Fantasy: Immortality Begins with Absorbing Demons

Chapter 422 At the Foot of Qiyun Mountain

His gaze fell on the bronze waist tag hanging from Han Yi's waist.

"Everyone? Ordinary people too?" Han Yi was taken aback. He thought only the disciples under Jing Tian Manor counted.

"That's right. The ordinary people here are able to survive and have enough to eat only because of the support, protection, and help of our Jingtian Manor. So they naturally belong to our management."

Qu Qiao was acting in a matter of course.

Han Yi remained silent, which revealed just how weak the current imperial court's control over local forces was...

In Pingzhou, where martial arts were previously weak, the imperial court's Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs, Martial Alliance, and Merchant Alliance, among other institutions, still held considerable influence. The Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs, in particular, was the powerful department supporting the imperial court's true control over major cities and prefectures, particularly in dealing with all sorts of strange and supernatural events.

However, as long as the situation falls within Yunzhou, a place with the incomparably powerful Yuanmiao Sect, whose strength is enough to suppress everything, the presence of the imperial court is weakened to the extreme…

Compared to Emperor Yuan Miaozong and the imperial court.

The peace that the imperial court could provide, Emperor Yuanmiaozong could also provide.

The things the imperial court needs to do—slay demons, eliminate evil, suppress rebellions, and nurture the people—can also be done by Yuanmiaozong, and perhaps even better.

Lower taxes mean people can live and work in peace and contentment.

Furthermore, Emperor Yuanmiaozong's progressive, inclusive, and open-minded ideas far surpassed the conservative, closed-minded, and arrogant backwardness of the court.

The Yuanmiao Sect advocated non-interference in governance and self-cultivation, believing that everyone only needed to be responsible for their own actions. This led to a flourishing of diverse cultures and factions in Yunzhou, where all sorts of forces, schools of thought, and ideas converged, were nurtured, and were born.

This is a prosperous and thriving martial arts scene that is completely invisible to the imperial court.

Compared to the imperial court, Emperor Yuanmiaozong did a better job; there was no war, no demons, no ghosts, no starvation, no disasters...

How could the imperial court possibly have any presence in Yunzhou?!

It was nothing more than a facade of a government office building.

As for the others, such as the Extraordinary Affairs Room, Martial Alliance, Merchant Alliance... they don't exist at all. After all, even if you set them up, what's the use if no one listens to you?

Han Yi then thought of his own position, Inspector.

In name, it's just a field post assigned by the sect, but in reality, after listening to Qu Qiao's explanation...

This inspector is nothing more than a local tyrant.

No wonder Senior Sister Shen Qiuling was able to amass such a vast fortune in just a few years as an inspector, and then retire gracefully to enjoy her old age...

Under the jurisdiction of the Inspector, everyone within his area of ​​authority must obey his orders.

It can be said that within his jurisdiction, the inspector was like a god.

Instantly, Han Yi felt immense pressure.

So many people are watching him, so many people's fates are in his hands...

But then, a flame rose up again deep within him.

He knew this was a scorching, burning flame, born from the intertwining of power and desire…

He recalled the meaningful words and look in Zhong Yunxiu's eyes when she left...

"The position of inspector is a responsibility, an obligation, and above all, a test of your conscience..."

Han Yi took a deep breath and focused his mind.

He knew that in this world, power and desire were all meaningless.

Only power truly belongs to oneself….

"As for Yingyang Hall and Lotus Hall..." Qu Qiao was still introducing them seriously.

Han Yi's thoughts, however, had long since wandered off to who-knows-where...

The convoy moved slowly, and after passing through this dirt road, it soon entered the main road.

As you ascend along the highway, the greenery on both sides suddenly deepens.

Compared to the bumpy, barren roads, the grasslands and hills here were much more vibrant and full of life. The convoy continued forward, crossed a hill, and finally arrived near Jingtianzhuang, at the foot of Qiyun Mountain, around noon.

......

......

"Come on, everyone, let's drink and toast Inspector Han!"

Night falls at the foot of Qiyun Mountain in a grand restaurant in Jingming Town.

The restaurant is three stories high, with its dark green eaves covered with red cloths symbolizing good fortune. The entire building stands in the middle of the town and is the most eye-catching landmark building.

All other houses are significantly shorter than this one.

Inside the private rooms on the third floor, there are artificial landscapes such as "winding stream" and "old tree branches", creating a vibrant scene.

Although the artificial hill and pond are rather small, you can still tell that the idea is good.

The three hall masters belonging to the Qiyun Mountain area all gathered to welcome Han Yi.

"Not bad, not bad. Inspector Han has worked hard all day, so we must show him some respect." Zhu Haishan, the head of Yingyang Hall, stood up to offer a toast.

He was a square-faced man, and even his body seemed to be square as well.

“Yes, we must make sure Inspector Han drinks to his heart’s content!” Luo Meiwei, the head of the Lotus Hall, also stood up.

Luo Meiwei, dressed as a beautiful woman, with exquisite makeup, alluring red lips, and her long hair styled in an updo secured with a simple white jade hairpin. She wore a black lace dress that concealed her figure where it should be revealed, while revealing glimpses of what shouldn't be, like a plump, juicy peach, arousing the imagination.

"Please, everyone, have a seat. There's no need to be so polite." Han Yi smiled and sat in the main seat. "I'm new here, and there are many things I still need to learn from you three. I'll also need your help with many troublesome matters in the future." He picked up his wine glass and brought it to his lips.

His pure white lotus body endowed him with extraordinary toxin detection abilities and powerful resistance to poisons.

He could tell whether there was a problem or not just by the slightest touch of his lips to the wine.

Han Yi tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

"Good, Master Han is awesome! I'll take one!" Qu Qiao cheered repeatedly, refilled his glass, and drank it down.

The other two hall masters offered compliments and drank the hot, spicy liquor.

After they finished drinking, the three hall masters sat back down in their original seats.

The large, round mahogany table could easily seat more than a dozen people, but only Han Yi and his three companions were seated there.

A large table was laden with meat, wine, rice, and other dishes, their aroma filling the air.

The remaining henchmen stood outside the private room, serving dishes and standing guard. "Master Han, come and try some of our Jingming Town's specialties..." Qu Qiao gave a wink, and one of the henchmen quickly brought in a large porcelain bowl from outside.

Below the porcelain bowl was another shelf, on which was placed an iron container containing charcoal embers glowing red without any smoke.

Qu Qiao picked up the soup ladle, lifted the white porcelain lid, and immediately hot white steam filled the air, emitting a fragrance that made everyone around him unable to resist smelling it.