Cultivation: From Servant to Immortal Venerable - Section 5

Zhou Xun didn't say anything upon hearing that. He brushed past them, stepping over the fallen and kicking the fallen. Whether in his past life or this one, he had seen plenty of such behavior.

Shaking his head, Zhou Xun continued walking forward.

Just then, a tall figure approached him and asked with concern, "Brother Zhou, I heard you were expelled from the Mystic Talisman Pavilion?"

The man was refined in appearance, with a foot-long broad cleaver hanging from his waist. He looked to be in his early forties.

"Brother Gao, you already know about this!" Zhou Xun cupped his fists in greeting.

This man, surnamed Gao, also lived in Green Willow Alley and was a Spirit Butcher.

In the cultivation world, spiritual fish and demonic beasts often required special processing during slaughter. Otherwise, their spiritual energy would dissipate, greatly reducing their value. This led to the birth of the Spirit Butcher profession.

This middle-aged man surnamed Gao was a Spirit Butcher from a family tradition, and his skill in slaughtering spiritual fish was exceptional.

He was currently responsible for slaughtering spiritual fish at the largest cultivator restaurant in Red Leaf Square.

"Your situation has spread throughout the entire alley. How about I help you out? You can come work as a handyman at my restaurant. Although it's not as good as the Mystic Talisman Pavilion, it's still a place to settle down!" the middle-aged man said sincerely.

Zhou Xun felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this, but he still refused.

When Zhou Xun transmigrated, he had felt this Brother Gao was somewhat unfathomable. Now that he had the Ningshun Sutra and the opportunity at Danbao Pavilion, he politely declined:

"Thank you, Brother Gao. I still want to try finding something on my own. If I really have no other options, I'll have to trouble you then!"

"That's fine. You're young, you should seek out opportunities. If it really doesn't work out, then come find me!"

Zhou Xun nodded in agreement and, clutching the Qi Induction Pill, hurried home.

Upon returning home, Zhou Xun eagerly closed the door.

He then took out the medicine bottle and gently removed the stopper. A medicinal fragrance and a faint spiritual energy wafted towards him.

Zhou Xun's spirits lifted. He examined it carefully for a moment before replacing the stopper.

"Once I finish my spirit rice and my body is filled with spiritual energy, I'll take this. It will surely double the effect!"

Although he was a little excited, Zhou Xun managed to restrain himself.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

Zhou Xun quickly tucked the medicine bottle into his embrace, patted it securely, and only after feeling that no one could detect it did he get up to open the door.

"Brother Zhou!" a robust voice called out.

A tall, dark-skinned youth appeared before him. He looked to be around Zhou Xun's age, and he was carrying a rabbit as white as snow, weighing over ten pounds.

"Da Hai, when did you get back!" Zhou Xun exclaimed in surprise.

This person was Zhou Xun's childhood friend, Dan Xiong Hai. He was a year younger than Zhou Xun, which was why he called Zhou Xun "Brother."

What he was carrying was the very delicacy that Zhou Xun reminisced about – the Snowy Mongoose Rabbit.

"It's a long story. Let's go inside and prepare this Snowy Mongoose Rabbit. We can talk while we eat!" the youth said, smacking his lips.

"Please, please, please—"

Zhou Xun quickly welcomed Dan Xiong Hai inside.

Before long, the Snowy Mongoose Rabbit was prepared, and the two ate and chatted.

Dan Xiong Hai lay back in his chair, unceremoniously tearing off a large rabbit leg and devouring it.

"Da Hai, I've seen many monster-hunting cultivators returning to Red Leaf Square. Did something happen?"

Remembering the groups of monster hunters he had seen in Red Leaf Square over the past two days, Zhou Xun asked.

"Big Brother, you're still so smart," the youth mumbled through a mouthful of rabbit meat.

"Something happened in the center of Hundred Savages Mountain, causing a large number of demonic beasts to spread outwards!"

"Spread outwards?" Zhou Xun asked, confused.

Hundred Savages Mountain stretched for who knew how many tens of thousands of miles, teeming with countless demonic beasts.

The closer one got to the center, the higher the level of the demonic beasts. Red Leaf Square's monster hunters made a living by hunting low-level demonic beasts on the outskirts of Hundred Savages Mountain.

"That's right. Some people even claimed to have seen second-tier demonic beasts, which are equivalent to Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators among us! Normally, this only happens once every few years, but this time, the news indicates no less than five sightings!"

"Because it happened so suddenly, many monster hunters were lost. My uncle decided to return to Red Leaf Square first to avoid the trouble."

So that's how it is, Zhou Xun nodded.

Normally, the outward spread of demonic beasts would be a feast for monster hunters like them.

However, with the appearance of second-tier demonic beasts, it was no longer something that Qi Condensation cultivators like them could provoke. Returning to Red Leaf Square was only logical.

After that, they recounted their experiences since parting ways. Dan Xiong Hai spoke of his monster-hunting adventures. Although he described them plainly, Zhou Xun understood the inherent danger.

Demonic beasts possessed naturally powerful physiques, and coupled with their innate magical abilities, their strength was immense.

Therefore, human cultivators of the same level were no match for demonic beasts.

This was also why Zhou Xun had refused the invitation from Dan Xiong Hai's uncle to go hunting in Hundred Savages Mountain back then.

"Oh, right, you don't know yet, but my cultivation has already reached the peak of the third layer of Qi Condensation!" Dan Xiong Hai said, emanating a powerful aura of spiritual energy.

Zhou Xun felt this aura and couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.

"Oh, right, what about you?" Dan Xiong Hai asked.

Hearing this, Zhou Xun's heart felt a little dry, but he still recounted his experiences, omitting only the Wei brothers.

Dan Xiong Hai was a bit indignant upon hearing that Zhou Xun had been expelled.

"That damn bastard! Once I find an opportunity, I'll definitely catch that manager and give him a good beating!"

"What are you going to do now? Have you found any work?" Dan Xiong Hai asked with concern.

"Not yet," Zhou Xun shook his head.

Dan Xiong Hai pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke:

"Brother, I actually came today for another reason."

"Oh? What is it?" Zhou Xun asked curiously.

"Yesterday, on my way back to Red Leaf Square, I stumbled upon a nest of Goldspirit Rats in a valley. You, at the Mystic Talisman Pavilion, should know how useful this beast is."

"Of course, I know," Zhou Xun nodded.

Goldspirit Rats are rank one low-grade demonic beasts of the metal element, with a golden gradient all over their bodies.

Their blood can be used to refine talisman ink, their whiskers can be used to refine talisman brushes, and their hides can be used to refine talisman paper. Even their meat can sell for a couple of Spirit Essence. All in all, an adult Goldspirit Rat is worth over 60 Spirit Essence.

"Since you don't have any work right now, why don't you come with me and we can hunt this nest of Goldspirit Rats? We can exchange them for a good amount of Spirit Essence and solve your immediate problem!"

Meanwhile, in a valley thousands of miles away from Red Leaf Square, a nest of Goldspirit Rats was squeaking, living in a hidden cave.

Surprisingly, the spiritual energy concentration in the cave was far beyond that of the outside world.

The spiritual energy in the entire valley seemed to be guided, gathering in the cave, which was extremely peculiar.

"Uncle Dan the Second is a master at the fifth layer of Qi Condensation. Wouldn't hunting this nest of Goldspirit Rats be a piece of cake for him?" Zhou Xun asked doubtfully upon hearing Dan Xiong Hai's words.

"Something unexpected happened at Hundred Savages Mountain, and Uncle the Second still had some matters to arrange, so he didn't accompany me."

Zhou Xun nodded upon hearing this, not rushing to agree.

"Can it be done with just the two of us?"

"Brother, don't worry. Although the Goldspirit Rat is a rank one low-grade demonic beast, its combat power isn't strong, and it's very easy to deal with!" Dan Xiong Hai patted his chest.

If he could have taken down the entire nest by himself, he wouldn't have asked Zhou Xun for help.

However, Zhou Xun needed to focus entirely on preparing for the apprentice recruitment at Danbao Pavilion for the next month, so he explained the situation.

Dan Xiong Hai laughed heartily upon hearing this, "Brother, you can go ahead and prepare for the apprenticeship. This matter won't happen immediately, and it gives me time to make some preparations this month as well!"

Afterward, the two began to chat about other things they had seen.

By the time Dan Xiong Hai left, it was already evening.

Zhou Xun took a bath, then entered the quiet room and lit a low-grade calming incense.

This item was mixed with a small amount of Soul Grass, which helps cultivators calm their minds, and it cost two Spirit Essence.

Feeling the faint sandalwood scent lingering in his nostrils, Zhou Xun's mind quickly settled.

He picked up the medicine bottle in front of him, gently pulled out the stopper, and poured the round Qi Induction Pill into his palm. Then, he pinched it between two fingers and gently placed it in his mouth.

As the pill entered his abdomen, a pure stream of spiritual energy spread out, flowing through his meridians and reaching his entire body.

Zhou Xun quickly circulated the Essence Cultivation Art to refine this spiritual energy.

The next morning, the door of the quiet room opened, and Zhou Xun walked out.

Recalling yesterday's experience, he truly didn't know whether to be happy or sad.

After taking the Qi Induction Pill, he didn't dare to delay and immediately began circulating his cultivation technique to refine it.