Jade City That Devours Men, the Princess's Grudge, Planting Eyes and Ears, Seeking Advancement

After three days in the water dungeon, the cell suddenly opened. Two guards stood outside and threw down a "water ladder."

Made of Silkworm Silk, it sinks upon contact with water, as if it possesses the characteristics of the Second Martial Realm.

The prisoners in the water dungeon climbed the ladder, the water splashing rapidly. The ground was soaking wet. They reached the shore one by one, panting heavily, as if reborn. Jade City called the water dungeon the "Face-Washing Pool."

The meaning is that once you enter this pool, all your past appearances vanish like smoke. From now on, you are nothing but a debt slave. Jade City is extremely prosperous and a place for entertainment and pleasure. Some martial artists often come to Jade City for fun. Later, they squandered their fortunes, fled with debts, and were captured by Jade City.

Still clinging to past glories and presuming upon their external status, they are unruly, disobedient, and disregard city rules, inevitably leading to unrest. Thus, the "Face-Washing Pool" exists. Anyone indebted who enters Jade City and sets foot in Clear Peace Tower must immediately plunge into this Face-Washing Pool, to deflate their arrogance. The pool water is "Qi-Severing Freezing Water," an invisible pressure that makes it difficult for the internal energy to leave the body. The constant freezing causes both physical and mental torment.

Moreover, such a treacherous environment quickly depletes a person's energy. Those who sink underwater must constantly climb stone platforms to surface for air. However, there are only three stone platforms, which must be fought over.

Thus, climbing back and forth, just to catch one's breath. Exhausted, fearful, and tormented—the debt slave's body and mind are humiliated at every turn. Knowing the power of Jade City, one's prestige is greatly diminished. Secondly, it symbolizes washing away one's dignity, from now on, Jade City will decide one's fate.

The two constables did not urge them on and allowed them to rest. Several First Realm martial artists hugged their chests, shivering, and were quite cold, their bodies radiating chill. Several Second Realm martial artists were even more exhausted. They could only repeatedly climb the stone platform to barely maintain their breath. After several days of suffering, they could hardly bear it.

Li Xian had undergone the test of the deep lake and received the assistance of the Jade-Water Pearl. The inner Heartfire within him burned fiercely, yet his will remained steadfast. He was different from others, possessing a calm and collected aura. The Heartfire his blood, emitting heat.

The constable said, "Alright, alright, let's go! Come with me quickly." He began to urge them on.

The guards at Clear Peace Tower were all officials Bodyless Faceless, yet they were Jade Citizen of Jade City. Although their martial arts skills were rudimentary, their social standing was far superior to the others. Among the prisoners in the same batch were many martial arts masters. After exchanging glances, they all followed suit without daring to contradict them.

The guards were quite pleased with themselves, one leading the way and the other carrying the load. After counting the number of people without any problems, they proceeded along the complex network of buildings. The path was dark and gloomy, with only the sound of dripping water.

Li Xian looked around, examining the texture of the wall surface, which was extremely sturdy. He knew it must contain countless ingenious mechanisms and traps. He thought, "Although I only glanced at Jade City and knew it was extremely skilled in Heavenly Crafted Wonders, it doesn't mean Jade City Jade City doesn't value martial arts. The Mud Face, Mud Body ' Jade Guardian ' I saw already possessed considerable martial arts skills. These two constables, though less skilled, also had a foundation in martial arts. This shows that Jade City still prioritizes Heavenly Crafted Wonders being its defining characteristic."

Judging from the current situation, the road ahead is winding and circuitous; they have traveled quite a distance, yet still do not know where they are headed. The Thatched Hall Swordsman asked, "Young brother, may I ask where you have led us?"

Since he was seated near the front, he naturally asked the guide. The guide raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "Young man?"

You call me little brother?

The Thatched Hall Swordsman was taken aback and asked, "What—" The constable cursed, "You debt slave, you probably don't understand the situation. You Bodyless Faceless, and you owe debts. How can you call me brother based on body and face?"

The Thatched Hall Swordsman looked grim. His martial arts skills were considerable, and he had already humbled himself by addressing an ordinary constable as "brother." Yet, he was reprimanded. He forced himself to endure, knowing that Jade City was unique and its surrounding terrain was special. Even if he could display his martial arts prowess for a moment, he would find it difficult to escape the control of Jade City. There was no way out but to comply.

He chuckled sheepishly and said, "It was my recklessness, it was my recklessness. Then, I wonder what I should call you?"

The constable looked up and said, "You may call me 'Sir'." The Thatched Hall Swordsman replied, "Yes, sir, sir." The constable's expression softened, and he was quite pleased, praising, "You're a quick learner. With this attitude, you might just rise above your station someday."

The constable said, "Speak, what is it you wish to ask?" The Thatched Hall Swordsman replied, "Having followed us all this way, I was just curious and wanted to ask. What will become of us afterward?"

The constable raised an eyebrow, exuding arrogance, and said with a smug look, "I don't know the specifics. That's up to the judge. But based on my experience, it definitely won't be good."

He glanced back and said, "If I'm not mistaken, your martial arts skills should all be quite strong, right? Although there are ordinary people in Jade City who squander money like water and become debt slaves, imprisoned in the water dungeon, your breathing gradually calmed down as soon as you were released from the water dungeon, which is quite telling. Hehe, let me warn you beforehand, don't think that as long as you have martial arts skills, it's easy to make money in Jade City, and don't think that debts in Jade City are easy to pay off."

Everyone's hearts sank. Hearing that "money is hard to earn in Jade City," the Thatched Hall Swordsman, wanting to probe further, presumptuously asked, "Sir, what is your monthly salary for this position?"

Li Xian also felt curious.

The constable frowned and said sourly, "My uncle is Mud Body figure. With his help, I'll eventually become Mud Body too. Then my salary will be many times higher."

The Thatched Hall Swordsman said, "We all know that you have a bright future, sir. To be honest, I have some experience in the martial world. I have seen countless talented individuals, but your demeanor, figure, and appearance are all of the highest caliber. I asked you this question simply to catch a glimpse of your splendor."

The constable, beaming with pride, said, "You do have some knowledge. Let me tell you. I'm a constable at Clear Peace Tower, a position in Jade City that requires Bodyless official status Faceless. Although it 'Bodyless Faceless post, back then, over a thousand Jade Citizen were vying for it. I endured seven years of hardship and finally won the bid to take this position."

Speaking of this, he felt immensely proud, head held high, chest puffed out, full of arrogance. Li Xian thought to himself, "No wonder Commandery Princess Anyang scolded me for boasting when I claimed I would become the Silver-Faced Lang within three years. This ordinary, Faceless Bodyless position is so sought after. The next Mud Face ' Mud Body ' position—I'm afraid the competition will be even more fierce."

The difficulty here has been assessed.

The constable continued, "I have been serving for three years. My family is proud of me, my brothers look up to me as a role model, and my sisters look up to me as their elder. My monthly salary is not much, only four taels of silver, but my family is a well-off Jade Citizen in Jade City, with an ancestral house. Four taels of silver is more than enough to support the Lineage."

"Moreover, the position and benefits are quite good, mostly involving sending debtors like you as vassals. It's relatively easy to have a leisurely life, and you can practice martial arts to improve in your spare time. You'll often receive luxury items like jade ointment and immortal fat. There's a quarterly banquet, and you can receive two coins' Essence Treasure. On ordinary days, the Emperor will cook the meals and share the Essence Soup with you. If you make meritorious contributions or perform outstandingly, you'll receive even more rewards. By accumulating seniority, you can even exchange it for martial arts skills."

"After a few years of recuperation and reaching a level of mastery in Essence Consumption, with my uncle's help and connections, I can certainly obtain a ' Mud Body ' or 'Mud Face ' (a body made of clay). At that time, my salary will be several times higher. Although my position as a low- Qidian official in Clear Peace Tower is humble, if my progress is smooth, there are already predecessors who have reached the level of 'Copper Body, Mud Face '."

The Thatched Hall Swordsman flattered, "Sir, you are so young, yet your future is so promising. Congratulations, congratulations!"

The constable, extremely arrogant, said, "Of course. You debt slaves are unfamiliar with the rules of Jade City. You may think I'm just a bully, and look down on me. But after you've been in Jade City for several years, you'll understand the meaning of my words. In the future, when you see me, you'll call me 'Sir' with complete respect."

"Martial arts skills are certainly important. But Jade City's 'respect' is also fundamental to his success in both business and personal enjoyment."

One prisoner sighed, "There's a saying that in chaotic times, even a county magistrate is no match for a lowly constable in Jade City. It seems there's some truth to that."

The constable, in high spirits, said, "Although I've never left Jade City, I've certainly seen quite a few county magistrates like the one you mentioned. I have some understanding of them. Heh heh, in your area, without some power and connections, could one possibly be a county magistrate?"

I'm afraid not. But some of us lowly Jade Citizen are diligent and hardworking, eventually becoming capable of this task. This is why Jade City stands strong while Great Wu is on the verge of collapse.

The Wine Elder took a sip of strong liquor and said leisurely, "That statement seems narrow-minded and biased. Although Jade City is large, compared to Great Wu, it is ultimately just a city. Jade City is easier to govern, but Great Wu is much more difficult."

Li Xian secretly calculated. "This man is a jailer in Jade City, similar in nature to a prison guard. I once served as Martial Commandant, in charge of local affairs. I know that the prison guards in Qingning County only receive 130 cash a month." Sometimes, when they can't pay their duties, they have to extort money from the prisoners. In this county, they live off the power of the jailers. This man receives 4 taels of silver a month. This shows that Jade City is prosperous and has more trade. Although I am in debt, if I use my abilities to find a way to obtain money, I should be able to repay my 14,000 taels of silver much faster."

My mood has calmed down a bit.

The constable was talking at length when he suddenly heard someone arguing back. He became very angry and stopped talking. He hurriedly led the way, taking the prisoners to their respective interrogation rooms.

Inside the interrogation room sat an official, with a clerk beside him. They were separated from Li Xian by a screen, their faces obscured, but their voices were clearly audible. The room was small; if Li Xian were to suddenly launch a fight, he would have to pass through the screen. This screen was a "Heavenly Crafted Wonders of Jade City; Conflict-Stopping Gauze," designed to shroud, restrict, and subdue anyone who posed a threat.

Li Xian looked around and saw a wooden chair in the hall. The official invited Li Xian to sit down, then took out a document and began to examine Li Xian's life records.

The official said, "Your name is Li Xian. Four years ago, your elder brother owed Jade City 14,000 taels of silver and absconded. The younger brother is obligated to pay the debt, and now the debt falls on your head. Do you know this or not?"

Li Xian said, "I don't know." The official laughed and said, "It doesn't matter if you don't know. Now that you're in Jade City, just focus on repaying your debts. Bring me the abacus."

The clerk brought over a jade abacus. The official counted on his fingers and said, "Your elder brother, Li Gui, only owes Jade City fourteen thousand taels of silver, but we haven't heard from him for years. Where did he go? If you provide truthful clues, we can arrest him and the two brothers can repay the debt together. It's better than you going it alone."

Li Xian truthfully replied, "I don't know." The official shook his head and said, "That's a great pity. Since you don't know, let's settle the matter by account. Your brother, Li Gui, borrowed 14,000 taels of silver from the Ji Clan Money House in Jade City. Later, he lost it to Gambling Stone House and went bankrupt. The Li family mortgaged their house, wrote an IOU, and went out of the city to raise money to repay the debt. They never returned and disappeared without a trace."

"Your house and property have been confiscated, and the debt of 14,000 taels of silver remains unpaid. From that moment on, it was transferred to your name. Considering you borrowed money from the Ji Clan Money House, according to the bank's rules, the monthly interest rate is 4%, meaning you must repay at least 560 taels of silver every month. And since there has been no news for four years, you owe me, Jade City— "

The official rolled down the last coin, examining it with interest, and said, "Ninety-one thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven taels of silver, I'll give you ninety-two thousand taels. How about it, is there any mistake in my calculation?"

Li Xian frowned, knowing he lacked experience and had oversimplified the matter. Qingyao looked at him with pity, clearly having anticipated this. Jade City was skilled in calculation; by compounding the profits, the gains could multiply several times over.

Fourteen thousand taels of silver is not a large sum; an ordinary martial artist can raise the cauldron five times. If one finds a way and takes advantage of the prosperity of Jade City, it may not be impossible to repay it quickly. Ninety-two thousand taels, however, is daunting. The monthly interest alone is three thousand six hundred taels, enough to raise the cauldron every month.

The official said, "This is no small sum. Someone like you, with over ten thousand taels, could easily accumulate to over ninety thousand taels with compound interest. There haven't been many like you in recent years. Now, do you know your brother's whereabouts or not? You should know that if you capture him, the burden he'll share won't be a mere few thousand taels of silver, but tens of thousands. Brotherly affection might be betrayed for money."

Li Xian said, "I don't know." The official said, "Well, there's nothing we can do about it."

It turned out that the original creditor, "Li Gui," had died halfway through the debt repayment, leaving no trace. Li Gui had no relatives or clansmen, a lonely ghost, and once he died, it was difficult to find someone to repay the debt. Only the debt continued to snowball with interest, growing ever larger.

If it weren't for Commandery Princess Anyang's interference, it would have been a complete mess.

The official said, "Judging from your records, you are a Second Realm martial artist, and a rogue one at that, with no Lineage backing you. It seems you will find it extremely difficult to repay this 90,000 taels of silver."

Li Xian thought to himself, "The trip to Jade City has been far more difficult than I anticipated. I was too optimistic before. But it doesn't matter; as long as I'm alive, I can gradually find a solution." He cupped his hands and said, "Ninety thousand taels is a lot, but I will find a way to repay it."

The official said, "You're wrong, you're wrong. The method of repayment is arranged by us, not by you finding your own way to repay it."

The official brought out a box containing dozens of compartments, each holding a token. He said, "Those who come to my Jade City to settle debts must abide by the rules of Jade City. I will consider your case and grant you Mining Token," allowing you to mine jade for Jade City. You can settle your debts by paying four hundred taels per month.

"If you perform well, you may be able to suspend debt repayment. Keep an eye on Clear Peace Tower regularly," as they will assign you tasks, and if you handle them properly, you may even be able to repay additional debts.

Li Xian held a "Mining Token" in his hand, and wore a jade bracelet on his left wrist. This was a "Heavenly Crafted Wonders; Cage Bracelet." It corresponded the Unseen with the terrain of Jade City. Once he left the city, he would become dizzy and disoriented, eventually returning by accident.

The Cage Bracelet contains hidden needles that can pierce the flesh and are extremely difficult to remove. It can also scatter threads that can bind and seize the wearer in an instant.

Inside a waiting room at Clear Peace Tower, debt collectors entered one after another, all pale-faced and listless. They encountered the same burly man, the Thatched Hall Swordsman, and the beautiful woman they had met before—all of them were now reunited.

The methods of debt repayment varied. The burly man was assigned to be a strong boatman, responsible for unloading heavy objects. He owed 35,000 taels of silver, which was not a large sum. With his martial arts skills, if he were to raise the money outside of Jade City, he could pay it off in one or two years.

Upon arriving in Jade City, the officials there deliberately assigned him to hard labor, paying him two hundred taels of silver per month to pay off his debt. He was very dissatisfied and declared that he would find a way to repay the debt, which could be paid off within two years, without having to go through all this trouble.

The official chuckled, and his words struck the burly man like a thunderbolt. The official said, "A martial man like you, who doesn't know that tens of thousands of taels of silver is just a year's expense? With the size and strength of my Jade City, why would I care about tens of thousands of taels of silver? The debts of Jade City aren't for you to pay off quickly, but rather, not to be paid off completely, but to be repaid slowly."

Only a burly, strong man knows the ins and outs of this world. No matter how large your debt is, it's hard to pay it off in a few years. You're at their mercy, they'll make you work hard when they don't need you, and then make you fight tooth and nail when they do. A simple debt can consume half your life and drive you through half your life.

By the time the intricacies of this matter were understood, the Cage Bracelet had already been worn, Dust Settled. All that remained was acceptance.

The Thatched Hall Swordsman, who owed 23,000 taels of silver, suffered the same fate. The beautiful woman on the same boat, who only owed 4,000 taels of silver, was arranged to work as a courtesan at the "Flower-Dream House" to repay the debt.

Li Xian gently turned the Wishful Jade Thumb Ring, instantly changing the situation and making it even more menacing. He pondered, "Commandery Princess Anyang was absolutely right; Jade City is also a city of sin. I had previously heard them say that Jade City was ruthless and exploitative, but I hadn't experienced it firsthand. Now that I understand it personally, it is indeed extremely despicable."

Though he remained calm, his anger burned fiercely. Holding the "Mining Token," he thought, "That Commandery Princess Anyang! She's put me in this predicament. If I ever gain power, I'll make her suffer ten times more."

His heart burned with rage, yet his face remained calm. Half an hour later, a group of constables arrived and led everyone to their respective locations. Although the debts in Jade City were difficult to repay, they would not lead to despair or utter despair. They would always offer hope, releasing numerous tasks to offset the debts, stimulating their fighting spirit, and driving them to complete them with all their might, thus manipulating their emotions back and forth.

Li Xian rode in a prison cart out of Jade City and arrived in the mountains Jade City. He owed "92,000 taels of silver" and the most difficult task to repay was digging for jade in the fields and the sea.

The escort took Li Xian to the Western Vein Mine. A man named Zhang Cun took over the team, respectfully saw the escort off, and then turned to Li Xian to inquire about his situation. Upon learning that Li Xian owed 92,000 taels of silver, he said, "Brother, you're in dire straits."

"Do you know how long it took the last person, who owed 92,000 taels of silver, to repay his debts after becoming a miner?"

Li Xian inquired curiously. Zhang Cun replied, "Forty-six years. He was also a martial artist, and I heard he was quite strong, but it took him forty-six years to barely repay the debt. The moment the debt was completely wiped out, he laughed loudly to the sky, but then he couldn't catch his breath and died."

Li Xian asked, "Brother Zhang, how long will it take to pay off your debt, and how much is owed?" Zhang Cun smiled and said, "I'll pay it off soon. I originally owed 30,000 taels of silver, and after six years of hard work, I've already paid off 19,000 taels. In another three to five years, I should be able to pay off the entire debt."

Zhang Cun led the way, explaining the details of debt repayment. Five miners worked together to explore the mountain caves and dig for jade. They entered at dawn and left at dusk. Each month, they could repay four hundred taels of their debt.

Relying solely on "four hundred taels of silver per month to pay off the debt" is insufficient to cover the interest. The debt will inevitably pile up, becoming impossible to repay indefinitely. Jade City's "squeezing the marrow from the bone" approach will not leave anyone feeling hopeless.

If any mining team discovers a rare jade ore, they will be exempt from paying interest for that month. Furthermore, any additional discoveries will also offset the debt. With such gradual progress, even a debt of 90,000 taels of silver will eventually be completely cleared.

Zhang Cun said, "Brother, I must remind you, do not even think of escaping. The defenses of Jade City are far more stringent than you imagine. Moreover, with the help of the Unseen heaven and earth, it will be impossible to move an inch. If you are caught and brought back, your debts will increase dramatically, and your situation will become even more miserable. I see that you are still young. After I have paid off all my debts, I will hand over the position of squad leader to you."

"You can pay off six hundred taels of debt each month. If you proceed step by step, you should be able to pay off the debt by the time you are sixty or seventy. Of course, relying solely on mining jade is far from enough. You also need to keep an eye on Clear Peace Tower. If there are any jobs available, take them on actively."

As they spoke, they arrived at an open space. Rows of Wooden Lodge stood around it, and in the distance, sentry posts were set up, with soldiers patrolling and guarding them. The Wooden Lodge were not large, and five people could squeeze in.

It was past 7 PM by then. The miners, covered in dust and their faces blackened, walked out of the mine. Zhang Cun pushed open the wooden door, which was in disarray. There were five wooden beds and five thick blankets. Three people were lying on the beds.

Zhang Cun's "mining team" originally consisted of five people, but one of them resigned some time ago to seek another way of life. Only four people remained: Zhang Cun, Liang Huohuo, Qiu Luofan, and Wang Shan.

Zhang Cun and Qiu Luofan were both debt slaves. Liang Huohuo was Common Citizen, and Wang Shan was Jade Citizen. On the west side of Jade City, ordinary people mined for a living to support their families. They got to know each other, exchanged a few words, and then fell silent.

Zhang Cun said, "Brother, go to sleep quickly. We need to get up at dawn tomorrow to dig for jade." He covered himself with a thick blanket and fell into a deep sleep.

Li Xian tidied his bed and leaned against the edge. His bed was by the window, where the pale moonlight shone softly. Having experienced many ups and downs in a short period, his situation was becoming increasingly difficult. He needed to carefully consider his future direction.

He pondered, "My situation is different. If I repay my debts step by step, I'll face certain death. With this debt of 90,000, following the conventional methods will only leave me anxious and hopeless. Rather than that, I'd rather take a desperate gamble. I need to broaden my horizons and look for opportunities beyond my immediate surroundings!"

He had a sudden inspiration. "Becoming a miner is hard work and toil, but that's secondary. The biggest obstacle is the lack of information. Being isolated from the world for so long means missing out on countless opportunities in Jade City. These debts may seem like a heavy burden, but in the grand scheme of Jade City, they're nothing. Those with status and influence can easily wipe them out. If we can seize just one or two opportunities, we can turn our lives around."

"Although opportunity always comes with danger, and one can easily face annihilation, I came to Jade City precisely to face this peril. Having already reached this point, what danger do I have to fear? If I am to die, I will die on the road ahead."

"Therefore—keeping an eye on things is of paramount importance! I need to cultivate good relationships with Jade Citizen Wang Shan and Common Citizen Liang Huohuo to inquire about the situation in Jade City. Any news of escape will not easily circulate. Therefore, I need to eavesdrop on others and use my ' Hair Falling, Roots Taking Hold- like' ability to plant a seed. If an opportunity arises, I will seize it immediately."

Although Li Xian's vision was limited, he knew what he wanted and desired. After being taught the ways of the world by Wen Caishang, he deeply understood that he should not be bound by frameworks or limited by rules. The great path is broad, and finding another way is also the right path.

He was aware that he still had some strength left from the "Eighteen Jade City Strikes". He sat quietly to regulate his breathing, recover his spirit, and silently read the Medical Heart Scripture and the Medical Ethics Scripture. Even though the situation was dangerous, he continued to work hard and improve.

Suddenly, he felt pain all over his body and an unbearable itch. Li Xian took out a jade bottle, poured out an Poison Pill, and swallowed it. The pain and discomfort disappeared instantly, and he recovered completely.