"A low-grade magic artifact flying sword, one set of magic robes, three bottles of Golden Marrow Pills, and ten Spirit Stones to collect every month."
Zhang Qing led Lin Chang'an into the main hall, smiling broadly as he brought out the sect's rewards and benefits.
Lin Chang'an changed out of his previously understated gray clothes and into a brand-new set of fitted black magic robes.
Tall and well-proportioned, with a handsome yet steady bearing, Lin Chang'an looked refreshed and wore a confident smile. It truly proved the old saying: clothes make the man.
"Tut, tut. Junior Brother, if you went to a brothel dressed like this, those harlots probably wouldn't even charge you Spirit Stones."
Listening to Zhang Qing heap praise on him as though words cost nothing, Lin Chang'an knew his own worth. If he had been ordinary and held little value, how could he have received such treatment?
"Brother Zhang, you flatter me too much."
Zhang Qing laughed heartily and clapped his hands. "Junior Brother, you needn't put so much effort into refining pills like these in the future. Just let the people below handle simple Ascending Dragon Pills."
"No need to refine them?" Lin Chang'an deliberately put on a puzzled expression, while Zhang Qing laughed. "Elder Lu is sincerely treating you well this time. He intends for the sect to properly cultivate you."
"Leave these miscellaneous pills to those below. Wasting a few resources is nothing. From now on, Junior Brother, you only need to focus on improving your pill-refining skills."
Upon hearing this, Lin Chang'an revealed an enlightened expression. Elder Lu truly was unlike ordinary people. He knew how rare talent was and intended to focus on cultivating him.
"Alright. From now on, I will devote myself to cultivation and improving my pill-refining skills."
Lin Chang'an was all smiles. He no longer had any reason to refuse, and besides, wasn't this exactly what he wanted?
With talent like his, even if he went to a major sect, they would hardly lack people like him, and the resources devoted to cultivating him would surely be limited. But if he went to a small sect, they could barely feed themselves—where would they find surplus provisions for him? If they did not squeeze him until he bled dry, that would already count as industry conscience.
For a force like the Great Sword Sect, one with sufficient accumulated foundations yet urgently needing to establish itself, someone talented like him had arrived at precisely the right time.
The drawbacks existed as well. The neighboring forces certainly would not want to see them rise, and this place was not as safe and stable as a major sect.
But these were no longer matters he could consider. Lin Chang'an smiled and said, "Brother, I'm afraid I won't be able to help much with the sect's businesses in the future. After all, pill refinement is still my main pursuit."
"Junior Brother, you're being too polite. These sect businesses have only been busy lately. Once we get through this period, you'll see that they are usually quite easy. They only become busy during the annual Market gatherings on certain days."
Zhang Qing waved his hand casually, as though to say there was no need for such politeness between fellow disciples. Yet inwardly, he was secretly astonished. It seemed this Junior Brother Lin truly had earned Elder Lu's attention. Otherwise, how could he be willing to spend so lavishly?
But this was also good for the sect. Over these years, Elder Lu had racked his brains to the point that even his cultivation had been delayed. Hadn't it all been for the sect?
"Oh, right, Junior Brother. You no longer need to live on the outskirts of the Market. The spiritual energy inside the Market is rich, and Elder Lu has specially prepared a residence for you."
Zhang Qing led him out of the main hall and straight into the Market, bringing him before the gates of a small courtyard.
This was inside the Market. Setting aside the density of spiritual energy, countless cultivators wanted to rent houses here for cultivation.
"Junior Brother, don't let this courtyard's size fool you. This is inside the Market. The Spirit Gathering Array set up here makes the spiritual energy even richer than where you lived in the sect. If it were rented to outsiders, they wouldn't even dream of it without ten Spirit Stones a month."
Good heavens! Lin Chang'an's eyes widened, and he could not help clicking his tongue. Sure enough, no matter what world one was in, those at the top had mastered the ways of exploitation.
He had not expected that after coming to this world, he would still have to face sky-high housing prices. Fortunately, he did not need to worry about that in this life.
"Then many thanks for Brother's and Elder Lu's kindness."
Lin Chang'an thanked him gratefully. This time, he was genuinely sincere. They had given him a magic artifact and a house—he absolutely loved this place.
"Today, Junior Brother, rest well first. Tomorrow, I'll take you to select a few decent servants."
Zhang Qing looked as though he would take everything upon himself, and Lin Chang'an could not help feeling emotional. The ancestors truly had been right: in years of famine, craftsmen never starved to death—especially craftsmen as skilled as him.
"Li Han, have you heard? Brother Chang'an has been accepted as Elder Lu's disciple."
Inside the brightly lit mine tunnel, the air was thick with the stench of sweat. Li Han had spent a full six hours mining and was preparing to rest with his men when Qi Feng spoke to him excitedly.
"Where did you hear that?" Li Han looked puzzled, while Qi Feng, who had come to take over the shift, wore a face full of envy. "While you were mining."
Qi Feng's tone was clearly filled with sourness when he said this, and Li Han was startled as well. Could it be true?
"We're mining in this dark, sunless place, while Brother Chang'an is already outside enjoying himself."
Qi Feng sounded sour and full of envy. Yet there was no jealousy in his eyes, only admiration. He also knew that the gap between them had now become far too great.
Elder Lu's disciple—this status alone was enough to dispel their unrealistic thoughts.
Once the difference between people became too vast, even jealousy could no longer arise.
"Li Han, do you think Brother Lin still remembers us?"
Qi Feng's words carried a trace of sourness. After hearing the news, Li Han was initially shocked, then envious. As for jealousy—
They had both been tricked in as livestock, yet Lin Chang'an had climbed step by step, not only joining them but becoming their accomplice. Li Han had wanted that too, but then Lin Chang'an had suddenly become a high-ranking steward. What was that supposed to be called?
Li Han nodded somewhat sourly. "Brother Lin probably hasn't forgotten us."
Yet even as he said it, his voice lacked conviction. If it were him, would he choose to lend a hand to the two of them from the past?
This was the Great Sword Sect, where everything placed profit above all else. Were the two of them worth it?
After exchanging glances, they both revealed bitter, envious smiles. Truly, different people were born to different fates.
Just then, footsteps and a burst of commotion came from deep within the mine tunnel.
"Which ones are Qi Feng and Li Han?"
A sect disciple responsible for managing the mine tunnel strode in arrogantly. Li Han and Qi Feng, both somewhat bedraggled, exchanged glances and saw the shock in each other's eyes, followed by excitement.
"I'm Li Han!"
"I'm Qi Feng!"
The two shouted in unison. Amid the puzzled gazes of the other cultivators nearby, the steward looked at them both and nodded in satisfaction.
"You two are fortunate. Brother Lin even specifically went to see Brother Zhang Qing for your sakes."
Now that Lin Chang'an had become Elder Lu's disciple, this steward was happy to curry favor. He explained the situation to the two of them while lavishly praising Lin Chang'an.
After hearing this, Li Han and Qi Feng were so excited that a surge of shame rose in their hearts. Their thoughts just now had been somewhat vile. Brother Lin had not forgotten them at all—hadn't he thought of them as soon as he rose to prominence?
Thanks to Fellow Daoist 'Red-Cooked Other Shore Flower' for the support of 100 coins, and to Fellow Daoist "Twenty-Four Bridges on a Moonlit Night" for the support of 100 coins.
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