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

Just as Li Yuan was overjoyed, Xu Qingfeng, who had obtained the spiritual fruit, was rushing towards the trading market of the Daqing Dynasty at top speed.

Xu Qingfeng once attempted to break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining, but because there were five cultivators in the Xu family at that time, the resources were insufficient. In addition, he had the aptitude of five spiritual roots and was impatient at the time, which led to his failure to break through.

Having failed once, the clan refused to provide resources a second time, leaving Xu Qingfeng with no choice but to complete his family's tasks while earning spirit stones for himself.

Now that he has the Qi Condensation Fruit, along with the spirit stones he had previously saved, he can gather enough spirit stones for another Breakthrough Pill and a Pulse Protection Pill. At this moment, nothing is more important to Xu Qingfeng than his ability to break through to the next realm.

In the following time, Li Yuan slowly cultivated, while Li Daqiang led people to quickly build the ancestral home. The Li family's residence was a four-courtyard house, which was larger than an ordinary three-courtyard house.

Some people are happy, while others are hostile. This happened at the village chief's house.

The village chief's three sons were sitting in the courtyard, with the village chief's face being the most gloomy. The Li family had offered very generous terms for laborers, and the village chief thought that with his influence, they would at least give him face and let the Wang family members work. Who would have thought that the Li family would refuse to hire a single member of the Wang family.

In contrast, Wang Youcai, who was in first place, was quite relaxed at this moment, as if he was venting his anger over the day his father told him to shut up.

The old village chief looked at the crowd below the stage and slowly began to speak:

"You three good-for-nothings! I've taken advantage of you for so many years, and you've all turned out to be a complete mess."

"Look how big Li Daqiang's house is. After I leave in a few years, will you still be able to keep your position as village chief?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Youwen, the second son of the Wang family, stood up.

"Father, since Li Daqiang is part of our Luoshan County bandit-suppression team, why don't we just talk to Second Uncle?"

Upon hearing this, the old village chief's expression immediately hardened.

"Damn it, don't mention that bastard to me. He's been gone for so many years, and all he does is come back and ask his family for money. What's the point of looking for him?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Youwen spoke up:

"Father, although Second Uncle is a useless bandit, didn't he save a down-on-his-luck old Taoist priest who could curse people back then? That old Taoist priest is so wicked, maybe he can break the Li family's luck."

Upon hearing this, Wang Youcai spoke up:

"You mean that old Taoist priest covered in poisonous insects?"

Wang Youwen nodded and said:

"Yes, even if we can't break its luck, with so many poisonous creatures appearing in its mansion for no reason, let's see who would dare to help with the work."

Upon hearing this, Village Chief Wang's eyes lit up, and he looked at Wang Youwen with considerable satisfaction.

"Youwen, you take care of this matter, but I don't know where your second uncle lives."

Upon hearing this, Wang Youwen quickly nodded in agreement and then said:

"Don't worry, I have my own way of finding it." After saying that, Wang Youwen left the courtyard and appeared at Yichun Tower in the west of the city the next day.

It turned out that his second uncle often went to Yichun Tower. After Wang Youwen, who had come to the city, discovered this, Wang Youwen wanted his second uncle to show him around. Over time, the two became good friends in this field.

After only a few days of waiting, Wang Daowen managed to spot his second uncle at the Yichunlou restaurant.

For the next few days, Li Yuan stayed in Zhushan. Every day, besides cultivating, he would go down the mountain to supervise the construction and instruct the others on how to build the house.

Li Daqiang planned to use only the finest mahogany for all the timber, along with blue bricks and huge stones, both for aesthetics and for sturdiness, at least enough to withstand an attack from an ordinary person. He also planned to build the courtyard wall higher.

Ten days later, at night, everyone had gone back to rest, but Li Yuan was still guarding the mountain. Just as Li Yuan was cultivating, the white snake came to Li Yuan's side and carefully touched him.

Li Yuan glanced at the white snake with a puzzled look, and then he sensed something himself. He quickly held his breath and calmed his mind. Soon, a hunched figure walked along the bamboo mountain towards the top of the mountain.

He spoke as he walked:

"I didn't expect this place to be a gathering place of spiritual energy. The Li family certainly has good taste."

Seeing that this person was so strange and that his aura was unfathomable, Li Yuan immediately became serious and said:

"Sir, are you lost? This is the Li family residence now. If you're lost, you should leave quickly."

Seeing this, the old Taoist priest looked up and glanced at Li Yuan.

"Second level of Qi Refining, not bad. However, I am here on someone's behalf, not because I got lost. Considering how difficult your cultivation is, perhaps it would be better not to build this house."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuan's expression froze.

"Senior, my Li family has not offended any powerful opponents. However, whatever conditions they have offered, my Li family will offer double. Please do not stop us."

The old Taoist priest slowly said:

"Young friend, you are quick-witted, but a small token cannot repay the debt of saving my life."

After saying that, the old Taoist waved his hand, and countless insects crawled towards Li Yuan from beneath his feet. Seeing this, Li Yuan drew his sword and prepared to step forward and deal with the old man first.

Before Li Yuan could get close, the white snake darted out first. As it made strange noises, rustling sounds gradually rose from all around, and then small snakes of various colors began to crawl out from all directions.

As the venomous snakes crawled in, they began to relentlessly attack the swarm of insects.

Li Yuan had already reached the old Taoist priest, and as he slashed at the old Taoist priest with his Mo Dao, it was also imbued with Li Yuan's spiritual power.

Upon hearing this, the old Taoist priest made a hand seal, and a burst of fire immediately rushed towards Li Yuan.

Seeing this, Li Yuan quickly turned to the side, abandoning his own attack to dodge the old Taoist's strike.

At this moment, the old Taoist's aura was clearly revealed, much stronger than his own. Li Yuan estimated that even if he hadn't reached the fourth level of Qi Refining, he was close.

Sensing the old Taoist's profound cultivation, Li Yuan frowned deeply.

Without saying a word, the old Taoist priest unleashed several more fireballs and wooden spikes. Only the wooden spikes struck Li Yuan's arm, causing a minor wound; the rest were dodged by Li Yuan.

Seeing that Li Yuan hadn't even used any magic spells and had been fighting him with just his weapon, the old Taoist looked at Li Yuan with a cold gaze.

"Kid, I thought you had some sense of propriety, but I never expected you to be so arrogant. Well then, let me show you my mortal poisonous insect."

After saying that, the old Taoist patted his chest, and a centipede covered in the old Taoist's body fluid crawled out of his mouth, heading straight for Li Yuan. Its speed was so fast that Li Yuan couldn't react in time.

Fortunately, at that moment, a beam of light swept past Li Yuan and blocked the centipede. Li Yuan looked and saw that the white snake was now locked in a fierce battle with the centipede.

However, the old Taoist remained calm. With a wave of his hand, the wooden splinter that had just struck Li Yuan appeared in his hand.

Holding Li Yuan's blood in his hand, the old Taoist looked at Li Yuan and said with a sinister smile:

"Kid, you can go in peace."

After saying this, the old Taoist smeared Li Yuan's blood on his head, formed hand seals, and frantically chanted:

"Great God of Blood Curse, your devout people need your help. I offer my entire spiritual essence and beg you to protect your people."

As soon as he finished speaking, the blood on the old Taoist's forehead disappeared, and then a black aura appeared on his body. The black aura seemed to have a spirit, and after sniffing Li Yuan for a moment, it turned into a black line and rushed straight towards Li Yuan.

A sense of unease immediately arose in Li Yuan's heart. Sure enough, as soon as the black line entered his body, Li Yuan felt his soul being pulled out.

This situation chilled Li Yuan to the bone. His magical power could only slow down the black lines; it was impossible to stop them or cut them off.

Just as the black line was about to enter Li Yuan's consciousness, the three-colored bead flashed with light, and instantly the white and black lines ignited in his mind.

Instantly, it was as if two buckets of kerosene had been poured over the old Taoist priest, setting him ablaze. His screams echoed throughout the entire Zhushan Mountain.

Soon the flames gradually died down, and to Li Yuan's astonishment, the old Taoist priest was still standing in the same spot, as if he had not been burned at all, as if the scene just now was an illusion.

Only when the centipede, which was fighting the white snake, remained motionless like an old Taoist priest, did Li Yuan realize that what he had just witnessed was definitely not an illusion.

Seeing this, Li Yuan rushed forward and cut the old Taoist priest in half at the waist with a single stroke. Even so, the old Taoist priest kept his eyes open, as if a piece of tree had been cut down, without making any move.

After severing it, Li Yuan slowly exhaled. The feeling he had just experienced was probably the most memorable he had ever had in his life. He felt like a puppet on strings, as if all his energy and spirit were being drained away.

Meanwhile, in a basement of the Mosa royal palace.

A wooden sign shattered into two pieces in an instant. Upon seeing this, the guards standing nearby turned pale and hurriedly walked out of the basement.

This old Taoist probably never expected that he, who had cursed and killed someone at the peak of the mid-stage of Qi Refining, would fail here.