Eternal Beast Taming Family

At that time, Qiao Yinjiao was restoring his injuries in a dilapidated village. Beside him and his two beasts were many rare spiritual materials, the luster of which had faded considerably.

The injuries on "Floating Scale Silver Dragon" and "Sea-Mixing Azure Ray" have been almost healed, but their spirits are still low, which these spiritual materials cannot repair.

Sensing the arrival of Governor Zhou Ye, who was following his scent, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze calm and undisturbed.

"Qiao Yinjiao, disciple of Luo Xuan, the great master of Qianling Academy. This snake tide was caused by you, right?" Zhou Ye revealed Qiao Yinjiao's information in his first words upon meeting him.

Qiao Yinjiao chuckled lightly, "The information gathering was quite fast, but the reinforcements arrived rather slowly. You're right, this snake tide was indeed caused by me. I wonder how the governor will punish me?"

Hearing the teasing in Qiao Yinjiao's words, Zhou Ye frowned slightly.

"You are a disciple of the Great Sage Master. If you make a mistake, you should at least consult the Great Sage Master's opinion. I have no right to judge you, but you need to come with me to the Trial and Punishment Division. I hope you will cooperate."

"As a disciple of the academy, I will naturally cooperate. After you have finished dealing with things here, just come to Qixia Town to find me."

Even though he had to go to the Judicial Office, Qiao Yinjiao didn't panic. As a disciple of the Great Sage Master, he had the confidence to do so, and the people in the Judicial Office didn't dare to make things too difficult for him.

Moreover, the dynasty knew which was more important: a small county town or a mid-level domain-rank contract master.

This was the prevailing attitude throughout the Jingyuan Dynasty: viewing ordinary people and low-level contract masters as renewable resources to be consumed.

Otherwise, the Liu family wouldn't have sacrificed the entire Heyu Town in the very beginning to seek advancement for the whole family.

Of course, this is assuming that County Magistrate Xiao Muchu is still alive. Otherwise, as someone who holds the official seal of the Jingyuan Dynasty, his death would require an explanation.

Looking at the listless state of the two source beasts beside Qiao Yinjiao, the hydra they spoke of must be quite ferocious to have tormented the disciple of the Great Sage Master to this extent.

Moreover, Master Yang was also going to Qixia Town, and his eldest disciple was also in Qixia Town. So who exactly is in Qixia Town?

"Judging from your words, it seems you have some connection with Qixia Town?"

Upon hearing his words, Qiao Yinjiao's smile seemed to widen slightly, as if it contained a hint of sarcasm.

"Your information isn't complete enough? Is someone hiding something, trying to cause you to stumble?"

The official system of the Jingyuan Dynasty seems to be exceptionally corrupt; even under these circumstances, there are still people trying to trip it up.

"The main family behind Qixia Town is the Chu family. My teacher's disciple, Chu Shengyuan, comes from the Chu family."

Moreover, Master Yang, who saved the entire Paper Hawk County, also had a disciple from the Chu family.

Qiao Yinjiao's lips curved into a smile, and he asked in a low voice, "Now do you know the reason?"

Zhou Ye's gaze instantly turned to surprise and doubt. "That rumored disciple with extraordinary luck, Chu Shengyuan, actually comes from such a small town?"

No wonder Qixia Town remained intact despite the snake swarm. No wonder Qixia Town chose to stay here.

"Alright, Your Excellency, you can continue with your post-disaster arrangements. I'm heading back to town."

Qiao Yinjiao's face was still slightly pale. He sat cross-legged on the not-so-broad back of the "Floating Scale Silver Dragon" and soared into the air to the same height as Zhou Ye.

"Thank you for informing me of this."

Qiao Yinjiao waved his hand dismissively, and the silver dragon transformed into a streak of silver light, disappearing into the thick clouds.

Once Qiao Yinjiao's figure disappeared, Zhou Ye's expression turned gloomy. He should have realized sooner that there must be a reason why the people from Qianling Academy were here.

He originally thought that what attracted them was the hydra itself, but he didn't expect that it was the people living in these small towns who were the reason for Yang Xianshi and Qiao Yinjiao's presence.

Moreover, he sensed the aura of another Domain-level Contract Master here. Could that person also be related to the Chu family in Qixia Town?

It seems he really needs to pay a personal visit to this mysterious Chu family.

……

Qixia Town.

"Most of the people in the county town have left with the flying boats. Now, in the entire Paper Hawk County, only the people from Qixia Town are left." Chu Qinhui's words were tinged with a hint of melancholy.

Upon hearing this result, Chu Jingyu didn't know how to feel, feeling either melancholy or a slight sense of uncertainty about the future.

Chu Shengyuan didn't seem disappointed. Perhaps, apart from the Chu family, the entire Zhiyao County was no different to him from any other unfamiliar town in the world.

Therefore, he even seemed somewhat excited, as if the destruction of the county town was a 'major event' worthy of praise.

"After that, won't all the surrounding land belong to our Chu family? Then our development will no longer be restricted."

His words seemed to ease the gloom on Chu Qinhui's face considerably, but Chu Jingyu reprimanded him with a stern expression.

"We can't just say things like that. The fate of our Chu family depends on the arrangements."

There are some things you can do, but some things you can't say.

Chu Shengyuan shrugged. Wasn't that the truth? The adult world was still too complicated for him at the moment.

"Xiao Yuan, go to the ancestral hall and keep watch to see if Ancestor Chu has awakened. We must inform him of the great changes that have befallen Zhiyao County in a timely manner."

Chu Shengyuan didn't want to hear their conversation at all, and going to the ancestral hall would actually save him from being scolded.

Almost the instant Chu Jingyu finished speaking, Chu Shengyuan had already disappeared.

"This child..." Chu Jingyu couldn't help but laugh and scold.

Chu Qinhui's face unconsciously showed more worry. "Old Master Chu... seems to be falling into a deep sleep more and more often lately."

Chu Jingyu also sighed.

"The old patriarch Chu explained the reason to me: he used his abilities too frequently, and the family's source artifacts were of too low a grade."

If a member of the family bloodline advances to the Domain Rank, and the family advances to the seventh rank, perhaps this situation can be alleviated.

"Domain level..." Chu Qinhui shook his head helplessly. The Chu family had indeed improved. In the past, they would never have dared to dream of such a level.

Who could have predicted that in just four short years, the Chu family would have transformed from an unknown mortal family into an eighth-rank aristocratic family with four members of the Spirit Rank bloodline and three eighth-rank noble families as servants?

Moreover, Xiao Fan has already reached a bottleneck, and it is possible that the family could potentially become a seventh-rank celebrity within ten years.

It was afternoon.

A servant outside the Chu family gate brought news.

"I hereby inform the family that the County Magistrate has come to visit with a more distinguished-looking gentleman."

The servants, unaware of Zhou Ye's identity, could only relay the message in this manner.

Chu Jingyu and Chu Qinhui exchanged a glance. "We finally have a plan on how to safely build a new city outside the border."

In the front hall of the Chu family home, Chu Jingyu and Chu Qinhui met Zhou Ye and Xiao Muchu.

At this very moment, Qixia Town and Qixia Mountain simultaneously accommodated four Contract Masters above the Domain Rank.

The unique aura belonging to Domain-level Contract Masters gathers and is contained here, seemingly rewriting the aura pattern of this place.

This change is imperceptible, but top-tier contract masters at the Domain and Spirit ranks can clearly perceive it, as if the air in a previously foul and enclosed environment has suddenly been purified.

Zhou Ye very subtly examined Chu Jingyu and Chu Qinhui several times in an instant.

The information obtained was nothing special.

A mid-level Spirit Rank cultivator, who seems to have broken through not long ago (in the eyes of a Domain Rank Contract Master, even a few years is not long).

As a lower-level spirit, his youthful inexperience was palpable.

These are just ordinary decision-makers from a small rural family. However, these two people broke through to a higher level not long ago, possibly due to the influence of a disciple from the clan who studied at the Thousand Spirits Academy.

The only ones who might be special are those two disciples. Once Zhou Ye understood this, he stopped investigating them.

He held a shimmering, distorted light shield in his hand, and under the watchful eyes of Chu Jingyu and the other two, he explained:

"This is the same type as the boundary membrane of the collapsed city, but it is indeed an incomplete version."

It can only protect a radius of 100 kilometers, and the more prosperous the population within the boundary, the stronger its protective power.

"If your Qixia Town wants to remain within this territory, it will likely be sufficient for at least several decades."

As he spoke, he slightly raised his palm, and the membrane that looked as thin as a cicada's wing and twisted with luster slowly flew to Xiao Muchu's front.

Xiao Muchu nodded slightly, stretched out her palm, and used her own spiritual power as an anchor point to fix the boundary membrane three inches above her palm.

Although Xiao Muchu himself disliked the governor, he still smiled and thanked him for the sense of security he had gained.

"Thank you, Your Excellency Governor. With this boundary as a foundation, Paper Kite County has taken its first solid step towards prosperity again."

That being said, as soon as he held the 'boundary membrane' in his hand, he realized that it was incomparable to the one that had guarded the city wall before.

That's true, though. It was built thousands of years ago by different powerful families. Although it has been in disrepair for many years, it is not something that this "half-finished product" can compete with.

The only thing that's needed now is for this barrier to protect the ordinary people below it, allowing them to survive normally.

As for defensive capabilities, he could probably be torn apart by a random high-level domain beast. Fortunately, he, as the county magistrate of Paper Hawk County, knew the strength of the source beasts in the surrounding area better than anyone else.

Most of them were at the lower level of the Domain Rank, and they usually kept to themselves, living a normal life for many years.

If a new city were to be built in a new location, the challenges would likely be far greater than they are now, so this gratitude carries a degree of sincerity.

Zhou Ye didn't care whether Xiao Muchu's gratitude was genuine or not; he was more curious about the two Chu family members who had entered the Thousand Spirits Academy.

"I've heard that the Chu family has produced two exceptional talents, who are currently at home. I wonder if I might have the honor of meeting them?"

Chu Jingyu and Chu Qinhui paused, realizing that the governor had come to the Chu family in person for this very purpose.

"They can't be called a prodigy, but they are just luckier than others. Since the master wants to summon them, we should naturally inform them."

Xiao Yuan is alright, but Xiao Fan is currently serving his teacher, and I'm not sure I can summon him right now.

Zhou Ye chuckled, "It's alright. I'll be content just to meet one of the two prodigies."

After being given a few instructions by Chu Jingyu, the servants hurriedly left the hall.

"From what I can see, Qixia Town has not suffered any losses in this calamity. However, it seems that the three eighth-rank aristocratic families who originally lived in the county town are now all staying in Qixia Town."

It seems they've become some kind of servant family to the Chu family? Is there such a situation?

When Zhou Ye said this, his expression was indifferent, and it was impossible to tell what his attitude was towards the matter.

Chu Jingyu narrowed his eyes slightly, but showed no fear. Instead, he briefly recounted the events of that time.

"In the past, my Chu family was weak, and only because I was a Spirit Rank Contract Master did we have the beginnings of becoming an eighth-rank family."

Unexpectedly, simply breaking through to the Spirit Rank would affect the interests of three eighth-rank aristocratic families in three county towns. These three families cooperated and dispatched a total of six Spirit Rank Contract Masters.

They wanted to wipe out my Chu family, but thankfully, my Xiao Fan arrived with his teacher and assistant just in time to save my entire clan.

Only then did these three families become slaves to my Chu family. I wonder, from the Governor's perspective, how should this matter have been handled at that time?

Zhou Ye's gaze darkened slightly. "The injustice involved can probably only be understood by your Chu family. Although the assistant handled the matter aggressively, it didn't break the rules."

However, each of these aristocratic families still needs to shoulder certain local responsibilities and cannot simply serve one family alone.

"Right now, there are only a few eighth-rank aristocratic families; the royal family won't pay them any attention. After this, the number of servant families in reality can't increase any further."

Chu Jingyu pondered to himself that this seemed to be a warning, and also a wake-up call.

Within the entire Jingyuan Dynasty, secretly allowing other registered noble families to become servant families of the royal family seemed to be a taboo, touching upon certain privileges of the royal family.

After figuring it out, Chu Jingyu almost broke out in a cold sweat. This was indeed a major problem that urgently needed to be solved.

Once Xiao Fan advances to the Domain Rank and the family also reaches the seventh rank, if someone with ulterior motives brings up this matter again, it might cause some trouble.

Chu Jingyu composed himself. "Thank you for your warning, Governor. The Chu family must indeed handle this matter properly."

Seeing that Chu Jingyu had come to his senses, Zhou Ye curled the corners of his lips. At least he wasn't stupid.

"I do have a solution to this. Since it is forbidden for noble families to enslave each other, why not just make those noble families cease to be noble families?"

Every few years, the disappearance of an eighth-rank aristocratic family won't attract much attention. Destroying their source artifacts is the easiest way.

Xiao Muchu, who had overheard the news, pursed her lips, feeling her mouth go dry.

He was now listening to a special envoy of the dynasty instructing a local aristocratic family on how to exploit loopholes in the dynasty's laws.

The world's development is still too advanced. He, an "honest" and somewhat lucky "good boy" who only became a Domain-level Contract Master, is a little flustered.