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

Three days later, in Yunzhou Market.

Inside Lingyun Pavilion, Chen Qing and Xiao Chunan sat side by side in the back row, their eyes subtly scanning the hall.

Seventeen people.

Compared to last year, Yang Ming was absent, and the atmosphere inside the hall was also completely different from last year, less relaxed and casual, and more solemn.

Several familiar disciples were talking in hushed tones, discussing news about Qian Kingdom cultivators, tribulation cultivators, and the massacre of their families. Occasionally, someone would sigh and lower their voice even further.

Chen Qing withdrew his gaze and pondered to himself.

All disciples of the Lingyun Sect have their soul lamps left in the sect. After Yang Ming died, he made a special inquiry and found that the sect did send people to investigate, but just like the four disciples who had disappeared before, they dealt with it hastily.

The person who came made a round, asked a few questions, and then there was no further news. Not even a successor for Yang Ming was sent. It is probably because Jueyuan County is too remote and not many disciples are willing to go there, or perhaps the sect has other arrangements.

"In the end, they're just a few Qi Refining disciples."

A chill ran through Chen Qing's heart.

This is the world of cultivation. Sects offer protection, but only if you live. Once you die, you're nothing more than an extinguished soul lamp, a archived list, and nothing more.

"What are you thinking about?" Xiao Chunan nudged Chen Qing's arm.

Chen Qing snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head: "Nothing, I was just thinking about Senior Brother Meng."

Xiao Chunan nodded and said in a low voice, "I heard that Senior Brother Meng got a Foundation Establishment spiritual item from that Qi Refining Level 8 guy, and exchanged it for a Foundation Establishment Pill when he got back. He's currently in seclusion in the sect."

"Three spiritual roots, thirty-nine years old."

Chen Qing's tone was somewhat wistful. Although they all had three spiritual roots, there were still differences in the quality of their spiritual roots, their comprehension, their opportunities, and their temperament.

Meng Xingzhou can be considered one of the strongest among the three spiritual roots. He was able to reach the Qi Refining Perfection stage and break through to Foundation Establishment at the age of thirty-nine, which is truly outstanding among the disciples of Lingyun Sect.

"Do you think Senior Brother Meng can succeed?" Xiao Chunan asked, nudging Chen Qing's arm.

Chen Qing pondered for a moment, then said seriously, "At least 70%."

Xiao Chunan raised an eyebrow but didn't ask any further questions.

Just then, a steady footstep sounded from the back of the palace.

A middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties emerged from behind the screen. He was dressed in a moon-white Taoist robe, had a square face, and his brows carried an imposing aura. His aura was as deep as an abyss, indicating that he was already in the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

Everyone in the hall rose and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Uncle Zhang."

Chen Qing felt a chill run down his spine, and quickly cupped his hands and lowered his head, not daring to look directly at him.

Although he was confident in the "Hidden Spirit Technique", he was inevitably apprehensive as it was his first time facing a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Fortunately, Zhang Yanshu's expression remained normal, so he probably didn't notice.

Zhang Yanshu waved his hand, took his seat in the main seat, and glanced at everyone's faces before speaking calmly: "Please sit down. Junior Nephew Meng is in seclusion to break through, and I will be in charge this year. Reports will be given in order according to the rules, starting with Mingyuan County."

Everyone took their seats as instructed.

A young man sitting in the front row stood up, his face somewhat grim. He cupped his hands and said, "Mingyuan County, the spirit tax is 150 spirit stones. There were originally three Qi-refining families in the county, but now only two remain. The Wu family in the north was robbed by unidentified cultivators a month ago. Their spiritual veins were destroyed, all the cultivators in the family were killed, and the spirit tax was stolen. I am incompetent and have not yet been able to find the whereabouts of the murderers."

Zhang Yanshu's expression remained unchanged; he nodded slightly, gesturing for him to sit down.

Next, the others reported in turn.

Chen Qing sat in the back row, his heart sinking deeper with each word he heard.

Of the six prefectures in Yunzhou, only Yunzhou Prefecture and Linyuan and Zhenyuan Prefectures, which he and Xiao Chunan guarded, were relatively stable. The other three prefectures had all experienced problems to varying degrees. The Wu family in Mingyuan Prefecture was wiped out, and there were also reports of rogue cultivators being killed and spirit fields being destroyed in Cangyuan and Jueyuan Prefectures.

The situation was similar in the other two states.

When Xiao Chunan reported, he stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Zhenyuan County, the spirit tax is 240 spirit stones, and the spirit veins are stable. There were originally four cultivation families in the county, but now only three remain. Regarding the case of the Huang family's annihilation, this disciple and Senior Brother Meng have determined that it was the work of cultivators from the Qian Kingdom. Four people were killed, and one escaped, whose whereabouts are still unknown."

Zhang Yanshu nodded and turned his gaze to Chen Qing.

Chen Qing stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Linyuan County pays 160 spirit stones in spirit tax. The spiritual veins are stable. The Lin and Yang families within the county are behaving themselves and there are no abnormalities. Occasionally, cultivators from the Qian Kingdom appear, but they have not caused any substantial damage."

After speaking, he sat back down with a normal expression, and Xiao Chunan also sat down again with an unchanged expression.

The two exchanged a glance, a knowing look flashing in their eyes.

Last year, they left too little oil, which was pointed out by Meng Xingzhou. This year, the two of them have learned their lesson. After all, with the presence of cultivators from the Qian Kingdom, it is normal for spirit taxes to decrease. Underreporting some spirit stones will not only not arouse suspicion, but will also be more reasonable.

As for the Golden Mang Valley, the Green Creek Stone, and the Cold Tobacco Grass, those were "samples" given to Chen Qing by Lin Jingyuan and Zhao Dehou, so they naturally don't count in the list.

After listening to everyone's reports, Zhang Yanshu nodded expressionlessly, finished counting the spirit tax and put it into his storage bag, without mentioning a word about the fact that everyone had reported too much or too little.

He knew perfectly well what was going on.

Water that is too clear has no fish. These disciples were sent to guard remote border prefectures and counties, which was already a thankless and arduous task. If they were not even allowed to keep this little bit of profit, who would be willing to come?

Moreover, the Lingyun Sect doesn't rely on spirit taxes for survival; the majority of its revenue comes from the secret realms. The spirit taxes are merely a way to make these "affiliated forces" within its territory understand who the real boss is.

Zhang Yanshu closed the booklet, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces. His voice deepened: "Recently, things haven't been peaceful in Qian Kingdom. Cultivators from the Blood Soul Sect have been frequently crossing the border to probe. I have already reported this matter to the sect, and the sect will handle it accordingly. Until then, be careful, and if you discover any unusual activity, report it immediately. Do not act recklessly."

As he spoke, he took out a stack of golden talismans from his sleeve, and with a wave of his hand, the talismans were divided into seventeen pieces, which landed precisely in front of each person.

"This is a specially made communication talisman, crafted using the feathers of a Foundation Establishment stage spirit bird. If you discover any trace of a cultivator from the Qian Kingdom, or encounter any danger you cannot handle, immediately use this talisman to contact me."

Zhang Yanshu looked around at everyone and said, "Over the next month, I will be inspecting the three prefectures and eighteen counties. You don't need to panic too much. Just do your job well."

Everyone cupped their hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you, Uncle Zhang."

Chen Qing took the communication talisman and looked down at it.

The talisman was about three inches long, its entire body radiating a pale golden spiritual light. The talisman paper was covered with dense patterns drawn with cinnabar, and one could faintly sense the powerful spiritual energy contained within it.

Chen Qing carefully put the talisman into his storage bag, but he was not at all relaxed.

Zhang Yanshu spoke casually, but Chen Qing knew in his heart that no matter how strong a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was, it was impossible for him to protect everyone in the three prefectures and eighteen counties at the same time.

If something really goes wrong, by the time Zhang Yanshu arrives, it will be too late.

"We still need to find a way to leave Yunzhou."

Chen Qing secretly planned that he would speed up his progress after returning this time and inquire whether there were any suitable spiritual lands in the heart of the sect. If all else failed, it would be worthwhile to spend some spirit stones to make some arrangements.

After giving his instructions, Zhang Yanshu didn't linger. He stood up and walked out of the hall with steady steps and an aura as deep as a bottomless pit. In a moment, he disappeared from everyone's sight.