The Sword God of the Universe

Chapter 2478: Chapter 2478: Forceful Implementation

Hearing Jing Yan’s inquiry, Bang Ao unexpectedly blushed, as if he had an unspeakable secret.

Previously, Xu Yiming had asked him why he was unwilling to become a Soul Cultivator, but he didn’t say. Now it was the City Lord asking him personally.

”Bang Ao, do you have some difficulty you can’t speak of?” Jing Yan asked, noticing the change in Bang Ao’s expression and having some guesses in his heart.

”Bang Ao, if you have any difficulties, you can directly tell the City Lord. You know the City Lord’s capabilities,” Xu Yiming said to Bang Ao from the side.

Bang Ao sighed, seeming to have made a certain decision.

”City Lord, when Master Xu Yiming told me yesterday that I had a talent for Soul Cultivation, I was very happy. Although I haven’t seen much, I know the power of Soul Cultivation. In the same realm, a Soul Cultivator can even silently kill their opponent. Who in the world doesn’t want to become a Soul Cultivator?” Bang Ao said slowly.

”However, I cannot become a Soul Cultivator. Soul Cultivation requires a large number of resources, far more than what’s needed for ordinary cultivation. And I am a loose cultivator without any background; I simply don’t have such wealth.” Bang Ao bowed his head.

Hearing Bang Ao’s words, Jing Yan and Xu Yiming exchanged a glance.

”Haha...” Xu Yiming laughed out loud.

”Daoist Bang Ao, it’s my fault for not explaining clearly. In fact, in Hongmeng City, if any cultivator with a talent for Soul Cultivation is willing to follow the City Lord, the cultivation resources would be directly provided by the City Lord. Before you, there was a Daoist Ding Hong who used to be a member of a robber organization, and now he has made rapid progress on the path of Soul Cultivation, even achieving breakthroughs in the Taoist Realm within less than a hundred years,” Xu Yiming said with a smile.

Jing Yan attaches great importance to Soul Cultivators. He wants to form a directly commanded loyal team of Soul Cultivators. The resources needed for Soul Cultivation indeed far exceed those of ordinary cultivators, especially those treasures that can enhance the strength of the Divine Soul Body, whose value is beyond the imagination of ordinary cultivators. But for Soul Cultivation expenses, Jing Yan would pay out of his own pocket.

The resources used by Xu Yiming and Ding Hong for cultivation were all provided by Jing Yan. Jing Yan even let them cultivate Soul Techniques, and although they are Low-level Soul Skills, each one is worth hundreds of billions or even trillions of Black Crystal Stones.

”No... that’s not it!” Bang Ao said hesitantly, shaking his head.

”In fact, I have also heard from other teammates in the Guard about Master Xu Yiming selecting Soul Cultivators. Teammates sometimes talk about hoping to have the soul cultivation talent to be selected, so I also know that once selected, one would receive the City Lord’s nurturing. However, I’m still...” Bang Ao found it difficult to speak.

”Bang Ao, what exactly is your difficulty? Speak out!” Jing Yan said, staring at Bang Ao intently.

”City Lord, if I follow Xu Yiming on the path of Soul Cultivation, then I won’t be able to continue staying in the Guard. Without being in the Guard, I would lose my salary,” Bang Ao said.

”Salary? You’re a squad leader, so your annual salary should be 500,000 Black Crystal Stones, right?” Jing Yan remarked.

”Yes, 500,000 Black Crystal Stones are very important to me,” Bang Ao nodded.

Refuse to leave the Guard to become a Soul Cultivator for 500,000 Black Crystal Stones a year?

Jing Yan’s eyes showed a hint of disappointment.

Seemingly sensing the City Lord’s disappointment in him, Bang Ao continued in a low voice: ”City Lord, I didn’t come to Hongmeng City alone. I came... with my mother. My mother is injured, and I need resources for her treatment. Without the Guard’s salary, I have no resources to treat my mother’s injuries.”

Hearing this, Jing Yan understood. The look of disappointment in his eyes also faded.

”Daoist Bang Ao, where is your mother now?” Xu Yiming inquired.

”In the northern part of the city, I rented a room in a courtyard there. Although it’s a very cheap place, my mother can settle there. I have to save up Black Crystal Stones to buy elixirs that can heal my mother’s injuries. If I don’t have a salary, then... I cannot abandon my mother,” Bang Ao said, looking up at Xu Yiming.

Having already spoken, he had nothing more to hide or find difficult to convey.

Jing Yan smiled.

”If these are the only small matters, they can be easily solved,” Jing Yan stated. ”Xu Yiming, I leave this matter to you. If elixirs are needed, take them from the Hongmeng Pill Tower. I will inform Wuxia Building Owner about this.”

”Yes!” Xu Yiming responded.

Jing Yan then looked at Bang Ao and said: ”Bang Ao, you have a talent for Soul Cultivation. Don’t waste such a rare talent. Follow Xu Yiming in the future and work hard in your cultivation. All other trivial matters are not a problem.”

”City Lord, I...” In Bang Ao’s eyes, there was a faint glimmer of tears.

He is a strong person.

But here, some originally closed parts of his heart were touched, making him choke up, unable to express thanks to the City Lord.

”You don’t need to say anything, just focus on your cultivation,” Jing Yan waved his hand.

Bang Ao left the City Lord Mansion with Xu Yiming, and with Xu Yiming handling the matter, Jing Yan felt at ease.

Jing Yan was delighted about Bang Ao’s addition, which could strengthen the Soul Cultivation team. If the Soul Cultivation team could have over ten Soul Cultivators mastering Soul Techniques, their threat would be significant. Combined with Divine Soul Magical Treasures and battle formations, Xu Yiming and others might even break through to the Immortal Venerable Realm in the future. Thus, this Soul Cultivation team could become a deadly weapon for Hongmeng City to hunt down formidable enemies.

Currently, Jing Yan only has Hongmeng City under his control. Its safety is manageable with him overseeing it, and the safety index of Hongmeng City is quite high. However, in the future, Jing Yan plans to expel all forces from the Thunder Domain, a process that will certainly involve crushing the cities controlled by many forces. Jing Yan alone cannot handle everything; he needs more support.

...

The Grand Steward and Bai Han discussed with the tax chief Xu Yiming for three days, and they devised a taxation scheme. Bai Han reported the plan to Jing Yan, who found it acceptable.

This plan, along with the corresponding tax laws, was pushed down. The City Guard closely coordinated with Xu Yiming’s actions.

Hongmeng City’s officials notified all small forces or merchants operating commercially within Hongmeng City to prepare their accounts in a month’s time, awaiting the city’s tax department’s audit, and paying a certain percentage of taxes based on shop profits.

If taxes aren’t paid, they will face severe crackdowns and penalties.

After the implementation of such a tax policy, opposition was of course inevitable. Those merchants and small trading forces, among others, are not willing to hand over a portion of their profits to Hongmeng City without resistance. At least, some of them would not cooperate willingly.