The next day.
In front of the temple in Jule Town.
Ji Mo slightly raised his head, his deeply sunken eyes full of pride.
Behind him, a woman as plump as a pig was carrying a basket of fruits and snacks, her eyes showing a hint of affection.
"Son, are you thirsty? Have some fruit first."
"Mother, no rush. I still have some important matters to attend to."
Listening to their conversation, Li Shiwuwu felt his mind go blank, quite helpless.
At this moment, Ji Mo sighed.
"Brother Li, it's a pity we didn't meet earlier so I could benefit from your guidance."
"Otherwise, even if I couldn't have a harem, I'd at least have a pile of mothers at home."
Ji Mo looked up at the sky and continued, "The vastness of Dayao's territory is hard to describe."
"Just the term 'mother' has so many variations: old woman, mother, family, granny, mom... too many to count..."
Listening to this one's rambling, Li Shiwuwu couldn't take it anymore.
Annoyed, he said, "Why don't you just stop chasing women altogether?"
"Just change your name to 'Dayao Mother Hunter' or something."
Unexpectedly, Ji Mo's eyes lit up instantly, "Brother Li, it has to be you to come up with such a majestic title. I'll gladly accept it."
Li Shiwuwu rubbed his forehead, unable to resist the urge to slap himself. Why did he even open his mouth?
Ji Mo cleared his throat, his expression gradually becoming serious.
He took out a black wooden plate, square and about the size of two palms, covered with intricate golden patterns, with faint shadows of mountains and rivers appearing and disappearing.
"Brother Li, I told you last night that I want you to take on the role of Land Official here."
"And what I hold in my hand is the Mountain and River Stabilizing Plate, encompassing a radius of three thousand miles east of Jule Town."
"It can be used to control water, fill mountains, open roads..."
"Of course, its power also depends on the user."
Li Shiwuwu took the Mountain and River Stabilizing Plate, feeling its weight and the cool, jade-like texture.
"You're giving me something so important?"
Ji Mo smiled and shook his head, "Brother Li, I don't know your background, but I always feel like you're out of touch with Dayao."
"To be honest, positions like Mountain Official, River Official, City God Official are as common as cattle in Dayao."
"Who would care about just one Mountain and River Stabilizing Plate?"
Li Shiwuwu said nothing. He wouldn't stay in one place for long.
But with the trouble of ten legs unresolved, wandering around would likely cause big problems.
Ji Mo continued, "Brother Li, to be honest."
"After all, as a disciple of the state religion, being assigned such a trivial task is quite degrading."
Li Shiwuwu remained expressionless, "Oh."
Ji Mo's eyes twinkled, "Brother Li, I see you're quite talented. Why not join the Ten Aspects Sect? It's really interesting, truly."
"Heh, if Li were a white lotus in the mud, how could I associate with the likes of you? I'd rather die than join."
Ji Mo pursed his lips and added, "Brother Li, I have to nag a bit about the Ten Aspects Sect."
"Those of us who cultivate the Monkey Aspect are like a bunch of sticky plasters, at most making people feel disgusted."
"What you really need to watch out for are those who cultivate the Pen Aspect."
"They're the ones who kill without a knife, rotten to the core."
Li Shiwuwu nodded, "Got it."
"But I don't know how to use this Mountain and River Stabilizing Plate."
"And if I want to cultivate, how should I go about it?"
Hearing this, Ji Mo's expression turned strange and complex.
A quick look at will leave you more fulfilled.
He said, "Spiritual energy, known as the energy beneficial to all things in heaven and earth, is essential for seekers of the path to immortality."
"But unfortunately, spiritual energy in Dayao disappeared countless millennia ago, leaving no trace, and no one knows why."
"Sigh!" Ji Mo let out a long sigh.
"I only remember the elders of the Ten Aspects Sect saying that the waters of Dayao are like an unfathomable abyss, like turbid waves that cannot be calmed, moving to devour souls and bones, ten deaths, no life."
Li Shiwuwu furrowed his brows. No wonder, even after traversing mountains and rivers with Qian Yuanzi, he never encountered any spiritual herbs or flowers.
"In that case, how do you cultivate?"
Ji Mo replied, "Brother Li, your ten-legged body may be absurd, but it no longer belongs to the realm of mortals."
"As for how to cultivate, take a trip to Tang City, and you'll find the answer."
With that, he patted Li Shiwuwu on the shoulder.
"Brother Li, enjoy yourself."
"I'm heading back to the Ten Aspects Sect, and along the way, I might find a few more mothers."
"Next time we meet, you better prepare proper gifts for them, as they are considered elders."
Li Shiwuwu: "..."
After a stick of incense.
"Daoist Li, have you really become our Land Official? The previous Land Official was killed decades ago, died a horrible death, even had his intestines chewed up."
"Uh, Land Official doesn't sound great, call me Mountain Official from now on."
"Then, Mountain Official, shall we help renovate this temple? It's too dilapidated. Do you have any requests?"
Li Shiwuwu turned back, staring at the rundown temple.
After pondering for a while, he said, "Change the plaque, rename it."
"Ah, to what?"
"Immortal Cultivation Temple!"
By evening.
The small temple outside the town was refurbished, and since it had once housed corpses, many enthusiastic townsfolk used vermilion, glutinous rice, and other items to ward off evil.
They set off firecrackers, pasted new couplets, and even held a banquet, making quite a commotion.
Even the Faceless Man transformed into a woman in red, playing the lute and singing, flirting with some men, becoming quite familiar.
Li Shiwuwu stood by the river, watching the shimmering reflections, quietly observing.
Perhaps due to his long stay in the mountains or his personal experiences, he seemed out of place with the lively scene before him.
"Mountain Official, are you lonely standing here alone?"
The woman disguised by the Faceless Man sang in an operatic tone, pretending to lean into his arms.
"Not at all."
Li Shiwuwu casually sidestepped, and with a "splash," the woman fell into the river, her face losing color.
"Ugh, filthy man."
"Even I, a century-old Sui, know that the mundane world of firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea is also interesting."
"Why are you pretending to be so deep?"
As the water rippled, a faint smile appeared on Li Shiwuwu's face, and he nodded lightly.
"You're right."
"In that case, let's be generous today. Double the two hundred gold you owe me, no need to thank me."
The Faceless Man was overjoyed, "Alright, alright."
The next moment.
"What? Double..."
On the other side.
Li Shiwuwu sat at the banquet.
"Old man, I don't drink, just a taste."
"No way, life is short, it must be filled to the brim."