Looting the Burning House

After Chen Changming entered the Heart Demon Tower, the other youths filed in one after another.

The deacon elder stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent as he looked down at the Heart Demon Tower, waiting quietly.

By now, there were few people left in the plaza, save for a scattering of Lingxiao Sect outer disciples waiting to arrange for the youths who would soon emerge from the tower.

After the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense, a beam of light shot out from the Heart Demon Tower, landing on the ground and transforming into a youth with a ferocious expression.

"Ahhh!"

The youth clawed at the air, acting like a madman, which drew a burst of mocking laughter.

A few breaths later, the youth regained his senses and returned to normal.

"You have been eliminated."

An outer disciple said to him, then grabbed him and tossed him onto a spirit boat, shouting coldly, "Don't move around; we'll send you back in a while."

"Uh... alright, alright."

The youth's face turned ashen as he nodded hurriedly.

The Lingxiao Sect was a righteous and reputable sect that followed its own rules, so they made a point of sending those who were eliminated back home.

As time passed, beams of light descended one after another, and people were continuously teleported out.

After the time it takes to burn one and a half sticks of incense, the number of people being teleported out dwindled, and by the time two sticks of incense had burned, no more light shot out from the Heart Demon Tower.

"Hmm, why hasn't that Chen Changming come out yet?"

The deacon elder blinked.

He had reviewed the roster and had a distinct impression of this youth with the worst aptitude, which was why he remembered the name.

After three sticks of incense, a beam of light flew out from the Heart Demon Tower.

"Chen Changming!"

Seeing that resolute face, a look of surprise appeared on the deacon elder's face. For a youth with such trash-tier aptitude to persist for so long showed a strength of mind that was difficult to sway by external influences.

"A pity, his aptitude is just too poor..."

After a few seconds of silence, the deacon elder sighed, put away the Heart Demon Tower, and left.

As for the selected handyman disciples, the outer disciples waiting in the plaza naturally took charge of them.

This time, the Heart Demon Tower had eliminated forty or fifty people, and the remaining hundred-plus were divided into several groups.

Chen Changming was assigned to the spirit field group.

The spirit field group consisted of thirty people, and led by a disciple named Tian Shouyi, they walked away from the plaza.

The group trekked over mountains and ridges for a full two hours before finally stopping in a valley.

Along the way, through Tian Shouyi's introduction, Chen Changming understood the mission of their group of handyman disciples.

From this day on, each person would have an independent small courtyard and be responsible for cultivating five acres of spirit fields nearby. Their primary work would involve planting spirit rice, watering, pest control, and harvesting.

Successfully completing the one-year spirit rice cultivation task would earn them 100 contribution points.

According to Tian Shouyi, these contribution points were incredibly important; all future cultivation resources would have to be exchanged using them, including techniques, medicinal pills, magical treasures, and materials.

As for introductory cultivation techniques, the Lingxiao Sect provided these handyman disciples with two: one was the Evergreen Art, a technique specifically for increasing one's cultivation realm, and the other was the Cloud Rain Art, a spell specifically for watering the spirit rice.

The rain brought down by the Cloud Rain Art was rich in spiritual energy, which was more conducive to the growth of the spirit rice and increased yields.

The Lingxiao Sect required a yield of one thousand catties per acre of spirit field, with eight hundred catties to be handed over and two hundred kept for personal use.

If the yield was increased, the surplus belonged to the individual.

Any spirit rice left over after eating belonged to the individual and could be traded to the sect, though the price would be lower.

If they wanted a better price, they could take it to the market in the city to sell.

However, increasing the yield of spirit rice was very difficult; besides preventing pests and diseases, one had to frequently cast the Cloud Rain Art to water the crops.

For handyman disciples with low aptitude who had to balance farming with their own cultivation, this was a daunting task.

"The fields here are all about the same, nothing to pick from, so just choose at random..."

Tian Shouyi pointed in a direction absent-mindedly and laughed, "Anyway, I collect the spirit rice once a year, so just make sure you hand it over on time."

The youths hurriedly agreed.

"Hmph!"

Tian Shouyi's expression suddenly changed, becoming cold and indifferent. "I'll say this upfront: if any of you fail to complete the task for two consecutive years, you will be expelled from the sect."

The group's expressions tightened, all of them feeling a chill.

Tian Shouyi turned and left.

"So difficult..."

A young man sighed and walked quickly toward a courtyard in the distance.

Chen Changming followed the crowd and slowly entered an unoccupied courtyard.

The courtyard was not large, with a small wooden hut in the center. The interior was simple, containing only basic living utensils.

On the bedroom table sat a wooden box about half a meter in size.

Tian Shouyi had already mentioned that this was prepared by the Lingxiao Sect specifically for new servant disciples. Inside were three books: the Evergreen Art, the Cloud Rain Art, and the Spirit Rice Planting Guide. There was also a set of gray servant disciple robes.

Gurgle!

His stomach let out a hungry growl. Chen Changming rubbed his belly, walked to the corner, opened the lid of the rice jar, and scooped out some rice.

This rice was, naturally, spirit rice.

In the Lingxiao Sect, servant disciples had to manage their own food and daily needs.

"So good..."

Breathing in the faint fragrance wafting from the spirit rice, Chen Changming chuckled, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face.

Back when he was a wanderer, his greatest wish had been to be well-fed, warmly clothed, and to have a place to call home.

Although the status of a Lingxiao Sect servant disciple was low, Chen Changming did not mind. To him, this job of planting spirit rice was quite good—he had food, drink, a place to live, and the Evergreen Art to cultivate.

He went out to chop some firewood, and soon, wisps of smoke rose from the roof. Half an hour later, the young man sat on the threshold with a bowl, eating with great relish.

He had just finished half his meal when a young man wearing servant disciple robes walked in.

"Junior Brother, you're new here, right?"

The young man smiled boisterously and walked up to him with his hands behind his back.

"Yes, yes..."

Chen Changming stood up in a hurry, wearing a polite smile.

The aura radiating from this young man was the same as that of the late Zhu Fang; he was likely also a cultivator in the Qi Refining Realm.

"Junior Brother, I'm here to water your spirit field."

The young man smiled, and without waiting for Chen Changming to speak, he suddenly cast a series of hand seals. A small cloud, about an acre in size, drifted in from outside and hovered over the spirit field. As the clouds churned, thin strands of rain began to fall.

Chen Changming: "..."

"Junior Brother, the spirit field cannot be neglected; you must water it when it needs to be watered."

The young man wore a smirk, manipulating the cloud while speaking with a feigned air of seriousness: "You newcomers need to hurry up and cultivate. Learn the Cloud Rain Art as soon as possible so you won't need others to help you."

Chen Changming's facial muscles stiffened.

Could it be that he had encountered a weasel paying respects to a chicken?

This Senior Brother had come uninvited, and he certainly didn't have any good intentions.

"All done."

After the watering was finished, the young man patted Chen Changming on the shoulder and said bluntly: "Junior Brother, one watering costs 5 contribution points. If you book 10 sessions with me, I'll give you one for free. How about it?"

5 contribution points for a single watering?

Chen Changming's eye twitched violently, and his mood soured instantly.

He could only earn 100 contribution points after a year of hard work. If he watered the fields a few more times, his points would be gone.

These veteran servant disciples really knew how to rob people in their time of need!

"Sigh..." Chen Changming sighed and shook his head repeatedly: "Senior Brother, I don't have any contribution points."

The young man smiled brightly: "Just owe them to me. Pay me after a year."

"This... allow me to consider it..."

Chen Changming did not refuse, instead adopting a stalling tactic. After all, he was a newcomer, and it was better not to offend the veterans in the sect.

"Fine."

Seeing the young man's awkward expression, the youth seemed accustomed to it; he clapped his hands and left the small courtyard.

"This is truly a lucrative business..."

Watching the young man head toward the courtyard of another servant disciple, Chen Changming gave a bitter laugh and walked back into the house.