8: Chapter 8: The Cultivation World of Wei!

The day after the bloodbath at the ancestral hall, the winds of change swept through Hongtian City once again.

Overnight, Sun Boan went from being an elder of the third branch to the sole decision-maker of the Sun Clan. The first thing he did was publicly announce the crimes of the second branch: "Colluding with external enemies and plotting to murder the Old Ancestor."

He then proceeded to broadcast all the evidence as a matter of course...

The citizens of the city were silenced by fear once more; no one dared to question it, and no Loose Cultivator dared to test the waters, simply because Shi Jian still existed.

As long as a Foundation Establishment powerhouse remained, the Sun Clan would not fall!

The pressure exerted by a Foundation Establishment Great Demon was more persuasive than any explanation, and no one would harbor thoughts they shouldn't.

The second matter: Sun Boan ordered that the remaining Mortals of the Ye and Lin families be completely broken up and integrated into the Sun Clan's household registers. The males were made slaves and servants, while the females became maids and concubines.

All children were tested for Spiritual Roots. Those with Aptitude were branded with slave seals and demoted to Immortal Slaves, or used as breeding stock to mate with Sun Clan women.

The third matter: Sun Boan gathered all the Mortal clansmen of the Sun Clan and announced a policy that left everyone dumbfounded.

"Any Sun clansman who gives birth to one child will be rewarded with three catties of Spirit Rice!"

"For two children, the reward is six catties. For every additional child thereafter, the Spirit Rice reward increases by three catties!"

"If a child with a Spiritual Root is born into a household, they will receive priority access to cultivation resources, ten Spirit Stones, and thirty catties of Spirit Rice!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall erupted in a clamor.

The Mortal elders of the Sun Clan were so excited they were trembling all over.

"Clan Chief, is... is this true?"

"Naturally," Sun Boan said expressionlessly. "The clan has suffered a great disaster and is in urgent need of practitioners. Only with a larger population can more talented disciples be born..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Remember, every child you bear will become the future of the Sun Clan!"

A burst of cheers erupted from below.

The Mortal clansmen didn't understand the big picture; they only knew that having children could be exchanged for Spirit Rice and Spirit Stones, and that was enough.

Mortals are ignorant; even those of immortal Bloodlines cannot escape the limitations of their era.

...

The back mountain, the entrance to the Spiritual Vein.

Shi Jian lay on a giant rock, listening to the rat demon report on Sun Boan's three-pronged strategy, a satisfied curve hooking the corner of his mouth...

"This kid knows how things work."

The rat demon crouched by his claws, its small eyes full of admiration.

"Sun Boan's three moves are simply brilliant."

"The first move stabilizes hearts, the second squeezes the last bit of value from the Ye and Lin families, and the third expands the population."

"If this continues, the Sun Clan's population will at least double within ten years, and more disciples with Spiritual Roots are bound to appear."

"But all of this is thanks to the Old Ancestor!"

Shi Jian yawned, not particularly caring. "Population is the Foundation. Only with enough people can there be more leeks to harvest. By applying both kindness and authority in the future, the Sun Clan can be made to submit completely."

"That kid Sun Boan—though his cultivation isn't much—has a good head on his shoulders. He knows what sustainable development is."

Shi Jian lifted his eyelids and looked toward the distant spirit fields.

"What about those Immortal Slaves? Any of them causing trouble?"

"None," the rat demon shook its head. "Sun Boan sent clansmen to watch them. Anyone who dares to slack off is served a round of lashes on the spot."

"Yesterday, an Immortal Slave from the Ye Family tried to escape. After being caught, Sun Boan crippled his cultivation in public and chopped him up to feed the dogs, using him as an example to warn the others."

"Now, those Immortal Slaves are more well-behaved than anyone."

Shi Jian nodded in satisfaction.

The carrot and the stick—this was the true way to manage people.

That Sun Boan could reorganize the Sun Clan like this in just a few days showed that the kid was truly afraid of death and truly wanted to live.

People who fear death are the most obedient.

—

Half a month later.

Sun Boan entered secluded meditation and broke through from the sixth level of Qi Refining to the seventh level in one go.

When the news spread, it further consolidated the current situation.

A forty-three-year-old at the seventh level of Qi Refining was mediocre, but there was now a sliver of hope for Foundation Establishment before the age of sixty.

And that sliver of hope was something Sun Boan had obtained by turning his hand against his own kin. As a Cultivator, how could he not yearn for the Great Dao and longevity!

The Thick Earth Essence Cultivation Art Shi Jian gave him was more than a grade better than the Sun Clan's original Azure Wood Eternal Spring Art. Combined with the supply of Spirit Rice, Spirit Stones, and Medicinal Pills over the past half month...

Foundation Establishment was not impossible!

"Old Ancestor."

Sun Boan knelt before Shi Jian, his voice as respectful as a literal grandson's. "Thanks to the technique bestowed by the Old Ancestor, this Junior was able to make a Breakthrough."

"Get up."

Shi Jian lazily waved a claw. "It's a good thing you broke through, but don't be happy too soon. You still have a lot to do."

Sun Boan was taken aback. "What does the Old Ancestor mean?"

Shi Jian didn't answer immediately but looked up at the distant sky.

"In ten days, it will be the day the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty collects the spirit tax, right?"

Sun Boan's expression changed.

spirit tax!

With the purge of the past few days, he had almost forgotten about this!

Although Hongtian City was the Sun Clan's territory, in name, it was still under the jurisdiction of the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty. At a fixed time every year, a spirit tax had to be paid.

The Great Wei Immortal Dynasty was the Wei State.

It was jointly governed by three Nascent Soul powers. The so-called Immortal Dynasty was merely a nation controlled by cultivation forces, and the annual spirit tax was ultimately divided among the three Nascent Soul powers.

The Wei State had nine provinces, with each Nascent Soul power controlling three.

Under each province, there were six prefectures.

In each prefecture, a Golden Core power governed on their behalf, and each prefecture in turn administered nine counties.

The Hongtian City area was Hongtian County. It used to be governed by three Foundation Establishment families, but now only a crippled Sun Clan remained...

The Sun Clan paid an annual spirit tax to the Great Wei Immortal Dynasty, which consisted of thirty percent of the output from three hundred acres of spirit fields, plus three hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

In the past, the Sun, Ye, and Lin families shared the burden, so it was barely manageable.

But now...

The Ye and Lin families had been wiped out, and the entire spirit tax had to be borne by the Sun Clan alone.

Moreover, Shi Jian took fifty percent of the Sun Clan's income every year.

Calculating it this way...

Cold sweat broke out on Sun Boan's forehead.

"Old Ancestor, this spirit tax..."

"Can't afford it?" Shi Jian's voice betrayed no emotion.

"It's not that we can't afford it," Sun Boan gritted his teeth. "It's just that after paying it, the Sun Clan's remaining resources will likely struggle to even maintain daily operations."

"Let alone providing for the Old Ancestor."

Shi Jian was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"Sun Boan, do you know why I chose you?"

Sun Boan was stunned.

"Because you are ruthless enough, and you are afraid of death enough," Shi Jian said slowly. "Only a ruthless person dares to do what others dare not."

"Only someone afraid of death will desperately find a way to survive."

"As for the spirit tax, let the people below suffer a bit more and squeeze a bit harder; there will always be enough. You will get it all together, won't you?"