Cultivation: From Menial Worker to Immortal Venerable Section 4

"But I, Lin, am not someone who can be controlled like that. I'll still rent this place to you, but the rent will increase by fifty percent. Otherwise, I won't be able to explain myself!"

"Rent it or not, you can consider it!"

After speaking, he picked up his Spirit Tea and took a sip.

"Fifty percent!" Hearing this number, Zhou Xun fell silent. After a long while, he finally asked, "May I ask if the person who delivered the message is surnamed Wei?"

"That's right! That person advanced to become a Talismaster at the age of twenty-three. He's currently very popular, and there's a high probability he'll advance to a high-grade first-tier in the future. I advise you not to cross him!"

"Talismaster?"

"Indeed, three days ago, that person successfully advanced to Talismaster!"

So that's how it is. Zhou Xun understood instantly. He himself came from the Mystic Talisman Pavilion, so how could he not know the status of a high-grade first-tier Talismaster?

It was definitely no lower than someone at the peak of Qi Condensation.

No wonder he was expelled so quickly.

"Thank you for your kind advice, Manager. Zhou remembers it. This house... I'll rent it!"

The houses in Red Leaf Square's southeast district were the cheapest. Besides here, he couldn't afford to rent anywhere else.

Zhou Xun bowed and immediately took out 150 Spirit Essence, placing them down gently.

Warden Lin counted them, confirmed they were correct, and then turned to leave after putting them away.

After Warden Lin left, Zhou Xun fell into deep thought.

As expected, the Wei brothers' move struck him right where it hurt.

Fortunately, Warden Lin was helpful. Otherwise, if he couldn't rent a place, he would have to live outside Red Leaf Square. With his cultivation at the second level of Qi Condensation, the Wei brothers only needed to spread the word that he was from the Hundred Talisman Pavilion and had accumulated a large amount of Spirit Stones, and he would surely die without a burial place.

Thinking of this, Zhou Xun felt a chill in his heart.

"I still underestimated them. I didn't expect Wei Shangren, who usually slacks off, to have such a scheme!"

"If there's a chance, I must get rid of them, otherwise, I will never have peace!"

According to the original plan, after renting the house, he would still have one hundred and ten Spirit Essence left. Now that the rent had increased by fifty percent, only sixty remained.

Not counting cultivation resources, just buying Spirit Rice would only last him half a year.

Moreover, he would have to prepare next year's rent in advance.

"I need to find a job quickly!"

He returned to the west plaza, which was bustling with noise. Everyone had an excited look on their faces.

Zhou Xun was puzzled and quickly asked an elder beside him for information.

"Brother Dao, may I ask what happened here to make everyone so excited?"

The elder had white hair and wore a robe that didn't seem ordinary, though it was quite old and had some burn marks. There was also a faint medicinal fragrance!

It seemed he had been prosperous in the past but had fallen on hard times.

"Brother Dao?"

Seeing a young man with a fair complexion and a handsome face calling him, the elder's expression was a little strange, but he still patiently explained:

"Fellow Daoist, you may not know this,"

"Five days ago, Grandmaster Yun Ku of the Lin Family Pill Refinement Hall successfully broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage and simultaneously advanced to become a second-grade mid-tier Pill Refinement Master."

"To celebrate and expand, the Lin Family's Pill Refinement Hall has decided to recruit 10 Pill Refinement Apprentices and 30 Spirit Contract Servants. This is a great opportunity for rogue cultivators like us!"

"What!"

Hearing this news, Zhou Xun's heart stirred.

He vaguely remembered that the reason his predecessor was able to join the Mystic Talisman Pavilion as a Spirit Contract Servant was that three years ago, the second elder of the Mystic Talisman Pavilion had advanced to a second-tier Talismaster. The Mystic Talisman Pavilion expanded and recruited six apprentices and 20 Spirit Contract Servants, giving Zhou Xun the opportunity to join.

Now that such an opportunity had presented itself again, he definitely couldn't miss it.

"Brother Dao, do you know the requirements for this recruitment?"

Naturally, there were certain thresholds for being an apprentice and a Spirit Contract Servant in a pill refinement hall. Not just anyone could join.

"First, your background must be clear and your character impeccable. If you are a disciple raised in Red Leaf Square, that would be even better."

"Secondly, for the Pill Refinement Apprentices, you must be under eighteen years old and have a cultivation base above the third level of Qi Condensation. Then, the best will be selected."

"For Spirit Contract Servants, you must reach the third level of Qi Condensation before the age of thirty, and the second level of Qi Condensation before eighteen!" After speaking, the man glanced at Zhou Xun and said with regret:

"It's a pity, Fellow Daoist, you are about to reach the peak of the second level of Qi Condensation, just a step away from the apprentice standard. What a shame, what a shame!"

The elder sighed as he spoke.

Hearing this, Zhou Xun's heart moved.

With so many conditions for the Pill Refinement Apprentices, he only lacked one in terms of cultivation. Was there any room for maneuver? However, he still appeared humble on the surface:

"What's there to regret? I am merely a humble rogue cultivator. To be able to join the Lin family as a Spirit Contract Servant is already more than I could ask for. As for being an apprentice, I dare not hope for it!"

"Not arrogant, not impatient, understands sacrifice, has self-awareness, and a superior disposition. It's just a shame about his poor talent and cultivation!" the old man stroked his beard, with a hint of world-weariness.

"Contentment brings happiness. It's good that you see things so clearly, fellow Daoist!"

"When is the registration?" Zhou Xun asked urgently.

Such large-scale recruitments were usually announced in advance, with registration first, followed by selection.

If he were given some time and paid a certain price, he might be able to break through before the selection!

"One month from today, registration will be open here, and the selection will take place simultaneously. I hope you achieve your wish then, fellow Daoist!"

"Thank you, brother Daoist!" Zhou Xun cupped his fists and bowed.

'One month, I still have a chance!'

Zhou Xun was overjoyed.

Among the hundred arts of cultivation, the Pill Refinement Master held the most esteemed position.

An ordinary Rank 1 High-grade Pill Refinement Master could become a honored guest of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Grandmaster Yun Ku, before his breakthrough, was a Rank 2 Low-grade Pill Refinement Master. Although his cultivation was only at Qi Condensation Layer 9, his status surpassed that of ordinary early Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Now that he had advanced to Rank 2 Mid-grade, his status was directly comparable to late Foundation Establishment cultivators, ranking among the top five in the entire Red Leaf Square.

If he could join the Lin Family Pill Refinement Hall and become a pill refinement apprentice under Grandmaster Yun Ku, the Wei brothers would surely not dare to trouble him again.

Furthermore, becoming a pill refinement apprentice had another benefit: it allowed one to openly access various spirit herbs.

His Ningshun Sutra would then have a practical application.

With this thought, Zhou Xun lost all interest in finding odd jobs.

Without hesitation, he headed towards the pill refinement hall to the east.

He decided to purchase a Qi Induction Pill.

The Qi Induction Pill was a pill that solidified the foundation and nourished the origin, suitable for cultivators in the early Qi Condensation stage. Many cultivators at the peak of Qi Condensation Layer 2 used this pill to break through.

However, this pill was not cheap, costing at least 40 Spirit Essence per pill.

'Although I'm not at the peak of Qi Condensation Layer 2, the chance of breaking through to the third layer directly by taking the Qi Induction Pill is slim, but with such an opportunity before me, it's worth a shot!'

He walked along the long flagstone path, turned a few street corners, and arrived in front of the Lin Family Pill Refinement Hall.

The Lin Family Pill Refinement Hall was the largest pill merchant in Red Leaf Square, and it was extremely magnificent.

The building consisted of one main hall and four annexes, with the highest point reaching about seven to eight zhang. The rooftops soared. The entire Ten Thousand Treasures Tower covered an area of nearly a hundred zhang in circumference, with winding corridors, high eaves, and carved railings and painted beams, truly majestic and grand.

Two guards were stationed at the entrance, both peak Qi Condensation Layer 3 experts.

Zhou Xun stepped in from the entrance and went straight to the area selling pills for the early Qi Condensation stage.

"Young master, what kind of pill would you like to buy?"

"Qi Induction Pill!"

"That will be 41 Spirit Essence!"

Zhou Xun did not hesitate to take out his Spirit Essence, received a medicine bottle containing the Qi Induction Pill from the shopkeeper, and then hurried away, heading towards his home.

Just as he reached the entrance of the alley, Zhou Xun encountered many pedestrians, all cultivators residing in Green Willow Alley.

The neighbors were looking at him strangely!

Zhou Xun found it odd.

As he got closer, he heard them talking about him, their voices faintly reaching his ears.

"Did you hear? Zhou Xun was reportedly fired from the Mystic Talisman Pavilion!" said a young man dressed as a servant, who usually greeted Zhou Xun with "Brother Zhou."

"Heh heh, he deserved it too!" said the person next to him, gloating.

Many people were envious when he was working at the Mystic Talisman Pavilion.