Xu Lai had put in quite a bit of effort for this Emperor Artifact, so he was very pleased to see Yiyi take a liking to it.

Ruan Tang and Ruan Lan hastily ate some food, then got up and left the table, leaving the space to Yiyi and her little friends.

Xu Lai did not stay long either.

「That night.」

The sounds of laughter and joy in Haitang Court continued late into the night before ceasing.

...

...

Time passed.

In the blink of an eye, two days had passed since Yiyi's fifth birthday.

During these two days, East Sea City was a hive of activity, and ordinary people could occasionally see that the usually crowded subway had some unusual passengers—a group of young people or elders dressed in Taoist robes.

These Taoists, coming from all over the country, did not attempt to hide their movements, flooding towards Mount Fu in East Sea City as if on a pilgrimage.

In the present age, Cultivation was already extremely challenging.

Professions that required extravagant expenditures, such as Array Masters, Feng Shui Masters, and Artifact Refiners, were even more rarely pursued.

The cost of just a few Spirit Stones for Array Setting or some rare treasures was enough for an average person to toil for a lifetime.

Hence, in their eyes, Li Sanbai, whose fame echoed through Harbour City and Southeast Asia, was not just a guiding light but a god beyond any doubt.

"Master Li Sanbai has entered the Unity of Heaven and Man Boundary! He's been sitting alone on the peak of Mount Fu for two days and nights, just waiting for the right moment to start setting the array!"

"Years ago, Master Li was able to create a Peerless Spiritual Formation and condense a Pseudo-Spiritual Vein. This year... he may well create a real Spirit Vein."

"Those Martial Artists are always looking down their noses at us Taoists who study Feng Shui, the I Ching, and Formations. And now look who they have to rely on? Master Li!"

"..."

The Taoists were puffing their chests with pride, no longer as low-key as before.

Zhao Nan, the Taoist priest from the Taoist Temple in the Zhongnan Mountains, volunteered to be Li Sanbai's assistant.

Several other nationally renowned Taoists also stepped forward, as they wouldn't miss such a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make a name for themselves.

Finally, as public discussion gradually reached its climax on Friday afternoon, news struck East Sea like thunder.

"Master Li Sanbai is preparing to set the array!"

...

...

Five kilometers from Mount Fu stood Dongli University.

The afternoon sun was so warm and comforting that Xu Lai felt life was simply too beautiful.

While sipping tea, he read a geography magazine, currently on a section describing Mount Tai in Dongshan Province.

Seeing what Xu Lai was reading, Liu Nanwei casually remarked, "Actually, Mount Tai is just so-so. It can't even compare to our East Sea's Mount Fu."

Zhou Feng, who was sitting nearby, was shocked. "Dr. Liu, you have to speak from the heart!"

From Emperor Qin Shi Huang to the Qing dynasty, thirteen successive emperors personally climbed Mount Tai to offer sacrifices. On top of that, more than twenty other emperors sent officials to conduct the ceremonies for them.

Mount Fu in East Sea was 2,300 meters tall, but it lacked any significant historical or cultural substance. How could it possibly compare with Mount Tai, the foremost of the Five Sacred Mountains!

Liu Nanwei's face flushed red. Her earlier statement, made without thinking, was indeed a bit much.

She tried to explain, "What I mean is, Mount Fu is also remarkable, especially since it's about to become a Spirit Vein."

Zhou Feng was an ordinary person and didn't understand much about this, so he didn't say anything further.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.

At that moment, a knock came at the door.

Liu Nanwei sat up straight and said sternly, "Come in."

The ones who entered weren't students but Su Daiyi and Old Jiang Ba, who both had excited expressions on their faces.

Before they could even speak, Xu Lai already knew their intentions, which were likely related to the imminent event at Mount Fu.

Carrying a whiff of fragrance, Su Daiyi approached Xu Lai and, leaning forward slightly, said, "Mr. Xu, there's a major event at Mount Fu today."

"Mhm," Xu Lai responded slowly, his gaze not even shifting toward Su Daiyi.

Su Daiyi's neckline was slightly open, revealing an enchanting view. His lack of a glance made her sigh inwardly. And I even dressed up especially for today...

Masking her disappointment, she respectfully asked, "Mr. Xu, would you like to join the fun?"

Old Jiang Ba also looked on with an expectant expression.

The reason for their eagerness was that they had heard Mount Fu was about to have a Spirit Vein established, which would overflow with Spiritual Energy.

Martial Artists within the Spirit Vein would benefit greatly.

And ordinary people would also have a chance to become Martial Artists!

Over the years, the Su and Jiang families had suffered a great deal for not being Martial Dao families, so the two of them had brought the younger members of their families to try their luck.

Similarly, many of the large families in the Jiangnan region had received the news and planned to try their luck. If a family member really did become a Martial Artist, and—by an even rarer chance—a Martial Ancestor...

Then there would be hope for the family's rise!

"Mr. Xu, many families from Jiangbei will also be there to observe..." Old Jiang Ba said awkwardly.

Xu Lai suddenly laughed. "Join the fun? You're afraid those brutes from Jiangbei will cause trouble for you, aren't you?"

Because of their failure to visit the Lin Family, not only had Xu Lai earned Jiangbei's resentment, but the Su and Jiang families had as well.

"Indeed, nothing escapes Mr. Xu's sharp eyes," Old Jiang Ba chuckled awkwardly.

Xu Lai stood up. "Then let's go take a look."

He turned his head toward Liu Nanwei and Zhou Feng and asked, "Want to join the fun?"

"...Well, I think I'll sit this one out."

Liu Nanwei coughed. "I still have two medical books to read."

Zhou Feng also chimed in, "I have things to do as well."

Xu Lai gave a knowing smile but didn't press them, leaving with Old Jiang Ba and Su Daiyi.

After leaving Dongli University, they saw a group of ten or so young men and women at the school gate. They ranged in age from five or six to twenty and were all descendants of the Su and Jiang families.

"Mr. Xu, could you please take a look for us? See how many of these children can step onto the Martial Dao?"

Worry was evident in Old Jiang Ba's eyes.

Although they had decided to cling to Xu Lai's coattails, the Jiang Family still had to prepare for the future, as Xu Lai could not possibly protect them forever.

The sixteen descendants of the Su and Jiang families looked on with admiration.

They knew that it was this man before them who had, in just a few short months, secured the Su and Jiang families' positions as the top two families in Jiangnan.

Xu Lai swept his gaze over them briefly, his brows slightly furrowed.

Su Daiyi's heart tightened. "Mr. Xu, could it be... that not a single one is suitable?"

"Their talent is very poor," Xu Lai said indifferently.

Su Daiyi and Old Jiang Ba exchanged a bitter look. They dared not doubt Xu Lai's words in the slightest, but they couldn't help feeling a pang of disappointment. Does this mean our families truly have no future?

What the two of them didn't know was that, coming from Xu Lai, "very poor talent" was actually high praise. It meant they had talent to begin with.

Xu Lai pointed his finger.

He gestured to a five-year-old girl from the Su Family and a ten-year-old boy from the Jiang Family.

The girl looked timid, while the boy wore a determined expression.

"Their talent might be poor, but it should be enough for them to leave Earth one day. These are Cultivation Techniques for them. As for what fortunes they find in the future... that will be up to them," Xu Lai said flatly.

As he spoke, two Jade Pendants engraved with Cultivation Techniques floated before the two children.

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