The Association

Wu Tao followed Wu Zhongxing to Delightful Immortal Restaurant.

Delightful Immortal Restaurant was an eatery. 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 within Wuquan Mountain.

Because of this, even the cultivators from the patrol squad dared not eat or drink at Delightful Immortal Restaurant without paying.

In the private room, Wu Zhongxing gestured for Wu Tao to sit, smiling, "Fellow Daoist Li, please sit!"

"Thank you!" Wu Tao sat down as instructed.

Wu Zhongxing called over a waiter. Waiters like him had only just entered Qi Refining, and might not even reach the perfection of the first layer of Qi Refining. That was why they were willing to work at this restaurant, just to earn a living.

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

Wu Zhongxing had clearly frequented Delightful Immortal Restaurant often. Without looking at the hanging wooden menu, he said familiarly, "A pot of Grade 1, Low-grade Spring Rain Emerald Tea, a serving of Popped Spirit Rice, a serving of dried Cattle Demon Beast meat, and a serving of Tea-Accompaniment Spirit Fruit."

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

Wu Tao then looked at Wu Zhongxing and said, "Fellow Daoist Wu, what exactly is this profitable matter you wish to discuss? Please speak plainly."

Wu Zhongxing, however, kept him in suspense. "Fellow Daoist Li, don't be impatient. Someone else is coming."

Wu Tao frowned slightly at this but stopped asking, waiting quietly. When the waiter brought the tea, fruit, and dried meat, Wu Zhongxing poured him some tea. He immediately drank it, eating the Popped Spirit Rice and dried beef.

This Popped Spirit Rice was essentially popcorn, but made from spirit rice. It was crispy when eaten, but much of the spiritual power dissipated after popping, making it less potent than if it were steamed or boiled directly.

Wu Tao felt this method was a great waste, but he had to admit, it was quite delicious, crispy and fragrant.

The dried beef, made from Cattle Demon Beast, had a richer flavor and was chewier, with an intense meaty aroma. Without any seasonings or spices, it was already dozens of times better than ordinary dried beef from his previous life.

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

One was an elder with white hair, but his facial skin was not loose; instead, it was firm and elastic. This was the benefit of cultivation. He had a stern expression. The other was a middle-aged man, short in stature and unremarkable in appearance. Both of them carried the scent of Starfire Stone.

Wu Zhongxing quickly introduced the two to Wu Tao. "Fellow Daoist Li, allow me to introduce you. This is President Xie Tao of the Mutual Aid Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiner Association. President Xie is a Tier 1 Level Six Artifact Refiner. This is Vice President Fang Ming, a Tier 1 Level Five Artifact Refiner. President Xie, Vice President Fang, this is Fellow Daoist Li Mo. To be so young and already a Tier 1 Level Four Artifact Refiner."

Wu Tao looked at Xie Tao and Fang Ming and greeted them, "Artifact Master Xie, Artifact Master Fang."

Xie Tao glanced at Wu Tao, his expression one of affirmation. He nodded, "Indeed, very young. At such an age, for you to be able to refine Tier 1 Level Four magic robes, Fellow Daoist Li, is truly remarkable."

Wu Tao humbly replied, "Artifact Master Xie, you flatter me. As all fellow cultivators know, magic robes are simpler compared to other magic tools, so this is nothing. There are many disciples at the Five Spring Artifact Refining Hall of my age who are stronger at artifact refining than I am."

After speaking, Wu Tao looked at Wu Zhongxing and asked, "Fellow Daoist Wu, are you also an artifact refiner at the Mutual Aid Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiner Association?"

Wu Zhongxing nodded upon hearing this. "That's right. In fact, we came here to invite you to join our Artifact Refiner Association. President Xie and Vice President Fang have both seen you refine the Small Spirit Shield Robe and the Spirit-Absorbing Robe, and they believe you are fully qualified to join."

Xie Tao and Fang Ming nodded in unison.

So it was this kind of good thing... For other loose cultivators, joining such an association for mutual benefit might indeed be a good thing. But for Wu Tao, he had no intention of joining any organization formed by loose cultivators.

First, once you join an organization, you'll inevitably be bogged down with a mountain of trivial matters, unable to focus on your own pursuits.

Second, as a loose cultivator without backing, you lack artifact refinement techniques, high-level artifact refinement inheritances, protection, and basically everything. What's the point of joining?

If you're going to join, you should join an Immortal Dao Great Sect like Five Spring Mountain, which has everything.

Seeing Wu Tao deep in thought, appearing indecisive, Wu Zhongxing quickly said, "Fellow Daoist Li, I believe as a loose cultivator artifact refiner, you understand the hardships of being a loose cultivator. We established the Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiner Association precisely for mutual benefit and assistance. Moreover, for a promising young artifact refiner like yourself, Fellow Daoist Li, I believe President Xie and Vice President Fang will not hesitate to offer guidance, allowing your artifact refinement skills to reach a higher level."

"Furthermore, the association has many First-Rank Intermediate Magic Tool refinement secret manuals. It's not impossible for you to view them in the future."

Xie Tao and Fang Ming nodded, indicating that if Wu Tao was willing to join, they would definitely cultivate him with all their might. Xie Tao even stated that if he joined, in a few decades, the position of president might not be impossible for him.

As Xie Tao made such a promise, Fang Ming opened his mouth, wanting to speak but stopping himself, ultimately saying nothing.

Mutual benefit, guidance from high-level artifact refiners, First-Rank Intermediate Magic Tool refinement secret manuals, and the position of president – these would undoubtedly tempt any loose cultivator artifact refiner. But Wu Tao was different. He only heard the benefits, but his life experience, both past and present, told him that nothing comes for free. How could there only be benefits and no obligations?

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

Wu Zhongxing quickly understood the meaning of the new word 'obligations' and said, "Fellow Daoist Li, once you join the association, we are all family. As family, you must treat the association as your home..."

Finally, Wu Tao understood. It was indeed impossible to have only benefits and no obligations. The association had opened an artifact refinement shop to refine magic tools for loose cultivators, and he would have to be present at the shop for ten days each month.

This point alone extinguished Wu Tao's desire to join.

Not to mention other things. To obtain the First-Rank Intermediate Magic Tool refinement secret manuals, it wasn't simple; one had to serve the association diligently and complete missions to earn them.

In short, joining the association meant working for the association.

Wu Tao cupped his hands towards the three, saying, "Thank you for thinking so highly of me, but I truly do not wish to join any association at this time."

Xie Tao looked at Wu Tao with his cloudy old eyes and advised, "Young man, you still don't understand the hardships of being a loose cultivator. Every step is difficult. Don't you see that although we loose cultivators are protected by the outer sect of Five Spring Mountain, even if our lives aren't in danger, we can still be stumped in many other areas. When you join the association, if you encounter difficulties, the association will help you."

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

At this moment, Fang Ming, who had been silent, snorted, "Ungrateful fool!"

Wu Tao immediately looked at Fang Ming, his expression displeased, "Vice President Fang, Five Spring Mountain does not stipulate that I must join your association, does it? What, Vice President Fang, are you going to use force?"

Xie Tao reprimanded Fang Ming, "Fang Ming, watch your words."

He then apologized to Wu Tao, "Fellow Daoist Li, we never force any loose cultivator to join our association. Please rest assured of this."

The atmosphere had become unpleasant, and Wu Tao was too lazy to stay any longer. He cupped his hands and said, "President Xie, Fellow Daoist Wu, I have important matters to attend to, so I will take my leave." With that, he left the private room.

Upon reaching the first floor, Wu Tao found the waiter and asked, "How much for our table?"

The waiter replied, "Please wait a moment while I calculate... Spring Rain Emerald Tea is eleven Low-Grade Spirit Stones, Popped Spirit Rice is one Low-Grade Spirit Stone, Cattle Demon Beast dried meat is three Low-Grade Spirit Stones, Tea-Accompaniment Spirit Fruit is one Low-Grade Spirit Stone. A total of sixteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

Just this, sixteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones... Wu Tao grudgingly took out four Low-Grade Spirit Stones and said, "As for my share, you can go ask the other three to pay for theirs."

With that, Wu Tao muttered, 'I ate the most, so I won't lose out,' and left Delightful Immortal Restaurant, leaving the waiter utterly bewildered.

Inside the private room, Xie Tao looked at Fang Ming and said, "Fang Ming, how many times have I told you to change your fiery temper? Have you read those two books I gave you, <Attitude Towards Disciples of Immortal Cultivation Sects> and Art of Communication with Higher Cultivators?"

Fang Ming retorted, "What's so good about these books? They give me a headache. Besides, that kid isn't a disciple of an immortal cultivation sect, nor is he stronger than me..."

Xie Tao, too lazy to deal with him, turned to Wu Zhongxing and sighed, "I'm just afraid other associations might invite Li Mo. What if Li Mo joins another association..."

There was competition between associations, and he didn't want Li Mo to join another one.

Xie Tao pondered for a moment and continued, "If Li Mo joins another association, then... we'll just have someone get rid of him... It's a pity, though. Such a promising young man, one wrong step and he loses his life. It just goes to show how many hardships there are on the path of cultivation..."

Xie Tao felt a great sense of pity and sorrow for Li Mo.

Wu Zhongxing's expression changed slightly.

Fang Ming said, "I know people. I'll get someone to take care of him then."

Xie Tao glared at him. "What are you rushing for? It hasn't come to that point yet. Little Wu, you need to continue persuading Li Mo. Do your best to win Li Mo over; it will be of great help to our association."

Wu Zhongxing said firmly, "Don't worry, President Xie. Give me some time, and I will definitely persuade Fellow Daoist Li."

Afterward, the three left the private room to settle the bill. Wu Zhongxing, who was clear about the prices of the dishes at Delightful Immortal Restaurant, paid with sixteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones. The waiter returned four Low-Grade Spirit Stones to him and said, "Artifact Master Wu, the guest who came with you earlier has already paid for his own meal."

Wu Zhongxing took the spirit stones, his expression unreadable.