Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

As they walked, the brother and sister were terrified to see several Foundation Establishment cultivators lying or sitting in the corridor, all with bruises and swelling, weak breaths, and dim spiritual light, yet not a single one stepped forward to help them up.

The manager glanced at the "seriously wounded" and his lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

He carefully inquired about the reason why the brother and sister had come here, made a note of it, and then waved his hand: "The ship will be delivered on time. Since that senior has spoken, you can rest assured. Go back."

The brother and sister felt as if they had been granted a pardon and left almost as if they were fleeing.

It took about an incense stick's time for them to disappear completely into the crowd at the dock.

In the side hall, the lifelike bruises and bloodstains on the steward's face faded away like a phantom, returning him to normal.

Under the corridor, the Foundation Establishment cultivators who were "seriously injured" also nimbly got up. With a flash of spiritual light, all traces of their disheveled state disappeared without a trace. Their eyes were clear, and they no longer looked injured at all.

"Pah, lying down is so tiring. That person is really gone now." A Foundation Establishment cultivator stretched his neck.

"This Fellow Daoist Lin... his strength is unfathomable." Another person said with lingering fear, "Just now, I don't know what method he used, but we were stuck in a quagmire and couldn't move at all. Those fragments flying around seemed frightening, but in fact, his control of spiritual power was so exquisite that it didn't even affect a single piece of dragon bone material in the dock."

"The key point is that he didn't use any real force," the manager sighed. "He's purely here to establish his authority, or rather, to 'stir up trouble.' The vandalism is just a facade; the real purpose is to put on a show for outsiders, making him forcefully intervene, forcing the shipyard to back down, and resolving the matter satisfactorily."

Several Foundation Establishment cultivators nodded in agreement. They were all seasoned veterans who had spent over a hundred years in the perilous Inner Sea, with sharp eyes and had seen it all.

As soon as Lin Zhao made his move, they immediately understood—the newcomer was hostile, but his intentions were limited.

Thus, almost immediately after their first encounter, the two sides formed a strange tacit understanding: Lin Zhao was responsible for making the "fight" look good, while they were responsible for making the "injuries" look realistic.

"Keep a low profile for now," the manager concluded. "I'll report this to the boss. As for the storefront... don't rush to fix it."

Lin Zhao had already left the area by this time, and his choice to target the shipyard was clearly a well-thought-out one.

Although the cultivators of Zhenhai Cliff have many industries, their true core industries are only two: caravans and shipyards.

The caravan business was too complicated, involving numerous people and their interests, and he didn't want to get involved rashly.

Shipyards, on the other hand, have relatively clear rules and sufficient influence, and there is indeed a rationale to argue about things like cutting in line.

In his previous life, this was called "fighting counterfeits and protecting rights." In this context, it is the most suitable task for him to cause trouble gently, build his image, and not overstep the boundaries.

The first thing is to successfully conclude the project.

---

A day later, Lin Zhao leisurely made his way to the core area atop the Zhenhai Cliff to hand over the mission of eliminating the pirates.

It was the same side hall, and the same indifferent Foundation Establishment deacon.

He examined the mission credentials and tokens from several pirate leaders that Lin Zhao had brought back, a hint of undisguised surprise flashing in his eyes—those pirates were quite powerful, Lin Zhao's efficiency was simply too high.

"Task complete, contribution points recorded," the deacon said matter-of-factly, preparing to end the process.

Lin Zhao stood in front of the mission jade wall, his gaze sweeping over the numerous mission messages scrolling across it, and suddenly said, "Senior Brother Steward, I'll accept these three Grade A missions and these two Grade B missions."

The steward looked up and stared at Lin Zhao as if he were a fool.

Those tasks did offer generous rewards, and the difficulty and time requirements didn't seem unreasonable.

But either there are strict prerequisites, or they are already pre-selected by disciples or groups with backgrounds, and countless people are watching them. How can a newly arrived Foundation Establishment cultivator just accept the position?

"No," the deacon refused decisively. "These missions come with conditions, and you don't meet them."

Lin Zhao raised his hand and gently placed his palm on the table in front of the steward. The movement was slow, yet carried a deep and resolute force. He leaned forward slightly, his voice steady and clear: "I think... I can accept."

The deacon frowned, feeling an invisible pressure, but still shook his head: "That's the rule, I said no."

Lin Zhao met his gaze, her eyes calm and unwavering: "Perhaps... you could consult 'those above'?"

The deacon's gaze sharpened, sensing something unusual in Lin Zhao's eyes and the suggestive use of the word "above".

He remained silent for a few moments before finally taking out a specially made communication talisman, briefly explaining the situation, emphasizing Lin Zhao's request and identity, and activating it towards the cave at the highest point of the cliff.

He was prepared for his words to go unanswered or for him to receive a scolding.

However, only ten breaths had passed.

A brief, calm, yet undeniable divine message resounded directly in his mind; it was the voice of True Immortal Canglang:

"Fulfill his request."

The deacon was shocked, and he could barely maintain his cold expression.

He took a deep breath, and when he looked at Lin Zhao again, his eyes were completely different.

"Okay, I'll take care of it for you right away..." He didn't finish his sentence.

Lin Zhao's hand, which was resting on the table, was gently lifted and pressed down lightly, stopping his movement.

"Wait a minute." A smile suddenly bloomed on Lin Zhao's face, completely different from his previous toughness, and even somewhat harmonious. "After thinking about it carefully, those missions from earlier don't seem to be quite suitable for me anymore."

Could you please, with your experience and authority, recommend a few... more "suitable" tasks? Tasks with better rewards and less time commitment.

The steward was completely stunned. He looked at the unreserved smile on Lin Zhao's face and recalled the decree from the immortal just now. His mind raced for a moment, and finally he managed a stiff smile.

"...Alright." The steward said no more, quickly operating on the jade wall to produce several hidden tasks. These were all tasks with excellent rewards, little challenge, and short durations, perfectly suited to Lin Zhao's current needs. "What do you think of these, Junior Brother Lin?"

Lin Zhao glanced at it, his smile becoming even more sincere: "Very good. Thank you for your help, Senior Brother."

He accepted the mission token, nodded slightly to the steward, then turned and bowed respectfully to the core of the cliff.

Then he turned around and walked away with a composed gait.

Inside the side hall, the steward stood alone for a moment, then slowly sat back down in his chair, looked in the direction where Lin Zhao had disappeared, shook his head, and muttered:

"A storm is brewing..."

For the next period of time, Lin Zhao carried out those "carefully recommended" tasks step by step.

It has to be said that having someone in charge definitely makes a difference.

The tasks offer generous rewards and are easy to complete; you'll reap considerable rewards from just one trip.

Among the spoils of war was even a unique recipe from the sea for refining Foundation Establishment Pills using second-tier demon cores.

After completing each of these tasks, he would return to Zhenhai Cliff in a grand manner to hand them over, attracting the attention of many fellow Foundation Establishment cultivators who were amazed by his incredible strength and efficiency.

After the fifth task was completed, under the steward's numb gaze, Lin Zhao calmly accepted three more high-quality tasks from the jade wall and turned to leave.