Chapter 291

Chapter 291: Settling Down the Wishes

Li Hui arrived in Nanxun City with a clear intention: “Buy! Buy! Buy!”

He bought land at twenty-six times the official price, becoming the largest fool in Nanxun City’s history. However, this also drove up land prices, setting a benchmark for future transactions in spiritual fields. Anything less than twenty-six times the official price was off the table; please don’t break the rules established by overseas wealthy merchants!

Every day, one could see convoys leaving Nanxun City to transport supplies to Jimai Mountain and Yantai Mountain, clearing out many years’ worth of accumulated building materials in just a few days.

There were many trucks, and even more people.

With masons, stoneworkers, locksmiths, blacksmiths, carpenters, and farmers, the crowd swelled to over three thousand, working from morning until late at night.

As the Formation Disk shattered, Li Hui released the young and old from Chuxia Mountain.

Those who hoped to embark on their cultivation journeys sought places to continue meditating and feeling spiritual energy. Those without hope helped the craftsmen; no one could afford to be idle.

After more than half a month of hard work, brick houses sprang up around Jimai Mountain and Yantai Mountain, each with a private yard, far exceeding ordinary farmhouses.

Zhu Tianci lacked the qualifications for cultivation, but as an elder brother, he naturally enjoyed privileges. Since consuming the fruit of the Clear Spirit Cloud Tree, he quickly rid himself of long-standing ailments. Li Hui took charge of arranging a marriage for him. Although suitable girls were few on Chuxia Mountain, there were plenty of young women in the surrounding areas of Nanxun City.

As the saying goes, “Plant a phoenix tree to attract a golden phoenix!” While not seeking a golden phoenix, he looked for a good woman willing to live a hardworking life. Old Zhu had been single for many years, known for his righteousness, and without anyone helping him, he would continue to be single.

Not only did Old Zhu have marriage needs on Chuxia Mountain, but so did many others. Li Hui made an announcement, and matchmakers soon overwhelmed him. Qiniang, of course, was strict; having seen various types of people, she could tell a woman’s character at a glance. They didn’t want any questionable women in the village.

Now that Li Hui had become the village owner, all the land from Jimai Mountain to Yantai Mountain belonged to him.

The Yin-Yang Nine Heads had burrowed deep into the ground, shielded by Nanxun City’s grand formation, making it impossible to touch the Miao Jade veins. However, dealing with those small, spiritual branches washed by energy was fair game.

As long as they confirmed the locations of these small spiritual veins, they could use the Nurturing Turtle Jade to set up the core and bury numerous talisman flags to construct the talisman formation. This could add five hundred acres of spiritual fields this year, and although the growth rate would decline yearly, expanding to twenty thousand acres was unrealistic. However, reaching five thousand acres in the coming years wouldn’t be a problem.

After more than half a month, it was time to finalize the engagement, asking names and sending gifts; it had been nearly two months since leaving Chuxia Mountain, and the date for the Haotu Sect’s recruitment was not far off.

That morning, Qiniang reported, “Young Master, there are two hundred thirty-six people on Chuxia Mountain who can feel spiritual energy. Removing those over forty leaves one hundred seventy-three.”

“Good job! To cultivate spiritual fields requires the Spirit Motion stage. From these one hundred seventy-three people, let’s filter further, asking those over twenty about their intentions.” Li Hui smiled, saying, “If they wish to live a warm family life, we cannot force them. We’ll provide limited support, allowing them to gradually cultivate. That’s all we can ask! For those under twenty, we’ll have them learn simplified talisman methods. I’ll personally assess and filter them in ten days.”

“Understood!” Huo Qiniang wanted to say more but hesitated.

Seeing her thus, Li Hui smiled wryly: “I know, sudden wealth turning poor! Our cash reserves are running low, but helping the elderly and young on Chuxia Mountain live well is a major wish of mine. Let’s proceed—the Mysterious Pearl will produce soon, and we should not skimp on necessary expenses. Old Zhu’s wedding must be grand, then I can step onto the cultivation path without worries.”

“Qiniang understands and will ensure you are not disappointed!”

Thanks to Huo Qiniang managing everything inside and out, Li Hui could calm himself to cultivate talisman methods.

When money is needed, one feels it was never enough. Although there were several auction houses in the city inviting him, and he truly wanted a few treasures, his purse was growing tighter, leaving him no choice but to concentrate on drawing talismans to earn money.

Nanxun City wasn’t too large, and the market for spirit talismans quickly approached saturation. Even lowering prices for bulk sales, with increasing costs for blank talisman paper and talisman ink, there was little profit left. Thus, they could only sustain until the courtyard on Yantai Mountain was built, completely emptying their funds.

Ten days flew by, and just before Old Zhu’s grand wedding, Li Hui began filtering the workforce.

Over a hundred people gathered in the newly built ancestral hall, first paying respects to their ancestors, then lighting focus-incense, and drawing talismans as required. Unfortunately, not one among them possessed the potential of Zhong Yuan or Jin Feng.

“I was overthinking it. To meet Zhong Yuan and Jin Feng must have been guided by the fate associated with the Jade Symbol Sect,” Li Hui realized, addressing the crowd loudly, “You all have the heart to cultivate, but expertise lies in specific fields; therefore, studying talismans may not be suitable for you. Let’s continue filtering and see if there are talents in other specializations. From now on, the village will allocate thirty percent of its income for your cultivation needs.”

This large village would yield results, and setting up so many talisman formations could ensure favorable weather. Li Hui understood one principle: to truly establish a foothold in Yunzhou, he had to integrate into it, and joining a local sect was the best way.

Just in time for the Haotu Sect to open its doors for recruitment, other sects in Yunzhou were not willing to be left out either.

It had long been a tradition that the Haotu Sect’s rejected seedlings might not be unworthy. If you eat meat, we’ll settle for the soup, right? Thus, other sects would also open their doors for disciples.

Opportunities were at hand, and with Li Hui serving as a counselor, finding the right local sect would not be difficult. By providing additional support and with the village as a backer, he couldn’t say there would be smooth sailing in the future, but at least many obstacles could be diminished.

Niu Wu cried out, “Uncle, I want to follow you.”

“Ha ha! You eat so much; I can’t afford to take care of you. However, there’s a particular sect that offers food for free. The more their disciples eat, the better it is.”

“What? Really? Free food?”

“A sect that trains Wild Cow strength, also featuring the tremendous force of the Wilderness. Their standards for selecting disciples are very high. I’ve heard they’ll be thrilled to admit one disciple a year, thinking they’ve hit the jackpot! From what I observe, you seem to fit their criteria quite well,” Li Hui laughed.

“Free food? Can it be true? There’s such a sect?” Niu Wu scratched the back of his head, his eyes brimming with longing…

Including the crew brought back from overseas, after settling in the village, he carefully considered their options for joining sects.

In the end, only Huo Qiniang, Chef Zhao, Song Zining, Zhong Yuan, and Jin Feng remained by his side. As long as Li Hui entered the Haotu Sect, he wouldn’t fear anyone coveting their property because of greed.

Finally, the long-awaited day arrived—Old Zhu’s wedding.

The bride came from a prominent family in a nearby village, resembling Huo Qiniang a bit in her quick speech and actions. She was efficient whether managing people or finances. Her family had been prosperous for generations, with several brothers working in the government, making them local power players.

Despite her ordinary appearance, she caught Zhu Tianci’s eye as he found her reliable and able to help with managing the village.

The wedding day was bustling; many years later, villagers still talked excitedly about it, recalling how the day was filled with red decorations, vibrant flowers, giant cranes presenting gifts, and auspicious light shining bright!

Why was there such an extravagant display? Because Huo Qiniang made friends with her sisters and received suggestions from Li Hui to enhance the bride’s makeup.

“First, bow to heaven and earth!”

“Second, bow to the parents!”

“Bow to each other as husband and wife!”

That night, Old Zhu cried heavily, kneeling before the ancestral hall for half the night, with Li Hui by his side. From then on, the elderly and young on Chuxia Mountain settled down, fulfilling the long-held wishes of the two brothers…