Cultivation: From Laborer to Immortal Venerable

After eating his Spirit Rice porridge, Zhou Xun headed west towards the West Plaza.

By the time he arrived, the West Plaza was already crowded with cultivators, gathered in small groups, some conversing quietly, others standing alone.

In the center of the plaza, a platform about ten feet high and covering nearly half an acre had been erected. Several antique chairs were placed on it, but no one was seated yet.

It seemed registration hadn't begun. Zhou Xun casually chose a corner and waited quietly.

"Young fellow, we meet again!"

A deep voice, like an ancient chime, sounded beside him.

Zhou Xun looked up and saw an old man, whose clothes were a bit worn but who carried himself with vigor, smiling and greeting him.

Looking at his face, Zhou Xun recognized him as the old man he had inquired for information from a month ago.

"What a coincidence! I didn't expect to meet you again here, fellow Daoist!" Zhou Xun bowed to the old man and said with a smile.

Zhou Xun had a good impression of this enthusiastic old man.

"Oh, young fellow, you've actually broken through to the third level of Qi Condensation! I presume you're aiming for the Pill Refinement Apprentice position. Truly commendable!" The old man's eyes flickered slightly as he cupped his hands in congratulations.

"It was merely luck. After I heard the news that day, I spent all my savings to buy a Qi Induction Pill and took a gamble. I never expected to actually break through. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know how to make a living!"

Zhou Xun spoke the excuse he had prepared.

The pill workshop had records of Zhou Xun purchasing the Qi Induction Pill. By relying on the pill for his breakthrough, others would only assume he was lucky.

"So, you left in such a hurry that day to buy the Qi Induction Pill?" the old man asked in surprise.

"That's right," Zhou Xun nodded.

"When faced with opportunity, you decisively acted and risked your fortune. Young fellow, you will surely achieve great things in the future!" The old man's eyes showed admiration.

"You flatter me, Daoist brother. I was just acting impulsively. The Qi Induction Pill cost all my savings. Even now, I regret it!" Zhou Xun feigned annoyance.

"Hahaha, young fellow, you don't know this, but after that day, the price of the Qi Induction Pill skyrocketed. At its peak, it was close to eighty Spirit Essence!"

"I imagine if you regretted it afterward and returned the pill, you could have even made a profit!" the old man chuckled, stroking his beard.

"Hearing you say that, Daoist brother, I do feel a bit of regret now!" Zhou Xun couldn't help but smile.

"You are truly an interesting person, young fellow. My surname is Xiao. And yours?"

"I am Zhou Xun!"

"Zhou Xun..." the old man murmured his name, nodding slightly.

He then took his leave.

"I have urgent matters to attend to. We can chat more when we meet again, Brother Zhou!"

Zhou Xun cupped his hands in farewell.

However, a strange feeling lingered in his heart.

Both encounters were coincidental, so how could the old man be so sure they would meet again? He shook his head and dismissed the thought.

Shortly after the hour of the snake, a clear sound echoed from the high platform.

The crowd in the plaza looked up, and several figures leaped onto the platform. Leading them was a stern-faced middle-aged man in his forties, exuding an imposing aura.

"I am Lin Zhishan, an Elder Steward of the Danbao Pavilion. I will be presiding over today's recruitment assembly!"

The Danbao Pavilion was an enterprise of the Lin family and also the largest pill shop in Red Leaf Square.

Although Grandmaster Yun Ku was the chief Pill Refinement Master of the Danbao Pavilion, he was not a member of the Lin family but rather a guest elder.

It was said that his surname was Xiao. Decades ago, he was pursued and ended up near Red Leaf Square, where he was saved by the Lin family's Great Elder. Thus, he joined the Lin family and became a guest elder.

Under the leadership of Grandmaster Yun Ku, the Danbao Pavilion transformed from an ordinary pill shop into the largest pill workshop in Red Leaf Square within just a few years.

Now, the Danbao Pavilion had even opened branches in White Cloud Immortal City, thousands of miles away. The Lin family, by extension, had risen from the bottom of the Four Great Clans to second place, second only to the Wu Family.

As for Lin Zhishan, he was Grandmaster Yun Ku's eldest disciple, a top-grade Rank 1 Pill Refinement Master, and a master of the ninth level of Qi Condensation!

"Wasn't Lin Zhishan sent to manage the Danbao Pavilion branch in White Cloud Immortal City? Why is he back now?"

Those with keen intelligence began to murmur amongst themselves.

"It is said that Lin Zhishan is an orphan and not highly regarded within the family. It was Grandmaster Yun Ku who recognized his talent for pill refinement and took him as a personal disciple, teaching him the art of alchemy. That's how he achieved his current status!"

"Indeed, Lin Zhishan regards Grandmaster Yun Ku as a father. He must have returned personally to congratulate him upon hearing the news of Grandmaster Yun Ku's breakthrough!"

"Filial piety from a disciple, a true tale of the generation!"

This congress will recruit a total of ten apprentices and thirty laborers.

"For Pill Refinement Apprentices, applicants must be under eighteen years old and at the third level of Qi Condensation or above. We will then select twenty people from this group."

"After half a year of training, ten will be chosen as official Pill Refinement Apprentices!"

"For Spirit Contract Laborers, applicants must be under thirty years old and at the third level of Qi Condensation or above, or under eighteen years old and at the second level of Qi Condensation or above! We will then directly select thirty people and sign contracts with them!"

"Those interested can register below the platform," Lin Zhishan said, pointing downwards.

Zhou Xun quickly focused his gaze. He saw several temporary wooden sheds set up in front of the high platform.

A long banner hung from the top of each shed, bearing the words "Pill Refinement Apprentice" and "Spirit Contract Laborer," among others.

A long queue had already formed in front of the wooden shed.

Zhou Xun chose a spot in the line for alchemy apprentices and joined it.

"Zhou Xun, you're signing up too!"

As soon as he took his place, a familiar voice called out from behind him.

Zhou Xun quickly turned his head to look.

It was Wei Shangren.

Standing beside him was a handsome young man, about twenty years old, who looked seven or eight parts similar to Wei Shangren. This was his elder brother, a first-tier Talismaster, Wei Shangli.

Zhou Xun had worked as a laborer at the Mystic Talisman Pavilion for many years, so they naturally recognized each other.

"So it's Brother Wei. What brings you here? Are you also planning to switch to the Lin family and become an alchemy apprentice?" Zhou Xun asked with a slight smile.

"Brother Zhou is joking. My second brother and I are here to accompany our third brother to register!" The handsome young man was not offended at all by the remark. He explained casually, his tone gentle and as pleasant as a spring breeze.

However, a hint of ruthlessness deep within his eyes did not escape Zhou Xun's Divine Sense.

"Greetings, Talismaster Wei!"

'This person is not easy to deal with' A flicker of wariness crossed Zhou Xun's mind, but his expression remained unchanged. He smiled and cupped his fists in return.

He then looked at the young man beside him, whom Zhou Xun had never seen before.

The youth had red lips and white teeth, and bore a resemblance to Wei Shangli, about five or six parts similar.

'This person is so young, yet already at the third level of Qi Condensation. His talent is extraordinary. I must be vigilant!'

Wei Shangli's third brother also respectfully bowed to Zhou Xun:

"I've often heard my brothers speak of Brother Zhou's name. Meeting you today, your demeanor is indeed remarkable! As we will both be alchemy apprentices in the future, I hope for your guidance!"

His words suggested extreme confidence in passing the selection.

Zhou Xun felt a sense of annoyance, much like encountering a "green tea" character in his past life.

However, his expression remained impassive, and he smiled faintly, "Certainly, certainly!"

Afterward, the group chatted pleasantly, as if they were old friends who hadn't seen each other in years.

Soon, the people ahead in line had finished registering, and it was Zhou Xun's turn.

"Name?"

"Zhou Xun!"

"Cultivation?"

"Third level of Qi Condensation!" The middle-aged steward in charge of registration's eyes gleamed slightly, clearly using the Heaven's Eye Technique.

The Heaven's Eye Technique was a spell used by cultivators to determine cultivation levels. However, it could generally only see the cultivation of cultivators at the same level. If the difference in cultivation was too great, or if the target had cultivated a high-level Qi Concealment technique, it would be difficult to see clearly.

Next, the man asked Zhou Xun about his residential address, birthplace, and life experiences.

When he heard that Zhou Xun had lived in Red Leaf Square since childhood, the middle-aged man's expression immediately became friendly.

'This guy is a local loyalist.'

Grandmaster Yun Ku's reputation was far-reaching, and this recruitment conference had attracted many cultivators from distant places to come and register.

In total, they accounted for more than half of the local cultivators from Red Leaf Square.

This had always displeased the middle-aged steward.

Therefore, he often showed a cold shoulder to cultivators from outside the region.

"You are quite good. At seventeen years old, you are already past the halfway point of the third level of Qi Condensation, unlike those cultivators who break through temporarily with the help of pills."

"Furthermore, you are a child who grew up in Red Leaf Square, with a clean background. You should have no problem with this recruitment!"

The middle-aged man said as he recorded something on the roster, finally marking a large check.