In the unseen workings of fate, he was convinced that this formation could allow the myriad mysteries of the Chaos Pearl to be brought to their fullest potential.

Unfortunately, his attainments in formations were rather shallow; he was not a grandmaster of the art, nor did he dare seek out a formation grandmaster for help and risk leaking the secrets of the formation.

Therefore, after much pondering, he finally decided to rebuild the Daoist temple, using the most fundamental method: arranging the layout of the temple—even down to every brick, every tile, every blade of grass and every tree—strictly according to the structure of the formation.

According to his calculations, once the temple was completed, the entire temple itself would become a formation!

The temple would become the foundation of the formation!

The Chaos Pearl would be the source of the formation!

The Chaos Pearl was hidden within Samuel Brooks's body, so Samuel Brooks himself was the source of the formation!

Previously, due to lack of funds, he had even prepared a simplified blueprint for the temple's construction.

But now, he had tossed the simplified blueprint into a corner.

At present, within the borders of Daxia, demons ran rampant, and with the appearance of the bounty list, for Samuel Brooks, it was as if gold and silver were scattered everywhere.

Short of money?

Impossible!

“Samuel Brooks, the people you asked for have arrived.”

A small black bear poked half its body out from the tree.

Samuel Brooks responded and looked toward the approaching figure in the distance.

The newcomer was a middle-aged man, with dark skin and sturdy hands.

This was the craftsman he had found, named Henry Foster, the best mason in all the counties surrounding Fengyuan Mountain, known for his honesty and good reputation.

“Samuel Brooks, the tasks you assigned are almost done.”

Henry Foster said, “So far, I’ve found thirty-six craftsmen, but as for the one you specifically mentioned, that’s a bit tricky.”

Samuel Brooks mused, “Thomas Reed? What’s the difficulty with him?”

This Thomas Reed had an impressive background. Sixteen years ago, he served in the imperial court as an official in the Ministry of Works, participated in the reconstruction of the Daxia Imperial Palace, and even oversaw the construction of the current Domain Lord’s mansion in Guangshan Domain.

Unfortunately, Thomas Reed’s uncle, who was a vice minister in the Ministry of Works, made a mistake in building the imperial mausoleum, was imprisoned and executed, and his family exiled.

Thomas Reed was implicated, lost his official post in the Ministry of Works, and became a commoner.

Looking across the entire Guangshan Domain, Thomas Reed might not be the most outstanding craftsman, but he was the best one Samuel Brooks could currently hire.

This man was quite cultured, skilled in construction, able to interpret diagrams and texts, and fully capable of building the temple according to his blueprints.

He had also participated in the reconstruction of the Daxia Imperial Palace and had overseen the building of the Domain Lord’s mansion, so he knew what true grandeur was.

His talent, vision, and experience were far beyond those of ordinary masons.

That’s why Samuel Brooks specifically instructed Henry Foster to make sure to invite this man to oversee the temple’s reconstruction.

“He holds himself in very high regard and refuses to come,” Henry Foster said with a hint of helplessness, shaking his head.

“So proud?” Samuel Brooks said with a smile, “As far as I know, Thomas Reed is now destitute, his home bare of all possessions. Now that there’s work for him, doesn’t he want to support his family?”

“His poverty has its reasons.” Henry Foster sighed and said, “All these years, he’s prided himself on his status and refused to lower himself. Many have asked him to build houses or temples, but he’s always bluntly refused. Because of this, he’s been living off his savings for sixteen years, and his family has grown poorer by the day.”

“Didn’t he set a rule recently?” Samuel said calmly.

“This Thomas Reed, after living off his savings for sixteen years and exhausting his family’s resources, finally set a rule, but everyone thinks he’s crazy,” Henry Foster said.

“Tell me the details,” Samuel said with interest.

“Thomas Reed once said that when he oversaw the construction of the Domain Lord’s mansion in Guangshan Domain, it took a year and three months. After it was completed, with salary and rewards, he received a total of nine hundred and twenty-seven taels of silver,” Henry Foster said. “So, to hire him now, the price cannot be less than nine hundred and twenty-seven taels.”

“Nine hundred and twenty-seven taels?” Samuel Brooks raised an eyebrow—this was an extremely high price.

“Isn’t that crazy?” Henry Foster shook his head and sighed. “Back then, he built the Domain Lord’s mansion, but who else’s mansion could compare to that? Besides, he’s just a commoner now, with no official position, and times have changed. Even if Guangshan Domain wanted to rebuild the mansion, it wouldn’t be his turn.”

“Pass on a message for me: tell him I agree,” Samuel Brooks suddenly said.

“What?” Henry Foster was stunned, unable to believe it.

“You heard me right.”

Samuel Brooks said calmly, “But there’s one condition! When he built the Domain Lord’s mansion in Guangshan Domain, the work was only finished when the Domain Lord was satisfied! Now, if he builds the Baihong Daoist Temple, I, as the abbot, must be satisfied! If his work does not meet my expectations, I will take back every single one of those nine hundred and twenty-seven taels!”

After speaking, Samuel Brooks handed over a stack of papers and said, “Take this to Thomas Reed and ask if he dares to accept!”

——

Guangshan Domain, Feng County.

This was a small courtyard, not large, with no intricate carvings or ornate railings, but it appeared simple and unadorned, possessing a unique kind of beauty.

“Samuel Brooks has agreed, but if he’s not satisfied, he’ll take back all nine hundred and twenty-seven taels.”

“What a bold claim!”