Chapter 1206 - Upheaval. Is Really Disappointing
Since Blue Qilin Village had no direct connection with any major city, it seemed abandoned by the Divine Mountains. At the same time, though, its relaxed, uncompetitive atmosphere was highly appealing.
There were no schemes or fights. The villagers were simple and good-hearted. It had been like that for thousands of years.
UntilâŠ.
Bang!
A mighty boom reverberated throughout the village. A group of men in the uniforms of Upheaval stood atop the villageâs sacrificial altar.
A youth lay sprawled on the ground in front of them, blood dripping from the corners of his lips. Quite a few villagers had gathered around him.
Quite a few other villagers puffed up their chests and strode forth. Although they werenât even half as strong as the gang members, they showed no signs of fear.
âHah? What, do you still want to attack us?â said one of the gang members with a ferocious yet disdainful snort. He reached out and created a suction. The villagers immediately felt themselves pulled towards him.
âWhat do you think youâre doing?â A silk ribbon flew through the air, stirring up howling winds and cutting through the air as it slammed towards the gang member. He narrowed his eyes, nimbly somersaulted backward, and dodged. The ribbon blasted a deep pit into the ground where heâd once stood, scattering chunks of rock.
This new arrival was none other than Zuo Mo, whoâd just hurried over from the herb gardens. Little Ting and the young messenger followed after her, medicine baskets still on their backs.
âZuo Mo.â The villagers all called out her name. They helped the wounded villager to his feet. He then glanced at Zuo Mo meaningfully.
Zuo Mo nodded, then pushed. âWhat on earth are you trying to do?â she asked, narrowing her eyes as the gang members.
âWhat else could we be doing? Weâre here to collect taxes.â A gang member walked through the gates, narrowed his eyes, and chuckled. âDonât you know that your village is now a part of our Upheaval Gangâs territory? If you want to live here, you have to pay taxes, the same way you would if you lived in a city. We will also take a cut of your profits from mining and growing herbs as taxes. We already sent someone to notify you, so this time, weâre here for the money.â
âWhy didnât I know about this?â Zuo Moâs expression darkened, and she turned to one of the village elders. He was the noblest, most respected elder in the village, as well as its mayor. âYou just told me that Upheaval had come.â
âAt the time, they asked for an amount of money we could afford to pay, so I didnât say anything. But now that theyâre back, theyâre asking for even more.â
âOf course weâre asking for more. Last time we came was almost six months ago. Now that weâre back, you ought to pay taxes to make up for that whole six months, shouldnât you?â The gang members burst into laughter.
Zuo Mo pursed her lips. âDonât push us too far.â
She wouldnât ask how much money Upheaval was asking for.
For one thing, even if she asked, she knew she didnât have the resources to solve the villageâs problem.
For another, based on what the mayor had just said, they were obviously asking for a sum that crossed the villageâs bottom light.
Finally, these people were clearly hooligans. If the village gave them money, theyâd just push even harder next time, and with fewer reservations.
Her eyes flashed with cold light, and the soft silk ribbon instantly stiffened, becoming as hard as steel. Immortal power billowed and surged around her, forming whirlpools in the surrounding air as her immortal king aura spread outward.
âNot bad, not bad. Itâs been a long time since Iâve seen such a pretty female immortal king,â said one of the Upheaval members, a youth. His hair was close-cropped, his eyes tilted upwards, his cheeks jutted out, his eyes were sunken, and his lips were a little purple. He had a silver circlet in the foreigner of his lips, and his uniform was different from the other gang members.
âHeâs a probationary inner sect disciple,â murmured one of the villagers. Although Blue Qilin village was isolated, they werenât completely cut off from the outside world.
Theyâd leave the village every year to do business, and although they didnât spend long in the cities, given the extent of Upheavalâs influence, it was inevitable that the villagers would learn of them.
Zuo Mo knit her brows. The minimum standard to become a probationary inner sect disciple was immortal-king-level strength.
Although she was also an immortal king, her equipment and magical techniques werenât on par with the youthâs. If they really came to blows, she feared she had less than a forty percent chance of victory.
âHey, pretty lady, Iâm acting in accordance with our regulations. Itâs not that we want to force you to pay taxes; the gang demands this of us. If you can provide three hundred thousand celeste, weâll leave right now. If you canât, weâll be forces to resort to emergency measures.â
The probationary inner sect disciple rubbed his lower jaw, his eyes scanning her exquisite figure up and down.
âOf course, if you were willing to follow meâŠ. I could pay on your villageâs behalf. Itâs just three hundred thousand celeste; I can afford such a pittance.â
âYouâre taking this too far!â roared the injured man.
âWang Nan, back down. Leave this to me.â Zuo Mo narrowed her eyes. âIf youâre acting in accordance with regulations, please show me your orders. If you can, weâll give you every last coin you ask for. If not⊠Iâm sorry, but we have nothing to offer you.â
âYou backwater commoners really are unruly!â The probationary inner sect disciple snorted, and his violent immortal king energy surged forth like a geyser. âI already gave you people a chance. Either give me the money now, orâŠ.. Your entire village can give up on living any longer. But wait, pretty lady. You, I can let live.â
A mid-stage immortal king.
As soon as the youth revealed his full strength, Zuo Mo understood.
The prerequisite to undergo divine tribulation and ascend to the God Realm was becoming a peak immortal king. Zuo Mo was no exception.
However, during the ascension process, power condensed. Zuo Mo was now nothing but an early-stage immortal king. Besides, she wasnât much of a fighter. Her odds of winning against a mid-stage immortal king werenât even forty percent; they were ten percent at best.
The surrounding villagersâ eyes blazed with fury, and quite a few cried out, âIs this really the righteous group we heard stories of?â
Theyâd lived and worked here, in Blue Qilin Village, for generations. They had no strife with the outside world, yet Upheaval was here to wreck their peaceful lives.
Even Zuo Mo couldnât help but clench her fists.
This UpheavalâŠ.
Was such a disappointment.
âYou jerks had better hurry up and scram! Let me tell you, my Big Sister Zuo Moâs dao partner is none other than Ye Zichen. Ye Zichen! If he founds out youâre bulling us like this, her dao partner wonât let you guys off!â said Little Ting. She stood behind Zuo Mo, her basket still on her back, and peeked out as she screamed at the gang members.
When she brought up Ye Zichen, the gangsters froze, but an instant later, their eyes flashed with wanton arrogance and disdain.
âGrandmaster Ye? You dare say such a thing? Fine then, in that case, Grandmaster Ye is our Big Brother Haoâs master. If what youâre saying is true, why havenât I heard of Grandmaster Ye having a dao partner like you?â
But at that momentâŠ.
A black-robed youth suddenly appeared in the village. His cold, handsome face looked indifferent, and his dark pupils were so deep, it seemed like you could sink right into them.
Everyone present, villager and gangster alike, even that probationary inner sect disciple, felt their hearts tremble.
This trepidation rose from deep within their souls; they all felt terror, but also awe. They didnât dare so much as look the youth in the eye.
âWho is this?â Everyone, from the villagers to the gang members, wondered the same thing. That probationary inner sect discipleâs pupils violently constricted.
As soon as the black-robed man appeared, he sensed his immortal energy surging out of control.
âIâll acknowledge her as my dao partner, but you say youâre my apprenticeâŠ..? Then why have I never seen you before?â
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