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Chapter 250 Wulu Trading Company
After the Autumn Competition ended, the recruitment process for new students at Tian Shu Academy quickly began.

Cao Jingsong, the instructor in charge of recruiting new staff in Fengzhou, went to Fengzhou again after resting for half a month. He was accompanied by Xiang Fu and Liu Jian'an.

Although they were freshmen last year and did not join the Academy of Affairs, this is how it is for disciples of Fengzhou: if you are capable, you should do it; you can't be idle.

Kuang Cheng also returned to Fengzhou with them.

His purpose in returning to Fengzhou was to check the accounts, count the amount of grain that had been sent to the granary after the autumn harvest, and, as Ji You had previously instructed, to establish a business before winter.

Kuang Cheng was just a scholar who couldn't even kill a chicken. Cao Jingsong was afraid that he would be in danger, so he took him to Fengzhou Prefecture along the way.

After the large-scale joint reclamation during the spring planting season, the selection and breeding of grain varieties by the agricultural officials, and the rare favorable weather in Fengzhou this year, they all felt that Fengzhou would have plenty of surplus grain.

But when they saw the numbers, they were still taken aback...

Good heavens, this wicked disciple really struck gold...

After escorting Kuang Cheng to his destination, Cao Jingsong and his entourage, tasked with recruiting new members, departed from Fengzhou Prefecture and headed southeast along the official road.

Fengzhou is vast, equivalent to one and a half times the size of Zhongzhou, but the number of people who can actually obtain a spot to cultivate immortality is actually quite small.

Because the biggest hurdle for recruiting new members to the Immortal Sect is not talent, but aptitude. Those who can be selected to cultivate immortality are only descendants of officials.

So after several days of searching, Cao Jingsong and his group only found two people with good qualifications in Fengzhou: the son of the governor of Shangfang County and the daughter of the governor of Anbei County.

In addition, there were two other people who were family members of the Zhenbei Army and were recruited through military merit quotas.

As autumn deepened, the instructors who had traveled to other states and counties to recruit students returned one after another with their chosen students.

However, the enrollment of Tian Shu Academy this year can be summed up in three words: a complete failure.

There is only one person who has reached the peak of the lower three realms before reaching adulthood, and he is a disciple of the Elders' Pavilion.

His elders were powerful figures in the Immortal Sect, so it wouldn't be difficult for them to reach the perfection of the lower three realms before they even reached adulthood. This wasn't actually a successful recruitment, because they were originally going to enter the Heavenly Academy.

In other words, in the second year of the Taiyuan era, the Heavenly Academy did not have a single person who was not yet twenty years old and had reached the peak of the Lower Three Realms, and who had been recruited into the academy.

"Is the reputation of my Heavenly Academy truly ruined?"

"No, I also encountered other immortal sects' recruitment instructors and outsiders on this trip. Upon inquiry, I found that the situation of most other immortal sects was the same. The only one that was slightly better was Spirit Sword Mountain, which had two Lower Three Realms Perfection cultivators recruited into the sect."

On a clear autumn day when the autumn leaves were falling softly, Ding Ang sat in the tea pavilion of the academy and explained to the returning group of instructors.

Upon hearing this, Instructor Sun stroked his beard and said, "That's not surprising. After all, although the disciples of Lingjian Mountain did not win the top spot in this Heavenly Dao Assembly, they still have the largest number of disciples among all the immortal sects, and their reputation is great."

Upon hearing this, Ding Ang picked up his teacup: "The impact goes beyond this."

"Oh?"

"As you all know, the matter of the sacred artifact choosing a new master has caused the Heavenly Sword Peak and the Profound Sword Peak to be secretly opposed to each other. Therefore, the Spirit Sword Mountain is different from our Heavenly Academy. Every year, the newly recruited disciples must choose a peak as soon as they enter the academy, and they can never change it. This year, both of these disciples who have reached the peak of the lower three realms have chosen the Profound Sword Peak."

"Is there such a thing?"

"That's right. After thinking it over, I think it's probably because of the Heavenly Dao Society."

Two months have passed since the end of the Heavenly Dao Tournament, and as time goes by, various details of the battles have gradually been spread.

Especially Ji You's battle, the rumors about it are unknown where they came from, but they are clearer than others, and they almost make people feel like they are there.

Ding Ang, holding a teacup, said, “Yan Hao, who is known as the strongest of Tianjian Peak, only received sixteen swords from Ji You and was defeated miserably. Yan Rui, who comes from Xuanjian Peak, received thirty-two swords. Although he was also defeated, he was unharmed. Xuanjian Peak became famous for this, and there is a reason for it. Moreover, Yan Rui is just a disciple of a side branch, not a descendant of the peak master.”

The other instructors nodded in agreement: "This disciple naturally has a judgment in mind; the Heavenly Sword Peak of Spirit Sword Mountain has indeed suffered a great loss this time."

"I do know this Yan Rui."

"?"

"As you all know, my wife is from Lingzhou. According to the information I have, Yan Rui should be somewhat inferior to Yan Hao, but I don't know why he displayed such great power at the Heavenly Dao Assembly."

Cao Jingsong was sitting by the window with his eyes closed, resting, when he heard this and coughed.

Do not know why?

Ha, isn't it all because my disciple's wife is the Junior Master of Lingjian Mountain!

There's no grand, dramatic production, only superb acting skills.

Upon hearing the cough, the storyteller immediately lowered his voice and became very respectful.

Instructor Cao, who has produced a champion in the Heavenly Dao Society, is currently enjoying great popularity at the Instruction Academy, and no one wants to offend him.

Ding Ang couldn't help but curse inwardly for being a bully who relied on his master's power, then lowered his voice and said, "This year there is only one person who is not yet twenty years old and has reached the peak of the lower three realms. I'm afraid this autumn competition will not be held next year."

"That...it really is true."

"Indeed, since others have not yet reached perfection, it is naturally difficult for them to enter the Profound Realm. This title will definitely fall to that Elder's disciple. From this perspective, it seems that Chu He, Fang Jincheng, and the like are still somewhat unlucky, especially Chu He, who tried his best but failed to achieve his goal."

Having said all that, everyone fell silent, involuntarily recalling the autumn battle a year ago, and felt a chill run down their spines.

The newly admitted students are no different from those of previous years. Whether they are from prestigious families or admitted through special quotas, they all go to the Enlightenment Hall every day to comprehend the Heavenly Book.

But just like last year, no one succeeded for a long time.

The same was true of that elder's son, who went from being ambitious to beginning to accept reality.

The newly admitted disciples from Fengzhou focused on cultivating their Taoist practices and making friends, gradually becoming familiar with the rhythm of life at the Heavenly Academy.

Although they came from official families, they were still descendants of ordinary people, especially those from Fengzhou. Before entering the academy, they were somewhat apprehensive, especially when they saw those scions of noble families blowing pills from bottles and having piles of spirit stones in front of them. They couldn't help but feel a little inferior.

But they later discovered that they had never been belittled or looked down upon. In fact, some prominent families in the capital would even host banquets to invite them when they heard that they were from Fengzhou.

In fact, after the battle of the Heavenly Way Society, very few people still play crickets in Fengzhou.

This barren land, which originally had no families of cultivators, is gradually being transformed in the minds of the people because of the existence of one person.

Meanwhile, another group of students who had been studying in the outer courtyard of the Heavenly Academy completed their five-year term and left the Heavenly Academy with endless regrets.

Some of them, with higher cultivation levels, were invited by prominent families and the Spirit Stone Merchant Guild in the capital to become worshippers.

In previous years, more people would make offerings to the Spirit Stone Merchant Guild, since joining the guild meant they could directly obtain spirit stones.

As for those whose cultivation level was similar to when they entered the academy, no one paid them any attention. Feeling that they would have no face to go home, they would voluntarily enter a lower-level immortal manor.

But this time was a little different. As soon as these people left the hospital, they encountered a group of people led by a fat man with a large chest, who handed them a piece of paper.

Everyone knew that he was Cao Jingsong from Tianshu Academy, and the paper contained an invitation from Fengzhou.

Come on, be my beast of burden.

Before long, it was late autumn. The hustle and bustle of the Heavenly Dao Society gradually subsided, and everyone returned to the quiet of cultivation, oblivious to the passage of time, until a new round of tax collection began.

Gulu gulu——

With the decree to collect taxes issued, tax carts from various local governments began to travel frequently throughout Kyushu, the rumbling of their wheels never ceasing from morning till night.

The government officials also began to get busy, going from street to street, checking each household, and loading the required amount of production materials onto the carts.

Some officials would take more money from slightly larger establishments, and then go to brothels after taking off their uniforms at night.

Subsequently, the fully loaded carriages carried 60% of the earnings that mortals had earned through a year of hard work, and delivered them to aristocratic families, immortal sects, and immortal estates in various places to supply these immortals, allowing them to cultivate immortality without distraction and stay away from worldly affairs.

Of course, there were still those who couldn't pay their taxes, living in constant fear and anxiety. In the end, they were still wearing thin clothes, and with their families, they began to flee in the approaching cold winter.

Most of those who couldn't pay their taxes had new babies in their families or elderly parents to support.

Amidst the biting cold wind, the infant in swaddling clothes could only endure the cold and hunger; if not careful, it would turn purple overnight from the cold.

Some elderly and frail people with mobility issues simply stopped running, looking at their children and grandchildren with tears in their eyes, wishing them only that they could survive.

But even though the world of Qingyun is vast and boundless, where can ordinary people like them escape to?

Especially during this time of year, local government offices would send out large numbers of people to secretly intercept and arrest people, leaving them with virtually no way to survive.

The Tie Niu family, who lived in Zhuxi County, Tianshui Prefecture, Zhongzhou, were in a similar situation. They hid and fled as winter approached, but were eventually caught and imprisoned, leaving them utterly despondent.

In truth, Tie Niu wasn't afraid of death, but he lacked the courage to seek it out himself. If he had simply gone with the flow, a quick cut to the neck would have been the end of it all, and he would never have been reborn. The problem was, however, that tax evasion wasn't punishable by death, but rather by caning.

Even if you're beaten so badly that your skin is torn and bleeding, you still have to pay your share the following year.

His wife was frail and his son was still an infant. Tie Niu wanted to take their place, but he didn't know if he could endure it, or how his wife and son would survive if he were to be freed.

His family advised him against having the baby, saying that every life lost is a life lost, but he wouldn't listen. He thought that with his strength, he wouldn't go through with it. But he hadn't thought things were that simple.

Under the iron bars of his cell late at night, the hungry and cold Iron Ox finds it hard to fall asleep.

He could only watch helplessly until the next morning when the cell door was opened and the warden tossed him the only bundle he had taken with him during his escape: "You can go now."

Tie Niu opened his mouth: "Can we go now?"

"Someone has paid off your debts."

"Then...what about my wife and children?"

Tie Niu didn't believe anyone was delivering grain; he thought the government had made a mistake. But he didn't make a fuss. Instead, he anxiously inquired about the whereabouts of his wife and children.

The jailer glanced at him and said, "They've already gone home. You should hurry up and leave too. Don't dawdle."

"Thank you, jailer, thank you, jailer..."

Five other people were arrested along with Tie Niu, and they also walked out of the cell looking dazed.

Having been imprisoned in a dark cell overnight, they immediately felt a stinging pain when they first saw the sunlight. Only after the white light faded did they realize that grain carts were constantly coming and going in the cell.

However, these grain carts did not come from the government, but instead carried the flags of the Wulu Trading Company.

Tie Niu rubbed his eyes, gradually getting used to the brightness of the blue sky, and then walked out of the city. After traveling along many dirt roads, he finally made it back to the village.

As he pushed open the door to his home, he saw his wife holding their child and carrying a bowl of wheat porridge. Upon seeing him return, she immediately stood up and embraced her husband.

Tie Niu patted his wife on the back, his eyes following her shoulder to the corner of the room.

There was a small half-bag of grain there, with the name of Wulu Trading Company written on it.

Tie Niu's eyes widened in surprise: "Where...where did this grain come from?"

The wife carried the child back into the room and then came out of the main room, taking out an IOU from her bosom: "It was borrowed from the shop when Mother saw us go in..."

"How dare Mother borrow from merchants? These bloodsuckers, how much will they have to pay back next year?"

"They don't require you to pay it back, but they want you to work for six months."

Tie Niu shuddered: "Where am I supposed to work? And in that spirit mine where hundreds die every year...?"

His wife held his hand and said, "Husband, don't be afraid. We're not going to the spirit mine, we're going to Fengzhou."

Upon hearing this, Tie Niu's eyes widened: "How could it be Fengzhou? The officials send people to patrol everywhere every day, just to prevent people from escaping to Fengzhou. In the past, even paying money wouldn't get you there, so why can you go now?"

Ever since Fengzhou's taxes were cut to 30% last year, countless people wanted to flee to Fengzhou, but many had their legs broken. Unexpectedly, they can now go there.

After hearing this, his wife shook her head: "It's not about moving there. It's about you going with Wulu Trading Company, making money, and then coming back. The taxes will still be paid to our local government, still 60%. My son and I will be detained here. All the officials want is the taxes. They won't stop you even if you make money elsewhere."

Tie Niu opened his mouth: "I'll go by myself..."

“You can live, my husband. This is a way out. I’ve inquired about it. Do you remember that immortal who appeared in Fengzhou a few years ago? He will give you land and people will help you. As long as you work hard, it will be enough for our family of three to live on.”

"But... what are they after?"

His wife looked at him with tears in her eyes: "I don't know what they're after, but our calf can survive."

Tie Niu put his arm around his wife's shoulder: "I'm going, I'm going to Fengzhou. Have they said when we're going?"

"I'll go in a few days. Your second uncle and the others will be with you. You can keep each other company on the road, which will put my mind at ease."

"What kind of work requires you to go in the dead of winter?"

"I don't know..."

"Forget it, let fate decide. I'll do my best, and I'll definitely come back once I've made some money. No matter how hard it is, I'll be back."

His wife looked up at him with teary eyes and said, "I'm not afraid that you heartless man won't come back. They said that if you don't come home to support your wife and children, they'll break your legs."

After hearing this, Tie Niu hugged his wife tightly: "I'll come back even if you break my legs..."

Winter arrived quickly after the taxes were collected. A cold front swept across the northern border, passing over the towering city walls and chilling the entire land, causing everything to wither.

Among the people of Kyushu, there are actually not many who cannot pay their taxes, because such people simply could not have survived to this day in such a world.

However, whether they could survive the winter after paying taxes was uncertain, because many poor families had little money left after paying taxes and could hardly support their families.

In previous years, some people would have chosen to tough it out and leave their fate to chance.

Some people would borrow grain from merchants, repaying three, five, and so on. If they couldn't repay in the end, they would become servants for life, selling their children and working like cattle and horses.

However, with the first snowfall, a batch of low-priced grain began to flow into Kyushu.

Some were practically given away for free; those who couldn't afford to pay a single penny simply signed the work order.

In fact, this matter affected the interests of some people, because some businesses specialize in lending grain.

These businesses that lent grain to the people were basically supported by some small, low-level aristocratic families. These families had long since fallen into decline and could only make a living by doing these kinds of businesses to prolong their wealth.

The grain they lent out was actually the tax collected in the past.

Some powerful families don't need that much, so it ends up in their hands and is put to use. A branch of the Lu family in Lingzhou is doing this kind of business.

They originally planned to take advantage of this winter to squeeze more money out of ordinary people, but they never expected to encounter such a thing.

"What's the background of that company?"

"It's a newly opened business, which only appeared in the autumn. There isn't much information available about it, except that it comes from the north."

"Northerners dare to interfere in my business in the South?"

The old patriarch, who had honed his skills over the years and finally achieved the Dao of Fusion, spoke with an air of authority despite his lack of anger, his tone subtly conveying displeasure: "Can you find out who is in charge?"

Upon hearing this, the Lu family steward bowed and said, "They are all merchants from Shengjing. We have investigated them thoroughly but have not been able to find any background information."

"Let's go and have a look at this trading company."

The dignified old patriarch rose and led several experts from the lower three realms of the family out of the house. They then arrived at a newly opened shop on the main street of Lingzhou Prefecture.

Immediately afterward, a burst of energy swept through the hall, and the old patriarch slapped the plaque with the words "Wu Lu" (meaning "No Worries") on it, shattering it. He sternly ordered them to leave immediately and never appear here again, adding that if they came back next time, it wouldn't just be a plaque that would be broken.

The old patriarch was quite cautious in his actions, fearing that someone might be behind him, and he did not harm anyone on his first visit.

Actually, there's no need to be so cautious about this. In his view, how much support could someone who makes a living like this have?

As expected, the shop assistant at the counter looked terrified and immediately prostrated himself on the ground, trembling with fear and not daring to utter a word.

Seeing this, the old patriarch left satisfied.

To his surprise, the next morning, as soon as the old patriarch got out of bed, he saw several carriages flying through the air and landing in his courtyard.

Approaching him was an elder from the main branch of the Lu family. He slapped him to the ground with a wave of his hand, looked at him sharply, and told him to personally carve a plaque and send it over immediately.

As he left his residence, the Lu family patriarch couldn't help but look with trepidation at the three sword peaks overlooking the sea.

Lingjian Mountain usually doesn't concern itself with worldly affairs, and rarely gets involved in family feuds or casualties. He couldn't understand why they would pay special attention to such a trivial matter as selling grain this time.

What's even more terrifying is that he had inquired about the person who came; she was said to have been the personal maid of the young master of Lingjian Mountain.

It is said that both Zhongzhou and Fengzhou are experiencing heavy snowfall, and even Lingzhou, which rarely sees snow, is now seeing snowflakes falling continuously.

Standing under the snow, the Lu family patriarch felt a chill, but this chill came from within his heart.

(This is a transitional chapter. Please vote with your monthly tickets. Also, I recommend a book by a fellow reader in the group called "Ascension to Immortality: Starting as a Medicine Refining Apprentice." If you're looking for something to read, please check it out. The link is below.)

(End of this chapter)