"Overall, the silver taels you initially gave Zhu Tao have not only not been spent over the years, but after covering everyone's needs, they've even managed to earn over a thousand taels of silver."
Li Buwei was quite satisfied with this.
After all, they were a group of wild cultivators from the mountains and wilds. Asking them to fight, kill, or explore caves and ruins was fine.
But to be able to settle down and manage things, maintain a balance of income and expenditure, and even have a surplus, was already quite difficult.
However, Ji Yuan was not very satisfied with this. After all, everyone had not yet formed their own industries and seemed to be somewhat dependent on others.
While this approach posed no immediate problems, satisfying their basic cultivation needs and earning some money, it was far from enough in the long run.
Yet, Ji Yuan himself had no suitable methods in mind; anything he could think of either lacked experience or was already being done exceptionally well by others.
"Zhu Tao, select a few people to stay here. The rest will leave with me tomorrow."
After a moment of thought, he gave the order.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Tao immediately nodded in agreement, already having chosen his candidates.
Ji Yuan then informed the few remaining individuals that the current livelihood could be maintained but they shouldn't be too complacent. He urged them to cultivate diligently, to improve their cultivation as much as possible, and that other matters could serve as a distraction if they were extremely bored.
As he spoke, he even used a trace of divine might, immediately startling those who had become complacent.
The group immediately realized that their previous approach had angered their employer.
He had taken them under his wing not to burden himself, but so they could be relied upon when needed.
If they remained complacent, leading to slow progress in their cultivation or even stagnation, then what they had gained would eventually be lost.
A night passed quickly, and as dawn broke, a convoy slowly departed from the market town.
This time, the group traveled light. Someone had initially suggested bringing a batch of goods, which could serve as an additional source of income.
However, before Ji Yuan could even speak, Zhu Tao immediately rejected the idea. Thus, there wasn't even a single carriage; everyone rode their horses at a brisk pace.
The horses were of good quality, each costing tens of taels of silver, which translated to two to three hundred taels of pure silver. Traveling three to four hundred li a day was not an issue.
Yet, even the main roads were not straight lines. Instead, they wound their way through numerous villages and towns, significantly lengthening a journey of a thousand li in a straight line.
Ji Yuan, however, was unconcerned. It was a good opportunity to appreciate the scenery along the way and experience the local customs and traditions.
After more than half a month, the group finally arrived outside a small hill.
Although it was just a small hill outside a third-tier county town, the foot of the mountain was quite lively. The long street was lined with all sorts of shops, and the calls of street food vendors added a touch of vibrancy.
Ji Yuan and his companions led their horses up the mountain. Along the way, they saw pilgrims with smiles on their faces, and occasionally groups of scholars gathered in scenic spots.
"It seems Mo Yiyan has managed this place quite well!"
Ji Yuan exclaimed with a smile, quite pleased with the situation.
As for Mo Yiyan, that was the given name of the mountain Daoist.
Upon reaching the summit, they saw a temple that had been converted from a Daoist temple. However, in terms of its external appearance, there hadn't been much of a change.
Two wild cultivators guarding the gate, upon seeing the group, perked up and quickly approached.
After arranging for the others to stable the horses, Ji Yuan, along with Li Buwei, Zhu Tao, and Liu Qi, entered the temple before them.
Despite its remote location, the temple was bustling with worshippers. The pilgrims were mostly devout, giving thanks to the Water God Lord for protecting the area.
As soon as Ji Yuan entered the temple, he felt a surge of incense and wish power condensing within the statue in the main hall.
He approached for a closer look and found that the statue depicted a youthful figure, resembling his appearance from over three years ago, though the facial features were blurred.
"A Water God Temple built on a hilltop, if not unique, is certainly rare."
Ji Yuan said with a smile, chuckling softly to himself.
Just then, Mo Yiyan emerged from the back hall and, upon reaching them, bowed respectfully.
"You've done remarkably well!"
He looked at the mountain Daoist before him and inquired curiously about how he had achieved this.
To have a newly built temple accumulate such widespread worship within three to four years was no simple feat.
"It wasn't particularly difficult. After making arrangements with the local county yamen, we relied on our own powers to perform many good deeds in the surrounding areas."
Mo Yiyan led them to a side hall for guests and then recounted the events of the past few years in broad strokes.
What they had done was quite simple: using their spiritual powers and Daoist arts, they often traveled among the common folk, either practicing medicine to heal the sick or guiding water to irrigate farmland.
They even assisted the authorities in apprehending several evildoers and hunting many fierce beasts in the forests.
In the name of the Water God Lord, they performed various good deeds. At first, they were somewhat unaccustomed to it, but they gradually became more adept. Not only did they accumulate considerable incense for the temple on the small hill, but they also earned a measure of merit for themselves.
"Compared to our former lives of fighting and killing, we much prefer this way of life now."
Mo Yiyan sighed with emotion.
Behind him, the other wild cultivators who had accompanied them also showed expressions of agreement.
They no longer had to live in constant fear. All they needed to do, in addition to their cultivation, was to travel around and perform good deeds. Not only did they gradually accumulate merit, but they also received much gratitude from the common people.
Seeing their smiling faces, the group naturally maintained a very good mood.
Ji Yuan, however, had not expected his initial arrangements to lead to such a outcome, and for a moment, he didn't know how to evaluate it.
But no matter what, this was indeed a very good development.
As dusk fell, apart from a small number of pilgrims who stayed overnight at the temple, most had already descended the mountain. On the street at the foot of the mountain, several inns were available for their lodging.
The main hall, which had been bustling all day, gradually became quiet, leaving only the flickering candlelight in the end.
Ji Yuan entered the main hall, and the large doors closed behind him. His gaze then fell upon the statue on the central altar.
In his eyes, the statue was enveloped in dense wish power from incense. Besides a brilliant golden glow, there were also many colorful lights representing the seven emotions and six desires.
He took a deep breath, and his eyes emitted a dazzling golden divine light. His body radiated powerful divine might.
He slowly walked towards the statue. His clothes, under the vibration of divine power, tore and fell away, while the divine power within him surged out.
As Ji Yuan ascended the altar, his divine body had completed the preparation for the secret technique. With the activation of the spell, the flesh and blood of this divine body gradually dissolved, transforming into streams that flowed into the statue before him.
An hour passed. Enduring the pain of dissolving flesh and blood, he was now left with only a golden skeleton.
But under the effect of divine power, the remaining skeleton also began to break down, turning into countless essences that merged into the statue.
By the time midnight arrived, the unusual phenomenon in the main hall had subsided. The statue radiated a soft divine light, gradually absorbing the wish power accumulated over the years and refining the seven emotions and six desires within.
A flash of formation pattern flickered, and the previously laid out formation activated, guarding the main hall and the statue within.