Chapter 13: Payday

In the end, Lu Qiu still accepted returning to the sect.

If he forcibly refused to go back, being resolute, the sect wouldn't openly do anything to him, but behind the scenes they'd use some petty tricks, which would still be quite uncomfortable.

Moreover, Jiang Jiyue is right.

Returning to the sect, the resources he can use would be far greater than those in Nanshan Fang.

The Foundation Pill is just one of them; after a cultivator advances to Foundation Establishment, the various cultivation resources required are not what a Qi Refining Realm cultivator can imagine.

In a place like Nanshan Fang, it's too small and the resources are too scarce.

Although Nanshan Fang has six major Foundation Establishment realms, they are all in the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage; there isn't even a single mid-stage.

Moreover, the six Foundation Establishment cultivators also represent six Foundation Establishment families and factions.

They have various entanglements—people and things they can't let go of—in Nanshan Fang.

Otherwise, under normal circumstances, unattached Scattered Cultivators who luckily succeed in Foundation Establishment would basically choose to leave and venture into broader realms.

Whether Lu Qiu wants to establish a foundation or further improve his talisman techniques, even dreaming of advancing to Third-rank Talisman Master, leaving Nanshan Fang is the best choice.

Upon hearing that Lu Qiu finally agreed to return to the sect, Hong Jiantao let out a sigh of relief.

Jiang Jiyue clapped her hands, showing approval, and with wide eyes said, "Senior Brother Lu, since the sect has invited you back, there should be a slot for bringing someone, right? Why don't you bring me back to the sect? That way you'll have a familiar face and won't be bored, and I can also make a name for myself in the sect!"

Unlike Lu Qiu, Jiang Jiyue has always wanted to go to the sect.

Although she is affable and even as a temporary odd-job worker in Lingfu Pavilion she wouldn't look down on anyone or discriminate, this does not conflict with her lofty ambitions to establish a foundation and form a Golden Core.

Her goal is clear: she will never stay confined to the tiny Nanshan Fang, yearning for the world beyond.

But it is obvious that neither Senior Brother Lu Qiu nor Uncle Hong Jiantao would agree to take her to the sect.

Unless she herself becomes a Second-rank Talisman Master in the future, or establishes a foundation—then no one can stop her, and she can return.

Lu Qiu was too lazy to reply, and instead turned his head to Hong Jiantao, saying, "Master, I had forgotten about Junior Sister. This time I return to the sect, I should have two slots, which can directly bring someone back to join the sect as an inner-door disciple. Master, do you have anyone you want me to bring?"

Don't be fooled by Lu Qiu's lack of desire to return to the sect; even when the sect specifically sends an elder to invite him and offers various benefits, he's still not very swayed.

In reality, Luoxia Sect—backed by a Golden Core cultivator and barely able to rank among the top sects in the Da Yu Cultivation World—recruiting inner-door disciples is an aspirational yet unattainable existence for countless Scattered Cultivators.

Being able to join Luoxia Sect's inner door is truly a leap to the heavens.

Even someone like Hu Yuan, a Second Generation Cultivator with a modest reputation for talent in Nanshan Fang, would be willing to pay a price if he could enter Luoxia Sect's inner door for cultivation.

Let alone ordinary low-level Scattered Cultivators.

This is truly an excellent leap to the heavens, comparable to becoming an exclusive Talisman Master directly in Lingfu Pavilion!

"If it were half a month ago, I actually had a relatively good-looking youngster I would have wanted to bring to the sect. But for now, that's unnecessary; I'll continue to observe…" Hong Jiantao said with a smile.

"Oh? Who is it, someone from our Lingfu Pavilion?" Lu Qiu asked, curious.

Hong Jiantao nodded: "Just a month ago he was newly regularized, a Scattered Cultivator named Xiao Zhangqing. I originally thought he only had a slight Talisman Path talent, but now it seems I may have underestimated him... Perhaps in the future he'll have a chance, like you, to become a Second-rank Talisman Master."

As the manager of Lingfu Pavilion, Hong Jiantao is well aware of every cultivator in the pavilion, especially the official members.

He constantly monitors all members' work status, cultivation progress, and talisman technique improvements.

Recently, Lingfu Pavilion has experienced a series of major events, all of which have been eclipsed by Lu Qiu and Jiang Jiyue, making it hard for ordinary people to notice.

Even Xiao Zhangqing himself thought no one would pay attention to him at this time. In reality, manager Hong Jiantao was watching everything closely.

In less than a month, Xiao Zhangqing progressed at a phenomenal speed, advancing the latter three of the Six Basic Talismans to almost the Small Achievement realm.

This talent exceeded his prior expectations a bit.

Although still far from Lu Qiu's extraordinary talent, among the current dozen or so exclusive Talisman Masters in Lingfu Pavilion, he ranks above average.

Considering that Xiao Zhangqing hasn't received guidance from a famous master nor a complete systematic Talisman Path inheritance.

Hong Jiantao thinks this kid might indeed have promising prospects.

Perhaps in twenty or thirty years, he could become a Second-rank Talisman Master!

"Xiao Zhangqing? I have a vague recollection," Jiang Jiyue tapped her lips with a finger, looking thoughtful, then her eyes brightened: "Now I remember—I heard that his Dao Partner betrayed him and ran off with a local cultivator, right?"

Hong Jiantao admonished, "Jiyue, you shouldn't mock others' painful pasts like that."

Jiang Jiyue stuck out her tongue, admitting, "I know, I definitely wouldn't bring it up in front of him. I just thought of it and blurted it out."

"But, Uncle, is Xiao Zhangqing really as impressive as you say? Does he have a chance to become a Second-rank Talisman Master like Senior Brother Lu? You've never said that to me before!"

Lu Qiu also expressed curiosity.

Becoming a Second-rank Talisman Master is arguably more difficult than becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator! For example, in Nanshan Fang there are six Foundation Establishment cultivators, yet none possess Second-rank skills.

Similarly, if Lu Qiu were to break through only to Foundation Establishment rather than to become a Second-rank Talisman Master, the sect would still invite him back but wouldn't show such emphasis, nor send a Foundation Establishment elder specifically to invite him.

"I was just saying there's a slight possibility," Hong Jiantao smiled.

He indeed lacked strong confidence, but believed Xiao Zhangqing's talent was beyond his expectations—a material worth cultivating.

Becoming a Second-rank Talisman Master is still too difficult for these merely mediocre cultivators.

Back then, even he... wasn't that easy.

…

…

"29 Low-grade Spirit Stones, this is your salary for the month."

Xiao Zhangqing took the bag from the manager, looking at the grayish stones inside. Though they were not smooth nor particularly attractive, they emitted a faint spiritual aura that made them worth thousands of times any ordinary jewel. Even though he had already calculated his monthly salary, the moment he actually received it, Xiao Zhangqing couldn't help feeling a surge of excitement.

In his previous life, after wandering the Cultivation World for over a decade, his greatest savings ever amounted to just five Spirit Stones; he had never earned such a large sum.

During the time he has been transmigrated, he has also suffered severe poverty, daring not to do anything and unable to enjoy anything.

Every day after work he could only endure the miserable Peng Hu Qu.

"Finally have money!"

"First move house! Then find a third equipable item!"

"After that, with any remaining Spirit Stones, I'll go enjoy myself! I still can't afford to go to Lai Feng Lou for now, but I can at least taste other Spirit Foods to see what they taste like and how mysterious they are..."

"Also, these past few days I've often heard other Basic Talisman Masters in Lingfu Pavilion discuss the Kun Cultivators in YanHua Alley—their looks, figure, and temperament are so alluring they make one yearn for immortality to the point of death; once you go once, you'll linger forever... cough, cough, I'll continue later."

(End of chapter)