A monthly stipend of one spirit stone

That afternoon, after a meal of spirit-infused food.

Only after Xu Changshou had recovered some of his spiritual energy did Yang Bailao take him to Li Dao Path's cultivation grounds.

"Disciple Yang Bailao pays his respects to Uncle-Master Li."

"Disciple Xu Changshou pays his respects to Uncle-Master Li."

"What brings you two here?" Li Dao Path asked, his brows drawing together slightly.

Yang Bailao said respectfully, "Uncle-Master Li, Junior Brother Xu has learned to draw talismans, so I brought him to see you."

Li Dao Path counted on his fingers. "Four months... mm, not bad, not bad."

"Xu Changshou."

"This disciple is here."

"Starting today, you will be responsible for drawing Windwalking Talismans. Draw five a day, with the first and fifteenth of each month as days off. You must submit one hundred and forty Windwalking Talismans each month. Your monthly stipend will be one spirit stone.

"If you fail to complete your assignment on time, you will be fined twice your monthly stipend."

Hiss!

Hearing Li Dao Path's words, Xu Changshou could not help sucking in a cold breath.

He had never imagined the penalty for failing an assignment would be so severe.

A fine of twice his monthly stipend meant that if he failed, not only would he receive no stipend, he would also be fined two spirit stones.

No wonder Yang Bailao and the Servant Disciples of Green Ink Peak worked themselves to death drawing talismans.

They had no choice but to work themselves to death.

Without doing so, they could not survive.

"Oh, and these two bottles of Qi-Replenishing Pills are yours. Apply yourself to drawing talismans."

Li Dao Path swept his wide sleeve, and two jade bottles flew over.

"Thank you for your gift, Uncle-Master Li."

Xu Changshou accepted the jade bottles with gratitude written across his face.

Qi-Replenishing Pills were valuable things. For a cultivator in the qi refining realm, a single pill could restore all their depleted spiritual energy.

Each bottle contained ten Qi-Replenishing Pills and cost thirty Fragmented Spirit Stones, far cheaper than Qi Gathering Pills.

Whether on Green Ink Peak or any other peak, these pills were hard currency.

Every Servant Disciple whose duties consumed spiritual energy needed Qi-Replenishing Pills.

Li Dao Path had given Xu Changshou this assignment because he considered him a newcomer, and feared that a lack of spirit stones to buy Qi-Replenishing Pills would delay his talisman work.

Xu Changshou silently did the calculations.

Without the Bloodline Jade Talisman, he could draw only five talismans a day, and doing so would require at least one Qi-Replenishing Pill every day.

At thirty Qi-Replenishing Pills a month, he would have to spend ninety Fragmented Spirit Stones each month to buy them.

Those ninety Fragmented Spirit Stones would effectively be consumed as expenses.

In other words, although the sect paid a monthly stipend of one spirit stone, he would actually be left with only ten Fragmented Spirit Stones.

What could ten Fragmented Spirit Stones do? If he spent them on cultivation, they would buy only one Qi Gathering Pill.

At that thought, a chill ran through Xu Changshou.

Without the Bloodline Jade Talisman, his path of cultivation would certainly have been a hundred times harder.

It was simply unbelievable that Yang Bailao and the others could survive under such conditions.

"You may go!"

"Farewell, Uncle-Master Li."

The two bowed, then respectfully left Li Dao Path's cultivation grounds.

"Senior Brother Yang, it was just as you said. Uncle-Master Li really did assign me to draw Windwalking Talismans."

Yang Bailao smiled. "Of course. Few Servant Disciples on Green Ink Peak have wind-attribute spiritual roots, so few can draw Windwalking Talismans. Demand has always outstripped supply.

"You happen to have the wind attribute, so naturally he assigned you to draw Windwalking Talismans.

"By the way, junior brother, can you handle drawing five Windwalking Talismans every day?"

Xu Changshou patted his chest and assured him, "Don't worry, Senior Brother Yang. I can do it."

Yang Bailao said solemnly, "Junior Brother Xu, remember this: the first month is the hardest to endure. Whatever happens, you must complete your assignment, or you'll come to a miserable end."

"Mm!"

Xu Changshou nodded, then said, "Senior Brother Yang, I've used up my yellow hemp paper. Could you take me to the Paper Room to collect some? I've never been there and don't know where it is."

"That's easy enough. I'm running low on paper myself. Come on, I'll take you."

Yang Bailao led Xu Changshou off in one direction.

On the way, Xu Changshou asked, "Senior Brother Yang, this is my first assignment. If I waste too much yellow hemp paper, will I get into trouble?"

Yang Bailao smiled. "No need to worry, Junior Brother Xu. The sect doesn't restrict how much yellow hemp paper you use. Even if you use a thousand sheets a month, no one will ask about it. Yellow hemp paper isn't worth much."

"That's good, that's good."

Xu Changshou nodded.

Since he could collect as much yellow hemp paper as he wanted, there would be no problem with drawing extra talismans to sell.

Soon, Yang Bailao brought Xu Changshou to a large hall. Xu Changshou glanced inside and saw that all three chambers were piled full of yellow hemp paper.

"Is Senior Brother Zhong here?"

The hall was empty, so Yang Bailao raised his voice and called out.

"Ahem!"

A cough came from the Talisman Room next door.

"Senior Brother Zhong is next door. Come on!"

Yang Bailao led Xu Changshou into the adjoining room, where an old man with graying hair and beard was drawing a talisman.

Xu Changshou studied the old man. He looked to be in his seventies, his clothes filthy and his appearance unkempt.

This was probably a tradition on Green Ink Peak. As far as he remembered, none of its disciples seemed particularly concerned about their appearance.

"Senior Brother Zhong, we'd like to collect some paper," Yang Bailao said respectfully.

The old man did not even turn his head. "The paper's next door. Take it yourselves, then report the amount to me."

"Yes!"

Delight crossed Yang Bailao's face, and he hurriedly pulled Xu Changshou into the hall where the paper was stored.

Once inside, Yang Bailao waved his hand and secretly stowed three or four thousand sheets of yellow hemp paper in his Storage Bag, then held another thousand sheets in his hands.

"Senior Brother Yang, what are you...?"

Xu Changshou was rather curious about what Yang Bailao was doing.

Yang Bailao smiled. "When Senior Brother Zhong isn't busy, he usually hands out the paper himself. He gives you a thousand sheets and records a thousand. If you take it yourself, you can take a little extra and still report a thousand."

"Oh, I see!"

Xu Changshou understood instantly and followed Yang Bailao's example, taking another three or four thousand sheets.

After collecting the talisman paper, they returned to the room next door. By then, the old man had nearly finished drawing his talisman.

Neither disturbed him; they stood to one side and watched.

The talisman the old man was drawing was earth-attribute, and Xu Changshou guessed it was an Earth Shield Talisman.

Soon, the old man finished the talisman. Only then did he turn his gaze toward them. "This junior brother looks unfamiliar. Are you the new disciple who joined this year?"

"That would be me." Xu Changshou cupped his hands.

Yang Bailao smiled. "Senior Brother Zhong, let me introduce you. This is Junior Brother Xu, Xu Changshou. Junior Brother Xu, this is Senior Brother Zhong, Zhong Xiuping."

Xu Changshou cupped his hands again. "Greetings, Senior Brother Zhong."

"Hello, Junior Brother Xu."

Zhong Xiuping nodded slightly, then took out paper and a brush to record the amounts they had collected.

He made a brief entry, and that was all.

Yang Bailao suddenly said, "Oh, Senior Brother Zhong, I hear you'll soon Lay Down Arms and Return to Secular Life. Please let us know when you do. Junior Brother Xu and I will be sure to attend your Retirement Ceremony on time."

Zhong Xiuping smiled at that. "Soon. Three more months."

"So soon? Congratulations on escaping the sea of suffering, Senior Brother Zhong."

Envy filled Yang Bailao's face, and he sighed. "When I first joined Green Ink Peak, it was Senior Brother Zhong who taught me to draw talismans. Nearly forty years have passed in the blink of an eye, and now you're about to Lay Down Arms and Return to Secular Life. Unfortunately, I still have another fifty years to endure."