Hide in the world of gods and demons

Chapter 125 Corvée Labor (Thanks to Alliance Leader Baili Jiliao)
The following days.

Flying boats came and went incessantly, carrying boatloads of scattered cultivators, who were transported here like refugees.

The once deserted city of Luanluo, which had become quiet after the war, has become lively again, even more so than before. Judging from the attitude of the Huanzhen Sect, it is clear that they do not treat this place as a remote and insignificant area.

but,
The actual situation clearly exceeded Chen Li's expectations.

"You mean the True Sect is going to move the entire sect here?" Chen Li asked Zhang Yan.

"I heard this from a cultivator who migrated from the True Realm Domain, but the truth is even more complicated! In this war, the True Realm Sect reportedly gave up its original territory in exchange for the surrounding sects' non-interference, allowing them to occupy the entire Longevity Domain." Zhang Yan shook his head and sighed.

"Next, not only will the rogue cultivators move here, but even the mortals within the territory will have to move here. What is the sect really after? Migration is always a painful and disruptive event, let alone for the people of this region. The amount of spirit stones spent will be enormous."

"What are you, a mere Qi Refining mid-stage rogue cultivator, thinking about? Since they've gone to such great lengths to move here, there are only two reasons: either they can't make it there, or it's for the better development of their sect, or they want to merge into one," Chen Li said.

The Changsheng Domain is located on the frontier, and it is indeed a bit remote and desolate.

But it is all undeveloped land, rich in resources, with great development potential and no restrictions!

"Sigh, I have to worry. This True Sect is not like the Longevity Sect. They are very strict with rogue cultivators. I heard from people there that there are often forced labors. Life will be tough from now on," Zhang Yan said with a worried expression.

"Corvée labor?! We still have to perform corvée labor?"

"That's exactly right."

Chen Li frowned, suddenly realizing that he had been intentionally or unintentionally ignoring a fact.

In his mind, the sect was just a pure sect, but in reality, it was the master of a large territory, comparable to a country.

In this territory, whether mortals or independent cultivators, they are all nominally subjects of the sect.

……

The entire Zhen Huan Sect was bustling with activity. Every day, a large number of cultivators migrated here by flying boat. After a month, the number of outside cultivators had exceeded the number of local cultivators. The entire Luanluo City was in chaos, with no order whatsoever.

However, the rent was collected again.

Fortunately, Chen Li didn't care about such a small amount of money.

The only pity is that, affected by these foreign cultivators, prices, which had been sluggish since the war, were quickly driven up, the profit margin for buying and selling was rapidly reduced, and at the same time, the risks began to increase significantly.

Helpless, Chen Li had no choice but to stop the acquisitions and wait a while before starting to ship the goods.

Of course, it wasn't without its advantages that Emperor Zhenzong ruled this area.

The True Sect's alchemy skills are undoubtedly much higher than the Longevity Sect's. The pills they refine are not only more potent than those of the Longevity Sect, but they also come in a wider variety. Among them is the Qi Nourishing Pill, which is used to assist cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refining.

However, the price was extremely high, one mid-grade spirit stone per bottle, which was ten times the price of a Qi-replenishing pill. Even Chen Li felt a pang of regret when he bought it.

Fortunately, it was worth the price.

Since switching to the Qi Nourishing Pill, his cultivation speed has increased dramatically. He originally estimated that it would take another year and a half to reach the Qi Refining Perfection stage, but now it only takes one year, saving him a full six months.

If they moved to a first-tier spiritual energy place like Luanluo City, the time would be even shorter. However, he plans to observe for a while longer and wait until the order is completely settled before making a decision.

Nowadays, many new Foundation Establishment families have migrated to Luanluo City. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the True Sect has no intention of managing the order of the territory. The whole place is in chaos, and it is said that murder and robbery often occur. Many rogue cultivators who made a fortune recently have died mysteriously.

Chen Li suspected that Foundation Establishment cultivators were involved.

After all, the wealth looted by the rogue cultivators was enough to make even Foundation Establishment cultivators envious.

During this period, he finally reached the maximum level in the self-defense technique that he had been focusing on practicing.

A fully-level protective technique is comparable to a second-tier, level-two spell. It would probably take a lot of effort for an ordinary early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator to break through it, which finally gave Chen Li a sense of security when facing Foundation Establishment cultivators.

……

It was during dinner time in the evening.

"Clap clap clap!"

The rhythmic "pat-pat" sound from next door started again, followed by a child's loud wailing!

"Will you still sneak out to play in the future... *slap slap slap*!"

"Do you know how chaotic things are right now... *slap slap slap*!"

"If you don't behave, I'll have those peddlers kidnap you... slap slap slap!"

"It must be really tough for Sister Qing to raise her child all by herself!" Zhou Hong exclaimed after listening for a while.

“Boys are just too naughty and hard to manage!” Chen Li laughed. “Girls are much easier. Look at Zhang Shuniang and Zhang Yan, we haven’t had to worry about them much.”

“No matter how well you raise a girl, she belongs to someone else; only a boy is your own.” Zhou Hong said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"You're a woman and you're so sexist? Shouldn't I be the one saying that?" Chen Li was speechless.

……

late at night.

In the quiet underground room.

Chen Li closed his eyes slightly and sat cross-legged in meditation.

Suddenly, his spiritual energy trembled slightly. The sudden change stirred his mind, and he was quickly awakened from his meditation.

"call!"

He exhaled a breath of stale air, suppressing the restless spiritual energy.

He showed no sign of panic, as if he had expected this, and checked the game panel.

"really!"

'Cultivation Technique: Longevity Technique Grandmaster: 3200/3200'

Since his transmigration, he has practiced this commonplace cultivation technique for over four years, and today he has finally reached the maximum level.

"I wonder if there have been any other changes?" Chen Li pondered to himself.

He got up from the meditation cushion and began his experiment.

He silently chanted incantations while his hands moved swiftly, forming hand seals like a blur.

Soon a golden protective spell enveloped him, which he then dispelled and cast again.

twice!

three times!

……

He used it eight times in a row before exhausting all his spiritual power.

Since the Longevity Technique reached the Grandmaster level, his spiritual power has been slowly purifying. Now, the number of times he can cast spells has nearly doubled, and one unit of spiritual power can be used as two units.

"It's not much different from before... Wait! What's this?"

Chen Li was surprised to find that the Longevity Technique was spontaneously operating, continuously absorbing spiritual energy from the outside world. In a short while, a trace of spiritual power was regenerated in his body.

"This is... automatic energy regeneration!" Chen Li was both surprised and delighted.

He estimated that he had recovered about 30% of the energy he had gained from meditation.

"As expected of a max-level Longevity Technique."

It was past midnight, so Chen Li decided not to sleep anymore.

Patiently wait for the spiritual energy to recover.

Before dawn, the spiritual energy had already been fully replenished.

at the same time,

The Longevity Technique also ceased to function.

"About half a day."

"It's a pity that I can't practice automatically!" Chen Li thought greedily.

Even so, this ability is quite useful. At least when practicing spells, he no longer needs to meditate to recover his energy, saving him a lot of effort.

Then, he cast a golden light protective spell.

After a while, the Longevity Technique started operating automatically again, slowly restoring its spiritual power.

……

After exhausting his spiritual energy once again, Chen Li ate a few Qi and Blood Pills and some dried meat to replenish his energy. He then went to the practice room, took off his clothes, took out the Jade Sword from his storage bag, and began practicing swordsmanship.

With his current physical condition, even without sleeping all night, he still doesn't feel tired at all.

The air occasionally emitted short, popping sounds.

The air currents surged. Basic swordsmanship is that simple and brutal, repeatedly honing the body's power generation to make the sword strike faster, stronger, and more destructive.

Now, with each of his sword strikes, not only are his muscles exerting force, but his internal organs are also responding in accordance with his will, as if trying to squeeze out every bit of potential from his body.

It must be said that Chen Li has now mastered this mortal swordsmanship to an unbelievable level.

The only problem is that practicing it is extremely taxing.

It's like my body is burning.

After just three minutes of practice, Chen Li began to pant and his pace slowed down.

It was still summer, and the poorly ventilated basement felt even more stuffy. However, Chen Li's skin was flushed red and he was emitting steam, a sign of high body temperature caused by intense exercise.

He rests for a while, then practices for a while.

He practiced until dawn before stopping, dragging his exhausted body out of the basement.

Zhou Hong had already prepared breakfast.

"You cultivated all night again last night?"

"I forgot the time for a moment."

"You need to take care of yourself too, you're forty-four years old already," Zhou Hong advised, and then said no more; she was used to it.

"Don't you know how my body is?" Chen Li said with a smile.

"Pah!" Zhou Hong spat inwardly, her face flushing as she said, "I have no idea!"

The two ate and chatted quietly.

There is no difference between breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Chen Li ate three large bowls of spirit rice and two catties of demon beast meat before he was full.

Because Luanluo City is located in the core area of ​​the Longevity Domain, second-tier demonic beasts are extremely rare here, but first-tier demonic beasts are still available. Chen Li often sees people selling first-tier demonic beast meat.

The effect... well, it's better than nothing. Only by taking it with the Blood Qi Pills, which are eaten like candy, can one avoid overworking and injuring their body.

"I'm going out in a bit. Today is the first auction since the war. I'll go check it out; I expect there will be quite a few good things," Chen Li said.

"Be careful, things are very chaotic outside right now. How about I stay with you?" Zhou Hong said worriedly.

"No need. It's more convenient for me to be alone. With my disguise skills, nothing will happen."

……

After having breakfast, Chen Li drank a cup of tea, rested for a while, and then went out.

The scenery changed along the way, eventually leading to the auction house in Luanluo City. The place had been severely damaged during the war, but it had long since been restored to its original state, and no trace of the war could be seen anymore.

Seeing that most people were covering their faces, Chen Li followed suit and took out a piece of cloth to cover his face in order not to attract attention.

After all, the Foundation Establishment cultivators from outside Luanluo City these days are rather unrefined.

They frequently resort to underhanded tactics.

After paying a low-grade spirit stone and receiving an auction token and an auction catalog, Chen Li followed the crowd inside, found a corner seat, and casually flipped through the auction catalog in his hand.

"They even sell magic arrays? I wonder which Foundation Establishment family that suffered a calamity possesses them."

However, Chen Li didn't pay any attention to it.

He doesn't need this kind of thing yet.

Firstly, it would be too conspicuous for a Qi Refining cultivator to use an array.

Secondly, there's nowhere to put it, and it's said to consume a lot of spirit stones.

There are so many great items in this auction.

Chen Li even saw several first-order pill formulas and several books on weapon crafting techniques.

He looked around.

"It seems quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators have come today."

Chen Li is no longer as ignorant as before. These kinds of things can be the foundation for a Foundation Establishment family or even a sect. Even he was somewhat tempted, but after thinking about it, he gave up.

I simply don't have the energy to learn another skill.

He finally saw the Foundation Establishment Pills, and there were not just one, but a total of three.

He immediately felt at ease.

We must capture at least one this time.

……

The auction was in full swing, with bids rising and falling, and various items frequently fetching astronomical prices.

That second-tier, mid-grade Earth Gathering Spirit Formation was auctioned off for a staggering price of twenty-one high-grade spirit stones, equivalent to over two thousand one hundred mid-grade spirit stones. Chen Li was secretly astonished and his eyes were opened wide.

It's unclear who brought this formation to auction, but even Chen Li couldn't help but have a fleeting thought of killing and robbing them.

Of course, the thought only flashed through my mind.

As for the pill formulas and weapon-refining books...

This also led to frequent competition for the goods.

At least three or four high-grade spirit stones.

There are as many as seven or eight.

For the first time, Chen Li realized that he wasn't as rich as he had imagined.

The auction finally turned to the Foundation Building Pill that he was interested in.

"...The starting price is one hundred mid-grade spirit stones, and each bid must be at least one stone."

……

"Two hundred and thirty-one bids, two hundred and thirty pieces twice, any other bids? Sold!"

Chen Li sat for a while longer. Taking advantage of the heated atmosphere during the auction of Foundation Establishment Pills, he quietly stood up, discreetly took the Foundation Establishment Pills from the auction house, and left without stopping, attracting no attention whatsoever.

Walking onto the main road and watching the people coming and going, Chen Li's tense mind relaxed slightly:

"Two Foundation Establishment Pills should be enough. If you still can't establish your foundation with that, then it's just your fate."

He glanced at the sky, which was a clear, deep blue.

He let out a soft breath.

……

Summer passes and autumn comes.

The intense heat gradually subsided, bringing a touch of coolness.

The corvée labor that Zhang Yan had been worried about finally arrived.

"Those under the age of fourteen are not to be conscripted!"

"The widowed, orphaned, widowed, disabled, and sick will not be conscripted!"

"New residents will not be subject to taxation!"

……

A crowd had gathered around a notice at the intersection.

"So, you're only recruiting locals?"

"Sigh, it will take three months to go, and we don't even know what dangers there will be. The True Sect is so stingy, they are treating us like mortals. When the Longevity Sect was around, there were never so many problems."

"The situation is beyond our control, what can we do? In the eyes of the Golden Core Ancestor of the True Soul Sect, aren't we just mortals?"

"Heh, what's so special about this?" A rogue cultivator who had migrated from the Real Realm was well-informed and didn't get angry when he heard this. He sneered, "Even Foundation Establishment cultivators have to perform corvée labor. How can you be an exception? Heh heh, you'll get what's coming to you later."

"Hiss! Even Foundation Establishment cultivators have to perform corvée labor."

"The True Sect is truly domineering."

Sighs and whispers filled the air, and frowns etched the faces of the crowd. Apart from the newcomers from Zhen Huan Yu, the entire shantytown was shrouded in a faint melancholy.

P.S.: Thank you so much, Alliance Leader Baili Jiliao! I'm so happy and excited to finally have an Alliance Leader!
And there's double good news: the book has achieved 10,000 average daily sales.

(End of this chapter)