Cultivation: From Menial Laborer to Immortal Venerable Section 36

For the next few months, Zhou Xun returned to his ordinary cultivation routine.

One day, after completing his daily alchemy task, Zhou Xun decided to head back.

"Alchemist Zhou, please wait!"

A steward called out to Zhou Xun.

"Oh, it's Steward Liu. Is there something you need?" Zhou Xun asked with a surprised smile.

"Grandmaster Yun Ku is back and wants to meet you new alchemists!" Steward Liu replied with a chuckle. He then leaned in and lowered his voice:

"In my many years at Danbao Pavilion, Grandmaster Yun Ku has only summoned newly promoted alchemists a handful of times. Alchemist Zhou, you must seize this opportunity!"

"Thank you, Steward Liu!" Zhou Xun cupped his fists in thanks.

Ever since breaking through to Tier 2, Grandmaster Yun Ku had rarely managed Danbao Pavilion himself.

Soon, Steward Liu led Zhou Xun to Grandmaster Yun Ku's courtyard.

"I've brought Alchemist Zhou here!" Steward Liu respectfully announced from outside the courtyard gate.

"Let him in!" A voice, subtly familiar to Zhou Xun, came from within.

The voice was powerful, like an ancient bell.

"Alchemist Zhou, please come in!" Steward Liu said, gesturing inside.

Zhou Xun nodded, pushed open the courtyard gate, and stepped in.

The courtyard wasn't large, covering only a few dozen square feet. A fish pond, connected by a path, surrounded the area, teeming with spirit fish.

In the center stood a pavilion with stone benches and a table. An old man in simple attire was already waiting there, looking at Zhou Xun with a smile.

"Grandmaster Yun Ku!" Zhou Xun immediately recognized the old man as the one he had met during the Danbao Pavilion recruitment conference.

"Young friend, we meet again!"

"My apologies for my rudeness before, I didn't recognize you, senior," Zhou Xun said, bowing deeply.

"Haha, it seems I was right. Young friend, you have indeed joined Danbao Pavilion!"

Grandmaster Yun Ku laughed heartily, a pleased expression on his face.

Grandmaster Yun Ku was in charge of the entire Danbao Pavilion. Getting someone admitted was merely a matter of his word.

Recalling how Steward Lin had tried to obstruct him before, yet he was still selected, and considering Steward Lin's subsequent attitude, Zhou Xun knew that this old man before him had played a role.

He respectfully performed another deep bow.

"My current standing is all thanks to you, senior!"

Grandmaster Yun Ku accepted the bow and nodded slightly.

"When I met you that day, I felt a connection, so I gave you a little push. I never expected you to have grown to this extent!" the old man said, showing admiration.

"Your pills could fool ordinary alchemists, but not me. Deliberately lowering the quality of your pills was a trick I used in my youth. Your current alchemy skill is likely far superior to Wang Erniu's!"

The old man explained, then looked at Zhou Xun with a half-smile.

"You have keen insight, senior. I was too rash!" Zhou Xun admitted, seeing no other option.

"Knowing when to conceal your abilities is a good thing, and it will allow you to go further. But with me here at Danbao Pavilion, you can rest assured. Sometimes, showcasing your strength at the right time can lead to greater resources," the old man said, stroking his beard.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior!" Zhou Xun bowed again.

"Here are some alchemy techniques. Take them and study them!" He patted his storage pouch, and a stack of books as tall as half a person appeared before them.

"If you can advance to a mid-grade alchemist within a year, I promise to take you as my personal disciple and pass on all my alchemy knowledge to you!"

"Thank you, senior!" Zhou Xun bowed respectfully once more.

Grandmaster Yun Ku was a mid-grade Tier 2 alchemist, a position comparable to a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

If he became his disciple, he wouldn't have to worry about resources until Foundation Establishment.

After all, a mid-grade Tier 2 alchemist could already skillfully refine Foundation Establishment Pills.

Returning from Grandmaster Yun Ku's place, Zhou Xun took out the alchemy techniques he had gifted.

He skimmed through them.

It was a lineage of low-grade Tier 2 alchemy techniques.

Instantly, Zhou Xun understood Grandmaster Yun Ku's intentions.

Although he had set the condition of becoming a mid-grade Tier 1 alchemist, this alchemy technique lineage clearly indicated that

Grandmaster Yun Ku already regarded him as his disciple and intended to teach him.

Otherwise, why would such a Tier 2 alchemy lineage be casually given away to someone else?

Thinking of this, Zhou Xun couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for Grandmaster Yun Ku.

Since his transmigration, this was the first person who had been so good to him.

One day, Zhou Xun was at his home in Green Willow Alley, studying the alchemy techniques gifted by Grandmaster Yun Ku.

Suddenly, a streak of fire flew in from outside.

Zhou Xun beckoned, and the streak of fire landed in his hand.

It was a Low-Grade Message Talisman.

It cost about ten Spirit Essence.

Before becoming a Pill Refinement Master, Zhou Xun would never have been willing to use one.

Injecting Mystic Force, a hearty voice transmitted, it was Hong San.

"Brother Zhou, greetings. I, Hong San, have been fortunate enough to be appointed Deputy Leader of the Iron Hand Gang. I've prepared a banquet at Room Alpha-10 of Yuexiang Restaurant, and I hope Brother Zhou will grace us with his presence!"

Yuexiang Restaurant was the largest restaurant in Red Leaf Square, a full tier higher than Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion where they had met before.

It seemed Hong San had indeed been promoted.

When he learned that the Iron Hand Gang was going to add a Deputy Leader, he was certain Hong San had a high probability of being elected.

After all, among the thirteen halls of the Iron Hand Gang, only Xinshou Hall was developing against the trend.

If this Deputy Leader position didn't go to Hong San, the entire membership of Xinshou Hall wouldn't agree.

However, this person, having just taken the position of Deputy Leader, was already putting on such a display, which made him feel a trace of unusualness.

After all, Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion was where they had met many times and was more familiar.

Since he had personally invited him, Zhou Xun had no intention of refusing and agreed to the banquet.

He then patted his Storage Pouch, took out a message talisman, whispered a few words, and tossed the talisman into the air, turning into a streak of fire as it flew away.

Afterward, he changed his attire and headed to Yuexiang Restaurant.

Yuexiang Restaurant, Room Alpha-10.

Zhou Xun pushed open the door and strode in.

Upon entering, he saw Hong San sitting at the head of the table, eating beast meat and drinking spirit wine.

Zhou Xun's heart stirred slightly. The guest had not yet arrived, but the feast had already begun. This was not the way to host a guest.

It wasn't that Zhou Xun valued formality this much.

Rather, behind this impoliteness, it revealed a change in Hong San's attitude towards him.

The original Hong San was extremely respectful and enthusiastic towards him, always waiting downstairs early to personally welcome Zhou Xun inside.

However, Zhou Xun did not show it and spoke first:

"Congratulations, Third Brother, on your promotion to Deputy Leader!"

"Haha, Brother Zhou, come quickly and try some. Yuexiang Restaurant truly lives up to its reputation as the number one restaurant in Red Leaf Square. The banquets here are nothing compared to Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion!"

Seeing Zhou Xun speak, Hong San finally stood up enthusiastically and invited Zhou Xun to sit.

Then he said:

"Only after becoming Deputy Leader do I truly understand the beauty of power!"

"Originally, I was the Hall Master of Xinshou Hall, and I had some influence. But among the thirteen halls of the Iron Mountain Gang, my ranking was low, and I wasn't taken seriously. Those Hall Masters would call me 'Hong San'er' when they met me."

"Now, when they see me, they all call me 'Third Brother,' 'Third Brother,' and are very polite. Even when going out, they wouldn't dare to step forward before I do. Isn't that interesting!"

Hong San laughed heartily, appearing to relish this feeling.

"Even for drinking, I could only go to Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion before, but now I can even set up a table at Yuexiang Restaurant!"

"And those important figures I couldn't get close to before are now dining at the same table!"

"Just yesterday, I hosted a steward from Danbao Pavilion. In the past, how could someone like me, Hong San, possibly get close to such a person? Haha!"

Hong San spoke as if unintentionally, but he subtly glanced at Zhou Xun, seemingly wanting to gauge something from Zhou Xun's expression.

"Now that Third Brother is the Deputy Leader, naturally, you are incomparable!" Zhou Xun replied calmly, his expression unchanged.