Wasted Spiritual Root to Embark on Demonic Cultivation

Chapter 164

Sometimes when encountering vicious criminals committing murder inside the city, the City Lord’s Manor is also responsible for arresting them. If they meet someone ruthless, it is common for the entire force to be annihilated.

In Crimson Kite, the cost of maintaining order has always been extremely high.

2. Spirit Fields.

Outside the city there are eighty thousand acres of spirit fields. Forty thousand of these were opened up when Jade Spirit City was first founded by experts from the Blood Reversal Sect. These have always belonged to the City Lord’s Manor. The remaining forty thousand were developed later by others and are their private property.

The spirit fields mainly grow spiritual rice. Since Jade Spirit City pays its tribute once every five years, the main crop cultivated is first-rank spiritual rice known as [Qingyuan Rice], which matures once every two and a half years. Exactly two harvests can be grown. The yield is sold to the local branch of the Golden Abundance Pavilion, and within five years the profit reaches one million spirit stones. After deducting seeds, labor, fertilizer, and other costs, the net profit is about eight hundred thousand spirit stones.

Although the City Lord’s Manor has been emptied by him, there are still three thousand Qi Refining stage spirit farmers outside the city. The three great clans also have many spirit farmers, but since their combat strength is poor, they are not considered as battle power.

Among them are many from the Tuoba Clan, as well as survivors who were not present at the City Lord’s Manor when the incident happened.

Wang Yu had previously issued the extermination order. If the Bai Clan knew what was good for them, they would redeem themselves through meritorious deeds. If they did not act, then the Guan and Jiang Clans would also help him carry out the extermination order as a way to pledge allegiance.

Thus, he was in no rush to go out. As for the third source of income for the City Lord’s Manor, it came from nearby sects.

3. Ink-Water Sect, Scent-Hearing Cult, Purple Dragon Mountain.These three Core Formation sects were permitted to set up branches in Jade Spirit City and sell their products. Besides normal taxes, they also had to pay land usage fees.

Each one paid one hundred thousand spirit stones every five years. Together that made three hundred thousand. Smaller sects like the Spirit Vulture Sect also participated. Depending on how much land they used, they fell into the thirty thousand or fifty thousand tiers.

Small amounts accumulated into large sums. Over a five-year cycle, this could bring in five to six hundred thousand spirit stones.

From these three sources, the City Lord’s Manor earned nearly three million spirit stones every five years. This was the true value of fertile land, far surpassing the wealth of the three great clans inside the city.

However, these accounts were all records left from Zhuo Kuangsheng’s time.

During the century that Tuoba Lei seized the seat, the Core Formation powers never paid a single coin. The three great clans evaded taxes through every possible means. The spirit fields outside the city were also swallowed by others.

If even half could be preserved, that was already fortunate. This was the difference caused by lacking background. Seeing this made Wang Yu feel great heartache.

Of course, managing a city cannot be judged only by its income.

The expenditures were also considerable.

The City Guard Army had three thousand in regulation, the Patrol Army one thousand, the spirit farmers five thousand, the personal guard one hundred, and five hundred miscellaneous workers.

Raising this entire group numbered nearly ten thousand. The minimum expenditure every five years was one million spirit stones. From the very start of Jade Spirit City’s lordship, these quotas had never once been fully filled.

In addition, there was the Offering Hall with no upper limit.

Only cultivators at Foundation Establishment and above were accepted. Their stipends were high, and they had many special requirements such as alchemy rooms, earth-fire chambers, spiritual herbs, and spirit ores.

Fortunately, the predecessors had built most of these, so Wang Yu did not need to spend extra. Still, the number of cultivators in the Offering Hall represented a large expenditure of spirit stones.

On top of that, fifty thousand spirit stones had to be reserved as circulating funds to ensure the normal operations of the City Lord’s Manor. Occasionally, when an auction was held, this would allow them to purchase the most valuable items.

Then one million had to be paid as tribute to the Blood Reversal Sect.

In the ideal state, the amount that could enter Wang Yu’s personal pocket was only fifty thousand spirit stones. And that was assuming the lost industries could all be reclaimed.

After spending a long time going through this information, Wang Yu took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

“The way of governance…”

As the sun rose and set, the night passed without incident.

Having pondered the city’s future development all night, Wang Yu finally put down his brush. He listed out one by one the problems Jade Spirit City needed to solve.

In his view, the Guan Clan’s techniques for making paper, ink, brushes, and inkstones could not only be used to cooperate with the Ink-Water Sect but also be sold to surrounding cities.

But the true cultivators of each clan numbered barely a thousand in total. The production capacity was too low. Moreover, they were unwilling to let outsiders learn the essence of their craft.

Such small-scale production was nothing more than trifling business.

Just the paper made from spiritual bamboo could be sold not only to cultivators of painting and calligraphy but also to talisman cultivators.

Ink was even more valuable. It could be used as talisman ink or as alchemical material. Preparing it was troublesome and time consuming.

Brushes were indispensable tools for talisman masters.

As for inkstones, the Guan Clan’s unique techniques could perfectly satisfy any need of talisman masters. Near Jade Spirit City there was a city called [Sanmao City], surrounded by three spiritual mountains full of yellow cogongrass.

When dried, this yellow cogongrass was precisely the top-grade material for making talisman paper. Over time, the cost of learning the talisman path in Sanmao City became especially low.

The number of talisman masters increased every year. In time, the city became renowned as the City of Talismans and gained great fame.

If the Guan Clan went to negotiate directly, they would surely be excluded by the locals. But if Wang Yu went to negotiate, he could rely on the channels of Sanmao City’s lord to sell their goods.

Of course, this was still uncertain.

Every city had its own interest groups. To rashly involve oneself might not be wise. This was merely one of Wang Yu’s planned strategies for future development.

The most important goal now was still to take full control of Jade Spirit City.

The half-month appointment arrived as scheduled.

Outside the City Lord’s Manor.

Since the new city lord took office, waves of turmoil had swept through. During this period, the five great districts were each more obedient than the last. Beneath the seemingly calm surface, however, hid crashing waves that could shatter bones.

Each power harbored its own schemes. Their eyes flickered as they exchanged greetings with one another.

The Bai Clan’s Great Elder, the Guan Clan Head, the Jiang Clan Head, three sect representatives, and one representative from Cloud Dream Pavilion, Madame Chaoyun. Seven people in total, no more and no less.

As for the two family heads Guan and Jiang, who had sworn not to come again, after returning that day they reported the matter to their family patriarchs. The patriarchs then ordered them to return once more.

It was said that the new City Lord was someone with means. If he wished to firmly establish his footing and gain their support, then matters like the Yi Clan incident could happen once but must not be repeated, and they were told not to worry.

The three sect representatives, however, came decisively. As everyone was exchanging polite greetings, the gates of the City Lord’s Mansion opened once again.

In one corner of the vast square, the frozen flesh and blood of more than five hundred cultivators was still piled up, sending chills into the hearts of those who looked upon it.

At this time, Wang Yu’s voice came from a distance.

“If any of you need these materials for cultivation methods or secret arts, just speak up. This City Lord will sell them to you at twenty percent off.”

The red-faced elder of Purple Dragon Mountain’s eyes lit up. Their sect raised Earth Vein Purple Dragons, which required blood and flesh filled with spiritual essence for food.

“Thirty-two thousand.”

“Very well. Then it shall be sold to the fellow daoist of Purple Dragon Mountain.”

Wang Yu, already extremely wealthy, no longer cared about such a small amount of spirit stones. But his thrifty nature remained. He disliked wasting anything. To sell them for thirty-two thousand was good enough.

“Everyone, come inside.”

The City Lord’s Manor was surrounded on all sides by high walls, with gates in the front, back, left, and right. Each gate was raised one hundred and eight steps above the street. Just walking from the main road to the entrance required climbing a long way.

Upon entering, the first sight was a five-hundred-acre square, with side halls and covered corridors to the left and right, lined with many stone lions.

At the far end of the square stood another three hundred and sixty steps of white jade stairs.

This could be called the ultimate expression of ascending heights. It was the largest and tallest structure in all of Jade Spirit City. Above the jade steps were palaces, all the carved lattice gates decorated with dragons and phoenixes standing open.

The audience hall was bathed in direct sunlight.

Wang Yu sat sideways at the highest seat, propping his chin with his left hand as if dozing. Behind him coiled a massive three-tailed snow fox, serving as a backrest.

His legs rested one over the other upon the couch-like seat. Sunlight shone down, illuminating his pale skin until it was almost translucent. His lazy eyes hung half-closed, not even glancing at the crowd walking in.

This posture conveyed different meanings to different people, and each person felt something different in their hearts.

Ink-Water Sect and Scent-Hearing: Such a free and unrestrained young man.

Great Elder of the Bai Family: Arrogant.

Madam Chaoyun: A jade-like figure, unmatched among men.

Red-faced elder of Purple Dragon Mountain: Disrespectful to his elders, utterly brazen.

Jiang Family Head: …

Guan Family Head: Putting on airs. If not for the formation here, I would make you understand the dangers of Jade Spirit City.

Yet no one dared voice these thoughts aloud. They could only endure, for Wang Yu held the banner of righteousness.

He had reason and justification in slaying traitors. Even the highest judge under heaven would praise him for his deeds.

If they banded together to kill Wang Yu, that would be an affront to the Exalted Sect’s dignity. At that point, everyone would be doomed. They could not fight him. They could only submit.

The purpose of Wang Yu summoning them was something most had already guessed. Nothing more than restoring the old order and expelling those who had dared to occupy the spiritual fields of the City Lord’s mansion.

As for how much of it each of them had taken, that depended on one’s perspective.

After a long silence, the Jiang Family Head spoke first. “Half a month ago the City Lord moved this year’s Spirit Root Testing forward. My Jiang Family cultivators have already completed the testing on behalf of the City Lord. Here is the list. Please take a look.”

Seeing the scroll float to Wang Yu’s side, the Guan Family Head quickly presented another list.

“This is the record of previous Spirit Root Tests. Among them are quite a few seedlings with four or five spiritual roots, all cultivated as Spirit Farmers. My Guan Family is willing to send three hundred people.

“Oh, and here is the list of our younger generation. The City Lord may freely choose two as disciples.”

At the side, the Bai Family’s Great Elder was stunned. How long had it been, and already they had betrayed their stance? But remembering the instructions of his patriarch, he could only endure.

After all, the Bai Family Head had been executed as an accomplice.

On the larger scale, the entire Bai Family risked being implicated. Their gray dealings with Yellow Springs Monastery could not be hidden and would be easily uncovered.

On the smaller scale, it had been Bai Cheng’s personal decision. His willful defiance had led to his death, which was not unjust. Now everything depended on the words of City Lord Wang. That was why the Bai Family had come to confess their guilt and had prepared many offerings of apology.

Seeing that matters had been handled properly, Wang Yu finally spoke.

“Tomorrow, send all those who have shown spiritual roots to the City Lord’s mansion. I wonder, are the three sects willing to provide some additional manpower?”

Ink-Water Sect: “By order of our Sect Master, the entire garrison in the North District is at the City Lord’s command.”

Scent-Hearing Cult: “Our Sect Leader’s meaning is the same as that of our fellow daoist from Ink-Water Sect.”

Purple Dragon Mountain elder: “…”

Wang Yu merely nodded and said nothing more.

“In that case, I will leave city defense matters to the two sects. As for the one hundred thousand spirit stones of land tax due over the next five years, they will be waived.”

Everyone: “…”