At the foot of Peak Seven in Area D of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.
There stood an ancient, courtyard-style residence with an outer wall and inner courtyard, showing signs of many years, its mottled walls covered with traces of time.
The entire courtyard, inside and out, was very clean, clearly indicating it was regularly cleaned by someone.
Outside the courtyard, many different types of flowers were planted, and hundreds of Black Little Bees were busily collecting nectar.
This was naturally the courtyard Old Zhou had personally built when he was young, and it had been over half a century since then.
Inside the courtyard at this moment, by the rosewood table, Old Zhou was drinking tea with a slightly plump man dressed in a golden magic robe, who appeared to be affluent.
After Qi Ping entered the courtyard, he realized this person was Steward Zhu, who was in charge of collecting rent in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.
Steward Zhu was a member of the Zhu Family, one of the Three Great Families of Qing Shi County, and certain areas of Area D in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range were under his responsibility.
He had been collecting rent here for decades, and because his status within the Family was not particularly high, coupled with his amiable personality, he got along well with Loose Cultivators like Old Zhou.
Every time he came to Old Zhou's place, he would always chat for a while.
"Steward Zhu! Old Zhou!"
After Qi Ping entered, he cupped a fist towards Steward Zhu.
As a small figure, Qi Ping naturally dared not neglect people from the Three Great Families; at the very least, he had to give them basic Face on the surface. Otherwise, if he displeased the other party, a small act of willfulness with their power could bring many troubles to Qi Ping.
This was a survival philosophy that low-level Cultivators had to follow.
Fortunately, this Steward Zhu was quite amiable and not arrogant like many other members of the Great Families, who had a natural sense of superiority towards Loose Cultivators.
"I was just about to call you; Steward Zhu has come to collect the rent," Old Zhou said cheerfully.
"You truly grow taller each year!" Steward Zhu looked at Qi Ping's significantly increased height and felt a sense of emotion.
Time flies!
Young people really do grow fast!
"Yes, I've already prepared the rent."
After Qi Ping finished speaking, he handed over the 110 Spirit Stones he had prepared in advance. One hundred of these Spirit Stones were for rent, and the remaining ten Spirit Stones were for a ten percent tea fee, which was an industry custom.
Even though Steward Zhu and Old Zhou got along well, this fee could not be waived.
However, facing the Spirit Stones Qi Ping offered, Steward Zhu did not accept them. Instead, he sighed heavily, then enveloped a jade tablet with his spiritual power and handed it to Qi Ping.
A hint of confusion involuntarily rose in Qi Ping's heart. What kind of trick was this?
At the same time, he had a vague sense of foreboding.
After Qi Ping took the jade tablet and used his Divine Sense to check the information within, his expression immediately turned somewhat grim.
The jade tablet clearly recorded a piece of information:
[Overall rent increase of thirty percent in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range]
The jade tablet also bore the Sect seal of the Qingyuan Sect, making it virtually impossible to fake.
"What's wrong? Let me see!" Old Zhou looked at Qi Ping's expression, also feeling a bit strange.
After he and Qi Ping looked at the jade tablet, his smile also froze.
"Steward Zhu, why would the rent suddenly increase?" Old Zhou asked in confusion.
He had been here for decades and the rent had never changed. Why would it suddenly increase by thirty percent now? Had something changed?
"Sigh, you might not believe it, but when I received this directive not long ago, my expression was the same as yours."
"I also reported to the higher-ups that a thirty percent rent increase might make it impossible for many people to pay, causing a lot of trouble. However, the higher-ups' attitude was very firm: if you can't pay, use your Family assets as collateral. After paying the previous period's rent, and then paying half a period's rent as a relocation fee, you can move out. If you can't pay… sigh…"
Steward Zhu did not continue, and Qi Ping naturally knew the subsequent outcome.
Steward Zhu himself was very helpless. The rent was not his to begin with, and he had to deal with so much trouble; that little tea fee wasn't much.
"Steward Zhu, do you know what exactly happened to the Qingyuan Sect? It's one thing that they've allowed robber cultivators to run rampant for the past few years, but now they're suddenly raising the rent."
However, facing Old Zhou's question, Steward Zhu still shook his head helplessly and said:
"Don't even get me started. I don't even think our Family Head knows, because the rampant robber cultivators and the rent increase have had a very negative impact on our Family's income. The Family Head has always wanted to take action to resolve it, but the Qingyuan Sect above is pressing down, not allowing it."
"We can be considered friends. My only advice is to plan your retreat in the coming time and try your best to protect yourselves!"
Hearing this, both Qi Ping and Old Zhou fell silent.
Old Zhou didn't care about his own life or death, but this matter had a very negative impact on Qi Ping and the beekeeping industry, which made him feel a bit upset. Beekeeping and Qi Ping were among the few things he still cared about…
After a moment of silence, Qi Ping still feigned a "gritting teeth" and "struggling" appearance, gathered 143 Spirit Stones, handed them to Steward Zhu, and asked him to issue a receipt.
After all, casually taking out so many Spirit Stones would always arouse suspicion.
After all this was done, Qi Ping did not continue to chat with Old Zhou and Steward Zhu. Instead, he bid them farewell and returned to the forest.
After returning to the forest, Qi Ping's brows furrowed tightly.
What exactly happened to the Qingyuan Sect?
From a Sect that managed regional security, Spirit Medicine and Spirit Beast industries, and trade development in an orderly manner, it suddenly became like this.
It was one thing for robber cultivators to destroy industries and the commercial environment, but now even the rent was going to increase.
The key was that this seemed to benefit no one, right? A short-term rent increase of thirty percent was simply a drop in the bucket compared to the direct and indirect losses it caused.
"Perhaps knowing who the ultimate beneficiary of all this is would reveal the reason. It's just a pity that my strength and status are too low to reach that level…"
"Steward Zhu might know something, otherwise he wouldn't have reminded us to plan our retreat."
"Also, is it possible that this matter is related to that mysterious Beast Taming Sect or Insect Taming Sect?"
"Next time we meet, I can also ask Nan Jie where she got the Demon Insect Breeding Handbook; it might help in judging the situation."
The matter was too complex, and the information was extremely incomplete. After thinking for a long time, Qi Ping still couldn't sort out the complicated Karma.
Ultimately, he could only sum it up in four words: Chaos is coming…
As someone at the bottom, the only thing he could do was improve his own strength and prepare as much as possible for the coming chaos.
"It's better to focus on improving my strength…"
"As long as the Gold Marrow Bees undergo a powerful Bloodline transformation, once the Bee Swarm forms, it will at least have the strength to resist those at the Qi Refining Late Stage, and it's even possible for them to be stronger."
"Once the Gold Marrow Bees complete their transformation, I can also begin to fully focus on improving my cultivation Realm."
"If the second Animal Companion I contract is also strong enough, it would be even more perfect!"
Thinking of these things, Qi Ping's inner anxiety and sense of powerlessness in the Face of chaos immediately decreased significantly.
After closing his eyes and adjusting his breathing for a period, Qi Ping also received news from the Gold Marrow Bees that Steward Zhu had left.
Thus, Qi Ping immediately took the five portions of bloodline mutation potion and headed to the Gold Marrow Bees' hive.
The bloodline mutation potion could now be administered!
The extent to which the Gold Marrow Bees could transform would depend on this single endeavor…
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