Shiling County, Lijiawa subsidence area.
"Something's wrong!"
The moment Li Chengxuan landed, he felt something unusual.
Earth had no spiritual qi, so naturally, one could not cultivate here.
Yet Li Chengxuan clearly felt that his cultivation had just increased by a fraction.
"It's definitely not an illusion!"
Li Chengxuan had already taken in qi to enter the Dao and opened his internal landscape, giving him absolute clarity regarding his own cultivation level.
Wearing a hard hat, Hu Shihao saw Li Chengxuan appear and knew this was the true big boss behind the major project. He hastily stepped forward to ingratiate himself attentively. "Daoist Li, you've arrived!"
Li Chengxuan nodded slightly and looked into the distance.
The original marshy wilderness had already turned into a noisy construction site.
In the distance, many large machines could be seen.
Numerous workers moved back and forth among them.
Li Chengxuan's heart stirred as he faintly formed a guess regarding the cause of his cultivation increase.
Having entered the Dao through [Mortal Qi], he had established his Dao path early on, intending to take advantage of the Old Method's hardships to accumulate [Merit] so he could forge the Immortal Foundation of [Inherit Extinct Teachings].
However, on Earth, things were vastly different.
His casual actions influenced the fates of many people.
Take Li Jiabao, Hu Shihao, and the workers in front of him, for instance.
This, too, was a form of [Merit].
He was also condensing aura and fate.
It was just that his current slight [aura] and meager [Merit] certainly did not correspond to the Immortal Foundation of [Inherit Extinct Teachings].
As for which path it actually belonged to, he could not yet be certain.
Seeing Li Chengxuan frowning in thought, Hu Shihao did not dare disturb him. He hurriedly sent word to Secretary Bai while urging Li Jiabao to hurry over.
"Chengxuan!"
Li Jiabao rushed over out of breath, looking quite high-spirited, devoid of any of his former despondency or exhaustion as a supermarket owner.
Li Chengxuan nodded slightly and said nonchalantly, "You moved quickly enough."
"After all, it's a major project the county magistrate pushed through against all opposition! I wouldn't dare mess around!"
Li Jiabao knew little of the county's internal struggles and felt bewildered by them, but he blurted out all the information he did know.
Observing his expression, Hu Shihao carefully added supplementary details from the side.
The most contentious aspect of this project was naturally how Li Jiabao, a small supermarket owner, had suddenly transformed into the actual controlling shareholder of the resort.
Rumors were spreading throughout the county that the county magistrate's methods were far too crude, selecting a proxy so perfunctorily.
Duanmu Ren ignored all of it completely, nearly draining several banks in the county and pulling in local bosses like Hu Shihao to back the project before barely getting it off the ground.
Li Chengxuan did not care much about these minor details, but it solidified his determination to bring Hua Chunning over as soon as possible to oversee things.
At that moment, a crowd had gathered up ahead, making quite a commotion.
Hu Shihao startled and hastily went over to investigate.
"I'll go check it out too."
Li Jiabao hesitated briefly, but remembering he was a major shareholder after all, he followed along.
A few minutes later.
Li Jiabao and Hu Shihao returned.
A fierce, vicious glare still lingered on Hu Shihao's face as he cursed in a low voice, "A bunch of unruly peasants! They're just asking for a beating!"
Li Chengxuan looked toward Li Jiabao.
Li Jiabao sighed and explained the reason: "It's the nearby villagers. I even know quite a few of them..."
Shiling County had a massive gap between the rich and the poor.
There were wealthy tycoons like Hu Shihao who made their fortunes off coal mines, as well as farmers who did not even have land to farm.
They hadn't come to cause trouble either; they had simply heard a major project was starting here and came to ask if workers were being hired.
Unfortunately, this so-called resort project only looked impressive on the surface; in reality, it was just a scheme to hoard land and fleece government subsidies.
"Call them back."
Li Chengxuan gave it a brief thought and spoke up, "I want to pile up a small hill and build a Daoist temple on top."
"Great!"
Li Jiabao was overjoyed upon hearing this and jogged toward the distance, waving his hands as he ran: "Don't leave! Don't leave yet..."
Hu Shihao wanted to stop him, but didn't dare speak up, able only to chase after him with a bitter face.
A moment later, Li Chengxuan clearly sensed that his cultivation had increased by another fraction!
"So that's how it is."
Li Chengxuan suddenly came to a full realization.
Giving these landless villagers a job to support their families truly counted as condensing [aura] and accumulating [Merit]!
And he also had a faint guess regarding the Immortal Foundation corresponding to this [aura].
"Daoist Li is indeed benevolent and compassionate."
Duanmu Ren's secretary walked over, having long treated Li Chengxuan as a prince or noble heir from the capital. After offering flattering words, the secretary apologized, "The county magistrate is currently dealing with an inspection from above and cannot tear himself away for the moment. I hope the Daoist Master will forgive us."
Li Chengxuan let out a chuckle and said, "Remember to hire more people, especially the nearby landless farmers."
Secretary Bai was taken aback for a moment before hurriedly agreeing: "I will make the arrangements."
Li Chengxuan nodded and added, "In half a month, I will arrange for someone to come over to handle the miscellaneous affairs for me."
"How high to pile the mountain and what the Daoist temple should look like will be up to her to decide."
"When the time comes, have Duanmu Ren come see me."
"I will explain the details to him then."
...
Mount Taixuan, Ancestral Hall.
The [Two-World Bead] had not finished recharging yet, so there was no rush to summon Hua Chunning.
Li Chengxuan went to the Scripture Library first and carefully flipped through many ancient texts.
"As long as they correspond to an [Immortal Foundation] within the same Dao lineage, condensing multiple types of aura and accumulating multiple types of [Merit] on oneself actually does not conflict or cause harm."
"On the contrary, it can bring quite a few benefits to future cultivation."
"However, if the aura and merit correspond to Immortal Foundations of different Dao lineages, it is absolutely forbidden."
"Take Liu Zhijian, for example. He has already condensed the [Kan Water] aura. If he were to also condense the aura of the [Li Fire] Immortal Foundation, water and fire would be incompatible, which would be seeking his own death."
Li Chengxuan felt slightly relieved.
In the blink of an eye, half a month slipped past.
With a solemn expression and quite a bit of anxiety in her heart, Hua Chunning walked step by step outside the Ancestral Hall.
"Come in."
Li Chengxuan first offered incense to the portraits of the patriarchs, then turned around to face Hua Chunning and said, "You have been conscientious and dutiful on Mount Taixuan, managing the general affairs. I have seen it all."
"Today, I intend to take you into the sect as a registered disciple of Mount Taixuan. Are you willing?!"
Hua Chunning fell to her knees and hastily replied, "This disciple is willing!"
Li Chengxuan nodded, beckoned lightly with his hand, and extracted a strand of Hua Chunning's divine soul to connect with the [Two-World Bead].
Her name also appeared upon the sect registry.
Hua Chunning faintly sensed what had happened, yet she did not mind at all; instead, she let out a long sigh of relief.
Back then, when her grandfather sent her up the mountain, wasn't it precisely for this very moment?!
Though there had been twists and turns, in the end, her long-cherished wish was fulfilled.
Having secured control over Hua Chunning's divine soul and life through the [Two-World Bead], Li Chengxuan also breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Next, I will take you to a place that is one of Mount Taixuan's hidden foundations."
"Everything concerning that place must not be mentioned to anyone."
"Otherwise, do not blame me for being heartless."
Hua Chunning nodded solemnly. "This disciple obeys!"
"Close your eyes and do not panic."
With a stir of his mind, Li Chengxuan linked with the [Two-World Bead].
Hua Chunning felt the world spin wildly around her, as though her very soul were about to scatter.
Who knew how much time had passed.
Only when Hua Chunning regained her senses did she open her eyes, discovering that she was no longer on Mount Taixuan, but had arrived in a completely unfamiliar realm. Recalling the tales her grandfather used to tell her as legends during her childhood, she blurted out in sheer shock: "This is... a grotto-heaven!!!"
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