Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 250: Founding a sect (please vote for me)
The corpse-driver didn't mind making puppets for the Li family.

However, the simple materials used in these small puppets do not mean they are easy to make.

In fact, building one hundred of them was already a heavy burden for him.

Otherwise, he could have made a good living simply by selling puppets. Why would he have left his hometown and bowed down to others for the sake of a sacred pool?
Seeing that the corpse driver remained silent, Granny Lai, who knew him well, immediately understood that this was beyond his capabilities.

She turned to the others and said in a deep voice, "Since the corpse driver is willing to sacrifice his cultivation time to secure the spiritual pool of Jiming Mountain for us, don't you have anything to say in return?"

"This"

The Taoist priest and the monk Hua hesitated.

They really didn't want to pay the deposit, and this process seemed so familiar.

They had each taken out items worth 200 spirit stones outside Xiaolan Valley before, and now they were doing it again.

But giving up Lingtan at Jiming Mountain would be too much of a loss.

"Since it's a deposit, there should be a reason to return it, right?"

Zhang Can, standing beside him, asked through gritted teeth.

Li Xiangming smiled calmly: "Of course, whenever you withdraw from Jiming Mountain, the Li family will return these 1000 spirit stones."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Can and the others fell silent again.

Having finally arrived at this sacred place, why would they leave halfway if the Li family is willing to rent it out?
This also means that the 1000 yuan deposit is basically unrecoverable.

The Flower Monk sighed with his palms together: "Benefactor Li, we sincerely wish to rent Jiming Mountain, but this deposit is indeed too much. As you know, we independent cultivators are not well-off. We hope that your family can reduce the amount accordingly."

Li Xiangming shook his head: "Depositing only two years' rent is not excessive. If you can't even come up with this amount of spirit stones, how can I believe you can pay the rent normally every year?"

"This"

The Flower Monk was speechless and retreated behind the crowd.

Seeing this, Grandma Lai snorted coldly: "Is it so hard to ask you to part with some of your savings?"

Having said that, Granny Lai planted her dragon-headed cane in the ground and asked, "Fellow Daoist Li, take a look. How much is this magical artifact of mine worth?"

"No!"

"Fellow Daoist, please do not act rashly."

When they saw that Granny Lai was about to take out her personal magical artifact, Monk Hua and the others all spoke up to stop her.

Granny Lai coldly replied, "You are the ones who wanted to borrow the Spirit Pool, and you are also the ones who refused to lend it. What exactly do you want?"

The old woman's words made the others feel ashamed.

Zhang Can stepped forward, took out a fist-sized piece of light blue spirit ore, and said with regret, "I have treasured this piece of meteorite jade blue divine iron for thirty years and have never been willing to use it. I would like to trouble Fellow Daoist Li to appraise its value."

Meteorite Jade Azure Divine Iron?
Li Xiangming's heart stirred, and the Black Water Serpent stretched out its tail and coiled the object around.

Upon first handling, the meteorite jade was as smooth and delicate as mutton fat, unlike any other iron stone.

However, its hardness far surpasses that of jade.

This is a real gem! Maojing is already a rare gem among mines, but it is ultimately an auxiliary material added to the refining process, while Meteorite Jade and Azure Divine Iron are the main materials.

The two are not on the same level of value.

Unfortunately, such a small amount of meteorite jade and azure divine iron is not enough to forge a normal magical artifact.

Li Xiangming pondered for a moment and said, "It can be exchanged for 200 spirit stones."

"Only two hundred?"

Zhang Can became anxious, his eyes wide with anger: "I risked my life to get this back!"

"If Fellow Daoist Zhang is reluctant to part with it, he may take it back at any time."

Li Xiangming said calmly.

Zhang Can was speechless. He glanced at the others and stood silently to the side.

It means that I have already brought out my treasure, and although its value is not ideal, it is enough to offset my share. The rest is up to you.

With Zhang Can taking the lead, the Flower Monk and Xie Daoren sighed inwardly.

Now they're in a bind. If they don't pay the deposit, not only will they lose the spiritual pool they were about to get, but they'll also create a rift with the other three.

Finally, the Flower Monk took out a string of Buddhist prayer beads, which was a mid-grade magic artifact with the power to suppress demons and eliminate evil. This item was exactly what Li Xiangming wanted, and he valued it at 300 spirit stones.

Master Xie then took out four bottles of Dao Integration Pills, which are superior-grade Qi-Inducing Pills.

The Qi-Inducing Pill has a similar effect to the Yellow Sprout Pill, both stimulating the meridians with medicinal power to accelerate the circulation of spiritual energy. However, the Qi-Inducing Pill has significant side effects, and long-term use can damage the meridians.

It is widely circulated in the cultivation world and is loved by rogue cultivators because it is easy to refine and cheap.

Huangya Dan is even milder and can be taken in large quantities in a short period of time, making it an essential elixir for Qi Refining cultivators by major sects and families.

As a superior elixir, the effects of this Dao-Harmony Pill naturally far surpass those of the Qi-Inducing Pill.

However, its side effects should not be ignored.

Putting aside the astonishing toxicity of the medicine, just the fact that after taking this pill, a cultivator's meridians feel like they're being roasted by fire, and if they're not careful when breathing in and circulating their spiritual energy, it will stimulate the domineering medicinal power within their body.

Injury would be a minor issue; the real danger would be the destruction of one's meridians, potentially jeopardizing one's path to enlightenment.

Therefore, the Dao-Merging Pill is a true double-edged sword.

This elixir is rarely seen on the market, and it's unknown where Master Xie obtained it.

Li Xiangming hesitated for a moment, but still accepted the four bottles of Dao Integration Pills.

Regardless, the Harmony Pill is a rare second-tier cultivation pill, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, its effects are exceptionally good.

However, he deliberately kept the price low, only valuing it at 200 spirit stones.

Xie Daoren's lips twitched; he wanted to say something, but he ultimately held back.

The group patted him all over, and Li Xiangming gradually collected another 300 spirit stones.

In addition, there was an order for 100 puppets signed with the corpse-driving craftsman.

The five people took out 1500 spirit stones, either directly or indirectly, before Li Xiangming nodded in satisfaction.

Of these spirit stones, five people contributed varying amounts; for example, the corpse driver promised a puppet worth 500 spirit stones.

Grandma Lai only took out 100 spirit stones.

But Li Xiangming didn't care; he knew these people would negotiate privately.

After all the negotiations were completed, Li Xiangming took out the contract he had prepared beforehand, affixed the Li family seal and his own name to it.

“The Li family is the lessor, I am the contractor, and we still need a lessee.”

Li Xiangming glanced around at the five people, a half-smile on his face, and said, "How should we fill in the tenant's information?"

"This"

The five people looked at each other in bewilderment. The Flower Monk spoke up and asked, "Can't we fill in five people?"

"Yes, but even if you fill in five names, there must be a primary person in charge."

Li Xiangming said calmly, "Only the person primarily responsible is qualified to continue signing or terminating the contract with the Li family. Of course, if there is a problem with the Lingtan in Jiming Mountain, the Li family will also prioritize finding this person primarily responsible to resolve the issue."

Upon hearing this, the Flower Monk glanced at Granny Lai.

Their ability to rent the Li family's sacred pool was undoubtedly due to Granny Lai's intervention.

Logically speaking, Grandma Lai should rightfully be ranked first.

But judging from Li Xiangming's words, the power of this person in charge seems to be extraordinary.

If Grandma doesn't want to rent Lingtan anymore in the future, she can go and live a carefree life away.

Will the Li family take back Jiming Mountain and drive everyone else away?
Zhang Can and Xie Daoren also realized this, and their expressions changed somewhat.

Although the five of them are a group, they come from completely different backgrounds and have different experiences. As for how much trust they have, it's all just talk.

After a moment of silence, Grandma Lai's expression turned quite grim.

Everyone knew that she was indispensable, but no one said a word.

Am I really that worthless?

Looking at the five people with ulterior motives, Li Xiangming chuckled and said, "You all seem quite hesitant. Why don't you hear what I have to say?"

Granny Lai looked at Li Xiangming and said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Li, please speak."

Li Xiangming walked out of the spirit pool, and the others followed suit.

"Jiming Mountain is remote and shrouded in miasma, making it difficult to traverse. However, this also forms a natural barrier, protecting it from invasion by external enemies. The island is rich in spiritual energy and lush with flowers and plants. It is not impossible to cultivate thirty to fifty acres of spiritual fields to grow spiritual herbs and medicines for future use."

At this point, Li Xiangming turned around and said, "The five of you have profound cultivation, and you are only one step away from Foundation Establishment. With the help of the Spirit Pool, there will probably be quite a few of you who will achieve Dao in the future."

“Fellow Daoist Lai is proficient in divination, and this fellow Daoist whose name we do not know is skilled in puppetry. Together with this vast miasma, they are enough to protect this area. Fellow Daoists Zhang, Xie, and Hua are proficient in weapon crafting, alchemy, and talisman making. Together with the output of the spiritual fields, they are enough to make Jiming Mountain self-sufficient. Why don’t you all establish your own sects here, make unparalleled contributions, and enjoy the incense offerings of your descendants?”

(End of this chapter)