A magnificent tavern.
"There's Spirit Rice and spirit wine here."
The Great Sword Sect cultivator leading the way looked at their frightened expressions, his face brimming with pride.
The first thing they saw was a dense crowd of figures in coarse hemp clothing squatting outside the tavern. Dozens of people surrounded a stone trough, scrambling to gulp down swill...
"Senior Brother, these people are...?"
People treated like livestock. Seeing this, Lin Chang'an drew a deep breath and forced a smile as he questioned the cultivator at the front.
The cultivator leading them smiled at Lin Chang'an as well, evidently pleased by his identity as an alchemist. "They're all martial artists from the mortal world. Every last one of them has dreamed themselves mad over becoming immortals. Within the sect, they're responsible for tending Spirit Fields and mining."
"There are quite a few leftover grains of Spirit Rice in that swill." It was a cruel reality: swill used to feed livestock was, to these mortal martial artists, a sliver of an opportunity to step onto the immortal path.
Lin Chang'an forced a smile after hearing this. He could see the other man's intention to befriend him, so he cupped his hands politely. "I am Lin Chang'an."
"I am Zhang Qing of the Great Sword Sect. Junior Brother Lin, you're different from them."
The middle-aged cultivator Zhang Qing wore a broad smile. "Not only are you at the Qi Refining third layer, Junior Brother Lin, you're also skilled in alchemy. No matter where you go, you'll be a distinguished figure."
Beneath that false smile, it seemed this sect was desperately short of alchemists.
"Why are there even pregnant women here?"
Upon entering the inn, all the male cultivators were low-level cultivators, while most of the women were mortals. Most tables seated one man with several women, with very few tables having one woman and multiple men. Yet most of the women had swollen bellies, leaving Lin Chang'an astonished.
Zhang Qing explained with a smile, "They all joined willingly for cultivation resources. Female cultivators can leave after bearing the sect three children with spiritual roots, while male cultivators need to produce ten."
"There are quite a few young, beautiful, well-bred girls in the sect. Since you're newcomers, you may choose one or several. But finding female cultivators is much harder."
Good heavens. It was not just Lin Chang'an—every youth behind him stared wide-eyed. This truly broadened their horizons. This sect even assigned wives.
But everyone knew perfectly well that children born with spiritual roots would not only become fresh blood for the sect; some would likely be sold as well.
Zhang Qing did not hide it, casually saying with a laugh, "Miaowa Kingdom may do every kind of business, but our Great Sword Sect has a Foundation Establishment Ancestor. Naturally, we disdain such lowly, vile dealings, so rest assured, everyone."
"The sect's spiritual energy is enough to support the Foundation Establishment Ancestor's cultivation. However, low-level cultivators with poorer aptitude have heavier sect duties and comparatively less time to cultivate. Still, as long as you can break through to mid Qi Refining, things will become much easier..."
After Zhang Qing's explanation, Lin Chang'an could not help muttering to himself that Miaowa Kingdom had actually formed its own industrial chain over the past several centuries. It was truly absurd.
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
Just then, as they reached the second floor, a rich fragrance rushed toward them. To the left came a chorus of flirtatious laughter and song. Seeing that group of mature, charming women dressed like blooming flowers, the youths all blushed furiously.
Zhang Qing nodded with a smile. "Female cultivators have more options. They can bear children, or they can go to the Flower Pavilion to earn Spirit Stones. Once they save enough Spirit Stones, they can redeem their freedom."
At this point, Zhang Qing looked at them and could not help shaking his head. "The person who sold you was a deacon elder from the Heavenly Sword Sect. I heard he did such a risky thing because he was preparing something to help his son make a breakthrough. And with your talents, the sect paid a hefty price this time."
The youths looked at one another. Quite a few of them revealed aggrieved and furious expressions.
Seeing this, Lin Chang'an thought to himself, The people who sold us are no good, and this Great Sword Sect is a dragon's pool and tiger's den as well.
When they reached the third floor, the atmosphere grew somewhat solemn. Elder Lu sat calmly there, with all manner of fine wine and delicacies emitting spiritual energy arranged before him.
"Sit."
With that single indifferent word, the youths all shrank their necks in fear. At that moment, no one dared meet the elder's gaze, and the air was terrifyingly silent.
Elder Lu gently set down his wine cup and slowly raised his head. The coldness on his face gradually transformed into a kindly smile, but that change only made them feel as though they faced a vicious beast wearing human skin.
A shudder ran through him. Lin Chang'an's back was already drenched in cold sweat. Just now, it had felt as if he were about to be swallowed whole. When he came to himself and looked at the other man again, he forced a smile onto his face. What terrifying pressure.
Elder Lu looked at them with a beaming smile and waved toward the tables below. "You're all newcomers. Get acquainted properly."
"Sit. Once you sit down, you're one of us." Beneath Elder Lu's casual smile, Zhang Qing respectfully cupped his hands and sat directly at one of the tables.
"Thank you, Elder Lu."
While everyone was still immersed in the fear from moments ago, Lin Chang'an took a deep breath, forced a stiff smile, and cupped his hands. At the same time, he signaled to the people beside him.
In this godforsaken place, huddling together for warmth was human instinct.
Lin Chang'an, Li Han, Murong Yue, and Qi Feng sat around a square table.
Just as everyone anxiously prepared to sit, Zhang Qing, the Great Sword Sect cultivator who had brought them here, suddenly said coldly, "Not just anyone can sit at these tables."
Those words made all the youths' expressions change. Elder Lu, however, waved his hand and laughed casually. "Don't frighten the newcomers. But those without value really cannot sit here. After all, those are the sect's rules."
The crowd looked at each other. It was obvious that those who sat down to eat were considered one of their own. Some youths who wanted to leave this place gritted their teeth and stood rigidly where they were, still clinging to the hope that their families would pay a ransom.
"If you're unwilling, then squat. Either way, eating is all the same."
Though it was clearly a casual, kindly smile, it made everyone's scalps tingle.
No one even had the courage to look directly at the elder. The entire third floor was deathly silent.
"Eat. It won't be good once it gets cold. Tomorrow, we'll formally welcome you all with a feast."
After Elder Lu picked up his chopsticks, he smiled and waved to the crowd. Everyone in the hall secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and only then did the sound of chopsticks begin.
The authority of one man had left everyone afraid even to breathe too loudly. It was clear just how imposing Elder Lu was.
"Lin Chang'an."
Elder Lu suddenly approached. Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to look at him. Lin Chang'an could only brace himself, raise his head, and force a smile onto his face as he cursed inwardly. What rotten luck across eight lifetimes. There's actually a place like this in the Cultivation World.
Holding a wine cup, Elder Lu said with a smile, "We are quite fated. My son has the same name as you."
At those words, Lin Chang'an immediately perked up. His face flushed with excitement as he rose and cupped his hands. "Elder Lu! Chang'an has drifted through half his life, only regretting that he had not encountered..."
Before he could finish, Elder Lu smiled and waved a hand, cutting him off. "You have mid-grade A-rank spiritual root aptitude and are an alchemist as well. It will not be easy for you to redeem yourself."
Lin Chang'an's face reddened at those words. Cupping his hands, he asked in a deep voice, "Chang'an dares to ask: how many cultivation resources did my uncle and cousin exchange me for?"
Elder Lu narrowed his eyes and smiled. "After your spiritual root and identity as an alchemist were confirmed, your uncle and cousin can leave tomorrow."
Lin Chang'an's expression changed upon hearing that. Good heavens—he had been traded for the father and son's freedom.
"Elder Lu, Chang'an is utterly loyal to the sect..."
Beneath the barrier of the Soundproofing Spell, no one knew what Lin Chang'an and Elder Lu said to each other, but both of them soon smiled.
Thank you, fellow Daoists, for your support.
Before you continue