482: Situation at Baihuzhou

White Tiger Continent is a major imperial garrison stronghold.

This place is different from other provinces in Da Qian.

Whether it be the streets or the cities, they all resemble garrison fortresses.

Many cities and buildings are built according to the terrain; looking down from the spirit boat, one can see that the cities are neatly arranged, forming a mutual offensive and defensive posture.

Whether it is responding quickly to an outbreak of war or a soldier mutiny in a certain city, troops can be dispatched rapidly to complement each other and resolve the conflict.

On the spirit boat, an Elder from the Spirit Pill Hall branch introduced to everyone, "This place, White Tiger Continent, is completely different from other provincial cities."

Other provinces either have imperial relatives and nobles or official cronyism.

In the four imperial garrison provinces like White Tiger Continent, there are no powerful local magnates, not even imperial relatives or nobles, let alone high-ranking official cronyism.

Those who can be called 'forces' in this place are all generals of the White Tiger Troops of White Tiger Continent.

The cities occupied by these generals and their retainers have formed a special kind of local power centered around the military.

Only these people can gain a foothold in White Tiger Continent.

The Emperor of Da Qian does not allow anyone to interfere with the balance of power in White Tiger Continent.

Of course, he certainly wouldn't allow private armies or certain Cultivator retainers here either.

Everything here is for the use of the Emperor of Da Qian.

It can be said that the Emperor of Da Qian is the sole and greatest magnate of White Tiger Continent."

Saying this, the Elder of the Spirit Pill Hall branch smiled.

"The power structure here is too pure. Our Spirit Pill Hall established a branch here; for the people in the branch, life can be said to be easy, but it can also be said to be difficult."

"The easy part is that it doesn't involve disputes between Noble Families; one only needs to manage things well here."

"The difficult part is that it's too pure. You must be cautious and never offend anyone in the military. Once, a Disciple offended a Centurion, and the resulting complications were far too many."

Hearing this, Gongsun Wangyue raised an eyebrow and said in a heavy voice, "If that's the case, doesn't that mean our Spirit Pill Hall is at the mercy of these military men?"

"They say what goes. When they take Medicinal Pills, they give as many Spirit Stones as they want."

"If they wanted to, could they even just come to the door and seize them?"

What Gongsun Wangyue asked was exactly what the group of Disciples on the spirit boat wanted to know.

For a moment, it was very quiet on the spirit boat as everyone waited for the Spirit Pill Hall branch Elder's answer.

The branch Elder smiled.

The lead Disciple of the branch he brought this time was named Jiang Ming. He said, "Wherever there are people, there are factional struggles. Although the White Tiger Army takes orders directly from the Emperor of Da Qian..."

"...there are many factions within the White Tiger Army."

"Even within a single battalion, there will be disputes, which is also tacitly permitted by the Emperor of Da Qian."

"Without factional disputes, it would be difficult for the Emperor of Da Qian to have the confidence to control such an army."

Jiang Ning sighed; this was the art of imperial rule.

If the imperial court were united as one, the combat power of the entire Da Qian would rise by several levels.

But emperors are suspicious; even the emperor of an Immortal Dynasty still has this flaw.

If the subordinates form a united front, then any future opposition would leave the emperor helpless.

The emperor is not the ceiling of combat power in this Immortal Dynasty; he just stands at the top with many top-tier people at his beck and call.

Among these people, there are those similar to 'Retired Emperors.'

Among them are figures like Earth Immortals.

Such a person is enough to sweep through an entire army alone; they are the true stabilizing force.

However, there are many restrictions on them taking action; they can't intervene in every matter, big or small.

Therefore, the army and officials came into being.

While the emperor supports the birth of one power, he also secretly helps the growth of its rival.

The art of imperial rule lies in balance.

Gongsun Wangyue whispered, "This is the drawback of an Immortal Dynasty. It's not as pure as the various forces in other Boundary Realms. The Immortal Dynasty system itself is both the purest and the least pure system."

He didn't dare speak too loudly.

He could also be considered a 'subject' of Da Qian; if these words were heard by someone with ill intentions, it might bring disaster to the Gongsun Family.

Yun Qingqing did not refute Gongsun Wangyue on this point.

In her view, what Gongsun Wangyue said was correct.

Yun Qingqing frowned, "Under the heavens, all are subjects of the king, which breeds much corruption. But in other Boundary Realms, if a force oppresses its surroundings too much..."

"...newly born forces will naturally crusade against it and replace it."

"Looking at the entire Lower Realm, who can contend with the Great Qian Imperial Family?"

Song Qi smiled bitterly, "Could you stop saying such things? It's only because we're on the spirit boat and everyone is from our Spirit Pill Hall. Otherwise, aren't you afraid of being watched for saying that?"

Yun Qingqing snorted.

Spirit Pill Hall holds a certain status in Da Qian.

Alchemists are indispensable everywhere.

Moreover, the Imperial Family cannot control Alchemists.

For the private Royal Alchemists of the Imperial Family, 'Royal' is a layer of protection, but also a layer of 'shackles.'

Looking at history, those who have innovated and continuously advanced the Alchemy Technique are never the royal ones; they are all from Spirit Pill Hall or other Alchemist organizations.

When a person does something, once they are 'bound' or have an inappropriate pursuit of 'profit,' their creativity will certainly be restricted.

This is one of the reasons why Spirit Pill Hall has survived to this day.

The Spirit Pill Hall branch Elder said, "Fortunately, the Imperial Family still respects our Spirit Pill Hall. Although we bear the title of subjects, our degree of freedom is much better than that of the Noble Families."

Spirit Pill Hall doesn't have much military force of its own, so the emperor isn't afraid."

"Spirit Pill Hall can refine many Medicinal Pills, which the emperor needs."

"The fact that the emperor needs us and isn't afraid of us has created Spirit Pill Hall's current status."

"Therefore, in White Tiger Continent, Spirit Pill Hall can also open a branch and have a place."

Sui Yue asked, "Besides our Spirit Pill Hall, can other forces enter White Tiger Continent? Could it be that all trade is also under military jurisdiction?"

Jiang Ming laughed, "Senior Sister, you must be joking. If the army engaged in business, it wouldn't have much combat power left. In White Tiger Continent, there is the presence of the Great Qian Myriad Treasures Pavilion."

These are all Imperial Merchants.

"And they are all registered under the emperor's name."

Xu Sheng yawned, "I don't know why these Imperial Merchants insist on doing business. Can this stuff really be their own? If the emperor wants it, he can just confiscate it."

"I still feel that a Spirit Stone in your pocket isn't necessarily yours."

"If you eat it, drink it, spend it on young ladies... and truly enjoy it yourself, only then does it belong to you."

Yun Qingqing said with disdain, "So, is that why no matter how much money you have in your pocket, it's never enough, and your Family limits your allowance?"

Xu Sheng gave a sheepish laugh.

"Yun Qingqing, I've never provoked you, have I? Why are you being so blunt? If you don't agree with my ideas, just keep it to yourself. Besides, I don't think I'm wrong."

"I never carry any Heaven And Earth Treasures on me."

"Just some Spirit Stones for emergencies and a few life-saving Spiritual Artifacts will do."

"There's too much killing and looting in the Cultivation World. If you hoard so many resources and they get snatched away one day, aren't you just doing all the work for someone else's benefit?"

Jiang Ning nodded.

Although Xu Sheng's view was extreme, it did have a certain twisted logic to it.

Seeing Jiang Ning nod, Yun Qingqing's eyes widened. "Jiang Ning, don't learn from Xu Sheng. Who stops eating just because they're afraid of choking? This is all nonsense!"

Jiang Ning hurriedly said, "I only acknowledged some of the logic in it; I definitely don't agree with the overall concept."

Yun Qingqing gave an "mm" in response.

She was truly afraid that Jiang Ning would be led astray by Xu Sheng.