Caution

Was there anyone in this world who didn't want to cultivate immortality?!

There was.

One stood right before Li Chengxuan.

"Why?!"

Li Chengxuan wasn't angry. Instead, he felt a touch of curiosity and a desire to understand. "Isn't cultivating immortality a good thing?"

Duanmu Ren was well versed in the ways of the world. Judging by Li Chengxuan's words and manner, he felt considerably reassured and answered earnestly, "To fly as an immortal on a sword, coming and going through the blue heavens."

"To be at the North Sea in the morning and Cangwu by dusk."

"Such freedom and abandon are naturally wonderful."

"Not to mention the ultimate dream of mortals: eternal youth and immortality!"

Li Chengxuan nodded slightly.

Now came the "but."

"But..."

Duanmu Ren's expression was somewhat complicated. "I've spent thirty years in the mortal world, and I've never seen anything that has only benefits and no drawbacks."

"I've also read a few cultivation novels."

"Without exception, they were all set in cruel worlds where people devoured one another."

"Even with a golden finger and the author's help, the protagonists still went through countless hardships and brushed with death time and again."

"I don't consider myself a protagonist like that."

Duanmu Ren paused, then asked, "May I ask, Daoist priest, if I went with you to cultivate immortality, could I really have divine help and become an immortal with ease?!"

Li Chengxuan disdained deceiving Duanmu Ren. He shook his head and said, "Of course not."

Duanmu Ren nodded slightly and continued, "Besides, in those transmigration webnovels I've read, the protagonists are either orphans or people who died suddenly from overwork. In the end, they're all people whose lives aren't going well."

"That's even more true of Liu Zhijian, whom you mentioned earlier."

"He's all alone, traveling around the country fishing."

"To put it nicely, he's carefree and content."

"To put it bluntly, he's just a pitiful man abandoned by mainstream society."

"He had nothing to begin with, so he not only accepted going to another world and starting from scratch, but looked forward to it."

"As for me, I'm completely different from them. We're at opposite extremes, even."

Li Chengxuan studied Duanmu Ren carefully and was somewhat moved.

He had long since been assimilated into the cultivation world, accepted the logic by which it operated, and taken cultivating immortality for granted.

He really had never considered it from this angle.

"This, too, is tempering the heart in the mortal world..."

Li Chengxuan felt the dust swept from his State of Mind, leaving it clearer and more limpid. He nodded and said, "Very interesting. But if you give up this opportunity, won't you regret it later?"

Duanmu Ren was taken aback. He seemed lost in thought for a moment before coming back to himself. "What you may not know, Daoist priest, is that someone actually asked me that same question many years ago."

"Oh?"

Li Chengxuan was genuinely curious now. "I'd like to hear more."

Recalling the past, Duanmu Ren sighed. "I'd just graduated and started working. Most of my classmates went abroad, to that prosperous and wealthy free world."

"I wasn't willing to go. Instead, I chose to work in a hardship area."

"When I saw my classmates off, someone asked me the same thing."

"Looking back now, some of those classmates achieved success and lived happy lives, but most are still just toiling away to support their families."

"Quite a few even fell into poverty and disappeared without a trace."

"By the logic of how this world works, none of them is doing as well as I am."

Duanmu Ren had long since made up his mind and said frankly, "Your offer to take me to another world to cultivate immortality is essentially the same as my classmates urging me to go abroad back then."

"The floor is simply lower, and the ceiling higher."

"Back then, I was penniless and had nothing, yet I still wasn't willing."

"Now I hold great power, have boundless prospects, and stand above others. Naturally, I'm even less willing."

After hearing him out, Li Chengxuan was even more pleased with Duanmu Ren.

He truly was worthy of being someone who had gathered a manifestation of fortune.

His clear-sighted and steadfast Dao heart was truly admirable.

Li Chengxuan considered it for a moment, then smiled and said, "Since you're unwilling, County Magistrate Duanmu, naturally I won't force you."

Although the [Two Worlds Pearl] was profound and unfathomable,

if Duanmu Ren resisted, Li Chengxuan couldn't forcibly take him across worlds.

"Thank you for your generosity, Daoist priest."

With his long speech, his ability to read expressions honed in officialdom, and his consummate skill with words, Duanmu Ren had finally managed to placate the mysterious Daoist for the time being. He inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

Even so, this was no time to relax.

Having spent many years in officialdom, Duanmu Ren knew full well that defying a superior's orders was a grave offense.

Even if the superior appeared to have been persuaded to withdraw the order, he must never take it at face value.

He had to offer fame and profit and demonstrate his loyalty, dispelling any resentment and hatred as quickly as possible.

Otherwise, the trouble to come would be endless.

Duanmu Ren's thoughts raced, and he soon had an idea. He said, "You have a sect to manage and disciples to find, Daoist priest. I'm afraid you can't devote yourself fully to cultivation."

"I have some authority here in Stone Ridge County."

"Why not tell me what sort of people are suited to cultivating immortality?"

"I'll send people to search the entire county and bring them to you for inspection. That should save you quite a bit of effort."

Li Chengxuan had naturally thought of that too, but he still shook his head. "There's no hurry. We'll talk about it later."

If Duanmu Ren had truly taken him as his master and formed a connection with the [Two Worlds Pearl], with his life entirely in Li Chengxuan's hands, then naturally he could do that.

But now that Duanmu Ren had refused to cultivate immortality, Li Chengxuan had to be more cautious in making plans.

Duanmu Ren's heart jumped. He naturally understood that he had still offended the mysterious Daoist. He didn't press the matter, merely promising solemnly, "I'll leave everything to your arrangements, Daoist priest."

"In any case, I'll help you find three qualified disciples as an apology."

Until I find three qualified disciples, he won't have a good reason to make trouble for me, right?

Although Li Chengxuan couldn't read minds or search souls, he could vaguely sense selfish thoughts and distracting notions. He smiled slightly and didn't take issue with Duanmu Ren. "All right."

Duanmu Ren frowned in thought.

No matter the world, its underlying logic couldn't be all that different.

Taking disciples and passing on the Dao seemed to be extremely important.

Beyond that, it should be money.

The key was that he could use this to sound the Daoist out.

If the Daoist was bluffing, he wouldn't have to live in fear.

If he really did have formidable abilities, Duanmu Ren could seize the initiative.

Even getting hold of some medicinal herbs or pills from another world could count as an achievement in his official career.

Duanmu Ren said sincerely, "Your cultivation is important, Daoist priest. Although I can't follow you in seeking immortality and pursuing the Dao, if there are any mundane matters, you can leave them to me."

"Stone Ridge County covers a vast area, but its population is small."

"If we could grow some medicinal herbs, perhaps they could help support your disciples' cultivation."

Li Chengxuan smiled at that and shook his head. "There's no Spiritual Qi in this world, so spirit medicines can't be grown."

Duanmu Ren was slightly disappointed, but then he remembered the fish fighting over the pill earlier and carefully probed, "May I ask, Daoist priest, about the pill you just fed the fish..."

"Mortal wealth and honor are but floating clouds to me."

Li Chengxuan shook his head again, then thought for a moment and added, "However, there is indeed something I must trouble you to do."

Duanmu Ren's expression turned solemn. "Please, just give the word, Daoist priest."

Li Chengxuan looked up at Li Household Hollow and said softly, "I intend to make Li Household Hollow my place of residence."

"It would be best to close off the surrounding area, to keep idle people from coming and going and disturbing my peace."

Duanmu Ren nodded repeatedly and agreed at once. "That's easily done."

"Once I get back, I'll have someone make the arrangements. You'll be satisfied, Daoist priest."

Li Chengxuan nodded slightly.

Duanmu Ren felt that was about enough and prepared to take his leave. He asked carefully, "Do you have any further instructions, Daoist priest?"

Li Chengxuan glanced at Duanmu Ren and said with a smile, "I have no intention of harming you. There's no need to be so guarded."

"If I really wanted to kill you, those people lying in the grass and their few firearms couldn't stop me."

"Next time you come, there's no need to make such a show of force and bring so many people."

Duanmu Ren's face turned pale, and he was at a loss for words.

When he looked up again, he was even more horrified.

The space before him was empty, with not a soul in sight.