A test

Several breaths later, the stone door of the Cave Abode slowly opened.

Zhou Ping leaned against the inside of the doorway, his eyes bloodshot and his deacon's robe rumpled. The reek of wine washed over them.

Zhou Ping narrowed his eyes and glanced at the two outside. Seeing Old Mo standing respectfully with his back bowed and a boy beside him with his head lowered nervously, he could not even be bothered to examine them closely with his Divine Sense. He waved a hand. "Come in. This is just a formality, so don't keep me from my rest."

Mo Chen controlled the illusory Old Mo, making him step forward first and speak in a hoarse, respectful voice. "Thank you for accommodating us, honored deacon. My nephew is an honest lad, but he isn't good with words. Please bear with him."

His real body followed closely behind the illusion, head bowed and eyes lowered, both hands clutching the hem of his clothes. He looked like a boy who had never seen the world and remained silent throughout.

One illusory and one real, the two worked together with a seamlessness that left not a stitch showing.

Reclining on the stone couch, Zhou Ping glanced at Old Mo, and his sense of superiority welled up again. He sneered. "Old Mo, you've finally reached the end of your slog. Stuck at the third level of the Qi Refining Realm your whole life, not even as good as an outer sect disciple—going home to retire is a fitting end for you. This nephew of yours, though, looks honest and dutiful. He has much better prospects than you."

The illusory Old Mo bowed repeatedly. "You're right, honored deacon. My aptitude is poor, and I dare not aspire to the path of immortality. I only hope my nephew can work peacefully in the sect without causing you trouble."

Mo Chen's real body also bowed slightly at the right moment, speaking in a faint voice. "I'll work hard and do as you say, honored deacon."

Every exchange followed the lines prepared in advance, watertight and without the slightest flaw.

Zhou Ping was in an excellent mood. Feeling that he had been spared endless trouble, he could not be bothered to ask any more questions. He waved a hand. "Enough, you two can stop with the pleasantries. Old Mo, since you're going home, you should set off early. Mo Xiaoyi will stay. I'll ask him a few simple questions, and that will settle his appointment."

Seeing this, Mo Chen made the illusory Old Mo turn around and solemnly instruct his real self. "Xiaoyi, work diligently once you're at the Scripture Pavilion. Speak less and do more. Make sure you repay the honored deacon's kindness."

Mo Chen's real body nodded repeatedly. "I'll remember, Uncle."

The illusory Old Mo bowed deeply to Zhou Ping again. "I'll take my leave now. Thank you for looking after me all these years, honored deacon. Please speak with my nephew at your leisure. I'll wait outside the Cave Abode."

With that, he hunched his back and slowly retreated from the Cave Abode, step by step, heading toward the way out of the mountains.

Inside the Cave Abode, Zhou Ping paid no attention whatsoever to what was happening outside. He looked up at Mo Xiaoyi and casually asked a few simple questions about his home address, whether he knew how to organize the Classics, and whether he could endure hard work.

Mo Chen's real body answered each question nervously and deferentially.

Zhou Ping nodded in satisfaction and took a dull gray menial token from his robes. Forming several hand seals, he sent pale green spiritual energy into the token, imprinting Mo Xiaoyi's appearance and identity details within it.

Then he casually tossed it to Mo Chen. "Keep this safe. It's your token, and the information inside has already been changed. Since you're familiar with the Scripture Pavilion's work, you can start right away."

Mo Chen caught the token with both hands. As his fingertips touched its cold surface, his heart settled a little.

Zhou Ping let out a wine-scented belch, then made a point of adding, "Remember, aside from inspections by the inner sect steward, you have full authority to handle all matters at the Scripture Pavilion yourself. If anything minor goes wrong, fix it yourself. Don't come running to report it and bother me."

Mo Chen immediately bowed. "I'll remember your instructions, honored deacon. I would never dare hold up the sect's affairs or disturb your secluded cultivation."

"Mm. You may go." Zhou Ping waved a hand, turned, and lay back on the stone couch. He picked up his wine gourd again, intent only on drinking and enjoying himself, with no desire to concern himself with anything else.

Mo Chen bowed once more, slowly withdrew from the Cave Abode, closed the stone door, and turned toward the Scripture Pavilion.

Having a drunkard for a boss was actually pretty nice.

Mo Chen secretly relished his good fortune. Don't worry. I'll make sure you can be a proper hands-off boss.

Of course, Deacon Zhou would never know that, to keep anyone from learning the secret of his Longevity, Mo Chen would spare no effort to ensure he could drink and amuse himself in peace.

Holding his new menial token, wearing the identity of the young Mo Xiaoyi and a nervous, dull expression, Mo Chen walked at an even pace into the crowds of the Twin Crane Sect's outer sect.

By the time he returned to the Scripture Pavilion, it was already the morning hour when disciples came and went.

The pavilion was as noisy as ever. A few outer sect disciples paused briefly when they saw the new menial, then asked casually, "Hey, where's Old Mo? Why are you here instead?"

Mo Chen lowered his head and gave his prepared answer. "Honored cultivator, Old Mo is my great-uncle. He's getting on in years and has gone home to retire. I'm his nephew, here to take over his duties."

The disciples thought nothing of it. Old Mo had only been an insignificant menial at the bottom of the ladder. Anyone could do the work. They only needed someone to find Jade Slips and register their loans.

"Oh, got it."

A disciple at the sixth level of the Qi Refining Realm waved impatiently. "Don't just stand there. Go upstairs and bring me three Jade Slips on introductory Artifact Refining. Hurry!"

Another disciple called out as well, "Register this 'Calming Talisman' for me! I'm in a hurry to cultivate!"

Mo Chen bowed his head. "Yes. Please wait a moment, honored cultivators."

After returning from Deacon Zhou's abode, Mo Chen worked at the Scripture Pavilion under Mo Xiaoyi's identity, and his days passed smoothly and peacefully.

During the day, he organized the Classics with quick, efficient hands. Gradually, he became the menial the outer sect disciples found most convenient to use. Few made trouble for him, so his working life was reasonably secure.

Half a month passed in this peaceful fashion. When the Twin Crane Sect's outer sect menials had their regular ten-day day off, a thought stirred in Mo Chen's mind: he wanted to make a trip outside.

Every cultivation manual in the Scripture Pavilion stopped at the Qi Refining Realm. Even the incomplete ancient arts that reached the ninth level offered no way to cultivate to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

With his inexhaustible lifespan, he would sooner or later advance beyond Qi Refining and attempt Foundation Establishment. He could not keep squandering his time on low-grade arts forever.

It was time to visit the shops in Flowing Cloud Immortal City and find an art that would take him all the way to Foundation Establishment, then add two Spirit Artifacts usable in the Qi Refining Realm to prepare for unforeseen trouble.

Mo Chen returned to his cramped menial's room and took a cloth pouch from beneath the bed boards.

This was what Mo Chen had saved over forty years on a monthly stipend of three Low-Grade Spirit Stones: a full fourteen hundred and forty Low-Grade Spirit Stones, all hidden in the pouch.

But an ordinary menial's cloth bag was too small to hold these Spirit Stones along with whatever other things he might acquire later.

Mo Chen set out immediately, first visiting a small general store inside the Twin Crane Sect. He spent three Low-Grade Spirit Stones on a low-grade Storage Bag with an internal space five feet on each side.

Though crude and only able to hold nonliving things, the Storage Bag had enough room for his needs.

After placing all his Spirit Stones in the Storage Bag, Mo Chen walked slowly out through the Twin Crane Sect's mountain gate.

Flowing Cloud Immortal City truly lived up to its reputation. Its walls shimmered faintly, and the spiritual energy in the air was far denser than in the sect's outer grounds.

Shops lined both sides of the streets in close-packed rows, with a dazzling array of signs advertising pills and Magic Artifacts. From time to time, cultivators flew overhead on swords. Immortal splendor mingled with the bustle of everyday life, painting a flourishing scene of a cultivation city.

Mo Chen moved unobtrusively through the crowds and finally stopped on a side street before a branch of the Gathering Fate Trading House.

The Gathering Fate Trading House was only a small, three-story wooden building with a plain storefront. All those entering and leaving were Qi Refining cultivators. At a glance, it was clearly a place that catered to ordinary rogue cultivators and low-ranking disciples.

An attendant immediately approached when he saw Mo Chen. "Fellow Daoist, what would you like to see?"

"I'd like two low-grade Spirit Artifacts for the Qi Refining Realm, and a complete cultivation art that can take me to the peak of Foundation Establishment."

The attendant's eyes lit up. Qi Refining Realm Spirit Artifacts were commonplace, but a complete Foundation Establishment art was worth a considerable sum. His expression immediately became respectful. "Please wait a moment, honored cultivator. I'll fetch the manager and have him take you upstairs to a private room to discuss the details."

Before long, a manager in a brocade robe hurried over and looked Mo Chen up and down.

Though he saw that Mo Chen was plainly dressed, he still cupped his hands politely. "This way, Fellow Daoist. The private rooms upstairs are quiet. We can take our time choosing."

Mo Chen followed the manager upstairs into one of the private rooms. It was simply furnished with a stone table and two stone stools, its windows bright and its surfaces spotless.

The manager brought out two Spirit Artifacts in succession: a low-grade Flying Sword and a protective jade talisman. Then he produced a Jade Slip titled "Thick Earth Foundation Establishment Art," which could take a cultivator all the way to the peak of Foundation Establishment.

When the manager quoted the price, Mo Chen froze on the spot.

The two Spirit Artifacts cost eight hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones together, while the Thick Earth Foundation Establishment Art alone cost twelve hundred. The total was two thousand, far more than Mo Chen had saved.

For a moment after hearing the price, Mo Chen thought he had misheard.

What the hell? Why was it so expensive?

Seriously, Fellow Daoist?

So I worked for forty years, and I still can't afford even a few everyday cultivation expenses?

Countless curses flashed through Mo Chen's mind, but he said nothing, his expression slightly embarrassed.

The shrewd manager saw at once that Mo Chen was short of money. All courtesy vanished from his face as he put away the Spirit Artifacts and cultivation art with a cold sneer. "I thought you were a big customer who could afford a Foundation Establishment art. Turns out you're just a penniless brat who can't even scrape together a thousand Spirit Stones, yet you dare come to my Gathering Fate Trading House and put on airs?"

Mo Chen frowned slightly and said quietly, "I'm an outer sect disciple of the Twin Crane Sect. Could you make some accommodation, or show me a slightly cheaper art?"

"So what if you're from the Twin Crane Sect? Of course I know Flowing Cloud Immortal City is under your sect's jurisdiction, but that doesn't mean you can bully people like this! What is this, dining and dashing, only with merchandise?"

"I have no intention of taking anything without paying. But surely people are still allowed to bargain?"

Mo Chen was utterly bewildered. Even mortals selling pots and pans allowed a little bargaining. Was haggling forbidden in the cultivation world?

The manager did not answer. His contemptuous gaze swept over Mo Chen's menial robes, washed pale with wear, and he deliberately wrinkled his nose.

"Judging by those clothes, you're just an outer sect menial of the Twin Crane Sect, aren't you? The stink of poverty on you is reaching my nose! Get out, now! Stop being an eyesore in my private room!"

"If I can't afford a good art, couldn't you simply recommend an inferior one? What is the meaning of throwing me out without even hearing me out?"

"The meaning? Let me tell you, I'm a Buddhist. My Buddha only delivers those with coin! If you have no money, get out!"

With that, the manager turned and shouted sharply downstairs, "Someone come throw this penniless menial out!"

No sooner had he spoken than two burly enforcers at the fifth level of the Qi Refining Realm came upstairs. Without another word, they seized Mo Chen by the arms and dragged him toward the stairs.