvesting, seaweed digging, coral harvesting, shipwreck salvage, marine mining...

In short, almost all the islands have entered a period of prosperity.

The greatest benefit of islands comes from the ocean.

Now that the sea monsters have subsided, it is time for them to hunt in full force.

Of course, they also knew that the imperial court had begun a full-scale tax collection campaign.

They need to seize the last window of opportunity and accumulate a wave of momentum.

After all, it would take some time for the imperial ships to travel from departure to arrival.

Not only that, but with their extraordinary power, their ships were much faster than those in the materialistic feudal era.

For example, the average speed should be calculated using the speed of the wind and the current.

Therefore, the imperial court could reach most of the islands within six months.

In other words, the window of opportunity for these islands to obtain resources at sea is only six months.

Their goal was simple: to make a quick fortune and lay the foundation for dealing with future exploitation by the imperial court.

It must be said that they faced immense difficulties.

And so, as the imperial fleet set sail, taxes began to be collected in one place after another.

At this point, players began sharing stories of what was happening around them on the event channels and Game Forum.

"Wow, tax collection days are really tough."

"This showed me the reality of feudal dynasties as depicted in history textbooks; it was truly tragic."

"Yes, in my area, the imperial court is basically aiming to force a village to the point where only half, or even a third, of its population can survive."

"What does 'plundering the marrow' mean? It means soldiers from a ship disembarking and looting the entire village."

"Men are fighting over everything: grain, salted fish, spices, pearls, even women!"

"There's absolutely no law!"

"Officially, it's said to be a 5% tax, but in reality, it's ten or even a hundred times that amount!"

"They didn't have any tax receipts at all; they just walked into your house and started robbing you."

"Some will give you a receipt stating how much tax you owed in previous years."

"Now I understand! I thought they collected taxes once every ten years, but actually they collected taxes for ten years at a time!"

"It's already good if you buy ten years' worth at once; I buy a hundred years' worth at once."

"This is utterly absurd, completely shameless."

"No wonder these people aren't afraid of strange things, but they are afraid of the imperial court."

Gao Linzhi was not surprised to see these contents.

Having lived two lives, he knew very well what the feudal court was like.

Fortunately, there were still elderly people in the village who knew about it and hid the things in advance.

If we don't hide, we really won't survive.

The people in the imperial court are truly too cruel.

They have absolutely no sense of compassion.

"These people in the imperial court are truly beasts."

"They would just beat anyone they didn't like, leaving them with blood all over their faces."

"The surrounding villagers were all angry but dared not speak out."

"I used to think that people with high martial arts skills should have a chivalrous heart and be kinder to the weak."

"It seems completely impossible now. As long as the power of the two sides is unbalanced, the weaker side will inevitably suffer oppression."

"However, there are also a few islands that are now paradise on earth."

"For example, the imperial court stopped sending people to Wolf Snake Island because they knew there was a powerful figure there."

"Yes, they didn't send anyone from our side either," some players immediately chimed in.

"That's right. The imperial court sent people to most of the islands, but for some islands, they didn't send anyone at all."

"Why?" Some newcomers didn't understand.

"Hehe, of course it's because there are powerful figures on these islands. Let me tell you a rule: as long as a powerful figure can defeat a level 70 NPC, the imperial court won't send anyone."

"I see."

"Yes, the imperial court is also very clever."

How did they know?

"That's easy. We just need to do some divination to see the success rate of this tax collection. If there's a powerful figure on the island, and that figure is extremely capable, the imperial court will find that they can't handle it."

Gao Linzhi nodded.

He then asked Li Gun, "Have any officials from the imperial court gone there?"

"No, Boss Canxue, actually the imperial court hasn't sent anyone to the few islands in the country."

"It seems there are still some advantages to the old revolutionary base areas."

"Yes, but the people in the old districts are also ruthless. They take over the land themselves when the imperial officials don't come, and they exploit the villagers every day," Li Gun said, shaking his head.

"Oh, don't they know about sustainable development?"

"They knew, but they were even more eager to develop, because they had witnessed the power and monstrous cruelty of the imperial court, so they intensified their abuse of the villagers," Li Gun continued.

"Only newcomers, players with modern morals, are kind to the natives and willing to give them food."

"The veteran players might not know this, but older players often force villagers to go into the sea to fish for various materials."

"And you also have to risk bizarre riots to do the work."

"They even forced villagers to have more children, one every year, which is absolutely inhumane."

Gao Linzhi naturally chose to believe this.

When the Company Executive become ruthless, even the imperial court cannot fathom the limits.

After all, the ruthlessness of the imperial court is often a blind and barbaric kind of ruthlessness.

The Company Executive, on the other hand, is ruthless in an industrialized way, even making use of the villagers' ashes.

They can be completely unscrupulous in pursuit of various interests.

And at this time...

In the event channel, some players are already reaching their breaking point.

They started asking for help directly online.

"Hey everyone, come help us!"

"That's right, the imperial court is too barbaric. The little foundation we and the villagers have worked so hard to build is about to be destroyed by them."

"The scene was so horrific, it was unbearable to watch."

"I used to think the textbooks were exaggerating, but now I realize they're still understating it."

Naturally, many people also pleaded with Gao Linzhi for help.

This time, Gao Linzhi chose to help, contrary to his usual behavior.

"The villagers are innocent; helping them is certainly an option."

This is certainly not because he's a saint.

It was just that a game quest had been triggered.

[Ding! Congratulations, player, you have successfully triggered a personal chain quest.]

[Prevent the Imperial Court from levying taxes (First Stage)]

[There is no fixed upper limit to the number of rounds in this task; the actual number of valid rounds completed by the player will be the primary factor.]

[Preventing the imperial court from seizing an island counts as one instance.]

[Task Reward: Gain one Free Attribute Points for each successful prevention of tax collection, up to a maximum of 500 points.]

Gao Linzhi, upon seeing this, naturally wanted to start spending money.

One player pleaded, "Please, everyone, switch to our island and drive out the government officials!"

"We really can't hold on any longer; the imperial court is too ruthless."

"The imperial court requires our island to offer 10,000 Demon Bone. That's enough. Our district has only been open for a little over a year. How can we possibly offer them 10,000 Demon Bone?"

"We're in a similar situation. They're threatening us that if we can't supply enough, they'll force us players to provide 5 million tons of food."

"Good heavens, 5 million tons of grain! Do they even know what that means?"

"Even though we could squeeze some out, why should we give it to them?"

"Many grain companies only produce a few hundred thousand tons a year."

"They also forced us players to give them all the in-game items that dropped daily."

"This imperial court is truly unreasonable; they'll never listen to reason again!"

"This is outright robbery!"

Gao Linzhi then called out "Boring" and asked the other party to start a new business.

"Alright, everyone can report this in the channel so we can register. Our Four Village Trading Company will help you drive away the imperial court's tax fleet."

"Very good!"

"The Canxue powerhouse is finally willing to make a move."

"As expected, a big shot is a big shot. Those people said he was aloof, but he just can't stand seeing people suffer."

"Yes, those people are too selfish. They only think about the big boss sacrificing his own time to save them."

"It's ridiculous."

One day later.

Gao Linzhi has arrived on a new island.

The players weren't lying.

As soon as he switched to this location, Gao Linzhi heard a series of screams.

"Help!"

"Give us a way out!"

"Gentlemen, we've brought out our last bit of food."

He looked up and saw a troop of imperial soldiers rushing into a village.

They beat anyone they saw, kidnapped any woman they saw, robbed any grain they saw, and demolished any houses they saw.

Even worse, they burned down the villagers' houses!

Good heavens, is this still the imperial court?

These are clearly bandits.

In fact, in places far from the emperor's reach, the imperial court was no different from bandits.

Gao Linzhi was well aware of the moral character of these feudal courts.

They don't treat ordinary people like human beings at all.