I am collecting entries in reincarnation

Chapter 1019 After the Banquet
As everyone responded, the smile on Shi Fengyang's face became more and more intense. It was truly a great occasion for both the host and the guests. The banquet ended only when all the monks were satisfied with the meal.

After everyone else left, Li Ming was called alone.

But then, the most beautiful dancer among the previous dancers came forward and bowed to Li Ming.

"The Lord City Lord invites you, sir, please follow me."

Li Ming knew the reason, so he whispered a few words to Gu Song, smiled at Li Tianyun, and then left with the dancer.

Li Ming followed her and walked around the city lord's mansion for about a cup of tea. He came to a remote corner of the city. Although it was remote, it was quiet and pleasant, especially after seeing the prosperity just now, it was a special feeling.

After that, there was already a man standing in the middle of the courtyard. He had a broad back and gave people a feeling of unwavering determination. Li Ming immediately stepped forward and bowed.

"I, the wandering cultivator Wuxin Daoist, greet City Lord Shi."

The man turned around and changed into casual clothes, which were actually from the Central Plains. If someone said that he was a native of Southern Xinjiang, eight out of ten people would not believe it.

He then spoke, "Fellow Daoist Wuxin, there's no need to be so polite. I heard that you all came from the Middle-earth. Actually, my mother was also from the Middle-earth, but after many years of wandering, she finally ended up in Southern Xinjiang. I grew up under her guidance and have a deep yearning for the Middle-earth. It's just that I've never witnessed its splendor with my own eyes, which is truly a deep regret!"

Only then did Li Ming understand why there were so many independent cultivators from the Central Plains in Qixia City, and why the decorations in the City Lord's Mansion and the specifications of these banquets were all closer to the customs of the Central Plains. The root of the problem actually lay here.

"City Lord Shi's hospitality is truly exceptional. It's clear that Qixia City boasts abundant land, outstanding people, and a land of natural beauty comparable to the Central Plains. I've been here for a few days, and the local customs and practices I've witnessed are vastly different from those found in uncivilized lands. The people live and work in peace and contentment, and everyone lives in harmony. This is all thanks to City Lord Shi's meritorious governance and his virtuous education!"

Seeing Li Ming's understanding, Shi Fengyang smiled with satisfaction. He then extended his hand and said, "It seems that Daoist friend didn't eat or drink at the table just now. Is it because I didn't treat you well enough? Here are two or three spiritual fruits. If Daoist friend doesn't mind, how about sitting down with me and discussing Dao?"

Li Ming nodded slightly, then walked forward, raised his hand and touched a fruit that looked like an orange and asked.

"I wonder what this fruit is?"

"Hahaha, good eyesight. This is a fruit I cultivated exclusively. It's a variant of the Fire Scale Fruit. The mother plant was struck by lightning, and I carefully cared for it before it was revived. The fruit that grew on the tree afterwards looks like this. Compared to the original Fire Scale Fruit, this fruit has a bit more of the aura of thunder and lightning, and the taste is extraordinary! Fellow Daoist, come and try it."

Shi Fengyang flicked his sleeves, laughed and sat down, looking quite generous.

At this time, he shook the bells on his sleeves, and several servants came forward to replace the tea and offer various exquisite cakes. However, unlike the gorgeousness of the front hall, it now had a sense of elegance.

Li Ming was in no hurry, just sipping his tea and eating his fruit. The two chatted in a roundabout way for a while before Shi Fengyang couldn't help but ask curiously, "Where are you from, Taoist Wuxin?"

Li Ming sighed deeply upon hearing this, his face full of helplessness.

"We were born in humble backgrounds and have achieved our current level of cultivation thanks to some lucky chance. But now we have provoked a powerful enemy. It's really... Alas." According to what Li Ming said before, they were born as independent cultivators and had been practicing hard before. They finally achieved something, but who knew that their younger brother's beloved was snatched away by someone else, so they had to take action, and ended up in the current situation.

At this time, he had no plans for the next step. He just hoped that the Holy Church would protect him and prevent the Lei family from continuing to hunt him down.

"Hahaha, don't worry, fellow Daoist. Although the Lei family has some power, they would never dare to invade the territory of our Holy Religion." At this moment, Shi Fengyang was very courageous.

This was true. Even though he was the City Lord of Qixia City, a rank five Gu Master, and had experience in repelling a Nascent Soul Demon King with the help of all the Gu cultivators in the city and the cranes he raised, he was still a bit timid when he really had to face a cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage.

But when it comes to the power between forces, he is not afraid, because now the Moon Worship Sect is no longer the only one in southern Xinjiang, but is the best, no one can compare to it. Even though the Lei family has several Nascent Soul ancestors and dozens of Golden Cores, they are still nothing in front of the entire Moon Worship Sect.

As long as they put up the Moon Worship Sect's signboard, no matter how brave the Lei family is, they will definitely not dare to provoke them.

Li Ming was naturally very grateful for this, but he still acted embarrassed and said.

"Even so, joining the Holy Church is naturally excellent, but you can't just stay within the Holy Church for the rest of your life and not take even a single step forward, right?"

"You are overthinking it, fellow Daoist. You have just joined our Holy Church. As long as you can do things for our Holy Church, there will definitely be many benefits. It doesn't matter if you are a casual cultivator and lack some Taoist books. There are countless scriptures in our sect. Let alone the Nascent Soul, there are also Taoist books that can directly reach the Primordial Spirit. I am sure that you must have heard of the famous 'Dongzhen Dayou Tianshu'. If you want to see such a Taoist book that can directly reach the Primordial Spirit outside, the conditions are so harsh. You must be the heir of the sect or even the highest-ranking elders to have the opportunity. But in our Holy Church, as long as you make enough contributions, you can read it. This is why our Holy Church treats everyone equally!"

Shi Fengyang laughed heartily, and then continued to promote the various benefits of joining the Moon Worship Sect, but he repeatedly mentioned the word "contribution"!
Li Ming remained expressionless, but was secretly laughing in his heart.

"If you're being nice to someone without any reason, you're either a traitor or a thief! It seems like besides trying to find out my background, he might have other uses for me. With such impulsive solicitation and empty promises, I'm afraid he's in a bit of trouble right now!"

Li Ming had long seen through the habits of these sects. After all, in the reincarnations of past lives, he had experienced countless times, whether it was creating his own sects or overthrowing them.

No organization or force can treat outsiders the same way as its own people.

The 'Dong Zhen Da You Tian Shu' he mentioned is indeed a Taoist book that can directly point to the primordial spirit, but that is only because the Gu practitioners cannot use it. It can only be used as bait to make these Taoist practitioners work hard. If you want him to take out some secret book of Gu Dao, he cannot do it.

Now Li Ming has given someone a handle and revealed his flaws. He just needs to pretend to be in his control so that he can proceed to the next step!
The two chatted for a while and seemed to be very satisfied with each other. In the end, Li Ming was even personally escorted out of the City Lord's Mansion. But after he walked away, Shi Fengyang changed his face again.

"What a shrewd Taoist! If it weren't for his bad luck and falling into my hands, I'm afraid he might have a place in Southern Xinjiang. What a pity! Now that you have powerful enemies outside, you are still greedy. You should be used by me!"

After saying this, he smiled coldly, waved his sleeves, turned around and walked into the mansion.

(End of this chapter)