Chapter 552

Regarding the matter of absorbing cultivators to settle down, Song Weimin had long since thought it through thoroughly. On the day Hua Changxi left the government office, he summoned the county magistrate, the registrar, and other subordinate officials to discuss the matter and personally supervised its promotion.

In less than half a month, a detailed notice stamped with the government seal and the seal of the Lingguang Hall Master—"Regulations on Cultivator Settlement and Spiritual Field Reclamation in Nanxiang County"—was posted at the major city gates of Nanxiang County.

Once the notice was out, it was like dropping a thunderclap in the Central Continent, directly setting off a thousand waves.

The first to boil over were the countless rogue cultivators without sects or factions, as well as many ordinary cultivators born to commoners.

For them, blessed lands were an unreachable luxury, and spiritual fields were also precious resources that were difficult to obtain.

First, cultivation treasures rich in spiritual energy were firmly held by large sects and families, and they didn't even have the qualifications to get close.

Second, places where spiritual fields could be cultivated were either near spiritual mines and veins, or near secret realms, ruins, and other treasures.

These places were also battlefields for major forces and big figures, not something ordinary cultivators could touch.

Ordinary cultivators could only choose to join a certain force to have the qualifications to farm spiritual fields.

Yes, just the qualifications to farm, not ownership of the spiritual fields.

Therefore, the policy of absorbing cultivators released by Nanxiang County really hit the vital point for rogue cultivators and ordinary cultivators.

As long as they brought their families to settle down, they didn't need to sell themselves to a force; they could directly own spiritual fields and step into top-tier cultivation treasures regularly. To them, this was almost like a pie falling from the sky.

"The upper limit for a single cultivator to reclaim spiritual fields is five acres, and taxes are waived for the first three years... this is an opportunity Nanxiang County is giving to ordinary cultivators!"

"Nanxiang County has the Zhu Que Army stationed there, it's stable and peaceful; even if they didn't distribute spiritual fields or open blessed lands, it would still be a good place to go."

"What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and pack your belongings and move your whole family to Nanxiang County."

For a time, in the Central Continent, any rogue cultivator or ordinary cultivator who knew about the Nanxiang County announcement began dragging their families along and rushing toward Nanxiang County.

After the spiritual energy recovery, with the rise of cultivators, the lives of ordinary people were not easy, and suffering oppression from cultivators was a daily occurrence.

Being bullied a little was one thing, but the main thing was that, often, one might lose their life without paying attention.

Toward cultivators, ordinary people were instinctively fearful and repulsed.

However, the many ordinary family members of cultivators rushing to Nanxiang County each had faces filled with longing and anticipation for a new life.

There was no other reason; Nanxiang County had specifically introduced a 'Mortals' Settlement Security System,' which clearly stipulated that cultivators could not bully ordinary people.

At the same time, for ordinary people, Nanxiang County released a benefit—as long as one became a citizen of Nanxiang County, ordinary people could receive body-refining techniques for free.

This was equivalent to giving ordinary people a chance to cultivate!

With this, not only were cultivators yearning for Nanxiang County, but even ordinary people couldn't wait to become a member of Nanxiang County.

An unprecedented population migration thus began.

However, compared to the fanaticism of rogue cultivators and ordinary cultivators, the reactions of human forces such as major sects and families appeared quite subtle and complex.

All parties felt an irrepressible anger in their hearts, yet they were secretly envious; amidst the envy, there was also deep apprehension.

What they were angry about was that this move by Nanxiang County was clearly a blatant 'snatching' of talent.

People are also a type of resource, especially cultivators.

The more Nanxiang County snatched, the less they got.

What they were envious of was that the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall dared to think and act, and had enough resources to toss around.

Daring to share blessed lands and daring to distribute spiritual fields to cultivators for private ownership—such courage and family background were things few in the entire Central Continent dared to easily imitate.

What they were apprehensive about was whether Nanxiang County would squeeze their living space and erode their interests if it really grew rapidly because of this.

An overly powerful Nanxiang City was not good news for anyone. Especially since the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall was also very strong and domineering.

These were all concerns on the surface; the hidden danger that worried the major forces most was that Nanxiang County's move to distribute resources to ordinary cultivators was, on some level, shaking the very foundation that most powerful forces relied on to stand.

Whether before or after the spiritual energy recovery, most of the world's resources were almost entirely held in the hands of major forces.

But the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall insisted on going against the trend, distributing production resources to ordinary cultivators, and even including mortals without any cultivation in the scope of protection.

This move was not just re-dividing the resource landscape; it was shaking the ruling order they had maintained for thousands of years.

"Abominable!"

"The Hall Master of Lingguang Hall is trying to destroy our foundation."

The Hall Master of Lingguang Hall was powerful, and the Zhu Que Army had peak combat strength; all parties were unable to stop Nanxiang County from implementing the new policy, so they planned to find ways to curb cultivators from all over from going to join them.

For a time, all forces acted in tacit understanding, secretly launching actions one after another.

While sects and families were apprehensive and worried, the Xuanyuan Prefecture and the Five Great Sacred Lands, considering the overall development of the human race, held a positive attitude.

The five Xuanyuan generals and Wei Zhenjie gathered together once again because of the announcement released by Nanxiang County.

Lu Zhenting looked at Wei Zhenjie: "What do you think of this policy from Nanxiang County?"

Wei Zhenjie felt secretly gratified in his heart: "Obviously, after completely controlling Nanxiang County, the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall has finally begun to seriously plan its development."

"It's quite good. Having occupied such a piece of territory, if one doesn't manage and develop it well, that would be a waste of heaven's gifts."

Qin Feng couldn't help but sigh upon hearing this: "I actually admire that Hall Master of Lingguang Hall a bit now. Distributing resources in her hands just like that—not everyone has this kind of courage."

Lu Zhenting nodded slightly, then changed the subject: "However, this move of hers will likely make the major forces feel uneasy."

Wei Zhenjie smiled faintly: "The implementation of Nanxiang County's policy is destined not to be smooth. But being able to take this step first is already a good start."

He was even a little surprised by Hua Changxi's growth and transformation.

She was now gradually growing into a qualified ruler. She knew how to use resources to develop and strengthen, and she had also begun to shoulder certain social responsibilities.

Although she had only just taken a step on this road, the direction was already correct.

At the Dan Sacred Hall, Gu Xing held the copied "Regulations on Cultivator Settlement and Spiritual Field Reclamation in Nanxiang County," his thoughts unsettled and his mood uncalm.

Hua Changxi had the ability to shoulder the heavy burden, but she had been avoiding this issue.

Whether it was the Dan Sacred Hall or Nanxiang County, her sense of participation was not very high, as if she were always separated by a layer, unwilling to truly integrate.

In his view, whether it was the Dan Sacred Hall or Nanxiang County, they were nothing more than stepping stones for her to stand on; she used them to gain a foothold, but had never truly become a member of them.

Compared to the faction-ridden Dan Sacred Hall, Nanxiang County could be said to be operating entirely according to her will.

Now, she had begun to absorb cultivators to settle down—regardless of whether this move was actively planned by her or pushed by the situation, one fact could no longer be ignored.

These people who came because of her and stayed because of the policy would become the beginning of her "opening the world and seeing all living beings."

Gu Xing put down the regulations and remained silent for a long time.

This girl was finally going to land and enter the world!

Song Weimin had no time to worry about the undercurrents in the outside world. All his energy was poured into the refinement and implementation of the policy.

The concept of "joint governance by cultivators and mortals" proposed by the Hall Master coincided with what he had in mind.

This support made him not dare to be the least bit slack—since the Hall Master had given such great support and power, he must not drag his feet on the details of management.

Song Weimin was hunched over his desk, with a thick stack of documents spread out in front of him. There were obvious dark circles under his eyes, but his spirit was abnormally excited, as if he didn't know fatigue.

From cultivator registration and census, spiritual field measurement and distribution, and scheduling the use of blessed lands, to mortal resettlement, public security maintenance, and dispute arbitration...

He personally verified and finalized the details of every matter, big or small, striving for fairness, stability, and feasibility.