Chapter 50: From Now On, Call Me He the Great Philanthropist!
"There's also good news."
Wang Xiu smiled: "After the sect elders learned of Steward He's righteous act of slaughtering pigs for disaster relief, they held an elders' meeting last night."
"You have been specially permitted to cultivate our sect's techniques, with the status of an outer sect disciple."
"Of course."
"All of this is contingent on the disaster relief proceeding smoothly, and no incidents occurring while settling the refugees."
"Otherwise, what the sect gives, it can also take away."
Steward He: ???
Holy crap!!!
If the refugees' praise brought He Daren momentary joy.
Then.
Becoming a Three Pure Immortal Sect disciple—even just an outer sect disciple—that was double the happiness!
After all.
Unlike some Immortal Sects where disciple quotas could be purchased, the Three Pure Immortal Sect, though financially struggling, was principled.
Disciples in the mountains couldn't casually descend unless on missions, so as not to disturb the common people.
Wealthy merchants below couldn't purchase cultivation techniques either.
Because in this world, cultivation techniques were like guns and explosives in the previous world—meant only for cultivation sects to control.
No matter how wealthy a merchant was, they couldn't arbitrarily buy techniques, or chaos would ensue.
For centuries, wealthy merchants who obtained outer sect status and could cultivate Three Pure Immortal Sect techniques could be counted on one's fingers.
He Daren never imagined he would become one of these lucky few—it was an incredible surprise!
Consider this.
Even a mere Qi Condensation cultivator, barring accidents, could generally live over a hundred years in good health.
Compared to his father, who died at fifty-something, that's double the lifespan.
With good fortune, if he broke through to Foundation Establishment.
He could live over two hundred years. As long as he didn't court death, with the Three Pure Immortal Sect's protection, he could enjoy two centuries of prosperity.
Hmm.
Outliving seven or eight generations of descendants—no problem at all!
As long as I don't die!
You all can only be young masters!
"Senior Brother!"
He Daren looked at Wang Xiu with teary eyes: "I'm so excited! I want to slaughter a few thousand more pigs to calm down."
Slaughter your sister!
Wang Xiu felt that with this master, those hundred thousand pigs would all be gone sooner or later.
Wang Xiu said helplessly: "Let's go! Back to the He residence."
He Daren gazed reluctantly at the disaster relief tents: "Senior Brother, why go back? I want to watch a bit longer."
Wang Xiu rolled his eyes: "Why go back? To bury your father!"
Good heavens.
So busy with charity that he even forgot his own father.
Wang Xiu couldn't help but facepalm. If he didn't find a good place to bury Old Master He soon.
The body would really start to grow mold!
...
Three days passed in a flash.
The disaster relief and land reclamation work proceeded in an orderly fashion under Wang Xiu and the butler's supervision.
Hmm.
As for He Daren, he cheered "awesome" quite nicely, and his posture when paying was quite dashing.
Twilight.
North-View Tower.
Located in Maple City's eastern district, one of the city's tallest buildings. From the railing, one could overlook most of the northern city.
At this moment.
In North-View Tower's largest private room, Wang Xiu and He Daren stood side by side, overlooking the northern city.
The former wasteland had been nearly completely cleared.
Countless energetic refugees were now planting seedlings, sowing seeds, and weeding, their faces full of smiles as they worked enthusiastically.
In just three days.
They had transformed from emaciated, vacant-eyed refugees into people full of enthusiasm and hope for the future.
If the bran brown rice porridge had traded their dignity for the hope of survival.
Then this mission to clear and farm the land had earned their dignity back through sweat and labor.
At this moment.
Not only were their bodies alive—their souls had come alive too!
"Senior Brother."
"Can't you stay a few more days?"
He Daren was reluctant to part; following Wang Xiu these past days, he felt he'd learned so much: "If you leave, I'm afraid I won't be able to manage these people."
Wang Xiu shook his head: "The rituals are complete, and my senior sister at the sect has urged me repeatedly—if I don't return, the mission will be overdue."
"The old butler will oversee the land reclamation in the northern city. Just listen to him in all matters."
The butler said: "I'll do my best to help you. Don't worry, young master!"
He Daren: "It's Master!"
Looking at the old man and young man, both quite characters, Wang Xiu smiled and summoned the Black Tortoise Mirror, flying out of the tower.
However.
Just as he flew from the tower, preparing to leave, a deafening shout rose from below.
"Farewell, Daoist~"
"Farewell, Daoist~"
"Farewell, Daoist~"
...
Wang Xiu's body trembled slightly. He looked down at the refugees to see that all of them had stopped their work and were gazing up at Wang Xiu.
They weren't kneeling, but instead had formed the Taiji Yin-Yang hand seal and were bowing in Wang Xiu's direction.
Neither humble nor arrogant, yet filled with fervent faith.
At that moment.
Even Wang Xiu, who prided himself on his steadfast dao heart, felt his blood warm and a surge of emotion in his heart.
He knew that these refugees had truly come alive.
No.
At this moment, they were no longer refugees, but Maple City residents with land and hope, no different from anyone else.
Boom~
The instant a hundred thousand people bowed in unison, a thunderclap rang through the sky. Then ten thousand rays of golden light appeared above the northern city.
bathed in endless golden radiance, Wang Xiu appeared as if he were ascending to immortality—noble and flawless, just like a celestial being!
The next second.
The golden light shattered, falling like rain and merging into Wang Xiu's body.
In an instant.
Wang Xiu's cultivation, originally at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, surged like rising water. He broke through the ninth level, then advanced a hundred steps further, entering the Core Formation stage.
Looking at the primeval pill spinning in his dantian, Wang Xiu didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He had originally thought.
He would break through to Core Formation while listening to that old fellow Ji Yan brag in the Thunder Peak.
Unexpectedly.
He was pushed up by merit instead—truly unexpected.
However.
The amount of merit this time was indeed enormous—after all, Wang Xiu had saved a hundred thousand refugees.
And.
He had not only saved their lives but awakened their hope and courage to survive.
Such merit was no less than slaying several Golden Core or Nascent Soul level demons—it might even be higher.
The reason his cultivation only rose two levels.
Was because raising cultivation was merely a bonus effect of merit. Its true functions were 'improving aptitude' and 'enhancing fortune.'
"Holy crap~!"
An exclamation rang out from North-View Tower.
Although most of the merit rain was absorbed by Wang Xiu, a small portion merged into He Daren and the old butler.
The old butler didn't cultivate, so the merit power would cleanse and transform his body, likely extending his life by twenty or thirty years.
As for He Daren.
He had barely memorized the 'Basic Breathing Technique' yesterday and hadn't even succeeded at drawing qi into his body.
But at this moment.
It was as if he'd taken some powerful drug—his cultivation shot up wildly.
Qi Condensation Level 1!
Qi Condensation Level 2!
Qi Condensation Level 3!
...
It kept soaring until Qi Condensation Level 6, where his cultivation finally stabilized. He felt utterly refreshed, as if he had boundless energy!
"Don't stop me!"
After feeling the benefits of merit, He Daren's eyes turned red: "Kill pigs! I'm going home to kill pigs!"
"Let's go to the neighboring city and sell meat for disaster relief, just like we did here!"
"From now on, don't call me Steward He, Master He!"
"Call me He the Great Philanthropist!"
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