Applying for a Trade Permit
Kang Dabao is heading to Han City, which is controlled by the Yue Household, another major power in Cloud Horn Prefecture.
The Han City Yue Household and the Dingnan Niu Household, located in the south and north of Cloud Horn Prefecture respectively, can be considered to be the dominant forces.
Since the campaign to pacify the barbarians, the Immortal Dynasty has gradually withdrawn its forces, both passively and actively, from Cloud Horn Prefecture, the main battlefield of the campaign.
Don't underestimate this small border region.
Back then, if it weren't for the fact that the Two Instruments Sect had almost openly allowed its rampant and unruly behavior to grow, and hadn't made any attempt to conceal its greed by blatantly sending its disciples to collect the Blood Qi and essence of living beings, the Immortal Dynasty wouldn't have had a reason to intervene.
It was precisely because of the Two Instruments Sect's heinous actions that his family incurred the wrath of other forces in Shannan Circuit, which led to the Immortal Dynasty being allowed to enter the scene.
Otherwise, it would have been almost impossible for the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty to so smoothly send so many cultivators directly under its command to participate in the suppression of the rebellion in Cloud Horn Prefecture, which was actually controlled by the Immortal Dynasty Two Instruments Sect.
Because the Two Instruments Sect was at fault, the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty seized the opportunity to find fault with them, which gave the Immortal Dynasty the chance to take over their territory.
Meanwhile, the Immortal Dynasty regained some of the people's hearts in Cloud Horn Prefecture by pacifying the barbarians and establishing its authority.
This led Shen Lingfeng, the then-general manager of Shannan Circuit, to even consider extending the tentacles of the Immortal Dynasty's power back into Cloud Horn Prefecture.
It was because of this opportunity that Patriarch Zhang of the Chongming Sect was able to separate from the Zhang Household in Fenli Prefecture and establish his own sect in Pingrong County.
These old soldiers, like Patriarch Zhang, then began to grow luxuriantly as branches attached to the great tree of the Immortal Dynasty.
Under Shen Lingfeng's guidance, they gradually developed the idea of completely squeezing the Two Instruments Sect out of the entire Cloud Horn Prefecture and striving to bring this somewhat important border prefecture back under the rule of the king.
However, Shen Lingfeng's idea ultimately did not take shape. The reason for this was simply that the Immortal Dynasty's enemies were not limited to the Two Instruments Sect alone.
Shannan Circuit is not Capital Circuit.
The Immortal Dynasty's three Nascent Soul Nascent Soul and one hundred Golden Core cultivators seemed incredibly powerful, but within these four hundred-plus prefectures, they had only enemies and no friends.
Other forces in the Dao might be happy to see the Two Instruments Sect make a fool of itself, but they all agree on one point: not an inch of land in the Shannan Circuit should be returned to the rule of the Immortal Dynasty.
Although they haven't completely broken ties with the Immortal Dynasty yet, due to the flickering spirit of the founding emperor, everyone still outwardly respects the Immortal Dynasty as their master.
However, if the Immortal Dynasty were to develop any other inappropriate ideas, they would use their methods to make the whole world laugh at the Immortal Dynasty.
Fortunately, the Two Instruments Sect did not make things too ugly and did not choose to directly wage war against the Immortal Dynasty.
However, relying on his strong local influence, his family still resorted to many underhanded tricks, causing a lot of trouble for the Immortal Dynasty, which made the latter extremely troubled.
In the nearly two hundred years since the barbaric chaos, even in the heart of the capital region, the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty was constantly engulfed in war.
As a key figure in the imperial court, Shen Lingfeng naturally could not stay in Cloud Horn Prefecture for long under these circumstances.
He needed to lead his army back to the capital as soon as possible to put out the fire at the gate for those privileged members of the royal family.
For these two reasons, the Immortal Dynasty has become increasingly weak in Cloud Horn Prefecture, to the point that it is now almost negligible.
Take Pingrong County as an example. Let alone trying to collect some taxes, even if Sect Leader Kang Da coughed as he passed by the government office, it would be enough to make the county magistrate, who Qi Refining Second Layer, tremble.
In the past two hundred years, countless pawns planted by the Immortal Dynasty have been uprooted by the henchmen arranged by the Two Instruments Sect.
The reason why Patriarch Zhang's Chongming Sect, as a "remnant" of the Immortal Dynasty, has been able to survive relatively peacefully to this day is entirely due to the fortunate fact that the second-generation patriarch caused the sect to decline too quickly.
Back then, when they made their move, they didn't even Chongming Sect.
Nowadays, most of Cloud Horn Prefecture has been regained by the Two Instruments Sect. Even the chief officials and assistants in the county government are henchmen of the Two Instruments Sect, and some are even directly selected from low-ranking disciples.
Only a few counties, such as Pingrong County and the neighboring Jin County, were affected by the great battle and their Spirit Vein were disrupted.
For the time being, it is in a power vacuum state where the Immortal Dynasty cannot control it and the Two Instruments Sect is too lazy to control it.
The Two Instruments Sect has nearly ten Golden Core cultivators and dozens of False Core cultivators, dominating several nearby states.
They're just a few poor counties; let them stay there. It'll save face for the Immortal Dynasty. Whenever they want them, they can just reach out and take them.
Under these circumstances, the Immortal Dynasty and the Two Instruments Sect allowed the weak and incompetent people in these counties to fight amongst themselves, letting them grow wildly and freely for several years.
Therefore, although the cultivators in these counties lived in poverty, they were indeed less constrained, which was neither a good nor a bad thing.
But it's clear to anyone with eyes that the Immortal Dynasty's decline has not stopped and the edifice is about to collapse. The Two Instruments Sect will one day clean up Cloud Horn Prefecture and re-enter the fray; it's just a matter of time.
The Han City Yue Household is different from the Chongming Sect; from the very beginning, their family has been aligned with the Two Instruments Sect.
This was already a powerful Foundation Establishment clan with many outstanding members, and now it was the perfect time for two tigers to fight.
Over the years, by creating obstacles for the Immortal Dynasty, the Yue Household has gained countless benefits from the Two Instruments Sect.
One of the biggest benefits was that they gained the power to distribute merchant permits for all markets and hamlets in the southern part of Cloud Horn Prefecture.
The Yue Household usually sets a tax amount for those applying for business permits, based on their size.
Once the business license has been applied for, as long as the annual tax payment is not overdue, the market is considered to be registered.
Because of the Han City Yue Household, the registered market can largely avoid the risk of being robbed by some vicious bandits.
The Linghe Market is a case in point; although murders and robberies have been commonplace outside the market over the years.
But at least on the surface, Linghe Market has never been attacked by Evil Cultivator.
The Han City Yue Household were simply too lazy to care because of the influence of the Two Instruments Sect, not because they couldn't care.
Not many bandits in Pingrong County have the guts to challenge the might of this half-state overlord.
The purpose of Sect Leader Kang Da's trip was to apply for a business permit for Chongming Market. This was actually a very difficult task, not as simple as just sending out Spirit Stone.
There are many people in this world who want to worship Buddha, but few can actually find the temple gate.
Kang Dabao rode his Black Blood Colt, traveling day and night, and arrived in Han City.
Thanks to the He Household's connections, it took several twists and turns before I finally met a third-class steward from the Yue Household.
Don't think that someone's position is too low; they might even think your business is too small.
The sect Sect Leader Kang Da, was all smiles. He spent dozens of Spirit Stones to accompany this "servant master" for five whole days of wine and women, but in the end, he only got one chance to meet the master in charge of the business, and it was only for half a cup of tea's time.
Kang Dabao got up very early that day, and after bathing and burning incense, he left early.
When they arrived at the old man's door, they realized they were too late and could only join the long queue.
"In this despicable world, with such a long queue, are they all here to give money to that Master Yue Household?" Sect Leader Kang Da sighed as he looked at the scene.
"You can't compare yourself to others. I'm still secretly pleased with myself for making a few spirit fragments, while others can just sit there and have people lining up to bring in their money."
From sunrise to sunset, Sect Leader Kang Da saw that there were only two or three people left ahead of him. Before he could even feel happy, he heard the gatekeeper of the house start to chase people away.
Among those waiting with him, some with fiery tempers were clearly getting impatient. One of them glared at the doorman and argued with him for a few words, only to be slapped by the doorman immediately.
After a few slaps, the cultivator's horizontal eyebrows curved down, and even his words softened.
The man laughed as he hit you, saying, "So what if I hit you? You'll still have to come and line up tomorrow, won't you?"
Kang Dabao kept his distance, watching the scene unfold before him with a sigh, "I've seen people holding Spirit Stone but unable to give them away; but to be beaten up for failing to give Spirit Stone away is truly unheard of. What kind of world is this?"
Thanks to Brother Nankanle for the Extended Net Moon.
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