Chapter 2244

After listening to the words Zou Ran whispered in his ear, Chen Xuan still had no intention of handing over his herbs. While on the road, he had heard Zou Ran mention that more than a dozen small cultivation sects had sent people to the upper perimeter of Lieyun Valley to collect "protection fees." In the past, many small sects had engaged in blatant robbery of itinerant herb gatherers. Later, these sects were suppressed—or even eradicated—by more powerful organizations, which was why, in recent years, no one dared to commit outright plunder. After all, the herbs collected by the itinerant gatherers were essential resources for the major sects surrounding Lieyun Valley; they could not allow these small sects to ruin the gathering environment. Of course, while these small sects dared not rob openly, they were brazen enough to invent various excuses to collect protection fees. In truth, they did help the gatherers ward off many ferocious beasts, so the major sects generally turned a blind eye to these small fees.