Grotto-Heaven

Stone Ridge County, the Li Household Hollow collapse zone.

"Something's wrong!"

As soon as Li Chengxuan landed, he sensed something unusual.

There was no Spiritual Qi on Earth, so cultivation was naturally impossible.

Yet Li Chengxuan could clearly sense that his cultivation had just increased by a sliver.

"It definitely wasn't an illusion!"

Li Chengxuan had already entered the Dao through Qi Ingestion and opened up his inner landscape. He knew his own cultivation like the back of his hand.

Hu Shihao, wearing a hard hat, saw Li Chengxuan appear and knew he was the real backer behind this major project. He hurried over to curry favor with him. "Daoist Li, you're here!"

Li Chengxuan gave a slight nod and looked into the distance.

The wild marshland had become a noisy construction site.

He could see plenty of heavy machinery in the distance.

Many workers moved back and forth among the machines.

A thought stirred in Li Chengxuan's mind, and he began to suspect why his cultivation had increased.

He had entered the Dao through [Mundane World Qi] and settled on his Dao Path early. He had planned to use the hardships of the old methods to accumulate [Merit], so he could cultivate the [Continue Lost Teachings] Immortal Foundation.

But on Earth, things were very different.

His casual actions affected the fates of many people.

Li Jiabao, Hu Shihao, and the workers before him were examples.

This, too, was a kind of [Merit].

He was also condensing Manifestation and fate.

But for now, this shallow [Manifestation] and meager [Merit] definitely did not correspond to the [Continue Lost Teachings] Immortal Foundation.

He could not yet determine which one they corresponded to.

Seeing Li Chengxuan frowning in thought, Hu Shihao did not dare disturb him. He hurriedly notified Secretary Bai and urged Li Jiabao to come quickly.

"Cheng Xuan."

Li Jiabao arrived out of breath, looking rather high-spirited, with none of the dejection or weariness of a supermarket owner.

Li Chengxuan nodded slightly and said casually, "You've moved pretty fast."

"After all, it's a major project the county head pushed through over everyone's objections. No one dares to cut corners!"

Li Jiabao was also in the dark about the struggles within the county and knew little, so he poured out everything he did know.

Hu Shihao watched their expressions from the side and carefully filled in the gaps.

The biggest controversy surrounding the project was naturally how Li Jiabao, a small supermarket owner, had transformed himself into the person actually in control of the resort.

People all over the county were saying that the county head's methods were too crude, that he had put so little effort into finding a front man.

Duanmu Ren paid them no attention. He had nearly emptied several of the county's banks and brought in local strongmen like Hu Shihao to guarantee the project, barely managing to get it off the ground.

Li Chengxuan cared little about such minor details, and his resolve to bring Hua Chunning over to take charge as soon as possible grew firmer.

Just then, quite a few people had gathered up ahead, making a commotion.

Startled, Hu Shihao hurried over to investigate.

"I'll take a look too."

Li Jiabao hesitated, then remembered that he was a major shareholder in the project, at least, and followed him.

A few minutes later.

Li Jiabao and Hu Shihao returned.

A trace of vicious hostility still lingered on Hu Shihao's face as he cursed under his breath, "A bunch of unruly commoners! They're just asking to be dealt with!"

Li Chengxuan looked at Li Jiabao.

Li Jiabao sighed and explained, "They're villagers from around here. I even know quite a few of them..."

The gap between rich and poor in Shiling County was enormous.

There were local tycoons like Hu Shihao, who had made his fortune from coal mines, and farmers who did not even have land to till.

They had not come to cause trouble. They had only heard that a major project had started here and come to ask whether it was hiring.

Unfortunately, this so-called resort project only looked impressive. In reality, it was just a land grab to swindle subsidies.

"Call them back."

After a moment's thought, Li Chengxuan said, "I want to pile up a small mountain and build a Daoist temple on top."

"Good!"

Li Jiabao was delighted to hear it. He ran off into the distance, waving as he went. "Don't go! Don't go yet..."

Hu Shihao wanted to stop him but did not dare speak up. He could only pull a long face and chase after him.

A moment later, Li Chengxuan clearly sensed his cultivation increase by another sliver!

"Just as I thought."

Understanding dawned on Li Chengxuan.

He had given these villagers who had lost their land a job to support their families, and sure enough, it counted as condensing [Manifestation] and accumulating [Merit]!

He also had a faint idea which Immortal Foundation this [Manifestation] corresponded to.

"Daoist Li is truly kindhearted."

Duanmu Ren's secretary walked over. He had long since taken Li Chengxuan for a noble heir or prince from the capital. After flattering him, he apologized, "The county head is dealing with an inspection from above and can't get away for the moment. I hope you'll forgive him, Daoist."

Li Chengxuan chuckled and said, "Remember to find more people, especially farmers nearby who have lost their land."

Secretary Bai was taken aback, but quickly agreed. "I'll make the arrangements."

Li Chengxuan nodded and added, "In half a month, I'll arrange for someone to come and handle miscellaneous matters for me."

"She'll decide how high to pile the mountain and what sort of Daoist temple to build."

"Have Duanmu Ren come see me then."

"I'll explain the details to him."

Supreme Mystery Mountain, the Ancestral Master Hall.

The [Two Worlds Pearl] had not finished charging, so there was no hurry to summon Hua Chunning.

Li Chengxuan first went to the library and carefully leafed through quite a few ancient texts.

"So long as they correspond to [Immortal Foundations] within a single Dao lineage, condensing multiple Manifestations and accumulating multiple kinds of [Merit] don't actually conflict, nor do they do any harm."

"On the contrary, they can even bring quite a few benefits to future cultivation."

"But if the Manifestations and Merit correspond to Immortal Foundations from different Dao lineages, that must never be done."

"Take Liu Zhijian, for example. He's already condensed a [Kan Water] Manifestation. If he were to condense the Manifestation of a [Li Fire] Immortal Foundation as well, water and fire wouldn't mix. He'd be courting death."

Li Chengxuan felt a little more at ease.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.

Hua Chunning wore a solemn expression and felt rather apprehensive as she walked step by step to the entrance of the Ancestral Master Hall.

"Come in."

Li Chengxuan first offered incense to the ancestral master's portrait, then turned to Hua Chunning and said, "You've worked diligently on Supreme Mystery Mountain, managing its mundane affairs. I've seen it all."

"Today, I intend to take you in as a Registered Disciple of Supreme Mystery Mountain. Are you willing?!"

Hua Chunning dropped to her knees and hurriedly said, "This disciple is willing!"

Li Chengxuan nodded and beckoned gently, drawing out a strand of Hua Chunning's soul and linking it to the [Two Worlds Pearl].

Hua Chunning's name also appeared in the sect genealogy.

Hua Chunning had a vague sense of what had happened, but did not mind. Instead, she let out a long sigh of relief.

Hadn't her grandfather sent her up the mountain for this very moment?!

There had been a few twists and turns, but after going around in circles, she had finally gotten her wish.

Through the [Two Worlds Pearl], Li Chengxuan had gained control over Hua Chunning's soul and life. He too let out a sigh of relief and said, "Next, I'll take you to a place. It's one of Supreme Mystery Mountain's hidden resources."

"You must not mention anything about that place to anyone."

"Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy."

Hua Chunning nodded solemnly. "This disciple obeys!"

"Close your eyes, and don't panic."

With a thought, Li Chengxuan connected to the [Two Worlds Pearl].

Hua Chunning felt the sky and earth spin around her, as though her soul were about to scatter.

She did not know how much time had passed.

Only then did Hua Chunning come to her senses. She opened her eyes and saw that she was no longer on Supreme Mystery Mountain, but in a completely unfamiliar place. Recalling the stories her grandfather had told her as legends when she was little, she blurted out in shock, "This is... a Grotto-Heaven!!!"