23: Chapter 23 A Ninth-Rank Qi Refining Family

"The expansion of Qingyuan County should have the major families as the main force, setting an example for the residents of Qingyuan County."

"The specific arrangements will wait for the notification from County Magistrate Wang and me. Everyone, you may leave."

Zhang Xian's Divine Sense swept across, quickly finishing the count of the taxes handed over by the Family heads, and he nodded with satisfaction.

The Family heads could hardly hide their excitement. They cupped their fists in farewell one after another, eager to bring the news of Qingyuan's expansion back to their families.

"Let's go, to your Su Family."

Zhang Xian looked at Su Yang with a kind smile.

After a short period of contact, Su Yang had already gained a general understanding of this Great Wei Envoy's character.

This person was not as kind as he appeared, but he was not some insidious or cunning person either.

County Magistrate Wang accompanied Zhang Xian to the Su Family grounds.

Seeing the vibrant smiles on the faces of the commoners here, presenting a scene of prosperity, Zhang Xian nodded almost imperceptibly.

Su Yang led the way, guiding the two into the Su Family courtyard.

Arriving at the outer courtyard's martial arts field, he summoned everyone.

"These are the backbone of my Su Family. Besides me, there is one Qi Refining Second Layer Cultivator, twenty Innate Martial Artists, and hundreds of first-rate and second-rate Martial Artists."

Zhang Xian's gaze swept around, feeling somewhat astonished in his heart.

Su Yang was only a Qi Refining Second Layer Cultivator, yet he could have someone of the same Qi Refining Second Layer serve as his Family's servant. How did he do it?

"I see a large area of spirit plant in the Su Family's residence. Fellow Daoist Su, besides the skill of spirit plant, do you also master one of the four major arts?"

After a moment of pondering, Zhang Xian suddenly asked.

"Lord Zhang is truly observant. I am indeed also proficient in the art of Alchemy."

Su Yang answered truthfully.

Zhang Xian showed an expression that said "as expected."

Now the truth was finally out. No wonder he could attract a Qi Refining Second Layer Cultivator to join him. A Family with an Alchemist was top-tier in terms of both potential and financial strength.

"The Su Family only has two Qi Refining Second Layer Cultivators, but many Innate Martial Artists. Originally, you should have been rated as a Martial Artist Family."

Zhang Xian paused and then continued, "But given that your spirit plant and Alchemy skills are both excellent, I believe you should be rated as a Ninth-Grade Qi Refining Family."

"Compared to a Martial Artist Family, a Qi Refining Family has priority purchasing rights for land reclamation."

"If you are willing to serve as a Great Wei Immortal Official, you can also exchange merit for rare items such as the foundation establishment pill."

Martial Artist Families only need to provide mundane resources.

Whereas Qi Refining Families have to provide cultivation resources. This unequal treatment would surely be met with protests.

If the tribute amount is increased without providing benefits, who would be willing to upgrade their Family grade?

They would all just hide and remain a Martial Artist Family. How comfortable it would be to only pay mundane resources every time.

Therefore, the policy of the Great Wei is to give preferential treatment to Qi Refining Families; the higher the grade, the more the benefits.

"Of course, even if you don't serve as an Immortal Official, there are other ways to obtain merit. For example, replacing the spirit rice required for taxes with rare spirit plant. The Great Wei will convert them into equivalent merit based on the value of the spirit plant."

Zhang Xian added, "The Great Wei can provide a small portion of seeds for these rare spirit plant for free. If the cultivation fails and you want to continue trying, you must purchase them at your own expense."

After listening, Su Yang showed a joyful smile.

In fact, when he learned he had priority purchasing rights for land reclamation, he was already satisfied. He didn't expect there to be more benefits.

He had no plans to serve as an Immortal Official for the time being. Family affairs were enough to keep him busy; how could he find the time for imperial court matters?

On the contrary, the method of Cultivating spirit plant to exchange for merit was very suitable for him.

No matter how difficult the spirit plant were to Cultivate, he had confidence. If he failed, he would just try a few more times; hard work would eventually lead to success.

Su Yang immediately paid the tax amount for a Ninth-Grade Qi Refining Family and took the opportunity to ask, "I wonder if Lord Zhang has any rare spirit plant seeds on him?"

"I happen to have some. They were originally prepared for the Jiang Family, but I didn't expect the Jiang Family to refuse."

Zhang Xian took out a bag of seeds and handed it over.

"There are twenty seeds of the immortal gold peach tree here. The immortal gold peach is the main Materials for the youth-preserving pill. You should know its difficulty."

The youth-preserving pill is a Second-Tier Medicinal Pill, and the value of its Pill Formula is not high. The Second-Tier Alchemy Legacy sold by the Immortal Treasure Tower includes the Pill Formula for the youth-preserving pill.

However, because the main Materials are hard to come by, youth-preserving pills are extremely rare and are often unavailable on the market despite their price.

"As long as one immortal gold peach tree survives and is managed properly, it can produce 80 catties of immortal gold peaches every year. For the taxes ten years from now, you only need to hand over 500 catties."

"Thank you, My Lord. The Su Family will certainly do its best."

Su Yang was all smiles as he accepted the immortal gold peach tree seeds he had obtained for free.

With the matter settled, Zhang Xian and County Magistrate Wang had no reason to stay and declined Su Yang's invitation for tea.

Accompanied by Su Yang, they walked out of the Su Family courtyard, where the carriage driver Cultivator was already waiting at the door.

Zhang Xian handed the collected taxes to the driver and watched the other drive away.

Su Yang accompanied him and asked tentatively, "I wonder if My Lord can tell me what the situation in Guangling County is like now?"

As he spoke, a look of terror appeared on his face: "When I escaped from Guangling, I saw the Golden Core Great Demon make a move with my own eyes. I am still in a state of panic, worrying every day that the same scene will repeat in Qingyuan."

This also piqued County Magistrate Wang's curiosity.

He was more worried than anyone that Qingyuan County would suffer the same fate as Guangling County.

However, due to his low official rank, the imperial court's decisions did not reach his level so quickly, so he could only wait for news uneasily every day.

"So Fellow Daoist Su was also in Guangling at that time..."

Zhang Xian originally didn't want to answer, but hearing that Su Yang was actually one of the witnesses of the beast tide, there was nothing to hide. Anyway, the news would be known by the residents of Qingyuan sooner or later.

"Fellow Daoist Su, there's no need to panic. Upon learning of this matter, the Great Wei dispatched a large army to Guangling."

"Guangling County was not completely destroyed; twenty percent of the buildings and population remain."

"Now, the Great Wei army has moved into Guangling County and rebuilt it into the Guangling Border Pass, specifically to suppress the Yao Beasts invading the Great Wei territory."

Hearing this, Su Yang let out a coordinated sigh of relief and lamented, "I didn't expect this beast tide to be so serious. Such a prosperous county town was destroyed in an instant."

His eldest son had only been to Guangling County once, and Qin Jiangmei and the other children had not even seen what Guangling County looked like.

As a result, this county town that had existed for many years was gone just like that, which couldn't help but make one sigh.

Zhang Xian sighed as if he felt the same way: "There are many causes for beast tides. Some are triggered by Yao Beasts' desire for blood food, and some are caused by the excessive slaughter of Yao Beasts by the Human Race."

"And the fuse for this beast tide seems to be that Yao Beast cub at the Immortal Treasure Tower auction."

Su Yang's expression froze: "That Yao Beast was the offspring of a Golden Core Great Demon?"

"I don't know the specifics. I heard the soldiers mention it when I was passing through the Guangling Border Pass."

After Zhang Xian spoke, he realized he had talked a bit too much.

He didn't say another word, only raising his hand to signal the dumbfounded County Magistrate Wang beside him.

The two then turned in unison and walked away in silence, one after the other.

Su Yang bid them farewell with cupped hands, not thinking much of it.

It was not until their figures completely disappeared from sight that he walked back into the courtyard.

A few days later.

Zhang Xian and County Magistrate Wang formulated a Qingyuan expansion plan and distributed it to each Family, requiring them to follow the instructions on it to reclaim the areas surrounding Qingyuan County.

The Su Family's reclamation direction was right next to the Family's residence.

Su Yang left the arrangement of this matter to Luo Qian, while he continued to Cultivate Spells and skills at home and nurture the immortal gold peach trees.