A Father's Ambition

They said good news put a spring in one's step. Li Dazhi was positively glowing at the moment, clearly having come across something wonderful.

Today, he did not try to avoid anyone. He landed directly before the gates of Li Ping'an's cave residence. Just as he raised his hand to knock, the two vermilion doors opened on their own.

Immortal Qing Su, dressed in a pale white gown, appeared behind the doors and cupped her hands in salute to Li Dazhi.

"Greetings, Grandmaster."

"Ah, this is all wrong!"

Li Dazhi hurriedly returned the salute, his eyes searching for Li Ping'an as he said:

"You're Ping'an's master. If we're going by seniority, then we should each address the other however we see fit... Where's Ping'an?"

Qing Su stepped aside. "He's cooking."

"Cooking..."

Li Dazhi narrowed his eyes and smiled.

He knew his son's cooking skills well.

Even among the entire Old Li family, they were downright astonishing.

Li Dazhi had just been about to say that he would wait outside when he saw Li Ping'an carrying a huge iron pot from the inner chamber into the front hall.

A rich fragrance spread through the room, making Li Dazhi swallow hard.

This was actually a famous dish from his hometown—Iron Pot Stewed Goose!

And this "goose" was a spirit bird. Who knew how it would taste?

Li Dazhi's appetite was thoroughly stirred.

Li Ping'an set the iron pot on the stone table. With a light gesture of his right hand, several small dishes of seasoning flew over and settled beside the pot.

He smiled. "Master, please eat first. My father and I will go to my room to discuss a few matters."

"Mm." A faint smile appeared at Qing Su's lips as she drifted over to sit behind the stone table, listening to Li Ping'an briefly explain how to eat the meal.

Li Dazhi:...

Actually, there was nothing wrong with eating first and talking afterward.

Li Ping'an untied his homemade apron, glanced at his father in puzzlement, and called, "Dad, why aren't you coming in?"

"I'm coming, I'm coming."

Li Dazhi sighed inwardly. Judging by Ping'an's master's appetite, she probably would not be able to finish an entire pot of goose. Reassured, he went into Li Ping'an's room.

After closing the door and activating the formation, with a barrier laid outside by a Heavenly Immortal, the father and son still spoke in their hometown dialect.

"Dad, how did it go?"

"Done," Li Dazhi said with a smile. "Earlier than we planned, but the timing was excellent, and the results exceeded expectations."

Li Ping'an took out a pot of mountain spring water and began making tea for his father. "What about Elder Xiao Yue?"

"Didn't you give me that Jade Talisman? The one full of Eagle Speech."

Li Dazhi rolled up his sleeves and sat across from Li Ping'an, smiling as he said:

"Just as you suggested, I publicly recommended Elder Xiao Yue to the Sect Leader, asking that she take charge of the subsequent sale of magical artifacts. I also acted as enthusiastic as possible."

Enthusiastic?

Li Ping'an rather wanted to know just how enthusiastic his father had been.

Li Dazhi continued:

"Xiao Yue left the sect yesterday and returned to her main base in East Sea Market Town.

"I had Wei Yanzi accompany her there. From now on, Wei Yanzi will also report Xiao Yue's every move.

"This Xiao Yue truly is capable—clever, competent, and highly organized.

"Though there are many immortals in the sect, most prefer to cultivate behind closed doors. Finding another Outer Sect elder as capable as her would be quite difficult.

"It works out perfectly to have her secure the sales channels for the first few batches of magical artifacts."

Li Dazhi made it sound rather simple, but Li Ping'an could not help thinking further.

Li Ping'an asked again, "Before Xiao Yue left, did she meet Vice Sect Master Mo Yi?"

"She did, at the banquet... Oh, right. Vice Sect Master Mo Yi announced that he was entering seclusion."

Li Dazhi raised his brows at Li Ping'an.

"Vice Sect Master Mo Yi said he was entering seclusion to break through a bottleneck and wanted to reach the Sixth Rank Heavenly Immortal Realm as soon as possible. He probably will not emerge for the next few years."

Li Ping'an was somewhat puzzled.

Had Vice Sect Master Mo Yi entered seclusion on his own after seeing that his father's side was unstoppable?

Li Dazhi added, "That Elder Bi also entered seclusion... The Sect Leader told me."

Li Ping'an brought a teacup before his father and smiled. "They're quite clever. The moment they saw the situation turning unfavorable, they hid away first so they would not lose face."

"Hmph!"

Li Dazhi's face darkened as he said:

"They're probably waiting to see what happens with Casting Cloud Hall. If the two of us screw it up... just watch! Those two old fools will jump right back out!"

Li Ping'an smiled. "Has the matter of Casting Cloud Hall been settled?"

"The Sect Leader approved it. The entire sect will support it."

Li Dazhi smiled with narrowed eyes, took a sip of tea, and looked thoroughly content.

"From now on, Casting Cloud Hall will be headed by your dad. We'll have the final say in everything.

"This is also my first proper job in the sect, so I have to make something of it.

"You don't need to worry about this at all. This is basically Dad's old trade. The core tasks are organizing production, personnel management, technological upgrades, sales channels, and focusing on product quality and production efficiency. We won't blindly expand production or exploit the sect's disciples.

"And all the things you warned me about before, I told the Sect Leader as well. We won't drive things to extremes; we'll leave the Loose Cultivators a way to survive."

A real-life "I Opened a Factory in the Immortal World."

Li Ping'an smiled. "I've said this many times, and you must be sick of hearing it, but no matter when, your own cultivation is the foundation of everything."

"That part is actually fine." Li Dazhi blinked. "I've been so exhausted these past few days, constantly dragged around by the elders and questioned about this and that, but I still broke through a Minor Realm. I'm now an Eighth Rank Origin Immortal."

Li Ping'an's smile immediately froze on his face.

He should not have asked!

Comrade Old Li's heaven-defying talent and immense fortune had completely crushed him in cultivation!

Li Dazhi lowered his voice. "Ping'an, should I pass some cultivation to you?"

"The one-year term is not up yet." Li Ping'an shook his head dejectedly. "Let's wait until I complete Foundation Establishment. Foundation Establishment is rather important, especially since I lack earth among the Five Elements. My Dao Body has many imperfections."

"The medicinal herbs you gave me last time—I already asked Brother Yun Chenzi to refine them into pills. They should improve your aptitude somewhat."

Li Dazhi pondered for a moment.

"Ping'an, there's one more thing. I did not discuss it with you and directly gave the Sect Leader an idea."

"What was it?"

"Well, several Sect Leaders from friendly sects saw our assembly line too."

Li Dazhi smiled.

"These Sect Leaders are very shrewd. They simply refused to leave our Myriad Cloud Sect. The Sect Leader made them plenty of empty promises, but none of them budged.

"So I advised the Sect Leader that we could later establish several branch halls of Casting Cloud Hall within those sects.

"The key to Casting Cloud Hall lies in the resource integration of a major sect.

"The East Continent cultivation world is vast. Loose Cultivators outnumber sect Qi cultivators by more than ten to one. The ordinary magical artifacts produced by Myriad Cloud Sect alone could never occupy even a tenth of the East Continent market.

"Rather than keeping it all to ourselves, it would be better to bring in those friendly sects with whom we have close ties. Everyone can earn spirit stones together.

"Myriad Cloud Sect will first use Casting Cloud Hall as a trial. If this path works, then in three to five years, we can provide the technology and establish branch halls of Casting Cloud Hall within their sects, taking twenty to thirty percent of the profits. Once everyone has earned spirit stones, we can form an artifact-refining alliance and begin setting standards.

"This method of refining artifacts cannot stay hidden for long. Other sects will definitely imitate it one after another. We merely seized the initiative first. Capturing the market through franchising is a good approach."

Li Ping'an gave him a thumbs-up and said seriously, "Dad, from now on, I'll cultivate in peace and stop meddling in the affairs of Casting Cloud Hall."

"Mm. Focus on steadily advancing your realm."

Li Dazhi slowly nodded. It was rare to see him so serious as he spoke in a measured voice:

"Now that you have taken a master, becoming an immortal is your foremost priority. Immortals live for tens of thousands of years, while True Immortals can live for an epoch. With a long enough life, even your cultivation realm can be ground upward over time.

"Ping'an, you've always been the one laying down three rules for me. Today, I'm laying down three rules for you."

Li Ping'an lowered his eyes obediently. "All right. Speak, I'm listening."

"First, if you do not reach the Void Refining Realm within three years, then we'll increase the frequency of cultivation transfers."

Li Dazhi said solemnly:

"My cultivation is far above yours now. Every time I transfer cultivation to you, I have to be careful, and the Negative Impact on my own cultivation is negligible.

"Ping'an, there's really no need for you to hold yourself back so much.

"You have strong pride, and Dad understands that. But in this cultivation world without laws or regulations, having more ability to protect yourself is always a good thing."

Li Ping'an nodded. "Mm, I understand. I'll cultivate diligently."

"Now then, the second rule."

Li Dazhi put on an imposing air and rested both hands on his knees.

"Regarding Ningning, I know you have your own thoughts, but son, we're men. Men need to take responsibility.

"If you're interested in Ningning, tell her beforehand. Give her a time frame, tell her when you can start seeing her, and when the time comes, properly start a relationship with her.

"Leading someone on is not a good thing. If you truly feel that Ningning cannot become your Dao companion, then suggest becoming sworn siblings. She'll naturally understand."

Li Ping'an smiled. "Dad, I've already spoken with Junior Sister Mu. Matters of the heart still depend on how things develop. This isn't business—why set some deadline?"

"You really spoke to her?"

"Mm."

"Confessed?"

"Not exactly."

"See?" Li Dazhi spread his hands and earnestly advised, "With your situation, back when Dad was young, people would have written 'heartless flirt' on the wall in chalk!"

"Dad, I know what I'm doing. Focus on your Casting Cloud Hall!"

Li Ping'an urged:

"Tell me the third rule."

"Third," Li Dazhi said with a chuckle, "before that Xiao Yue left, she asked me to look after one of her disciples. I went to take a look in the Outer Sect. She's a decent young lady, quite pretty, though not very tall. What do you think? Should we bring her over to be your maid?"

Li Ping'an smiled. "That young lady is only seven or eight years younger than you."

"Huh?" Li Dazhi froze. "But she looks so delicate."

Li Ping'an said, "Elder Xiao Yue merely wants to place a pair of eyes by our side. Dad, arrange for that young lady to join Casting Cloud Hall and have her handle some miscellaneous tasks on ordinary days. That will put Elder Xiao Yue at ease as well."

"That arrangement works too. I plan to run Casting Cloud Hall according to the structure of my old factory. That's what I'm best at."

Li Dazhi narrowed his eyes slightly.

"This Xiao Yue already has a bit of the intention to rely on her forces and make herself important.

"She has operated Myriad Cloud Sect's external industries for many years, with extensive connections and deep foundations. She is also a Golden Immortal's disciple.

"I do not know what she wants, but if this is not handled well, she may become trouble in the future."

Li Ping'an deliberately teased, "Dad, you've already started considering things like that?"

Li Dazhi was startled, then laughed soundlessly and said in a low voice, "Ping'an, Dad has figured it out."

"Go on. I'm listening."

"The two of us, father and son, have established ourselves in Myriad Cloud Sect. We should rely on Myriad Cloud Sect."

A new vigor appeared between Li Dazhi's brows.

"I do not care for power, yet now I have no choice but to contend for influence among immortals.

"Since that is the case, I need not keep hiding. Casting Cloud Hall will be where I gather my influence!

"Besides, the vast majority of immortals in the sect are pure-hearted and detached. Only a few are blinded by their obsession with power. I rather like Myriad Cloud Sect.

"The two of us should simply build something great here and bring prosperity to Myriad Cloud!"

Li Ping'an solemnly performed a Daoist salute. "Then I'll lie back in peace and wait for you to carry me straight to the clouds."

"You brat!"

Li Dazhi immediately broke character and laughed as he cursed:

"I'm only saying that this is my ambition. There is still a long road ahead before I can achieve it!

"With your Grandmaster here, no one can bully us.

"Let's encourage each other, father and son."

Li Ping'an smiled. "Dad, hearing you say that, we can't possibly get through today without sharing a drink."

Li Dazhi glared and scolded, "Who wants to drink with you? We're talking business!"

In Li Dazhi's eyes, Casting Cloud Hall was Myriad Cloud Sect's "magical artifact factory." When discussing its future plans, he spoke with complete confidence, leaving Li Ping'an entirely unable to get a word in.

That was called professionalism.

Li Dazhi could only stay for one hour. He still had to return to Myriad Cloud Hall to prepare Casting Cloud Hall.

Casting Cloud Hall was the foundation of his future, so naturally he had to keep watch over it personally from beginning to end.

When Li Dazhi left, he glanced at the iron pot that had been scraped completely clean, as well as the pile of bones stacked in neat order. His expression became difficult to describe.

Ping'an's master looked so slender, yet she could really eat.

After Li Dazhi left, he did not come looking for Li Ping'an over the following months.

Only when Li Ping'an occasionally went to visit his old father did the father and son get to see each other.

His father had truly become busy.

With the full support of the Sect Leader and the elders, Myriad Cloud Sect's Casting Cloud Hall was established within the mountain gates in only half a month, occupying an entire uninhabited peak.

The sect's first batch of personnel included twenty Origin Immortals and three hundred Outer Sect Disciples, who became the "workers" of Casting Cloud Hall.

At the same time, the Sect Leader arranged for several elders skilled in artifact refinement to devote themselves to studying the twelve magical artifacts and continuously improve and optimize them.

This freed Li Ping'an from having to spend his time and energy on such matters.

Amid his constant running around, Li Dazhi also honestly spent his free time each day meditating and cultivating. After all, one's own cultivation was the foundation for survival.

A month later, the first batch of six thousand quality flying swords was sent to the Market Towns along the coast of the Eastern Sea.

Elder Xiao Yue, who had long prepared for this, sold out all the flying swords priced at only sixty percent of the market rate in just two days.

Xiao Yue even figured it out on her own, setting a date for the sale of the second batch of "quality magical artifacts" and launching preorders in the Market Towns.

Li Dazhi immediately announced an expansion of production, and batch after batch of quality flying swords were sent to the coast of the Eastern Sea.

After Casting Cloud Hall had been operating for half a year, it had earned the sect over three hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones, astonishing all the elders of the Myriad Cloud Sect.

—This was after deducting all costs: a net profit of over three hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones.

It was not that they had never seen so many spirit stones before. The Myriad Cloud Sect had deep foundations and could be considered wealthy and powerful.

But that wealth had been accumulated over countless years.

The elders truly had not expected Casting Cloud Hall to make spirit stones so quickly.

After Casting Cloud Hall had operated for a year, it had opened a hundred production lines and earned the sect two million low-grade spirit stones, leaving the elders utterly stunned.

Some elders asked the Sect Leader to issue an order increasing the monthly allowances of the disciples, but Li Dazhi firmly rejected it.

Li Dazhi had his reasons—raising monthly allowances was easy, but lowering them was difficult. The sect could keep its excess spirit stones in reserve, or establish rewards and distribute benefits to its disciples.

After careful consideration, the Sect Leader adopted Li Dazhi's suggestion.

After Casting Cloud Hall had been operating for two full years, it could steadily earn the sect more than two hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones each month;

Limited by the number of shops in the Market Towns and the integration of the sect's resources, this figure had already reached its current limit.

In the major Market Towns along the coast of the Eastern Sea, the Myriad Cloud Sect's artifact shops had established a reputation for quality goods at fair prices among Loose Cultivators, while all manner of resellers flourished.

Li Dazhi then released a batch of top-grade artifacts close to the level of magic treasures, taking the route of flashy, impractical, and bizarre designs, and achieved considerable results.

For a time, everyone in the Myriad Cloud Sect discussed Ancestor Dazhi's talent for business and the many benefits this man of great fortune had brought to the sect.

Li Dazhi's prestige within the sect rose steadily, and he gained the nickname Immortal of Great Wealth;

Meanwhile, Vice Sect Master Mo Yi and Elder Bi tactfully extended the duration of their secluded cultivation.

While Father was worked so hard he nearly lost weight, Li Ping'an's life was much easier.

Although Qing Su spent most of her time in seclusion, whenever she was not cultivating behind closed doors, she would explain the Dao to Li Ping'an, teach him lessons, and instruct him in combat.

Mu Ningning still came to visit Li Ping'an every few days. Li Ping'an had added a bedroom for her in his cave abode, and she would occasionally stay there for several days.

Although neither of them had directly confessed their feelings, they already shared considerable mutual understanding.

Li Ping'an's self-control was quite good. Even when facing his increasingly beautiful and captivating Junior Sister, he could still keep his Dao heart calm.

After Mu Ningning learned of her senior brother's feelings, she no longer pressed him. Everything simply developed naturally.

As for cultivation, Mu Ningning was rather frustrated.

She did not know how Senior Brother Ping'an cultivated. No matter how diligently she trained or how hard she worked, her cultivation speed was still somewhat slower than Li Ping'an's, and he showed signs of leaving her farther and farther behind.

It truly made her frantic.

Over two years, Mu Ningning encountered one bottleneck, yet still successfully reached the ninth stage of the Light Condensation Realm. She was only half a step away from the Void Refinement Realm and could break through at any time.

Reaching the Void Refinement Realm after five years of cultivation was already considered impressive progress, and Mu Ningning was greatly valued by the immortal of Colorful Cloud Peak.

But whenever the two were alone and Mu Ningning secretly looked at Li Ping'an, even if he did not deliberately disguise himself, she could no longer see through his realm. She could only see faint spiritual energy swirling around him, his skin growing increasingly clear and luminous, his aura deep and gentle, in harmony with nature, with clouds and mist occasionally gathering around him...

This was clearly Dao Rhyme that only appeared during the middle to late stages of the Void Refinement Realm!

Li Ping'an felt somewhat embarrassed about this.

It was not because his aptitude had been fully restored;

With the aptitude-restoring pill refined by the Peak Master of Medicine Dust Peak, he had merely gone from lacking Earth among the Five Elements to having a little Earth among the Five Elements.

It was simply...

Father's love was as deep as a mountain.

Just as Li Ping'an thought he would continue cultivating peacefully in the mountains for a few more years, a Jade Talisman pierced through the clouds and mist and entered the Myriad Cloud Sect's Mountain Protection formation.

Two hours later, a Mountain Patrol disciple carrying a Jade Talisman from the Hall of All Affairs landed outside the formation surrounding Li Ping'an's cave abode and called out loudly:

"Senior Brother Ping'an, are you cultivating?"

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By the way, let me ask something: do you fellow Daoists prefer two updates in a row at noon like this, or one update at noon and another at seven in the evening? Either works for me. I'll go with your preference.