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Chapter 358 Aren't you afraid of dying?!

"It's still being returned; it's been a whole day."

"Judging from the quantity, most of what was previously consumed has already been returned."

“I’ve heard that it’s not just Shengjing, but other counties and prefectures are the same.”

The chatter continued in the teahouses and taverns on both sides of Yongsheng Street, but the volume was much more restrained than before.

After the refugees stopped entering the city, wagons from various prominent families continued to pour into their respective cities, delivering large quantities of grain back to the Wulu Trading Company, a process that had continued for a full day.

Today, looking down from a high vantage point, one can see countless bulging grain sacks lined up along the street, causing traffic jams in some sections.

However, Wulu Merchants did not move the grain back, but left it lying across the street.

During this special period of food shortage, there was a huge amount of food on the streets, but no one dared to touch it.

Even the magical artifacts that were delivered with the vehicle were under the watchful eyes of countless people, yet no one dared to approach them.

The whole atmosphere seemed to freeze, rigid and unchanging.

Even though things appeared calm on the surface, they could still sense two invisible hands manipulating events within this matter.

One of them naturally came from Ji You, while the other was a coalition of thousands of aristocratic families in Qingyun Tianxia.

Most cultivators were just watching the spectacle and didn't know what was really going on behind the scenes, but as the stolen food was returned, they were able to make a judgment.

Ji You did not apologize, but the powerful families of the world were the first to admit defeat.

This result is really stirring up people's nerves and making them feel very uncomfortable.

Since the rise of the human race over the past thousand years, only the Immortal Sect has ever made the aristocratic families admit defeat.

But now there is one person, all alone, sitting silently in the far northeast, yet he has made all the powerful families bow their heads.

In the teahouse, countless people held their cups in quiet contemplation, their expressions complex.

Regardless of the process, they felt that this invisible struggle should end in Ji You's victory.

But in reality, the matter is not over yet; on the contrary, it is stuck at a critical juncture that makes all parties extremely nervous.

Has Ji You replied?

"Reporting to the Palace Master, there has been no response whatsoever from Fengzhou."

In the council hall behind the cloud-shrouded cliffs, in front of the five main peaks of the Heavenly Academy, Lü Fengchuan frowned deeply upon hearing the report from his disciple. At the same time, this response sparked a lively discussion among the elders.

"Is he going to see this through to the end?"

Elder Ge murmured, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes.

For thousands of years, he had never heard of anyone trying to deprive the world of its taxes from the immortal sects and aristocratic families.

Putting aside combat strength and identity, just considering the current situation, he discovered that the student who entered the hospital five years ago and was called a rural private cultivator for a long time has now become incredibly powerful in the face of world affairs.

"I have lived for nearly a hundred years, and this is the first time I have seen someone so confrontational. Yet the Immortal Sect chose to restrain itself instead of suppressing them directly."

Elder Peng was sitting next to Elder Ge, and he couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Elder Ge snapped out of his reverie upon hearing this, and after pondering for a while, he looked at Elder Peng and said, "If it were someone else, they would probably have already been surrounded and wiped out, but Ji You is indeed special. He tore open the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice and killed Chu Xian, so theoretically he has done a favor for the six great immortal sects. It would be difficult for the immortal sects to deal with him openly."

"Kindness has always been worthless in the eyes of the immortal sects, and I believe many people would not consider this a kindness."

"That's true. Cutting off the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice is just the least noticeable aspect. The most important thing is the attitude of other immortal sects, including my Heavenly Academy."

As Elder Ge spoke, he looked up at Zuo Qiuyang, the acting sect leader, who was sitting in the center of the council hall.

Elder Peng frowned upon hearing this: "Everyone knows that Ji You is not well-liked by the Heavenly Academy. How can he be sure that the Heavenly Academy will stand on his side?"

“I have doubts about the attitude of Tianshu Academy, but he is certain that there are others on his side.”

As soon as they finished speaking, the two couldn't help but exchange a glance, remembering Lingjian Mountain, which, like Tianshu Academy, had remained silent in this matter.

They had also been to the Dongping Mountains before, and Elder Ge almost died there, so they had naturally heard about that family matter.

"The six major immortal sects were severely weakened after the disaster. The Xuan Yuan Sect Leader died, the Chen Clan Immortal Sect Leader has not shown his face since, and our Dean has also passed away. Under the watchful eyes of the barbarian and demon races, everyone is trying to avoid any more internal strife and give other races an opportunity to take advantage."

Elder Ge murmured, "From the time he woke up to the time he left, it was only half a month. I saw him wandering all over the mountain several times, but I never thought that he had already calculated everything in the world."

Elder Peng stroked his beard upon hearing this: "Perhaps it is the hesitation of our human race in the face of the demon invasion that has made him realize that the Immortal Sect is most unwilling to start a war in a weakened state, which is why there are undercurrents today."

"These are the things he was thinking about while he was in a wheelchair?"

"It's more accurate to say that all he's ever thought about is these things, not cultivating immortality or ruling the world."

At this point, the two couldn't help but recall how he exposed his cultivation level and was hospitalized after saving a little girl, then went on a mission to the snowy region, killed the king of soldiers with his sword, and immediately returned to Fengzhou to establish a fairy manor after defeating Chu He and entering the inner courtyard.

Conventional thinking might lead people to believe that Ji You has been constantly climbing higher and higher, shedding his status as a private cultivator. But as time goes on, it becomes clear that what he wants is never the same as what others want.

"His enlightenment level has been unable to improve. He has been in the Tongxuan realm for four years but has not made any progress. Many people say that he has a mental demon."

"You mean he's haunted by his inner demons?"

After pondering for a moment, Elder Ge spoke up: "Obsessions will be reflected in actions, but it is impossible to know exactly what they are. However, regarding the matter of taxation, I still feel that Ji You cannot do it."

Elder Peng raised his eyes: "Why?"

"Ji You's bottom line is too high, and his corresponding weaknesses are too obvious. A person with an excessively high bottom line can never defeat a person with an extremely low bottom line."

Wanchuan County is located southeast of Yuzhou.

While the Heavenly Academy was holding a meeting, under the dense darkness of the night in the desolate countryside, a group of private cultivators from Fengzhou, dressed in the immortal robes of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, traveled across the rolling wild mountains.

They moved with extreme caution, using spiritual energy to block the vibrations and airflow generated by their movements, so that they walked silently.

As they climbed up the mountain, they used their divine sense to explore, seeing vast tracts of farmland and countless wells.

As they looked around, they locked onto a direction on the dirt road in the field, and then the group sped off.

In the blink of an eye, these private cultivators landed in the cold wind and arrived at the dirt road, then their eyes suddenly narrowed.

In the middle of the road, thirteen carriages from the Wulu Trading Company stood quietly, while the horses pulling the carriages were already decapitated, their blood splattered all over the ground.

Such a scene appears especially eerie under the quiet darkness of the night, sending chills down one's spine.

"What about people?"

"No one is left."

Amidst the hushed conversation, someone walked to the front of the carriage, where the horses had fallen, and touched the bloodstains.

In the cold winter, blood will congeal.

Judging from their solidification and diffusion state, these horses had been dead for some time.

Upon seeing this, the Fengzhou private cultivator dressed in the immortal robe of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion fell silent.

Ordering aristocratic families to return the grain and to provide relief to the common people on their behalf is a matter of courtesy, but this courtesy is often followed by military action.

After a long silence, these private cultivators couldn't help but look up towards the northeast.

There stands a magnificent and majestic mountain range, surrounded by celestial light and mist; this is the Daoist temple of the Daoist Sect.

“This Xuan Tie Cold Prison has imprisoned cultivators at the Fusion Realm and even those at the Responding Heaven Realm. Private cultivators like you from the lower three realms have no right to be imprisoned here.”

"To be able to witness the Heavenly Prison of the Immortal Sect today is thanks to the good deeds of your ancestors, you country bumpkins."

On the west side of the mountain behind the Daowen Mountain, in the stone prison below the black cliff, raging flames constantly illuminated the prison, casting a dim yellow light.

Elder Shang Ye was staring at the prison with a ferocious expression, his words filled with chilling intent.

Within his sight, twenty-six managers and more than three hundred employees were bound hand and foot, locked in a kneeling, prostrate position in the cell, their faces grim and cold.

They were in charge of leasing land in Yuzhou. They had received news from Fengzhou earlier and were preparing to return with the last batch of fish-scale registers, but they were still captured.

Seeing their silence, Shang Ye stroked his long beard and said, "Write to your master and tell him that you want to live. Tell him that as long as you return the Fish Scale Register, I will let you go!"

"Pah!" Manager Yu forced himself to look up and spat at him.

"you!"

"court death!"

Shang Ye suddenly raised his hand, gathering countless spiritual energies in his palm, and his killing intent burst forth instantly.

But before his hand could land, he remembered the scene of his cousin Shang Que's body being brought back from Danshan, and he slammed his hand down.

"Aren't you afraid of dying?"

"Do you know why I became a private cultivator?" Manager Yu straightened his back. "Because twenty years ago, there was a severe drought, and you forcibly levied taxes, which drove my parents to their deaths. Since then, I have not been afraid of death!"

Shang Ye narrowed his eyes: "Then do you know that my Daoist Sect has ten thousand ways to make you wish you were dead?"

Shopkeeper Yu clenched his fist: "Have you ever been to Fengzhou?"

"Why should I go to that poor, remote place?"

"You probably don't know this, but after Fengzhou was renovated, our boss really liked to write slogans on the walls. One of them is my favorite."

"?"

"Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves! Let our flesh and blood forge our new Great Wall!"

With ropes binding your shoulders and pulling you backward, you can only kneel and bend forward. This position is the most torturous, and it can exhaust you in just half an hour.

That defiant voice was indeed exhausted, yet it was firm and filled with hatred.

A fierce glint flashed in Shang Ye's eyes. Just as he was about to speak again, he heard footsteps behind him.

He turned his head and saw that Vice Sect Leader Shang Xingkong had brought several elders to the prison.

Upon seeing this, Shang Ye immediately bowed.

After the merchant guild stood still, he glanced around and then slowly said, "First, take off their waist tags, put them together, and send them to Fengzhou."

"Yes!"

Upon hearing this, Shang Ye immediately gave a wink to the disciples around him.

In the next instant, all twenty-six managers and more than three hundred employees were trampled to the ground, and the iron badges on their waists were all removed and thrown into the wooden box.

During this process, some people began to tremble, and some even sobbed.

For thousands of years, people have been paying tribute to immortals, and their fear of cultivators is almost ingrained in their bones. They would tremble even if they just looked up at them, let alone be trampled underfoot.

“Summon the people of the state back, secretly keep an eye on all the carefree businesses in the city, and if the fish scale register is not seen after three days after the waist token is sent, send him a head every day thereafter.”

After finishing his empty words, the merchant turned and left, walking out of the dungeon and heading up the mountain.

Early winter had already brought a chill to the air on Wendao Mountain, and the landscape was desolate as far as the eye could see. As he walked, Shang Xingkong saw his nephew Shang Xiyao in a pavilion, and Shang Xiyao rose to greet him.

Shang Xingkong nodded slightly to him, then looked at an elder behind him: "How is Xiyao's weapon handling and cultivation progressing?"

"Reporting to the Deputy Sect Leader, the progress is not much, and it is quite different from the first half of the year."

“Go tell him that he is the wielder of the sacred artifact and the future leader of the Dao Seeking Sect. He is to be compared with Huo Xingzhong of the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, Chen Luo and Chen Xi of the Chen Clan, and the young appraiser of the Spirit Sword Mountain. No matter how fierce or reckless some of these miscellaneous people are, they will never reach his level in their entire lives.”

"Yes."

After finishing his speech, Shang Xingkong continued walking up the mountain towards his residence.

During the battle at the ruins, my nephew witnessed Ji Youqiang's Heavenly Dao Sacrifice and saw him kill Chu with a hundred swords amidst the baleful aura. After returning, his Dao heart remained unstable, making it difficult to advance in cultivation and his weapon-wielding speed became extremely slow.

Shanghangkong understands this phenomenon.

Because Ji You was indeed too strong. Even if he had met someone like that when he was young, he probably would have found it hard to accept.

This is hard to accept not only because of the opponent's combat strength, but also because the opponent came from humble beginnings and never had enough resources, yet was able to get to where he is today.

The phrase "private repair in the countryside" was once a pretext used by prestigious families to confine their children from poor families, but now it has become a cage that traps them.

But just as he instructed, his nephew was the one who held the reins; how could he be compared to such a person?

No matter how strong Ji You is, she will only reach the peak of the Upper Five Realms in the end. But as a weapon wielder, she will inevitably enter the Immortal Realm. The difference is too great, and there is no need to compare them.

The merchant trekked up the mountain and, upon arriving at the mansion, suddenly saw his nephew, who was in the pavilion at the foot of the mountain, rise up and bow to him.

Then he saw that his nephew was surrounded by mysterious energy, with celestial light constantly surging around him, and he nodded in satisfaction.

At the same time, Shang Ye of the Daodao Sect rode out of the mountain in his carriage, carrying the wooden box full of waist tokens, and headed north.

"Boss, the man has been arrested. By the time we arrived, it was too late."

"You've worked hard, go and rest first."

In the backyard of Jizhai in Fengzhou, Ji You and Kuang Cheng stood side by side, seeing off the private cultivators who had gone to find the manager of the Three Prefectures, and fell into silence.

The land lease was originally planned to be completed quietly.

Afterwards, the managers of each state withdrew and spent the winter peacefully, only to return the following autumn after the harvest and then argue with them again using the fish-scale register.

At worst, we can get the Heavenly Academy and Spirit Sword Mountain to act as guarantors, pay the full amount of tribute to the Immortal Sect first, reduce the share of aristocratic families, and gradually change this system.

However, perhaps because the ancient families had joined forces to commit evil right under their noses, the six major immortal sects became more sensitive, and the efficiency of information transmission and command execution also increased, to the point that the whole thing was disrupted.

This is what is meant by plans not keeping up with changes, and also by the saying that man cannot overcome fate.

Just then, Qiu Zhong arrived with three others and presented them with three boxes.

"Master."

"Sent by the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, the Dao Seeking Sect, and the Chen Clan Immortal Clan?"

"In reply to your question, young master, it was them. In addition, businesses in Qingzhou, Yuzhou, and Yongzhou have also been monitored."

Qiu Zhong reached out and opened the box, inside which were more than 800 iron waist tags.

Upon seeing these waist tokens, Kuang Cheng couldn't help but look at Ji You, and Cao Jingsong and the others gathered around the tea table in the courtyard also looked over at the same time.

From the very beginning, Ji You's attitude was very firm. He did not even respond to the letter from the Hall Master of the Heavenly Academy, so they did not know what decision Ji You would make.

If they do not comply, those eight hundred people will surely die; if they agree, then all this effort will have been in vain.

"Send the fish scale book back," Ji You said slowly. "We'll wait for another opportunity."

Kuang Cheng sighed: "It seems we've wasted our time."

"But we have no right to choose to sacrifice for them, do we?"

"You unfilial disciple, all you do is cause trouble!" Cao Jingsong's beard bristled wildly.

"Who knew they would be so perceptive, immediately figuring out what I was trying to do? Damn it, the Chu family has been operating in the shadows for years without incident, and they've used all their intelligence on me."

Just then, a group of figures came running from the front yard kicking bamboo balls, their playful noises instantly dispelling the solemnity in the yard.

At this moment, Qiu Ru kicked hard, and the bamboo ball suddenly rushed towards Cao Jingsong, who caught it with one hand and threw it back.

At the same time, another little girl walked out of the corridor, panting, and looked at Ji You: "Young Master, I haven't seen Father for a long time. When will Father come back?"

"Soon, I'll be back in a few days, and we'll celebrate the New Year together."

"Great!"

After watching the little girl walk away, Ji You couldn't help but say, "It would be such a pity if she became an orphan."

Kuang Cheng turned to look at him: "It's already good enough that we were able to sign a contract with 10,000 workers. Even if we still have to pay taxes, life will be better than before. Moreover, we've recovered all the lost grain. Brother Ji's decision is not wrong. After all, if we hadn't agreed, these 800 people might have just been the beginning."

Cultivators have very low moral standards; killing these eight hundred doesn't necessarily mean there won't be another eight hundred.

This path is difficult, and perhaps it's not the right time for the world yet.

At this moment, none of them knew when the time would be right...

As the chill deepened, a horse-drawn carriage from Ji Village headed towards the border, its carriage filled with wooden boxes containing fish-scale books.

Meanwhile, Wulu merchants in various places opened their doors, moved the returned grain into their courtyards, and put it back up for resale at the original prices.

This time, however, no one was swearing or cursing anymore.

They all knew that the powerful families had bowed their heads, and they understood that no amount of cursing would change anything; they still had to accept what they had to accept. Their hearts trembled with shock.

But the most shaken were not them, but another group of people who gradually heard news about arable land.

Inside Hongding Tower, Fang Jincheng and his entourage sat at a table with Princess Chang Le and her party, holding their wine cups in silence for a while.

While the aristocratic families continued to drive away the refugees, and everyone else thought it was just a matter of winning or losing a food war, the offerings that all cultivators could receive were almost taken away by that person.

At the dinner table, everyone wore complex expressions.

Fang Jincheng, in particular, suddenly realized that, since when the image of that rural hermit appeared in his mind, it was always from an upward perspective.

In the days that followed, the weather suddenly turned cold.

With the grain in hand, the people began to live out the winter in peace, and the tense atmosphere gradually dissipated, as if nothing had ever happened.

The Mountain and Sea Pavilion, the Chen Clan, and the Dao Seeking Sect were all relatively trustworthy. After seeing that the Fish Scale Book had been returned, they released the shopkeepers and employees they had detained that same day.

Fearing further trouble, Ji You and Kuang Cheng left Fengzhou together to pick up the person.

The next morning in Jizhai, three horse-drawn carriages slowly came to a stop in front of the gate.

Cao Jingsong, Ban Yangshu, Wen Zhengxin, Pei Ruyi, and the Lu sisters were loading luggage onto the vehicle.

Because of the leased farmland, the Lu sisters were reluctant to leave for a while, but now that the matter has come to an end, it's about time for them to go.

The group decided to see them off for a while, as a way of showing hospitality to the host.

At this moment, at a roadside stall on the south side of the main road of Fengzhou Prefecture, a woman with an exceptionally beautiful face slightly raised her eyes and watched as countless beautiful women emerged from Ji Village. A hint of sword energy flashed in her eyes.

However, the breakfast stall waiter quickly came out of the store, interrupting the rising sword energy.

"What would you like to eat, young lady?"

Yan Shuyi took out a piece of silver from his pocket: "Give me a basket of steamed buns and a bowl of rice porridge."

The waiter nodded and noted it down: "Judging from the young lady's accent, she shouldn't be from Fengzhou, right?"

"It's from Fengzhou."

Upon hearing this reply, the waiter pondered for a moment, thinking to himself that this girl must have married into our Fengzhou family.

After a quick breakfast, the sun began to get much warmer.

Yan Shuyi strolled around the street for a while, then bought a roasted sweet potato and headed towards Ji Village. He walked briskly up the steps and stepped over the threshold.

Old Qiu was in the courtyard, instructing the workers to reinforce the doors and windows in preparation for winter. When he saw the young appraiser, his eyes widened instantly, a hint of surprise flashing in them.

"Young Madam, what brings you here?"

Upon hearing the long-unheard address, Yan Shuyi couldn't help but narrow her eyes slightly.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu, who were left behind at Ji Village, ran out from the front hall after hearing this, looking at her in surprise: "Master, what brings you here?"

"I haven't seen Qiu Ru for many days, so I came to check on her cultivation, took a stroll around, and then went back."

Upon hearing this, the two women exchanged a glance, their hearts chuckling to themselves.

The son-in-law said he would go to Lingjian Mountain to see her after selling the grain, but due to various unforeseen circumstances, this matter lasted for more than a month.

The appraiser must have been too impatient to wait any longer, so he just strolled over on his own.

They've grown, and I must say, even their own appraiser has grown.

Back when the Heavenly Academy came to Lingjian Mountain to seek the Dao, the Master of the Mirror couldn't even wait one night and secretly went to the inn. It's truly not easy for him to endure so long to see his husband now.

Where is Qiu Ru?

"Playing with her friends in the backyard."

Where is Wei Rui?

"He took the account book and went to the granary with the clerk from Fengzhou Prefecture to count the amounts."

Where is Lao Qiu?

"Young Madam, I'm right behind you," Old Qiu couldn't help but reply.

Yan Shuyi pondered for a moment and then asked, "Where is Xiaoyue?"

Xiao Yue'er was also a little girl in Ji Village. Like Qiu Ru, she had studied with Master Chen. Later, she went to Lingjian Mountain with her family and stayed there for a few days.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu exchanged a glance and then coughed: "The Dao Asking Sect, the Mountain and Sea Pavilion, and the Chen Clan have detained a group of managers and employees of Ji Village. They were just released from the mountain the day before yesterday. The young master was afraid that something might happen, so he and Young Master Kuang went out to pick them up yesterday. They are not in the mansion now, but they will probably be back tomorrow."

Yan Shuyi's eyelashes trembled slightly after hearing this, and then she stepped into the main hall.

Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu pursed their lips, thinking to themselves, "See, she really didn't want to ask Xiaoyue. She just wanted to know where her husband went."

There are many little girls in Jizhai, some from farming families and some from private workshops, and they all look pretty much the same at such a young age.

They felt that if they lined all these little girls up together, even their own master might not be able to tell which one was Xiaoyue'er.

(Ask for monthly ticket)

(End of this chapter)