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In the blink of an eye, a year had passed swiftly.

It had been almost a year since the Ghost Demon Sect cultivators had besieged the city.

The cultivators residing in Misty Cloud City still had no means of leaving, and the cultivators of the Ghost Demon Sect showed no signs of backing dow^i, relentlessly attacking the second stage of the city’s defense daily, draining the formation’s energy continuously.

This had essentially turned into a habit for the cultivators of Misty Cloud City. Both parties seemed to be in a state of balance, with neither side able to do anything about the other.

The cultivators remaining in the city were becoming increasingly restless, as no one knew when the war would end.

“Whew!”

At this moment, in his quiet room, Zhou Sui was sitting cross-legged on the floor, ending his day of cultivation.

After a year of strenuous cultivation, his progress had made considerable strides, with 40% progress in Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer.

This was inevitable.

After all, the later the stage, the slower the pace of cultivation, and it wasn’t so easy to improve.

Of course, his gains this year were not limited to his cultivation alone.

More importantly, his understanding of pills had moved up a notch, his Alchemist Cultivation had reached 99% of the First-grade Superior, and he was just a step away from becoming a Second-stage Pill Master.

The reason he couldn’t become a second-stage Pill Master was simply due to the lack of inherited knowledge from a second-stage Pill Master.

Apart from that, his Five Elements Alchemy Technique had also been elevated to a minor accomplishment stage, allowing his alchemy skill to make a stunning improvement, and the success rate of his alchemy increased significantly.

The Phantasma Transformation skill had also been promoted from the proficiency level to the minor accomplishment stage. At this point, even a Golden Core cultivator wouldn’t be able to see through his disguise or perceive his cultivation. He could now walk boldly in front of Golden Core cultivators without worrying about being recognized.

Of course, after reaching the minor accomplishment stage, the speed of improvement diminished considerably, and the degree of difficulty had almost reached a deadlock status.

Without the aid of the Book Worm, even a gifted demonic path cultivator would take over a hundred years to cultivate this technique to the minor accomplishment stage.

One could say that his rate of progress was quite astonishing.

“Sir, I fear Misty Cloud City is going to increase the rent.”

At this time, Ji Bingyu spoke to Zhou Sui who had just stepped out of the quiet room.

“Increase the rent? What do you mean?”

Zhou Sui narrowed his eyes.

Because the current rent in Misty Cloud City was already quite exorbitant, requiring two middle-grade Spirit Stones per month, equivalent to two hundred lower-grade Spirit Stones, hardly any cultivator could afford it.

Even though there were ample Spirit Stones in Yunwu Mountain Range, leading to a not particularly high price.

However, this was essentially the limit any cultivator could afford.

If they were to increase the rent further, these cultivators might revolt.

“Apparently it’s due to a shortage of Spirit Stones in Misty Cloud City.” Mu Ziyi explained, “After all, maintaining a second stage defensive formation requires a lot of Spirit Stones as energy. Under the relentless assault of Ghost Demon Sect cultivators over the past year, the reserve Spirit Stones of Misty Cloud City are rapidly depleting.

If there aren’t enough Spirit Stones, then the defensive formation of Misty Cloud City naturally can’t be maintained. To maintain the operation of this defense, the Immortal Mist Sect has decided to increase the rent for the cultivators residing within the city.

Every cultivator residing within the city must pay a significant rent to continue living in Misty Cloud City. Otherwise, they must leave Misty Cloud City.”

She gave a brief explanation of why Misty Cloud City needed to increase the rent – they were simply forced by circumstance.

If there weren’t enough Spirit Stones, the protective formation of Misty Cloud City would collapse sooner or later, which wouldn’t end well for anyone.

If they’re going to increase the rent, how many Spirit Stones are we talking about?”

Zhou Sui asked.

“It’s rumored to be at least double the rent, that is, four middle-grade Spirit Stones per month.”

Xia Jingyan provided a figure.

“Four middle-grade Spirit Stones? That’s fine.”

Hearing this, Zhou Sui breathed a sigh of relief, as for him, four middle-grade

Spirit Stones were not an issue or a heavy burden at the moment.

After all, he currently had five thousand middle-grade Spirit Stones.

If things could be sorted out by spending some Spirit Stones, then none of this would be a big deal.

Even if he had to pay rent for four or five years, he could afford it.

“Indeed, it’s not much for us, but it’s not the same for other cultivators.”

Ji Bingyu shook her head: “Nowadays, it’s not as simple as just a rent increase, the prices of runes, magic artifacts, spiritual medicine, pills, and so on have all risen tremendously, more than doubling from before.

What’s even shocking is the cost of Spirit Rice and Spirit Meat. Compared to a year ago, the price has tripled at least, and even with money, one might not be able to purchase them. Now, Misty Cloud City is facing a serious shortage of nee and meat. Some neighboring cultivators have reportedly been hungry for three days and nights and have started to gnaw on wood. They’re asking people for food everywhere, but no one pays any attention.”

She demonstrates that the cost of living within Misty Cloud City was beginning to skyrocket, with prices changing every day.

If Misty Cloud City wasn’t blocked by the Ghost Demon Sect, there would be food everywhere.

After all, just outside the city were the Yunwu Mountains, home to countless beasts.

One beast alone could provide hundreds to thousands of pounds of meat. Previously, the meat of these beasts had little value and was priced low.

As for Spirit Rice, a large number of farming fields had been opened on the outskirts, leading to abundant harvests every year.

This resulted in the cultivators in Misty Cloud City having no sense of crisis, with the price of food always stable.

There had essentially been a sense of grain hurting the farmers.

They never thought there would come a day when they’d face food and meat shortages.

So Misty Cloud City’s food reserves had never been high.

Just a year into the siege, and Misty Cloud City was beginning to face large-scale food shortages.

“Rumors have it that the cultivators from Immortal Mist Sect in Misty Cloud City have started to reduce food supplies. Shops on the streets are no longer selling grains and meat, but rather limiting the daily supply,” Xia Jingyan said gravely.

To maintain order and prevent hungry cultivators from causing chaos, Misty Cloud City had started restricting the sale of food, limiting purchases per person daily.

This temporary stabilization of the food market was a necessary measure. Even Cultivators were humans, and they too experienced hunger.

Even Foundation Establishment cultivators and Golden Core cultivators would feel hunger and need to eat.

“Sir, lucky for us we made preparations in advance and hoarded a large amount of supplies. Otherwise, we might be going hungry now,”

Mu Ziyi said gratefully.

She never thought that she would have to worry about food one day. As a cultivator, the idea of starving to death was laughable, but it could become a reality in a besieged Misty Cloud City.

However, because they had hoarded more than ten years’ worth of food and Spirit Meat, they didn’t have to scramble for the scarce supplies. They could still dine on a feast every day.

Compared to other cultivators, their lives were infinitely better.

She was grateful that her husband had had the foresight. Otherwise, they could have ended up like the others..