46: Unexpected news

Steward Sun and Physician Liu also hurriedly chimed in:

"Yes, exactly! It is truly a blessing for our families that our sons-in-law (referring to Li Qingshan and Li Qinglin) can follow by the Immortal Master's side! We heard that the New Town has just been founded and everything is waiting to be rebuilt, which truly left us unsettled. This meager contribution is a small token of our appreciation, and we hope it helps build the New Town!"

After saying this, they presented a gift list, which clearly listed grain, cloth, timber, ironware, and even some silver; the quantities were quite substantial.

This was clearly no "meager contribution," but a heavy investment made at great cost.

Li Qingfeng sat upright in the seat of honor, calmly watching these quick-witted "relatives" and local officials.

His mind was as clear as a mirror; he knew they valued his status as a Qingxuan Sect Cultivator and the potential of the future New Town. They had come to burn this first stick of incense to establish a good connection, perhaps even hoping to secure a place in the New Town's future interests beforehand.

He did not expose them, but instead expressed his approval for this "charity in the snow."

After all, the construction of the New Town indeed required a large amount of basic materials, and the resources of these powerful locals were exactly what was currently lacking.

"Lord Lin, Uncle Sun, Uncle Liu, the three of you are very thoughtful."

Li Qingfeng's voice was calm, yet it carried an invisible majesty.

"The construction of the New Town indeed requires the cooperation of all parties. I, Qingfeng, will remember your kindness today. Once the New Town is completed and order is established, there will be laws and regulations under the governance of qingxuan. Those who have contributed will be rewarded generously; I will certainly not mistreat those who assist with sincerity."

He did not promise specific official positions or profit sharing, but his words "those who contribute will be rewarded generously" and "laws and regulations under the governance of qingxuan" both gave them hope and set a boundary—the future depended on performance and following the rules.

Hearing this, the three old foxes' smiles grew even wider as they thanked him repeatedly, though they were also weighing the gravity of Li Qingfeng's words in their hearts.

Li Qingfeng changed the subject and dropped an even more attractive piece of bombshell news:

"Furthermore, once the New Town's Foundation is solid and the people's livelihood is stable, I will choose an auspicious day to hold an 'Immortal Ascension Assembly' within the New Town, following the example of the Azure Profound Upper Sect! All eligible children and youths under our governance may sign up for Spiritual Root testing! The selection standards will be identical to those of the Azure Profound Upper Sect!"

"Boom!"

This news was like a sudden clap of thunder! Instantly, Town Guardian Lin, Steward Sun, and Physician Liu were so excited they nearly jumped out of their chairs!

The Immortal Ascension Assembly! Spiritual Root testing! This was an opportunity to change the Family's fate and reach the heavens in a single step!

In four years, with their many Family descendants, if one child with a Spiritual Root truly appeared and joined the Qingxuan Sect or practiced under Li Qingfeng, the Family's status would be completely solidified, even skyrocketing!

"The Immortal Master's virtue is great! It blesses all the people!" Town Guardian Lin's voice trembled slightly.

"Son-in-law... no, Immortal Master, this act of yours will benefit generations to come!"

Sun and Liu were also incredibly excited.

This news quickly spread through the upper-class circles around Black Mountain Town. Subsequently, more wealthy and powerful families arrived one after another, bringing various materials for "visits and investments." The material pressure on the New Town's construction was suddenly greatly reduced, and Li Dashan's coordination became much smoother.

Li Qingfeng similarly responded with "those who contribute will not be mistreated" and the "Immortal Ascension Assembly," firmly maintaining the initiative.

Just as the New Town's construction was getting on track and various forces were actively participating, someone rushed back to Li Family Village, covered in the dust of travel.

Zhang Shitou, bringing his elderly parents, returned to report to Li Qingfeng as agreed when his one-month leave ended.

After settling his parents, he immediately found Li Qingfeng and Wang Tiezhu, bringing a piece of news with a solemn expression.

"Brother Li, Brother Tiezhu, I'm back."

Zhang Shitou first bowed, then said in a low voice:

"I ran into some trouble on the way and was delayed by a day. I... ran into Zhao Tianbao."

"Zhao Tianbao? The one from Qingshui Town?"

Wang Tiezhu frowned, not having a deep impression of the name.

"Yes, the one surnamed Zhao from Qingshui Town who entered the Sect in the same batch as us."

Zhang Shitou nodded. "He... he made a Breakthrough! He has also promoted to the Qi Refinement Stage! Moreover, I don't know what connections he used in the Sect, but he actually obtained jurisdiction over one town and three villages!"

"The entire Qingshui Town, including my hometown village Black Stone Hollow, as well as the neighboring Kaoshan Village and Wazi Hamlet, are all under his control now!"

Li Qingfeng's eyes narrowed slightly. He had some impression of this Zhao Tianbao; his Aptitude wasn't top-tier, but he seemed to have quite a knack for scheming.

Zhang Shitou continued:

"At that time, he was putting on quite a show in Qingshui Town, summoning the heads of the villages under his jurisdiction for a lecture, and I was called there too. He... he wanted to recruit me to be his subordinate and manage the Black Stone Hollow area for him, promising some empty benefits."

"Could I be the kind of person who betrays trust and abandons my brothers? Besides, I couldn't stand his overbearing attitude, so I flatly refused."

A hint of lingering fear appeared on his face:

"Who knew he would change his face on the spot, trying to suppress me with his Aura, and even entertaining the thought of forcibly detaining me. I had no choice but to take out the jade seal nameplate you gave me, Brother Li, saying I was returning home on your orders. When he heard your name, his expression changed several times; he seemed somewhat wary and finally didn't dare to act, letting me leave."

"Damn it! That grandson!"

Wang Tiezhu cursed angrily, "He dares to touch our people?"

Li Qingfeng waved his hand, signaling Wang Tiezhu to calm down, and asked Zhang Shitou:

"And then? What else did you find out?"

Zhang Shitou lowered his voice, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes:

"On my way back, I intentionally took a detour through Black Mountain Town. There were several new faces in town, and judging by their Auras... they were all fellow Sect servants in the middle or Late Stage of the Spirit Enlightenment Realm! I pretended to casually chat with them and gathered some information."

"Black Mountain Town, including a large area around it, is nominally under the governance of qingxuan, but it's actually a 'land of three nothings'!"

Zhang Shitou emphasized his tone.

"No official Immortal Master guarding it! No cultivation Family stationed there! Not even an official jurisdictional jade seal from the Qingxuan Sect! The Qingxuan Sect just drew a circle on the map, and no one is actually managing it!"

He looked at Li Qingfeng, his tone urgent and earnest:

"Brother Li! This land is right next to our New Town, and it's actually further from Qingshui Town! Right now, it's just an empty shell! That fellow Zhao Tianbao has no small ambition and uses underhanded methods."

"He's taken Qingshui Town and its three villages; his next step will surely be to eye this piece of fat that is Black Mountain Town! We are the closest, and with you stationed here, it's perfectly legitimate! If we act too late, this unclaimed land will definitely be snatched up by other fellow disciples like Zhao Tianbao! When that time comes, having an adversary right next to our New Town will be very troublesome!"

The news brought by Zhang Shitou was like a giant boulder dropped into calm water, splashing over the bustling activity of the New Town construction site.

Li Qingfeng's gaze turned westward, past the busy crowds and the rudimentary road Foundations, as if seeing the surging Heishan River and the nearby Black Mountain Town, which nominally belonged to Qingxuan but was actually chaotic and disordered.

The assistance attracted by the Immortal Ascension Assembly was still flowing in, but the covetous eyes of fellow disciples and the power vacuum of the barren land had already brought undercurrents to the doorstep of the New Town.