Chapter 693: Master Tushan Xiancheng Economic Crisis

Beneath the Sun God Tree.

Jiang Ding cultivated while concentrating vast quantities of Ri Yan Jing and sunlight to generate intense heat, smelting Synthetic Synthetic Gengjin No. 10; using the molten Synthetic Synthetic Gengjin No. 10 and large amounts of purified uranium as ink, he meticulously traced the second Great Star prohibition within the Taiqing Flying Sword.

After nearly ten years of refining,

the second Great Star prohibition remained hazy, showing only minimal substantive change, distinguishable only by spiritual sense.

Such is the difficulty of refining a Nascent Soul treasure.

Typically, even Nascent Soul cultivators of notable talent and abundant resources often require over a thousand years to complete the eighteen spiritually self-generating Great Star prohibitions, bringing their Ben Ming Fa to the peak of Infant Treasure.

At Jiang Ding's current speed, it would take over five hundred years to refine the Taiqing Flying Sword to the Infant Treasure limit.

Less than ten years,

for a Nascent Soul cultivator refining an Infant Treasure, is practically the blink of an eye, hardly worth mentioning.

In the eighteen years prior to the emergence of the Senior Wanji Canghai Tianjun's Immortal Gate version of Scorching Sun Spirit Iron, he could only achieve such speed.

Though slow, it is no reason to stop.

Whenever Jiang Ding has free time, he will not stop, regardless of circumstances or excuses.

This is his Dao foundation sword; only death can make him cease refining it.

After months of cultivation, his figure vanished.

……

Master Tushan Xiancheng.

A youth in green robes opened his eyes, his spiritual sense scanning the surroundings once more to patrol his city.

"Trade has declined significantly..."

Jiang Ding murmured to himself.

Several years have passed since the Northern Plains Blood King Army's defeat; the situation has affected this place. The once-bustling trade routes are now sparse, with a flying tower ship appearing only after several consecutive months.

Affected by this, the large number of artificers, alchemists, talisman masters, array masters, and other technical personnel who had appeared in Master Tushan Xiancheng suddenly found themselves idle.

Many gathered in cheap teahouses to inquire about news, constantly complaining; people wandered the streets everywhere, yet no one was seen buying anything.

A sense of anxiety permeated the Immortal City.

With no livelihood, they could only consume their savings; yet they possessed power and had high cultivation expenses. Under such conditions, public order deteriorated rapidly.

Master Tushan handmaidens suppressed disturbances everywhere, busy without pause.

"... Economic crisis?"

"Damn it!"

Jiang Ding swept with his spiritual sense, immediately understanding what had happened, and couldn't help but mutter a curse.

Over the past few decades, Master Tushan Xiancheng had implemented extremely radical economic policies, attempting to build a trade and economic center for the Northern Plains.

Talent, industrial layout, and economic policies in all aspects revolved around this point, attracting numerous cultivators with specialized skills to gather here.

Now, external orders have suddenly vanished.

This extremely extreme economic entity is showing signs of self-destruction.

A large number of cultivators with no income, no jobs, yet possessing power and some organization, gathered together; they were like dry wood soaked in oil, ready to burn fiercely, even explode, at the slightest spark.

"It won't happen..."

Thinking of this possibility, Jiang Ding shook his head.

If they dare to cause chaos, they will die.

Master Tushan Xiancheng has absolute confidence in suppressing any riots from Jin Dan or Foundation Establishment levels; absolutely no problems will arise.

However, a sharp decline in tax revenue is unavoidable.

Commercial taxes are estimated to drop by over ninety percent, with further room for decline; in the future, commercial tax inversion is even possible.

That is to say, commercial taxes could become negative, requiring agricultural tax revenue to offset commercial losses.

As the economy deteriorates rapidly, public order will likely follow suit. Master Tushan Xiancheng is still okay, with the Handmaiden Corps suppressing unrest, but the vast Three Kingdoms region will not fare so well.

Severe suppression has limited effect.

They are simply poor, with no next meal for cultivation; they must find a way somehow.

Whether it is He Bu He Fa is not within the scope of consideration.

"Someone come."

Jiang Ding raised his voice slightly.

"Young Master."

Outside, a green-skirted handmaiden at the late Foundation Establishment stage revealed her hidden form, entered the palace, and bowed with a knee bend.

In recent years, handmaidens at the peak of Foundation Establishment rarely appeared in Master Tushan Xiancheng; they had all gone to the Northern Plains to participate in the Wang Ting war for their own Jin Dan Dao paths.

"What is the reason for the recent deterioration in public order?"

Jiang Ding rubbed his brow and asked.

"Young Master,"

the green-skirted handmaiden bowed again with a knee bend.

"In the past few years, trade flourished; alchemists, artificers, talisman masters, and other cultivators saw their incomes increase significantly. Surrounding restaurants, shops, entertainers, even servants and farmers all benefited greatly, making cultivation and life much more comfortable."

"Due to substantial income, many cultivators borrowed money from banks to advance their cultivation further; with higher cultivation, they could secure more orders, earn more money, and increase their chances of advancing to Foundation Establishment and Jin Dan."

"One step fast, every step fast."

"Even cultivators who prefer stability, those who did not borrow money, often invested all their spirit stones into cultivation, purchasing magical artifacts, and alchemical pills."

Cultivators are simply born spendthrifts; cultivators who save spirit stones and do not spend them can be considered a rare species.

"So, they have no money now, not a single spirit stone?"

Jiang Ding sighed.

"Young Master, that's an exaggeration; even a Qi Condensation cultivator usually has three or four Spirit Stones."

The maid in the green skirt bowed and said, "Basically, many cultivators find cultivation extremely difficult. Without pills or Spirit Stones to rent a cave dwelling, they can only meditate on the streets, disregarding disturbances from others that could lead to qi deviation."

"This is the reason for the rapid deterioration of public order. While banditry, arson, and murder are relatively rare, theft, entrapment scams, and dining-and-dashing by petty thieves are rampant and occur constantly. For this reason, the Law Enforcement Hall is discussing expelling cultivators who commit crimes repeatedly, to serve as a warning and deter others."

Jiang Ding fell silent.

The cultivators' desire for cultivation is ingrained in their very bones; it can be said to be no less than the desire of mortals to have a full stomach.

This instinctual desire is so terrifying and deeply rooted.

The twenty-eight families of the Northern Plains have ruled for over ten thousand years, controlling all propaganda channels and holding absolute hegemony over public opinion. Yet, after ten thousand years of brainwashing, they have not made the vast number of rogue cultivators accept their fate, believing they were born to remain at this realm for a lifetime, making no progress and seeking no change.

Blocking them is impossible; no matter what, it cannot be blocked.

"First, for those who commit petty theft repeatedly, the most egregious group of cultivators, we need stricter punishments. We must not expel them beyond the walls of Master Tushan Xiancheng, leaving the trouble for the outside world, for the outside is also our territory."

Jiang Ding spoke, setting the tone.

Criminals must be severely punished. The economic crisis was not caused by them; this cannot be compromised in the slightest.

"Secondly,"

"All loans, whether from Master Tushan Xiancheng or from private individuals, shall stop accruing interest until new decrees are issued."

Jiang Ding continued: "Furthermore, open all Spirit Veins. First-tier, second-tier, and third-tier Spirit Veins shall be freely accessible to Qi Condensation cultivators, Foundation Establishment cultivators, and Jin Dan cultivators respectively. Those who disrupt the order will be severely punished."

"Third, allocate thirty million low-grade Spirit Stones annually to subsidize the basic cultivation of low-income cultivators who have previously paid a certain amount of taxes to Tushan Xiancheng. Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, and Jin Dan each have their own standards. The Government Hall must draft a plan to ensure that relevant technical talents are not let down, caring for their lives and cultivation."

"Fourth, strengthen control. If anyone attempts to collude or incite riots at this time, their crime shall be considered one degree more severe, and they will be dealt with severely."

"Yes."

The maid in the green skirt bowed and retreated.

(End of this chapter)