Duanmu Ren felt a chill run down his spine.
He was like a marionette, answering every question asked by the mysterious man before him and obeying his every command.
For Duanmu Ren, who was accustomed to controlling the fates of others, this inspired a surge of anger alongside his terror.
Duanmu Ren's entourage was at a complete loss for a moment.
Judging by the conversation between Duanmu Ren and Li Chengxuan, they were clearly strangers.
Yet County Magistrate Duanmu obeyed Li Chengxuan's every word, as submissive as a servant, which naturally sparked wild speculation among them.
Could he be a prominent figure from the provincial government... or even the capital?!
The most shocked among them were undoubtedly Li Jiabao and Hu Shihao.
Both of them had forgotten their squabbling and grappling.
Li Chengxuan had used the 【Qi Peering Technique】 to carefully confirm it; Duanmu Ren indeed harbored a dense aura, leaving him increasingly satisfied.
Although the color was somewhat hideous and terrifying, Li Chengxuan did not mind.
Presumably, the Heavenly Dao of the cultivation world cared even less.
Li Chengxuan had briefly browsed through the manual scriptures sent over by the various sects of the Nanya Immortal Alliance in Nanya Province, and his mind raced.
"Judging by this aura, it is certainly not a Dao lineage related to Yin-Yang or the Five Elements."
"With malevolent qi as its body and blood qi pervading it, there is a sense of cruelty and ferocity."
"Most likely, it is a Dao lineage related to shamans and priests."
Duanmu Ren's body was stiff, unable to move at all; only his eyes darted about frantically. After several failed attempts to struggle free, he realized he had encountered an extraordinary personage. Setting aside his dignity as a county leader, his eyes filled with silent pleading.
Li Chengxuan gave a soft laugh and spoke, "Have these unrelated people disperse. I have matters to discuss with you."
His spiritual sense was precious, and he would not waste it on irrelevant people.
Duanmu Ren's body swayed as he finally regained his freedom. Suppressing the urge to order Li Chengxuan's immediate arrest, he coughed and said, "Ahem, I am hosting an important guest today. All of you may leave."
"As for the coal mine restructuring, we will discuss it later."
The onlookers came to a sudden realization in their minds, feeling even more certain about their guesses regarding Li Chengxuan's identity, and dared not linger any longer, dispersing one by one.
Duanmu Ren sized up Li Chengxuan's attire and dared not probe further. Shifting his thoughts, he instead turned with an amiable expression to the uneasy Li Jiabao sitting nearby: "Brother... from what I gathered just now, does the mine owe you money?!"
Li Jiabao nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes. The year before last, I advanced funds to deliver some piping and hardware accessories to the mine, totaling over four hundred thousand yuan, but the payment has been delayed for over a year."
"County Magistrate, you must uphold justice for me!"
Duanmu Ren assumed a stern and righteous expression: "Four hundred thousand... is indeed no small amount."
"Tomorrow... no, today, I will issue the instruction to pay you immediately! Not a cent of interest will be left out."
Li Jiabao was beaming with joy: "Thank you, County Magistrate."
Beside him, Liu Lidan was thoroughly confused, but understanding that their family's money would be recovered, she also smiled and said, "County Magistrate, you truly are an upright official who advocates for the people!"
Ordinarily, Duanmu Ren wouldn't bother giving such trivial matters a second glance.
Now, however, he dared not be careless. Glancing cautiously at Li Chengxuan, he asked tentatively, "May I ask how this Daoist master is related to you..."
Full of joy, Li Jiabao casually replied, "This is my blood brother!"
"Oh, oh, oh."
Duanmu Ren felt a sudden surge of relief in his heart, subtly regaining the sense that everything was back under his control.
Human fear mostly originates from the unknown.
As long as he wasn't some young noble from heaven, things were manageable.
When dealing with local bumpkins under his jurisdiction, even a true dragon had to coil up; he had ten thousand ways to exact revenge.
Li Chengxuan had entered the Dao by consuming 【Mortal Turbid Qi】; his techniques of 【Bewildering the Soul and Manipulating Minds】 could hardly accomplish anything against Old Method cultivators.
However, against mortals, it was a complete dimensional strike.
The shift in Duanmu Ren's mindset in just a short moment was truly amusing.
Li Chengxuan chuckled softly, choosing not to expose him, and asked directly, "Have you ever killed anyone?!"
Li Jiabao and Liu Lidan paled with shock.
Was that something one could just ask out loud?!
Duanmu Ren frowned, wishing only to make a quick excuse and escape this infernal place. He shook his head and firmly denied, "I am a high government official... and this is a society ruled by law! You shouldn't make such jokes!"
Li Chengxuan felt a bit regretful: "What a pity."
If he had killed someone, his aura would most likely correspond to a fiercely murderous Immortal Foundation.
Brought to the cultivation world and nurtured a bit, the sect would gain a powerful enforcer.
Li Chengxuan stared at the blood-stained malevolent qi on Duanmu Ren and asked, "Have you embezzled a lot of money?!"
Duanmu Ren naturally did not want to admit it, but the words that came out of his mouth made his own scalp tingle: "Yes. Right now, it's mainly non-paying shares in coal mines and project engineering funds. In the past, I fraudulently obtained agricultural subsidies, medical insurance funds, bank loans..."
It had never stopped in his twenty years in politics.
The total amount added up caused the eyes of Li Jiabao and Liu Lidan nearby to widen in disbelief.
"So that's how it is."
Li Chengxuan pondered briefly and suddenly understood.
Earth was, after all, a mortal world.
Unlike the cultivation world, where cultivators held the power of life and death over mortals, slaughtering mortals to refine blood qi at the slightest whim.
Duanmu Ren's unbridled corruption meant he was practically gorged on the fat and blood of the people.
"The 【High Shaman】 lineage... an Immortal Foundation of 【Drinking People's Blood】?!"
Li Chengxuan frowned.
The 【High Shaman】 lineage had long been severed.
If it could be revived, it would count toward the Merit of 【Inherit Extinct Teachings】, aiding his own cultivation.
However, this 【High Shaman】 lineage was bloody and barbaric; simply collecting qi would be a troublesome matter.
Unlike the 【Kan Water】 Liu Zhijian cultivated, which merely required finding a river abundant in spiritual charm.
Li Chengxuan connected his consciousness to the 【Two-World Bead】 and found that while he could travel back and forth without hindrance, his power was insufficient to bring someone along.
"That makes sense."
"My life is tied to the 【Two-World Bead】, so crossing over is easy for me."
"Bringing another person along is an entirely different matter."
Li Chengxuan could only temporarily set aside the thought of bringing Duanmu Ren back to the cultivation world.
This man was a powerful county leader; he could actually help him handle many things.
Duanmu Ren's face turned pale.
Every single crime he had just confessed to was verifiable with concrete evidence.
If this were filmed, recorded, and posted online, he would likely rot in prison for the rest of his life.
Li Chengxuan chuckled softly and reassured him, "I am a seeker of the Dao and will not meddle in your mortal sins."
"You have also experienced my methods."
"There are a few matters I need you to handle for me."
"Once it is done, I will grant you a great opportunity."
"Are you willing?!"
Duanmu Ren was a pragmatist who knew he had no right to refuse; naturally, he agreed wholeheartedly, and his suspended heart eased slightly.
Li Chengxuan nodded with satisfaction.
He then had Duanmu Ren add Li Jiabao's contact information.
This way, it would be easy to get in touch whenever matters arose in the future.
Li Chengxuan picked up his teacup and said calmly, "County Magistrate Duanmu must have busy affairs to attend to, so I will not keep you any longer."
Overjoyed in his heart, Duanmu Ren immediately stood up to take his leave: "I won't disturb Daoist Master's family reunion. I await your good news."
With that, he hurried out.
Outside the door, the long-waiting secretary quickly rushed forward to meet him: "County Magistrate, just now..."
"Shut up!"
Duanmu Ren's face was dark. He hurried into his car and closed his eyes to rest his mind for a long while before barely managing to calm down. When he opened his eyes, he was once again an official wielding vast authority, issuing orders: "Contact the police department. Have them dispatch their most elite force to protect me twenty-four hours a day!"
The secretary hastily jotted it down.
Sharp light glinted in Duanmu Ren's eyes: "Investigate the backgrounds of Li Jiabao's entire family at all costs. Not just their eighteen generations of ancestors, but even distant relatives, neighbors, classmates, and friends must be checked!"
He then added, "Remember to investigate quietly. Do not alert them."
The secretary was startled, but dared not ask more.
"In addition..."
Recalling the sensation of being controlled like a marionette earlier, Duanmu Ren felt a chill in his heart: "Go to the Taoist temples and Buddhist temples with the most incense burning in the province, and invite the most famous, highest-ranking old Taoists and old monks. Remember to be fast and discrete!"
Since magic truly existed in this world, there was no reason only that Daoist from the Li family would know it!
Once he investigated the details and found a way to counter it...
Duanmu Ren's face darkened sinisterly.
"I really haven't killed anyone with my own hands!"
"But that doesn't mean I can't or don't dare to!"
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