The streets teemed with people, bustling like any third-rate country.
However, most of them looked sallow or listless, as if they hadn't slept for three days and nights. The younger ones were slightly better off, but the older ones were in worse condition, walking and coughing.
Tang Xiaoguo asked worriedly, "Sister Su, why are the people of Lingxiao Kingdom so strange?"
Shangye Shaoqing observed as he spoke, "Yes, are they all sick? But not so many people should be sick. Could it be..." He suddenly jolted. "Could it be that we've arrived at an inconvenient time, and a contagious disease has just broken out in the city?"
Du Wei said gravely, "Young Master, be careful. It's best to take a Qingxin Pill first as a precaution."
Su Luo observed their surroundings. "It shouldn't be a contagious disease. Don't panic."
This was the first time she had seen such a situation.
After walking for two streets, at least two-thirds of the people they encountered were like this. Su Luo activated her Divine Eye to see what was happening. The sight made her even more perplexed.
Regardless of gender, young or old, everyone had consumed a large amount of vital energy and blood in a short period.
This caused their listlessness and even illness.
"Something is strange. Let's find someone to ask."
Soon, they found a decent-looking inn to stay in.
During dinner, Su Luo lowered her voice and asked the waiter, "Young man, we've just arrived in Lingxiao Kingdom and have a question to ask. I noticed that the people on the street seem to have no energy, looking weak. Could it be..."
As she spoke, she took out two spirit coins and handed them over.
The waiter's eyes lit up. He glanced around, took the spirit coins, and quickly said, "Don't worry, esteemed guests, they are not sick. They've just been doing hard labor for the Seven Stars Sect, which is too tiring, that's why they're like this. They'll be fine after a rest."
Since it was related to the Seven Stars Sect, they naturally had more to ask.
Shangye Shaoqing asked, "What kind of hard labor is so tiring?"
"Esteemed guests, you may not know, but the Seven Stars Sect is the overlord here. Even the royal family treats the people of the Seven Stars Sect with respect. Because they are backed by one of the six major powers on the continent, the Grand Beginning Holy Land, who would dare to provoke them?"
The waiter, having received the spirit coins, complained as he spoke.
Lingxiao Kingdom was poor in resources, and the court had little income. Therefore, the taxes and levies were particularly heavy.
Whether one was doing business or farming, high taxes had to be paid. This included a head tax for giving birth and a single tax for not marrying. A bowl of plain noodles cost at least one tael of silver, and a piece of clothing cost hundreds of taels... A typical family of five spent at least one to two thousand a month; otherwise, they simply couldn't survive.
Corrupt officials and bullying local tyrants were rampant everywhere. Otherwise, why would the city gates be in disrepair and not maintained?
All the money went into the pockets of certain individuals.
The waiter sighed and said, "Ordinary people can't survive. If they try to escape, they'll be caught and executed!
The only way out is to go to the Seven Stars Sect to become a spirit planter or a spirit physician. Not only will they receive high compensation, but if they are favored by the Seven Stars Sect, they can join them and become cultivators, thus escaping the sea of suffering."
He shook his head. "I worked there for a month the year before last, but I got sick for two months after returning and didn't dare to go again. Fortunately, this inn has some connection with the Seven Stars Sect. As a waiter here, I can earn eight hundred taels a month, plus tips from guests. Alas, it's passable..."
"It seems the common people of Lingxiao Kingdom live very hard lives," Tang Xiaoguo sighed.
"Then what are spirit planters and spirit physicians? Are they different?" Tang Xiaoguo asked curiously.
The waiter immediately became reticent. "That's a long story, and I don't know much about it. Anyway, you're not from here. Esteemed guests, I have other things to do. Please enjoy your meal."
Su Luo suddenly remembered something. "Wait, how much is this table of food?"
The waiter calculated, "Seven thousand four hundred taels of silver, or seventy-four spirit coins."
Su Luo: "..."
Heavens, this was probably the most expensive meal she had ever eaten.
Everyone looked at each other, then proceeded to devour the dishes on the table with the speed of a whirlwind. It was so expensive; if they didn't eat it all quickly, not even the soup could be wasted!
After the meal, the taste was indeed good.
The dishes were made of edible spirit herbs and flowers, and the meat was from demonic or spiritual beasts. No wonder it was so expensive.
Shangye Shaoqing paid for the rooms, three of them, which cost another nine thousand taels of silver, equivalent to ninety spirit coins.
Upon entering the rooms, the furnishings were indeed luxurious, comparable to the decoration of a wealthy family. You get what you pay for. Even the pillows were filled with sun-dried Grade Two jade beads, emitting a faint fragrance that aided sleep.
The group gathered in Li Tianjue's room to discuss. He asked, "What are everyone's thoughts?"
Shangye Shaoqing immediately said, "There must be something wrong! Lingxiao Kingdom is poor and corrupt, yet the prices are sky-high. The Seven Stars Sect recruiting spirit planters and spirit physicians seems to help ordinary people earn a living, but the waiter's reticence suggests there's definitely a secret."
Tang Xiaoguo said cautiously, "Could it be... that the Seven Stars Sect kills people in secret?"
Su Luo shook her head. "Even if they kill, it's in secret. Otherwise, the streets would have been in an uproar long ago. But so many people are unwell, there must be a reason. Since the waiter wouldn't say, we'll go and see tomorrow."
Li Tianjue said solemnly, "The priority is to find the Ten Thousand Flower Valley. I sensed a wave of formation fluctuations, which should be the hiding place of the Hundred Flower Valley, but I can't confirm its location."
The group discussed the details further and then retired to their respective rooms to rest.
The next day.
Under Su Luo's direction, everyone was transformed, becoming unrecognizable.
"Ah, I'm so ugly now." Tang Xiaoguo looked at her sallow skin, and her frown made her even uglier.
"Luoluo is still so beautiful."
Shangye Shaoqing, looking at Su Luo, who now had a large black spot on her neck, praised her profusely.
Su Luo gave him a sideways glance. "I think your eyes are blind. I'll give you a herbal medicine to treat your eyes when we get back."
Shangye Shaoqing and Li Tianjue also underwent drastic changes. The former had two knife scars on his face, and the latter was covered in wrinkles, appearing to be a weathered man in his forties. They were no longer the handsome and dashing figures they once were!
They were undeniably ugly men.
Su Luo, having a rare opportunity to tease them, watched and laughed. "Hahahaha, Senior Brother, Shangye, if the women who admire you saw this, they would definitely want to kill me."
Li Tianjue said expressionlessly, "Su Luo, you were really ruthless."
"I can't help it. Using human skin masks is too obvious and makes one look expressionless. Of course, I have to disguise them more realistically. Don't worry, these medicinal solutions and props can't be washed off, even with face washing. They must be removed using special methods, so you won't be discovered."
Su Luo touched the black spot on her neck. This was also a great sacrifice for her for the first time.
As for Du Wei, he didn't need any disguise, as no one recognized him anyway.
Then, everyone checked out of the inn, inquired about the location of the Seven Stars Sect, and headed there.
The Seven Stars Sect recruited spirit planters and spirit physicians year-round. They had already clarified this. A large recruitment point was filled with applicants, including ordinary people and cultivators, creating a noisy and continuous stream of people.
Su Luo looked at a sign hanging on the wall, which read:
Today, we recruit one hundred spirit planters at a monthly salary of five thousand taels; and five hundred spirit physicians at a monthly salary of thirty thousand taels.