Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

Xiao Renfeng casually took out a silver and handed it to the old man, asking, "Having just arrived, my companion and I are unfamiliar with this place. What is this Martial Registry? Could you please enlighten us, sir?"

The old man, who had spoken to them only because he noticed their exceptional demeanor, had been waiting for this question. Now that he had received the silver, he hurriedly replied with a beaming smile and a clasped-hand salute, "Many thanks to the two young masters. To talk about this Martial Registry, we need to mention the new policies of Hexi!"

"The new policies of Hexi?"

"The two young masters surely know who currently governs the Hexi Four Counties?"

"The Hou Clan."

"Precisely, these new policies of Hexi were a series of measures announced by the Hou Clan three months ago, with the most important one being the establishment of the Martial Registry."

When Xiao Renfeng heard the words 'new policies of Hexi,' he became intrigued. Instinctively sensing that there was more to this Martial Registry, he immediately requested the old man to elaborate.

The old man was all too willing to share everything he knew, not holding back any details.

"The Martial Registry can be seen as a household registration system for Martial Artists. Previously, like other regions, both martial artists and commoners were only included in the conventional household registry. The Hou Clan, with the establishment of the Martial Registry, divided it into long and short registries. Once registered, not only could one enjoy tax exemptions and relief from labor and military conscription, but one could also receive a monthly stipend and avoid many troubles. For example, entry fees for different regions and unfair treatment abroad could even be handled by the Hou Clan. And most crucially, the Martial Registry allows for inheritance from father to son, generation to generation—it's a legacy that can be passed down!"

Xiao Renfeng's brows furrowed as he remembered the badge the martial artist had shown to the city guards earlier, and he inquired, "So what is recorded in this Martial Registry?"

The old man was not a Martial Artist, but he clearly knew quite a bit, responding, "Heh, my son is also registered, so I happen to know quite well. There are three things listed in the Martial Registry: place of origin, age, and cultivation level!"

Hiss...

Xiao Renfeng drew a sharp breath, and not just him, even Gu Nianqiu next to him showed a hint of shock on his face. Glancing at each other, their expressions became more solemn.

Place of origin and age were minor details, but having one's cultivation level openly recorded on the Martial Registry was tantamount to allowing others to pry into one's capabilities. Loose Cultivators might be fine with this, but what about those established forces? Should I just inform them about the number of Martial Artists I command in clear detail?

"Sir, as far as I know, there are at least dozens of established powers in the Hexi Four Counties, and countless Loose Cultivators. Are they willing to honestly join the Martial Registry?"

The old man, apparently not as concerned as the two had been, replied with a peculiar expression, "Why wouldn't they be willing? Joining the Martial Registry includes so many benefits, and it can be passed down through generations.

I've also heard that individuals holding the Martial Registry, even if not affiliated with the Hou Clan, can still enjoy the minimum treatment reserved for the clan's own members. If they make contributions to Hexi, not only can they receive rewards from the Hou Clan, but they can also select powerful Martial Arts from the clan's Armory.

Moreover, the Hou Clan has stated that as long as you hold a Hexi Martial Registry, the Hou Clan will always be your backing. If you suffer injustices abroad with right on your side, the Hou Clan will stand up for you. These are the benefits many desire but cannot obtain. If they don't join, wouldn't that be foolish?

Recently, many people from other regions have even moved to Hexi just to join!"

While the Martial Registry system might be beneficial for Loose Cultivators and commoners, it was like draining the pond to catch the fish for those grouped martial forces. Originally, each was a self-serving interest group. The Martial Registry would completely reveal their strength, and with the Hou Clan offering its protection, it was akin to their total disbandment.

Prior to this, they had different masters, but now as long as they listened to the Hou Clan, no one would dare to bully them within Hexi. Apart from a few core members, the vast majority would definitely join the Martial Registry, even if they knew that the Hou Clan aimed to drain the pond to catch the fish.

"That can't be right. In the Hexi Four Counties, not everything could have gone so smoothly. With such measures, anyone with the slightest discernment would definitely band together in opposition. No matter how strong the Hou Clan is, it couldn't possibly afford to offend all the established powers in the nineteen counties of the four jurisdictions, could it?"

Gu Nianqiu quickly grasped the crux of the issue and raised the question. Xiao Renfeng, naturally understanding the point, both turned their heads to look at the old man, hoping to hear the answer from him. Unfortunately, the old man was just an ordinary person and clearly did not understand the full extent of these matters.

"Heh, I'm just an old man; how can I know so much? At the beginning of June, the Hou Clan ordered all established powers from the nineteen counties of the four jurisdictions to relocate to the Prefectural City. No one knew the reason at the time, but now we see they were planning the new policies of Hexi from the very beginning!"

Finally, a Warrior of the Tenth Level of Body Opening who was ahead of them, probably unable to hold back any longer, followed up on the old man's words, offering an explanation to Xiao Renfeng and Gu Nianqiu. This time, Gu Nianqiu directly took out a silver note worth a Hundred Taels from his pocket and threw it over. The recipient's face immediately lit up with joy. He thanked them and continued speaking.

"On the tenth day of the eighth month, the Hou Clan convened the leaders of all the established powers in the Prefectural City to discuss matters in the Golden Wind and Drizzle Building, deciding to announce the new policies of Hexi. This Martial Registry system not only fully disclosed everyone's cultivation level but also determined personal taxes and benefits based on the level of cultivation. It was clear to anyone with eyes that it was an act of undermining their foundation. Once announced, all established powers would surely fall apart. Nearly thirty established powers naturally protested loudly and even approached the Famed Sword Sect and the Gao Family, trying to unite and resist the Hou Clan!"

Xiao Renfeng remained silent, as the Martial Registry system had already been implemented in Hexi. The outcome of that day in the Golden Wind and Drizzle Building must have been the defeat of the established powers and the success of the Hou Clan.