Chapter 2477: Bang Ao

Chapter 2477: Chapter 2477: Bang Ao

Jing Yan was speaking with Bai Han when Xu Yiming walked in from outside.

"City Lord! Grand Steward!" Xu Yiming greeted Jing Yan and Bai Han.

The reason Xu Yiming came at this time was because he received Jing Yan’s message.

"No need for formalities, have a seat!" Jing Yan nodded to Xu Yiming.

After Xu Yiming sat down, he looked at Jing Yan and said with a bit of excitement: "City Lord, just yesterday, I discovered another cultivator with a high Soul Cultivation Talent."

Xu Yiming’s main task in Hongmeng City is to screen cultivators with Soul Cultivation Talent. When Hongmeng City was just built, Xu Yiming was also responsible for the construction of city buildings, but now the construction does not need Xu Yiming anymore. His job is to find cultivators with Soul Cultivation Talent within the city.

Currently, the soul cultivation team in Hongmeng City still only consists of Xu Yiming and Ding Hong.

When Ding Hong was first discovered, he had almost no understanding of soul cultivation, but with Xu Yiming’s help and guidance, Ding Hong is now a true soul cultivator. Fifty years ago, Ding Hong could simply use soul technique attacks, and now he has mastered a low-level soul technique.

"Oh?" Jing Yan was also a little surprised to hear Xu Yiming’s report.

The number of cultivators with Soul Cultivation Talent is extremely small, and finding such cultivators among the vast sea of people is really like looking for a needle in a haystack. Even Xu Yiming has special sensing abilities, finding a cultivator with high Soul Cultivation Talent is challenging; it’s a tedious and very heavy task.

"This person’s name is Bang Ao, his Dao Technique is at the Immortal Charm Peak Realm, and he joined the Hongmeng City Guard only ten years ago." Xu Yiming continued: "Yesterday, I met him and sensed that his spiritual power far exceeds that of ordinary cultivators. After careful judgment, I confirmed that Bang Ao has high Soul Cultivation Talent, likely not inferior to Ding Hong."

"Good, very good! Xu Yiming, have you talked with this Bang Ao?" Jing Yan nodded.

"I have talked with him. He was happy when he found out he had high Soul Cultivation Talent, but... he said he didn’t want to become a soul cultivator." Xu Yiming shook his head.

"Doesn’t want to become a soul cultivator? In this world, are there actually people who don’t want to become soul cultivators?" Bai Han interjected.

Who in the world doesn’t want to be a soul cultivator?

An Immortal Rhythm Level soul cultivator is virtually invincible in the same realm. An outstanding soul cultivator at the Immortal Charm Peak Realm can even threaten cultivators at the Immortal Venerable Realm. Moreover, once one becomes a soul cultivator, the progress of Dao Technique Realm will accelerate. The breakthrough in Dao Technique Realm is closely related to spiritual power.

This cultivator named Bang Ao doesn’t want to become a soul cultivator?

Jing Yan also felt perplexed.

"Why doesn’t he want to be a soul cultivator? Doesn’t he want to become stronger?" Jing Yan frowned and asked.

"I asked him at the time why, but he wouldn’t tell me. He said he just wants to honestly guard the safety of Hongmeng City." Xu Yiming showed a regretful expression.

"Although there are innumerable cultivators in the Heavenly Domain, finding one with Soul Cultivation Talent is very difficult. Finding even one is a hard-earned effort. Xu Yiming, bring him over later; I will talk to him myself." Jing Yan contemplated aloud.

"Yes!" Xu Yiming responded.

"Xu Yiming, I called you over for another matter. I discussed with the Grand Steward, and we plan to levy taxes on city shops. You will take the role of tax supervisor, with Ding Hong assisting you. Recruit anyone else you need yourself." Jing Yan said.

"Tax collection?" Xu Yiming glanced at Jing Yan.

Then he smiled and said: "City Lord, we should have collected taxes long ago. In the Heavenly Domain, which city doesn’t collect taxes? I’d say the entry fee should also be imposed. Our Hongmeng City now sees hundreds of thousands of entries and exits daily, sometimes reaching more than a million. A hundred Black Crystal Stones from each person amounts to tens of millions to a billion Black Crystal Stones."

The entry fee is also a substantial source of resource income! And as the number of cultivators in the city grows, this collectible amount will continue to increase.

"We’ll talk about the entry fee later; start with commercial taxes. Discuss the specifics with the Grand Steward. I want the tax policy implemented in a month." Jing Yan said.

"Yes!"

This time, Xu Yiming and Grand Steward Bai Han stood up together to respond.

Xu Yiming and Bai Han left, and about an hour later, Xu Yiming returned to the City Lord Mansion with a cultivator in armor.

This person was Bang Ao, at the Immortal Charm Peak Realm, who joined the Hongmeng City Guard ten years ago and holds the position of squad leader.

Bang Ao was quite tall and robust, with thick eyebrows and large eyes.

"Sir, why does the City Lord want to see me?" Bang Ao felt a bit anxious.

In the hearts of Bang Ao and other cultivators, City Lord Jing Yan was simply a legend. City Lord Jing Yan’s founding of a city in the Thunder Domain was an earth-shattering move. Most importantly, City Lord Jing Yan was not afraid of the superpowers and dared to confront them directly.

Bang Ao and other cultivators privately held City Lord Jing Yan in high esteem and wouldn’t tolerate any derogatory remarks about the City Lord. Since joining Hongmeng City Guard, Bang Ao had never met Jing Yan, but it didn’t diminish his admiration for him. Now that the City Lord wanted to see him, he was truly tense and uneasy.

"You’ll naturally know when you meet the City Lord. The City Lord is waiting for you," Xu Yiming smiled and said.

Xu Yiming had a good impression of Bang Ao, and although Bang Ao didn’t want to become a soul cultivator, it didn’t stop Xu Yiming from appreciating him. Moreover, Bang Ao worked diligently in the Guard and had a good reputation; he was a loyal and fair cultivator.

Carrying this tension and unease, Bang Ao came before Jing Yan, led by Xu Yiming.

"City Lord, this is Bang Ao." Xu Yiming bowed to Jing Yan and introduced Bang Ao beside him.

"Greetings, City Lord!" Bang Ao quickly bowed in salute.

Being very nervous, his breathing was a bit erratic.

"Bang Ao, I heard you joined our Hongmeng City Guard just ten years ago," Jing Yan inquired.

"Replying to the City Lord, yes, I came to Hongmeng City ten years ago, and now I’m a squad leader under the command of Lord Weng Mohan," Bang Ao answered respectfully.

"Hmm, I heard from Supervisor Xu Yiming that you have Soul Cultivation Talent. However, he said you don’t want to become a soul cultivator. Why is that?" Jing Yan asked.

If Bang Ao truly didn’t want to pursue the path of soul cultivation, Jing Yan naturally wouldn’t force him, but if there were other reasons, Jing Yan wouldn’t want to miss out on this promising talent. Judging by Bang Ao’s Divine Soul, his age isn’t too advanced, and he indeed has great Soul Cultivation potential.

Finding a cultivator like Bang Ao once in decades was indeed a result of Xu Yiming’s ability. Without Xu Yiming, discovering a cultivator like Bang Ao would be difficult.