Azure Cloud

For a moment, Li Jiabao felt dazed, as if he were dreaming.

First, his younger brother Li Chengxuan, who had been missing for years, came back and had even become a Daoist priest.

Then, somehow, his brother had made a connection with the county magistrate.

The problem of the payment he was owed, which had plagued him for two years, was resolved with ease.

Hu Shihao, who had influence on both sides of the law, had abandoned his former overbearing ways and was practically fawning over him.

Every few days, he came by to keep their friendship alive, reminiscing about the days when they had stolen chickens and dogs together.

He had even thumped his chest and promised that the mine would get all its fittings and pipes from Jiabao Supermarket from now on.

Cash in one hand, goods in the other, without a minute's delay.

Li Jiabao had been notorious in his youth.

He had fallen on hard times these past two years, too, and had endured plenty of gossip from every aunt and her sister.

In just one month, he had staged a stunning turnaround from a dead end, becoming a capable man who turned heads wherever he went!

Even his wife, who had constantly found fault with him and threatened divorce at the drop of a hat, had become gentle and considerate.

Even their marital relations had become smoother.

This feeling... really wasn't bad!

"Honey..."

Liu Lidan took the initiative to open a bottle of liquor and poured Li Jiabao a drink. Smiling, she asked, "Has Xiaoyu's uncle contacted you lately?"

Li Jiabao took a sip of Maotai and savored it, looking pleased. He gave a satisfied belch and waved a hand casually. "The day before yesterday, he asked me to contact the county magistrate, saying he had something to discuss."

"There's been no word these past two days. Maybe he has other things to keep him busy."

Liu Lidan grew anxious when she heard that. A connection this powerful not only had to be maintained, but also put to use as soon as possible. She eagerly shared her plan. "When it comes to the mine, Hu Shihao has a say."

"My younger brother graduated from technical secondary school, but he still hasn't found a job."

"Talk to Hu Shihao and get my brother a job at the mine."

"He can't go down into the mine. It's too dangerous."

"Mechanical repairs and transport are dirty and tiring, so those aren't good either."

"He could watch the surveillance monitors. It's safe, respectable, and easy."

"My brother's reached the age to go on matchmaking dates and get married, too."

"You're his brother-in-law, so put some thought into it!"

Li Jiabao frowned as he listened.

Old Liu's entire family, including Liu Lidan, had always looked down on him and given him plenty of grief.

Liu Lidan's younger brother was a real crooked melon and split date. He had been swindled out of over a hundred thousand yuan in an online romance and was a notoriously brainless fool.

Li Jiabao had finally been able to hold his head high, and he couldn't be bothered. "Your brother can't even figure out how to use his phone, and you want him watching surveillance monitors?"

"Who would dare put the lives of the workers down in the mine in his hands?"

"You!"

Liu Lidan was about to turn hostile and put Li Jiabao in his place, but remembering that things were different now, she forced down her anger. "My brother's different now! He has thousands of followers from livestreaming and making videos."

Seeing that Li Jiabao was still shaking his head, she said furiously, "If we don't arrange it now, it'll be too late once the county magistrate gets transferred or the favor is used up!"

"Then my brother will be a bachelor for the rest of his life!"

Li Jiabao had spent time on the streets too. Although he hadn't made much of a name for himself, he had seen far more and had better judgment than Liu Lidan. He curled his lip. "So you know your brother's a complete good-for-nothing who'll be a bachelor for life?"

Liu Lidan immediately flew into a rage, slammed the table, and turned hostile.

Just then, a car stopped outside.

Hu Shihao, a big brother in the underworld, came in carrying bags of all sizes, a smile all over his face. He called out loudly, "Brother Bao, is sister-in-law here?"

After they exchanged pleasantries.

Hu Shihao studied Li Jiabao and sighed inwardly at the tricks fate played.

Who could have imagined that a country-bumpkin hoodlum could turn his life around in middle age?

He even looked poised to soar into the sky in one leap and become a true man above others.

Although Li Jiabao had suddenly gone from poor to rich, he hadn't completely lost his head. As if he had forgotten how Hu Shihao had cheated him, he asked with a smile, "What brings you to me, Shihao?!"

Hu Shihao suppressed his complicated feelings and explained why he had come. "Brother Bao, I've come to bring you a great fortune!"

Li Jiabao didn't take those words to heart.

He had heard them countless times over the past few decades and was immune to them.

Liu Lidan, however, pricked up her ears.

"Here's the thing..."

Hu Shihao didn't dare keep them in suspense. He said excitedly, "The county is planning to build a comprehensive tourist resort in the subsidence zone around Li Household Hollow! It's a huge project, and the county magistrate is overseeing it personally!"

Li Jiabao was baffled. After thinking for a moment, he said in sudden realization, "Are they going to buy hardware fittings and plastic pipes from my supermarket?!"

Hu Shihao felt his breath catch in his chest and couldn't help rolling his eyes.

Even he looked down on the supermarket's little bit of business, let alone the county magistrate!

"Brother Bao, aren't you pulling my leg?!"

Hu Shihao gave an awkward smile and lowered his voice. "I'm talking about taking over the entire project!"

Li Jiabao's chopsticks stopped in midair as he was picking up food. He turned to look at Hu Shihao. "Aren't you pulling my leg too? How much money do I have? What qualifies me to build a resort?!"

Liu Lidan, however, widened her eyes. Her face flushed red with excitement, and her body trembled as she tugged hard at Li Jiabao's clothes.

With the county magistrate's tacit approval, money wasn't a problem at all!

"Hehe, look, even sister-in-law understands."

Hu Shihao smiled ingratiatingly and said in a low voice, "For this, no one but you will do, Brother Bao!"

"Secretary Bai said to fence off the land first, then get a loan straight from the bank. Put up some imitation ancient buildings, plant some fruit trees, release some fish fry, and lay out a few photovoltaic panels."

"Get every one of the subsidies for subsidence zone redevelopment, rural tourism, and bringing new energy to the countryside."

"Without spending a penny, you'll have at least this much coming in every year!"

Liu Lidan looked at the five fingers Hu Shihao held up and drew a sharp breath!

This... the money came far too easily!

Li Jiabao was shocked too. He felt that the half of his life he had spent working himself to the bone was simply a joke. His mouth went dry, and he said stiffly, "I... I need to ask my brother first."

Supreme Mystery Mountain, Hall of General Affairs.

Hua Chunning stood in the hall with lowered eyes, her head bowed in silence.

Li Chengxuan's trip to Earth this time had truly tempered his resolve.

Although he had failed to bring Duanmu Ren under his command and could not accumulate [Merit].

He had gained a great deal nonetheless, and his Dao attainment had undoubtedly advanced by leaps and bounds.

No wonder the sages had said, "The human heart is hard to fathom."

Having entered the Dao through [Mundane World Qi], he had all the more reason to cast aside the lofty mindset of an immortal cultivator, enter the fray himself, and temper his heart in the mundane world.

Li Chengxuan withdrew from his thoughts and looked at Hua Chunning in the hall. "Speak. What is it?!"

"Reporting to the sect master!"

Hua Chunning was now effectively the mountain's chief steward. She said carefully, "Word came from the foot of the mountain that a middle-aged man surnamed Liu, carrying the Grand Mysterious Token, claimed to be the personal disciple of Supreme Mystery Mountain's cultivator and sect master. It has caused a stir in all directions!"

"The mortal aristocratic clans at the foot of the mountain and the various sects of the Southern Verge Immortal Alliance have all sent people to inquire."

It should be Liu Zhijian.

Li Chengxuan nodded at her words. "He is indeed my disciple."

Hua Chunning's heart trembled.

The sect master had taken a personal disciple, yet she had learned of it from the foot of the mountain.

Clearly, she had not yet earned his trust.

Hua Chunning suppressed the fear in her heart and lowered her head. "Yes. I will notify the various clans and sects."

"Mm."

Through the [Two Worlds Pearl], Li Chengxuan could faintly sense Liu Zhijian's location and condition, but he had no way to monitor him in real time. "Where is he now?"

Hua Chunning thought back for a moment and replied, "Immortal Master Liu has been righting wrongs along the way. He has now settled at Wild Goose Pond Mountain, where he, a body-tempering cultivator, and a hunchbacked elder have gathered mortal disaster victims. They have made quite a name for themselves."

Li Chengxuan smiled when he heard this.

Liu Zhijian was certainly free and easy. Leaving aside his acts of chivalry, could he also be planning to raise a banner in rebellion?

Could it be that he couldn't forget the [Jade Pool Treasure Cauldron Meridian-Opening Method] and was preparing to gather an emperor's destiny?!

It was just that this seemed to conflict with the nature of [Kan Water].

Li Chengxuan frowned in thought and asked casually, "Anything else?!"

Hua Chunning hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said, "Reporting to the sect master, your subordinate has also gathered a great deal of information about the Azure Cloud Sect and the new method..."

"The Azure Cloud Sect, the new method..."

Li Chengxuan's expression grew solemn as he looked at Hua Chunning.