Li Chen had his reasons for saying all that to Lu Chen and the others. He could tell that Ling Jin and the other local magnates did not truly acknowledge or support his Dao Path. They did not understand it very well, nor did they want to.
At their core, they were nothing more than a pack of opportunists.
Yet the helpless reality was that, even knowing this, Li Chen still had to play along with them.
Because these people held the cultivation provisions needed to develop his Dao Path, along with the funds and talented people he needed.
If he wanted to develop his Dao Path, relying on his own Immortal Mountain and Blessed Land was nowhere near enough. Besides, that would not accord with his great ambition to benefit all the heavens and change this world.
Li Chen felt that he lived in the narrow gap between reality and ideals. In saying those words to Lu Chen and the others, he had already spoken from the heart.
After Lu Chen and the others withdrew, they recalled Li Chen's words and belatedly began to understand.
"Why did the Grand Artisan tell us all that?"
"No idea. Perhaps he wanted us to follow his Dao Path closely, rather than imitate those people and become entrenched local moneybags and backward forces!"
They exchanged wry smiles.
In truth, part of their reason for following Li Chen was indeed to borrow the strength of a favorable wind and let it carry them into the azure clouds.
But after this warning, whether they were sincere or merely pretending, they would have to deepen their understanding of Li Chen's Dao.
Failing to keep pace with their employer was a deadly serious matter.
The next day, Li Chen concluded his visit to Aroma Leader Peak and