Chapter 1081: No Power, No Right to Reason

Taking Xin Zhida as his disciple had been an impromptu decision, but watching her kneel in the customary act of discipleship, Ye Mo felt a surge of satisfaction. He knew he'd made the right choice.

He pulled her hand, saying, “My real name is Ye Mo, but I have enemies, so tell anyone who asks that my name is Luo Xiaomo.” He’d chosen the alias due to the Lightning Cloud Sect’s suspicion of Mo Ying and Ning Xiaoma's high profile at the Truth Fall Palace. The thought of when he could finally use his own name without fear left him speechless.

Xin Zhida, though slightly confused, didn't question it. Having a master felt like a tremendous gain. Previously, her life had been a relentless cycle of earning spirit stones to pay off debts, devoid of family, friends, or any significant goals. Debt repayment was her sole focus.

“Master, did you come to Pill City for the pill king tournament in three months? Are you a pill king?” she asked. While she hoped he was, she knew even her grandfather, despite a lifetime of striving, had only reached level seven spirit pill master before his death, far from the pill king rank. She assumed her master would be a spirit pill master as well.

Ye Mo smiled. “Do you have high hopes for the pill king tournament?”

Xin Zhida nodded. “My grandpa dedicated his life to it, yet he died a level seven spirit pill master. He said he might never become a pill king and that my talent wasn't suited for pill concoction; I shouldn't follow in his footsteps.” A level seven spirit pill master held considerable status in the North Far State, but in the South Peace State, and especially Pill City, it meant little.

“We’ll discuss the tournament later. First, let's deal with the people in these rooms,” Ye Mo said.

“Master, they're here because I owe them money; you can't send them away,” Xin Zhida protested. Pill City was no place for unchecked harassment; she would have been dead long ago if it were. They occupied her yard not through force, but because of her debt.

Ye Mo waved a hand. “Don't worry, just gather them.”

He waited, but Xin Zhida soon returned with only two people. One was already impatient; he would have raged if not for Ye Mo's obvious power. The other coldly assessed Ye Mo before addressing Xin Zhida: “Xin girl, we're short on time. You still haven't paid this month's spirit stones.”

Xin Zhida’s face flushed. “Sorry, Wei-Qianbei, my master wishes to speak with you.”

“Your master?” The two eyed Ye Mo, assessing his strength. So what if he was stronger? This was Pill City.

Ye Mo’s spirit sense swept over the three remaining tenants, eliciting a sneer as he sent three piercing waves of spirit energy. The three spat blood, faces pale with shock. They fled, recognizing a master among masters, their fear evident. Ye Mo had used only the gentlest spirit sense pike; his level three purple eye soul sever ability allowed free use of the spirit sense sword, which would have killed or driven them mad instantly.

The initial two cultivators grew worried, despite Pill City’s strict laws. Killing them first and dealing with the consequences later—even if punished—meant they would be dead.

“This yard was left to Xin Zhida by her grandfather. Are you occupying it, taking advantage of her, and still demanding spirit stones?” Ye Mo’s gaze was cold.

The cultivator called Wei saluted. “Qianbei, while you’re Xin Zhida’s master, you can’t be unreasonable in Pill City. We're here because she owes us spirit stones and can’t pay. We gave up our homes to come here.”

Ye Mo laughed. “So, you’re doing this for Xin Zhida’s benefit?”

“That’s right.” The cultivator was confident Ye Mo wouldn't act rashly.

“Very well.” Ye Mo scanned the yard. “How many spirit stones does she owe you?”

Wei was ready for a fight, but Ye Mo's lack of aggression surprised him. He concluded Ye Mo was bluffing and wouldn't act in Pill City. Emboldened, he declared, “140,000 spirit stones.”

Ye Mo saw through his bravado but didn't comment. “Would you leave if she repaid the debt?”

“Of course. I, Wei Wuya, am a man of my word. Even if I wanted to seize land, the city guards would annihilate me.” He presented himself as an upright individual.

Ye Mo ignored this, asking, “How much does a year in a mid-grade Pill City hotel cost?”

“Around 150,000 spirit stones, but this place can't compare,” Wei replied, realizing Ye Mo's line of questioning.

Ye Mo sneered. “And how much to rent a place like this for a year?”

“About 20 to 30,000 spirit stones?” Wei sweat began to form.

Ye Mo sneered. “More than that, I’m sure. Let's say 30,000. How long have you lived here?”

“Si… six years…” Wei’s voice trembled.

“Six years. That’s 180,000 spirit stones. You're not only ungrateful for six years of free lodging, but you demand more! Do you disregard me, or Pill City's laws? At the Golden Core stage, you think you’re powerful?” A sneer caused the weakest cultivator to spit blood.

Ye Mo continued, “I hear you planned to take this yard in ten years. This is abuse of lower-cultivators. Should I call the city guards?”

Their faces changed. They knew they had been exploiting Xin Zhida.

“Qianbei, I forgot Sister Zhida repaid me!” The bald cultivator hastily packed his things.

“Leave the debt note.” Ye Mo discovered the cultivator possessed a spirit sense jade slip.

The others followed suit.

“Master, was that okay?” Xin Zhida was astonished.

She patted her chest. “I should have done that sooner. I was foolish to work for them.”

Ye Mo sighed. “I could do that, but you can’t. They knew how much they saved living here. They exploited your helplessness. Remember: to be heard, you need power. No power, no right to reason.”

Xin Zhida nodded.