I planted the spiritual roots for my people, and they bestowed upon me a body inscribed with incense

At this moment, in the courtyard of Mo Yifan, the county magistrate of Luoshan City.

"Second Uncle, weren't these brothers of mine prepared so that you could be promoted to county magistrate after the county magistrate is transferred?"

Mo Yifan looked down at the leader of Black Wind Mountain, who was asking questions, and his anger flared up.

"You bastard, he's almost being transferred, and he still won't give me a chance. Could it be that he's from the Xu family? That Zhou guy must have died a hundred times over."

"Alright, Mo Long, gather another group of people, change the name of Black Wind Mountain, and make it famous again. Once this Zhou guy leaves, you immediately lead your men to wipe out that Li family. The rest of the plan remains unchanged."

"Yes." After receiving the order, Mo Long left the hall. No one would have guessed that the county magistrate actually had a bandit relative.

After handling the matter, the Li family returned to normal.

The Li family took in ten villagers as members of their bandit-suppression team.

"These ten people are Wang Tiezhu, Zhou Qiang from the Zhou family, Niu Er, the Niu brothers, Zhu Zheng from the Zhu family, Zhu Gang, and others."

Besides these, Li Daqiang finally obtained the land belonging to the families who had died. He calculated that he had obtained a total of forty mu of land, each mu of which could produce about four hundred jin of grain per year. The Li family could obtain eighty jin, which is more than two dan.

Forty mu of land yields a full hundred dan of grain each year, more than enough to feed two more people in the Li family.

With food and a monthly salary, the Li family is finally able to develop steadily.

In the days that followed, besides teaching Li Tong the immortal techniques, Li Yuan devoted himself to diligent cultivation. As Li Yuan became more and more proficient in the techniques, he absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from the outside world at an increasingly faster pace.

Li Yuan only knew that the magical power in his dantian could be transformed into all attributes except water. At this moment, Li Yuan also realized that he should have four spiritual roots: wind, fire, earth, and wood.

Time passed slowly, and a year later...

At this moment, Li Yuan had successfully cultivated the "Five Elements Spirit Gathering Technique" to the second level, and the magical power in his dantian had condensed into more than twenty strands.

Li Yuan wasn't the only one in the Li family to make a breakthrough; Li Daqiang also successfully advanced to the second tier, becoming a genuine second-tier martial artist, wielding his horse-slaying saber with impressive skill.

That year, Li Daqiang also somewhat gave up on the path of seeking immortality and gradually devoted himself to martial arts.

Having completed his cultivation in the temple, Li Yuan, carrying the rabbit he had hunted from the mountain, hurried home.

Li Yuangang returned home, put the rabbit in the kitchen, and then went to the training ground that his father had built behind the yard.

Every day at this time, Li Yuan would come to the martial arts arena to find Li Tong, in order to teach Li Tong how to cultivate the Five Elements Spirit Absorption Technique.

Upon seeing Li Yuan arrive, Li Tong bowed to Li Daqiang and then walked towards Li Yuan.

"Brother, where are we going to practice today?"

"We're not going anywhere today. Go home and clean the rabbit I hunted. I'll take you out for barbecue." Upon hearing that there was barbecue, Li Tong immediately agreed.

Then he happily hurried home.

When Li Yuan arrived, Li Daqiang put down the weapon he was holding.

"Yuan'er, does Tong'er not have any spiritual roots?" Li Yuan shook his head.

"Sigh... It's highly unlikely, otherwise, after a year, there should have been some progress."

Li Daqiang sighed.

"I thought having spiritual roots was common, and if I didn't, so be it."

"Now the Li family lacks nothing. If there is no spiritual root, we can find a way to make him enter the innate stage. At that time, his lifespan can be over a hundred years."

Li Yuan nodded, and then said:

"Father, let me use my magic to clear your meridians. This will help you break through to the next level much faster."

Li Daqiang did not refuse. The magic power Li Yuan used was indeed miraculous. Ever since this magic power entered his meridians, his progress in martial arts had accelerated considerably.

Just as Li Daqiang was enjoying himself, Li Tong ran up to him, panting.

"Father, Father, there's a man at home who claims to be Zhou Boyuan looking for you."

Upon hearing what Li Tong said, Li Daqiang immediately got up and rushed into the courtyard with Li Yuan.

"Haha, long time no see! I was wondering why the magpies in the yard kept chirping. It turns out it's Registrar Zhou coming to visit."

As they were talking, Li Daqiang had already arrived in the courtyard.

Seeing this, Zhou Boyuan, who was in the courtyard, took a sip of the tea brewed by Zhang and then spoke:

"Captain Zhang, it's been a long time! Hahaha!"

Seeing that Registrar Zhou had stood up, Li Daqiang quickly said...

"Brother Zhou, please don't be so polite, please have a seat." After saying that, Li Daqiang gestured, and after seeing Zhou Boyuan sit down, he casually found a seat and sat down as well.

No sooner had he sat down than Li Daqiang spoke first:

"I wonder if Registrar Zhou has summoned me because the magistrate has some instructions?"

"Brother Li is indeed a prophet. Thanks to you, the magistrate has been promoted and sent me to invite you to his banquet in three days." With that, Zhou Boyuan left an invitation.

Upon hearing this, Li Daqiang accepted the invitation and said;

"Haha, I'm afraid that with the master gone, Brother Zhou has a bright future." Congratulations in advance.

"Oh... Brother Li, what are you saying? We're all working for Lord Tang. If I get any benefits, Brother Zhou will naturally get some too."

At this point, the two exchanged a smile.

After delivering the message, Zhou Boyuan left the Li family home without lingering.

Seeing him leave, Li Yuan looked at Li Daqiang.

"Father, now that Magistrate Tang is gone, do you think we can still hold onto our sinecure positions?"

Li Daqiang waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, this Magistrate Tang has a very strong background. I heard he has a powerful figure backing him up, just like you."

"You'll have to come with me then. Magistrate Tang is very knowledgeable and might be able to introduce you to a couple of local cultivators. That would be better than you figuring it out on your own."

Seeing this, Li Yuan did not refuse. Although he had cultivated the Five Elements Spirit Gathering Technique to the second level, he was still clueless about the cultivation world. If he could gather more information, it would not be harmful to him.

Three days later. Carrying gifts, Li Yuan and Li Daqiang arrived in Luoshan City early in the morning.

Holding the invitation from Registrar Zhou, the two quickly arrived at the foot of a restaurant called Guayuelou, which sounded very high-class.

After giving the invitation to the maid, Li Yuan was quickly ushered into a huge reception hall.

At this time, there were already seven or eight people inside, most of whom were officials from Luoshan County. However, one person was an exception, and he sat next to Magistrate Tang.

This man was dressed in coarse cloth, but the aura he exuded was truly extraordinary, and even Magistrate Tang treated him with great respect.

When Li Yuan and Li Daqiang arrived, Magistrate Tang greeted them in a very generous manner and escorted them to their designated location.

The two were seated near the back, but Li Daqiang had anticipated this beforehand and didn't mind at all.

As soon as Li Yuangang sat down, the middle-aged man in coarse cloth looked over.

Magistrate Tang clearly noticed this scene. Upon seeing it, he quickly walked over to the middle-aged man in coarse cloth. After saying a few words to Magistrate Tang, the man left the scene.

Upon hearing the gray-robed man's words, Magistrate Tang's gaze towards Li Daqiang and his companion changed, and he strode forward.

"Brother Li, you've kept this from me for so long!" After saying that, Magistrate Tang immediately called over his servants and moved the two men to the front.

At the same time, Magistrate Tang came to Li Yuan's side.

"Young friend Li... no, I should say Immortal Li, my master invites Immortal Li to a private room in the back."

"Your Excellency, I dare not claim to be an immortal; it is merely good fortune. Are you the senior from earlier? I was just about to pay him a visit." At this moment, Li Yuan had already confirmed that the middle-aged man in coarse cloth was also a cultivator.

Seeing this, Magistrate Tang waved his hands repeatedly.

"If you think highly of me, just call me Brother Tang from now on. County magistrate is just a mundane title. I'll take you there now."

Seeing this, Li Yuan quickly said, "I couldn't be happier! Hahahaha!"

After saying that, he gave Li Daqiang a reassuring gesture and then left with Magistrate Tang.

Soon, the two arrived at a private room. As soon as they reached the door, Magistrate Tang spoke:

"Brother Li, please go in. I won't go in; I'll go keep your father company." As he turned to leave, Magistrate Tang added:

"Young friend Li, remember this: from now on, call me Brother Tang."

Li Yuan waved his hand and then stepped into the elegant pavilion.

"Fellow Daoist, please have a seat." At this moment, the middle-aged man in coarse cloth sat down at the wooden table and gestured to Li Yuan to sit down.

Upon seeing this, Li Yuan bowed respectfully and then sat down to the side.

The middle-aged man in coarse cloth took a sip of tea from the table and slowly began to speak:

"My name is Xu Qingfeng, from the Xu family. May I ask your name?"

Upon hearing him introduce himself, Li Yuan dared not be presumptuous.

"My name is Li Yuan, and I live in a small fishing village."

Seeing this, Xu Qingfeng quickly spoke up;

"Fellow Daoist is a rogue cultivator? Hahaha, please don't be offended, I have truly never heard of Xiaoyucun."

Seeing this, Li Yuan understood and immediately said:

"It's just a village near Luoshan City, so it's normal that you don't know it."

"What a coincidence! It seems you and my Xu family are destined to meet, hahaha."

Seeing this, Li Yuan quickly smiled apologetically.

After a long pause, Li Yuan finally spoke up and asked...

"Fellow Daoist Xu, I am new to the world of cultivation and have some questions I would like to ask you," Xu Qingfeng said, waving his hand hastily.

"Hey, don't call me Fellow Daoist, just call me Brother Xu. If you have any questions, Brother Li, feel free to ask."

Seeing this, Li Yuan no longer concealed his intentions.

"To be honest, Brother Xu, I don't even know the full extent of my cultivation level yet."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qingfeng looked surprised, and then slowly said:

The division of cultivation realms is quite simple.

"The most basic is the Qi Refining Realm, followed by the Foundation Establishment Realm with a lifespan of over two hundred years. Above that is the Purple Mansion True Person with a lifespan of five hundred years, and then the Golden Core True Monarch."

At this point, Xu Qingfeng glanced at Li Yuan and then said:

"Forget it, there's absolutely no need for people like you and me, who haven't even reached the mid-stage of Qi Refining, to know."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan scratched his head awkwardly, and then spoke;

"What about spiritual roots? Don't cultivators need spiritual roots to cultivate?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Qingfeng nodded.

"For cultivators, the most important things are spiritual roots and cultivation resources." However, before absorbing spiritual energy, a spiritual root is just a wisp of spiritual gas. Only after coming into contact with spiritual energy will it gradually grow into a spiritual root.

"A single-attribute spiritual root absorbs only one type of spiritual energy, so its cultivation speed is incredibly fast. This type of spiritual root is also known as the Heavenly Spiritual Root. The same applies to other spiritual roots. The cultivation speed of the Five Elements attribute spiritual roots is the slowest."

"Although the cultivation of the five elemental spiritual roots is slow, they can be cultivated from anything. When establishing the foundation, one does not need to be picky about the spiritual objects used for foundation building, as long as they belong to the five elemental attributes."

"However, this is of no use. For spiritual roots like ours, it is extremely difficult to cultivate to the peak of Qi Refining. I have been stuck at the third level of Qi Refining for three years, and there has been no progress at all."

After saying that, Xu Qingfeng sighed.

Seeing this, Li Yuan quickly offered words of comfort.

"Brother Xu, don't worry, the opportunity to break through might come tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qingfeng burst into laughter.

"Brother is right, I was blinded. Let's continue."

"Of course, besides spiritual roots, spiritual bodies have also appeared in the cultivation world. All of these spiritual bodies can seek immortality."

"If we set aside talent, the most important thing left is resources."

And so, Xu Qingfeng talked to Li Yuan for the whole afternoon, and Li Yuan listened attentively for the whole afternoon.

Seeing that the time was almost up, Li Yuan took out a spirit stone from his sleeve.

"Thank you, Brother Xu. I have learned a lot." After saying that, Li Yuan placed the spirit stones on the table.

Seeing this, Xu Qingfeng didn't hesitate and quickly put away the spirit stones, his smile widening.

"Haha, I see that Brother Li doesn't know anything, so I'll give you this book, 'Observations in the Immortal Cultivation World,'. You must accept it, otherwise your brother Xu will feel a bit guilty."

Seeing this, Li Yuan gladly accepted. From Xu Qingfeng's gaze, Li Yuan could tell that the spirit stones he gave away could probably buy about ten of these books.

However, Li Yuan still felt grateful for the fact that the person was willing to share so much common knowledge about the cultivation world with him.