But as ordinary people, they did not say much more.

By rights, as a Daoist priest of the Xuanmen, Samuel Brooks must be well-versed in this field and probably already has ideas in mind.

And just after the two took their leave—

A Little Black Bear jumped down from the tree, bouncing over, but looking quite dejected.

Once work begins, money must be spent.

The reward just collected from the authorities hadn’t even warmed up in his hands yet.

Thinking of this, Little Bear became even more downcast.

“Time to make money.”

Samuel Brooks said this, took a deep breath, and with a flip of his hand pulled out his account book... the Monster Hunting List!

This issue’s hunting list has 297 monsters and demons.

Last issue’s hunting list had 323 monsters and demons.

Compared to last month, there are only 26 fewer monsters on the list.

But according to David Turner, last month, the number of monsters killed within Daxia was not just 26, but 176.

Because this month, many more monsters have slipped in from the borders of Daxia, crossing the blockade of the Monster Hunting Bureau.

Most of them were killed, but some are hiding somewhere within Daxia’s territory, whereabouts unknown, and thus have been added to the hunting list.

“Last night I had you memorize the monsters on the hunting list—have you got them all down?”

“I’ve got them all down,” Little Bear replied sullenly.

“The silver needed to build the Daoist temple is over a hundred times more than originally planned,” Samuel Brooks said. “This time, let’s set a small goal: we must slay ten Qi Refining monsters this month.”

“Over a hundred times more? Those scoundrels, how utterly ruthless!” Little Bear exclaimed.

“It’s not that they’re ruthless, it’s that I chose a luxurious temple,”

Samuel Brooks sighed.

It used to be hard to make money, so he could only rely on Little Bear, swaggering around... righting wrongs out of righteous indignation, punishing evil and promoting good.

Originally, he had considered a simplified version of the temple from the blueprints.

Just use the simplest materials, the most modest style, and according to the arrangement of the formations, it could be built for just a few thousand taels of silver.

But ever since discovering this lucrative path through the hunting list, he upgraded the temple on the blueprints to the highest level he could imagine.

Not only was the overall scale expanded, but also artificial hills and flowing water, pavilions and towers, halls and statues, all arranged according to formation principles, with carved railings and jade steps, grand and magnificent.

But in doing so, it brought about the biggest problem!

Lack of money!

Extreme lack of money!

Samuel Brooks is currently in desperate need of money!

So he stared at the hunting list with bloodshot eyes.

That’s where all his silver is, out in the world!

That’s also where his centuries of cultivation are, out in the world!

And all his lost Daoist arts and magical powers!

——

At the same time.

Luyuan County.

In the mountains and forests.

A thunderous boom!

A gigantic beast leapt over from the other side of the mountain.

It was a huge tiger, and when it landed, the whole forest seemed to shake.

“George Parker, you suffered a loss outside, yet instead of seeking your master, you come here to me—why?”

A man in black robes walked out from the woods, looking like a young man, his expression cold and resolute.

The tiger crouched on the ground and spoke in human language: “Uncle-Master, my master has gone to Yuan River and made a deal with the Scarlet Xuan Flood Dragon, promising to help it escape its predicament and avoid being hunted by the Monster Hunting Bureau. He has not yet returned, so I have no choice but to come to you, Uncle-Master, to avenge me.”

The man in black looked at its tail and said coolly, “You’ve always been cautious, preferring to hide in the shadows and use ghost minions to probe. How did you lose your tail?”

The tiger replied in a low voice, “It’s a long story.”

Suddenly, it raised its paw and swept it.

A cloth bag was tossed out.

The man in black waved his hand.

The bag burst open, and a thick tiger tail fell out.

“Sword Qi of the Spirit Refining Realm?”

The man in black pondered, “You want me to use this as proof to kill your enemy?”

Chapter 010 Breaking Ground! Demons at Work!

The next day, at dawn.

Fengyuan Mountain welcomed a grand occasion.

The Daoist temple began construction, bustling with activity.

Thomas Reed, Henry Foster, and Samuel Brooks were all busy.

In addition to thirty-six masons, Thomas Reed also hired two women to prepare lunch for all the workers.

Little Bear squatted on a treetop, watching the scene, feeling both pained for the silver and excited for the completion of the temple.

During this time, it saw Thomas Reed hand something to Samuel Brooks, and couldn’t help but feel curious, so it found a chance to quietly ask Samuel Brooks about it.

“This is the materials list from Thomas Reed.”

“Materials list?” Little Bear blinked and scratched its head.

“He compared every item of material at different shops,” Samuel Brooks said with emotion. “Thomas Reed and Henry Foster, before coming here, had already checked the market at various shops, and the prices they negotiated were beyond my expectations.”

“Did they take a kickback and report a higher price?” Little Bear said angrily. “If they dare take our money, I’ll beat them to death!”

“Nonsense! The prices they gave are so low, even I was surprised.”