His words struck a chord with the crowd.
After all, most of the cultivators present were only at Qi Condensation Second Level. What this warden said was practically shutting the majority of them out, and they immediately raised their voices in agreement.
"Yes, Warden! We all have extensive experience clearing Spirit Aphids!"
"We Qi Condensation Second Level cultivators are certainly up to the task!"
The red-robed middle-aged man's face darkened at once.
Without hesitation, he released his mana, and an aura belonging to a Mid-Stage Qi Condensation cultivator erupted instantly.
The cultivators were startled.
"This is Wu Family business. It is not your place to chatter!" The red-robed warden's blazing gaze swept over each of the cultivators who had spoken.
Wherever his gaze fell, people hurriedly avoided it. Then, cultivators below Qi Condensation Third Level all stepped back, while those at Qi Condensation Third Level beamed with delight and lined up to register.
Zhou Xun was only at Qi Condensation Second Level and did not meet the registration requirements. Naturally, he remained among the people at the back, watching the cultivators signing up with envy.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out among those registering ahead. A white-haired Elder was grabbed by the red-robed warden and tossed out, while the latter cursed with a look of disgust.
"What are you, an old bag of bones, doing here joining the fun?"
The Elder pleaded without pause.
"Warden Wu, please make an exception for me. This old man is also at Qi Condensation Third Level. Please let me pass!"
"Pah! Let you pass? Do you take me for an idiot? Get the hell out of here!"
Once cultivators passed sixty, their bodily functions began to decline. Their divine sense and mana also slowly withered.
Though this Elder was also at Qi Condensation Third Level, judging by his appearance, he was nearly a hundred years old. By that calculation, even his mana could not last as long as Zhou Xun's, despite Zhou Xun being only at Qi Condensation Second Level. Naturally, the red-robed warden had no desire to recruit him.
Before long, the Wu Family's red-robed warden left with the cultivators he had recruited.
Zhou Xun shook his head and headed for the next recruitment post.
"What is your cultivation level?"
"Qi Condensation Second Level."
"We only recruit Qi Condensation Third Level cultivators. Move along, move along."
"Qi Condensation Second Level? Go, go, go!"
"Qi Condensation Second Level? No, no!"
Zhou Xun made the rounds of every recruitment post, but nearly every one required Qi Condensation Third Level or above.
The only job with no cultivation requirement was mining.
However, mines were generally sparse in Spiritual Qi, and the work was grueling, leaving no time at all for cultivation.
Thus, despite the high pay, no one was willing to go except cultivators whose prospects had been severed, or parents earning cultivation resources for their children.
Zhou Xun had his heart set on the Great Dao, so naturally he would not join them.
After waiting the entire day without finding any work suited to him, Zhou Xun could only return home first.
When he was still more than a hundred zhang from home, Zhou Xun spotted a figure pacing about outside his door from afar.
He focused his mana into his eyes and immediately saw the man's face clearly.
This visitor means no good! Zhou Xun secretly became vigilant.
It was Wei Shangren.
"Brother Zhou, Brother Zhou, you finally returned! Wei has been waiting for you for a full hour!"
Zhou Xun raised his eyes slightly at this, casually cupped his hands, and said:
"So it is Brother Wei. What business brings you to my humble home?"
"When you did not come to work yesterday, Wei was quite worried. After asking around, I learned that Brother Zhou had actually been dismissed. That is why I came to pay you a visit and see how you were doing!" The young man grinned.
"Brother Wei's goodwill is appreciated," Zhou Xun replied perfunctorily, then moved to take out his token and open the door.
Seeing this, Wei Shangren hurriedly laughed aloud.
"Brother Zhou, why keep people at arm's length? Though there has been some friction between us, we did work together for a time. Will you not invite me in for a cup of spirit tea?"
"Brother Wei, why put on such a false display? Since you are an unwelcome guest, Zhou will not keep you any longer. Please leave." Zhou Xun could not be bothered to continue playing along.
Wei Shangren wore a broad smile as his eyes glanced westward, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.
"It seems Brother Zhou has come from West Square. You must have gone looking for work, yes? How did it go? If Brother Zhou does not mind, I can introduce you to a few opportunities!"
"After all, I am now a talisman master apprentice. I still have a little face to show!"
"There is no need for Brother Wei to trouble himself over this matter." Completely unruffled, Zhou Xun gripped his token with his left hand, poured mana into it, and sent a streak of green light toward the gate.
Seeing that Zhou Xun had turned a deaf ear and that his expression had not changed in the slightest, Wei Shangren could not help growing irritated. He lowered his voice and continued to provoke him.
"Brother Zhou, are you not curious why you were dismissed?"
Zhou Xun gave a light laugh.
"Other than Brother Wei, who else could it have been?"
Wei Shangren nodded smugly.
"Brother Zhou truly is clever. Four days ago, my elder brother advanced to become a First Rank Talisman Master. The moment I received the news, I went to the warden and had you dismissed. With my elder brother's standing behind me, he naturally did not dare refuse!"
Every talisman master was among the core figures of Mystic Talisman Pavilion. Moreover, his elder brother was barely over twenty and had the potential to advance to First Rank High Grade in the future. His status had risen sharply, far surpassing those wardens.
Therefore, even the warden who had once thought highly of Zhou Xun did not dare step forward for him.
Hearing this, Zhou Xun merely smiled faintly, utterly unconcerned.
He possessed the Ningshun Sutra. His future was destined for glory, and this temporary setback was merely a small amusement upon his road to the heavens.
Wei Shangren said angrily upon seeing this:
"Zhou Xun, you really know how to put on an act. Without your job at the shop, you probably cannot even afford to rent this house anymore, can you?"
"When the time comes and you are driven out of Red Leaf Square, you can only live outside with those wild cultivators, never knowing whether you will see tomorrow. Perhaps one day you will die in some stinking gutter. When that happens, Wei will certainly burn a few extra sticks of incense for you!"
"But I am different. Now that I have become a talisman-crafting apprentice, I will become a talisman master in the future. From then on, I will be one of Red Leaf Square's people above people!"
"Then Zhou shall congratulate Brother Wei in advance!" Zhou Xun laughed loudly before striding through the gate.
As he watched Zhou Xun's retreating back, a flash of killing intent passed through his eyes.
"My elder brother said that if one does not kill a snake, one will suffer from its bite. If you strike, then crush it with all your strength. Only a dead enemy is a good enemy!"
"I could kill your old uncle, and I can naturally kill you too!"
Wei Shangren immediately turned and walked in a certain direction.
Back in his room, Zhou Xun fell into deep thought.
Wei Shangren's visit had reminded him of something.
Given his temperament, he certainly would not stop so simply. He would definitely have more moves in store.
Fortunately, Wei Shangren's elder brother was only a First Rank Low Grade Talisman Master and had yet to gain a firm foothold. His influence was limited.
As long as Zhou Xun had enough spirit stones to remain in Red Leaf Square, there was nothing they could do to him.
Red Leaf Square prohibited fighting, and its rules were extremely strict. Even if there was a grudge, one had to leave Red Leaf Square to settle it, or go to Red Leaf Square's Life-and-Death Arena.
Other than that, anyone who fought within the square would be executed without exception.
Two hundred years ago, a Rogue Cultivator at Foundation Establishment Early Stage had relied on his cultivation to secretly kill an enemy.
When a cultivator died in Red Leaf Square, the Four Great Clans mobilized together. They eventually traced the matter to that Foundation Establishment cultivator. The four clan heads of Wu, Lin, Sun, and Li from Red Leaf Square personally acted, captured the man, and executed him in public.
From then on, Red Leaf Square was gripped by solemn awe. Large numbers of cultivators moved into Red Leaf Square, and it consequently grew even more prosperous, ranking among the top five in all of Xu Nation.
Thinking of this, Zhou Xun felt somewhat reassured.
After eating a simple dinner, he entered the Meditation Chamber with anticipation and began his daily cultivation.
The next day, just after Zhou Xun finished a bowl of spirit rice porridge, knocking sounded outside.
Zhou Xun rose and opened the gate. A fat figure squeezed inside.
"So it is Warden Lin. What brings you here?" Zhou Xun hurriedly invited him to sit and brewed him a cup of spirit tea.
Zhou Xun lived in Green Willow Alley in the southeastern district of Red Leaf Square. Warden Lin was the housing warden responsible for Zhou Xun's alley, and he was at Qi Condensation Fifth Level.
Zhou Xun had no friendship with him.
Aside from collecting rent, this warden had never once come to visit.
"I heard that Mystic Talisman Pavilion dismissed you?" Warden Lin lifted the spirit tea Zhou Xun had brewed for him in his left hand, gently blew on it, and took a sip.
"That is correct. Warden Lin is remarkably well informed," Zhou Xun answered without giving anything away.
Warden Lin nodded and went straight to the point.
"You can probably guess why I have come. It is to collect next year's rent, but..." The fat warden paused, a trace of complicated emotion appearing in his eyes as he glanced at Zhou Xun.
"But someone passed word down through higher channels that this house is no longer to be rented to you."
Before you continue