Rising Fame and Sun Bo'an's Dilemma!

Shi Jian remained silent for a long while, giving no answer.

After a few breaths, he put on a thoughtful expression and said in a muffled voice, "I don't quite understand what Elder Lei means."

"The spiritual tax is a matter for you humans. I only make sure the Sun Clan isn't bullied."

"How you collect it and how much you collect-what does that have to do with me?"

Lei Lie froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.

Yunsong stood to the side, a complicated look in his eyes.

When he first met this bear five years ago, his heart had been full of doubts. He had always felt something was amiss. But tonight, he had watched Shi Jian endure having his bear paw blown apart to forcibly suppress the blood banner's self-destruction, protecting the two of them from harm.

That kind of mettle couldn't be faked.

"Fellow Daoist Shi, you are refreshingly forthright. I admire you."

Lei Lie stopped laughing and turned to instruct Yunsong. "Junior Brother Yun, handle the aftermath. Take the Devil Cultivators' corpses back to the temple to report the outcome. Once you've inventoried the contents of their Storage Bags, split them evenly with Fellow Daoist Shi."

"Be sure not to neglect Fellow Daoist Shi."

Yunsong assented and began searching the battlefield.

The few Qi Refining Devil Cultivators Shi Jian had slapped to death had nothing worthwhile on them, just a hundred or so Spirit Stones and a few mediocre low-grade and mid-grade Law Artifacts.

The spoils from the three Foundation Establishment Devil Cultivators were the real prize!

The sinister young man's Storage Bag held three hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, two bottles of Foundation Establishment Realm pills, and an incomplete Devil Cultivation Method.

The bald brute's Storage Bag was gone. Shi Jian had casually taken it.

The cultivator in the red dress had the richest Storage Bag: eight hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, four bottles of pills, a defensive jade pendant Law Artifact of good quality, and a stack of Cultivation Method Jade Slips plundered from various households.

Yunsong laid everything out on the ground. After taking inventory, he looked up at Shi Jian.

"Fellow Daoist Shi, the bald brute's Storage Bag..."

Shi Jian pulled the Storage Bag from inside his robes and tossed it onto the ground.

"I swiped it during the fight. Nearly forgot about it."

The corner of Yunsong's mouth twitched as he swept his Divine Sense over the Storage Bag.

Six hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, three bottles of pills, and a bone saber Law Artifact of good quality.

Together, the three Foundation Establishment Devil Cultivators' belongings included seventeen hundred Spirit Stones, nine bottles of pills, and several high-grade and top-grade Law Artifacts...

They split it fifty-fifty.

Shi Jian received eight hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, four bottles of pills, a top-grade bone saber, and a top-grade jade pendant Law Artifact.

Of course, that was only what was on the books.

Earlier, when Shi Jian dealt with the four Qi Refining Devil Cultivators in the temple, he had also found another six Storage Bags. The five hundred-plus Spirit Stones and dozen or so assorted Cultivation Method texts inside had long since been stuffed into the compartment in his stomach.

There were also twelve jars of Essence Blood, supposedly "fed to the dogs." In truth, for a Demon Beast like him, they were ready-made cultivation resources.

These hidden spoils amounted to considerably more than his share on the books.

Lei Lie stored the three Foundation Establishment Devil Cultivators' corpses in a Law Artifact, then looked at Shi Jian again before leaving.

"Fellow Daoist Shi, I will report tonight's events truthfully to the temple master."

"White Cloud Temple will not forget your service in protecting the people here."

With that, the old man departed on his flying sword, Yunsong close behind.

Shi Jian watched the two streaks of sword light vanish into the night before lowering his head to lick his mangled bear paw. It really did hurt, but it had been worth it!

After that one battle.

His spoils, both open and hidden, came to nearly fourteen hundred Spirit Stones, several pills, several Law Artifacts, more than a dozen Jade Slips containing various Cultivation Methods, and twelve jars of Essence Blood.

More importantly, he had gained jurisdiction over the spiritual taxes from eight Spirit Veins.

That was the real prize.

The Spirit Stones, spirit rice, and spiritual materials paid annually by the eight townships had previously gone directly from each household to White Cloud Temple. Now the Sun Clan would collect them instead.

Although the spiritual tax the Sun Clan had to hand over had risen by ten percent.

How much profit could be skimmed off in between depended entirely on Sun Bo'an's skill. If he managed it well, they could earn several hundred more Spirit Stones a year.

For an ordinary Foundation Establishment faction, a few hundred extra Spirit Stones a year was no small sum!

A Foundation Establishment Pill cost only ten thousand Spirit Stones, which showed just how rich the profits were. It really was easier to enjoy the shade with a great tree at your back.

By the time Shi Jian returned to the back mountain, the sky was already growing pale.

Sun Bo'an was kneeling at the entrance to the Spirit Vein. He hadn't slept all night, and waiting for news had left his head covered in a cold sweat.

"Ancestor!"

"Get up. Stop looking like you're at a funeral."

Shi Jian looked at him with disdain and tossed him the things from his share on the books:

"Put these in storage and do your work well."

"You won't lack benefits in the future."

Sun Bo'an caught the Storage Bag and swept it with his Divine Sense. His breath stopped.

More than eight hundred Spirit Stones!

The entire Sun Clan's net income for a year was only about two thousand Spirit Stones. This single battle had brought in nearly half a year's income.

"Don't just look at the Spirit Stones."

Shi Jian lay back down on the boulder. "Lei Lie handed the spiritual tax rights for Hongtian County's eight first-tier Spirit Veins over to the Sun Clan. From now on, you can set the rules for how and how much to collect."

"But there's one condition. Skim what you like, but the amount handed over to White Cloud Temple on the books can't be less than before. It has to be ten percent more."

Sun Bo'an took a deep breath and knocked his forehead heavily against the ground:

"I understand. Please rest assured, Ancestor!"

"One more thing."

Shi Jian closed his eyes and said slowly, "Those Qi Refining cultivators from the eight households who just joined us-take this chance to get a firm grip on them."

"I was the one who fought the Devil Cultivators, and I was the one who earned the spiritual tax rights from White Cloud Temple. They can live peacefully in Hongtian City only thanks to the Sun Clan's protection."

"Go make that clear to them."

"From now on, make all eight of their households full vassals of our Sun Clan!"

A sharp light flashed in Sun Bo'an's eyes. He bowed and withdrew.

No matter how overbearing Feng Shoude was, he would have to acknowledge that!

The news spread faster than Shi Jian had expected.

Within half a month, all nine counties under White Cloud Temple's rule knew about it.

Shi Jian, the Sun Clan's guardian spirit beast at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, had raided a Devil Cultivator lair at night, fought seven enemies alone, and joined forces with White Cloud Temple's Elder Lei Lie to wipe out the invading foes.

The versions told from household to household grew more and more fantastic as they spread.

Some said Shi Jian could slap a Foundation Establishment Devil Cultivator to death with one paw. Others said he had eaten three Foundation Establishment Devil Cultivators. Still others said he was actually a great Golden Core demon.

He had deliberately concealed his cultivation and lain low among humans.

After listening to Lord Rat's report, Shi Jian couldn't even be bothered to roll his eyes:

"A great Golden Core demon? If I were at the Golden Core Realm, would I still be holed up in this dump?"

"Ancestor, your mighty name has spread far and wide. That's a good thing!"

Lord Rat chuckled, his face full of flattery.

But it really was a good thing.

A mighty reputation was sometimes far more useful than fists. Who wouldn't show him respect when he went out? Used well, it brought endless benefits.

At least now, among the nine counties under White Cloud Temple's rule, no Rogue Cultivator or cultivator from a minor clan dared run wild when passing through Hongtian City's territory.

Two groups of Rogue Cultivators had even moved into Hongtian City and settled down...

Hongtian City was both a mortal city and a gathering place for cultivators, with a small cultivators' market of its own.

In the past, the Spirit Stones the Sun Clan earned each year came from these visiting and resident cultivators.

Their main business was lodging.

The second-tier Spirit Vein in the center of the city provided a steady supply of Spiritual Qi to the cultivation market at the foot of the mountain. Renting out cave abodes brought in a substantial income every year.

The Sun Clan had also sold pills in the past, while the Lin and Ye Clans peddled low-tier Law Artifacts, talismans, and the like.

But ever since the upheaval that befell the Sun, Lin, and Ye Clans five years ago, the market's earnings had fallen considerably. This time, Shi Jian had made a name for himself.

That had also recovered quite a bit of income. These intangible benefits.

Would gradually make themselves felt throughout the Sun Clan, and Shi Jian would benefit as well.

Another month passed.

A decree arrived from White Cloud Temple, delivered by Yunsong himself.

"The White Cloud Minor Gathering, held once every five years, will take place at the White Cloud Immortal Market in three months."

Yunsong stood in the Sun Clan's council hall, sweeping his gaze over everyone present before finally settling on Sun Bo'an:

"As the leading clan under Hongtian County's jurisdiction, the Sun Clan may send disciples to attend, as is customary."

"This year, the temple master gave special instructions..."

Yunsong paused, a hint of significance in his tone.

"If Fellow Daoist Shi Jian is interested, he may accompany you as a guest."

Sun Bo'an's heart jolted, and he looked instinctively toward the back mountain.

He didn't know what White Cloud Temple was thinking, but the White Cloud Minor Gathering was a grand event where more than ten Foundation Establishment clans and hundreds of minor Qi Refining clans from the nine counties under White Cloud Temple's rule gathered!

A Foundation Establishment Pill was auctioned at every gathering!

How could Sun Bo'an not want to reach Foundation Establishment? If he wanted to do so, he would have to gain Shi Jian's support. If Shi Jian wasn't interested...

At that thought, Sun Bo'an's expression grew dazed.

After seeing Yunsong off, he sat dejectedly in the main seat. No one knew what was going through his mind, but his face was drawn with worry.