Chapter 434 Undercover Investigation (2)
The lead rhinoceros was alarmed and said, "Wearing precious objects and with shimmering feathers, this is definitely not an ordinary bird."
As the fat rhinoceros was pondering this, he saw his underlings solemnly say to the colorful bird, "The Mountain God has ordered that all cultivators from the continent should receive two thousand spirit crystals."
We only want your precious ring, you colorful bird. Slaves are very expensive these days. We can keep your feathers and exchange them for some treasure in the Great Empty City to buy some good slaves.
If you don't want to go back then, you can get an identity stamp, then you'll be considered a free bird of our Western Continent, able to stay there indefinitely without having to return to the Main Continent.
Hearing this, Ji Rong couldn't help but feel a sense of goodwill towards these rhinoceroses. She then asked, "I really am here to visit relatives. I heard from my family that I have a cousin who was favored by the Mountain God and became his servant. However, we haven't seen each other for many years. If I don't have this ring, and I just go directly there, it will be troublesome if she doesn't recognize me."
Upon hearing this, the thinner rhinoceros cultivator at the Profound Spirit Realm said to the fat rhinoceros leader, "Big sister, let me go with this colorful bird to prevent her from being captured as a runaway slave. After she meets her relatives, I will ask them for the treasure to enter the pass. What do you think?"
The fat rhinoceros immediately nodded, and took out a pouch containing some spiritual herbs and fruits from her back and gave it to Ji Rong, saying, "Eat this on the way."
Ji Rong accepted the offer and followed the thinner rhinoceros along the road. Along the way, Ji Rong fed him grass and fruit, and before long, the rhinoceros was ripe.
Ji Rong asked, "Brother Rhino, what's your name?"
You are truly impressive, and kind-hearted, much better than the mountain people of our Buzhou.
The rhinoceros said, "Just call me Big Horn."
"You must come from a prominent family. We sisters have lived here for so many years; not just anyone can be treated like this by our eldest sister bringing out fruit to entertain us."
Ji Rong laughed and said, "Strictly speaking, I am not a member of a great clan. I was just raised and cared for by members of great clans. Da Jiao, how are you from the Western Continent?"
As he spoke, thin aerial roots, each bearing a flowing inscription, emerged from beneath Ji Rong's feathers and climbed up the back of the giant horn. Emerald and golden leaves sprouted from Ji Rong's head, resembling a green crown.
Ji Rong flapped her wings and sat steadily on the back of the big horn.
Da Jiao felt as if three mountains were pressing down on him. He turned around with difficulty and saw that he was covered by a faint golden light. The strange feeling that had risen in his heart also disappeared without a trace.
Ji Rong's ethereal voice rang out above him again: "Big Horn, how is your Western Continent? Is the slave trade still going on in Great Empty City? Where do those slaves come from?"
Looking at Ji Rong, who seemed to be bathed in divine light, Da Jiao was overcome with madness. He felt as if he had endless words to say to the divine tree. He replied, "We are better off now than before. We don't arrest free people."
But ever since the mountain god was replaced, we've had to pay a head tax, regardless of the amount, and life has become increasingly difficult. Many of us have even sold ourselves into slavery.
Who is the Great Mountain God?
"The Great God of Mountain Rhinoceros."
"You are rhinoceroses, and He is also a rhinoceros. Is there no preferential treatment for you?"
“You’re joking,” Big Horn said, shaking his head aggrievedly. “He was born a god, only his appearance is that of a rhinoceros. How could he treat us well?”
...
They talked as they walked slowly. When they arrived at their destination, Ji Rong took out two thousand spirit crystals from under her wings and put them into the pouch given to her by the fat rhinoceros. She then handed it to Da Jiao and said, "Take this back and don't mention me to other cultivators. Don't even tell your elder sister if she asks."
Having said that, she gently brushed the emerald and gold leaf on her head towards the top of the horn's head, and then abruptly retreated.
The big horn was stunned for a few moments. When he came to his senses, Ji Rong was already gone. He felt as if he had forgotten many things, but he didn't know what he had forgotten. So he grabbed the spirit crystal and hurried back.
Ji Rong found an open space, then held the mountain python and said, "I heard that you and the mountain rhinoceros were the best of friends in the past. Call it out."
The anaconda nodded and dipped its tail into the ground. Soon after, a large silver-backed rhinoceros came charging toward them, kicking up clouds of dust.
Before they even got close, they heard the mountain rhinoceros shout, "You mountain pythons have crossed the line! Go back!"
Ji Rong glanced at Xiao Bai, who immediately understood. Thick fog instantly rose in the sky, enveloping the mountain rhinoceros.
When the mountain rhinoceros noticed the sudden change in weather, it looked up and saw thick tree roots wrapping around it.
"Crack, crack, slap, slap," He watched as He was entangled and whipped by numerous gilded roots, yet He could not muster any will to resist.
After beating it up, Ji Rong rolled up the mountain rhinoceros and threw it to Xiao Bai, saying, "Mountain python, you, summon all the other mountain gods of the continent, and have them memorize your books as well."
"Mountain Rat, go and get some wood. I will personally carve another book for the mountain gods of the Western Continent."
The group of mountain rhinoceroses memorized it quite quickly, and within two days they had memorized it perfectly.
Ji Rong then asked, "I heard that after you arrived, they increased the tax. Why do you, a mountain god, need so many spirit crystals?"
The mountain rhinoceros immediately spat out a jade tablet and respectfully said, "My lord, please take a look. This is the plan that the mountain elephant made before. I think His idea is very reliable, so I want to reproduce the scene described on it."
Ji Rong glanced at the jade tablet, her expression unreadable. She calmly asked, "Did Shan Xiang tell you that he wanted to increase the tax to collect spirit crystals to replenish the spirit veins?"
The mountain rhinoceros immediately prostrated itself and said, "No, it was my own idea."
Ji Rong sighed, "Shanxi, you are not smart. Do you know that by collecting taxes, you have driven the mountain people to the brink of starvation?"
The mountain rhinoceros nodded in agreement and said, "Your Excellency is wise. What I obtained was the hand bone of a god, but it has no head."
Upon hearing this, Ji Rong felt a headache coming on, so she asked, "What kind of business does this empty city mainly do now?"
The rhinoceroses said, "The business of blood and flesh and the business of skin and flesh."
Ji Rong nodded and said, "Send them away and do some legitimate business from now on."
The mountain rhinoceros asked in bewilderment, "Sir, they pay the most taxes. If we dismiss them, they will have even less opportunity to obtain spirit crystals."
My lord, the source energy in the bellies of the lesser gods is far from enough to repair the spiritual energy channels of the Western Continent. We need to use spirit crystals to fill them, otherwise it will be a waste of time to repair them.
After we arrived, we also visited the Great Empty City. Even if we demolish the Great Empty City, they will simply go elsewhere to do these businesses. Even if the entire Nine Provinces don't want them, they will still operate secretly.
Ji Rong said, "I understand these things, but this trend must not be allowed to continue."
You've been to Buzhou, so you should know that Buzhou has become corrupt because of this blood and flesh business, which has overdrawn its spiritual energy. If you don't ban this business, the next corrupt one might be your Xizhou.
Mountain Rhinoceros, you should know that greedy dealers will always feel that they don't have enough spirit crystals in their claws or good enough goods in their cages.
Once you've repaired the spiritual veins, they'll use them.
They are thus blessed with extraordinary abilities, and their cultivation level increases rapidly, but they will not be genuinely grateful to you. They will only secretly take pride in their superior skills in cultivating flesh and blood.
If a member of their clan were to emerge with exceptional talent and extraordinary cultivation, they would be even bolder. It's possible they might capture you all and try to cultivate some deities to sell as novelties at a high price.
Upon hearing this, the mountain rhinoceros immediately prostrated itself on the ground, trembling uncontrollably. Ji Rong sighed, "Get up. You are not good at managing living beings. I will transfer a suitable one over. From now on, you only need to manage the spiritual veins."
Upon hearing this, the rhinoceros felt relieved and immediately stood up, bowing to Ji Rong again, saying, "Thank you for your compassion, sir!"
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