I planted the spiritual roots for my people, and they bestowed upon me a body inscribed with incense

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan spoke:

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, as a member of the imperial court, you've told me so much; aren't you afraid I might do something drastic?"

"Fellow Daoist Li, we are brothers, have you forgotten what I just said?" Seeing Zhang Xuan's sincerity, Li Yuan was also somewhat moved.

"Thank you for telling me all these secrets, brother. I will never forget this kindness." Li Yuan was genuinely grateful to Zhang Xuan for telling him so many secrets. He never expected that Daqing had used this method to weaken the local immortal clans.

This also made Li Yuan begin to re-examine the Daqing Dynasty. Since its public debut, it had only had one Foundation Establishment cultivator in charge. However, it now seems that there are probably more than one Foundation Establishment cultivator behind Daqing. As for how many, Li Yuan could not find out.

After chatting with Zhang Xuan for a while, one of the people Zhang Xuan brought came in carrying a notebook.

"My lord, these are the acreage and dimensions of the land that I measured and calculated."

Zhang Xuan then took the book and opened it. The sheer number of items immediately stunned him. He then looked at the person who had handed him the book.

Are you sure this is okay?

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan gestured for Zhang Xuan to show him the book. Zhang Xuan, while handing the book to Li Yuan, slowly said:

"Haha, Brother Li, the servant must have misread it. How could the Li family possibly have more than twenty acres of spirit fields? Most immortals would be lucky to have more than ten acres, let alone your Li family, which was only recently established."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan shook his head.

"Brother Zhang, our Li family does indeed have over twenty acres of spiritual land, which I cultivated bit by bit. Brother Zhang, you don't need to blame this brother."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuan's expression changed drastically, and he slowly said:

"Brother Li, this is no joke. After the measurement, seeds will be distributed according to the number of spirit fields, and taxes will be collected annually based on this."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan nodded slowly.

"Haha, Brother Zhang, I'm not joking. I just want to get more seeds so that the family can have more profits."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuan slowly nodded, and then said;

"I never expected that this place is such a blessed land, my brother, that you could actually cultivate twenty acres of spiritual fields."

"You should know that one mu of spirit field can produce eight hundred jin of spirit rice. After deducting fifty percent for taxes, Brother Li can get about four hundred jin of spirit rice per mu. If you calculate it like this, Brother Li really doesn't lack cultivation resources."

As he spoke, Zhang Xuan's face showed even more envy.

Seeing this, Li Yuan waved his hand and said.

"Brother Zhang, you flatter me. However, please keep this a secret. After all, in my Li family, only my father and I possess spiritual roots. It's best not to make this public."

Li Daqiang's cultivation level was detected by Zhang Xuan when he greeted Zhang Xuan, so Li Yuan didn't bother to hide it.

Zhang Xuan looked at Li Yuan, who was speaking, and slowly said:

"This can't be kept secret. These are all registered. But don't worry, brother. Twenty acres of spirit fields. Although those people in the provincial capital are envious, they won't go so far as to cause you trouble. Besides, you are a member of the immortal clan appointed by Prince Qinghe."

"Prince Qinghe is someone who has the potential to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, and ordinary people would not easily offend the prince."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan's face remained smiling, but he also knew that Prince Qinhe would never help him; it would be good enough if he didn't harbor any greed towards him.

"Since Brother Zhang says so, what do I have to be afraid of?" The two exchanged a smile as they spoke.

After chatting for a while, Zhang Xuan left with the people from the Household Registration Department. It seems that there is no way to get away with the tribute from the Immortal Clan. They have to pay the exact amount honestly, otherwise, if the sword of the Great Qing Dynasty falls, the Li family will probably be wiped out in an instant.

With the tax issue resolved, Li Yuan then devoted himself entirely to cultivation, while also sending people to continue searching for temples with incense offerings throughout the entire Daqing Kingdom.

For the Li family to prosper, territory, population, and spiritual roots are all indispensable. Li Yuan can ignore everything else, but he must take charge of the spiritual roots.

However, after Zhang Xuan reported the Li family's taxes, many princes and powerful clans who had placed their own people in the family began to take notice of the Li family.

This included the Si family of Longling County and Prince Ouyang Shuiyan, who lived in Huaihai County. Upon learning the news, Prince Ouyang Shuiyan immediately sent people to the Xu family of Qingshan County.

Three months later, while Li Yuan was cultivating, news came from down the mountain. Upon hearing this, Li Yuan immediately stopped his cultivation and rushed down the mountain.

"Brother Xu, what brings you here?" Li Yuan was looking at Xu Qingfeng with surprise. It was Xu Qingfeng who had come to see Li Yuan. Although Li Yuan appeared unharmed, he was already on guard.

Xu Qingfeng looked at the hurried Li Yuan and said slowly:

"Brother Li, that's not fair! Do you have some secret technique for gathering spiritual energy, or some kind of magical artifact?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan looked embarrassed, but alarm bells were already ringing in his mind. He was right; they must be envious of his spiritual field.

"Brother Xu, what makes you say that?"

Seeing this, Xu Qingfeng slowly said:

"Brother Xu, stop teasing me. I've been to that small fishing village before, and you've built it into the magnificent place it is today. Considering how much I helped you back then, why don't you tell me the truth?"

Seeing Xu Qingfeng's greedy eyes practically practically glued to the table, Li Yuan took a sip of tea and slowly said:

"Brother Xu, do you know about the annual dividends from that refined iron mine? I've exchanged all my spirit stones for resources to cultivate spirit fields."

"For farmers, the more land they own, the more secure they feel."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qingfeng slowly said:

"No wonder, I was wondering why your Li family had developed so many spiritual fields, it turns out it was from the profits of the mines."

"In that case, Brother Xu won't bother you any longer, Brother Li." With that, Xu Qingfeng got up and left. Seeing this, Li Yuan, for the sake of saving face, still got up and escorted Xu Qingfeng to the edge of the small fishing village.

On the way back to Qingshan County, Xu Qingfeng's face was full of greed. His guess was correct. The Li family had a method to gather spiritual energy that was even more effective than the spirit-gathering array issued by the royal family.

Li Yuan was unaware that anyone with common sense knew he was a puppet, and that the royal family's actions regarding the mines were a means for them to seize the resources of the Medicine Sect.

Now that Daqing wants to avoid opening another peak besides Lingyao Peak, many immortal clans within its territory have already noticed some signs. The Medicine Sect is also indifferent to this matter. As long as the law belongs to the Medicine Sect, no one can gossip about it.

Even the people of Beast Taming Peak and External Affairs Peak would wholeheartedly support this situation. As long as Daqing can become independent this time, then Spirit Medicine Peak will lose the opportunity to compete for the Purple Mansion Seed this year.