Using Public Funds for Personal Gain, Cutting Corners! [Begging!]

"For ten trillion years, I lay atop the Verdant Peaks. Thirst quenched by southern mountain rains, hunger fed by northern sea mists. Wind and thunder roared on all sides, sun and moon circled my shoulders. Bearing the Manjushri seat, my might shook the great thousand realms."

Lion Peak in Angming Mountain was named for its resemblance to a crouching lion.

Upon the peak stood a treasure pagoda, and ancient pines like qilin, ancient cypresses like phoenixes, as well as the Tianyan Spring that gushed year-round and the ancient Wan Song Forest with its towering trees.

The ancient trees were lush and verdant, a feast for the eyes.

The majestic lion, crouching atop the Wan Song Forest, was even more spiritually vibrant and grand.

One day.

Over a hundred people were digging with all their might. Qian Yu, with a tortoise shell tied to her waist and a red saber in hand, scanned the excavated pits with piercing eyes.

Beside her.

Qin Zhongjie, the senior disciple under Meng Nan in this life, stood guard.

At this moment.

A person suddenly leaped out of a pit, clutching a dark silver ore. They exclaimed in surprise, "Martial Aunt, Senior Brother, we've found ore!"

Qin Zhongjie's expression shifted. He took the ore and glanced at it, immediately recognizing it: "It's a 'Yuan Magnetic Stone'!"

His face also showed surprise.

'Yuan Magnetic Stone' was the raw ore from which 'Yuan Magnetic Elite' could be refined. This was a superior material for forging magical artifacts. The value of 'Yuan Magnetic Elite' was even ten times that of Spirit Sand by weight!

"A Yuan Magnetic ore vein!"

Qian Yu was equally surprised. She then remembered Meng Nan's instructions: "Withdraw your inner energy. Chen De, Wang An, you two continue. Don't rush to mine; excavate carefully first. There's a Jade Scale Beast hidden in here. If you encounter it, return immediately. Zhongliang, take my token and find Fort Lord Jiang and the others waiting outside. Come to our aid as soon as you see any activity here."

"Understood!"

The surrounding people immediately moved.

Chu Zhongliang quickly descended the mountain with the token.

Nearly a hundred inner energy cultivators withdrew.

Over ten True Qi cultivators stepped forward.

Iron picks and shovels continued to dig, while Qian Yu and Qin Zhongjie maintained their positions.

This continued for two days.

Finally.

"Roar!"

A roar echoed, and green light flashed.

Bang bang bang!

Chen De, Wang An, and the other ten True Qi cultivators instantly leaped out, not daring to linger.

Even so, some were too slow to escape and were trapped in place as if in a swamp, unable to move for a time.

"Go!"

Qian Yu shouted and lightly tossed the red saber in her hand. It transformed in mid-air and swooped down towards the mine.

Clang clang clang!

A resounding clang!

The red saber flew back, its attack unsuccessful.

However, the several people who had been trapped also struggled and seized the opportunity to escape.

"Jade Scale Beasts live in Yuan Magnetic ore deposits. They are skilled in manipulating bipolar Yuan Magnetic fields and have tough hides, making them difficult to deal with."

"I'll keep it busy."

"Zhongjie, you take charge of the 'Five Elements Sword Array' and assist me in killing the beast!"

Qian Yu advanced with her saber, immediately engaging the Jade Scale Beast that had rushed out of the mine.

"Form the array!"

Qin Zhongjie shouted and leaped into the formation's core.

Around him.

Fourteen True Qi cultivators and forty-five inner energy cultivators were already positioned according to the directions. Each held a sword. Arranged in groups of five, they formed a plum blossom-like formation.

As Qin Zhongjie took his place, the sword array flowed. Immediately, sixty long swords converged into a dense beam of light, rising into the air and forming an impenetrable defense. They cooperated with Qian Yu to attack the Yao Beast.

The sounds of clashing metal continued unabated.

The battle was intense, its commotion spreading from Lion Peak and attracting attention.

"Go!"

"Up the mountain!"

Chu Zhongliang and the others were already outside the mountain. Seeing the commotion, they immediately led Jiang Chuduan and a total of twenty-nine Cave Lords and Fort Lords, all of them True Essence cultivators, and strode up the mountain to reinforce them.

As soon as they reached the mountain.

A gust of demonic wind swept in, a chilling breeze assailing them, a frigid malevolent aura invading their bodies. Within the dark green demonic wind, its dual eyes sometimes flickered like golden lamps, its four claws sometimes danced like steel hooks.

It wagged its head and tail, truly terrifying.

In the center.

Qin Zhongjie was presiding over the Five Elements Sword Array, his long sword groaning, his situation extremely perilous.

Qian Yu threw out an Asura Net, scattering it into the air, instantly raising ten thousand feet of black smoke. Within the black smoke, countless great and small evil spirits and yakshas swarmed, appearing real and illusory, disturbing the Jade Scale Beast's mind. While it was distracted, Qian Yu unleashed her Blood Flame Blade, and Qin Zhongjie controlled the Five Elements Sword.

But when they got close, the magnetic field interfered, their killing power greatly reduced, and they couldn't harm this Yao Beast at all.

"You've come at the perfect time!"

Upon seeing Jiang Chuduan and the others arrive, Qian Yu shouted, "Please lend me your aid!"

A group of True Essence cultivators immediately took action.

This great battle caused sand and stones to fly, and the sun and moon to lose their light.

Down the mountain.

Many experts from various tribes and villages scattered outside Lion Mountain discovered the commotion here and rushed over. However, all the important routes in the mountain were already guarded. At this moment, someone blocked their path and announced loudly, "Qin Zhongjie, the Grand Steward's eldest disciple, is under orders to hunt a Yao Beast. All others, halt!"

Mentioning Meng Nan's name, many who had come to join the excitement immediately backed down, not daring to cause trouble.

This Grand Steward was currently overseeing the construction of the city, making him their superior. He could easily control them.

They couldn't afford to offend him!

They absolutely couldn't!

One day later.

Wuyun Peak.

"Master, the Yuan Magnetic Ore deposit has been secured."

Qin Zhongjie reported to Meng Nan.

"Good."

"Next, mobilize personnel. We don't need it for the long term, just extract it quickly."

The 'Yuan Magnetic Ore' in Lion Mountain was the most valuable discovery during the construction of Angming City in his previous life.

This was because a Jade Scale Beast was hidden underground. This Yao Beast's strength was practically invincible below the Qi Condensation stage, and ordinary True Essence cultivators couldn't deal with it.

Meng Nan had delayed his actions in the earlier years of this life precisely because of this Jade Scale Beast.

Once he decided to act, he would need to mobilize dozens of True Essence cultivators and hundreds of True Qi practitioners to attack it.

At ordinary times, this would cause too much of a stir.

Only now.

Taking advantage of the city construction, with Angming Mountain abuzz and many experts gathered, could they assemble a force to kill it without exposing the existence of the 'Yuan Magnetic Ore'.

Then, they could mine it secretly. Whether for refining magical artifacts or selling it, they would make a huge profit.

Not just the Yuan Magnetic Ore.

There were other large and small mines, as well as spiritual herbs and precious materials, both inside and outside Angming Mountain.

With the True Essence cultivators gathered now to clear the city site, this was the biggest profit in the early stages.

Meng Nan, as the overseer of city construction, would receive a substantial share from every aspect, with considerable benefits to be gained.

This was the profit to be made during the preliminary preparations.

And after this, as long as they were bold enough, there would be even more benefits.

"Senior Brother Meng."

"Hall Master Meng."

"Grand Steward."

On this day, Meng Nan summoned the four chief engineers under him and laid out many blueprints and account books before them.

He reached out, picked up a set of blueprints and a ledger, and looked at one of them. This person was Zhu Keda, one of the deputy chief engineers of the Four Arts Hall, with whom Meng Nan had a very good relationship. He was in charge of the refining of city bricks, building materials, and so on for Angming City this time.

Angming City would have ordinary bricks and tiles, but also magically refined bricks and tiles created in batches by artifact refiners, possessing some power.

Each brick and tile.

Forming a city.

Combined with talismans and formations, the entire Angming City would be impregnable, truly an 'Immortal City'.

Bricks, tiles, talismans, formations, and the like all had custom specifications, which had been agreed upon in Tianlin Cave.

At this moment, Meng Nan smiled at Zhu Keda, "The quantity of bricks and tiles in the city doesn't need to be too much. Keep one-third, enough to fool people and ensure the city doesn't collapse. With Tianlin Cave above, which blind fool would dare to cause trouble in an Immortal City?"

"One-third?"

"This--"

Zhu Keda was shocked.

He had expected Meng Nan to cut corners, but he never imagined the cuts would be so outrageous and brazen.

"Grand Steward!"

The other three in the field were also startled and stood up on the spot.

"What's the panic?"

Meng Nan shook his head at the sight, glanced at Zhu Keda and the other three, then pointed upwards with his finger: "I wouldn't dare to be so bold. As a newly ascended Immortal Master, the consumption of cultivation is beyond our imagination. There's really no other way."

"I see--"

Zhu Keda immediately understood.

He glared, utterly surprised that a dignified Immortal Master would engage in such sordid dealings.

"Cultivation!"

"It's not shameful!"

Meng Nan said nonchalantly, "The masters eat meat, and we follow to drink the soup. Then, we set aside a portion for bribes and connections. As long as a city can be built here in a few years, the task will be considered complete. Even if problems arise afterward, consider this: if that day ever comes, who will be in charge in Tianlin Cave?"

These words struck at the heart.

Zhu Keda pretended not to hear the latter part.

But his heart began to waver.

The other three watched Meng Nan speak eloquently and without fear. One of them, You Neng, a formation master from the Four Arts Hall, cupped his hands towards Meng Nan and smiled, "I, You, will follow the Grand Steward's lead!"

Seeing this, Zhu Keda and the other two also clasped their fists and bowed.

The five of them had now unified their stance.

And with these five working together, embezzlement would be incredibly easy!

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