Qingshan Mountain.
"Everyone, move it."
A large flying boat hovered beside the mountain peak, and countless cultivators filed out from it in a steady stream.
"So this is Qingshan Mountain!"
After everyone descended from the flying boat, they stared in astonishment at the sight before them. A massive cavern had been hollowed out of the mountain.
The cavern before them bore the banner of the Great Sword Sect. In the distance, several other caverns could vaguely be seen, each flying different banners.
"That's the Market!"
At a sudden cry of alarm, countless people turned their heads, their faces filling with shock.
Looking down from above, beneath the shimmering barrier protecting the mountainside, rows of exquisitely carved buildings stood in view. A bustling, prosperous Market lay before them.
"This is a barrier."
Seeing the shocked expressions on Qi Feng and Li Han's faces, Lin Chang'an calmly explained it to them.
Just then, laughter drifted over from afar. Everyone turned to look and saw Elder Lu, who usually carried himself with stern authority, smiling broadly as he cupped his hands toward someone.
"Haha, Elder Lu truly is a straightforward man."
The plump middle-aged cultivator accepted the Spirit Stones and immediately smiled as he returned the salute. Elder Lu likewise smiled and cupped his hands. "You are too polite."
"Hehe, then I shall take my leave."
Still smiling, the plump middle-aged cultivator flew directly onto the flying boat with the eight cultivators behind him. Amid Elder Lu's smiling salute, the flying boat slowly vanished.
Only then did everyone understand. Li Han also recalled Lin Chang'an's earlier reminder and lowered his voice. "Chang'an, how did you know that flying boat didn't belong to the Great Sword Sect?"
Lin Chang'an rolled his eyes at Li Han and transmitted his voice. "A flying boat capable of both attack and defense, while carrying a thousand people, is worth far more than an ordinary sect could afford."
As Lin Chang'an and Li Han spoke, the flying boat disappeared. Elder Lu turned around and looked at Zhang Qing, his expression solemn. "Go make the arrangements at once."
"Yes!"
Zhang Qing respectfully cupped his hands. Then he turned to everyone and shouted, "Move it! Take out your tokens and collect your mining tools."
"No one is allowed to wander around. Anyone who leaves the designated area will be killed without mercy. Up ahead are your living quarters. Starting today, you will rotate in two shifts, each person mining for six hours..."
Everyone lined up and collected their mining tools one after another. Because of their spiritual roots, Qi Feng and Li Han became squad leaders for the miners.
"Brother Lin, Chang'an."
As Li Han and Qi Feng stood in line, watching cultivators receive mining shovels one after another, they turned to Lin Chang'an. Their awkward gazes carried a trace of envy.
Lin Chang'an patted their shoulders and said with a bitter smile, "Work hard. Once you have Spirit Stones, come find me to buy pills."
"Lin Chang'an, Li San..."
Zhang Qing called out softly, beckoning to several of them. Clearly, his tone was not as casual as it had been with the others.
"You all have specialized skills. Come with me." Zhang Qing led the dozen or so of them toward the Market with a smile, leaving behind a crowd of envious eyes.
Yet when Lin Chang'an and the others, who had just been secretly glad to possess specialized skills, reached their destination, their eyes widened.
"Senior Brother Zhang Qing, this is...!"
Passing through the formation and entering the outer residential district of the Market, they saw courtyards clearly divided according to alchemy, talisman drawing, and other crafts. Each had its own duty, giving the place a highly professional air.
"This is where you will refine pills and draw talismans from now on."
Zhang Qing casually smiled as he led them around for a look. Yet the pill furnaces were glowing red, and the brushes for drawing talismans had worn bald. The sight made their eyes widen, especially when they looked at the cultivators currently drawing talismans and refining pills.
Every one of them looked listless, their qi and blood weak and unsteady, faint bluish shadows visible beneath their eyes. The sight gave them a bad feeling.
Cough, cough!
Zhang Qing lightly coughed, then smiled as he explained, "Because of the Purple Copper Mine lately, a great number of cultivators have poured into the Market and it is expanding. Naturally, demand is a bit greater. Once we endure this period and things stabilize, it will be fine."
"You will each perform your respective duties. The pill furnaces and spirit brushes are no worse than those you have used before. Even in a major sect, such treatment is hard to come by."
"You will take turns. Those refining pills will refine pills, and those drawing talismans will draw talismans. Elder Lu personally oversees this place, so there is no need to worry about safety..."
Listening to Zhang Qing's explanation, Lin Chang'an's eyes widened. He finally understood why the pill furnaces he had seen earlier were glowing red. So that was it—the pill furnaces operated without pause for all twelve hours, while cultivators took turns in shifts.
This! This was far too cruel!
"Senior Brother Zhang." Lin Chang'an turned to Zhang Qing, forced a smile, and cupped his hands. "When will this junior begin refining pills?"
While the others still looked rather grim, Lin Chang'an was the first to step forward. Zhang Qing nodded with a broad smile.
"Alchemist Lin, you are at the Qi Refining third layer, so you will be assigned six hours of pill refinement each day. During your rest periods, there is a dedicated Spirit Gathering Array for restoring your spiritual power, so there is no need to worry."
Lin Chang'an's eye twitched as he listened, but his gaze fell upon the densely packed pills outside the distant pill furnace rooms. Naturally, his gaze did not escape Zhang Qing's notice.
Seeing this, Zhang Qing chuckled. "Alchemist Lin, you only need concern yourself with refining pills. As for those pellets, dedicated apprentices are responsible for preparing them."
"Then... what pills will I need to refine? The pills I am best at refining are Bigu Pills." Lin Chang'an still seemed unwilling to give up.
But what kind of place was this? Zhang Qing nodded with a smile. "Alchemist Lin, rest assured. The sect prepared long ago. Look at Alchemist Li, who is currently refining pills. He is best at refining Bigu Pills, so there is no need for you to refine other pills."
"Alchemist Lin was previously best at refining Bigu Pills. The sect prepared long ago."
Though Zhang Qing wore a smile, Lin Chang'an saw the cold gleam in his eyes. They had no right to refuse.
"You are exploiting us! Enslaving us!"
One of them finally blurted out those aggrieved words. Yet when he faced Zhang Qing's indifferent gaze, fear rose within him. He forced himself to put on a bold front. "Drawing talismans requires a tranquil mind. Like this, we simply cannot achieve our best condition."
This quick-witted fellow's words won approving nods and goodwill from quite a few people. Yet Zhang Qing merely smiled at the crowd.
"As the Market expands, I hope you junior brothers can be understanding. At most half a year, at least three months. Once the Market stabilizes, there will naturally be no need for this. You need only complete the sect's assigned tasks. All remaining time may be used for cultivation, and the spiritual energy in the center of the Market is even richer..."
"Senior Brother Zhang Qing, when do we begin!"
Just as everyone felt stifled and wronged, Lin Chang'an stepped forward with a resolute expression and cupped his hands. At that moment, he seemed utterly noble.
The sight made Zhang Qing reveal a genuinely warm smile. "Haha, Alchemist Lin truly is an interesting man. No wonder he earned Elder Lu's appreciation."
"Alchemist Li will step down in half an hour. At that time, Alchemist Lin, you will take his place." As he spoke, Zhang Qing swept his gaze over everyone and narrowed his eyes, warning evident in his expression.
"During this period, as long as you complete your monthly tasks, your resources will be doubled. I hope you will not betray the sect's trust."
The warning in that final sentence was obvious. Only by completing their tasks would their resources be doubled; if they secretly loafed around and wasted time... Though everyone's expressions were ugly, they could only remain silent.
Fellow Daoists, it is Tuesday. I ask those of you who have been stockpiling chapters to please follow along, so that Koi can make a push for the recommendations.
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