"Daoist Jia's talents are truly a role model for us all!"
Upon hearing Jia Ren's words, Yang Bingzhi was astounded. He had never thought such a maneuver was possible.
Heavenly River Square had long been a bloodsucker, devouring the wealth of countless Loose Cultivators. The malevolent forces, headed by Heavenly River Square, had brought about a pest disaster, causing significant losses to Spirit Farrs, who harbored deep hatred for them. They sought to administer justice on behalf of the heavens and to steal from the rich to redy their own poverty.
"We must act quickly. If we're even a step late and the Five Elents Sect makes a move, we won't have a chance." Jia Ren didn't want any unexpected incidents to derail the plan, so he issued a reminder. Intelligence was ti-sensitive; if it was late, it would be useless.
"Don't worry," Yang Bingzhi replied, "I'll do my best to find people within an Hour at most."
He dared not delay and hurried towards the Grand Wilderness Mountain at top speed.
Jia Ren was in no rush to leave the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, continuing to enjoy his Spiritual Tea and pastries while improving his Proficiency Level in his leisure ti.
Yang Bingzhi's efficiency was far greater than Jia Ren had imagined. In half an Hour, over a hundred Spirit Farrs had gathered outside the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion, their faces filled with unconcealable excitent. People naturally love a free ride, and few were exceptions. The malevolent forces headed by Heavenly River Square had caused the Spirit Farrs heavy losses, and they couldn't miss this rare opportunity to recoup them.
One Spirit Farr said, "Daoist Jia, Bingzhi ntioned you're skilled at pest removal; we'll have to rely heavily on you."
Yang Bingzhi had already advertised Jia Ren's services. Jia Ren didn't even need to show up in person, as many Spirit Farrs were already vying for his help with pest removal. The most important factor was his price, which seed remarkably fair compared to the exorbitant rates of the unscrupulous Pest Removal Teams.
"Let's set out quickly!" another urged. "If we're late, there won't be any Spirit Stones to borrow!"
Everyone was there to earn Spirit Stones and didn't want to waste ti, so they headed straight for Heavenly River Square imdiately.
Heavenly River Square conducted extensive business, with casinos in the Inner City and in the Outer City districts to the south, east, north, and west, occupying a vast area of land. In the Market, where every inch of land was precious as gold, the annual rent for that land alone was no small sum.
「Si Hour」
Just as the Si Hour struck, the West City District branch of Heavenly River Square had already gathered a considerable number of gamblers. Those who lost walked away dejected or headed to Heavenly River Square's underground moneylenders to borrow. Those who won found their good fortune was only temporary, as they soon lost it all again at Heavenly River Square's gambling tables.
Winning was rely a process; losing was the inevitable result.
Countless Cultivators had gambled away their fortunes at Heavenly River Square. Even so, nurous gamblers, their eyes bloodshot from losses, still ca daily, continuously pouring Spirit Stones into Heavenly River Square's coffers.
"All of you want to borrow Spirit Stones?"
The first to receive them was a clerk. She was completely flabbergasted to see more than a hundred Cultivators arriving together to borrow Spirit Stones; it was her first ti witnessing such a sight.
The Steward, hearing the news, arrived with a beaming smile once he realized all the Cultivators were Spirit Farrs. Heavenly River Square was well aware of the severe losses caused by the pest disaster; it was only a matter of ti before the Spirit Farrs ca to them for loans. Still, over a hundred Spirit Farrs seeking loans at once was unexpected.
"How much can we borrow? Make it quick!" one farr urged.
"The fields are waiting for Spirit Stones for pest removal!" another added.
The Five Elents Sect could arrive at Heavenly River Square at any mont. Efficiency was paramount; being even a step too slow ant no Spirit Stones to borrow.
The Steward said reassuringly, "Everyone, there's no need to rush. Heavenly River Square will offer different borrowing limits based on the strength of our fellow Cultivators."
"The limit for the Second Level of Qi Refinent is five Spirit Stones."
"The limit for the Third Level of Qi Refinent is ten Spirit Stones."
"The limit for the Fourth Level of Qi Refinent is thirty Spirit Stones."
"The limit for the Fifth Level of Qi Refinent is fifty Spirit Stones."
"..."
"Array Masters, Alchemists, Artifact Refiners, and Talisman Makers have higher limits. If you have valuable collateral, the limit will also be increased."
The greater one's strength, the stronger their ability to earn Spirit Stones, and thus, the higher their borrowing limit. Thirty Spirit Stones was the limit for the Fourth Level of Qi Refinent; mastering one of the Four Arts of Cultivation allowed for an even higher borrowing limit.
Heavenly River Square wasn't a charity endlessly distributing wealth; they also had to consider one's ability to repay. Without the ability to repay, a loan could easily beco bad debt. The Spirit Farrs had always stayed in the Grand Wilderness Mountain and had fixed Spirit Field rents, making them reliable debtors. This was also why Heavenly River Square wanted to develop its loan business with Spirit Farrs.
"All of you can borrow up to your maximum limits," the Steward announced.
All the Spirit Farrs could borrow up to their personal limits; the stronger they were, the more they could borrow.
Jia Ren was the only exception. During the peak of the Spirit Fish business, it was estimated he could have been treated like an Alchemist. But now... With the Bizarre Mist Maiden appearing in the Lake of Smoky Waves, the Spirit Fish business had completely dried up, and he was treated like any other Loose Cultivator.
Without a unique skill, one's life was constantly at risk. He could only borrow up to twenty Spirit Stones, rely two-thirds of his theoretical limit.
A bit of a pity! Jia Ren felt a slight twinge of regret. Still, fleecing even a little was better than nothing. After all... he had no intention of repaying those twenty Spirit Stones anyway.
Each person left their Spiritual Power imprint on Heavenly River Square's Tracing Disk, making it convenient for Heavenly River Square to track them down for debt collection at any ti. Otherwise, after borrowing Spirit Stones, one could simply hide away deep in the mountains and forests. Heavenly River Square didn't have Three Heads and Six Arms; it would be very difficult to find anyone who disappeared. This was also why they were more willing to lend to Spirit Farrs—as the saying goes, the monk can run away, but the temple can't.
"You must report to us before leaving Great Wilderness City; otherwise, Heavenly River Square will consider it an act of fleeing from debt. I hope you all will conduct yourselves accordingly," the Steward warned.
The loan process went smoothly. The Spirit Farrs left with their newly acquired Spirit Stones, beaming with joy. However, a small portion of them wore gloomy expressions.
What if Heavenly River Square had strong backers and wasn't overthrown? What then?
Just as this thought arose in their minds, the sky lit up with the glow of flying swords. A group of Cultivators wearing the robes of the Law Enforcent Office arrived, riding their swords. Sword kinesis flight was a hallmark of Late Stage Qi-Refining cultivators, indicating the newcors were all elites.
"Apprehend everyone related to Heavenly River Square!" commanded the leader of the newcors.
A Formation array activated, sealing the area to prevent entry or exit and stopping Heavenly River Square's higher-ups from getting wind of the situation and escaping. The identity of every Loose Cultivator gathered there would be verified to ascertain if they were mbers of Heavenly River Square.
"Hm? Spirit Farrs?" The Chief of the Law Enforcent Office looked at the hundred-odd Spirit Farrs with surprise and uncertainty. He had initially thought they were there to cause trouble, but upon learning they had just taken out substantial loans from Heavenly River Square, his expression turned peculiar.
The Chief mused internally, Cause trouble? They would definitely be taken to the Law Enforcent Office and gain nothing. But borrowing... Truly clever! Using Heavenly River Square's Spirit Stones to cover the losses from the Spirit Field pest disaster... With Heavenly River Square falling, no one would pursue these debts. Even if soone took over Heavenly River Square later, these would just be bad debts. Whose idea was this?
His gaze fell on Yang Bingzhi, filled with appreciation. First, he discovered the pest disaster and reported it to the Five Elents Sect. Then, he managed to use the culprits' own Spirit Stones to compensate for the losses. Unparalleled wit! A true talent, worth cultivating!
The Spirit Farrs passed through smoothly. Only Jia Ren was questioned in detail by the Enforcent Team and was only released after they confird there were no issues with him.
Similar events unfolded in the Inner City and the four Outer City districts. All Cultivators related to Heavenly River Square were taken away, with no exceptions.
Everyone reached the consensus: Heavenly River Square was finished.
"Haha, we've all made a fortune! It's ti to celebrate. I'm going to find so familiar female Cultivators for a long, overnight talk," one farr chortled.
"The female Cultivators of Cloud Attire Pavilion are best known for their joyous skills. It's just that the Spirit Stones are a bit expensive—at least three per session—but today I'll indulge!" another chid in.
"Daoist Jia, rember to co to my Spirit Field first to remove pests. Here's the deposit," a more practical farr said.
The older Spirit Farrs were relatively more rational and didn't imdiately squander their Spirit Stones on pleasure. They flocked to Jia Ren, each paying half the agreed-upon Spirit Stones as a deposit.
Jia Ren collected deposits from four families, each for twenty mu of land, totaling twenty Spirit Stones.
The other Spirit Farrs were full of regret, cursing themselves for being a step too slow. One person's pest removal ability was limited. Eighty mu of Spirit Fields would keep Jia Ren busy for a long ti; by the ti he could get to their fields, it would be too late.
In a short ti, Jia Ren had an additional forty Spirit Stones in his possession: twenty from the loan and twenty from the deposits. He quickly hurried off to buy Evil Warding Talismans.
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