Chapter 392

The Ruined Heaven world.

Translation: "Ruined Heaven World."

The rules here are very strange.

Translation: "The rules here are strange."

Here, spiritual energy is a commodity with a fixed price.

Translation: "Here, spiritual energy is a commodity with a fixed price."

Cultivation techniques are luxury goods that require installment payments.

Translation: "Cultivation methods are luxury goods that require installment payments."

Even the most basic breathing technique requires paying a high spiritual energy fee to the ruling authority known as the Immortal Dynasty.

Translation: "Even the most basic breathing technique requires paying a high spiritual energy fee to the ruling body known as the Immortal Dynasty."

What if you have no money?

Translation: "If you have no money?"

Then sorry, you cannot absorb spiritual energy.

Translation: "Then sorry, you cannot absorb spiritual energy."

You can't even approach areas where spiritual energy exists.

Translation: "You can't even approach areas with spiritual energy."

Cultivation is no longer about transcending the material world and living freely.

Translation: "Cultivation is no longer about transcending the material world and wandering freely."

But rather a naked capitalistic game built upon piles of immortal crystals.

Translation: "But a naked capital game built up with immortal crystals."

The Ruined Heaven world, the thirty-three heavens, the lowest mortal heaven.

Translation: "Ruined Heaven World, the Thirty-Three Heavens, the lowest layer being the Mundane Heaven."

A massive city called Qingfeng City, a slum.

Translation: "A massive city called Clear Wind City, a slum."

In a dark, damp alley, a ragged, yellow-faced, emaciated teenager clutches tightly to a jade slip glowing with faint spiritual light in his bosom, fleeing from several tax officials of the Immortal Dynasty wearing standard armor and wielding electric batons.

Translation: "In a dark, damp alley, a ragged, yellow-faced, skinny teenager clutched tightly to a jade slip flashing faint spiritual light in his arms, dodging the pursuit of several Immortal Dynasty tax officers wearing standard armor and wielding electric shock batons."

His name is Lin Feng, once an utterly ordinary orphan in this slum.

Translation: "His name is Lin Feng, once just an ordinary orphan in this slum."

But he possesses a one-in-a-million heavenly-grade spiritual root.

Translation: "But he possessed a heaven-grade spiritual root, one in a million."

Of course, this spiritual root is not his own.

Translation: "Of course, this spiritual root was not his own."

He obtained it by saving eight years' worth of fifty thousand low-grade immortal crystals, taking a thirty-year loan of five hundred thousand low-grade immortal crystals, and having to repay thirty-five thousand low-grade immortal crystals each year from the Immortal Dynasty's Spiritual Root Leasing Bureau.

Translation: "He obtained it by saving eight years' worth of fifty thousand low-grade immortal crystals, taking a thirty-year loan of five hundred thousand low-grade immortal crystals, repaying thirty-five thousand low-grade immortal crystals each year from the Myriad Laws Immortal Dynasty's Spiritual Root Rental Bureau."

Relying on this heavenly-grade spiritual root, he advanced from the fifth to the ninth layer of the Qi Refining stage in just over a year, only one step away from Foundation Establishment.

Translation: "Relying on this heaven-grade spiritual root, he went from the fifth to the ninth level of Qi Refining in just over a year, only one step away from Foundation Establishment."

He believed that if he succeeded in Foundation Establishment, he would obtain the Immortal Dynasty's official 'immortal registry,' escape his slum status, and become a true person of high standing.

Translation: "He believed that if he succeeded in Foundation Establishment, he would obtain the Immortal Dynasty's official Immortal Register, shed his slum identity, and become a true elite."

But he was wrong.

Translation: "But he was wrong."

Renting the spiritual root was just the beginning.

Translation: "Renting the spiritual root was just the beginning."

Each month he also had to pay a 'spiritual root residency fee' for keeping the root in his body, a 'spiritual root fueling fee' to recharge it with spiritual energy for use, and an annual 'spiritual root maintenance fee'...

Translation: "Each month he also had to pay the Spiritual Root Retention Fee for the root staying in his body, the Spiritual Root Fueling Fee to recharge it with spiritual energy when using it, and the Spiritual Root Maintenance Fee for a full annual overhaul……"

These fees were unknown to Lin Feng when he first acquired the root.

Translation: "These fees were unknown to Lin Feng when he first purchased it."

He only thought that by purchasing it, he would be on the same starting line as those who had begun using heavenly spiritual roots since middle school or even elementary school, and even higher-grade roots.

Translation: "He only thought that by purchasing it, he could stand on the same starting line as those who had begun using heavenly spiritual roots since middle or even elementary school, and even higher-grade spiritual roots,"

But the result was that even a single heavenly spiritual root was unaffordable for someone earning four thousand low-grade immortal crystals per month.

Translation: "But the result was that even a mere heavenly spiritual root was beyond what someone earning four thousand low-grade immortal crystals a month could afford."

Most importantly...

Translation: "Most importantly……"

Only after purchasing it did he learn...

Translation: "Only after purchasing did he realize……"

Foundation Establishment... requires passing an examination, with an application fee of eighteen thousand eight hundred eighty-eight low-grade immortal crystals, non-refundable after registration...

Translation: "Foundation Establishment…… requires passing an examination, with an application fee of eighteen thousand eight hundred eighty low-grade immortal crystals, non-refundable after registration……"

By taking the Foundation Establishment exam through a chosen position, while the number of competitors could be tens of thousands, the number of available positions might be only a few dozen...

Translation: "By taking the Foundation Establishment exam through a chosen position, while those competing with him could number tens of thousands, the number selected for the position might be only a few dozen……"

So... one and a half years later.

Translation: "So…… one and a half years later."

Lin Feng defaulted on his payments.

Translation: "Lin Feng defaulted."

Now he is about to face enforcement officers from the Tax Bureau coming to his door for compulsory collection.

Translation: "Now he is about to face tax bureau enforcement officers coming to his door for compulsory collection."

At the end of the alley lies a dead-end wall; Lin Feng has nowhere to retreat, and several enforcement officers press him down with sneers.

Translation: "At the alley's end stood a dead wall; Lin Feng had nowhere to retreat, and several enforcement officers grabbed him, smirking."

"Lin Feng, you have overdue payments for three months on spiritual root-related fees; according to the Immortal Dynasty's leasing law, we are now seizing it forcibly!"

Translation: "\"Lin Feng, you have overdue three months without paying spiritual root-related fees; according to the Immortal Dynasty Lease Law, we are now forcibly reclaiming it! \"

Accompanied by Lin Feng's heart-rending scream, the lead enforcement officer produced a metal tube etched with runes, violently thrust it into his dantian, and forcibly ripped out that heavenly-grade spiritual root.

Translation: "Accompanied by Lin Feng's heart-rending scream, the lead enforcement officer produced a metal tube flashing with runes, brutally stabbing it into his dantian and forcibly pulling out that heaven-grade spiritual root."

Lin Feng collapsed limp on the ground, his face ashen; the excruciating pain from his shattered dantian nearly made him faint, yet he heard the tax officer's cold voice again:

Translation: "Lin Feng collapsed limp on the ground, his face ashen; the excruciating pain from his shattered dantian almost made him faint, yet he heard the tax officer's icy voice sound again:"

"Don't play dead; get up and sign. This heavenly-grade spiritual root, after you used it for one and a half years, has suffered severe spiritual depletion; after deducting depreciation, its recovery value is only four hundred thousand low-grade immortal crystals. Adding your overdue penalties, breach fees, and the enforcement cost of this seizure, you now owe the Immortal Dynasty thirty-two thousand low-grade immortal crystals."

Translation: "\"Don't play dead, get up and sign; this heaven-grade spiritual root you used for one and a half years has suffered severe spiritual degradation; after deducting depreciation, its recovery value is only four hundred thousand, plus your overdue late fees, penalties, and this enforcement's execution fee, you still owe the Immortal Dynasty thirty-two thousand low-grade immortal crystals. \"

"What?!" Lin Feng's eyes widened, his face full of despair, "I... I have no money left; I have nothing..."

Translation: "\"What?!? \" Lin Feng widened his eyes, face full of despair, \"I… I have no money left, I have nothing…\""

"No money? Then pay with your life. The mortal realm's Black Blood Mine is short on labor; go dig there for ten years and that should roughly cover the debt."

Translation: "\"No money? Then pay with your life; the Black Blood Ore Pit in the Mundane Heaven lacks workers—go dig for ten years and that'll roughly cover it. \""

The enforcement officer spoke calmly, tossed out that line, then turned and left; Lin Feng had seen people like this a thousand times, or at least eight hundred.

Translation: "The enforcement officer's voice was calm; after tossing out that line, he turned and left—this sort of person he had seen eight hundred times out of a thousand."

As for fleeing?

Translation: "As for fleeing?"

In this Ruined Heaven world.

Translation: "In this Ruined Heaven World."

Who could escape from the Tax Bureau's grasp?

Translation: "Who could escape from the Tax Bureau's grasp?"

Even those lofty immortals, upon seeing the Tax Bureau's immortals, must lower their heads and obediently compensate.

Translation: "Even those lofty immortals, upon seeing the Immortal Dynasty's tax officers, must lower their heads and willingly compensate."

At this moment.

Translation: "At this moment."

Lin Feng lay in the mud, his dantian empty; the heavenly-grade spiritual root he once saw as a ladder to heaven has become a dimmed piece worth four hundred thousand immortal crystals, now collateral.

Translation: "Lin Feng lay in the muddy water, his dantian empty; the heaven-grade spiritual root he once saw as a ladder to heaven had become a dim piece of collateral worth four hundred thousand immortal crystals."

The intense pain radiating from his dantian to his limbs is nothing compared to the bone-chilling sting of that cold debt notice.

Translation: "The intense pain radiating from his dantian to his limbs was nothing compared to the bone‑chilling sting of that icy debt notice."

He owes thirty-two thousand low-grade immortal crystals.

Translation: "He owed thirty‑two thousand low-grade immortal crystals."

Ten years of hard labor in the Black Blood Mine.

Translation: "Ten years of hard labor in the Black Blood Ore Pit."

Lin Feng's lips trembled, yet he could not utter a sound.

Translation: "Lin Feng's lips trembled, but he couldn't make a sound."

He wanted to cry, but his eye sockets were so dry that not even a tear could flow.

Translation: "He wanted to cry, but his eye sockets were so dry no tears would come."

Death?

Translation: "Death?"

That thought flashed through his mind, only to be choked off by himself.

Translation: "That thought flashed through his mind, then he choked it off himself."

If he died... he would become a soul cultivator.

Translation: "If he died…… that would mean becoming a soul cultivator."

That would still be worse than living.

Translation: "That would be worse than staying alive."

He simply doesn't understand why.

Translation: "He simply didn't understand why."

Why is this world like this?

Translation: "Why is this world like this?"

Why must cultivation be measured by money?

Translation: "Why must cultivation be measured by money?"

Why does he give his all, only to end up in an even deeper abyss?

Translation: "Why, after giving his all, does he receive only a deeper abyss?"

The light at the alley entrance was suddenly completely blocked by four figures.

Lin Feng instinctively curled up, thinking those tax officials had returned to drag him away directly.

However, what he smelled was not the lofty, self‑righteous aura of law‑enforcement officers.

but rather an indescribable aura, as if coming from another world.

It was as heavy and steady as a towering mountain, yet carried the unfathomable menace of an abyssal sea.

It was as sharp and cold as a drawn divine weapon; its mere presence made the air turn lethal.

It was as wild and domineering as a primeval beast, every strand of qi and blood seeming able to burn mountains and boil seas.

Finally, there was a cool detachment, clear and cold like the moon, hanging high above the nine heavens, looking down upon all beings.

Lin Feng strained to lift his head and saw the four people.

Leading them was a middle‑aged man whose bearing was calm and deep as an abyss, wearing a simple green robe; his eyes opening and closing seemed to have the sun, moon, and stars turning within.

At his side, a muscular man wielding a huge axe, his muscles knotted like rock, frowned and surveyed the surroundings with a look of disgust.

"Great Elder, what kind of bird‑shit‑free place is this? Does this place actually have any spiritual energy?"

Gu Zhan complained in a muffled voice, casually waving his hand and kicking up a gust that sent the alley's trash flying everywhere: "If I'd known it was this sort of dump, I'd have stayed on Divine Island and practiced with those newbies."

On the other side, a red‑haired man clutching a blood‑colored longsword, emanating an aura that warned strangers to stay away, merely gave Lin Feng, collapsed on the ground, a cold glance before closing his eyes, as if looking longer would be a waste.

Lastly, a woman in pale‑blue palace robes, her features cold and exquisite, stood silently behind the middle‑aged man, her gaze sweeping past the crowd to the higher parts of the city veiled by spiritual‑energy light curtains, a hint of inquiry in her eyes.

This was precisely a vanguard detachment of the Gu Family Expedition Army—Great Elder Gu Linjiang, True Immortal Gu Zhan, True Immortal Gu Xue Dao, and Gu Yuan's personal attendant, Qing Luan.

They had come, following the star chart Gu Linjiang deciphered from the memories of the Deep Spring Immortal King, to investigate this world marked as "special grade" by the Zang Tian Ge, the Ruined Heaven World.