"County Magistrate... My father and Six Yang True Monarch indeed have urgent matters and cannot personally come to pay respects. Please, County Monarch, understand!"

As the pilot of the Lin Family, a Golden Core Cultivation Clan and one of the most powerful people in Dragon City County, Lin Yanluo unexpectedly knelt down without hesitation, her tone filled with humility.

"Before I came, my father and Sect Leader Liuyang entrusted me to apologize to County Magistrate Su."

"I hope County Magistrate will consider the sincerity of my two elders and calm your anger, taking care of your immortal body."

While speaking, Lin Yanluo took out two heavy money bags from her storage bracelet, respectfully holding them high with both hands.

Along with Lin Yanluo’s enchanting and charming figure and tearful expression, it’s truly a combination of money and beauty.

How could ordinary officials withstand such a test?

At least Qi Junxiang, who had no experience, was wide-eyed.

However, Su Yuan did not even lift his eyelid; he merely glanced at the weight of those two money bags.

Not too little, not too much, one money bag with ten thousand spirit coins.

This is equivalent to twenty million Federation Coins, which even in the Blue Star Federation, can match two-thirds of the minimum annual salary of a Golden Core cultivator.

Considering the productivity of the Celestial Law World is not much stronger than the Ancient Cultivation Era, these ten thousand spirit coins represent so much from the people, it’s simply unimaginable.

A capable candidate during the Immortal Official exam could spend four to five thousand spirit coins at most from buying intelligence to using money to navigate the exam.

Yet, the first day of taking office, he directly harvested four thousand spirit coins, breaking even immediately.

This made Su Yuan ponder, no wonder everyone wants to be an official,

It’s simply a huge profit!

Of course, this also has to do with starting as a Standard Seventh Grade County Magistrate; otherwise, even for someone like Ying Ding, a Standard Eighth Grade County Magistrate, earning back these four thousand spirit coins wouldn’t be simple.

After a momentary silence, Su Yuan’s face suddenly revealed anger. He slammed the table hard and said:

"Outrageous!"

When the top person in Dragon City County got angry, everyone in the room shivered.

"Daring to bribe an official in broad daylight, lawless. You, the Lin Family of Dragon City County and Six Yang Sect, evidently disregard Immortal Law!"

"Have you forgotten the consequences of accepting bribes in private? At the least, dismissed from office, at the worst, directly sent to the Immortal Execution Platform!"

"Who gave you the guts to brazenly challenge this officer’s bottom line?"

The crowd was dumbstruck by these words.

Lin Yanluo’s enchanting fox-eye widened slightly, seemingly unable to believe what she heard.

Immortal Law?

Isn’t that just a pile of waste paper?

Though the celestial laws and rules have not changed since set, no one’s adhered to the Immortal Law for over a hundred years.

Matters like accepting money, even if done in front of anyone, pose no issue, as long as you complete your tasks.

Why is County Magistrate Su acting like an impartial official?

Luckily, Su Yuan’s next words put everyone at ease:

"However, I heard that the officials in Dragon City County work hard but their salaries are not high. This officer can consider this money as a donation from Lin Family and Six Yang Sect to Dragon City County Government Office."

Su Yuan’s tone softened slightly, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly relaxed.

Lin Yanluo, alongside Bai Xuan Daoist who had his head buried on the table, sighed in relief.

What a scare, thought they encountered a clean official.

Turns out, just putting on a show?

Who is this display for?

But Lin Yanluo dared not say this aloud; her bewitching eyes turned slightly, and she said with a smile:

"County Magistrate Su is selfless, considerate of subordinate, which truly puts us to shame."

"Rest assured, these twenty thousand spirit coins will be delivered to your office without lacking a penny."

Su Yuan hummed in acknowledgment, motioning for Lin Yanluo to sit.

Yet, due to Bai Xuan Daoist’s precedent, no one dared touch the food.

Su Yuan didn’t mind, casually eating a few bites, then speaking again:

"I heard Dragon City County’s pirates are rampant?"

The pirate matter naturally belonged to Assistant General Wang De’s duties.

This Golden Core cultivator, behaving honestly from start to finish, respectfully replied:

"Reporting to County Magistrate, there indeed are many pirates along Dragon City County’s coast, often landing to plunder."

"Personally, I have faced pirate leaders who count as no less than two Golden Core cultivators. Although individually weaker by three points than me, due to being outnumbered, I frequently retreat."

Su Yuan wasn’t surprised by this answer, turning to Lin Yanluo:

"Pirates are ferocious, haven’t Lin Family and Six Yang Sect participated in suppression?"

Lin Yanluo replied quickly:

"Reporting to County Magistrate, my father and Sect Leader Liuyang have supported efforts before, but upon probing, it seems the pirates are backed by a Demon Sect."

"Demon Sect?"

Su Yuan raised an eyebrow.

Bai Xuan Daoist took over the explanation:

"Indeed, based on our investigations, the Demon Sect is named Blood God Sect, a large Demon Sect occupying Fa Continent overseas."

"They say the Sect Leader of Blood God Sect... possesses Nascent Soul True Monarch cultivation!"

"County Magistrate, if Dragon City County is merely occasionally harassed by pirates, that’s tolerable, but if pirates are completely eradicated, not only would it be a severe blow, but it also risks provoking Blood God Sect’s revenge, with extinction being just a matter of moments."

"For the sake of all county’s common people, we truly dare not act too recklessly."

Su Yuan shook his head:

"Not to criticize you, but your ideological awareness from these two representatives requires improvement!"

"What if there’s a Demon Sect behind the pirates? Behind us is the Immortal Realm, the entire Celestial Law World; what fear is there of a mere Demon Sect?"

"In my view, these pirates must be exterminated! It’s imperative!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone, including Wang De and the County Government Office’s staff, Lin Yanluo and Bai Xuan, exchanged bewildered looks.

Lin Yanluo was about to speak, but heard Su Yuan wave his hand and say:

"I’ve made up my mind. Regardless of the difficulties of the Lin Family and the Six Yang Sect, deliver at least one million Spirit Coins to me within seven days. This will be the fund for eradicating bandits by the County Government Office."

"If they fail to deliver, it means colluding with the pirates, deliberately slowing down the eradication process, and such intentions are punishable!"

After speaking, Su Yuan left without even eating.

Ying Ding hastily followed him with an ingratiating expression.

Wang De and Qi Junxiang reluctantly glanced at the sumptuous meal on the table, but had to pretend they were full, and got up to follow Su Yuan.

Left behind were the somewhat bewildered Lin Yanluo and Bai Xuan Daoist.

After a while, Bai Xuan Daoist sighed:

"It’s truly the three fires a new official ignites, Fairy Lin. Do you think this new County Monarch really intends to exterminate the bandits?"

Lin Yanluo sneered:

"Exterminate the bandits? I think he lacks the guts for that, but has plenty to exploit the eradication for profit, and boldly at that!"

"That is a million Spirit Coins, which is the accumulation of my Lin Family over ten years; he truly dares to bite! The previous County Magistrate worked for five years and only accumulated just as much!"

"This Su Youlin is so greedy as soon as he takes office. If he isn’t disciplined, he’ll demand a million this year, a hundred million next year!"

Bai Xuan Daoist’s expression grew solemn.

Indeed, a million Spirit Coins is a lot, but spread across the major families and sects, it doesn’t seem unbearable.

Yet, to let the new County Magistrate continue such unchecked greed, even the wealthiest cultivation sect cannot withstand it!

"What should we do?"

He asked sincerely.

Lin Yanluo responded calmly:

"Simple, before Su Youlin consolidates the governmental officials of the County Office and Wang De’s five hundred Xiang Army, we quickly organize people to stir things up."

"Stir enough trouble that the magistrate can’t continue his work; let’s see how long he can hold out."

Bai Xuan Daoist nodded in sudden realization:

"Alright, I’ll go prepare immediately. If quick, the trouble can start tomorrow."

Such matters were not new to him, so he didn’t need to inquire about details, he could jump right in.

On the other side, Su Yuan had already taken the carriage to the Dragon City County Government Office.

The County Office was bright and imposing, without a hint of dilapidation, indicating annual repairs.

When Su Yuan stepped down from the carriage, he saw the officials under the command of an elder, cleaning everywhere.

Seeing Su Yuan arrive, the elder in green official attire promptly came to greet him; he was Chief Clerk Liu.

"Chief Clerk Liu, have everyone gather together for a moment."

"From junior officials to constables, gather in the County Office’s back courtyard."

As he spoke, Su Yuan instructed Wang De, who was following him:

"You bring the Xiang Army brothers to the County Office’s back courtyard as well, I have directions."

"Yes!"

"At your command."

Wang De and Chief Clerk Liu were not surprised by Su Yuan’s orders.

The three fires a new official sets, after disciplining the local tycoons, naturally he focuses on his subordinates.

While waiting, Su Yuan took a turn around the courthouse and received two thousand Spirit Coins sent by Lin Yanluo.

He sat in the main position of the courthouse, holding the money bag, seemingly lost in thought.

Ying Ding, who was always at Su Yuan’s side, hesitated for a moment then carefully reminded him:

"County Monarch, when you demanded money from the Dragon City cultivation clans and sects, you were too hasty, too harsh."

"Against the governmental officials and the Xiang Army, it’s better to exercise restraint; otherwise, we may not stand a chance in Dragon City."

Su Yuan cast a glance at him:

"Are you teaching me how to handle things?"

"I wouldn’t dare!"

Ying Ding quickly lowered his head, feeling secretly bitter.

He hadn’t noticed before, but Su Youlin is a greedy ghost! A perfect example of valuing money above all else!

Previously, when bribing him, he was quite generous!

Soon, Wang De and Chief Clerk Liu came to report.

Su Yuan stood up, paced to the County Office’s back courtyard, to see all his subordinates he could mobilize in the county.

Eighty Qi Cultivation Stage constables, two Foundation Establishment Stage captains, nearly a hundred clerks and laborers.

This was the personnel configuration within the County Office.

The nominally not under Su Yuan’s jurisdiction Xiang Army, were about four hundred fifty members present, most formed by military quick formation methods as Qi Cultivation Stage soldiers.

These soldiers without a Spiritual Root, who only achieved Qi Cultivation Stage by overdrafting themselves, would only revolve around Qi Cultivation throughout their lives.

Apart from the common soldiers, over forty decurions in the Xiang Army were at Qi Cultivation Late Stage, and all five centurions were Foundation Establishment Cultivators, quite impressive configuration.

"Promptly fill the Xiang Army’s vacancy."

Su Yuan ordered Wang De.

The latter showed a difficult expression:

"County Monarch..."

But before Wang De could speak, Su Yuan stepped forward to a very young-looking soldier, reached out to feel the thickness of his clothes, and asked warmly;

"Dragon City’s sea wind is harsh, is this clothing cold?"