Immortal Father
Chapter 432 - 432 155 The Human Emperor Listens Intently at the Divine Minister's Side_3

432: Chapter 155: The Human Emperor Listens Intently at the Divine Minister’s Side_3 432: Chapter 155: The Human Emperor Listens Intently at the Divine Minister’s Side_3 Xuanyuan Yellow Emperor laughed and scolded, “Nonsense!

I am a man of single-minded thought!”

Tianli whispered, “Ningning Mu and Li Ping’an have also been childhood sweethearts, innocent of the world’s affairs.

The fact that she’s the daughter of Li Mu was discovered only later.”

Xuanyuan Yellow Emperor casually waved his hand, covering the image in the flower hall.

The mighty Human Emperor, divine in appearance, some ordinary veteran of the Human Race, certainly couldn’t watch two young humans being affectionate.

Xuanyuan Yellow Emperor said, “Look above…

Dali, is this the Great Fate Holder?”

The elder Tianli immediately reported, “Your Majesty!

The bald one is Li Dazhi, extremely adept at commerce, he pioneered the Path of Artifact Refining.”

Xuanyuan Yellow Emperor and Fenghou looked over at the same time.

Li Dazhi was gathering the elders and stewards, holding a meeting in the top-level flower hall while drinking tea.

Most of their discussion was about the recent accounts, nothing too fresh, nothing that could surprise Xuanyuan Yellow Emperor or Fenghou.

After watching for a while, Xuanyuan Yellow Emperor said,

“Feng, look, this Li Dazhi really has brought fortune to those around him.”

“I have just calculated Li Dazhi’s physiognomy, and indeed he is a man of great wealth and honor.

With this Great Fortune by his side, everything he does is bound to succeed.

Previously, I heard that Forge-Heaven Gate was giving him a hard time.

Forge-Heaven Gate is probably going to reap what they have sown.”

“Is his fortune really that strong?”

“One could say, second only to Your Majesty back in the day.”

“Oh?

Interesting.”

Xuanyuan Yellow Emperor crossed his arms, then laughed and said,

“Look at that female immortal, the one who appeared beside Qing Su before.

Her fortune has been elevated the most, likely to be Li Dazhi’s Dao companion.”

“Let me calculate…

Xiaoyue was fated to encounter a tribulation, but at this moment, her facial features suggest that her tribulation has passed.”

“Did the Great Fortune help her escape a death tribulation?”

“It seems so.”

Xuanyuan Yellow Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, “In that case, this Li Dazhi could be of use.”

“I’m afraid not,” Fenghou hastily said, “My grandfather once mentioned that the next great tribulation is called the Dao Immortal Tribulation, a momentous opportunity for the rise of Heavenly Dao.

The appearance of the Great Fate Holder now is probably in anticipation of this tribulation.”

“I wonder if this Dao Immortal Tribulation will affect our clan.”

Xuanyuan Yellow Emperor said warmly,

“The matters of the Taoist Sect are indeed not appropriate for our Human Race to intervene…

This father and son are about to meet, let’s listen to what they talk about.”

“If there is nothing new, we’ll go back and consider how to provide some benefits to Li Mu’s daughter.”

…

Li Ping’an had a tender moment with Ningning Mu, agreeing to meet later for a stroll in Dong’an City, then hurriedly went to find his father.

Li Dazhi’s immortal senses detected the arrival of Li Ping’an, he waved his hand to dismiss everyone, and then set up several layers of immortal power barriers.

Li Dazhi did not ask Xiaoyue to leave.

But Xiaoyue, saying she would brew tea for Li Ping’an, went behind the screen and actively raised a barrier of immortal power.

“Dad…”

Li Ping’an pushed the door open and listlessly collapsed beside Li Dazhi, sitting on the left side of the soft couch, he took a couple of sips from the untouched tea in front of his father, then laid down directly.

“What’s the matter with you?”

Li Dazhi chuckled,

“If you’re not comfortable staying in the Eastern Alliance, come back.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”

“Our defensive efforts have already blocked most of Forge-Heaven Gate’s offensives.

In another ten years, we will certainly surpass them in the Path of Artifact Refining.”

Li Ping’an let out a deep sigh, “I’m fine in the Eastern Alliance.

I volunteered to go down to the grassroots for experience, I stayed in two leisurely departments for half a year, every day just goofing off, chanting scriptures, and raising tigers.”

They began to converse in dialect.

Unexpectedly, among the three people listening to their conversation at this moment, there was one, Fenghou, who was adept in various secret techniques.

With a casual wave, Fenghou produced an Eight Trigrams Plate; it flickered with spiritual light, and instantly, the three of them understood the father and son’s conversation.

“Ineffective encryption.”

Li Dazhi pondered, “I’ve never quite understood, where does the Eastern Alliance get its military funding?

They don’t engage in taxation but somehow maintain several million immortal soldiers.”

“Living off dwindling resources.”

Li Ping’an said,

“They rely on the treasures collected from the Ancient Heavenly Court and the Hundred Clans.

“The first department I visited was related to the treasury.

“Handling several ledgers, I was able to estimate that the Eastern Alliance Treasury’s treasures have been depleted by about sixty percent.

“The Eastern Alliance can continue in this manner, minding its own business and quietly maintaining its soldiers, for tens of thousands of years; there’s no need for us to worry.”

“That’s not necessarily true!”

Li Dazhi shook his head:

“Don’t forget the threat of the Hundred Clans.

In a major war, the expenditure is astronomical.

Yet, the Eastern Alliance doesn’t take precautions and doesn’t consider taxation arrangements in the East Continent in advance.”

Li Ping’an, resting his arm under his head and looking at the ceiling with a vacant gaze, casually said, “You write a letter?”

“I can’t,” Li Dazhi said with a self-deprecating smile, “I’m not cut out for officialdom.

Put me in office, and all I’ll do is put on airs and accept gifts; just like in the plays, celebrating New Year every day, night after night of singing and dancing…

You write a letter.

It’s good to earn some merit.”

“I’ve been contemplating it already, I will bring it up when there’s an opportunity.”

Li Ping’an made a swiping motion, tracing the borders of the East Continent.

“In the land of the East Continent, there are thousands of towns and tens of millions of Loose Cultivators.

The entities responsible for taxation cannot be the Taoist sects or religious orders, as they are places for quiet cultivation.

“The entities that must levy taxes are the towns, with the sects providing voluntary donations.

“The towns will collect a land tax and a protection tax.

All businesses should pay a portion of their profits in taxes, and the affairs of the inns should be managed by the Eastern Alliance, designating inns as non-combat zones to provide protection to Loose Cultivators and, in turn, collect a protection tax.

“The tax revenue will be used in three areas: one, to train immortal soldiers and their expenses; two, for the construction of towns; and, three, to aid commoners and the lower-class Loose Cultivators.”

Li Dazhi clicked his tongue, “What you’re proposing is too idealistic.

If you really want to collect taxes, you’d first have to join forces with the major sects; have them pay a portion, have the Loose Cultivators follow suit and pay a portion, then return the collected taxes from the sects in full, while using the Loose Cultivators’ taxes for the Eastern Alliance military expenses.”

“That won’t do.”

Li Ping’an said firmly:

“Dad, what you’re suggesting would oppress the Loose Cultivators.”

“But do you believe,” Li Dazhi raised an eyebrow, “without doing that, you won’t collect much.”

Li Ping’an started to say something, then hesitated, but eventually voiced his thoughts, “The East Continent is like an uncarved gem; many rules have yet to be established.

If too much leeway is given when the initial rules are made, human nature will lean towards evil, and those who follow will continually test the limits.”

“I’m just saying!”

Li Dazhi patted his head:

“Isn’t this just me playing the role of the vile capitalist?

If you have ideas, then go implement them.

“By the way, Ping’an, have you seen the powerhouse behind the Forge-Heaven Gate at the Eastern Alliance?”

On the eaves of this high-rise building, three figures silently descended.

The elder Tianli clenched his teeth; at this moment, his resolve was twisted into a knot.

Yet what Li Ping’an said next caused the elder Tianli’s legs to buckle.

Li Ping’an stated:

“As for the powerhouse behind the Forge-Heaven Gate, at the end of the day, it’s our Human Race’s great…

Human Emperor.”