Xander Li watched as Syuan Bai disappeared into the horizon aboard his flying shuttle. Only then did he rise from his seat, pick up the wooden scroll on the table, untie the cloth around it, and spread it open. <br><br>"Qingyuan Cycle Cultivation Technique, Grade One." <br><br>He skimmed through the contents briefly. This Arcane Incantation was a cultivation method for the Foetal Breathing Realm. As he frowned and read it, Thomas Li suddenly let out a soft exclamation: <br><br>"This breathing technique merely requires daily inhalation and exhalation. It doesn’t demand the refinement of Moonlight Radiance?" <br><br>"It naturally pales in comparison to the Arcane Incantation… our family's scripture." <br><br>Xander Li was about to mention the inspection lens but hesitated for fear that Syuan Bai might return unexpectedly. He shifted his words instead. <br><br>"So Syuan Bai truly is a peak lord of the Verdant Lake Order? Chi Jing followed him so easily. Wasn’t this a little too hasty?" <br><br>Thomas Li chuckled bitterly and said: <br><br>"What alternative do we have? If he were some malicious cultivator, he could have abducted Chi Jing outright. Why waste time conversing with us and leaving behind an Arcane Incantation and tokens of proof?" <br><br>Xander Li nodded, then picked up a second wooden scroll from the table and opened it: <br><br>"Tianyuan Qi Refinement Technique, a cultivation Arcane Incantation for the Qi Refinement stage, Grade Two." <br><br>Meanwhile, Thomas Li took another scroll and began to read: <br><br>"Lixia Secret Manuscript." <br><br>After a few sentences, joy lit up his face. He turned to Xander Li and said: <br><br>"This manuscript records many cultivation basics, the distribution of powers in Lixia County, and marketplaces for itinerant cultivators—precisely what we need right now." <br><br>Xander Li took a glance at the scroll and responded thoughtfully: <br><br>"So it turns out that techniques are ranked from Grade One to Nine, with Grade One being the lowest and Grade Nine the highest. Arcane Incantations, elixirs, and artifacts correspond to the respective realms. I wonder where this Arcane Incantation of ours stands." <br><br>As his younger brother focused intently on the manuscript, Thomas Li picked up the pale green jade seal that Syuan Bai had left behind and silently infused it with spiritual energy. <br><br>"Under Qingchi's Rule." <br><br>Golden characters shimmered faintly on the jade seal before fading away, replaced by a glowing white "Li" and a small map. <br><br>"Li Jing Village, Lichuan Entrance, Jingyang Village, Lidao Pass." <br><br>Matthew Lee squinted at the map for a moment, carefully reading out the names of the villages. These were precisely the villages Syuan Bai had mentioned, stretching from Gu Li Path to the foot of Dali Heights. <br><br>"With Qingchi Immortal Sect as our backing, the Li family now has enough strength. We no longer need to hide. It’s time to openly cultivate our power!" <br><br>"These villages now belong to the Li family." <br><br>Xander Li, engrossed in reading, raised his head suddenly and spoke in a calm tone: <br><br>"Let us begin tomorrow night." <br><br>———— <br><br>Early in the morning, Eric Niu noticed Li family tenants bustling about the village, moving from house to house like fish weaving through water. <br><br>"Aunt Li! Tell your Li brother to come to the back of the village after tending to the fields tonight. Uncle Tian has something important to discuss!" <br><br>"Ah! Got it…" <br><br>"Brother Liu! The Li family requests your presence…" <br><br>Chaos ensued throughout the village, leaving everyone puzzled. By evening, Eric Niu, having finished his meal, hurried to the back of the village. <br><br>As one of the wealthiest families in the area, the Li family held significant sway. Eric Niu glanced around and saw that all the major and minor households of the village were present. Even the once-leader of the refugee group, the middle-aged Wen Shan Xu, now a respectful tenant under the Li family, stood deferentially behind Xander Li. <br><br>"Damn it, I’m late." <br><br>Eric Niu muttered under his breath. Nowadays, Wen Shan Xu had emerged as the de facto leader among the tenant farmers, surpassing Eric Niu’s former influence. Now, he was surrounded by a dozen refugee families working together, leaving Eric Niu frustrated and resentful. <br><br>As Eric scanned the crowd, he didn’t see Matthew Lee. Instead, he saw Xander Li step forward with a smile and speak: <br><br>"Sorry to trouble everyone, but I have good news to share." <br><br>The villagers perked up, listening closely as Xander Li continued: <br><br>"Last night, an immortal from the Qingchi Immortal Sect passed through our village. Seeing my younger brother, Chi Jing, brimming with talent, the immortal accepted him to learn immortal techniques at their mountain." <br><br>These words were like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, causing ripples of shock among the gathered crowd. People exchanged glances, stunned, as if listening to a fantastical tale. <br><br>"Congratulations." <br><br>It was Mr. Wen Han Xu who finally broke the silence, letting out a long sigh and offering his congratulations. <br><br>A man of broad experience from the city, Wen Han Xu understood the significance of the mention of the Qingchi Immortal Sect. He quickly realized that this news was likely true. Chi Jing probably possessed a Spiritual Nexus, leading an immortal from the Verdant Lake Order to take him away. <br><br>"Everyone has their own destiny." <br><br>Wen Han Xu murmured to himself, then addressed the crowd on Xander Li’s behalf: <br><br>"Chi Jing’s acceptance into an immortal sect is a blessing for the entire village." <br><br>Having lived in the village for over twenty years as a healer and teacher, Wen Han Xu held great authority here. His statement lent credibility to Xander Li’s words, though many villagers continued to whisper among themselves in hushed tones. <br><br>Maintaining a calm demeanor, Xander Li lifted a jade seal and activated it with spiritual energy. Four golden characters gleamed brightly: <br><br>"Under Qingchi's Rule." <br><br>"Immortals!" <br><br>The sight of this supernatural display caused an uproar. Many villagers knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly and shouting in awe. Eric Niu was likewise stunned, his head pressed tightly to the ground as unease swirled within him. In his mind, only one thought remained: <br><br>"Things are about to change." <br><br>———— <br><br>Thomas Li slowly walked out from Lichuan Entrance, followed by Leo Ye, who held a piece of fabric in one hand and a charcoal pen in the other, jotting notes in a scrawled script. <br><br>"Lichuan Entrance hasn’t fully recovered from the drought twenty years ago. With just over a hundred households, it’s truly pitiful." <br><br>Thomas Li remarked as he walked, addressing Leo Ye. <br><br>"Brother, we’ve redistributed the lands of the wealthier households in Lichuan Entrance. Without tenant dues, the villagers only need to pay a modest ten percent land tax now!" <br><br>Leo Ye replied respectfully, putting away his charcoal pen and handing it to a villager following behind him. Lowering his tone, he added: <br><br>"We’ll eventually need someone to oversee these affairs, but our family lacks educated and capable individuals among the legitimate or extended branches." <br><br>"Don’t worry about it." <br><br>Thomas Li waved his hand dismissively, then used the Clothing Cleansing Technique to remove the dust from his clothes. In response to Leo Ye’s envious gaze, he leisurely replied: <br><br>"Father and Xander will take care of it." )
