The crow flew and the hare raced; time slipped by.
Ever since planting the Haze Grass, Wang Quan had sat upright on the mountain day and night.
As the Haze Grass grew, its mind-clearing, desire-dampening effects strengthened, allowing him to imprint two or three Dao Script characters every day.
He spent the remaining daylight hours reading Daoist Scriptures and the nights gathering moonlight to cultivate his arts. Every two hours, he also cast a spell to promote the spirit plants' growth.
During this time, the Officiant Daoist Nun approached him several times, asking him to earn money by handling weddings and funerals.
He politely declined every time. "I'm cultivating my arts!"
"I'm not short of money right now. Maybe later."
The Officiant Daoist Nun complained to Dream Nun, "Wang Quan's made it rich. These few paltry coins are beneath his notice now."
"In the end, we old sisters only have each other to depend on!"
Dream Nun smiled awkwardly. "I'm cultivating my arts too. I won't be handling weddings or funerals for a while."
The Officiant Daoist Nun...
"If you don't work, will you have any money? How will you live? How will you keep cultivating your arts?"
Dream Nun said, "I have money!"
The Officiant Daoist Nun sucked in a breath.
"When did you save up that much money?"
"Don't tell me you put your body up as collateral!"
"You mustn't do anything foolish!"
"No one who mortgages their body ever manages to redeem it."
Dream Nun shook her head. "I saved it up bit by bit before."
"I've calculated it. My savings are enough to bring my [Nine Yin Devouring the Sun] art to perfection."
"When that happens... I'll apply to the Lower Court for a Foundation Establishment quota, then prepare for Foundation Establishment."
The Officiant Daoist Nun's