A Way to Make Money

"Ah!"

Flipping through the task ledger Liu Yuanbao had sorted out, Chen Xian let out a deep sigh.

"Uncle-Master? How is it, is there any task you'd like to take?"

Seeing him sigh, Liu Yuanbao knew this uncle-master hadn't found a task to his liking.

He tentatively flipped to a certain page and pointed a thick finger at a task on it: "How about this one? Temporarily feeding the Snow Velvet Beasts at Beast Taming Peak, twice a day for three days, earning 6 contribution points."

"Snow Velvet Beasts have gentle temperaments and eat little—it's a fairly easy job."

After saying this, he leaned in close to Chen Xian's ear and whispered: "This task is extremely popular among new disciples. Put it on the notice board and it'd be gone in an instant."

"Ah~ The work is indeed simple, but the contribution points are too few."

Chen Xian knew Liu Yuanbao was looking out for him, pre-screening these easy tasks for his selection.

But three days for six contribution points was too little.

A single Qi Induction Pill cost ten contribution points—he'd have to work a week just to afford one.

The cost-performance ratio wasn't good for him.

Though if he took this task, he could also pick up sweeping, watering, and similar jobs, doing multiple tasks together to earn two Qi Induction Pills a week without issue.

But then he'd have no time for cultivation, which would be putting the cart before the horse.

"Is there any task that gives ten or twenty contribution points in one go? Something I can actually do?"

Chen Xian closed the "tailor-made" elderly-exclusive task ledger in his hands and looked at Liu Yuanbao with hopeful eyes.

Liu Yuanbao smiled helplessly: "Even the simplest task of transporting medicinal herbs requires being at least a Sword Disciple of the Sixth Layer, having learned Sword Flight to take it."

"It's not that I won't help you, Uncle-Master, it's that you simply don't meet the requirements."

"Ah! Ah! Ah!"

Chen Xian sighed three times in a row and stopped pressing Liu Yuanbao.

"Old man Chen, what are you doing here? Why the sighing?"

Just then, a familiar voice sounded behind Chen Xian.

From the address alone, Chen Xian knew it was that damned girl Shangguan Hongyue.

Now, throughout the entire sect, she was the only one who didn't respect him as an uncle-master.

"Little Yue'er, is your head itching again?"

Chen Xian turned around, raising his hand as if to give her a flick on the forehead.

Shangguan Hongyue had anticipated it, sidestepping slightly to dodge, and even made a face at him: "Hehe, old man, your movements are too slow."

"Tell me, what are you sighing about?"

She grabbed hold of Chen Xian's old arm, as if Chen Xian had a mischievous granddaughter.

"I..." Chen Xian started.

Shangguan Hongyue's gaze fell on the task ledger in his hand: "You're short on money?"

Chen Xian nodded, raising an eyebrow: "None of these tasks really satisfy me. Do you have another way to earn contribution points?"

"Nope."

Shangguan Hongyue shook her head. There were only so many ways to earn contribution points, and none she knew of suited this old weakling Chen Xian.

"Then why the hell did you ask?"

Chen Xian was speechless, feeling the girl was deliberately trying to annoy him.

"How about this—I'll transfer you 50 contribution points. Use them for now."

Shangguan Hongyue shook Chen Xian's arm: "But you have to promise me you'll help me with something in a couple of days."

"How could I accept that?"

Chen Xian pulled out his sect token for depositing and withdrawing contribution points with his other hand.

"Tch, your mouth says you can't accept, but your body's being honest enough!"

Shangguan Hongyue curled her lip, took out her own token, input her Dao imprint, and tapped it against Chen Xian's token.

Chen Xian immediately felt the token change. Checking it, sure enough, 50 contribution points had been added: "Boss, you're generous!"

"Oh please, I still have to thank you for giving me the Six-Winged White Tiger's blood core to turn in for the task. Consider this splitting it with you!"

Shangguan Hongyue waved her hand casually, indicating the points were nothing.

Liu Yuanbao, organizing tasks nearby, shot her a surprised glance. He knew that the task to kill the Six-Winged White Tiger had only offered 50 contribution points total.

Shangguan Hongyue had given every single one to Uncle-Master Chen.

"That thing you want me to help with in a couple of days—what is it?"

Delighted to have pocketed the contribution points, Chen Xian finally asked about her request.

"Heh... I'll keep it a secret for now. I'll tell you when the time comes."

Shangguan Hongyue smiled mysteriously.

Seeing she wouldn't say, Chen Xian couldn't be bothered to press further. This girl wouldn't harm him, would she?

"Alright, Old Man Chen, I'm done talking with you. This young lady needs to take on a mission."

Shangguan Hongyue let go of Chen Xian's arm and pinched his loose muscles. "Ehh~ How come these old arms of yours feel stronger than a few days ago?"

"This old man told you—sooner or later, my cultivation will surpass yours."

Chen Xian stroked his beard, looking utterly confident.

Shangguan Hongyue dismissed it with a scoff: "Pfft~ I've already broken through to Dao Master second rank, you know!"

Her gaze shifted to Liu Yuanbao: "Steward Liu, are there any Blood Beast elimination missions I can take?"

"Yes, yes!"

Liu Yuanbao patted his round belly, still wearing that ever-smiling expression.

"This one—kill two Green-Faced Wolves at Dao Disciple seventh to ninth rank, retrieve their fangs. The client offered 100 contribution points."

He casually pulled out a mission slip and handed it to Shangguan Hongyue.

Shangguan Hongyue quickly signed her name: "Thank you, Steward Liu!"

Watching from the side, Chen Xian's eyes burned with envy. This girl could earn 100 contribution points from a single mission—it really paid to have high cultivation!

"Let's go!"

"Stay safe."

Watching Shangguan Hongyue leave, Chen Xian called out a reminder.

He looked at the token in his hand, pondering how to spend those 50 contribution points.

If he bought all Qi Induction Pills, he could get five.

But using them all at once meant he'd have to find a way to earn more money. Without principal, it'd be like draining the pond to catch all the fish.

So he had to keep some aside—let money make money.

"Grand-Master Uncle, if you have any special trinkets or skills, you could try setting up a stall at the sect market," Liu Yuanbao suggested after a moment's thought, seeing he hadn't left.

"A stall?" Chen Xian's eyes lit up.

Right! The Xuanyun Sword Sect had over thirty thousand inner and outer disciples combined. Not all their needs could be posted at the Mission Hall.

Food, drink, fun—all cost contribution points.

So the sect market was also a great place to trade and earn money.

"Yuanbao, thank you for the reminder. I'll treat you to a meal another day."

Chen Xian offered his sincere thanks.

Liu Yuanbao quickly waved his hand with a smile: "Grand-Master Uncle is too kind. Being able to help Grand-Master Uncle solve problems is my blessing."

Seeing his kind and respectful demeanor, Chen Xian couldn't help but feel that the Xuanyun Sword Sect was truly a good sect that respected its elders.

Once again, he was glad his choice had been right.

Leaving the Mission Hall, Chen Xian walked with his head down, thinking of ways to earn money at the market.

The first thing that came to mind was his already masterful candied hawthorn-making skill. After all, selling candied hawthorns for nearly sixty years, he had long mastered every variation.

First, buy some materials for making candied hawthorns. That was the plan!

Lost in thought, he suddenly felt someone blocking his path.

Chen Xian looked up and was startled to see a huge bouquet of colorful flowers right in front of his face.

His face full of question marks: "Wait, this old man is well past his prime—someone's still courting me?"