156: Chapter 156 A New Future!

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Main Peak Hall.

Immortal Master Daoist Yun Du sat upright in the main seat, the desk before him piled high with Jade Slips and documents.

His complexion was much better than a year ago; his original injuries had completely healed, and his cultivation even showed faint signs of a Breakthrough.

"Fellow Daoist Shi!"

Seeing Shi Jian's figure land outside the hall, Daoist Yun Du hurriedly rose to greet him.

"Sit."

Shi Jian lay directly on the stone platform prepared specifically for him at the side of the hall. This platform was a circle larger than the one from a year ago, clearly having been replaced.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist. As a Protector of a region, you could be said to have reached the pinnacle of officialdom."

Shi Jian's tone was casual. Hearing this, Daoist Yun Du shook his head with a bitter smile. "What pinnacle of officialdom? It's clearly being forced into a role I'm not ready for."

"With nearly three counties of land, eighteen major districts, sixty-two Foundation Establishment Families, and hundreds of small Qi Refining clans, just smoothing out the relationships between the various parties took me over half a year."

"Fenghe County is alright; we took over there long ago."

"But half of Guling County is newly assigned territory. It originally belonged to another Golden Core power, but they were transferred elsewhere, leaving the entire mess to me."

Shi Jian remained noncommittal.

He had never been interested in such trifles.

"Let's talk business."

Daoist Yun Du put away his bitter expression and said seriously, "Under the new Protectorate system, a sum of resources must be submitted to the Ming Prefecture Provincial Government every ten years."

"The amount is not small. Among them, the spirit tax to be paid every ten years is three thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, which converts to three hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

"In addition, there are various Rank 3 Spiritual Materials and a certain number of quotas for Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

"But in return, the Provincial Government will also allocate a portion of Legacy resources to support the development and defense of the various Protectorates."

"Overall, compared to managing a single county before, there is much more freedom."

Shi Jian nodded.

This was the benefit of the enfeoffment system. Once the protection fee was paid, the rest belonged to oneself.

"There is one more thing."

Daoist Yun Du lowered his voice. "The helmsman of the Ming Prefecture Provincial Government is True Monarch Fang Yi."

Shi Jian's thunderous pupils flashed.

True Monarch Fang Yi.

The one from Tianxu Pass, the Nascent Soul Old Ancestor who fought two alone.

"What is his attitude toward White Cloud Temple?"

"It's fairly friendly for now."

Daoist Yun Du chose his words carefully. "During the battle at Tianxu Pass, your performance, Fellow Daoist, left a good impression on him."

"Old Ancestor Fang Yi sent word that if there is a need in the future, we can message the Provincial Government directly. His attitude toward White Cloud Temple is quite good."

Shi Jian sneered inwardly.

"Friendly?"

It was nothing more than feeling that he, this bear, still had utility value.

However, having a Nascent Soul True Monarch willing to show goodwill was not a bad thing; at least in the short term, no one would dare to plot against White Cloud Temple.

"One last thing."

Daoist Yun Du took a golden token from his sleeve and presented it to Shi Jian with both hands.

On the front of the token, three large characters were carved: 'Northern Protector.' On the back was a totem of a roaring thunder bear.

"This is the deputy token of the Protectorate."

Daoist Yun Du's tone was solemn. "According to the new system, the Protectorate will have two Protectors, a primary and a deputy. I will serve as the Primary Protector, and the position of Deputy Protector could belong to no one but you, Fellow Daoist."

"I applied for this from the Provincial Government, and True Monarch Fang Yi personally approved it."

Shi Jian looked at the token and remained silent for a moment.

"Deputy Protector."

This title meant that within the system of the Qingcang Kingdom, he had an official identity and official backing.

It might not have any practical use, but holding onto it wouldn't hurt.

"Fine."

Shi Jian slapped the token into his fur with a paw. "I shall reluctantly accept this position of Deputy Protector."

Daoist Yun Du breathed a sigh of relief, a genuine smile appearing on his face.

"With Shi Jian, a Golden Core combatant, overseeing things, the Foundation of this Northern Protectorate was truly stable, and his White Cloud Temple could finally be considered a true regional power."

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