Many people bought Windwalking Talismans. For early-stage Qi Refining Cultivators, they were practical tools for both fleeing danger and traveling, so there was no shortage of buyers.
Xu Changshou sold over four hundred Windwalking Talismans in a single morning, then another hundred in the afternoon before packing up his stall early.
That day, he sold five hundred Windwalking Talismans in total.
Five hundred Windwalking Talismans were worth a full five spirit stones. Xu Changshou could barely contain his wild delight.
What did five spirit stones amount to? Five months of his stipend.
Of course, Xu Changshou still had seven hundred Windwalking Talismans on hand.
He had spent three months drawing Windwalking Talismans, producing a total of thirteen hundred and fifty.
After turning in a hundred and forty to the sect and selling five hundred, he had seven hundred and ten left.
Xu Changshou did the calculations. Seven hundred would cover exactly five months of assignments.
He planned to spend the next five months cultivating in seclusion.
Although drawing talismans earned money, cultivation still had to be his priority. Talismans could only serve as a supplement.
If he focused solely on drawing talismans and missed the golden window for foundation establishment, he would be finished.
Although Qi Refining cultivators had a lifespan of a hundred and fifty years, their true golden years numbered only thirty. In other words, if they failed to achieve foundation establishment before thirty, it would grow harder with every passing year. By fifty, it was practically impossible.
There was an old saying in the Cultivation World: "At thirty, the path grows steep; at fifty, it ends."
That was precisely what it meant.
Xu Changshou knew his talent was poor, so he had to try every possible means to achieve foundation establishment before thirty.
Returning to his Daoist Grounds, Xu Changshou wasted no time. He immediately closed off the courtyard's formation and began his secluded cultivation.
In the blink of an eye, two months passed.
During those two months, Xu Changshou barely went out except to turn in assignments and prepare food.
After reaching the seventh level of Qi Refining, advancing his cultivation became more difficult again, and his cultivation speed slowed further.
Xu Changshou estimated that even with Qi Gathering Pills, it would take him a year to break through to the Qi Refining eighth layer.
He now consumed ten Qi Gathering Pills a month, which amounted to a hundred and twenty a year.
The resources he currently had were rather stretched. Still, he would receive his stipend every month, and with that included, he would just about have enough.
His resources were sufficient, but his time was not. In another three months, he would run out of Windwalking Talismans and have to find time to draw more.
At that moment, Xu Changshou finally understood how difficult cultivation was for ordinary Servant Disciples.
Without the support of a lineage, ordinary Servant Disciples had no chance of successfully achieving foundation establishment.
Even with a lineage behind them, the wealth accumulated over three generations would generally not be enough to raise a single great Foundation Establishment cultivator.
The difficulty of foundation establishment went far beyond climbing to the blue heavens.
"Time to turn in my assignment."
Xu Changshou pushed open the door and left his little courtyard, happening to meet Yang Bailao, who was also on his way to turn in his assignment.
The two went together.
After they finished, Yang Bailao caught Xu Changshou by the arm and said with a smile, "Junior Brother Xu, I'll take you to Senior Brother Zhong's Retirement Ceremony tonight."
A Retirement Ceremony was a banquet a cultivator held for fellow cultivators before leaving, laying down arms and returning to secular life after a hundred years.
Xu Changshou frowned at his words. "No, I still need to cultivate tonight. I won't attend Senior Brother Zhong's Retirement Ceremony."
He felt he hardly knew Zhong Xiuping, so there was no need to attend his Retirement Ceremony, especially when it would interfere with his cultivation.
Yang Bailao's face hardened. "Junior Brother Xu, what kind of talk is that? Can't you show a little understanding of social courtesies?"
Xu Changshou scratched his head. "Senior Brother Yang, I don't know Senior Brother Zhong well. I'm afraid if I go..."
Yang Bailao softened his tone a little. "Junior Brother, to tell you the truth, every Servant Disciple on Green Ink Peak will attend Senior Brother Zhong's Retirement Ceremony, whether they know him well or not. Even Uncle-Master Li will be there.
"This isn't about how well you know him. It's about social courtesies.
"Think about it. If you don't attend other people's Retirement Ceremonies, and then no one attends yours after your hundred years are up, how would you bear that?"
"Well..."
Those words left Xu Changshou speechless. He had wanted to say, I'm going to achieve foundation establishment. I won't be holding a Retirement Ceremony.
But if he said that aloud, Yang Bailao would surely call him arrogant.
Thinking it over carefully, for an ordinary Servant Disciple, there truly was nothing more joyful than laying down arms and returning to secular life after a hundred years.
Thus, a cultivator's Retirement Ceremony was a very grand occasion for ordinary people.
Even if one became a great Foundation Establishment cultivator, the day would still come to lay down arms and return to secular life. Could one really be confident of forming a core as well?
Xu Changshou instantly grasped the crux of the matter and hurriedly smiled. "You're right to correct me, Senior Brother. I'll definitely attend Senior Brother Zhong's Retirement Ceremony."
"That's more like it."
"By the way, Senior Brother Yang, do we need to bring a gift to the Retirement Ceremony?"
"Of course."
"What should I give?"
"Whatever feels right to you."
"All right, Senior Brother Yang. Let's go together tonight."
"Mm!"
"See you, Senior Brother!"
Xu Changshou spent the entire day cultivating.
That evening, he went to the Paper Room with Yang Bailao.
Zhong Xiuping was responsible for guarding the Paper Room, and his Daoist Grounds were there, so his Retirement Ceremony was held there as well.
By the time they arrived, one of the Paper Room's side halls was already packed.
Everyone from Green Ink Peak had come, along with some of Zhong Xiuping's friends from other peaks.
"Congratulations!"
"Congratulations on escaping the sea of suffering, Senior Brother Zhong."
"Congratulations on laying down arms and returning to secular life, Senior Brother Zhong."
Inside the side hall, Zhong Xiuping wore a bright red Daoist robe. People constantly approached to congratulate him, and there was an endless stream of small gifts.
Yang Bailao arrived with Xu Changshou, took out an exquisite jade pendant, and handed it over. "Senior Brother Zhong, this piece of spirit jade can soothe the mind, calm the spirit, and ward off evil and unnatural forces. You can give it to a younger family member for protection."
"Thank you, Junior Brother Yang."
Zhong Xiuping patted Yang Bailao on the back, and the latter's eyes reddened slightly.
To Yang Bailao, Zhong Xiuping was both mentor and friend, and his departure left him somewhat saddened.
"Senior Brother Zhong, congratulations." Yang Bailao clasped Zhong Xiuping's hand, feeling both sadness and envy.
"Please take a seat, Junior Brother Yang. Make yourself at home."
"Senior Brother Zhong, this is a small token from me."
Xu Changshou stepped forward, took out two bottles of Qi-Replenishing Pills, and handed them to Zhong Xiuping.
Zhong Xiuping nodded slightly. "Thank you, Junior Brother Xu. Go and take a seat as well."
"Senior Brother Zhong, congratulations!"
"Senior Brother Zhong, a small token."
"Senior Brother Zhong, it's been a long time."
More and more people arrived for the Retirement Ceremony, each bringing a gift.
The little Retirement Ceremony was remarkably grand.
"Uncle-Master Li has arrived."
"Greetings, Uncle-Master Li."
"Hello, Uncle-Master Li."
"Uncle-Master Li..."
Li Dao Path had come as well. He gave Zhong Xiuping a jade bottle. "Martial Nephew Zhong, these are ten Spirit-Gathering Pills. A small token."
Zhong Xiuping accepted the jade bottle and bowed excitedly. "Thank you for your generous gift, Uncle-Master Li."
"Heavens, they're actually Spirit-Gathering Pills."
"As expected of Uncle-Master Li. How generous."
"Spirit-Gathering Pills are good stuff."
"Everyone is here."
Looking around at the hall filled with honored guests, Zhong Xiuping waved a hand, signaling for everyone to quiet down.
"Welcome, everyone, to this humble Daoist's Retirement Ceremony. Please accept my respects."
Zhong Xiuping bowed to those around him, then said with emotion, "A hundred years upon the Dao, yet foundation establishment remains beyond my reach. I have muddled through and squandered my years, leaving a past I cannot bear to revisit. That you have all come to this old man's Retirement Ceremony today is an honor beyond measure..."
Once Zhong Xiuping finished speaking, the banquet began.
The entire Retirement Ceremony left no particularly special impression on Xu Changshou.
All he knew was that several old men drank until they were swaying and staggering.
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