Xiuxian, I can travel to another world

Chapter 332 Xi Chen Returns

Chapter 332 Xi Chen Returns
Zhu Ju estimated that the immortal tax that Mingxu Sect needed to pay was equivalent to the sect's annual expenses.

In other words.

In addition to supporting the more than 3,000 people in Mingxu Sect, we need to support an additional 3,000 people!

This is undoubtedly a heavy burden.

If it were simply a matter of not receiving the protection of the Immortal Alliance, many forces would probably rather not pay tribute.

The demonic path is terrifying, but the immortal tax is even more frightening.

how...

"when!"

"when……"

The melodious bell rang.

Streaks of light rose from the mountaintops, following the call of the voice, and arrived at the Immortal Alliance Market.

"Uncle-Master Zhu."

Shui Qianning, who was guarding the market, leaped up to meet Zhu Ju:
"You've arrived. Master is below."

"Ah."

Zhu Ju nodded and asked:
"What is the purpose of the Immortal Alliance's summoning?"

“This…” Shui Qianning’s expression froze:

You'll find out soon enough.

The two descended into a plaza, where Pei Jingque and Dong Yuelan were whispering to each other.

"metropolitan!"

"Senior Sister Dong."

When they were outside, Zhu Juyi addressed Pei Jingque as clan leader.

"Junior brother is here."

Pei Jingque turned around, a smile on his face:

"If it weren't for the gift prepared by my junior brother, the trip to the Immortal Seeking Sect would probably have yielded nothing."

"fortunately……"

"This year's tax has been paid in full."

It's true that the Immortal Seeking Sect is wealthy and powerful, but this time the Immortal Tax is coming in strong, and there are many who can't afford it.

Among them are sects that have good relations with the Seeking Immortals Sect.

It is true that Mingxu Sect has a close relationship with Xunxian Sect, but they also borrowed more spirit stones than others.

Without the Foundation Establishment Pills prepared by Zhu Ju, Pei Jingque wouldn't have been able to borrow so many spirit stones, even if he could.

"Has it already been submitted?"

Zhu Ju nodded:

"That's good."

"Yes." Dong Yuelan's expression was complicated.

"You're all fine now, but some people have run into trouble."

"coming!"

Nearly a hundred disciples dressed in bright yellow Immortal Alliance uniforms descended from the sky on white clouds and landed in the center of the square.

Unlike the cultivators of the Immortal Alliance in the past.

This group of people exuded a murderous aura, with sharp eyes, and their combined presence was stronger than that of the nearly one thousand people in the arena.

As his gaze swept across the scene, it felt as if dozens or even hundreds of sharp swords were attacking him, causing even Zhu Ju's heart to clench.

Immortal Alliance...

Things are indeed different now than before.

Previously, members of the Immortal Alliance had been lax and complacent, never displaying such a fierce and imposing aura.

"Boom!"

A massive stone pillar fell from the sky.

Then came the second, the third, and so on, until nine stone pillars, each requiring several people to encircle, were inserted into the square.

On each stone pillar, a human figure was bound with iron chains.

"what!"

"Kill me! Kill me!"

"..."

The shrill, frantic screams came from the figures, sending chills down one's spine.

"That man is Young Master Yun, the young master of Linglong Pavilion!"

"He Qiongyao, the patriarch of the He family of Poison Mountain!"

"..."

The screams and roars mingled together, causing the thousands of onlookers to feel a sense of unease.

"Everyone."

Ping Daochuan descended from the sky, releasing the aura of a fake elixir, resembling a terrifying behemoth coiled in the center of the plaza:

"The Immortal Tax is the foundation of the Immortal Alliance. Without sufficient Immortal Tax, we cannot fight against the overwhelming demonic forces."

"This is the consensus of us righteous cultivators!"

With a wave of his sleeve, he pointed to the person bound by iron chains to the stone pillar:
"And these people..."

"Not only did they fail to pay the full amount of the Immortal Tax, but they also dared to criticize the Immortal Alliance's policies and even secretly defected to the Demonic Path."

"today!"

"Ping will come and enforce the alliance rules!"

"call……"

As soon as he finished speaking, flames shot into the sky, engulfing the stone pillars in the arena.

The flames did not burn the people on the stone pillars, but instead heated the pillars until they were red-hot, thus scorching the prisoners.

The torture of branding with hot irons!
This is an extremely cruel form of torture.

The array patterns carved on those stone pillars would stimulate the sinner's sense of pain, while controlling the degree of burning, to torture the person to the point of wanting to die but not actually killing them.

"Master."

Shui Qianning's voice trembled:
"That pillar seems to be the head of the Wu family, Wu Tian."

“…” Pei Jingque nodded slowly:

"It's him!"

Zhu Ju's eyes narrowed.

Not long ago, Wu Tian even brought his grandson to visit Mingxu Sect, but unexpectedly, he has ended up in such a state today.

"I heard that the Wu family plans to disband the clan and become independent cultivators in the Ten Thousand Mountains in order to avoid the immortal tax."

Dong Yuelan whispered:

"result……"

"The Immortal Alliance took action and captured the entire Wu family. Wu Tian was also brought in and severely tortured as a warning to others."

"They're trying to establish their authority by using them!"

"The Wu family..." Seeing the once-friendly family fall to such a state, Pei Jingque's expression changed:

"How will the Immortal Alliance deal with the rest of the Wu family?"

"Mark them with the Spirit Slave mark, as pawns to resist the demonic cultivators," Dong Yuelan said.
"If you can make a great contribution, there is a chance to remove the brand, but the chances are extremely low."

"correct!"

"I heard that there is a child in the Wu family named Wu Lei who has not been caught and is wanted by the Immortal Alliance."

"A spirit slave brand?" Pei Jingque's eyes narrowed.

"This is forbidden law!"

The so-called "Spirit Slave Brand" refers to a kind of evil magic that uses certain means to control the life and death of others, specifically their primordial spirit.

Even the demonic path rarely uses such methods. Long ago, the cultivation world forbade practitioners from practicing such spells.

If found,

They shall be punished together!
now.

The Righteous Immortal Alliance actually resorted to such methods themselves.

"metropolitan."

Zhu Ju asked:
"Who is that person behind Hiramakawa?"

“Ping Chengze.” Pei Jingque turned his gaze and said solemnly:

"The head of the Ping family of Zhaixinglou, a Golden Core cultivator, and also Ping Daochuan's grandfather."

"This person is narrow-minded and vindictive; never provoke him."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ju nodded slowly.

The screams lasted for a full hour before the people bound to the stone pillars began to die one after another.

"Everyone has to pay the immortal tax, even rogue cultivators!"

Riding on the momentum from the massacre of the cultivators, Ping Daochuan spoke in a muffled voice:
“I understand that the major sects intend to move south, but half of them must stay behind.”

"If we really can't afford the immortal tax, then we'll work instead of paying it and accept the Immortal Alliance's call to fight against the demonic monsters."

"..."

"also!"

"The Immortal Alliance Marketplace sells all kinds of supplies, including pills, magic weapons, and cultivation techniques, which can be purchased with Immortal Alliance merits."

"Awarded for meritorious service in killing demonic cultivators."

*
*
*
Two months later.

Zhu Ju stepped out of the cave, stretched his limbs in the clear weather, and felt refreshed.

"After more than twenty years and hundreds of attempts, I have finally tested the limits of the broken sword's intent."

"Having learned all its variations, all that's needed now is to master the sword intent techniques and find ways to counter them. Even if you lack sufficient foundation, you can still annihilate the sword intent and completely control the Ten Directions Vertical and Horizontal Sword."

"when……"

The bells rang urgently.

Zhu Ju shook his head, his face showing helplessness:
"Again!"

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure disappeared from the spot and headed straight for the sect's main hall.

"The demonic path has arrived!"

"careful!"

"Check the surroundings..."

Inside the main hall, various sounds rang out in an orderly manner, clearly indicating that this was not the first time they had dealt with such a situation.

"Junior brother."

Pei Jingque sat upright in the center, surrounded by various colored spiritual lights, her beautiful eyes seemingly reflecting the undulating landscape.

“A group of demonic cultivators appeared outside the formation, tested it out, and then disappeared.”

"It could be just a provocation, or it could be a trap to lure us out," Zhu Ju said.
"Ignore it!"

Recently, demonic cultivators have been frequently appearing in the vicinity. According to information from the Immortal Alliance, demonic Golden Core cultivators have already infiltrated the area, indicating that a new wave of demonic invasion is inevitable.

It's unclear when the major war will officially begin.

"We've paid so much in immortal taxes, the Immortal Alliance can't just stand by and watch Mingxu Sect be in danger, can they?"

Zhu Ju sat down and said unhurriedly:

"With the sect's second-tier formation and the addition of you and me, there's nothing to worry about as long as no one reaches the Golden Core stage."

"Besides, the people from the Immortal Alliance should be arriving soon."

"That's true." Pei Jingque rubbed his forehead.
"But this can't go on forever. Not to mention anything else, if the trade routes are cut off, the spirit wine won't be able to be sold."

What about next year's tax?

"Ok?"

Before she finished speaking, she flipped her hand and took out a communication talisman from her storage bag, her brows immediately furrowing.

"What's wrong?" Zhu Ju asked.

"The Immortal Seeking Sect's headquarters has been attacked by demonic forces; the situation is critical." Pei Jingque's expression was grave.

"Sect Leader Xu sent a message, hoping I would come and help."

"How could this be?" Zhu Ju was taken aback.
"The Immortal Seeking Sect is protected by a third-order formation. Could it be that a demonic Golden Core cultivator has attacked them?"

Even a Golden Core Grandmaster wouldn't be able to break through a third-tier formation in a short time.

What's more...

Such a strong enemy.

Pei Jingque, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, would be of no use going there.

"No!"

Pei Jingque shook his head:
"The Immortal Seeking Sect quietly moved south several years ago, taking their sect's formations with them. Their current formations are not as good as ours."

"Junior brother!"

As the thought crossed her mind, she stood up:

"Without the generous assistance of the Seeking Immortals Sect, the Mingxu Sect would not have been able to raise this year's immortal tax. It would be unreasonable and morally wrong not to help them."

"I'll go." Zhu Ju stood up.
"The sect needs you to take charge."

"No." Pei Jingque gently shook her head.

“We can do without me, but we can’t do without you, Junior Brother. You are the pillar of our sect.”

The formation of the Seeking Immortals Sect was taken away, and the same was true for the Mingxu Sect.

Although only a portion has been taken away so far, the second-tier high-grade formation has been downgraded to second-tier low-grade.

With Pei Jingque stationed here, at most he can only unleash the full power of a second-tier low-grade formation.

Zhu Ju is different.

He possesses the Investiture of the Gods, which contains a second-tier high-grade formation. Once activated, a single individual from it can rival an entire sect.

of course.

Only Pei Jingque knew the truth about this matter.

“So…” Zhu Ju frowned:
"Be very careful!"

"I know." Pei Jingque nodded.

"The Immortal Seeking Sect not only sent me messages, but other forces as well, and I should also make some moves."

…………

With Pei Jingque gone, Zhu Julai had to take charge of the sect's formations, so there was no time for rest.

Shake.

Half a month passed.

The danger on the side of the Immortal Seeking Sect has been averted, and Pei Jingque has sent word that he is on his way back.

However, before she returned, another group of people went back to the sect first.

"Brother!"