It all started with one person becoming a shaman, but the Stand user...

Neither of its two characteristics is positive.

"What about experience points?"

He suddenly thought of a crucial question.

In the game, you can team up with NPCs, just like you can team up with other players.

Monster-hunting experience is not only shared, but also has a team bonus.

Therefore, many players often skip completing the powerful NPC party quests.

Instead, they led the NPCs across the entire map.

Only after defeating all the monsters that could be defeated could the quest be continued.

Qinghe Miao needs to be verified.

So he immediately ordered one of the guards to slaughter a chicken.

Soon, the familiar system notification sounded.

Although, on the one hand, his level 11 is more than 5 levels lower than that of the level 2 chicken, and his experience has been greatly reduced.

On the other hand, it seems there was additional damage because he didn't do it himself.

This results in minimal experience points being gained, almost negligible.

But I did receive it.

A glint flashed in Qinghe Miao's eyes, and he immediately thought of more.

Little by little, great things are achieved; grains of sand can be piled up to form a tower.

As his level increases, the level and number of monsters he needs to deal with to level up will also increase.

Even with AOE skills in the future, they might not be able to keep up.

Even if he could manage, looking at the "murderous intent" status in his status bar, he was still afraid that something might go wrong!

Chapter 56 Selling Smuggled Salt

Finally, the chicken was given as an extra meal to the disaster victims.

As for the second thing Qinghe Miao didn't expect.

It happened while he was planning to settle the first batch of disaster victims, and then he took the time to try to meet the protagonist of this world.

They were looking for an opportunity to learn about higher-level martial arts techniques.

As the warmth of early spring began to dissipate and the stream in front of Fenglingyueying Temple gradually cleared, new troubles unexpectedly arose.

Another group of ragged, emaciated refugees, following vague rumors, gradually found their way here.

Pit father ah.

Qinghe Miao stood in front of the temple, looking at the group of uninvited guests who had gathered, and sighed inwardly.

In chaotic times, human life is as worthless as grass, and migration and escape seem to have no end.

This time, it is said that war has broken out again between Liang and Jin, and the excessive conscription and exploitation in the front line and surrounding areas have made it impossible for many people to survive, so they have no choice but to leave their homes.

“These damn warlords should be swept into the dustbin of history…”

Qinghe Miao muttered a curse under his breath, but he knew it was useless.

Left with no other choice, the guards had to set up the large iron pots again, light the firewood, pour in millet and other grains, and start cooking them over high heat.

The familiar aroma of rice porridge once again filled the open space in front of the temple.

With the armed guards maintaining order, the newly arrived refugees dared not fight and formed a long, crooked queue.

They couldn't wait to squat down and wolf down their food.

The population increased suddenly.

The temple repair work left behind by the first batch of disaster victims was quickly filled up again.

Qinghe Miao had no choice but to further expand the construction plan, preparing to dig another deep well and build several more rows of houses.

Anyway, it's impossible for it to be free.

On this day, Huang Wulang invited Qinghe Miao to go hunting in the mountains, both to strengthen their bond and for a bit of relaxation.

After spending time together and deliberately learning, Qinghe Miao has already learned to ride a horse, just like most ancient knights-errant.

They even obtained the system-certified [Riding] (Beginner) skill.

As for why they didn't know it before, let them imagine it for themselves.

In ancient times, this thing was like driving a car in modern times; not everyone had a driver's license.

The two walked side by side along the damp mountain path in spring, the air filled with the scent of earth and new plants.

Many wild animals that had been hungry all winter began to come out to forage.

Upon reaching a relatively open, gentle slope, Qinghe Miao reined in his horse and gazed intently at the distant mountains. He casually inquired of Huang Wulang beside him:

"Master Huang, having lived here for so long, do you know how convenient it is for people to use salt? What is the price of salt?"

This was something he had been planning for a while.

If one could profit from the virtually unlimited supply and extremely low cost of refined salt in the modern world, it would be an excellent way to make a fortune.

In the mundane world, true freedom comes from having money.

"So that's what you wanted to ask, Taoist priest."

Unexpectedly, Huang Wulang was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and then professionally explained:

"To tell you the truth, our Hebei region has been an important salt-producing area since ancient times. In particular, the prefectures of You, Ji, Cang, and Jing are close to the Bohai Sea and have many salt ponds and marshes."

Even in the previous dynasty, the salt tax in Hebei was a heavy burden. Although the world is currently in chaos, which local governor or powerful clan doesn't control the salt profits? The salt produced locally is sufficient to supply the entire territory, and is often even sold elsewhere.

Therefore, in this area.

Unless it's a particularly strict wartime blockade.

Salt is not cheap for ordinary people, but it is not in short supply either.

Only after Huang Wulang's explanation did Qinghe Miao understand.

It turns out that Hebei has been a salt-producing area since ancient times and has never lacked salt.

A wave of regret washed over me.

It seems this deal isn't going to be going well.

Huang Wulang was incredibly astute; observing people's expressions, he immediately had an idea. He spurred his horse closer and tentatively asked:

"Oh? Judging from your tone, Daoist Master, do you perhaps have connections?"

Qinghe Miao was inevitably somewhat disappointed, and made no attempt to hide it, letting out a sigh as he said:

"I originally intended to do some buying and selling, to see if you could find a market in the mountains. But I never expected that you have no shortage of it locally. It seems I misunderstood."

"Hey! There's a market for it! There's a market for it! Daoist, you don't know this, but while we don't lack salt here, other places do!"

Huang Wulang's eyes lit up, and he quickly waved his hand, spurring his horse to slowly circle Qinghe Miao a little, his tone filled with undisguised excitement:

"Besides, even locally, the government-controlled salt is heavily embezzled, making coarse grains expensive. If there are cheaper smuggled goods, they will still have a market and a price, so there's no worry about finding a market for them!"

"To be frank, Master, our Huang family has been operating in these mountains for generations, and we have connections both by water and land. If there truly is a stable source of income, this business could be very profitable!"

I wonder how much Master Qingmiao can provide?

What a twist of fate!

Qinghe Miao was greatly encouraged.

It seems that the illicit salt trade has always been a highly profitable business in any era.

Even local powerful families like Huangjiabao were delighted to hear the news.

"Since Goro is so frank with you, I have some connections. As for salt, I can get as much as you need."

He quickly calculated in his mind, but appeared calm on the surface and said:

"Furthermore, I have some connections in the Western Regions. After learning that the local salt production is abundant, I was thinking of switching to selling something else—spices. I wonder if Goro would be interested in that?"

"Refined salt?! And spices from the Western Regions?!"

Huang Wulang gasped, looking at Qing Hemiao in shock.

It can provide a stable and large supply of salt, and also obtain spices.

The energy and channels behind these things, from all corners of the country, are not something that can be achieved simply by having talent, like practicing martial arts.

It's absolutely outrageous.

"This... Daoist Master, you have truly astonished me."

He couldn't help but murmur:

"I wonder what kind of power your family has? Forgive my ignorance, but 'Qingmiao' is the Taoist name, right? I don't know your secular name."

I've never heard of any powerful clan in this dynasty possessing... such influence. Even ordinary imperial relatives might not be able to achieve that."

"Royal relatives? Not at all."

Qinghe Miao laughed and joked:

"No one in my family has ever been an emperor, but I do know a prince. It's just a pity he doesn't know me."

Hearing this made Huang Wulang's heart pound, but he dared not investigate further.

Who knows if that prince's surname is Zhu or Li?

Although the dynasty has changed now.

However, in this era, there is still some nostalgia for the Tang Dynasty's golden age, and various forces are more or less using the Tang Dynasty's banner.

This might be a bit sensitive.

"Haha, you're joking, Taoist priest."

He chuckled twice, wisely avoiding the conversation, and instead steered the topic back to business:

“Let’s talk about the salt and spices. If what the Taoist priest says is true, my Huang family is willing to cooperate fully in this transaction! We can discuss the specific details later!”

The two looked at each other and smiled, both knowing that the cooperation had been finalized.

As for the specific source of the goods?

What a joke!

In this day and age, the government salt supply is tightly controlled by various military governors and separatist forces.

Whose official salt is sold like this?

Since you're already in this line of work, why ask where you came from?

They act like little kids, don't they understand any of the unwritten rules of the underworld?

Huang Wulang clearly knows the rules.

Moreover, he saw the first batch of "samples" that Qinghe Miao brought out a few days later.

When I saw the pure white salt, contained in an unassuming cloth bag, all my doubts were replaced by a deeper sense of shock and awe.

Chapter 57 Black Sabbath

Huang Wulang knew this after seeing the quality of the salt.

This business is too big for him to handle alone.

But as long as they can cling tightly to Qing Hemiao and get a share of the profits, it will be enough to multiply the Huang family's strength and wealth several times over!