"One word to wake the dreamer."
Indeed, in this place, there was no way to use any offensive techniques. It didn't matter if they were at the Golden Core or Nascent Soul stage, what could they do here?
It would take at least six years for rescue from headquarters. If they handed over the little cultivation resources they had left, most of the lower-level cultivators might not survive long enough to see rescue. After all, many of them had been sent to the mortal realm because they were already getting on in years and had little hope of advancing further.
If their cultivation regressed, who knew how much of their lifespan would be lost? They had never encountered a situation like this before, where a lack of spiritual energy could lead to a decline in their cultivation.
Giving up their cultivation resources now could mean not surviving long enough for rescue. On the other hand, if they refused to obey orders, they might just make it through until help arrived.
By then, there would still be over ten thousand of them. Would headquarters really kill all of them just to save face for the higher-ups?
So, giving up their resources was out of the question. If it came down to it, they would fight. Sure, the physical bodies of the Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators were stronger than those of the Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining cultivators, but they had the numbers. What was there to fear? If push came to shove, they'd go all out!
Some of them even began to feel a strange sense of excitement, thinking this might be a rare opportunity to take on the higher-level cultivators without feeling completely outmatched.
As a result, the order from Gui Jia Zun Zhe and the other 1,001 higher-level cultivators was completely ignored. They didn't receive a single piece of cultivation resource.
This phenomenon stunned the 1,001 higher-level cultivators.
In their wildest dreams, they never expected the lower-level cultivators, who usually trembled at their feet, to dare openly defy their orders.
This situation made the higher-level cultivators feel like their authority and status were being seriously challenged.
If they allowed such disobedience to go unpunished, how would they maintain order in the future? How could they command respect?
Severe punishment was necessary.
But how?
At this moment, the higher-level cultivators were at a loss.
There was no spiritual energy here, and they couldn't use any offensive techniques. Any attempt to do so would result in backlash. In the past, such backlash would only cost them some time and spiritual energy to recover from, but now, with spiritual energy being their scarcest resource, they couldn't afford such risks.
With no better options, they gathered everyone in the square and severely reprimanded the lower-level cultivators, speaking in the harshest tones.
However, not even half of the lower-level cultivators bothered to show up. Most of them stayed in their rooms, ignoring the higher-level cultivators' orders entirely.
Having already defied their demand for resources, they didn't feel it was important to comply with the summons.
Some who did attend the reprimand only went because they still held a bit of fear and respect for the higher-level cultivators. Having already disobeyed the order to hand over their resources, they thought it best to at least show up for this, lest they push the higher-ups too far.
From that moment on, Wanwantong's internal structure in the mortal realm began to crumble.
Their internal conflicts grew day by day.
A month later, the imprisoned spies finally saw their captors again.
Liao Pantu didn't bother showing up himself. Instead, he left the matter to one of his disciples, Yuan Jinsheng.
Before joining Lingxian Sect, Yuan Jinsheng was a mortal realm cultivator and had some understanding of these spies. Now, as the steward of Shuishui City, it was only fitting for him to manage matters at Fanlong Courtyard, where the spies were held.
As for Liao Pantu, he felt that offering advice on how to deal with these spies was enough. He saw no reason to handle the situation personally. He had more important things to do, such as solidifying his cultivation or teaching the disciples on Qingyun Peak.
The fifty buildings in this area actually had a name—Fanlong Courtyard.
Lin Xiao had originally planned to clear the vast wilderness behind the northern mountain range, so during the city's construction, he had specifically built this area as employee housing.
It just so happened that Wanwantong's spies fell into their lap, providing Shuishui City with plenty of strong laborers.
The spiritual energy levels in Fanlong Courtyard could be controlled directly from the City Lord's Mansion, but the maximum level could only be as high as the general level within the city.
Not long ago, Liao Pantu had discussed with Lin Yun to set the spiritual energy in this area to zero.
As expected, it didn't take long for the spies to start causing trouble.
This made the younger disciples of Lingxian Sect admire Liao Pantu even more.
A month later, Yuan Jinsheng appeared at Fanlong Courtyard. Instead of making any grand speeches, he and two assistants simply set up a small stall at the entrance.
A sign hung beside the stall with just two words: "Hiring Workers."
Several sharp-eyed or bored spies passing by saw the sign and gathered around to ask what kind of jobs they were offering.
Some also asked why the spiritual energy had suddenly disappeared and when it would return.
Yuan Jinsheng answered each question in a straightforward manner.
First, he explained why the spiritual energy had disappeared: "As you all know, the mortal realm has very thin spiritual energy. Since you are not from the mortal realm, it isn't fair for you to continue absorbing our spiritual energy for free, right? We didn't make a fuss about it before, but now this unfair relationship has to stop. Don't you agree?"
"Moreover, you've probably noticed that the spiritual energy in Shuishui City is much denser than in other places. Given how precious this resource is, it can't be handed out freely, so we've cut off the spiritual energy to Fanlong Courtyard."
Normally, given Yuan Jinsheng's blunt personality, he wouldn't offer such a detailed explanation. But his master, Liao Pantu, had written a script for him beforehand, which he had been instructed to recite.
This explanation left the spies momentarily speechless. It seemed logical, yet somehow it didn't feel quite right.
Ignoring their confusion, Yuan Jinsheng patted the sign next to him and announced, "We're hiring! The job is clearing land. For every ten acres of high-grade land cleared, you'll be paid one spirit stone. If it's not high-grade land, there's no pay."
"Are you crazy? Just one spirit stone? Who would do that?" one spy complained loudly.
Yuan Jinsheng located the source of the voice and gave the man a cold glare. "Go if you want, don't go if you don't."
With that, he stopped speaking, crossed his arms, and leaned back, pretending to sleep.
One of the quicker-witted spies approached and quietly asked Yuan Jinsheng, "Fellow Daoist, if we take the job, will there be spiritual energy where we work?"
Without opening his eyes, Yuan Jinsheng replied, "Those who work are at least considered half citizens of the mortal realm. Of course, there will be spiritual energy."