My dreams can simulate the future.

Chapter 17 War Tax

After leaving the garrison, Jiang Chen hung the token on his belt and strolled around the West and South Markets. Many acquaintances came up to greet him.

While this move had an element of showing off, its main purpose was to let the gang behind the bull know how powerful he was, so that they would be more restrained in the future.

He then returned to his courtyard, repaired the window, and continued practicing his talisman-drawing skills according to his usual routine.

As for the new house, he went to take possession of it. The house was nice, a two-courtyard residence, much better than the small courtyard he was currently living in.

However, he doesn't plan to move there yet.

After all, the Bull Gang had just carried out an assassination attempt, which caused quite a stir. With a Foundation Establishment cultivator stationed there, the Garrison Command couldn't possibly be completely unaware of it.

In the short term, that gang will definitely not dare to make any big moves.

Moreover, there are formations left by my grandfather in the old house. As long as you are not restrained by things like formation-locking talismans and formation-breaking beads, your safety is guaranteed.

In the evening, Jiang Chen had just finished dinner and was about to go to meditate and cultivate when a head popped out from the top of the wall. It was Hou Ming.

Seeing his expression of wanting to turn over but not daring to, Jiang Chen couldn't help but chuckle.

"Monkey, what's wrong? Come here and tell me."

Only after getting his permission did the monkey dare to turn over.

Jiang Chen laughed and said, "Don't stand on ceremony with me. You're the same as before."

The monkey shook his head: "Brother Chen, you are now a member of the Garrison Command, with the same status as the Patrol Officer. I can't be unruly."

Jiang Chen sighed, feeling that a pitifully thick barrier had already formed between him and Hou Ming.

He waved his hand: "Suit yourself. What brings you here today?"

The monkey whispered, "Today, the patrolmen were spreading the word that when the monthly taxes are collected the day after tomorrow, an additional war tax will be levied. Each cultivator will receive two spirit stones, and each mortal will receive two ounces of spirit sand."

"If cultivators cannot pay their taxes, they will be sent directly to Changyuan Mountain, while ordinary people will be taken in as servants and placed under the jurisdiction of the Garrison Command."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen was not too surprised.

The fighting on Changyuan Mountain was fierce, and the consumption of various resources was enormous. Although the Golden Cauldron Sect was wealthy and powerful, it could not afford to spend its own money and let the rogue cultivators watch the spectacle.

I now enjoy the benefits of being a patrol officer and no longer have to pay taxes, so this matter has little to do with me.

"The fighting is raging on Changyuan Mountain, so it's no surprise that taxes are being levied more. This war tax is twice the poll tax."

In the past, levying such a large tax on spirit stones would probably have bankrupted many cultivators.

But now the prices of various spiritual items have skyrocketed, and both demon hunters and craftsmen are earning significantly more spirit stones.

Collecting more war taxes shouldn't have too much of an impact.

In Blackrock Mountain Market, the prices of all supplies needed for the war have skyrocketed. Most supplies have doubled in price, and even the smallest increases have been more than 50%.

As long as a cultivator is productive, the amount of spirit stones they earn will naturally be much more than before.

Collecting more taxes now will still only involve collecting spirit stones, so it won't be too detrimental.

Hou Ming shook his head: "Things aren't that simple. Those cultivators with special skills won't be affected too much. But those cultivators who make a living by hunting demons will have a tough time."

Jiang Chen was somewhat puzzled: "Demon hunters can sell animal hides, meat, essence blood, bones, claws and teeth, and these things have all gone up in price. They shouldn't be short of spirit stones."

Blackstone Mountain Market is located on the edge of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, where demonic beasts are endlessly slain. The market's main industry is demon hunting, and more than 70% of the independent cultivators within the market are demon hunters.

It is precisely because of these demon-hunting cultivators who continuously provide materials from demon beasts that the entire market has been able to prosper.

Hou Ming sighed: "It is precisely because hunting demons earns more spirit stones that those cultivators who make a living by plundering are particularly active."

Some powerful demon hunters have also begun to plunder other cultivators.

As a result, late-stage Qi Refining cultivators made a fortune. Meanwhile, the most numerous demon-hunting cultivators, mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators, faced a very difficult situation.

"Going out to hunt monsters at all costs, not only can you not earn a single grain of spirit sand, but you may also get injured and have to spend your own money to treat your wounds."

"For example, Uncle Lu went out to hunt demons half a month ago and encountered a demon hunter. Not only was his prey stolen, but he was also seriously injured. He has been lying in bed for half a month and still cannot get out of bed."

Jiang Chen quickly asked, "Which Uncle Lu? Lu Xiong's father?"

Lu Xiong was also a childhood friend of Jiang Chen, and they had a good relationship, but not as good as Hou Ming.

Lu Xiong has good talent, with a third-grade spiritual aperture and a fourth-level Qi Refining cultivation. He also has some talent in weapon crafting.

Currently, I'm an apprentice at a weapon-refining shop in the market, and I can already independently refine first-grade magic weapons. In a few more years, I'll be a proper weapon refiner.

His father, Lu Hu, was a Qi Refining Level 6 cultivator who made a living by hunting demons. He often sold the animal hides and demon blood he obtained to Jiang Yun at discounted prices.

Of course, Jiang Yun was a kind and generous person, so he also sold talismans to Lu Hu at a low price.

After Jiang Yun disappeared without a trace, their contact decreased. However, Lu Hu still sold Jiang Chen the same discounted price for the animal hides and blood essence.

Jiang Chen had a very good impression of Lu Hu's family.

Hou Ming nodded: "Yes, Lu Xiong has sold a lot of things in his house these days in order to raise spirit stones to pay taxes."

Hearing that his old friend was having a hard time, Jiang Chen couldn't help but sigh.

"These rogue cultivators who hunt demonic beasts are the backbone of our Blackstone Mountain Market. If they have a hard time and may leave this place, the market's business will inevitably be affected."

Hou Ming shook his head again: "In the past month, the population of Black Stone Mountain Market has not decreased, but has continued to increase."

I asked a few independent cultivators from north of the Golden Scale River, and they said that the recruitment of independent cultivators there no longer follows any rules.

The cultivators of the Golden Cauldron Sect would seize any rogue cultivator they encountered and send them to Changyuan Mountain to serve as scapegoats.

"In comparison, although life in Black Rock Mountain Market is difficult, there is still a way to survive."

Any rogue cultivator over there with even a little skill tries every means to come to our side.

Therefore, the number of cultivators in the market has increased rather than decreased during this period.

This situation was unexpected by Jiang Chen, but it was also reasonable.

Jiang Chen's grandfather, Jiang Yun, was from north of the Jinlin River, and he had heard about the situation there since he was a child.

North of the Golden Scale River is the core territory of the Golden Cauldron Sect. Wherever there are spiritual veins, the Golden Cauldron Sect has already occupied them, and there are very few demonic beasts threatening the area.

Unskilled practitioners are utterly unstable factors.

South of the Golden Scale River is a different story. There are many demonic beasts here, and evil cultivators are causing trouble both openly and secretly.

Those rogue cultivators who came here became the vanguard in hunting demonic beasts and resisting evil cultivators.

If one were a high-ranking member of the Golden Cauldron Sect, one would also try every means to drive all the rogue cultivators to the south of the Golden Scale River.

However, Jiang Chen valued Hou Ming's ability to find this information. He himself had to focus on cultivation and talisman drawing, and had no time to inquire about information.

With Hou Ming acting as his eyes and ears, he could save himself a lot of trouble.

After acquiring some more talismans, Hou Ming took his leave.