Chapter 163: Arrangement and Discussion

When fierce individuals commit crimes within the city, the City Lord's Mansion is responsible for their apprehension. It's common for an entire force to be wiped out when encountering a ruthless perpetrator.

In Chiyuan, the cost of maintaining order has always been very high.

2. Spiritual Fields.

Outside the city, there are eighty thousand *qing* of spiritual fields. Forty thousand of these were developed by masters from the Spirit Reversal Blood Sect when Guiling City was founded and have always belonged to the City Lord's Mansion. The remaining forty thousand were cultivated by later individuals and are their private property.

The spiritual fields primarily grow spirit rice. Since Guiling City's tribute cycle is five years, the main crop cultivated is First-Tier Azure Origin Rice, which matures every two and a half years.

This allows for two harvests, which can be sold to the Jinman Tower branch within the city. Over five years, this generates a million spirit stones. Accounting for costs like seeds, labor, and fertilizer, the net profit is around eight hundred thousand spirit stones.

Although the City Lord's Mansion has been emptied by him, there are still three thousand spiritual farmers outside the city at the initial Qi Condensation stage. The three major families also have many spiritual farmers, but their combat effectiveness is low, so they are generally not counted as cultivators' combat power.

This group includes many members of the Tuoba family, as well as survivors who were not in the City Lord's Mansion when the incident occurred.

Wang Yu had previously ordered the extermination of a clan. If the Bai family is wise, they will atone for their sins by rendering meritorious service. If they do not act, the Guan and Jiang families will help him carry out the extermination order to prove their loyalty.

Therefore, he is not in a hurry to leave. As for the City Lord's Mansion's third source of income, it comes from nearby sect forces.

3. Ink Painting Sect, Scent Teaching Sect, Purple Dragon Mountain.

These three Core Formation sects are allowed to establish branches in Guiling City and sell their products. In addition to regular taxes, they must also pay land use fees.

Each pays one hundred thousand spirit stones every five years, totaling three hundred thousand. There are also smaller sects, like the Spirit Vulture Sect, that participate. Depending on the extent of land used, they pay either thirty thousand or fifty thousand spirit stones.

This adds up, generating five to six hundred thousand spirit stones over a five-year cycle.

These three sources of income bring the City Lord's Mansion nearly three million spirit stones every five years. This highlights the value of a fertile region, far surpassing the three major families within the city.

However, these account books record the period when Zhuo Kuangsheng was alive.

During the century Tuoba Lei usurped control, the Core Formation sects paid nothing, the three major families evaded taxes through various means, and the spiritual fields outside the city were also encroached upon by others.

Being able to retain even half would be good; this is the disadvantage of lacking background. Wang Yu felt a sharp pain just looking at it.

Of course, managing a city isn't just about its income.

Expenditures are also significant.

The city guard comprises three thousand, the patrol army one thousand, spiritual farmers five thousand, personal guards one hundred, and general laborers five hundred.

Maintaining nearly ten thousand people costs at least a million spirit stones every five years. Since the position of Guiling City Lord was established, these forces have never been fully staffed.

Additionally, there's the unlimited "Hall of Offerings."

It only accepts cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage and above. Their salaries are high, and there are various special requirements to meet, such as alchemy rooms, earth-fire chambers, spirit herbs, spiritual metals, and so on.

Fortunately, the predecessors have largely completed these constructions, so Wang Yu doesn't need to incur extra expenses. The number of people in the Hall of Offerings also represents a significant sum in spirit stones.

Furthermore, five hundred thousand spirit stones must be kept as liquid funds to ensure the City Lord's Mansion operates smoothly and to secure the most valuable items at occasional auctions.

Deducting the mandatory million offered to the Spirit Reversal Blood Sect...

Only five hundred thousand can go into Wang Yu's personal pocket, and this is under ideal conditions. Currently, many assets have not yet been reclaimed.

It took a long time to read through all this information.

Wang Yu took a deep breath, slowly exhaling after a long pause.

"The way of management..."

As the sun rose and set, the night passed uneventfully.

Wang Yu, who had been contemplating future development issues, finally put down his pen. He listed all the problems Guiling City needed to solve, one by one.

In his view, the Guan family's techniques for making paper, ink, brushes, and inkstones could not only be used in cooperation with the Ink Painting Sect but also be sold to nearby cities.

However, their actual cultivators number only about a thousand, leading to low production. They are also unwilling to teach outsiders the essence of their craftsmanship.

A small-scale operation.

Paper made from spirit bamboo, besides being used by cultivators of the art of painting, can also be sold to talisman cultivators.

Ink, on the other hand, can be used as talisman ink or as a medicinal ingredient for alchemy, though its preparation is somewhat troublesome and time-consuming.

Brushes are indispensable tools for talisman masters.

Aside from inkstones, the Guan family's special techniques can perfectly meet any need of a talisman master. Near Guiling City, there is a city called Sanmao City!

It is surrounded by three spiritual mountains covered in yellow thatch grass.

This yellow thatch grass, once dried, happens to be a top-grade material for making yellow talisman paper. Over time, the cost of learning the art of talismans in Sanmao City became exceptionally low.

The number of talisman masters increases annually, and over time, the city gained the reputation of being the "City of Talismans," which is very well-known.

If the Guan family were to negotiate, they would surely be excluded by the locals. If Wang Yu negotiates, he can leverage the Sanmao City Lord's channels for distribution.

Of course, this is still uncertain.

Every city has its own interest groups, and rashly getting involved might not be a good thing. This is merely a development strategy Wang Yu has set.

The most important goal now is still to completely grasp Guiling City in his hands.

The half-month appointment arrived as scheduled.

Outside the City Lord's Mansion.

Since the new City Lord took office, there's been a significant shift. During this period, the five major districts have been more compliant than ever. Beneath the seemingly calm surface, however, hidden dangers capable of shattering lives lurked.

Each faction had its own private thoughts, their small eyes glinting as they greeted each other.

The Bai family's Grand Elder, the Guan family head, the Jiang family head, representatives from the three sects, and Chao Yunniang from Yunmeng Pavilion—exactly seven people.

As for the Guan and Jiang family heads, who had sworn not to come, they were sent back by their ancestors after reporting the events upon their return. Their ancestors stated that the new City Lord was resourceful, and to gain their support and establish a firm foothold, the clan extermination incident should not be repeated, so they should not worry.

The representatives from the three sects arrived decisively. As everyone exchanged greetings, the gates of the City Lord's Mansion opened once more.

In a corner of the vast plaza, piles of frozen flesh and blood from over five hundred cultivators were still stacked, sending chills down one's spine.

At this moment, Wang Yu's voice drifted from afar.

"If any of you require these materials for cultivation techniques or secret arts, feel free to speak up. I, the City Lord, will sell them to you at a twenty percent discount."

The red-faced elder from Purple Dragon Mountain's eyes lit up. Their sect's nurtured Earth Vein Purple Dragon coincidentally needed spiritual flesh and blood as feed.

"Thirty-two thousand."

"Excellent, then they'll be sold to our fellow Daoist from Purple Dragon Mountain."

The wealthy Wang no longer cared about such a small amount of spirit stones, but his frugal nature remained, and he couldn't bear to waste these items. Selling them for thirty-two thousand was already good.

"Everyone, please come in."

The City Lord's Mansion was surrounded by high walls on all sides, with only four gates: front, back, left, and right. These gates were elevated by 108 steps, so simply walking from the street to the mansion's entrance required a considerable climb.

Inside, the first sight was a five hundred *mu* plaza. On either side, side-halls connected to covered bridges, and numerous stone lions stood along the path.

At the far end of the plaza were 360 white jade steps.

This truly embodied the concept of ascending to a high place. It was the largest and tallest building in all of Guiling City. Above the jade steps stood the palace, its dragon- and phoenix-carved lattice doors all wide open.

The meeting hall was at this moment directly illuminated by sunlight.

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

His feet, one raised and one lowered, rested on the high end of the bed-like seat. Sunlight poured down, making his pale skin appear luminous. His languid eyes were cast downwards, not looking at the approaching crowd.

This posture held different meanings in the eyes of different people, evoking various feelings within them.

Scent Teaching Sect, Ink Painting Sect: What a wonderfully uninhibited and dashing young man.

Bai family's Grand Elder: Arrogant!

Chao Yunniang: A gentleman as flawless as jade, a peerless master of his generation.

Red-faced elder from Purple Dragon Mountain: Disrespectful of elders, utterly arrogant!

Jiang family head: ...

Guan family head: You're putting on an act! If not for the formation here, I'd certainly make you realize the dangers of Guiling!

No one dared to voice these inner thoughts; they could only endure and concede, for Wang Yu held the moral high ground.

His actions in eliminating the villains were well-justified. Even a high official would commend him for a job well done.

If they were to encircle and kill Wang Yu, they would be challenging the Holy Sect's authority, and everyone would be doomed. Fighting was out of the question; they could only yield.

Everyone could largely guess Wang Yu's purpose in summoning them: nothing more than restoring the old system and expelling those audacious individuals who had occupied the City Lord's Mansion's spiritual fields.

As for how much they had taken...

...that depended on individual perspective.

In the silence, the Jiang family head was the first to speak: "City Lord, half a month ago you arranged for this year's spirit testing day to be moved up. My Jiang family cultivators have completed the spirit testing on your behalf. Here is the list; please examine it."

Seeing the scroll with the list float before Wang Yu, the Guan family head also quickly presented a list.

"This is the list from previous years' spirit tests. It includes many individuals with four or five spiritual roots, all being trained as spiritual farmers. My Guan family is willing to send three hundred people."

"Oh, and by the way, this is a list of young people from the Guan family. The City Lord may choose any two of them as disciples."

To the side.

The Bai family's Grand Elder listened, stunned. How long had it been, and they had all defected? But whenever he recalled his ancestor's instructions, he could only wait patiently.

After all, his Bai clan's family head had been executed as an accomplice.

Broadly speaking, the entire Bai family would be implicated in this matter. Their illicit dealings with the Yellow Springs Temple were undeniable and could easily be discovered.

Narrowly speaking, it was Bai Cheng's own idea; his obstinacy led to a deserved death. It all depended on City Lord Wang's words. So, he was indeed there to offer a humble apology and had prepared many gifts as compensation.

Seeing that the tasks he assigned had been well executed, Wang Yu spoke.

"Tomorrow, send all those who have had their spiritual roots tested to the City Lord's Mansion. Are the three sects willing to provide some assistance?"

Ink Painting Sect: "By order of our sect master, all forces stationed in the Northern District are at the City Lord's command."

Scent Teaching Sect: "Our sect leader's intention is the same as that of our fellow Daoist from the Ink Painting Sect."

Purple Dragon Mountain elder: "..."

Wang Yu said nothing upon seeing this.

"Since that is the case, the city defense matters will first be entrusted to the two sects. The hundred thousand spirit stones due as land rent for these five years will be waived for now."

Everyone: "..."

(End of chapter)