Cultivation: From Menial Worker to Immortal Venerable

"It's only fair to complain directly!"

Zhou Xun didn't hesitate and took the cloth bag.

Opening it, he said, "50 Spirit Essence, you guys really bled for this!"

Seeing Zhou Xun accept the bag, the men thought he had forgiven them and breathed a sigh of relief.

One of them said familiarly, "Brother Zhou, my juniors were in the wrong before. I'll definitely treat you to a meal at Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion in the future to personally apologize!"

Zhou Xun waved his hand and said coldly, "Alright, you've delivered the Spirit Essence. Don't appear before me again. Our grievances and favors are now settled!"

The attendant was stunned and exchanged glances with his companions.

"What, you're not satisfied?" Zhou Xun frowned slightly.

"We wouldn't dare, we wouldn't dare!" The attendant quickly composed himself, grabbed his companions, and hurried away.

Having received 50 Spirit Essence and lectured those few, Zhou Xun was in a good mood.

He returned to the banquet and chatted with everyone.

This was before the banquet officially began.

The high-ranking middle-aged Spirit Butcher also personally came to offer congratulations and presented a generous gift.

Zhou Xun hadn't originally invited this person. He always felt this person was unfathomably profound and didn't wish to become too close.

Since he was here, he might as well be treated well.

Zhou Xun naturally hosted him warmly.

After that, over a dozen neighbors from Green Willow Alley also presented gifts of several Spirit Essence each.

Even Lan Song, whom he had met at Mystic Talisman Pavilion that day, had somehow learned of the news.

He sent a gift of 5 Spirit Essence through someone.

The number of visitors far exceeded Zhou Xun's expectations.

Fortunately, Dan Xiong Hai had bought enough spiritual items; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to host them all, which would have been impolite.

"It seems I underestimated the title of an alchemist apprentice from Danbao Pavilion!" Zhou Xun mused inwardly.

During the banquet, everyone clinked glasses and exchanged toasts, creating a lively atmosphere.

Only as evening approached did the guests gradually disperse.

After seeing off the last guest, Zhou Xun was about to close the door.

"Alchemist Zhou, Alchemist Zhou!"

A powerful voice called out.

Zhou Xun followed the sound and looked.

A burly man in his thirties, with dark skin and a scar on his face, was cupping his fists in greeting.

"Brother Hong San, didn't you leave already? Is there something else?"

This person was one of the dozen or so neighbors who had come to offer congratulations that day.

"Indeed, I have something to discuss!" The man nodded without hesitation.

"Come in and talk!" Zhou Xun welcomed Hong San inside.

"May I ask what it is, Brother Hong San?"

After guiding the man to a seat, Zhou Xun poured him a cup of spiritual tea before inquiring about his purpose.

This Hong San was quite a well-known figure in Green Willow Alley.

Not only was he a master at the fourth level of Qi Refining himself, but he was also a high-ranking member of one of the four major rogue cultivator forces outside Red Leaf Square.

Red Leaf Square, being the largest cultivator market within a 5000-mile radius, not only housed a large number of cultivators within its walls.

The outskirts of the market were also home to a large number of low-level rogue cultivators.

Without the deterrence of the enforcement team, murder and treasure-snatching incidents occurred frequently.

As a result, acquaintances banded together for warmth and mutual protection.

As these groups grew, they gradually formed over a dozen forces in the outer areas of the market.

The four most powerful among them were the Iron Mountain Gang, the Blood Eagle Society, the Preservation Spirit Association, and the Jadeite Hall.

Hong San was a hall master in the Iron Mountain Gang.

The man got straight to the point after hearing Zhou Xun's question:

"Alchemist Zhou should know that the Four Great Clans have jointly banned trading activities in the outer areas of the market!"

"That's right," Zhou Xun nodded.

The value of a market lies, firstly, in its spiritual veins and secondly, in providing a good trading environment.

If trading activities were to flourish outside the market's perimeter, it would naturally affect business within. Without foot traffic, the value of the major shops inside the market would also be greatly diminished, something the Four Great Clans of Red Leaf Square would naturally not permit.

"Actually, trading on the outskirts is repeatedly banned but never stops. In fact, the main source of income for us four major powers comes from these clandestine trades!"

This was a "secret" known to all cultivators in Red Leaf Square.

As long as they didn't openly set up stalls or shops, these private, hidden transactions had no impact on Red Leaf Square's business.

The Four Great Clans naturally couldn't be bothered to manage them.

"As far as I know, the Iron Mountain Gang's biggest business is selling talismans, isn't it?" Zhou Xun asked, somewhat confused. He thought the Preservation Spirit Association, which was mainly responsible for selling elixirs, would be the one looking for him.

"Recently, there's been an outbreak of demonic beasts in Hundred Savages Mountain, and many beast-hunting cultivators have returned!"

"The supply of materials for refining talismans has drastically decreased, causing their prices to skyrocket. We mostly do business with low-level cultivators, and with prices rising, our talismans naturally became harder to sell!"

"With over a dozen mouths to feed under my command, I was thinking of exploring new avenues for income," the man explained.

"Coincidentally, Zhou Dan Shi has been accepted by Danbao Pavilion. If you and I cooperate, there's great potential!"

Hong San said, a hint of excitement on his face.

"I'm not even an alchemy apprentice yet, how can I possibly help?"

Zhou Xun probed.

"Zhou Dan Shi, you may not know this, but Danbao Pavilion is the largest elixir shop in Red Leaf Square, selling only genuine elixirs. They naturally wouldn't care about low-grade elixirs that were ruined during refinement!"

"But for us low-level cultivators on the outskirts, this is an invaluable treasure."

"If Zhou Dan Shi can collect these discarded elixirs, I, Hong San, will buy them all. What do you say?"

"I cannot agree to this matter at the moment!" Hearing this, the man was about to try and persuade him.

Zhou Xun continued to explain:

"I've only just been accepted. I know nothing about the inner workings of Danbao Pavilion. Even if I agreed to your proposal now, Brother San, I probably wouldn't be able to procure any elixirs!"

"How about this: once I get into Danbao Pavilion and find a way to obtain discarded or even genuine elixirs, we can cooperate then? How does that sound?"

Zhou Xun didn't outright refuse.

In the future, whether he needed to purchase cultivation resources or spiritual herbs, he would require a significant amount of spirit stones. A stable source of Spirit Essence was also extremely important.

By not agreeing nor refusing now, he was leaving a potential agreement open. Whether he would truly cooperate with this Brother Hong San in the future would depend entirely on his own decision.

This allowed him to maintain flexibility.

"It's still Zhou Dan Shi who thinks things through. It's settled then. If you find a way to get elixirs, be sure to think of me, Hong San!" The man nodded.

He then took out an exquisite wooden box from his embrace and handed it to Zhou Xun.

Zhou Xun was about to decline.

"The gift earlier was from Hong San the neighbor, congratulating you. This one is from Hong San of the Iron Mountain Gang. Please don't refuse, Zhou Dan Shi!"

Zhou Xun nodded and accepted the wooden box.

Refusing now would only make the man think he had no intention of cooperating, and might even offend him.

"In that case, thank you very much, Brother San!"

"Farewell!" The man clasped his hands in a salute and then left.

Watching Hong San's retreating figure, Zhou Xun fell into thought.

Today's small celebration had truly swept away the poverty of the past.

Zhou Xun organized all the congratulatory gifts and began to take stock.

First were the spiritual herbs given by Uncle Dan Er.

It was a Rank 1 Low-Grade Spirit Attraction Grass, the main ingredient for refining the Qi Induction Pill.