Forced to become a pure and innocent female pharmacist in order to cultivate immortality.

“However, the biggest trouble here is the infighting between the various sects. A single piece of black gold can trigger a battle. Look, isn’t there a fight going on over there?” Lin Aoxue pointed to a spot below.

Ye Liuyun took a closer look and, sure enough, a group of cultivators were fighting in a rocky forest. They might have discovered a small black ore mine.

A small black crow mine can usually extract about ten catties of black crow gold, and a piece of black crow gold is usually about one tael. One tael of black crow gold is worth one hundred spirit stones. Do you think they wouldn't rob it?

Battles are frequent in this area. Of course, Ye Liuyun and Lin Aoxue are dressed in the robes of disciples from the four major sects, so other sects dare not provoke them.

However, being a member of one of the four major sects is not a guarantee of immunity from death. Disciples of the four major sects are consumed every year, and most of them are consumed in Fallen Immortal Ridge.

After flying for a while, a city appeared before them. This city was enveloped by an array and was built in a crevice between mountains. It was inconspicuous and not a particularly large city.

However, there are still many cultivators coming and going from this place, as it can be considered a trading place for cultivators.

Cloudsea City, a city specifically for cultivators to trade, is not a place everyone is qualified to visit. The goods there are very expensive, and only those with considerable capital and influence can go.

In any case, most of the cultivators within a radius of several hundred miles centered on the Liuyang Mountains are concentrated in the Liuyang Mountains. They will come here to buy cultivation supplies instead of going to Yunhai City.

Yunhai City is too far for cultivators at the Wheel Sea Realm; it would take them three or four days to fly there. Only cultivators at the Dao Palace Realm can get there with a little less trouble.

The lower-level cultivators have a terrible life, barely surviving in the cracks. There's no way around it; no matter what world you're in, resource distribution is always unbalanced.

Without the opportunity, low-level cultivators will find it difficult to break through to the Dao Palace in their entire lives. If they don't break through to the Dao Palace, how long can they live?

Therefore, Ye Liuyun and Lin Aoxue were quite lucky, at least they were able to become disciples of the four major sects, their luck was mostly better than others.

Lin Aoxue and Ye Liuyun quickly landed at the entrance of Silent City. Apart from the cultivators of the four major sects, other sects had to pay an entrance fee of one spirit stone each time they entered.

"You have to pay to enter the city?" Ye Liuyun was stunned as he looked at the cultivators entering the city.

“Nonsense, this is a safe zone. Once you enter the city, you can basically avoid being attacked by demonic beasts and also avoid conflicts with other cultivators. The formation of this city was built by our four major sects, and the order is also maintained by our four major sects in turns. Of course, we charge money,” Lin Aoxue replied.

Ye Liuyun thought about it and realized that it made sense.

Lin Aoxue led Ye Liuyun over. There were two doors to this place. They went through a special passage, which did not require payment. They only needed to show their sect's identity token.

The Yanxia Sect is responsible for maintaining order in the city this month, so the guards at the gate are all disciples of the Yanxia Sect.

Once inside the city, there were many cultivators active there. However, the roads were not wide, and there were houses and shops on both sides. Since this was a cultivator market, there were naturally commercial shops.

Any cultivator can rent a shop to collect or sell materials, as long as they have money.

Many small factions rely on this place to maintain their sect's income. They bring their sect's refined pills and treasures here to sell, and they also collect some materials they need here.

Of course, the best locations are occupied by the four major sects. However, the largest commercial trading place in Silent City does not belong to the four major sects, but to an outside force called Wanbaolou.

I've heard that Wanbaolou's businesses are spread throughout the Nanling region and even the Tang Kingdom. It's a very mysterious force. The prices they charge for materials are the fairest, and the variety of goods they sell is much richer than the shops of the four major sects.

Although this place is not large, it has all the necessary facilities to meet the personal needs of cultivators from the Sea of ​​Wheels and the Dao Palace. The most common shops in the city are inns for cultivators, which are specifically for cultivators to rest.

Some monks live here almost year-round.

"Wow! So many people! This is the first time I've seen so many people since I came to this world, and they're all cultivators." Ye Liuyun exclaimed as he looked at the various cultivators in front of him.

Looking around, even if it's not exactly packed with people, there are at least tens of thousands of people moving around on this street alone.

This Silent City has four streets, each managed by one of the four major sects. This means that you have to pay fees to the sect on whichever street you rent a shop or stall.

The order of the streets is also maintained by the four major sects themselves.

"Of course! This area is the most bustling outside of the Yun Sect's territory. At least half of the Yun Sect's lower-level cultivators are concentrated here. How could it not be lively?" Lin Aoxue said with a smile.

Ye Liuyun was taken aback. She had been staying in the Yunxia Sect all along, and her understanding of the cultivation world was still too limited. Perhaps in her mind, these four major sects were just small sects, but she did not realize that they were at the top of the third tier of the Southern Ridge.

If we compare the direct territories of the Supreme Response Sect to provincial capitals, then Yunhai City of the Cloud Sect is like a bustling urban area, while their territory is like a key county town.

In the Nanling region, at the apex of the three tiers, the first tier is the Enlightenment City of the Supreme Response Sect, the most prosperous gathering place for cultivators in the Nanling.

It is the gathering place of cultivators from the four major intermediate sects, such as Yunhai City of the Yun Sect.

Then comes the third tier, the most prosperous gathering place for lower-level cultivators within the territory of intermediate sects, and within the territory of the Cloud Sect is the Silent City.

"Make way, make way! All shops and stalls on this street, listen up! It's time to pay your taxes! Ten spirit stones for a shop, one for a stall!" Just as Lin Aoxue and Ye Liuyun were marveling at the sheer number of people, they suddenly noticed a group of Yanxia Sect disciples pushing through the crowd with an aggressive air, loudly announcing this.

But as soon as he said that, everyone present changed their expressions at the same time.

"What? We have to pay taxes again? Your Yanxia Sect is going too far. We've already paid our rent this month, why do we have to pay taxes again?" Some stall owners and shopkeepers' faces changed.

"Hmph! You have a problem with that? If you do, step forward and let me see who you are," a Spirit Pattern Realm cultivator from the Misty Cloud Sect said arrogantly.

Upon hearing this, everyone present fell silent. No one dared to speak up, and most of the shop owners and stall owners could only swallow their bitterness.

Ever since those cultivators who returned from the Cloud Sect went back to the four major sects, life has become difficult for their small sects and independent cultivators in Silent City. The cultivators from the four sects would find all sorts of reasons to ask for extra spirit stones.

There was definitely no taxation before, and the four major sects did not announce any crackdown. Instead, these disciples on duty privately asked the stall owners and shopkeepers for spirit stones.

Don't say you won't give it to me! Unless you move to another street to set up your stall, but this place is only so big, where can you go?

"This? Tax collection? What kind of operation is Aoxue doing this?" Ye Liuyun could tell from the expressions of the stall owner and the surrounding shop owners that this was definitely not a legitimate tax collection.

"What else could it be? Protection money they collect privately, sigh!" Lin Aoxue said helplessly.

Chapter 174 The Woman in Green

Ye Liuyun was stunned when he heard the words "protection fee".

"Protection fees? This scene looks so familiar. It's like the troubled teenagers I encountered when I was in school in my past life." Ye Liuyun was both amused and exasperated.

Indeed, what's the difference between these people and ordinary people who just stroll around the streets? They've just changed protection money to taxes; the essence is still the same—the strong preying on the weak.

"Calm down. The cultivation world is a dog-eat-dog world. Morality has little binding force here. Let's go find an inn on the street we manage," Lin Aoxue suggested.

But just as they were about to leave, a clear, mocking voice reached their ears.

"Hehe, is this the Misty Cloud Sect, one of the four great sects? It's more like a bandit than the bandits of the mortal world. Most bandits in the mortal world only steal things because they are too poor to even afford food. Your four great sects are so rich that they still exploit the lower-level cultivators. You are really shameless."

The moment those words were uttered, they had undoubtedly offended the Yanxia Sect members to no end. The Yanxia Sect disciples who were collecting taxes immediately became furious.

"Who is it? Who is it? Who is gossiping?" the disciples of the Yanxia Sect roared angrily at their surroundings.

"It's your mother, so what? Am I wrong? Bullying others with your power is a disgrace to your ancestors of the Yanxia Sect."

A woman dressed in a light blue dress suddenly flew out from behind the crowd and landed in front of the Yanxia Sect disciples.

This is a woman in a blue dress who doesn't look particularly outstanding. Her long hair is casually draped over her shoulders, giving her a very relaxed appearance.

When Lin Aoxue and Ye Liuyun saw a woman in her early twenties standing up for the lowly cultivators, they immediately stopped, still intrigued.

"Looks like things are about to get interesting," Lin Aoxue chuckled.

Ye Liuyun became worried about the girl. After all, she had openly jumped out and insulted the disciples of the Yanxia Sect. The disciples of the Yanxia Sect would definitely not let her off the hook.

"She's been a bit reckless. Now the disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect will have no choice but to deal with her," Ye Liuyun sighed.

But Lin Aoxue shook her head.

"Don't worry, it's alright. This girl's cultivation level is quite high. These few weaklings are no match for her. However, once a fight breaks out, it might not be so easy for her to escape. Liu Yun, are you interested in helping this sister later?" Lin Aoxue said with a smile.

Ye Liuyun was taken aback, then thought for a moment and nodded.

She already looked down on these bullies who relied on their power, and this was no joke; it was a real case of bullying others by relying on their power.

"You bitch, how dare you insult our Yanxia Sect?" The Yanxia Sect disciple's face was extremely ugly.

This woman insulted their Yanxia Sect in front of so many people. This was no small matter. They had no way to back down. Their only option was to capture this woman, take her back, and punish her severely.

"So what if I cursed you? Others may fear your four major sects, but I, Wu Linzhi, am not afraid of you," the woman in green sneered.

Upon hearing this, those around her immediately echoed Wu Linzhi's words.

"That's right, your Yanxia Sect has gone too far. During this period, your Yanxia Sect disciples have done the worst, collecting taxes three times a month. Is there any rule like that?"

The crowd kept chiming in, which made the disciples of the Yanxia Sect even more unbearable.

"Shut up, all of you, or I'll kick you all out of Silent City. Don't forget, this month, the order of Silent City is managed by our Yanxia Sect," the Spirit Pattern Realm cultivator threatened coldly.

As soon as these words were spoken, those who were about to say something immediately shut up.

"All you do is threaten people. You're nothing without the Misty Cloud Sect. You don't even follow the rules you set for yourself. You're becoming more and more shameless," Wu Linzhi mocked again.

The disciples of the Yanxia Sect could no longer contain themselves. One of the cultivators, a Spirit River Realm expert, angrily lunged at Wu Linzhi, intending to capture her.

"Damn bitch, you asked for this," the Spirit River Realm cultivator said angrily.

But just as he was about to touch Wu Linzhi, she sneered. With a flash, she appeared in front of him at an even faster speed, and then, under his panicked gaze, slapped him across the face.

The slap didn't seem very powerful, but when it landed on the other person's face, it sent them flying more than ten feet away, knocking out all their teeth.

Those around who witnessed this scene were so frightened that they quickly retreated. They hadn't expected the woman in green to dare to fight back, and now things were getting out of hand.

"You? You dare to fight back?" The Yanxia Sect disciple at the Spirit Pattern Realm had a murderous aura in his eyes.

So now, it's not just a simple verbal provocation. At most, they'd teach a lesson for a verbal provocation, but since they've resorted to physical violence, that's a different story.

"What? You're not going to fight back, just waiting for me to get caught? Are you stupid or am I stupid?" Wu Linzhi asked, rolling her eyes as she played with her hair.

"Go! Go get him! Grab him, dead or alive!" The young leader had lost control of his emotions.

They paid their protection money very smoothly the first two times this month, but they never expected to run into such a bold person today.

Upon hearing this, the other disciples of the Yanxia Sect drew their weapons and charged at Wu Linzhi. However, just as they rushed forward, Wu Linzhi produced an exquisite women's folding fan.

She opened her fan and gently waved it at the group of people rushing towards her. A blue storm, like a dragon, swept them up and sent them flying into the sky.

"Ah..." After these people were swept into the sky, the wind blades in the storm cut their clothes into countless pieces, and finally the naked men fell from the sky.

At that moment, screams of surprise came from all around.

Ye Liuyun immediately reached out and covered Lin Aoxue's eyes.

"What are you doing? Why are you blocking me? I'm not an innocent girl. Besides, I didn't even look." Lin Aoxue quickly raised her hand and pushed Ye Liuyun's hand away.

"That won't do either, you're a woman after all," Ye Liuyun retorted.

But Lin Aoxue was not happy about it.

"Then why don't you look away? It's like you're not a woman right now," Lin Aoxue retorted.

"Me? I used to have that thing, but it flew away by accident. Did you have one? Can you compare them?" Ye Liuyun's face immediately turned red.

"Tch, who cares?" Lin Aoxue muttered.

As for the battle, the Spirit Pattern Realm cultivator from the Misty Cloud Sect finally understood that the woman in front of them was very strong, which was why she dared to oppose their Misty Cloud Sect.

"Interesting, your cultivation level isn't low. No wonder you're so arrogant. But you're finished." The young man at the Spirit Pattern Realm was about to make his move.

His move was different from the others; he swiftly drew his sword, and a golden light slashed towards Wu Linzhi.

However, Wu Linzhi shattered the sword light with a backhand fan, and the two officially began to fight. More and more onlookers gathered around, but they had already retreated far away, leaving the two with a space to fight.

With such a commotion, the other disciples of the Yanxia Sect must have noticed it as well. As a result, more than a dozen disciples rushed over from various places. Among them were three more Spirit Pattern Realm cultivators, one of whom should be a direct disciple of the Yanxia Sect, with a cultivation level of the late Spirit Pattern Realm.

"What's going on?" The Yanxia Sect cultivator who had rushed over asked angrily as he looked at his fellow disciples who were hurriedly putting on their clothes.

"Hey? Senior Brother Han, this woman is causing trouble. We originally wanted to arrest her and punish her, but who knew she would attack us because of her high cultivation level." The group quickly explained.

The explanations given by these people were clearly unclear. If they said it like that, the Yanxia Sect disciples who rushed over would definitely regard Wu Linzhi as an enemy.

"Outrageous! No one has dared to cause trouble in Silent City for so many years. Take her down!" The man surnamed Han ordered, staring at Wu Linzhi, who was fighting with his junior brother.

"Yes, Senior Brother Wu." Several Spirit Pattern Realm disciples immediately flew towards Wu Linzhi, intending to join forces to capture her.

However, just as they were about to get close to Wu Linzhi, Lin Aoxue and Ye Liuyun stepped forward and stopped them.

"Halt, fellow Daoists of the Misty Clouds Sect. I think you should calm down about this matter."

Lin Aoxue's sudden appearance startled the cultivators of the Yanxia Sect, forcing them to stop.

As soon as Senior Brother Han saw Lin Aoxue, he immediately frowned and walked over.

"Who are you? Junior Sister Lin from the Yunxia Sect? What do you mean by this? Is your Yunxia Sect interfering in the affairs of our Yanxia Sect?"

This Senior Brother Han must know Lin Aoxue.

After all, the four major sects only have a few dozen direct disciples in total.

"Senior Brother Han Yu, right? This matter was wrongly handled by your Yanxia Sect, so I think that what you did will also damage the reputation of our Yunxia Sect," Lin Aoxue said, glancing at Wu Linzhi, who was gaining the upper hand.

Wu Linzhi also noticed the situation, but she didn't expect that someone would come out to help her, and that it would be a disciple of the Yunxia Sect.

"Haha, you stinking woman, our fellow disciples from the Yanxia Sect have arrived. You won't be able to escape today," the young man sneered.

However, upon seeing this, Wu Linzhi suddenly sped up, her figure moving like the wind, abruptly exceeding the young man's tracking ability.

"Huh?" The young man hurriedly looked around, but when he found Wu Linzhi, the folding fan in Wu Linzhi's hand had already hit his face, making him stagger.

"You? You bastard, I'm going to kill you!" The young man lost control.