The Association

Wu Tao followed Wu Zhongxing to Delightful Immortal Restaurant.

Delightful Immortal Restaurant was a tavern, and it was said that the owner of this establishment was a descendant of a Wuquan Mountain disciple. Although their ancestors were no longer around, they still had some connections in Wuquan Mountain to varying degrees.

Therefore, within the marketplace, even the immortal cultivators of the patrol squad did not dare to eat and drink here without paying.

Inside the private room, Wu Zhongxing gestured for him to sit and smiled, saying, "Fellow Daoist Li, please sit!"

"Thank you!" Wu Tao complied and sat down.

Wu Zhongxing called over the tavern waiter. A waiter like this had only just entered Qi Refining and might not even be able to reach perfection at the first-layer of Qi Refining later on, which was why he was willing to be a waiter in this tavern to earn a living.

With a white towel draped over his right shoulder, the waiter respectfully stepped forward and asked, "Artifact Master Wu, what would you like to order?"

Wu Zhongxing was clearly a frequent visitor to Delightful Immortal Restaurant. Without looking at the hanging wooden tablet menu, he familiarly said, "A pot of first-rank primary Spring Rain Emerald Tea, along with a portion of popped spirit rice, a portion of air-dried cattle demon beast meat, and a portion of tea-accompaniment spirit fruit."

"Alright, Artifact Master Wu, please wait a moment." The waiter nimbly went to prepare the order.

Only then did Wu Tao look at Wu Zhongxing and say, "Fellow Daoist Wu, if you have a lucrative matter, just spell it out."

Wu Zhongxing, however, kept him in suspense. "Fellow Daoist Li, do not be impatient. There is still someone else coming."

Seeing this, Wu Tao frowned slightly, but he stopped asking and waited quietly. When the waiter brought up the tea, melon fruits, and dried meat, Wu Zhongxing poured him a cup of tea. He immediately drank the tea, eating the popped spirit rice and beef jerky.

This popped spirit rice was essentially popcorn, except that it popped spirit rice. It tasted crispy with every bite, but after popping, a great deal of spiritual power dissipated, making it not nearly as full as direct steaming and boiling.

Wu Tao felt this method was terribly wasteful, but having said that, it was still quite delicious, tasting crispy and fragrant as he ate.

The beef jerky made from the cattle demon beast had an even better flavor with plenty of chewiness and a rich meaty aroma. Without any condiments or spices, it was already dozens of times more delicious than the ordinary beef jerky of his past life.

After drinking two cups of tea, two people entered the private room.

One was an old man with white hair, but the skin on his face was not slack at all; instead, it was full of elasticity. This was the benefit of immortal cultivation, and his expression was serious. There was also a middle-aged man who was short in stature and unremarkable in appearance. Both of these men had a faint scent of starfire stone about them.

Wu Zhongxing hurriedly introduced the identities of these two people to Wu Tao. "Fellow Daoist Li, let me introduce them to you. This is President Xie Tao of the Mutual Aid Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiner Association, and President Xie is a First-Rank Level 6 artifact refiner. This is Vice President Fang Ming, a First-Rank Level 5 artifact refiner. President Xie, Vice President Fang, this is fellow Daoist Li Mo. So young, yet he is already a First-Rank Level 4 artifact refiner."

Wu Tao looked at Xie Tao and Fang Ming, offering a greeting, "Artifact Master Xie, Artifact Master Fang."

Xie Tao glanced at Wu Tao, revealing an approving expression, and nodded. "Not bad, very young. At such an age, Fellow Daoist Li can already refine first-rank fourth-level magic robes. Truly, a youth to be reckoned with."

Wu Tao modestly said, "Artifact Master Xie flatters me. As peers all know, magic-robe-type magic tools are much simpler compared to other magic tools, so this amounts to nothing. The disciples of the Wuquan Mountain Artifact Refining Hall have plenty of people my age whose artifact refining abilities are stronger than mine."

With that, Wu Tao looked at Wu Zhongxing and said, "Is Fellow Daoist Wu also an artifact refiner of the Mutual Aid Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiner Association?"

Hearing this, Wu Zhongxing nodded. "That's right. Actually, coming here today is to invite Fellow Daoist Li to join our Artifact Refiner Association. Both President Xie and Vice President Fang have looked at the Small Spirit Shield Robe and Spirit-Absorbing Robe refined by Fellow Daoist Li, and they feel that Fellow Daoist Li is fully qualified to join."

Xie Tao and Fang Ming nodded in unison.

So it was this kind of good thing... For other rogue cultivators, perhaps joining such an association for mutual benefit and assistance was indeed a good thing, but for Wu Tao, he did not want to join any organization established by rogue cultivators.

First, once he joined an organization, there would inevitably be a mountain of miscellaneous matters, preventing him from concentrating on his own affairs.

Second, rogue cultivators lacked background. They had no artifact refinement techniques for the asking, no high-level artifact refinement inheritances, no protection, and lacked everything. What was the point of joining?

If he were to join, he wanted to join an immortal Dao great sect like Wuquan Mountain, where they had everything.

Seeing Wu Tao deep in thought and looking as though he could not make up his mind, Wu Zhongxing hastily said, "Fellow Daoist Li, I imagine that as a loose cultivator artifact refiner, you must understand the hardships of rogue cultivators. We established the rogue cultivator Artifact Refiner Association precisely for mutual benefit and assistance. Moreover, for a young and promising artifact refiner like Fellow Daoist Li, I believe President Xie and Vice President Fang will certainly not hesitate to offer guidance, allowing Fellow Daoist Li's artifact refining skills to rise to an even higher level."

"Furthermore, the association has many secret manuals for refining first-rank intermediate magic tools, and it won't be impossible for Fellow Daoist Li to peruse them in the future."

Xie Tao and Fang Ming nodded, indicating that as long as Wu Tao was willing to join, they would definitely cultivate him with all their strength. Xie Tao even stated that as long as he joined, after a few decades, it wasn't entirely impossible to hand this position of president over to him.

When Xie Tao made this kind of promise, Fang Ming opened his mouth, wanting to speak but holding back, yet in the end, he said nothing.

Mutual benefit and reciprocity, guidance from high-level artifact refiners, secret manuals for refining first-rank intermediate magic tools, the position of president—to any loose cultivator artifact refiner, these would surely be heart-pounding, but Wu Tao was different. He only heard the benefits. Life experience from his past and present lives told him that pies did not fall from the sky; how could there possibly be benefits without obligations?

Thinking of this, Wu Tao asked, "Fellow Daoist Wu, if I join, what obligations do I have?"

Wu Zhongxing quickly understood what this new word "obligations" meant and said, "Fellow Daoist Li, once you join the association, everyone is family. As family, one naturally must treat the association like a home..."

In the end, Wu Tao understood. As expected, there could not possibly be only benefits and no obligations. The association opened an artifact shop to refine magic tools for rogue cultivators, and members had to go garrison the shop for ten days every month.

This single point utterly cut off any thoughts Wu Tao had of joining.

Let alone the other conditions; wanting to obtain the secret manuals for refining first-rank intermediate magic tools was not simple—one had to run errands and perform tasks for the association to acquire them.

In short, joining the association meant working as a laborer for the association.

Wu Tao cupped his fists toward the three men and said, "I appreciate the three of you thinking highly of me, but at present, I truly do not wish to join any association."

Xie Tao looked at Wu Tao with cloudy, aged eyes and gently advised, "Young man, you still do not understand the hardships of rogue cultivators. Every step is extremely difficult. You might not see it, but although we rogue cultivators enjoy the protection of the Wuquan Mountain Outer Sect, in truth, even without threats to our lives, many other matters can trip you up. By joining the association, when you encounter difficulties, the association will help you."

Wu Tao shook his head and said, "Thank you for your concern, Artifact Master Xie, but after careful consideration, I have still decided not to join your association. Please forgive me."

At this time, Fang Ming, who had remained silent all along, let out a cold snort. "Unappreciative of favors!"

Wu Tao immediately looked toward Fang Ming, his expression displeased as he said, "Vice President Fang, Wuquan Mountain does not stipulate that I must join your association, right? What, is Vice President Fang planning to use force?"

Xie Tao rebuked Fang Ming, "Fang Ming, watch your language."

With that, he apologized to Wu Tao. "Fellow Daoist Li, we never force any rogue cultivator to join our association. Please rest assured on this point, Fellow Daoist."

The atmosphere was already unpleasant, and Wu Tao did not care to stay any longer. He cupped his fists and said, "President Xie, Fellow Daoist Wu, I have important matters to attend to, so I will take my leave." With that, he walked straight out of the private room.

Arriving on the ground floor, Wu Tao found the tavern waiter and asked, "How many spirit stones for our table?"

The waiter said, "Please wait a moment, let me calculate... Spring Rain Emerald Tea, eleven low-grade spirit stones; popped spirit rice, one low-grade spirit stone; cattle demon beast air-dried meat, three low-grade spirit stones; tea-accompaniment spirit fruit, one low-grade spirit stone. In total, sixteen low-grade spirit stones."

Just like that, sixteen low-grade spirit stones... Heart aching, Wu Tao took out four low-grade spirit stones and said, "My share. As for theirs, go collect it from them yourself."

With that, Wu Tao muttered "I ate the most, so I'm not at a loss" as he walked out of Delightful Immortal Restaurant, leaving behind a bewildered waiter.

Inside the private room, Xie Tao looked at Fang Ming and said, "Fang Ming, how many times have I told you that your fiery temper needs to change, it needs to change! Have you read those two books I gave you, <How to Maintain the Proper Attitude When Facing Disciples of Immortal Cultivation Sects> and <The Linguistic Art of Communicating with Immortal Cultivators of Higher Strength than Yourself>?"

Unconvinced, Fang Ming retorted, "What's good about those books? They give me a headache just looking at them. Besides, that kid is neither from an immortal cultivation sect, nor is he higher in strength than me..."

Xie Tao couldn't be bothered to pay attention to him anymore. Instead, he looked at Wu Zhongxing and sighed, "I'm just afraid other associations will invite Li Mo. In case Li Mo joins another association..."

Competition existed among associations, and he certainly did not want Li Mo to join a rival one.

Xie Tao pondered for a moment and continued, "If Li Mo joins another association, then... just find someone to get rid of him. It's simply a pity. Such a promising young man making a misstep and losing his life—it shows just how many disasters and hardships there are on the path of immortal cultivation..."

Xie Tao was filled with sorrow for the state of the world, feeling extremely regretful for Li Mo.

Wu Zhongxing's expression shifted slightly.

Fang Ming said, "I know people. When the time comes, I'll hire someone to take care of him."

Xie Tao glared at him and said, "What are you rushing for? Hasn't it not reached that point yet? Little Wu, you still need to continue trying to persuade Li Mo. Do your utmost to win Li Mo over; it will be of great help to our association."

Wu Zhongxing resolutely said, "Rest assured, President Xie. Give me some time, and I will definitely persuade Fellow Daoist Li."

Afterward, the three of them left the private room to settle the bill. Wu Zhongxing was clear on the prices of Delightful Immortal Restaurant's dishes, and he took out sixteen low-grade spirit stones to pay. The waiter returned four low-grade spirit stones to him, saying, "Artifact Master Wu, the guest who came with you earlier already settled his own share."

Wu Zhongxing took the spirit stones, his expression unreadable.