Zhou Xuan stood before a desolate patch of ground. Looking at the scene before him, so clean it was almost blinding, he felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet, race up his spine, and shoot straight to his Celestial Crown.
This had once been the liveliest place in Yunlai Market.
Countless low-ranking disciples and menial servants had set up crude little stalls here, selling herbs they had risked their lives to gather, materials from low-tier demon beasts they had hunted, and rough talismans and tools they had made themselves.
This was their bank, their cafeteria, and their only hope of obtaining cultivation resources.
And now, it was all gone.
Gone were the lively cries of vendors, the arguments over prices, and the vibrant smell of herbs, blood, and sweat all mingled together.
All that remained were blue stone tiles swept spotless and several enforcement disciples, expressionless as statues carved from iron.
How could this be called reform?
This was nothing less than taking an incredibly sharp knife and cleanly severing the last—and most important—lifeline of countless low-ranking cultivators!
Zhou Xuan walked around the area, growing more shocked and incredulous by the moment. In the end, he could barely stop himself from laughing out loud.
He knew this trick all too well!
For a moment, he even felt as if he'd been transported back several years.
Back then, his business had already grown big enough that he nearly monopolized an entire commercial street in a prosperous city in the mortal world.
To put his businesses completely ahead of the other small merchants and pursue the so-called high-end, boutique route,
the first thing he did was spend money to cultivate ties with the city authorities. In the name of improving the city's appearance and elevating the street's character,
he