Chapter 163: Refugees Fleeing Everywhere
On the day of tax collection, sunlight streamed down from the sky, diffused by the crisp autumn air.
At this time, above the Nu River, Immortal Boats from north and south sped by, roaring across the shimmering, golden-scaled river surface.
On the bow of the boats, Worldly Family Disciples in splendid attire stood with their hands behind their backs, looking at the riverbanks on both sides.
And on both sides of the riverbanks, grain carts went back and forth, one after another, on the dilapidated and uneven official road, heading towards various Worldly Sect, Immortal Villas, and grain depots in various counties.
Accompanying the carts were hundreds of ragged old farmers, bound with hemp ropes, walking with faltering steps, their faces filled with exhaustion and numbness. They were finally escorted by government officials to a high slope on the west side of the riverbank.
“What are they doing?”
“They are all criminals who couldn’t pay their full taxes. After being punished by the local government, they were brought here to receive flogging.”
“How much tax do they have to pay?”
“Only sixty percent.”
“This place is vast and rich in resources. All they need to do is reclaim more wasteland and Cultivate diligently. Wouldn't paying taxes be easy? Yet they are unwilling to even pay this sixty percent? Aren't they troublesome people?”
“Exactly. What’s so difficult about farming? Our cultivation is not easy either; we don’t even have any leisure time daily.
Aren't we also diligent and never lazy?”
It took a day and a night for an Immortal Boat to cross the river within the three provinces. As they reached Jingxi Crossing, the boat stopped, and people boarded and disembarked.
The Immortal Family Disciples on the boat, who were about to enter the sect, felt bored and naturally discussed what they saw and heard along the riverbanks.
Just then, another convoy drove past on the official road, bumping along, heading in the opposite direction of the grain carts.
This convoy was different from the government grain carts; it was pulled by mules, and the vehicles looked dilapidated, their top boards patched up, clearly having been repaired and broken repeatedly, with new patches added.
Most of the people accompanying the vehicles were ragged commoners, with some stronger men leading the way, and women, children, and old men following behind.
They seemed to have traveled a long distance, the only noticeable feature on their dark faces being their pale lips.
What they carried in their carts were not grain sacks or valuables, but miscellaneous items: pottery basins, crock , farming tools, livestock, and even worn-out bedding.
Soon after this convoy passed, another convoy came in the same direction.
This convoy was slightly different from the previous one, as it was more opulent; the vehicles were pulled by horses, and the people accompanying them were much better dressed.
Especially the last few people, whose clothes had simple embroidery.
Some Worldly Family Disciples speculated with interest that the first convoy was likely the migration of an entire rural village, while the second one was clearly a Mortal landlord's household from a somewhat renowned large city.
However, there was no consensus on where they were going.
Amidst the discussions, several older individuals, dressed in white, approached and spoke softly.
“They are going north, to Feng Province.”
“Feng Province? The one on the far northeast?”
“Precisely. After this year’s tax collection, we see three or four such convoys every day, all heading to Feng Province.”
Amidst the discussions, both convoys were stopped by government constables at the official road’s post station.
Among them was a fierce man with a saber, wearing woven clothes and a thick beard, who stopped them all.
Then, a middle-aged man with a cloth-wrapped head emerged from the second convoy and offered a bundle. Only then did the constables let them pass.
The first convoy also benefited from them and was now allowed to pass.
Seeing this, the Worldly Family Disciples on the boat exchanged glances: “Isn’t Feng Province a godforsaken place? A migrating village makes sense, but that convoy just now was clearly a Mortal landlord’s; are they abandoning their land?”
“Didn’t you see it with your own eyes?”
“This is truly strange. Does Feng Province not collect taxes?”
“It does, but very little, just a drop in the ocean compared to the other eight provinces. For thousands of years, the purpose of commoners migrating has been only one: to survive. They go wherever they can live.”
Just then, a sedan chair appeared on the official road, followed by countless yamen runners.
When the sedan chair was carried to the tea shed at the front post station, the five-foot-tall county magistrate immediately lifted the sedan curtain and rushed out.
Several harsh slaps landed on the fierce-looking big-bearded man’s face, echoing across the riverbank.
Everyone on the boat couldn’t help but lean over to look, and saw that this crucial pass, the only way from Central Province to Feng Province, immediately went into lockdown. Cheval de frise made of spiked wooden poles were immediately erected on the official road.
Afterwards, any scattered commoners who arrived were all driven back by yamen runners wielding long sabers.
During this time, some wealthy households, like before, took out their prepared “gifts,” but were directly kicked to the ground.
At this moment, the five-foot-tall county magistrate stood to the side, watching with a cold face, his eyes twitching slightly, as if he was trying his best to suppress his anger.
The current imperial court had no clear decree prohibiting the people of the Nine Provinces from fleeing everywhere, but in previous seasons, such a thing would never happen, because all places in the Nine Provinces were the same.
However, after this year’s tax collection, he discovered that many villages and clans under his jurisdiction in Jiyang County began to migrate en masse.
He didn’t know what had happened in Feng Province in just a few days, but he was not like those stupid pigs under him.
Now, stopping people on the road to extort gifts seemed profitable, but if the commoners under his rule moved away, where would he collect enough tax quotas?
Their Central Province was full of Worldly Sect; if they angered an Immortal, that would be a capital crime of losing their heads!
So he couldn’t wait for any imperial Laws or decrees, and rushed to set up a checkpoint.
Meanwhile, a sudden gust of wind swept across the river, causing the banks to hum.
Seeing this, the Jiyang County Magistrate immediately knelt with his yamen runners, respectfully seeing off the Immortal.
Thus, a Mystic Light rose from the bottom of the Immortal Boat on the riverbank, then converged at the bow, and then rapidly began its voyage.
A day and a night later, some Worldly Family Disciples on the boat left midway, some boarded midway, and finally the remaining ones arrived at Shengjing City, the capital of the Great Xia Kingdom.
At this time, Shengjing City was already bustling due to the selection of new students for Tianshu Academy.
Carriages from all corners of the world converged here, blocking the main city road completely, and the restaurants along the street were brightly lit, filled with the gentle sounds of music and dancing courtesans.
And countless wealthy and noble Sect in the capital hosted banquets in the city, inviting the Tianshu Academy students who were about to enter the academy to feast,
So much so that the clear breeze encircling the city was filled with the fragrant scent of wine.
“How many Junior Third Realm Completion students are there in Tianshu Academy this year?”
“Three.”
“Three again?”
“The Yunzhou Lu Family had one enter last year, and this year it’s Lu Qingqiu’s younger sister, Lu Hanyan. Their Family is strange; their cultivation talent seems to be all in the women.”
“And the other one?”
“The Fang Family, a native clan from Central Province. Their third Young Master reached Junior Third Realm Completion last year, but the Fang Family didn't allow him to enter the academy then. I heard it was to avoid Chu River’s sharp edge, so they postponed it for a year.”
“Chu River—”
Up in the restaurant, when someone mentioned that name again, everyone couldn't help but smack their lips.
That name indeed shone brightly once, but since the beginning of autumn, it has rarely been mentioned.
“What about the third one?”
“The third one also comes from Yunzhou, the Young Master of the Puyang Family, an ancient Worldly Family. However, the Puyang Family’s reputation hasn’t been prominent these past few years. Still, to produce a Junior Third Realm Completion at such a young age is quite good. This Young Master Puyang’s given name is Xing, which seems to embody the Puyang Family’s hope for a resurgence.”
Upon hearing this, some Worldly Family Disciples in the capital couldn't help but raise their wine cups. Hearing that these three all came from prestigious Immortal Sects, their interest suddenly waned.
By noon, with the sun shining brightly, countless sedan chairs in the capital headed towards Tianshu Academy.
As in previous years, high-ranking officials in the capital, as well as royal relatives, were tirelessly enthusiastic about fostering good relations with outstanding Prodigies.
However, this time, the disgraced Wei Li did not come, and Chong Wang arrived alone, though his spirits did not seem very high.
Especially when he arrived at the Baiyu Platform, it was as if he had thought of something.
Subsequently, the Tianshu Academy admission ceremony began, and Worldly Family Disciples, now clad in Tianshu Academy Immortal robes, surged into the Ascension White Jade Platform.
Standing at the very front were two men and one woman: Lu Hanyan from Yunzhou, Puyang Xing from Yunzhou, and Fang Jincheng from Central Province, all dressed in flowing white robes with swords at their waists.
Behind them were those in the Condensation Realm from other provinces.
Such a formation and appearance made everyone feel a sense of trance, as if the first year of the Grand Beginning was but a grand dream.
Then, everyone noticed that some of the light from the high platform couldn't help but gather at the very end, specifically at the southeast side of the Baiyu Platform.
Standing there was also a group of young Disciples.
There were eight of them, male and female, and their attire and appearance were not as luxurious as those standing on the inner side, and their expressions seemed very reserved.
Because all of them came from Feng Province.
Among these eight, only three had sufficient cultivation: Xiang Fu, the daughter of the Dan Shui County Governor; Liu Jianan, the son of the Feng Province Governor; and Cong Yi, the daughter of the Guiyun Commandery Governor.
The remaining ones mostly had Family members who joined the army, and gained their spots through the Great Xia. The better ones were only in the Micro Illumination Realm, and the worst had not even awakened their Spirit Origin.
Tianshu Academy, after all, bore the title of the Great Xia Holy Sect, and such students were also accepted.
However, in previous years, such Disciples would not receive much attention.
Because everyone knew that the Lower Three Realms and Upper Five Realms were completely different Realms. To achieve a Breakthrough, a large amount of Medicinal Pills and Spirit Stones were required.
In other words, cultivating Immortality was a game exclusively for prestigious Worldly Sect.
But to everyone’s surprise, these Feng Province Disciples suddenly found that the gazes from the high platform were converging on them, even from the Five Hall Masters, who possessed extraordinary Aura.
“Why are they constantly looking at us?”
“They’re not looking at us—”
Xiang Fu couldn't help but murmur.
After the admission ceremony ended, the Outer Courtyard quickly became lively in the autumn sun.
Lu Hanyan, who came from Yunzhou, was wearing a long, fine-gauze gown with snow-white trim. As soon as she left the Baiyu Platform, she saw Lu Qingqiu approaching with a group of her sisters.
“Hanyan.”
“Sister.”
Lu Qingqiu glanced at her: “You’ve reached Junior Third Realm Completion?”
Lu Hanyan nodded: “I thought I wouldn’t make it, but Father eventually used a spiritual core from a mine to help me condense to Perfection.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Qingqiu couldn't help but purse her lips, then reached out and patted her younger sister’s shoulder.
Although their Lu Family established itself in Yunzhou through the spiritual mine business, their Family's cultivation talent was only considered upper-middle among the major Worldly Sect in the Nine Provinces.
In recent years, only she and her sister had decent talent, and they were held in high hopes.
Because if someone in the Family could enter the Inner Courtyard of the Seven Great Immortal Sects, or find a good husband, it would be a great help to the Family.
It was just that she didn't get her wish, and now this responsibility fell on her younger sister.
At this moment, Puyang Xing, who had been standing on the stage earlier, stepped forward and bowed to Lu Qingqiu: “Puyang Xing greets Senior Sister.”
“Junior Brother Puyang, welcome to the academy.”
“Thank you, Senior Sister. I came this time just to say hello, so I’ll take my leave first.”
Puyang Xing cupped his hands in farewell, then turned and walked towards the Wudao Field, where he encountered Fang Jincheng.
The two looked at each other, their eyes cold, and the atmosphere was not as harmonious as when they had just met Lu Qingqiu; instead, there was a hint of animosity.
From this, it seemed that the struggle for the Inner Courtyard this year had already begun to lay its groundwork upon admission.
At this time, there were four Master's Courtyard Disciples sweeping the Wudao Field.
Because it was autumn, there were many fallen leaves, and with the new Disciples already admitted, they needed to come and sweep it from time to time.
“It’ll be fine in a few days.”
“When they first enter the academy, everyone is like this. At first, they all go to bed early and wake up early to the Wudao Field, then study diligently, Cultivate assiduously, and each thinks he is a Prodigy, who will not be weaker than anyone.”
“Then someone took the lead, everyone’s Dao Heart was damaged, and they quieted down.”
As the Master's Courtyard Disciple murmured, Puyang Xing and Fang Jincheng had already sat down and entered meditation.
Lu Qingqiu looked at the Wudao Field and couldn't help but say softly, “This Puyang Family has been quiet for a while. It’s said that the cultivation talent of their Family’s Bloodline is becoming increasingly thin, but I didn’t expect them to produce a Junior Third Realm Completion who is not yet twenty.”
Lou Siyi looked at him and couldn't help but whisper, “This person seems to have the intention of befriending your Lu Family.”
“This is normal. The Puyang Family is in decline now. It is said that even several collateral branches of their clan are being squeezed by various parties, so they need to form alliances everywhere.”
“Elder Sister, this Puyang Xing, like Fang Jincheng, seems to be a formidable opponent of mine,” Lu Hanyan couldn't help but say softly.
Lu Qingqiu turned to look at her: “What’s wrong?”
“When Father came, he told me that I must enter the Inner Courtyard, so I naturally need to understand Puyang Xing and Fang Jincheng. This Fang Jincheng has been extraordinarily talented since childhood and should have entered the academy with Elder Sister. Now it is said that he has already condensed three Mystic Lights in advance, and that Puyang Xing is also considered a Genius.”
“Genius, what can a Genius do—”
Lu Qingqiu and the other two murmured, then turned to look at the depths of Ni Mountain, at the vast golden forest.
Back then, Chu River entered the academy with great prestige, under the name of the second son of the Chu Family, and was known as a Genius among Geniuses.
But in the end, everyone realized that the so-called Genius was just the threshold to meet that person.
“Elder Sister?”
Lu Qingqiu turned to look at her: “I’ll try to invite him tonight and let you meet a true Genius.”
Lou Siyi glanced at Lu Qingqiu: “Will he come?”
“Free food, he probably won’t not come—”
“That’s true—.”
Lu Hanyan couldn't help but speak at this moment: “But, Princess Chong’s Mansion invited me to a banquet tonight—”
Lu Qingqiu turned to look at her younger sister, a cold smile appearing at the corner of her mouth: “Zhao Yunyue? No matter, we’ll just eat together at Hongding Restaurant. I’ll treat.”
With that, Miss Lu took her younger sister back to the courtyard, wrote a letter, and sent it to the Master's Courtyard.
Outer Courtyard Disciples could not enter the Inner Courtyard, and their communication relied on the Master's Courtyard delivering messages.
And the Disciple responsible for delivering letters in the Master's Courtyard happened to have a letter for Ji You, so he took his waist token, entered the mountain, and passed through the vast forest.
At the same time, to the west of the intersection of the Inner Courtyard’s six peaks, in a purple bamboo forest filled with abundant Spiritual Qi, a man with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes sat cross-legged on the ground, having been in meditation for a long time.
Some Disciples of the Five Hall Masters who were resting couldn't help but turn to look, watching the surging Aura around him and the flowing Mystic Light, and whispered to each other.
From his appearance, they thought he was as handsome as a scholar, looking not at all sharp, but rather refined.
But no one would forget that he was a ruthless person who had killed eighteen Tong Xuan Realm cultivators, reverse-slaughtered a Rongdao Realm cultivator from a lower Realm, and fought his way through Night City Mountain.
Most importantly, he was now the youngest Worldly Family Patriarch in the Qingyun World, even though he was still alone.
“It is said that because of him, Feng Province’s tax tribute this year was only one-tenth?”
“That’s right. Now that the Ji Family has registered, there are no other Immortal Sects or Worldly Sect in Feng Province, so the matter of tax tribute is entirely up to him to decide.”
“Those who went to Feng Province to establish Immortal Villas probably never thought that such a private cultivator from the countryside would suddenly emerge in Feng Province, breaking the rules to enter the academy, slaying Chu River, and establishing a Worldly Family—”
“Let alone those Immortal Villas, even among us who are in the same Tianshu Academy, who could have imagined it back then?”
“One-tenth tax tribute, he acts like this, truly fearless.”
“To say he’s fearless isn’t entirely true.”
“Oh?”
“He didn’t put all of that one-tenth tax tribute into his own pocket; he still took it out and distributed it to those external Immortal Villas. It seems he still has some fear, but the tax tribute distribution varies, not evenly. I don’t know what basis he uses. I have a collateral Family member in Feng Province, and he won’t say when asked.”
“Regardless of Feng Province, tax tribute, and other matters, Ji You’s Aura is becoming increasingly profound—”
Amidst the discussions, Ji You slowly opened his eyes, golden light restrained within them, and the Aura around him calmed.
Then he let out a soft breath, looked around, and found that the whispering gradually disappeared.
He had returned from Feng Province five days ago, and Ban Yangshu, Wen Zhengxin, and Bai Rulong had also returned with him.
Also returning to the capital was Kuang Cheng.
Senior Sister Pei stayed at Fengxian Mountain Manor to awaken Qiu Ru, while Old Qiu stayed at He Zhang’s mansion during this period, handling the collection of tax tribute.
Aside from the imperial court’s share, they only collected one-tenth of the Immortal Sect’s share this year.
Half was used for consolation money, and half was saved for next year’s reclamation and planting.
And during this time, he mainly did three things: one was to read the general outline of Daoist methods in the Hidden Scripture Pavilion to familiarize himself with the understanding of Heavenly Dao Law left by the Tianshu Academy’s predecessors.
The other was to go to the lecture hall to listen to the Inner Courtyard Instructors explain some insights into the Heavenly Dao, as well as the application and theoretical analysis of Laws.
Compared to the free-range cultivation model of the Outer Courtyard, this was the true foundation of the Seven Great Immortal Sects’ Inner Courtyard.
And the last thing he did was to Cultivate in Void Mountain, directly observing the evolution of the Heavenly Dao.
However, he went to see her five times in a row, but he didn’t see Yan Shuyi.
He knew that the girl was in Breakthrough, and said she wouldn't come out until she reached the Wujiang Realm.
Her mindset was actually the same as Ji You's now; both were pursuing greater strength to resist the invisible undercurrents.
But even knowing she was in seclusion, Ji You still felt worried after not seeing her for many days.
At this moment, a Master's Courtyard Disciple entered the Purple Bamboo Zen Forest.
“Junior Brother Ji, your letter.”
“?”
Ji You reached out and took it, finding that there were two letters.
One was from the Outer Courtyard, and the other was from Nanhua City at the foot of Lingjian Mountain, signed by Ding Wanqiu.
The Little Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain, being high above, couldn’t let it be known that she frequently wrote to a Tianshu Academy Disciple, so the letters were always sent by Ding Yao or Zhuo Wanqiu going down the mountain to Nanhua City.
The spiritual sword he received before the Autumn Tournament was also sent in this manner.
Those signed “Ding Wanqiu” were basically sent by Ding Yao going down the mountain, and those signed “Zhuo Yao” were basically sent by Zhuo Wanqiu.
Ji You reached out and tore open the letter, and saw the opening line: “Bold stranger” and so on.
The Little Master Jian of Lingjian Mountain was truly a tsundere.
“Bold stranger, I am currently at a critical point in my Breakthrough and cannot leave seclusion midway. I hope you behave yourself.”
“Breakthrough is different from comprehending the Dao; I need to discard distracting thoughts and make my Dao Heart clear, and I cannot enter the Jian with Divine Thought, so I won’t go to Void Mountain before my Breakthrough.”
“After the Breakthrough, I will travel down the mountain. If I happen to travel to Shengjing City, I will meet with you incidentally, chat briefly, and then gracefully depart.”
Ji You read this and thought, “I understand.”
This sentence translated to, “I’ll specifically come to play with you once I break through.”
He held the letter, his lips slightly curved as he continued to read, but as he read, he slowly held his breath.
“If I happen to travel to Shengjing City, I want to see what that woman Yuan Caiwei has seen.”
The Little Master Jian’s letter, like her personality, ended abruptly. In summary, it was one sentence: “Do not disturb my seclusion, and prepare what I want to see.”
Ji You’s lips trembled slightly, and he thought, “Why is she still thinking about that?”
See what Yuan Caiwei has seen?
It seemed that future cultivation would still need to focus on tempering the Physical Body.
Then he opened Lu Qingqiu’s letter, the content of which was brief, stating that she would host a banquet at Hongding Restaurant tonight at the appointed time, inviting three to five friends and the new Disciples admitted this year, and inviting him to join them.
The content of this letter, in his eyes, was six words: “Treating to a meal, come quickly.”
Ji You put the letter away, then turned to look, his gaze sweeping across the Purple Bamboo Zen Forest.
Most of the Disciples in the forest were sitting cross-legged in meditation, with Mystic Light surging around them, their expressions serene and content.
But upon seeing this scene, Ji You’s brow furrowed.
Most of the Disciples who had entered the Inner Courtyard of Tianshu Academy over the years were like him, people who had sensed the Heavenly Book. Disciples could be seen cultivating with the Heavenly Book every day in the Purple Bamboo Zen Forest.
But—
From beginning to end, he had only seen Yan Shuyi alone in Void Mountain, and no other fellow Disciples.
This doubt had actually been in his mind for a long time, but because he was in the Outer Courtyard before, he didn’t often remember it, so he didn’t delve too deeply.
But now he could confirm that the Heavenly Book he comprehended was quite different from most people’s.
However, what comforted Ji You was that he had once asked Ban Yangshu about this.
Ban Yangshu said that the Heavenly Book was a vast, boundless void, containing the Laws of Heaven and Earth, and nothing else.
Ji You couldn't help but mutter something similar.
He thought to himself, “It’s just an extra mountain, some chaotic, tangled Heavenly Dao Laws, and an extra tsundere Fairy with delicate, pink feet.”
He had already cultivated to the Tong Xuan Realm, what else could he do? He couldn’t possibly admit now that his cultivation had gone astray.
It’s fine, his Spirit Origin was broken anyway, so he might as well just make do with cultivating. What else could he do?
Ji You stood up, then walked down the mountain, passing alone through the vast forest.
