Money First

A large, plump hand patted Li Qingyun's shoulder affectionately. The fair-skinned, chubby Daoist Qingfeng smiled familiarly, "Ah, it's Junior Brother Li. Come with me, Senior Brother, I'll take you to see Uncle-Master Lu!"

"Once you enter this sect, we're all family now, so don't be so formal with me! Hmm, Junior Brother, you won't be lonely here at Lingbao Temple. Uncle-Master Lu, hehe, has many disciples…"

As he patted Li Qingyun's shoulder, Daoist Qingfeng subtly weighed the bag on Li Qingyun's back. The smile on his plump face then became even more radiant.

Li Qingyun was speechless.

The saying about wealth, companions, Dharma, and land from his past life… it seems Lingbao Temple's approach to "wealth" is particularly prominent!

"Junior Brother Qingyun, cultivating in the sect isn't easy. If you have any problems with daily life from now on, feel free to come to me, Senior Brother. Who told me to feel such an instant connection with you!"

Daoist Qingfeng warmly took Li Qingyun's arm, leading him towards the numerous courtyards behind the sect's gate. Along the way, he subtly probed Li Qingyun about his background.

Li Qingyun felt a faint disappointment.

Even the Daoist forest of the sect is so full of worldly affairs? It's far from what I imagined!

However, he showed no outward sign, occasionally replying gently.

As they walked, he observed his surroundings and noticed that the back mountain of Lingbao Temple was much more expansive than the front. Amidst a faint mist, indistinct pavilions and towers appeared and disappeared between red maples and white fog, like a blessed land.

This back mountain was the actual sect entrance, completely different from the bustling front area crowded with pilgrims.

Li Qingyun scanned his surroundings but could only make out vague outlines. The mist enveloping the mountains seemed to distort and obscure his vision, preventing him from seeing the true landscape of the back mountain clearly.

Sometimes, a pavilion ahead would appear very close, as if only a few steps away, but after following Daoist Qingfeng for several minutes, it would vanish before his eyes.

He marveled at the methods of the Daoists.

If no one guided me, I'd surely get completely lost in the mist wandering around the back mountain. The entire back mountain must be protected by some kind of illusion array.

He found some solace.

At least Lingbao Temple seems to have some real skills.

After a winding journey, Daoist Qingfeng finally led Li Qingyun to a spacious and exquisite courtyard.

At this point, Daoist Qingfeng had unconsciously put away his smiling facade, becoming serious and solemn. He bowed respectfully to a middle-aged Daoist at the courtyard entrance.

"Senior Brother Lin, I've brought Junior Brother Li Qingyun here."

The middle-aged Daoist with a dark beard at the gate had a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. His features were somewhat rugged, but his skin had a faint sheen, and he carried an imposing aura, indicating successful cultivation.

Senior Brother Lin, the dark-bearded Daoist, nodded casually and said in a low voice, "Thank you, Junior Brother Wang Qingfeng. You may go."

Daoist Qingfeng bowed respectfully again. As he retreated, he gave Li Qingyun a meaningful look and whispered, "Junior Brother, when you're settled, I'll treat you to a drink."

His subservient attitude towards the dark-bearded Daoist made Li Qingyun regard Senior Brother Lin with more importance.

Through the elaborately carved, grand gate, Li Qingyun could see that the courtyard was very spacious. There were courtyards within courtyards, with Daoist figures moving about. There were also springs, pavilions, exotic flowers, and rare plants, all arranged with considerable care and refinement.

This Senior Lu must have a high position in the temple!

He speculated inwardly.

Senior Brother Lin, the dark-bearded Daoist, then spoke in a low voice.

"Junior Brother Li Qingyun from Qinghe County, is that right? I am Lin Wanjin. Follow me inside. After you pay your respects to Senior Lu, you will officially be a disciple of the temple."

With that, Lin Wanjin gestured for Li Qingyun to follow and led him into the courtyard.

As they walked through pavilions and covered walkways, Lin Wanjin spoke incessantly, his tone neither warm nor cold.

However, he was diligent enough, offering Li Qingyun much advice.

"Senior Lu is the Record Keeper of the temple, holding a transcendent position. It's a fortunate encounter for you, Junior Brother, to be accepted as a disciple under Master…"

"I see that your Blood Essence is depleted and your vital fire is weak. Even the weakest wandering spirit could take your life now. It seems you've had a hard life. But before Master, all are treated equally. As long as you are sincere and filial, you can learn some skills. Remember this!"

"There are many like you, Junior Brother, with mediocre talent, who seek refuge in the sect to live out their lives peacefully. However, living in the sect is not easy. You'll need to find some ways to earn money later to live more comfortably…"

Through Lin Wanjin's reminders, Li Qingyun, newly arrived at Lingbao Temple, finally gained some understanding of the sect's situation, preventing him from being completely clueless.

However, Lin Wanjin's words subtly implied that Lingbao Temple does not support the "poor and insignificant" unless they have exceptional talent.

If you think entering a Daoist temple means a life of ease and worry-free retirement, you are gravely mistaken!

"Thank you for your reminder, Senior Brother. I hope you won't refuse this small token of my appreciation!"

As they approached a grand hall in the central courtyard, Li Qingyun took out two gold beads and smiled as he slipped them into Lin Wanjin's large sleeve.

Lingbao Temple seemed to be a sect that "deadly wants money," but Li Qingyun didn't mind. As long as the sect possessed true Dharma and he could find a way to obtain it, his visit wouldn't be in vain.

Once he gained true abilities, why would he lack wealth!

"Junior Brother, you're not bad!"

Lin Wanjin's hand in his sleeve lightly pinched the gold beads, and the smile on his face instantly became a bit more genuine.

He found the junior brother before him, who was clearly indulging too much and severely depleted of vital essence, somewhat more pleasing to the eye.

After being "disgraced," Li Qingyun was not one to be passively slaughtered by the Cui family mother and son.

He handed over most of the businesses under his command, but he also secretly left himself some "escape routes."

The large bundle he carried had clean clothes on the outside, but inside, layers of gold ingots and pearls were carefully wrapped.

As for money, he had only casually brought along some banknotes.

He had already inquired clearly that cultivation in the Daoist sect wasn't solely about absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth. Until a certain level of cultivation was reached, daily necessities like eating, drinking, and sleeping were no different from ordinary people.

Especially gold and pearls, which seemed to be necessary for cultivation, with low-level cultivators requiring a significant amount.

Stepping over the threshold, Li Qingyun followed Lin Wanjin into the grand hall.

Inside, the hall was magnificent and imposing, spotlessly clean, with the faint scent of burning agarwood wafting through the air, refreshing the senses.

On both walls hung Daoist paintings and divine talismans, while exquisite jade elephants and golden toads were placed on the floor. As for other items like tea sets, chairs, and cushions, they were all luxuriously beautiful, far more refined than his own Marquis's mansion.

Li Qingyun clicked his tongue slightly.

He thought to himself that cultivators in this world, when it came to enjoying luxury and refinement, truly left mortal kings and nobles in the dust!

The spiritual incense drifted, making his vision slightly hazy. He saw a middle-aged Daoist wearing a jade crown seated in the center of the hall, with two young disciples standing behind him, both possessing extraordinary auras.

However, what caught Li Qingyun's attention was the young girl in a white Daoist robe behind a jade desk to the right of the entrance.

Set against her exquisite moon-white Daoist robe, the girl appeared even more radiant, with skin like snow and a captivating beauty.