Chapter 9
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Chapter 9: Relocation
The emergence of another Gathering Qi cultivator in the Yang Family has caused a huge stir in Willow Leaf Town.
“Another cultivator? And a child? Really?”
“Sigh… With two mid-stage cultivators already pressing down on us, now we have another young Gathering Qi…“
“Willow Leaf Town is so small. If the Yang Family keeps developing like this, how will we survive?”
The other forces in town felt far from pleased upon hearing the news.
They worried in their hearts, but since the other party came to invite them, they had to attend.
That evening, during the grand feast, Yang Guanfeng chatted happily with the mayor.
Later, in front of the entire families of Willow Leaf Town, he paid the tax for an additional Gathering Qi cultivator this year to the mayor.
When the other forces saw this, their hearts sank.
“Wow, he’s already paid? He is definitely determined to stay in Willow Leaf Town!”
Some even began to consider their escape routes in their minds.
But at that moment, what they never expected was for Yang Guanfeng to publicly announce the relocation of the Yang Family.
“Ah?”
“The Yang Family is leaving?”
“I must be hearing things…”
They found it hard to believe.
However, upon further reflection, if they were to swap identities with Yang Guanfeng, moving seemed to be the most reasonable action for the Yang Family.
Staying in Willow Leaf Town as the sole powerful family sounded good, but there was only so much space in the town. To support a large family, cultivate three cultivators, and pay high taxes was challenging.
Calculating it all, the Yang Family wouldn’t be left with much surplus each year.
As everyone pieced this together, they began to rise and congratulate the Yang Family.
The relocation of the Yang Family meant they wouldn’t need to worry about their interests being threatened in town; for them, it appeared to be a great opportunity.
After the banquet, Yang Guanfeng invited the mayor to the council hall.
Seated alongside him were his two brothers, Old Yu, and the newly successful Gathering Qi cultivator, Yang Lingrui.
The mayor of Willow Leaf Town, Xu Guang, belonged to a prominent family in the northern front of the Zhuhu Dynasty, but he was part of a collateral branch.
Because he was overlooked in his family, realizing he had been marginalized, and with average talent, he voluntarily aligned with the dynasty and became the mayor of this small town.
“I see that Yang Master’s aura has become more robust. You must be close to reaching the sixth level of Gathering Qi, right?” Xu Guang said.
Yang Guanfeng smiled and replied, “It’s easier said than done, Mayor. You know, the higher we go, the more solid these bottlenecks become. Without appropriate inspiration or opportunities, breaking through is truly difficult.”
Xu Guang nodded in agreement. He, like Yang Guanfeng, had reached the peak of the fifth level of Gathering Qi but had not yet broken through to the sixth level.
However, his situation differed from Yang Guanfeng’s.
Xu Guang had reached the peak of the fifth level of Gathering Qi years ago and was well-prepared for a breakthrough.
But unfortunately, the dynasty had not issued the “allowance for advancement,” leaving him stuck at this level.
This is because of the agreement reached between the dynasty at the foot of the mountain and the sect on the mountain.
Sect cultivators are not allowed to attack towns under the rule of the dynasty, nor can they fight within the towns. When they descend the mountain to recruit disciples, they must pay a corresponding "head tax" to the dynasty.
In return, the dynasty needs to control the number and levels of cultivators within its system to some extent.
This is not a personal decision by either the sect or the dynasty, but rather a result of long-term adjustments between the two forces to avoid unnecessary conflicts and to maintain a balance of power.
This agreement has been in place for several hundred years, with many details that will not be discussed here.
However, rules are always rigid, while people are flexible.
In the face of emergencies, such as the emergence of powerful monsters, dynasty cultivators can break through to defend the city.
Also, if dynasty cultivators collude with demonic cultivators to harm and slaughter the common people, the sect can intervene and slay them.
Of course, there is another situation.
If you have an extraordinary background or reach an extraordinary level of cultivation, these messy agreements can be disregarded.
But for the current Xu Guang and the Yang Family, these rules must be followed.
When Xu Guang arrived at the council hall, he was instantly captivated by Yang Lingrui, who was sitting beside Old Yu.
"What a clear and unique aura! This child will surely achieve great things in the future!"
As a keen observer, he made this conclusion about Yang Lingrui in just one glance.
At the same time, the status of the Yang Family in his eyes changed.
Yang Guanfeng invited Xu Guang here to discuss the Yang Family’s relocation and matters after the move.
The dynasty mandates that families within the town should pay taxes based on their population.
If the Yang Family moves out, how should the three streets of shops still left in the town be taxed?
In response to this question, Xu Guang stated, "In principle, tax exemptions are not allowed; they should be taxed as before."
Upon hearing this, Yang Guanfeng smiled.
If it’s not allowed in principle, that means it is negotiable.
Xu Guang’s statement meant that this matter could be discussed.
After some bargaining, they finally agreed on a 60-40 split.
The shops in the Yang Family would be taxed as regular shops, only needing to pay by the household, but Xu Guang would take 40% of the shop profits.
This cost slightly exceeded Yang Guanfeng’s expectations, but it was still acceptable.
Because even giving up 40% of the profits, as long as the high taxes were gone, the Yang Family would still earn more than before.
For Xu Guang, the Yang Family paying taxes to the dynasty did not benefit him at all.
Now being able to take 40% of the profits for free, he was more than happy to foster this win-win situation.
As for the Yang Family’s external mines, previously, the Yang Family in Willow Leaf Town had the town’s military guarding them.
But if they move out, sending troops would require payment.
This was something Yang Guanfeng could also accept.
Finally, it came down to the specifics of the relocation.
At this point, Xu Guang generously stated that the Yang Family had already paid the remaining taxes for the year, and he would make sure his military would assist with the relocation.
Once all matters were settled, everyone happily dispersed.
After Xu Guang left, Yang Guanfeng asked Yang Lingrui, “What do you think of this person?”
Yang Lingrui fell into thought upon hearing the question.
As a practitioner in the Gathering Qi realm, he had undergone the baptism of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, making his thinking sharper and his understanding deeper.
After a brief contemplation, he provided a conclusion in just four words:
“He can be useful.”
Yang Guanfeng nodded in satisfaction upon hearing this.
“Indeed, as the Yang Family rises, he supports us. When one day we start to decline, this person will likely stand on the sidelines, indifferent.”
“So, self-strength is essential; strength is the root of everything, right, Elder?”
“That’s correct.”
Three days later, construction began on the Yang Family’s new courtyard outside the city.
In addition to Xu Guang sending troops to help, other nearby forces also contributed money and labor to show their support.
With their assistance, the new Yang Family courtyard was completed in less than half a month.
During this time, Chen Yang had reduced his working hours and mostly spent his time enjoying the spiritual power while nestled in Old Yang’s sleeve.
After all this time, Chen Yang started addressing Yang Guanfeng as Old Yang and referred to Old Yu as Old Man.
“Old Yang chose a great location; it’s nestled by the mountains and water, and the environment is quite nice.”
Chen Yang had visited the new Yang Family site with Yang Guanfeng a few times.
The scenery was indeed beautiful, and there were large, flat areas that could be used for agricultural development in the future.
This place was called Little Pine Mountain, located right between Willow Leaf Town and the western Baishi Town.
This meant that the Yang Family would no longer be confined to Willow Leaf Town and could open up a larger market.
“All the family members and servants have moved over, so it will be time for the main event tonight.”
The main event Chen Yang referred to was the four-leafed spirit-receiving grass in the Forbidden Area.
Currently, only Yang Guanfeng and Old Yu were aware of this spiritual plant, making it the highest secret of the Yang Family.
Just as Chen Yang had guessed, that night, Yang Guanfeng returned alone to the Yang Family’s Forbidden Area to box up the four-leafed spirit-receiving grass and take it away.
He also destroyed the spiritual field, completely erasing all traces of the spiritual plant’s cultivation.
From that day on, the Yang Family in Willow Leaf Town ceased to exist, leaving only the new Yang Family in Little Pine Mountain.
