Pay to Cultivate Immortality? My Sect is Completely Free - Chapter 83

Chapter 83: The Cruel Rules of the Cultivation World

Su Bai’s calm voice resounded through the sky.

Hearing this, Yun Zhi and the Great Zhao Emperor exchanged glances, both seeing a hint of bitterness in each other’s eyes.

What else was there to see?

Should they continue to fight?

With the Lingxiao Sect already obliterated, their partnership had only been able to counter them; how much better could the outcome be now?

Yet, asking them to give up was simply unacceptable!

After all, it was an Intermediate Grade Spirit Vein!

“Sect Master Su, I have a question I’d like to ask you,” Yun Zhi spoke first, her expression solemn as she looked at Su Bai.

Su Bai nodded, signaling her to speak freely.

Yun Zhi took a deep breath and said, “May I ask, Sect Master Su, if one day the Heavenly Dao Sect were to dominate the Empire, how should my Yuntian Sect be treated?”

As soon as Yun Zhi asked this, everyone’s breath was suddenly held!

Especially the Elders and disciples of the Yuntian Sect, who were now nervously looking at Su Bai, eager to see how he would respond.

Their stance towards the Yuntian Sect was essentially the same as their stance towards all other sects in the Empire!

Thus, whether it was the Great Zhao Royal Family or other spectators from various sects surrounding them, they all held their breath in anticipation.

Su Bai smiled gently and countered, “The territory of the Yuntian Sect extends for a thousand miles, how do you deal with the numerous small sects within that radius?”

At these words, everyone fell silent.

In the cultivation world, strength reigned supreme.

There were no laws, no divine reason; only power mattered!

The dominance of the big fish eating the small fish and the small fish eating tiny shrimp is vividly illustrated on this continent!

Not to mention the strength of the Immortal Alliance, just considering the Great Zhao Empire, this ruling chain is already quite terrifying!

Take the Lingxiao Sect as an example: the Immortal Alliance mandates that Nascent Soul powers submit fifty percent of their income, but the actual contributions often exceed that.

For instance, in order to curry favor with a certain powerful individual or to seek protection from a certain force, additional expenses are involved, and those total up to more than sixty percent!

With such hefty expenditures, the Lingxiao Sect would undoubtedly be unwilling and would look for ways to cover these gaps, leading them to exploit the various forces and families within their territorial influence as much as possible.

Consequently, the Lingxiao Sect demands that its subservient Golden Core forces pay seventy percent or even eighty percent.

These Golden Core powers, in turn, govern some Foundation Establishment forces, and since they are paying a lot, they will certainly squeeze even more from those beneath them.

Thus, the Foundation Establishment forces are required to submit eighty percent or more!

The truly unfortunate ones are the ordinary mortals without any cultivation, who suffer greatly and can be subjected to a terrifying tax rate of nine out of ten!

Take the over ten thousand residents of Huangtu Town as an example: they toil endlessly, struggling to even have enough to eat, while the Ouyang Family of Huangtu Town enjoys an extravagant lifestyle.

Moreover, the Ouyang Family has to pay “protection fees” to the Yellow Sand Sect, and the Yellow Sand Sect has to pay “protection fees” to…

The hierarchy is distinct!

Qi Refiners regard commoners as ants, Foundation Establishment cultivators see Qi Refiners as ants, and Golden Cores also perceive Foundation Establishment cultivators as ants.

However, for Nascent Soul experts, Golden Core Daoists are also ants!

This is a glimpse of the reality that Su Bai observes today.

This is the most brutal law of the cultivation world!

At the end of this ruling chain, it is the ordinary people at the very bottom, comprising the largest base, who suffer the most!

“In my territory, I do not allow dissenting voices to exist.”

“All of you have only two options.”

“Submit or be destroyed.”

“Elder Yun, you are a smart person, you should understand what I mean, right?” Su Bai said casually.

Yun Zhi’s expression shifted between darkness and light; she certainly understood Su Bai’s meaning.

The Great Zhao Emperor also frowned slightly; indeed, the Heavenly Dao Sect harbored strong ambitions!

“If we were to submit, how many resources would we need to pay each year?” Yun Zhi took a deep breath and asked again.

Su Bai smiled gently, slowly extending one hand and spreading his five fingers: “You, as a Nascent Soul Level power, are required to pay this amount.”

“What? Fifty percent?” Yun Zhi gasped in shock.

(This is a foreshadowing, but if I don’t annotate it, many might ask what the difference is between the Heavenly Dao Sect and the Immortal Alliance, so let me explain here.

In the future, within the territory of the Heavenly Dao Sect, other sects and forces will have to pay more taxes—up to fifty percent—if they earn more (based on reality).

Sects and forces that only seek refuge won’t have to pay if they disband or join the Heavenly Dao Sect.

Due to the significant disparities in treatment, disciples and Elders from these refuge forces will soon flock to the Heavenly Dao Sect within two years, making it as if they never existed.

Conversely, those earning less will pay less, and once their income falls below a certain threshold, they won’t have to submit anything at all; they might even receive subsidies to ensure a basic standard of living.

The Immortal Alliance has a minimum of fifty percent, with no upper limit, so regardless of the sect or force, life in the Heavenly Dao Sect will be much more comfortable, leading to a situation where everyone will feel it’s truly appealing—this is the difference…)

“Sect Master Su, isn’t this a bit of a stretch?”

“We are supposed to pay nearly sixty percent to the Immortal Alliance, plus fifty percent to the Heavenly Dao Sect. Where are we going to get so many Spirit Stones?” Yun Zhi shook her head.

The Great Zhao Emperor also wore a grave expression.

Adding it all up, it already exceeded their total income!

“No, no, no, you’ve misunderstood. If you give me fifty percent to the Heavenly Dao Sect, then the Heavenly Dao Sect will naturally protect you, and what you owe to the Immortal Alliance can be ignored.”

Su Bai waved his hand to dismiss their concerns.

Yun Zhi and the Great Zhao Emperor were taken aback.

Ignore the Immortal Alliance?

The disparity between a Nascent Soul power and the Immortal Alliance…

It’s like using a water pistol to put out the sun?

This…

“For ten thousand years, anyone who sought to rebel against the Immortal Alliance has turned to dust. Do you want the Yuntian Sect’s thousand-year foundation to crumble in an instant?”

“Su Bai, do you really think your Heavenly Dao Sect is invincible? If our Old Ancestor successfully steps into Divine Transformation, annihilating your Heavenly Dao Sect will be a piece of cake!”

An Elder from the Yuntian Sect could no longer hold back and stepped forward to berate Su Bai.

“Shut up!”

A flash of light flickered in Su Bai’s eyes.

Whoosh!

In an instant, a beam of divine light shot from his eyes, severely wounding the Elder, causing him to cough up blood and kneel, barely clinging to life.

At that moment, the atmosphere fell silent.

“Lord Sect Master Su, aren’t you being a bit excessive?”

Yun Zhi said with a grim expression, gritting her teeth.

Su Bai glanced at her and said lightly, “I, Su Bai, only abide by one principle.”

“If no one offends me, I won’t offend anyone. But if someone offends me…”

Su Bai’s lips moved slightly as he uttered, “Cut the grass and eliminate the roots!”

Boom~

The scene suddenly erupted in uproar once again.

Su Bai’s words completely stunned everyone.

No one expected that this seemingly young Sect Master would be so domineering!

“Also, everyone, don’t misunderstand. I am not seeking your opinions; I am informing you.”