Xiao Jian was taken aback when he heard the name Azurecloud Sect.

What kind of place is this?

He had never heard of it.

Over the years, Azurecloud Sect had long ceased to walk among the common people, and they hadn't accepted any disciples for nearly a century, so their name had almost vanished.

It would be strange if Xiao Jian had heard of Azurecloud Sect.

However, he dared not be careless. Anyone capable of wielding a Heavenly Thunder Spell was definitely not someone he could afford to offend.

"Immortal, rest assured, I will report this to the clan leader immediately," Xiao Jian said humbly, not daring to show any arrogance.

Zhang Yang nodded, "I'll be waiting for your clan leader's explanation!"

He walked straight to a large pile of copper ore that had been mined, roughly tens of thousands of pounds, which had yet to be transported away. With a wave of his hand, he stored all the copper ore into his spatial ring.

Xiao Jian instinctively exclaimed, "That's our copper ore..."

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "p𝑎wread.com".

Before he could finish his sentence, he stopped, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

They had been toiling in the wild for so long, spending so much money, and now the copper ore they had mined was gone just like that?

Zhang Yang glanced at Xiao Jian and said calmly, "Until your Xiao Clan gives a clear explanation, stop mining, or face the consequences! Uncle Master, let's go!"

He flew away.

"Stop mining!" Lingyunzi also warned, glanced at the miners, and followed suit.

Xiao Jian stared blankly at the two flying away. After a while, he hurriedly shouted, "Stop, have everyone stop! Everyone, stop! Old Dao, take everyone to rest, and don't resume mining until I return."

As he spoke, he began packing up to leave. He had to quickly relay the message back.

This time, the Xiao Clan might have really gotten into big trouble.

On the other side, Lingyunzi looked at Zhang Yang with a strange expression, "Was it appropriate to take their copper ore?"

"Take?" Zhang Yang looked at Lingyunzi, "That copper ore belongs to our Azurecloud Sect. I'm just taking it back. Uncle Master, I'm not saying you all, but there might be more such situations within the Azurecloud Sect's territory. I suggest that several Uncle Masters should go out together and conduct a thorough inspection. These are assets of Azurecloud, we can't just let others take them. You all are so focused on cultivation that you don't even realize when your home is being robbed."

Lingyunzi remained silent.

Zhang Yang shook his head repeatedly, "Uncle Master, if we can refine some high-grade materials from this copper ore, we can feed them to your flying sword to enhance its power! These are treasures, and you're just ignoring them!"

Lingyunzi decisively said, "I'll have them all go out when I return, we need a thorough inspection!"

Zhang Yang was speechless.

***

For the next half day, they inspected several villages, but they hadn't even covered a fifth of the Azurecloud Sect's territory.

"Uncle Master, we need to head back!" Zhang Yang said to Lingyunzi, "The two-day time frame I agreed upon with them is almost up, we need to go back and handle things."

Lingyunzi, perhaps due to the copper ore incident, showed more enthusiasm, "Isn't there still half a day left?"

Zhang Yang smiled, "We need to spend the remaining half day at Azurecloud Market!"

He turned and flew towards Azurecloud Market.

Lingyunzi understood, "We should indeed go to Azurecloud Market to buy some supplies. The more than eighty people who just came up the mountain are ordinary people, they still need to eat."

Zhang Yang didn't explain his true purpose for going to Azurecloud Market, though buying daily necessities was certainly part of it.

The formation of Azurecloud Market dates back several hundred years.

Back then, Azurecloud Sect was still accepting disciples normally.

Those who came to Azurecloud Sect to join the sect needed a place to rest. During the period when Azurecloud Sect assessed potential disciples, these resting people also needed to eat, drink, sleep, and defecate, which led to the creation of the current Azurecloud Market.

Even in recent years, some people still come to Azurecloud Sect for assessments, hoping to join the sect.

Additionally, over the years, people from surrounding villages have migrated towards Azurecloud Market, making it increasingly prosperous. Now it has become a small town with a permanent population of several thousand.

Originally, Azurecloud Market was unmanaged and chaotic.

Over twenty years ago, a cultivator suddenly arrived, recruited a group of people, and began managing Azurecloud Market, which led to the implementation of taxes.

Of course, since then, Azurecloud Market has become more orderly.

Zhang Yang, who frequently visited Azurecloud Market, was well aware of the situation there.

The only thing he couldn't figure out was the cultivation level of the cultivator managing Azurecloud Market, which was also the main reason he brought Lingyunzi to Azurecloud Market.

Zhang Yang and Lingyunzi arrived at a small hill in the center of Azurecloud Market and stopped in front of a pavilion. He said to the two guards in front of the pavilion, "Please report to the mayor that Zhang Yang from Azurecloud Sect is here to visit."

He decided to start with courtesy before resorting to force.

Of course, he intended to get the money.

After collecting taxes in Azurecloud Market for so many years, they must be made to hand over some money, unless the manager of Azurecloud Market was so formidable that Azurecloud Sect couldn't afford to provoke them.

But that possibility was extremely slim. If there were such a powerful cultivator, why hide in Azurecloud Market?

The two guards didn't dare to delay, and one of them went in to report.

Moments later, the guard hurried back and said to Zhang Yang, "The esteemed guests are invited in!"

Zhang Yang nodded and said to Lingyunzi, "Uncle Master, let's go!"

The two entered the pavilion and met Jiang Zhiqiu, the manager of Azurecloud Market.

Jiang Zhiqiu, dressed in a green robe, with a weathered face, saluted Zhang Yang and Lingyunzi, "Greetings to both of you. May I know what brings you here?"

Zhang Yang got straight to the point, "The area within a three hundred-mile radius of Azurecloud Peak belongs to our Azurecloud Sect. Are you aware of this?"

Jiang Zhiqiu's eyes darted quickly, and he smiled and shook his head, "I truly didn't know about this."

"Now you do!" Zhang Yang looked seriously at Jiang Zhiqiu, "You've been collecting taxes in Azurecloud Market for so many years, our Azurecloud Sect wants half of it!"

He was being courteous by leaving half for Jiang Zhiqiu.

Jiang Zhiqiu's face changed immediately, and he asked angrily, "Are you trying to rob me?"

Although he was a rogue cultivator, collecting taxes in Azurecloud Market over the years had allowed him to live no worse than disciples of major sects, even better than many sect cultivators.

Now someone was demanding half of his benefits, how could he agree?

"Robbery?" Zhang Yang sneered, "The area where Azurecloud Market is located is our Azurecloud Sect's territory. The very existence of Azurecloud Market is because of our Azurecloud Sect. For so many years, our Azurecloud Sect hasn't collected taxes, what right do you, an outsider, have to collect taxes? So, asking you to give up half is already being polite. If it weren't for the fact that you've maintained order in Azurecloud Market all these years, it wouldn't be half, but all of it."

Jiang Zhiqiu sneered, "Fine, fine, fine, you really think I'm easy to bully. There's no way I'll hand over spirit stones, I'd rather kill you and leave Azurecloud Market today!"

Spiritual Qi surged around him, ready to strike.

But he immediately stopped.

In front of his forehead, a flying sword gleamed coldly, pointing directly at his head!

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Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan