Chapter 299: Recruitment

Two months later.

"Hmm, if it weren't for what Su Yuqing said—that Core Formation elixirs are monopolized by Li Huo Palace of the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty—"

"I wouldn't have had to take this step. Even the elixir formula for Core Formation can't leave the sect privately; only Xuanxi Valley possesses it."

"The reason there are so few Jin Dan cultivators is partly due to spiritual root talent, but also partly due to the upper echelons' monopoly over resources."

Because of this, the upper sect can easily control the Southern Wasteland cultivation world. Qin Ming sat alone in the Jade Bamboo Grove, sipping spiritual tea, lost in thought.

During these two months, he, like the other guest elders, showed no unusual activity.

Because his powerful spiritual sense could clearly sense that Xuanxi Valley still kept guard over these outsider guest elders.

They had already sent people to secretly monitor every move they made, likely still in a probationary period—if they acted strangely, they'd be seized instantly.

This point, the ruthless methods of Xuanxi Valley as a top-tier sect, was beyond doubt.

Thus, since moving into the Jade Bamboo Grove valley, Qin Ming had spent every day holding a book on spiritual plants, pretending to study them intently.

His neighbor Di Shan, upon arriving at Wu Song Ridge, immediately went to Qianyuan Peak to post a task and recruited a group of Qi Refining disciples, plunging into frantic activity.

In just two months, he had already planted dozens of mu of spiritual rice and medicinal herbs, all of which had grown successfully.

Compared to Qin Ming's still barren Jade Bamboo Grove, who was strong and who was weak was obvious.

The female disciple who had originally guided Qin Ming, Yan Ruyan, passed by the Jade Bamboo Grove several times with her fellow sect members.

Seeing the valley completely barren, she couldn't help complaining to her senior and junior sisters beside her:

"See that?"

"That's Elder Yu. Not only stingy, but idle all day—looks like he's about to be expelled from the sect."

"..."

One day.

Di Shan, belly protruding, strode majestically into the Jade Bamboo Grove and arrived before Qin Ming's dwelling. After scanning the surroundings, he smiled and said:

"Hehe! Elder Yu, are you really planning to retire in Xuanxi Valley?"

"It's been two months already—why haven't you started planting spiritual plants?"

"Need old man's help? I can charge you less spirit stones, hahaha!"

Qin Ming replied coolly: "Old man has his own planting strategy. What's it to you?"

"Hehe! Fine!"

"Hmph! When year-end comes and you fail your task, we'll see how hard your mouth still is!" Di Shan, seeing 'Elder Yu''s stubborn, unyielding demeanor, said no more, snorted, and swept his sleeve away.

Qin Ming smirked, paying him no mind whatsoever.

On the summit of Xiao Ling Peak, in the spiritual herb garden.

Elder Xu was tending to a spiritual plant while listening to a report from a nearby cultivator.

After a while.

Elder Xu frowned and asked the man beside him: "You're saying all these guest elders are behaving normally?"

"Except for Yu Changqing, all the others have already begun planting spiritual plants?"

"Report to Elder Xu: yes!"

The cultivator hesitated, then continued: "I dare say something I shouldn't—but for two months now, this one has shown zero activity."

"Could he just be a fraud with no real ability, sneaking in?"

Elder Xu paused his actions, thought for a moment, then said: "No, even if he had eight hundred courage, he wouldn't dare."

"Keep observing." "Yes!"

Inside the Jade Bamboo Grove valley.

Qin Ming put down his book and stood up. "Time's about right."

"Still need to put on a show."

He immediately flew out of the valley toward Qianyuan Peak, the main peak of Xuanxi Valley.

Qianyuan Peak, as the core of Xuanxi Valley, housed a Class Three Superior spiritual vein, and was home to several key departments of the sect.

It was said that behind Qianyuan Peak lay a Class Three Supreme spiritual vein, serving as the sect's forbidden zone—the place where Xuanxi Valley's Jin Dan late-stage Supreme Elder, 'Qingxuan Laozu,' cultivated.

Qianyuan Peak was grand and majestic, its summit dotted with countless immortal palaces, pavilions, and towers, shrouded in misty spiritual vapor, resembling a paradise on earth.

Qin Ming landed on a white jade square atop the peak.

Here, multicolored light-speed flashes darted back and forth; disciples from all thirteen peaks of Xuanxi Valley came and went.

This was where the sect posted and collected tasks—any elder or disciple could claim tasks here and receive corresponding rewards and contribution points upon completion.

Qin Ming stepped into the Task Posting Office.

Inside, a middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator in charge of registration, seeing Qin Ming enter—and recognizing him as a guest elder—immediately smiled and asked: "Elder, are you here to post a task?"

Qin Ming nodded. "Mm."

"I wish to recruit several disciples to plant in the Jade Bamboo Grove valley—specifically, Purple Crystal Rice—for one year."

The middle-aged cultivator picked up his brush and recorded it, then asked: "How should the task reward be marked, Elder?"

Qin Ming thought for a moment. He had observed the task board on his way here, then said: "One hundred sect contribution points, plus one hundred and fifty lower-grade spirit stones. Priority given to disciples familiar with spiritual plant cultivation."

The middle-aged cultivator blinked in surprise, then immediately wrote on the register: 【Class D Task】 Plant low-grade spiritual rice in Jade Bamboo Grove valley, duration one year. 【Reward】: One hundred contribution points, plus one hundred and fifty spirit stones.

Qin Ming intended to play the part thoroughly—do as others did. Recruiting low-grade Qi Refining disciples to farm was necessary.

But he had no time to wait, so he added an extra one hundred contribution points to the reward.

Sect contribution points in Xuanxi Valley were hard to earn and could be exchanged for specific internal cultivation resources.

Such as cultivation techniques, magic treasures, elixirs, cultivation chambers, and so on.

When Qin Ming and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators became guest elders and joined Xuanxi Valley, their elder tokens were granted one thousand contribution points at once, for discretionary use.

After completing one year as a guest elder and fulfilling the sect's assigned tasks, they would receive a steady two thousand contribution points annually thereafter.

After posting the task, Qin Ming did not rush back to the Jade Bamboo Grove. Instead, he flew toward Lingxiao Peak.

Lingxiao Peak, one of Xuanxi Valley's three main peaks, housed the sect's Transmission Hall, where the Transmission Pavilion was also located.

Qin Ming intended to investigate there as well.

After a stick of incense burned.

He landed atop Lingxiao Peak, followed the stone path, and arrived before a pavilion of jade and crystal.

"First to third floors: Qi Refining techniques. Entry fee: fifty contribution points."

"Third to fifth floors: Foundation Establishment techniques. Entry fee: one hundred contribution points. Additional cost for taking a technique."

"Access to floors above the fifth requires the Sect Master's special permit."

At the entrance of the Transmission Pavilion sat a green-robed elder, dozing off weakly, who spoke to Qin Ming with little energy.

(End of Chapter)