228: I intend to betroth you to Liu Xuan.

"Greetings, Immortal Master!"

One of the Xiao Family elders responsible for guarding the summit saw the Immortal Master appear and hurriedly stepped forward to bow respectfully.

"Hmm!"

"Go and summon Xiao Mingcheng for me!"

Liu Xuan ordered, imitating the voice and tone of Xiao Changfeng.

"As you command!"

The Xiao Family elder accepted the order with excitement. It was his honor to perform tasks for the Immortal Master, and such opportunities were rare.

Competition for the task of guarding the summit was fierce; one needed sufficient seniority to secure it.

Moreover, True Person Xiao preferred quiet; some people, having finally secured the guarding task, might not even exchange a single word with the True Person until the task was completed.

Just by virtue of delivering a message for the True Person today, his status among the Xiao Family elders would rise by a level!

Inside the red pine tree, Liu Xuan walked to the upper part of the great hall, sat down, and carefully examined his surroundings.

He had been here several times, but at the time, he dared not look too much, let alone use his Divine Sense to investigate deeply.

The Tier 3 red pine tree was the core of the Sect's Tier 3 formation, and this space connected to a Tier 3 Spiritual Vein, sharing a similar ingenuity with the Star Space.

The ground was paved with Spirit Stones, and there were Top-Grade Spirit Stones at key nodes, and even some Low Grade spirit jade.

There were about a million Spirit Stones in total, which could both increase the concentration of Spiritual Qi in the great hall and serve as an energy supplement for the formation at critical moments.

These Spirit Stones were strategic supplies; not only could they not be spent, but they also needed to be replenished regularly.

'The Sect earns a lot, but its expenses are also high. True Person Xiao has it hard!'

Liu Xuan studied the Sect's Tier 3 Red Pine formation and found that he could not master it for the time being.

However, he could order the Tier 3 red pine tree to exert eighty percent of the formation's power. Within the formation, dealing with ordinary Golden Core True Persons would be no problem.

"Mingcheng pays respects to the Immortal Master!"

While Liu Xuan was studying, he sensed a middle-aged man bowing outside the tree.

"Come in!"

Liu Xuan returned to his seat and sat upright.

A moment later, a refined middle-aged man entered. He was wearing a scholar's robe and sported a half-foot-long beard, groomed meticulously.

"Mingcheng pays respects to the Immortal Master!"

Xiao Mingcheng bowed respectfully again, keeping his head low, not daring to look around, feeling both nervous and excited.

"This Seat has decided to restore the Sect's taxes," Liu Xuan said, taking out a token and throwing it to him. "You are in charge of this matter. Get it done within a month."

Xiao Mingcheng took the token, looked up at Liu Xuan's sides, and felt some doubt in his heart.

It wasn't confusion about why taxes were suddenly being restored, but confusion about why this task was handed to him!

As the only Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Xiao Family, Xiao Changfeng was relatively cold towards him. Most of the Family affairs were controlled by that vixen Su Wan, and he, on the contrary, had no say.

Taxes were a matter concerning the Sect's grand strategy. In the past, Su Wan or Senior Brother Wang Qiao were responsible. Why was it suddenly handed to him?

"Any problems?"

Liu Xuan's indifferent voice came from above.

"No... no problems. Mingcheng will go do it immediately!"

"Wait!"

Liu Xuan called out to stop him. "You are the only Foundation Establishment Cultivator of our Xiao Family, the only hope of the Family. Remember your status!"

Xiao Mingcheng was stunned!

Then he showed wild joy. "Immortal Master, rest assured, Mingcheng will certainly not disappoint your expectations!"

...

The next day.

Xiao Mingcheng used the Immortal Master's token to summon all the Sect's Foundation Establishment Cultivators for a meeting.

Lin Qingyun, Zou Ming, Qin Xuanmo from the Artifact Refining Hall, Xia Yu from the Spirit Plant Hall, Jiang Yang from the Pill Refining Hall, and Zhong Yunke from the Formation Hall—all seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators were present.

Restoring taxes was not as simple as just issuing an order; it involved the arrangement of the ten-thousand-strong Sect Enforcement Team and the appeasement of various immortal cultivation families in different regions.

With the restoration of taxes, the handling of real and fake Robber Cultivators in various places, and the restoration of damaged spirit fields, mineral veins, and other industries, there were many things to discuss.

The restoration of taxes was what everyone wanted. Although the matter was complex, there was no resistance, and the details were quickly finalized.

Various orders were issued to the Inner Sect General Affairs Hall, and then hundreds of Disciples at the Late Qi Refining Stage were organized to carry them out specifically.

"Junior Brother Mingcheng, with the restoration of taxes, should the training of the Enforcement Team also be stopped?" asked Zhong Yunke, Master of the Formation Hall.

When taxes were initially raised, the person with the least objection was Zhong Yunke. As the Master of the Formation Hall, he was responsible for the training of the Enforcement Team, which provided significant benefits and power.

"The Immortal Master has ordered that it does not need to be stopped for now," Xiao Mingcheng replied.

Not stop?

Everyone had different thoughts in their hearts. Taxes were restored, yet the Enforcement Team training continued; this expense would be a wasted consumption.

'Could the news about the Beast Taming Sect attacking the Demon Court be true?'

They had originally thought the Immortal Master had yielded and intended to build a good relationship with the new Sect Master, but now it seemed it was not that simple.

'Sigh!'

'You only have a dozen or so years left to live; why must you keep stirring up trouble?'

...

Three days later.

In the great hall inside the red pine tree.

Liu Xuan studied the entire operation of the Sect and found that, besides being able to receive a portion of dividends every year, there were actually no real benefits.

The children were still young. Currently, only the Eldest Son, Dao Yuan, was working in the Spell Hall under Lin Junjie.

To completely master the entire Sect, he would still have to wait for the children to gradually grow up.

After everything was arranged, Liu Xuan sweet-talked Xiao Mingcheng into working for him, painting a big picture of the future, implying that after his own limit was reached, he would do his utmost to arrange a path for him.

Xiao Mingcheng had not the slightest suspicion; after all, he had never imagined that the Golden Core True Person Old Ancestor could be an impostor.

"Immortal Master, Senior Sister Xiao Ran has returned."

A maid named Xiao Miaoyin came in to report.

She was one of the Xiao Family's Genius Disciples, with a cultivation level at the ninth level of Qi Refining. The key was that she had outstanding looks: a delicate face, fair skin, and she liked to smile. When she smiled, she revealed two small dimples, which were very infectious.

Liu Xuan, in the name of cultivating the younger generation, had her replace those original Family elders to guard the summit; he had not made a move on her for the time being.

"Let her in!"

An indifferent voice rang out.

A moment later, Xiao Ran passed through the trunk of the red pine tree and appeared at the entrance of the great hall.

"Greetings, Grandfather!"

Xiao Ran's expression was calm. Compared to years past, her temperament had gained a trace of vicissitude and steadiness, as well as a hint of Killing Intent.

Back then, she was aloof, considering herself a Genius, acting decisively and without fear.

Having experienced this setback, she had not become decadent, but she no longer believed in so-called emotions, only in herself.

Over these years, she had led teams to quell rebellions everywhere, ransacking homes and exterminating clans countless times, and had privately obtained many benefits.

Originally, in another seven or eight years, she would have barely been able to scrape together the money to treat her Dantian injury, but she hadn't expected the Sect to suddenly restore taxes.

Xiao Ran intended to see if there were any opportunities to make money quickly within the Sect. If not, she would leave the Sect and go to the Heavenly Sword Sect to strive; no matter what, she had to fight for an opportunity.

"Xiao Ran, I intend to treat your Dantian injury, and I can also give you the treatment of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the Family in advance, helping you with your Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, but you must agree to one condition."

Xiao Ran's willow eyebrows furrowed slightly. No emotional fluctuation could be seen, and she asked calmly, "What condition?"

"I plan to betroth you to Liu Xuan."

The expression on Xiao Ran's face finally changed, her eyes becoming strange and complex.

After a good while, she nodded calmly.

"Fine!"