"This is my master, Dan Mingzi," said You Fenghuang as she introduced the old man next to her to Qin Jun, who couldn't help but size him up.
Dan Mingzi was short and fat, wearing a purple robe. His eyes were small, and his face was full of flesh, giving off a gentle vibe. His strength was also not bad, at the ninth level of the Mortal Transformation Realm, just one step away from the Void Transformation Realm.
"Hello, Young Master Junqing. I am willing to lead three thousand cultivators under my command to serve you," Dan Mingzi said with a courteous smile, neither humble nor overbearing.
Qin Jun smiled and said, "Miss You should have told you about my ambitions, right?"
To Qin Jun's surprise, You Fenghuang had actually brought her master along. However, he didn't mind, as guarding the Shash City was just a stepping stone for him. By helping You Fenghuang build her power, he might even be able to take over the Southern Ming Holy Sect with her help.
One had to admit, this guy's scheming was getting deeper and deeper. He now always considered things from a long-term perspective.
If You Fenghuang knew about his ambitions, she would surely be speechless. However, she had already unconsciously accepted Qin Jun in her heart, so even if she knew, she wouldn't be opposed. She might even be very supportive.
"Fenghuang has already told me that although my people belong to the Southern Ming Holy Sect, they have no connection with the sect. Young Master Junqing can rest assured of this," Dan Mingzi said with a seemingly sincere smile.
Believe you? You must be a fool!
Qin Jun thought to himself, but on the surface, he remained calm. He turned to Li Cunxiao and said, "Cunxiao, let's go. Today, we will have the Shash City renamed!"
Dan Mingzi and You Fenghuang were taken aback by Qin Jun's urgency. They were about to speak up to dissuade him, but Qin Jun led Li Cunxiao and Liu Bowen out of the hall. Seeing this, the two of them had no choice but to follow along with their companions.
As they walked out of the hall, the three thousand cultivators outside blocked the way, crowding the area. Qin Jun leaped into the air, with Li Cunxiao and Liu Bowen following closely behind. To conquer the Shash City, he needed all the forces in the city to acknowledge him as their leader. This process didn't require too many people. Qin Jun only needed to personally confront each force with Li Cunxiao. Otherwise, he could let You Fenghuang's subordinates act as city guards or law enforcement officers, and they would handle the expenses for entering and leaving the city and the taxes for each shop in the city.
The profits from unclaimed territories were astonishing. With the Shash City, Qin Jun could earn as much spirit stones in a month as the entire Great Qin Kingdom's wealth in a month.
In the cultivation world, spirit stones were the universal currency, and the same applied to kingdoms. Of course, some mortal cities still used gold and silver, but they could also be exchanged for spirit stones.
"Let's follow and see what happens!" You Fenghuang said to her master, Dan Mingzi.
Naturally, Dan Mingzi had no objections. He wanted to see how strong Li Cunxiao was, as he had even defeated Jiang Zhangtian.
If Jiang Zhangtian could dominate and suppress the Shash City, then Li Cunxiao, who was stronger than him, could do it even more easily.
The following process was easy for Qin Jun, but it was a nightmare for the various forces in the Shash City.
Anyone who opposed Qin Jun was directly dealt with by Li Cunxiao. Qin Jun didn't order Li Cunxiao to kill, but he did allow him to severely injure the resistors. This was unclaimed territory, and being kind would only show weakness and invite trouble.
"My god! Who is this Junqing? After wiping out the Right Tiger Hall, he actually wants to take over the Shash City!"
"All the experts of the Qi family were severely injured by Junqing's subordinate, the demon general!"
"The Shash Escort Bureau has surrendered!"
"The Fate Pavilion directly acknowledges Junqing as the city lord, saving them from battle!"
The news of various forces surrendering or being defeated was like a series of heavy bombs, making the Shash City restless once again. Everyone felt threatened, except for the wandering cultivators and those passing by, who found it interesting.
Territorial disputes like this were common in unclaimed territories, but the Shash City was different. It was an important stronghold of the Four Gods Sect, which was why the Right Tiger Hall had been stationed there.
The Shash City was bound to become very lively in the near future.
It remained to be seen whether this mysterious Young Master Junqing could withstand the anger of the Four Gods Sect.
...
In front of the Chufeng Tower, Qin Jun stood behind Li Cunxiao with a smirk on his face. Behind him was a sea of people, including not only the Southern Ming Holy Sect's cultivators but also many onlookers.
"Miss Steward Liu, didn't expect this, did you? I'm about to become the city lord," Qin Jun said with a smug smile to the woman in green in front of the Chufeng Tower, infuriating Steward Liu.
She hadn't expected the little brat who had sent Zhen Yanqing off that day to be the one currently dominating the Shash City.
It seemed that this kid indeed had some ability, no wonder he had gotten close to Zhen Yanqing.
But she wouldn't submit to Qin Jun.
"Brat, do you know what the Chufeng Tower represents? Don't cause trouble here!" Steward Liu said in a stern voice, not wanting to get involved in Qin Jun's plan to dominate the city.
However, Qin Jun didn't want to let her off. Even if the Chufeng Tower didn't submit, he still had to make them submit, otherwise, how would he collect the land tax?
Moreover, Steward Liu's words had made him very unhappy, so he had to disgust her a little.
So what if it's a background of the Holy Dynasty?
It's just an information point in a small city. Qin Jun's Great Qin Kingdom was still a vassal state of the Holy Dynasty. The ruler of a country and the owner of a shop, even a fool could tell which was more important.
If Steward Liu knew Qin Jun's true identity, her attitude might be completely different, but unfortunately, there was no chance for a do-over.
"If you don't submit, today I will demolish your Chufeng Tower!" Qin Jun said in a stern voice, causing a commotion among the crowd behind him.
The Chufeng Tower might be small, but everyone knew its significance. Even Jiang Zhangtian had treated it with respect.
This was Junqing's rhythm of seeking death by offending all the forces!
"Cunxiao!" Qin Jun said sternly.
"I'm here!" Li Cunxiao responded, unleashing the imposing aura of his Earth Immortal realm, causing everyone behind Qin Jun to retreat like a tide.
Steward Liu's face changed dramatically. She hadn't expected Li Cunxiao to be so strong!
Even stronger than her!
"Jun Qing, are you really going to do this?" Steward Liu gritted her teeth and asked. She was not a novice in the Earth Immortal realm, but just feeling Li Cunxiao's aura made her realize that she was no match for him.
"Nonsense. In one word, from now on, you must pay land taxes to me, otherwise..." Qin Jun sneered, feeling the satisfaction of the tables turning.
You looked down on me before!
Now I'll make you look up to me!
Steward Liu was so angry that she pointed at Qin Jun, but at this moment, Li Cunxiao stepped forward, forcing her to grit her teeth and say, "Fine, I agree to pay taxes to you!"
But in her heart, she hated Qin Jun to the core, planning to inform the Holy Dynasty and dispatch experts to suppress Qin Jun and the others.
"Very straightforward!" Qin Jun laughed brightly, but in Steward Liu's eyes, it was so irritating.
Then, Liu Bowen took out a prepared contract for Steward Liu to sign, saying that words alone were not enough, black and white on paper was the truth.
After it was done, Qin Jun smiled at Steward Liu and said, "Not bad, Steward Liu, you are quite cooperative. I admire your soft-hearted and hard-headed character!"
With that, Qin Jun laughed heartily and left, leaving Steward Liu with a grim face and eyes full of anger. [End of this chapter]