The next day, after bidding farewell to the Lin family, Zhou Ping inquired around the city about the conduct of several old cultivators. He finally chose one known for his kind nature and paid him a visit.

"The Li residence is truly imposing."

Zhou Ping stood before the mansion. The stone lions at the entrance were majestic and towering, and the eaves and roof tiles rose and fell in an intricate pattern, exuding dignity and splendor.

A small side door opened, and an old gatekeeper asked in a low voice, "May I ask whom you are seeking?"

"Go and inform your master that the Zhou family of Baixi Village has come to pay our respects."

The old gatekeeper closed the small door. Before long, the main gate of the Li residence swung open.

"Please, follow me." The old gatekeeper, stooped with age, respectfully extended his hand to lead the way.

Passing through winding corridors, Zhou Ping finally witnessed the sheer luxury of the Li family. The courtyard was shaded by lush trees and plants, with rockeries overgrown with climbing vines-truly magnificent.

It was no wonder these cultivators who had returned to the mortal world chose to stay in large cities rather than remote villages. If it were Zhou Ping, he wouldn't want to stay in the countryside either, were it not for his entire family residing in Baixi Village.

The city was bustling and luxurious, while the mountain village was utterly barren.

Since they were fated to be cut off from the immortal path and had returned to the red dust, they might as well enjoy themselves. Why go back to a mountain village to live like carefree hermits, enduring a life of bitter hardship?

Soon, Zhou Ping arrived at the main hall, and the old gatekeeper silently withdrew.

Inside the hall, a white-haired old man with a refined, immortal aura was watering flowers. However, the luxurious silk brocade he wore gave him a touch of worldly wealth.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist," Zhou Ping said, bowing with hands clasped.

The old man put down his watering can, turned around, and waved his hand with a smile. "Since I have already fallen back into the red dust, do not call me Fellow Daoist anymore."

"This old man is named Li Mu. May I ask how to address you, sir?"

"Zhou Ping. Greetings, Elder Li."

Li Mu was taken aback, then burst into hearty laughter at being called Elder Li.

Both were cultivators at the peak of the Spirit Awakening Realm. In the cultivation world, where strength reigned supreme, Li Mu would even be beneath Zhou Ping. Yet Zhou Ping now addressed him as Elder Li, which gave him plenty of face.

"You must have descended from the mountain not long ago, sir. May I ask on which immortal mountain you once cultivated?"

"The Azure Cloud Sect," Zhou Ping said flatly.

Little did he know, Li Mu was already stunned.

The dynasty Zhou Ping lived in was called the Zhao Kingdom, a vast territory spanning a full eight thousand li.

The most powerful force was the royal Zhao clan. Below them were over a dozen major organizations, including the Three Clans, Four Sects, and Seven Gates, each possessing high-level cultivators of the Profound Elixir Realm. The Azure Cloud Sect was one of those Seven Gates. Although it ranked toward the bottom, it was not something those minor sects and schools could compare to.

Li Mu had originally thought Zhou Ping was a disciple of some small sect within a few hundred li, perhaps even a fellow disciple from his own past lineage, meaning they could band together here in Qingshui County.

But he never expected Zhou Ping to be a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect. Even if Zhou Ping had no further hope on the immortal path, the Azure Cloud Sect possessed countless prodigies. If he happened to know some powerful senior or junior brothers, he would not be someone ordinary cultivators could afford to provoke.

Li Mu's mind raced with wild thoughts, assuming Zhou Ping was a Novice disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect who simply lacked talent and couldn't break through. How could he know that Zhou Ping was merely an insignificant handyman disciple?

"This old man has been blind. I hope you will forgive me, sir," Li Mu said, bowing.

"Elder Li, you flatter me."

"Then, sir, after returning to your hometown, what are your future plans?" Li Mu asked calmly, though his heart was in his throat. He feared Zhou Ping would say he wanted to stay in the county town.

Qingshui County was only so big, and its benefits had long been divided cleanly among the local factions. If Zhou Ping were to establish a family here, conflicts would inevitably arise. Previously, Li Mu wouldn't have cared, as the multiple local forces could unite to resist, ensuring Zhou Ping wouldn't gain any advantage even if he fought tooth and nail.

But now things were different. Zhou Ping's background with the Azure Cloud Sect weighed on his heart like a great mountain.

Li Mu's subtle shift did not escape Zhou Ping's notice. Although he did intend to borrow the Azure Cloud Sect's prestige, if he were exposed, it would be disastrous.

"My parents are old and cannot bear to leave their homeland. As their son, I must naturally fulfill their wishes."

Upon hearing this, Li Mu's tense mood immediately relaxed.

"Your filial piety is truly deep, sir. This old man genuinely admires you."

Zhou Ping bowed. "Elder Li, I came to visit today because I do have a favor to ask."

"May I ask what it is?"

"I would like to entrust Elder Li with selling this item for me." Zhou Ping took a small porcelain bottle from his robes. Instantly, the temperature in the room dropped.

"Yin Malefic Qi!" Li Mu exclaimed, immediately understanding that the young master of the Lin family had been cured by Zhou Ping, who had also used a special technique to collect the residual energy.

He couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Disciples of major sects were truly different. If he had known this technique, this windfall would be his now.

However, as long as Zhou Ping didn't expose their prior failure to cure the boy, it didn't matter.

"Selling it is no problem, but the quality of this Yin Malefic Qi is quite low, and it is constantly dissipating. I am afraid it will be difficult to fetch a good price," Li Mu said slowly.

"Selling it for whatever it can bring is good enough."

Li Mu nodded slightly. Managing a household required attention to every copper coin. Then, remembering that Zhou Ping wanted to settle his family in a rural village, he spoke up.

"If you are in a hurry, sir, I can buy it myself, though the price will be a bit lower."

"Then I thank Elder Li." Zhou Ping hadn't wanted to waste too much time on this Yin Malefic Qi anyway. It was better to sell it quickly and return home. Since Li Mu wanted to buy it, he was perfectly willing.

Li Mu took the small porcelain bottle and carefully sensed its contents, but his brow furrowed. "Lower quality, thin and weak. This old man can only offer six taels of gold."

"Deal." Zhou Ping wasn't annoyed. He knew Li Mu was pressing the price down, but it was still within his acceptable range, and he didn't want to argue until he was red in the face over a tiny sum.

Confound it, I offered too much, Li Mu thought with immediate regret. But who could blame him when he rarely did business? He didn't know the tricks of the trade. He should have started with the lowest price and worked his way up.

Li Mu called for a servant to bring six taels of gleaming gold and handed them over to Zhou Ping.

Zhou Ping took the gold and had no intention of lingering. After bidding farewell to Li Mu, he hurried toward Baixi Village, the splendor of the county town failing to delay him for even a single moment.

As the saying goes, each sect has its own methods. Although Li Mu didn't know the technique for collecting Yin Malefic Qi, his sect possessed some skill in nurturing the energy of heaven and earth.

He used a special technique to nurture the collected strand, actually making it somewhat more condensed. Afterward, through a transaction with a contact from the Pingyun Huang Clan, he sold it for eight taels of gold, netting a clean profit of two taels from the resale.

However, that no longer had anything to do with Zhou Ping.

Mountains can exhaust a horse just by looking at them. The towering and majestic Darong Mountain range stood between heaven and earth; though it seemed close at hand, it took Zhou Ping over an hour to reach his destination. Glimpsing the familiar village, he couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.

This trip to the county town had earned him nearly fifty taels of silver, secured favors from both sides, and gained him the position of village head. It was a truly fruitful journey.

Just as he was heading toward his home, he suddenly spotted two figures, one large and one small, anxiously gazing out from beneath a small hill in the distance. They were none other than his elder brother and nephew.

"Brother, Changhe, what are you doing here?"

"We were worried about you." Zhou Hong scratched his head with a simple smile. "I was afraid the villagers would get suspicious and spread rumors if they saw us waiting on the road, so I hid back here out of sight."

"Brother..." Zhou Ping felt a wave of warmth in his chest.

"Uncle, for you." Little Changhe stood on tiptoe and stuffed a flatbread into Zhou Ping's hand.

"Alright." Zhou Ping took the flatbread and took a massive bite. The taste wasn't anything special, but it made his heart stir.

"Come, let's go home."

He was going to build a new house, hire a scholar to teach Changhe to read and write, let his parents enjoy their old age in peace, and ensure that the Zhou family truly established themselves from this day forward!