Cultivation: From Laborer to Immortal Venerable Part 2

The three large characters "Ningshun Sutra" were engraved on it.

"This dream again, this is the third time in two years!"

"What kind of cultivation technique is this 'Ningshun Sutra' that can condense the essence of spiritual plants and mend a cultivator's foundation?"

Spiritual root aptitude is also a type of foundation. Mending the foundation means improving spiritual roots.

"One sword opens the Heavenly Gate, ascend to the heavens amidst the rosy clouds, gaze for eternity, and live forever."

Zhou Xun was extremely excited. Staring at the three characters that seemed like true words of the Great Dao, he flipped open the first page.

"The Way of Heaven is to diminish the excess and supplement the insufficient."

After a long time, Zhou Xun woke up, his eyes bright.

"Finally, I've seen the complete text!"

This is my first time writing a book, please support me!

When Zhou Xun first entered this dream two years ago, he learned of the effects of the "Ningshun Sutra" and planned to establish himself in the Mystic Talisman Pavilion of Red Leaf Square.

He used the opportunity at Red Leaf Square as a spiritual contract handyman to accumulate Spirit Stones and buy spiritual medicine to improve his spiritual roots.

Zhou Xun spotted a calming grass at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion for only one hundred and fifty Spirit Essences.

He had already saved one hundred and twenty Spirit Essences. In just another month, he would be able to buy that spiritual medicine and try to improve his spiritual roots.

However, he was kicked out.

Zhou Xun had his own guesses as to why he was expelled.

As an orphan, he was able to join the Mystic Talisman Pavilion thanks to the legacy of his parents.

A certain steward of the Mystic Talisman Pavilion was a close friend of Zhou Xun's late father. Through this connection, Zhou Xun was able to become a spiritual contract handyman.

After joining the Mystic Talisman Pavilion, Zhou Xun was diligent and was appreciated by the stewards of the Mystic Talisman Pavilion.

Six months ago, the Mystic Talisman Pavilion suddenly announced that one person would be selected from all the spiritual contract handymen to participate in the Talisman Master Apprentice assessment.

This was an opportunity for all the handymen to achieve a great leap forward.

If they could become apprentices, they would be able to learn the art of talisman making in the Mystic Talisman Pavilion and have the chance to become Talisman Masters.

It should be known that even a first-grade low-rank Talisman Master held a status in the entire Mystic Talisman Pavilion no less than that of the stewards.

Not to mention, the income of a Talisman Master was several times that of a steward.

This was a golden path.

It was even more so for Zhou Xun. With the "Ningshun Sutra" in hand, improving his spiritual roots required a large amount of spiritual medicine. A position as a Talisman Master with a stable and substantial income was crucial for him.

However, there was only one spot for the apprentice assessment, and the competition was extremely fierce.

Fortunately, Zhou Xun was meticulous in his work, and all the stewards of the Mystic Talisman Pavilion had a very good impression of him. Coupled with the full support of his uncle, he was the most favored candidate for the spot.

Ranking second was Wei Shangren.

This person was also a spiritual contract handyman in the Mystic Talisman Pavilion. However, he was an arrogant and lazy individual with inflated ambitions and a bad temper.

But he had an elder brother who was the most talented Talisman Master apprentice in the Mystic Talisman Pavilion, highly regarded by the higher-ups of the Mystic Talisman Pavilion, who even intended to take him as a son-in-law.

With the support of such an elder brother, Wei Shangren was also a strong contender for the spot.

As the struggle for the Dao arose, conflicts naturally occurred, and the two quickly fell out, forming a deep enmity.

Just then, an accident occurred.

Zhou Xun's uncle suddenly met with an accident and died.

Immediately after, Zhou Xun was also expelled and kicked out.

"The spot hasn't been announced yet, and the Mystic Talisman Pavilion's attitude has suddenly changed, expelling me. This matter must be related to the Wei brothers!"

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Zhou Xun's eyes.

However, it was quickly replaced by calmness.

"My current cultivation is only at the second level of Qi Condensation. Facing the Wei brothers, I have no ability to take revenge."

"Fortunately, I have the complete 'Ningshun Sutra' in hand, which can improve my spiritual root aptitude."

"I will settle this matter after my cultivation reaches a certain height!"

The next day, Zhou Xun got up early.

"My immediate priority is to find a job as soon as possible and accumulate Spirit Stones!"

With Spirit Stones, he could purchase spiritual medicine, improve his spiritual roots, and then rapidly increase his cultivation!

Then he would earn more Spirit Stones, buy better spiritual medicine, and raise his cultivation to a higher level.

Faster and faster, like a snowball rolling downhill.

After a simple meal of spirit rice porridge, he left home and headed to the West Plaza.

The West Plaza is located in the northwest of the market. The stewards of the various shops in Red Leaf Square and the managers of the Spirit Fields, whenever they had recruitment needs for cultivators, would come here. Over time, it became the talent market of the cultivation world.

As he reached the main road, many passing cultivators could be seen.

Scholars, Daoists, all sorts of people.

Occasionally, there were also cultivators dressed in animal skins, hunting demons, hurrying along with cautious expressions.

"I wonder if Brother Dan has returned," Zhou Xun murmured to himself.

This Brother Dan was named Dan Xiong Hai, a childhood friend of Zhou Xun. He was currently following his uncle, a demon-hunting cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Condensation, to learn demon hunting at Hundred Savages Mountain.

The last time the two met was a year ago.

Dan Xiong Hai had specifically brought Zhou Xun a Snowy Mongoose Rabbit, a low-grade demonic beast with a delicious taste.

Thinking of the taste of that demonic beast meat, Zhou Xun couldn't help but swallow!

As he was thinking, he arrived at his destination.

"Greetings, fellow Daoists. I am Wu Gui, the Spirit Field manager for the Wu Family," said a middle-aged man in a brocade robe and red attire, standing in the center of the crowd.

The Wu Family was one of the four major immortal cultivating families in Red Leaf Square, occupying thirty percent of the market share.

Of the one hundred Spirit Essences Zhou Xun paid annually as rent, thirty went into the hands of the Wu Family.

For the low-level cultivators living in Red Leaf Square, the Wu Family was akin to the heavens of Red Leaf Square.

"As everyone knows, when the spirit grain ripens, it emits a fragrance that easily attracts Spirit Aphids. Now that our Wu Family's spirit fields are about to mature, we need fifteen Daoists to participate in pest control for a total of seven days."

"As for the compensation, the Spirit Rice consumed during this period will be provided by our Wu Family. Additionally, upon completion of the pest control, we will offer ten Spirit Essences!" the red-robed middle-aged man said with a smile.

Upon hearing the news of ten Spirit Essences for seven days, the cultivators became excited.

"The Wu Family is truly generous!"

"Such a gesture truly shows the demeanor of a great family!"

"The Wu Family has great vision!"

Keep in mind that they usually earned only ten Spirit Essences in a month. Now, in just seven days, they could earn 10 Spirit Essences, making it an exceptionally lucrative job.

Zhou Xun was also quite tempted upon hearing this.

"I didn't expect to encounter such a good opportunity right after arriving!"

"However, we do have requirements!"

The red-robed manager pressed his hands down to quell the crowd's commotion and continued:

"First, applicants must cultivate basic techniques of the Metal or Fire element."

Upon hearing this requirement, a large number of cultivators immediately sighed, showing expressions of 'as expected.'

Dealing with Spirit Aphids was typically divided into two parts.

First, cultivators who practiced Fire element techniques would cast spells on the periphery to drive away the incoming Spirit Aphids. Inside the spirit fields, cultivators who practiced Metal element techniques would cast spells to kill them.

This was because Spirit Aphids were naturally afraid of fire, and using Fire element spells to drive them away was twice as effective.

Metal element spells, on the other hand, possessed sharp and precise characteristics, allowing them to kill Spirit Aphids on the spirit grain without harming the grain itself.

Of course, spells of other elements were not impossible, but their efficiency was far inferior compared to the Metal and Fire elements.

"It's a pity I chose to cultivate the Wood element's 'Essence Cultivation Art' back then!" Zhou Xun lamented inwardly.

At this moment, the red-robed manager's voice rang out again.

"The second requirement is that cultivation must be at the third level of Qi Condensation or above. Those below the third level of Qi Condensation need not bother!"

Zhou Xun sighed, knowing he had even less of a chance, and prepared to leave.

"It's just clearing Spirit Aphids; cultivators at the second level of Qi Condensation are perfectly capable. I implore the manager to show some flexibility!"

Suddenly, a middle-aged cultivator dressed in blue robes next to Zhou Xun spoke up.

He was a cultivator who specialized in Metal element spells. Many spirit farmers near Red Leaf Square liked to hire him for pest control. Unfortunately, he was only at the second level of Qi Condensation, falling outside the red-robed manager's requirements.

However, he was unwilling to let such a job, offering ten Spirit Essences for seven days, slip through his fingers.