Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chapter 248 The Troubles of the Number One Idol in the Cultivation World

"Just these snippets of footage, paired with some music and captions, have gone viral in likes and shares." Feng Xiaolu took out her phone and swiped the screen. "Now, a lot of people online are asking if Yunyin Mountain is really a sacred place for cultivation, and whether they can encounter cultivators at the resort."

Chen Anran took the phone and glanced at it. Sure enough, on the trending lists of several video platforms, there were entries such as "Hunan Province Lincheng Yunyin Immortal Traces", "Real-life Cultivation Sect", and "Searching for the Handsome Junior Brother of Yunyin Mountain".

The comments section was bustling with activity, with some marveling at the picturesque scenery, others wondering if the spiritual practice was real, and of course, many young people clamoring to book tickets and come visit immediately.

"The publicity effect... has indeed exceeded expectations." Chen Anran handed the phone back to Feng Xiaolu, somewhat amused and exasperated.

He originally thought it was Zhao Qiming and Zhao Mengmeng's doing, but he never expected it was Wang Rui and his group who were behind it.

"It's more than exceeding expectations," Feng Lie interjected, his face also showing amazement. "When I came down the mountain yesterday, I found that there were queues at the entrance of Baicao Pavilion. Many young people came in not to buy medicine, but to peek and ask if they sold 'Foundation Building Pills' or if they could 'test one's spiritual roots'."

Everyone smiled upon hearing this.

Amidst laughter and conversation, they arrived at the main room. The room was simply furnished. After everyone took their seats, Feng Xiaolu first turned on the television, then looked at Wei Qingyi and said with a smile, "Actually, the above promotional filming wasn't the main factor that caused the resort to become so popular. The main reason is that Wang Rui and the others said in a short video that the third female lead in 'Yunshan Xuntian Lu', 'Qingyan,' was cultivating on Yunyin Mountain."

The main room fell silent for a moment, with only the exaggerated laughter from a variety show coming from the television.

Wei Qingyi sat on a bamboo chair by the window, sunlight filtering through the windowpane and casting dappled patterns on her profile. Her brows were slightly furrowed, a rare crack appearing in her usually cool expression.

"They... said I was practicing cultivation here?" she repeated, her voice devoid of emotion.

"Yeah, right!" Feng Xiaolu sat cross-legged on the armchair opposite, gesturing wildly. "It was that short video posted by the official account of Xingrui Pictures, which edited together several scenes from your movie, paired with real scenery from Yunyin Mountain, and the caption said 'The cultivation place of the Qingyan Sword Immortal.' The comments section is going crazy, with so many people saying they want to come and check it out. And also, Wang Rui said he's going to start a second movie, and it'll be filmed right here, and he even said he'll make Second Senior Sister the female lead!"

Wei Qingyi's expression turned completely cold. It wasn't that she disliked making movies, otherwise she wouldn't have gone to the casting call in the first place. It was just that she believed work was work, and bringing the work setting to her sect would likely bring a lot of unnecessary trouble to the sect.

Her eyelids were slightly lowered, and her long eyelashes cast a small shadow on her eyelids. "Nonsense."

Feng Xiaolu, however, remained oblivious, still beaming with enthusiasm: "Oh, Second Senior Sister, what's wrong with this? Wang Rui and the others said the pay is negotiable, the filming period won't be long, and it'll be filmed right here on our own mountain—how convenient! Just imagine, if the movie becomes a hit, our Yunyin Sect's reputation will be even greater, and then the incense money, offerings, and disciples coming from all over to see us..."

"Little Deer," Su Wan interrupted her softly.

Feng Xiaolu's voice stopped abruptly.

She shrank her neck, stuck out her tongue, and sat up obediently.

Su Wan turned to Wei Qingyi and said gently, "Qingyi, I understand your concerns. The sect values ​​tranquility and cultivation above all else; hastily introducing worldly disturbances is certainly not a long-term solution." She paused, her gaze sweeping over Chen Anran, "Anran, what do you think?"

Chen Anran had been listening quietly. After a moment of contemplation, she spoke up, "Senior Sister, what Third Sister said isn't entirely without merit. The development of the sect does indeed require a certain amount of 'fame' and 'profit' to support it. Incense offerings, donations, the source of disciples, and even the purchase of cultivation resources and the maintenance of the mountain-protecting array—none of these can be separated from worldly wealth. Our previous financial difficulties were out of necessity; now, with this resort as an opportunity, if we can guide it properly, it might not be a bad new path."

Zhao Mengmeng nodded repeatedly, agreeing with her master's statement.

After finishing his speech, Chen Anran turned to Huiming and Fatty Li: "Master Huiming, Fatty Li, you've been following along and have the deepest understanding of the changes down the mountain. What are your thoughts?"

Fatty Li was warming his hands with the hot tea Su Wan had just handed him when he heard this. He quickly put down the teacup, a thoughtful look on his honest face. "Master, I think... it's good that it's more lively down the mountain. It used to be too deserted up here, there were hardly any pilgrims." He scratched his head, trying to organize his thoughts. "It just feels like the whole place has come alive. Although it's a bit noisy, it's full of life."

Huiming clasped his hands together and said in a calm voice, "Amitabha. The hustle and bustle of the mortal world is also a place for spiritual practice. Where people gather, good thoughts arise. If we can guide them with the right path and bring peace to their hearts, and they occasionally gain enlightenment, that is merit. However, we must be careful to guard against people's restlessness and loss of their true nature."

Feng Lie stood by the door with his arms crossed, and spoke up in a low voice, "I agree with Master Huiming. The area down the mountain is a mixed bag now, with all sorts of people. Yesterday I ran into two young men peeking around at the entrance of Baicao Pavilion, muttering things about 'hidden quests' and 'NPCs,' and even trying to exchange secret signals with me." His lips twitched. "Although it brings business, there has to be a system. We can't just bring all sorts of people up the mountain."

Zhao Mengmeng immediately chimed in, "Senior Feng, you can rest assured about that. Tourists can only go up to the side hall halfway up the mountain. The main road to the mountain has a gate and signs at the side hall, guarded by the resort's security guards and volunteers. Ordinary tourists can visit the side hall, offer incense and make wishes, and also enjoy the mountain scenery from the platform outside the hall. However, the core area of ​​the sect further up is not open to the public. Wang Rui and the others have also made arrangements. If a second season is indeed filmed, the main filming locations will be near the side hall and the resort at the foot of the mountain, so as not to disturb the tranquility of the mountaintop."

Zhao Mengmeng paused, looked at Wei Qingyi, and said in a consoling tone, "Second Senior Uncle, this is actually a good thing. It can both promote the sect and accumulate some resources, and keep the excitement below the mountainside. If you really don't like it, you can spend more time cultivating on the mountain during filming and go down the mountain less often."

Wei Qingyi remained silent, sunlight dancing on her lowered eyelashes. For a moment, no one spoke in the main room, only the faint sound of "GG" coming from the television.

After a while, she raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping over everyone before finally landing on Chen Anran's face.

Chen Anran was naturally willing to do so. In that case, his plan to keep his second senior sister on the mountain would be more than half successful. He just needed to persuade her to take online classes at the sect, and then he would accompany her to the university for her exams. That would ensure his second senior sister was kept on her side.