Shi Yu

Shi Yu

Before long, Shi Yue arrived at Deacon Hall.

He had not even entered the hall when he heard a racket like the clamor of a bustling marketplace.

The hall was packed with people, around three or four hundred of them, all Qi Refining Stage disciples.

The start of every month, when routine assignments were handed out, was Deacon Hall's busiest time—and the best time for the deacon disciples to make a killing. If you had enough Spirit Stones to bribe them, they would naturally assign you the most lucrative tasks. If you had no Spirit Stones to bribe them with, the dirtiest, hardest work was yours.

Truthfully, Shi Yue had considered bribing Steward Wang, but Steward Wang had demanded an exorbitant sum—dozens of Spirit Stones at the drop of a hat—so Shi Yue had naturally refused.

For easier management, each deacon disciple oversaw a certain number of low-level disciples and was responsible for assigning them routine tasks. Unfortunately, Shi Yue happened to be under Steward Wang's supervision. Unless he reached Qi Refining Level 10, he had to collect his monthly assignment from Steward Wang.

Although Shi Yue had advanced to the third level of Qi Refining, his cultivation was still at the bottom among the disciples in Deacon Hall.

He stood meekly off to the side. Only after the senior disciples ahead of him had left Steward Wang's desk did he hurry forward, force a smile, and say, "Steward Wang, I'm here to collect my routine assignment."

"Pick five ten-year-old Blood Ginseng plants. Ten Spirit Stones," Steward Wang said coldly, glancing at Shi Yue.

"Steward Wang, I've been picking Spirit Herbs for over a year now. Could I switch to a different task?" Shi Yue asked with a bitter smile.

Over the years, all the Spirit Herbs on the outskirts of the Great Void Mountain Range had been picked clean. Forget ten-year-old herbs—even five-year-old ones were rarely seen.

Many high-year Spirit Herbs grew deep in the mountains, but after what had happened last time, Shi Yue no longer dared to gather herbs there. No matter how many Spirit Stones there were, you had to be alive to spend them.

"Of course you can. It all depends on whether you know how to play your cards," Steward Wang said with a beaming smile, a crafty glint flashing in his eyes.

"How much?" Shi Yue asked after a moment's hesitation, gritting his teeth.

"One hundred Spirit Stones. You'll clean and organize the texts in the Scripture Repository, and get ten Spirit Stones a month. It's a long-term assignment. As long as you don't make any mistakes, you can stay there for the rest of your life. How does that sound?" Steward Wang said with a beaming smile.

"One hundred Spirit Stones? Forget it." Shi Yue's mouth twitched, and he shook his head.

Forget that he didn't have one hundred Spirit Stones. Even if he did, he couldn't bear to spend them on a job. What if he paid up, only for the uncle-master at the Scripture Repository to find an excuse to kick him out? He wouldn't even have anywhere to cry about it.

"Hmph. If you're unwilling, what are you still doing here? Hurry up and go find the Blood Ginseng." Steward Wang's smile stiffened, and he spoke coldly.

Shi Yue could only swallow his anger. He turned and headed for the exit.

Just then, the Silver Jade Plate in Steward Wang's hand began to buzz. A brilliant white light flared from it, then faded, revealing a line of tiny writing on its surface.

"Another new assignment." Steward Wang's face lit up with delight. But when he read the words, his expression changed. He hurriedly shouted after Shi Yue, "Shi Yue, come back! The previous assignment is canceled. I'll arrange a new one for you."

Shi Yue frowned at the call. After hesitating briefly, he turned and returned to Steward Wang.

"Go on, what Spirit Herb am I supposed to pick?" Shi Yue asked flatly. In his view, Steward Wang was bound to give him a harder task with an even smaller reward.

"This time it's not herb gathering but cultivation work. Hmm, tend to three mu of fifty-year-old Water Moon Flowers, watering them once every two days. Two Spirit Stones a month, for half a year," Steward Wang said with a serious expression.

"What? Only two Spirit Stones a month?" Shi Yue cried out in astonishment, his face full of disbelief.

Watering three mu of Spirit Herbs every two days, for just two Spirit Stones a month—whoever had issued this assignment was a miser. Shi Yue wondered if he had misheard.

"Why are you shouting so loudly? It's two Spirit Stones a month. Hmm, this assignment was issued by Uncle-Master Zhou Hong." Steward Wang glared at Shi Yue and spoke in a low voice.

"Ah! Uncle-Master Zhou Hong?" Shi Yue's mouth twitched.

Taixu Sect had six inner peaks and eighteen outer peaks. The Foundation Establishment Realm disciples lived on the inner peaks, while the Qi Refining Stage disciples lived on the outer peaks. The sect's senior cultivators had their own residences, located where the spiritual energy was most abundant.

Among the Foundation Establishment Realm disciples on the six inner peaks, two were especially famous. One was Uncle-Master Yange, who taught the Qi Refining Stage disciples. The other was Uncle-Master Zhou Hong.

Uncle-Master Zhou Hong was a well-known cultivation fanatic who grew many kinds of Spirit Herbs. It was said that his Spirit Fields covered more than ten mu. But he was not famous for his skill at growing Spirit Herbs. He was famous for being stingy.

The assignments issued by Uncle-Master Zhou Hong paid pitifully little, and anyone who did a poor job would get an earful from him. As a result, many Qi Refining Stage disciples were unwilling to take his assignments.

Because Uncle-Master Zhou Hong never offered more than three Spirit Stones, many Qi Refining Stage disciples privately called him "Zhou Three Coins."

"What are you 'ah'-ing about? Go report to Uncle-Master Zhou Hong at Green Cloud Peak right now. His is the largest courtyard." Steward Wang rolled his eyes at Shi Yue and ordered him in an unquestionable tone. Then he took out a palm-sized Green Jade Token and tossed it to Shi Yue.

Truthfully, Shi Yue did not want to take this assignment. But he couldn't come up with one hundred Spirit Stones to bribe Steward Wang, so whether he wanted it or not, he had to accept it.

After leaving Deacon Hall, Shi Yue flew toward Green Cloud Peak on his magic tool.

Before long, he arrived near a towering mountain.

Green Cloud Peak stood three or four hundred zhang tall. From halfway up the mountainside, layers of White Mist could be seen spiraling upward. As far as the eye could see, the mountain was lush and verdant.

Pavilions and caves of various sizes and designs dotted the mountain. One cave dwelling stood out in particular, covering more than ten mu. A layer of white light shrouded the entire dwelling, obscuring what lay within.

Shi Yue landed outside the cave dwelling and took out the Green Jade Token Steward Wang had given him. He infused it with his magic power, and a beam of green light shot out from the token and disappeared into the white glow.

"Come in," a hoarse voice called from within after a short while.

As soon as the voice fell, the white glow dissolved, and the courtyard gate swung open.

Seeing this, Shi Yue hurried inside without delay.

The moment he stepped into the courtyard, Shi Yue drew in a sharp breath.

The entire courtyard was filled with all kinds of Spirit Herbs. Colorful herbs stretched as far as the eye could see, and a rich medicinal fragrance hung in the air. Shi Yue felt invigorated the moment he smelled it.

There wasn't a single building in the entire courtyard. Several bluestone paths crossed like the lines of a well, dividing the Ten-Acre Spirit Field into nine sections. Each section was lush and verdant, filled with many Spirit Herbs Shi Yue had never seen before.

A gaunt, middle-aged man stood in front of Shi Yue, watering a patch of white flowers about a foot tall.

"Disciple Shi Yue pays his respects to Uncle-Master Zhou." Seeing the middle-aged man, Shi Yue hurried forward and bowed.

"You're the disciple Deacon Hall sent over? Your cultivation is far too low!" The middle-aged man gave Shi Yue a careful look, frowned, and spoke with some displeasure.

Hearing this, Shi Yue could only smile bitterly to himself. The pay was only two Spirit Stones a month. What disciple with a higher cultivation would want to come? Of course, he only dared think it, not say it aloud.

"Forget it. I have to go out, and all you're doing is watering the flowers anyway." The middle-aged man seemed to remember something. He shook his head and muttered to himself.

"You're Junior Nephew Shi, right? You know what you're supposed to do, don't you? It's simple. Water these Water Moon Flowers once every two days, and spend at least a quarter of an hour watering them. You don't need to bother with the other Spirit Herbs." The middle-aged man pointed to a large patch of white flowers and spoke slowly.

"This disciple understands. I'll come and water them once every two days without fail," Shi Yue said with a nod.

"Come every two days? No. What if something holds you up when you come, or you forget? You'll stay here. The spiritual energy here is far richer than where you live." The middle-aged man shook his head and gave the order in an unquestionable tone.

"Stay here? But where's the room? Do you expect me to sit on the ground to rest?" Shi Yue asked, taken aback and somewhat troubled.

"Look to your left," the middle-aged man said indifferently.

Shi Yue turned to look left and saw an opening about a zhang wide. A flight of bluestone steps led underground, where a bright light shone below.

"This..." Shi Yue's mouth twitched.

Uncle-Master Zhou Hong really was a cultivation fanatic. To save space, he had actually built his cave dwelling underground.

"Follow me." Zhou Hong left him with those words, then walked down the bluestone steps.

Shi Yue didn't hesitate and hurried after him.

The stone room was fifty or sixty zhang across. Many Moonlight Stones were embedded in the walls, brightly illuminating the entire room.

The room's layout was simple. Several emerald-green meditation cushions lay on the floor, and a person-high Wood Shelf stood on the left, holding some Jade Slips and books.

What left Shi Yue speechless was that several dozen black grasses, each about a foot tall, grew on the right side of the stone room. A transparent light barrier covered them.

"This is where you'll rest. Stay here, and water the Water Moon Flowers once every two days. Remember, spend at least a quarter of an hour watering them. Don't touch the other Spirit Herbs. If I find even one of the other herbs withered or missing, I won't go easy on you. Understood?" Zhou Hong said coldly.

"What if it withers on its own?" Shi Yue muttered under his breath.

His voice was quiet, but Zhou Hong still heard him clearly.

"You don't need to worry about that. I've placed restrictions on all the other Spirit Herbs except the Water Moon Flowers. If the restrictions are intact when I return and any of the herbs have withered, I won't blame you. Otherwise, you'll be severely punished." Zhou Hong nodded and explained.

"Yes, this disciple understands." Shi Yue nodded, then remembered something and pointed to the Wood Shelf. "Uncle-Master Zhou, may I look at those books?"

"Suit yourself. Be careful when you read them. Don't tear any of the paper books. All right, if there's nothing else, I'm leaving. I just watered the Water Moon Flowers, so you can water them again in two days. Remember, you must water them for at least a quarter of an hour." After repeating his instructions several times, Zhou Hong turned and left.

After seeing Uncle-Master Zhou off, Shi Yue closed the courtyard gate and wandered along the bluestone paths.