The three large characters "Ningshun Sutra" were etched upon it.
"Again, this dream. This is already the third time in two years!"
"What kind of cultivation art is this 'Ningshun Sutra,' to actually refine the essence of spiritual plants and mend a cultivator's foundation?"
Spiritual root aptitude was also one kind of foundation. Mending one's foundation meant one could improve one's spiritual roots.
"With one sword, open Heaven's gate; ride the rosy clouds and ascend; gaze upon eternity and live forever."
Zhou Xun was immensely excited. Staring at those three characters that seemed like true words of the Great Dao, he opened the first page.
"The Way of Heaven diminishes excess and replenishes deficiency."
After a long while, Zhou Xun awoke, his eyes bright.
"I finally saw the complete text!"
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When Zhou Xun first entered this dream two years ago and learned of the Ningshun Sutra's effects, he decided to put down roots at the Mystic Talisman Pavilion in Red Leaf Square.
He planned to use the opportunity of serving as a Spirit Contract Laborer in Red Leaf Square to save spirit stones and purchase spiritual medicine to improve his spiritual roots.
Zhou Xun had set his sights on a stalk of Mindcalm Grass at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. It only cost one hundred and fifty Spirit Essence.
He had already saved one hundred and twenty Spirit Essence. In just another month, he would have been able to buy that spiritual medicine and test its effect on improving spiritual roots.
Yet he had been cast out without ceremony.
As for the reason behind his dismissal, Zhou Xun had his own suspicions.
He was merely an orphan. His entry into the Mystic Talisman Pavilion had also depended on the lingering favor left behind by his former body's parents.
One of the Mystic Talisman Pavilion's stewards had been as close as sworn brothers with the former Zhou Xun's father. Through that connection, Zhou Xun had become a Spirit Contract Laborer.
After joining the Mystic Talisman Pavilion, Zhou Xun had worked diligently and conscientiously, earning the appreciation of its various stewards.
Half a year ago, the Mystic Talisman Pavilion suddenly announced that it would select one person from all Spirit Contract Laborers to take the Talisman Master apprentice examination.
This was an opportunity for all laborers to soar to the heavens in a single step.
If one became an apprentice, one could come into contact with the Mystic Talisman Pavilion's art of talisman crafting and have a chance to become a Talisman Master.
One had to know that even a low-grade First-Rank Talisman Master held a status within the entire Mystic Talisman Pavilion no lower than that of those stewards.
Not to mention that a Talisman Master's income was several times that of a steward.
This was a broad road to greatness.
This was even more so for Zhou Xun. With the Ningshun Sutra in hand, improving his spiritual roots required a vast quantity of spiritual medicine. A Talisman Master position with plentiful, stable income was of crucial importance to him.
However, there was only one apprentice examination slot, and the competition was exceptionally fierce.
Fortunately, Zhou Xun had always handled matters with meticulous care, leaving an excellent impression on every Mystic Talisman Pavilion steward. Coupled with the full support of that elder uncle, he was the leading candidate for the slot.
Ranked second was Wei Shangren.
This man was also a Spiritual Qi laborer at the Mystic Talisman Pavilion. However, he was the sort who aimed high but had little ability, loved food and idleness, and acted arrogant and overbearing.
But he had an elder brother, the most talented Talisman Master apprentice in the Mystic Talisman Pavilion. He was highly valued by its upper ranks, who even wished to take him as a son-in-law.
With such a brother backing him, Wei Shangren's prospects of obtaining the slot were likewise considerable.
Where Dao Paths contended, conflict arose of its own accord. The two soon developed friction and became bitter enemies from then on.
Just then, an unexpected turn occurred.
Zhou Xun's elder uncle suddenly met with an accident and perished.
Immediately afterward, Zhou Xun was also dismissed and thrown out without delay.
"The slot has yet to be announced, yet the Mystic Talisman Pavilion's attitude suddenly shifted and they dismissed me. This matter must be connected to the Wei Brothers!"
A glint of severity flashed through Zhou Xun's eyes.
But it was quickly replaced by calm.
"My cultivation is only at Qi Condensation Second Level. I have no ability to avenge myself against the Wei Brothers."
"Fortunately, I have the complete Ningshun Sutra in hand, and can improve my spiritual root aptitude."
"I'll wait until my cultivation reaches a certain height before settling this score!"
The next day, Zhou Xun rose early.
"My most urgent task now is to find work as soon as possible and save spirit stones!"
With spirit stones, he could purchase spiritual medicine, improve his spiritual roots, and then rapidly raise his cultivation!
Then he could earn even more spirit stones, buy better spiritual medicine, and raise his cultivation to even higher levels.
Faster and faster, like a snowball rolling downhill.
After simply having some spiritual rice porridge, he left home and headed for West Square.
West Square lay in the northwest of the market. Whenever the stewards of Red Leaf Square's major shops or the managers of spiritual fields needed to recruit cultivators, they came here. Over time, this place had become the Cultivation World's talent market.
Upon reaching the main road, Zhou Xun saw quite a few cultivators passing back and forth.
Some were dressed as scholars, some as Daoists, and there were all manner of others.
Now and then, there were even demon-hunting cultivators clad in animal hides, hurrying along with wary expressions.
"I wonder whether Brother Dan has returned," Zhou Xun muttered to himself.
This Brother Dan was named Dan Xiong Hai. He had grown up with Zhou Xun, and was now following his uncle, a demon-hunting cultivator at Qi Condensation Fifth Level, to learn demon hunting in Hundred Savages Mountain.
The last time they had met was a year ago.
Dan Xiong Hai had specially brought Zhou Xun a Snowy Mongoose Rabbit, an unranked demon beast whose meat was extraordinarily delicious.
Thinking of the taste of that Demon Beast Meat, Zhou Xun could not help swallowing.
As he was thinking, he arrived at his destination.
"Greetings, fellow Daoists. I am Wu Gui, a spiritual field steward of the Wu Family," said a middle-aged man in brocade and a red robe, standing in the middle of the crowd.
The Wu Family was one of Red Leaf Square's four great cultivation lineages, holding thirty percent of Red Leaf Square's share.
Of the hundred Spirit Essence in rent Zhou Xun paid every year, thirty ended up in the Wu Family's hands.
To low-level cultivators living in Red Leaf Square, the Wu Family was the sky above Red Leaf Square.
"As everyone knows, when spiritual grain ripens, it releases a grain fragrance that easily draws Spirit Aphids. The Wu Family's spiritual fields are about to mature, and we need fifteen fellow Daoists to participate in exterminating the pests for a total of seven days."
"As for the compensation, all spiritual rice consumed during this period will be provided by the Wu Family. Once the extermination is complete, we will also offer ten Spirit Essence!" The middle-aged man in red spoke with a smile.
Upon hearing that they could earn ten Spirit Essence in seven days, the cultivators all grew excited.
"The Wu Family truly is generous!"
"Such lavishness truly displays the bearing of a great lineage!"
"The Wu Family has grand vision!"
Normally, even after working for an entire month, they would only earn ten Spirit Essence. Yet now they could make ten Spirit Essence in merely seven days. This was an exceptionally lucrative job.
Zhou Xun was rather tempted as well.
"I didn't expect to encounter such a good job the moment I arrived!"
"However, we do have requirements!"
The red-robed steward pressed both hands downward, quieting the restless crowd, then continued:
"First, applicants must cultivate a basic metal-attribute or fire-attribute cultivation art."
At this requirement, a large group of cultivators instantly sighed, each revealing an expression of having known it all along.
Dealing with Spirit Aphids was generally divided into two parts.
First, cultivators of fire-attribute arts cast spells around the perimeter to drive away the incoming Spirit Aphids. Inside the spiritual fields, cultivators of metal-attribute arts cast spells to kill them.
Spirit Aphids were naturally afraid of fire. Using fire-attribute spells to drive them away achieved twice the result with half the effort.
Metal-attribute spells, meanwhile, possessed sharp and precise characteristics. They could kill the Spirit Aphids on the spiritual grain without harming the grain itself.
Of course, spells of the other attributes could also be used. They were simply far less efficient than metal and fire.
"What a pity. Back then, I chose the wood-attribute Essence Cultivation Art!" Zhou Xun lamented inwardly.
At that moment, the red-robed steward spoke again.
"The second requirement is that your cultivation must be at Qi Condensation Third Level or above. Those below Qi Condensation Third Level need not come join the excitement!"
Zhou Xun sighed. Knowing he had even less of a chance now, he prepared to leave.
"It is merely clearing Spirit Aphids. A cultivator at Qi Condensation Second Level can fully handle it. I ask Steward Wu to make an exception!"
Suddenly, a middle-aged cultivator in blue robes beside Zhou Xun spoke up.
He specialized in metal-attribute spells. Many spiritual farmers near Red Leaf Square liked to hire him to exterminate pests, but his cultivation was only at Qi Condensation Second Level, leaving him outside the red-robed steward's requirements.
Yet he was naturally unwilling to let such a job—ten Spirit Essence for seven days—slip away just like that.
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