40: Make money

The cloud-breaking flying boat moved extremely fast, arriving over Yongning City in less than an hour.

The officials of Yongning City, from the County Magistrate, County Vice Magistrate, and Registrar to various minor officials, clerks, and constables, had long received the news and were lined up in Formation to welcome them.

"Yongning County Magistrate, respectfully welcomes Elder Zou!"

"Respectfully welcome Elder Zou!"

...

In this world, Cultivators do not avoid the world; these official positions are basically held by Cultivators and Martial Artists.

The County Magistrate and several main officials are all Inner Sect Disciples of the Red Pine Sect. The Law Enforcement Team had already informed them of this visit in advance.

Zou Ming did not appear. Zhao Deliang ordered the Disciples to disembark, then took a few trusted aides to coordinate with the County Magistrate.

The County Magistrate prepared a sumptuous banquet, with beauties dancing to entertain the guests and music playing non-stop.

'Wasn't it said that Yongning was in utter chaos and suffering?'

Liu Xuan looked at the scene of singing and dancing at the banquet, feeling a bit confused.

Liu Xuan had already inquired clearly about the situation in Yongning.

More than a year ago, the Lu Family, a Foundation Establishment Family in Yongning, discovered a Spirit Stone mine with an estimated reserve of around one hundred thousand.

Somehow, the Chen Family, another Foundation Establishment Family in Yongning, learned of this news and wanted a share of the profits.

According to the rules of the Red Pine Sect, half of any Spirit Stone mine within its territory must be handed over to the Sect, and no faction is allowed to mine it privately.

The Chen Family used this as a threat, demanding that the Lu Family give them thirty percent of the Spirit Stones.

Calculating it, the Lu Family would still earn twenty percent more, and the Chen Family thought they would surely agree, but they never expected them to refuse directly.

How could the Chen Family tolerate this? They informed the County Magistrate and reported the Lu Family for violating the Sect's decrees.

The County Magistrate sent people to the Lu Family to investigate, but they were forcibly blocked by the Lu Family.

The highest combat power in the county city was only at the Late Qi Refining Stage, so they could do nothing about the Foundation Establishment Lu Family and reported it to the Sect.

The Red Pine Sect dispatched a Law Enforcement Team to inspect, but the Lu Family still refused to give Face, and in the ensuing conflict, even killed a Sect Disciple.

The matter immediately escalated, and Xue Hu, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Red Pine Sect's Law Enforcement Hall, personally took action to deal with the Lu Family.

Unexpectedly, a mysterious Foundation Establishment expert suddenly appeared from the Lu Family, joined forces with the Lu Family's Old Ancestor, injured Xue Hu, and almost kept him there.

The Lu Family had rebelled! Only then did everyone realize it.

After returning to the county city and recovering from his injuries, Xue Hu gathered the various Cultivators of Yongning and mobilized the Sect Law Enforcement Team, preparing to get back his Face.

But the Lu Family had retreated into their Family Formation, and the Spirit Stone mine also had a Formation built, so there was simply no way to deal with them.

Xue Hu was unsure how many trump cards the Lu Family was still hiding, so he did not dare to act rashly. He could only send his subordinates to wear down the Lu Family while calling for support from the Sect.

Zou Ming led the Law Enforcement Team here this time to unite all the families in Yongning to break through the Lu Family's Family Formation.

That was roughly the situation, but there were a few points Liu Xuan still hadn't figured out.

First, the Lu Family was a Cultivation Family subordinate to the Red Pine Sect. They had operated here for over a hundred years and had intricate ties with the Sect. How could they rebel over a mere Spirit Stone mine with a reserve of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones?

Second, who was the mysterious Foundation Establishment Cultivator who injured Elder Xue Hu? Saying they were from the neighboring Nether Fire Sect was just Xue Hu's guess.

Third, knowing they were bound to lose, why were the Lu Family stubbornly holding onto their Family Formation and the Spirit Stone mine? Why didn't they flee?

Since Liu Xuan could think of these things, the people in the Sect could naturally think of them too, which is why the situation was now deadlocked, and no one dared to act rashly.

The banquet continued. No one was in a hurry; the county city's Formation was no worse than the Lu Family's Family Formation, so it was very safe.

Since no one was in a hurry, Liu Xuan naturally wasn't either, and he began to enjoy himself with peace of mind.

...

The next day.

Zhao Deliang summoned fifteen Inner Sect Disciples, including Liu Xuan and Yan Qingyao, who were below the Late Qi Refining Stage.

He assigned ten Law Enforcement Team members to each of them and distributed a batch of Medicinal Pills and Talismans.

"Your position is patrol envoy, and your task is to investigate all illegal issues in Yongning and report directly to me."

Zhao Deliang scanned the group with satisfaction and smiled: "You are all Geniuses and will be the backbone of the Sect in the future. Do not be timid when doing things; go ahead and act boldly. If any problems arise, I am here, and my Revered Master will back you up!"

"Yes!"

"Understood!"

...

This group of Disciples were all hot-headed youths in their teens or twenties. Encouraged by Zhao Deliang, they were all fired up.

"Good! You may go."

Zhao Deliang smiled even more kindly.

Youth is great! Full of drive and not afraid of trouble; using them for supervision is just right!

Leaving Zhao Deliang's residence, Liu Xuan took the list and went to find his subordinates.

On the way, Liu Xuan opened the Medicinal Pills and Talismans given by Zhao Deliang to check them.

The variety was quite complete: offensive, defensive, detoxifying, healing... they were all there.

It was just that the grade was not high; most were First-Rank Low Grade, and the highest were First-Rank Medium Grade.

The total value was close to one hundred Spirit Stones, which was not bad!

He soon found his team members; they had also received orders and were waiting at the entrance of the County Magistrate's office.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Liu!"

"Greetings, Senior Brother Liu!"

...

They were all young people, four men and six women. Their cultivation levels were decent: two at the fourth level of Qi Refining, one at the fifth level, and the rest at the third level of Qi Refining.

If one only spoke of cultivation, Liu Xuan was the lowest...

Being able to join the supervision team meant these people were elites among the Outer Sect Disciples, so their cultivation levels naturally wouldn't be too bad.

They had asked about Liu Xuan's situation: he was a First-Rank Talisman Master and had the Lin Family background, so no one caused trouble just because his cultivation was low.

Liu Xuan took his team members to the small courtyard arranged by the County Magistrate's office, ordered a table of food and wine, celebrated simply, and took the opportunity to get to know each other.

...

A few days later.

Zhao Deliang sent those Late Qi Refining Stage Disciples to lead the Law Enforcement Team to constantly summon the Yongning Cultivation Families to provide manpower and effort.

In any case, it was just gathering strength; there were not many real actions taken against the Lu Family.

The Yongning region had a population of hundreds of thousands, and there were many Cultivation Families of various sizes everywhere.

Although their cultivation levels were not high, gathering in one place and using Formations to concentrate their power allowed them to exert strength that could not be underestimated.

This kind of Formation was not very useful against high-level Cultivators and lacked flexibility.

But it was very useful for attacking a defensive Family Formation; as long as there were enough people, even a Third-Rank Sect Grand Formation could be broken.

Zhao Deliang was not in a hurry at all. According to what Liu Xuan understood, he didn't seem to intend to resolve the Lu Family issue in the short term at all.

The Lu Family was fine, but instead, some Yongning Cultivation Families that did not obey orders were struck with thunderous blows; many were raided and exterminated.

Liu Xuan did not receive any substantial orders, and no one bothered him even though he did nothing.

The power of a patrol envoy relied entirely on one's own efforts to seize; if one could find an opportunity, even a Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator could be provoked.

Liu Xuan finally understood: their purpose was to be an extension of Zhao Deliang's power.

The important thing was not to find illegal issues within those families or within the Law Enforcement Team, but to find issues that suited Zhao Deliang's wishes.

What exactly was Zhao Deliang's goal?

After a few days of observation, Liu Xuan had a preliminary judgment: this guy was...

Making Money!