I tamed beasts and achieved immortality in the world of cultivation.

The two took their seats as host and guest, and a maid served them fine tea.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Jingyuan got straight to the point, took out a gray storage bag from his sleeve, and handed it over with both hands: "Governor Chen, this is this year's spirit tax, a total of one hundred and forty low-grade spirit stones. Please count it."

Chen Qing took it, probed it with his spiritual sense, and counted it piece by piece.

One hundred and forty low-grade spirit stones, twenty catties of Golden Mang Valley, and ten pieces of Green Stream Stone.

Chen Qing raised an eyebrow slightly, transferred the spirit stones, Golden Light Valley stones, and Azure Stream stones into his storage bag, handed the empty bag back, and looked up at Lin Jingyuan: "Less than last year?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Jingyuan's face showed a hint of distress. He sighed and said, "Lord Garrison Commander, you are wise. This year's harvest is indeed not as good as in previous years. At this time of year, we could at least hand over 180 spirit stones, but... this year the calamity cultivators are too rampant. Our clan disciples have to be on tenterhooks when they go out to collect stones and deliver goods, which has delayed a lot of important matters."

"Golden Valley wasn't greatly affected, but the output of Qingxi Stone was 30% less than in previous years."

Chen Qing picked up his teacup, took a sip, and asked calmly, "How's the situation here lately? I've been cultivating at Half Moon Lake, so I haven't been paying much attention."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jingyuan's expression became more solemn: "To be honest, Lord Garrison Commander, things have indeed been quite unsettled lately. The appearance of the calamity cultivators has been much more frequent than in previous years. They only quieted down a bit a few months ago, but they've reappeared recently. Moreover... according to the disciples of our clan, it seems that cultivators from the Qian Kingdom have also emerged. Some disciples have seen them from afar. Those Qian Kingdom cultivators are wearing black Daoist robes with blood-red ghost patterns embroidered on their lapels, and the tokens hanging from their waists are also in the shape of ghosts."

"Blood Soul Sect?" Chen Qing frowned slightly.

"Exactly."

Lin Jingyuan nodded, "But what's strange is that this time they didn't attack the nearby Qi-refining families and spiritual veins, they just occasionally ventured out into the wild. Even so, it has caused widespread panic, and the disciples of the clans are not daring to leave the valley easily."

"The protective array for the valley is also ready at any time, which has cost a lot of spirit stones."

Chen Qing pondered for a moment, then nodded: "I understand. I will report this matter to the sect. You all need to be careful and report any unusual activity immediately."

"Yes, yes, definitely, definitely." Lin Jingyuan nodded repeatedly.

Chen Qing then inquired about the situation of the spiritual fields and spiritual veins in Qingxi Valley, and Lin Jingyuan answered them one by one.

The two chatted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before Chen Qing got up to take his leave.

Lin Jingyuan escorted Chen Qing all the way to the valley entrance, watching him mount his horse and disappear at the end of the road. Only then did he let out a long sigh of relief and turn back into the valley.

……

At midday, the sun was blazing.

Chiyan Mountain is located a hundred miles northeast of Banyue Lake and about one hundred and fifty miles from Qingxi Valley. Chen Qing rode his horse at full speed and it wasn't until three quarters past noon that he could see the outline of Chiyan Mountain in the distance.

Unlike the tranquility of Qingxi Valley, Chiyan Mountain is a reddish-brown rocky mountain, bare with almost no vegetation, except for a few clumps of drought-resistant thorns growing at the foot of the mountain.

The Zhao family's house was built at the foot of the mountain, backed by Chiyan Mountain and facing a wide open plain. The plain was planted with neat spiritual fields, in which a gray-green spiritual herb was planted. The leaves were thick and emitted a faint tobacco scent, which was Hanyan grass.

After a while.

Red Cliff Mountain, Zhao Family Main Hall.

Chen Qing sat opposite a kind-looking middle-aged man, Zhao Dehou, the head of the Zhao family. He was a cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Refining and, as his name suggested, looked honest and unassuming.

Zhao Dehou respectfully handed over a storage bag: "Governor Chen, this is this year's spirit tax. Please check it."

Chen Qing took it and probed it with his spiritual sense.

One hundred low-grade spirit stones and twenty stalks of cold tobacco grass.

Chen Qing put away the spirit stones and cold tobacco, then looked at Zhao Dehou: "Less than last year?"

Zhao Dehou rubbed his hands together, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Governor, please forgive me. This year's harvest is indeed poor. It's because of the rampant activities of the raiding cultivators. The clan's cold tobacco grass couldn't be transported out, resulting in a large backlog. The spiritual herbs in the fields were also affected."

Chen Qing nodded, not pressing for further details, and instead asked, "What's the situation at Red Cliff Mountain?"

Zhao Dehou sighed, his expression grim: "To be honest, Lord Garrison Commander, the situation isn't very optimistic. Our Zhao family is closer to the Blood Spirit Abyss, where the Tribulation Cultivators appear more frequently. Fortunately, our clan disciples are quite cautious, so nothing major has happened. But those rogue cultivators in Lin Yuan County haven't been so lucky. In the past two months, at least seventeen or eighteen of them have been killed by the Tribulation Cultivators, and I heard that their corpses can't even be found."

"And..." Zhao Dehou hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I heard that a Qi-refining family in Mingyuan County to the east has run into trouble. I don't know the specifics, but I heard that they were robbed and their spiritual veins were destroyed."

Chen Qing paused slightly in the hand holding the teacup.

The six prefectures of Yunzhou—Yunzhou Prefecture, Zhenyuan Prefecture, Linyuan Prefecture, Mingyuan Prefecture, and Jueyuan Prefecture—are lined up in a row, adjacent to Xuelingyuan, while the remaining Cangyuan Prefecture is located behind it.

Mingyuan County is the neighboring county to the east of Linyuan County, about three or four hundred miles away from Half Moon Lake.

Chen Qing put down his teacup and said in a deep voice, "Is this true?"

"I only heard it secondhand and can't be sure," Zhao Dehou quickly said. "But there's no smoke without fire, so the garrison commander should be careful."

Chen Qing nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

The two chatted for a few more minutes before Chen Qing got up to say goodbye. Zhao Dehou saw him off to the door, repeatedly reminding him to be careful on the road, before turning back.

……

As we left Red Rock Mountain, it grew dark.

Chen Qing did not take the same path that passed through the valley last time, but instead deliberately took a longer route.

Throughout the journey, he kept his spiritual sense fully open, scanning back and forth between the mountains and forests on both sides, his hand always on the spirit beast pouch, ready to deal with any unexpected situations.

"I thought things had calmed down in Qian Kingdom after a year, but I didn't expect them to resurface..."

Chen Qing felt a growing anxiety.

Based on the information he currently possesses, those cultivators from the Qian Kingdom are most likely members of the Blood Soul Sect. Even if they are not formal disciples, they are at least cultivators from sects under the Blood Soul Sect.

Neither of them are things he, a mere Qi Refining Level 6 cultivator, can afford to offend.

"We can't stay at this Crescent Lake any longer."

Chen Qing quickly considered the matter.

He used to have no choice. He was lucky if he could cultivate through a spiritual vein and raise fish to extract essence. How could he dare to be picky?

Moreover, it wasn't that dangerous back then. At most, a treacherous cultivator would ambush and kill a few rogue cultivators. How could they dare to attack the spiritual veins of a sect?

But things are different now.

Those cultivators from the Qian Kingdom dared to destroy even the Qi Refining Clan, and even dared to destroy the spiritual vein that essentially belonged to the Lingyun Sect. Who knows if they will set their sights on Half Moon Lake next?

Knowing that this place is so dangerous, it would be unwise to stay.

"We need to think of a way to get into the heart of the sect."

Chen Qing made up his mind.

After returning, we need to inquire whether there are any suitable spiritual sites in the heart of the Lingyun Sect, and see if we can work around to find a safer place.

However, until we find a new place, we should stay put and cultivate at Half Moon Lake.

We'll consider other things once we've gained sufficient strength.

Chen Qing took a deep breath, suppressed the distracting thoughts in his mind, patted the Dragon Scale Horse, and galloped towards Half Moon Lake.