Clan Cultivation: Starting from Foundation Establishment on Mount Luoxia

Two clear ripples suddenly spread across the void in front of the flying boat.

Immediately afterwards, two figures, shrouded in pale blue celestial light and exuding a solemn aura, appeared.

It appeared without warning, a hundred feet directly in front of the flying boat, blocking its path.

They didn't deliberately exude pressure; they simply stood in front, causing the airship to come to a sudden stop.

Although the space expansion array inside the ship can accommodate many people, it cannot isolate the movement of the outside world.

This sudden disruption caused a slight commotion among the more than 800 people in the cabin who were not yet fully settled.

The children were bewildered, while the adults looked uneasy, unsure of what had happened.

Li Xiaoyao's eyes narrowed slightly, and his divine sense swept over the area in an instant.

All the newcomers were at the Foundation Establishment stage, one at the mid-stage and one at the early stage.

Wearing a similar light blue Taoist robe with cloud patterns, the sleeves and hem featuring the unique flowing cloud patterns of the Qingxiao Immortal Sect—

This is the iconic attire of those holding positions of deacon or higher in the outer sect of the Immortal Sect.

"Immortal Sect Steward..."

Li Xiaoyao's mind raced with thoughts, but he showed no sign of it on his face.

He raised his hand to signal silence inside the cabin, then his figure flickered and he passed through the cabin door restriction, appearing in the void outside the flying boat, facing the two deacons from afar.

Facing two cultivators of the same level, he remained neither humble nor arrogant, cupping his hands and saying:

"I am Li Xiaoyao from Yunzhou. I wonder what brings you two fellow Daoists to my path?"

The deacon on the left, with a slightly serious expression and a mid-Foundation Establishment level, had eyes that flashed like lightning.

The gaze swept over the flying boat behind Li Xiaoyao, then returned to Li Xiaoyao, and spoke in a businesslike manner:

"Fellow Daoist Li, greetings. We are Zhao Mingqi (mid-Foundation Establishment) and Wei Xuan (early-Foundation Establishment), both from the Qingxiao Immortal Sect's Border Patrol Division."

"We two are ordered to patrol the planes under our jurisdiction and investigate any unusual spiritual energy fluctuations."

"Just now, we sensed that your flying boat was carrying a large number of living beings and sailed out of the Yunzhou border. Moreover, it was not registered in the 'Boundary Station' for receiving them. According to the law, we need to check and inquire."

His voice, amplified by magic, clearly reached inside the flying boat, ensuring everyone could hear it.

The cabin became even quieter, even breathing became softer, and an invisible pressure spread out.

Li Mude and the others turned pale. What they were most worried about was this kind of "official" interception.

The pale-faced, beardless, and aloof-looking steward on the right, Wei Xuan, smiled slightly.

He didn't say much, but simply flipped his right hand, and a faint light emanated from his palm, and three objects appeared out of thin air:

A blue receipt that was neither silk nor paper and shimmered with spiritual light, a jade-white talisman pen, and a small recording stone that signified the record's validity.

With a flick of his finger, the receipt and the talisman transformed into two streaks of light, which floated lightly to Li Xiaoyao's side and hovered in mid-air.

The recording stone slowly rotated above his palm, emitting a faint light, clearly beginning to record.

"Fellow Daoist Li."

Deacon Wei Xuan then spoke, his voice calm:

"No need to be nervous. It's just a routine matter. After you have read through the contents of this form, if you have no objections, simply sign your name at the bottom using your own magical power or blood essence."

"We've signed. That concludes our business for today. Fellow Daoist, you may continue your journey. We've completed our mission. The Great Dao is in the sky; let's each go our own way."

The words were spoken lightly, but the phrase "routine procedure" carried an unquestionable implication.

Li Xiaoyao knew perfectly well that the so-called "inspection and questioning" was just a pretext.

The other side probably already noticed and reported it when I gathered my manpower and even when the airship took off.

The Immortal Sect's control over its subordinate regions, especially in situations involving large-scale population movement, is far more stringent than imagined.

His expression remained unchanged as he reached out and caught the floating document and talisman.

His gaze fell on the cyan receipt, on which the terms were written in neat spiritual script. The content was clear, the wording precise, leaving no room for ambiguity:

"Notice of Penalty for Violations by the Qingxiao Immortal Sect's Border Patrol Division (Jiazi No. 903)"

Reason: It has been found that the Li clan of Luoxia Mountain under the jurisdiction of Yunzhou failed to report to the local Shangong Pavilion and the border post in advance this year, as required by Article 7 of Chapter 3 of the "Provisional Regulations on the Management of Population Movement in Lower Districts", and gathered and transported clan members out of the border without authorization.

Handling opinion: For failing to report the guide: Considering it is the first offense, a warning will be given and a fine of 1,000 merit points (contribution points) will be imposed.

Unauthorized transport of ordinary citizens and those with potential spiritual roots: Preliminary investigation revealed that 510 ordinary citizens and 40 individuals with potential spiritual roots (immortal seedlings) were transported without prior registration. According to Chapter 5 of the Regulations, each ordinary citizen will be penalized 10 merit points, and each immortal seedling will be penalized 100 merit points.

Considering this is a first offense, the minimum penalty will be applied. The total penalty for this offense is 9,100 merit points.

Overall consideration: Given that the Li family of Luoxia holds a valid "Exploration Register" and has made progress in the exploration of plane C-749, the Border Patrol Division, after deliberation, decided to give certain recognition to their exploration achievements.

Therefore, the punishment of "failure to report and guide clan members" in Article 1 is waived (one thousand merits).

The final ruling stipulates that the total amount of fines and confiscations payable is 9,100.

Payment period: Within one year from the date of signing this notice.

Payment location: Any merit pavilion under the jurisdiction of Qingxiao Immortal Sect.

Note: Late payment or insufficient payment will incur daily late payment interest (the interest rate will be 50% higher than the current benchmark good deeds loan rate of Xianzong).

If the deadline exceeds one month, the Border Patrol Division will report to the Discipline Hall and may dispatch law enforcement monks to the pioneering site registered by the Luoxia Li Clan (Planet C-749 "Thick Earth Golden Cliff") for on-site verification and enforcement. All related costs and consequences shall be borne by the Luoxia Li Clan.

Below is the signature area, which requires the signature of the person in charge of the violating party, and the seal of the border patrol officer is left blank.

Nine thousand one hundred good deeds! That's equivalent to ninety-one thousand low-grade spirit stones!

This is almost a third of the total contribution points the Li family received last time!

Moreover, there is a one-year deadline, and if the deadline is exceeded, "law enforcement officers" will be sent to "enforce" the law!

Li Xiaoyao's knuckles were slightly white as he held the talisman brush, but his face remained expressionless.

He quickly calculated in his mind that although the fine was quite a lot, it was still within his means.

In particular, the other party "just happened" to waive the first penalty of 1,000 points, and "just happened" to calculate the fines for ordinary people and immortals according to the minimum standard.

The nuances and balance involved are quite profound.

Is it simply following the rules? Or is it some kind of subtle reminder or warning? Or perhaps... a different kind of "pay-to-pass"?

He didn't have time to investigate further.

The anxiety and fear in the eyes of over eight hundred pairs of eyes inside the cabin, the watchful gazes of the two Foundation Establishment deacons in front, and the slowly rotating recording stone in the void that documented everything...

There was no room for him to hesitate.

This "toll," or rather, the "cost of violating the rules," must be paid today.

Li Xiaoyao raised his eyes and looked at Zhao Mingqi and Wei Xuan opposite him, with a slightly helpless and apologetic smile on his face, as if he had really just neglected the rules.

Without hesitation, he picked up the talisman brush, and a trace of his own magical power and divine soul imprint gathered at the tip of the brush.

• At the bottom of the receipt, he signed the three brilliant characters "Li Xiaoyao" in a flamboyant and elegant style.