Chapter 33: The Loose Cultivator Market Outside the City, the Helplessness of the Loose Cultivators

A moment later.

Deacon Fan Ze of the Xianxia Sect saw the cultivators from every house come out and was immediately very satisfied: "If you wish to continue renting your current house, go to the Deacon Hall in Miyun City to register and pay the rent; that way, you can obtain the right of residence."

"Of course, if you do not have that many Spirit Stones on you, you can also become a Miner for our Xianxia Sect. At that time, you can live in Miyun City for free and receive a monthly salary of one Middle-grade Spirit Stone."

"If you do not wish to become a Miner, our Xianxia Sect is also currently reclaiming Spirit Fields and needs a large number of Farmers. You may also join, but the salary is lower, only ten Low-grade Spirit Stones per month."

He briefly explained the current recruitment situation of the Xianxia Sect.

After speaking, this Deacon led a group of Patrol Guards and continued walking toward the next alley.

Only after these people left did the surrounding cultivators dare to speak.

"Too ruthless. Two Middle-grade Spirit Stones a month, and this is a house we bought; they just confiscate it whenever they say so. It is simply too overbearing." Zhang Cheng clenched his fists, feeling very unwilling.

Because this house had its property rights confiscated, it was equivalent to losing thousands of Spirit Stones; who could endure such a loss?

But he also could not afford to provoke the Xianxia Sect at all.

"Isn't that right? Such a large sect, yet they still snatch food from us Loose Cultivators; it is truly shameless."

"Sigh, it is said that the Xianxia Sect suffered heavy losses this time to develop the mines in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, and even two Foundation Establishment Cultivators died. They want to recoup such losses from us Loose Cultivators."

"An arm cannot twist a thigh; are we really going to fight the Xianxia Sect to the death? But the rent has doubled; we simply cannot afford such expensive rent."

"Isn't that right? If we really pay the rent, we will truly be left eating the northwest wind; how could we still cultivate?"

"Why don't we go be Miners? Room and board are provided, and there is a monthly salary; the treatment seems not bad."

"Heh, not bad my foot. This is all a conspiracy by the Xianxia Sect; they deliberately raised the house prices just to force us to go mine."

"That is indeed the case. If mining were truly a good job, those Xianxia Sect Disciples would have gone to do it long ago; how would it ever be our turn as Loose Cultivators?"

"If we stay in the Red Gold Mine for too long, our bodies will be eroded by the Red Gold Qi, damaging our body's meridians. By then, we will have no hope of Foundation Establishment."

"What a vicious Xianxia Sect; they clearly treat us Loose Cultivators as consumables."

Many cultivators clenched their fists.

They were not fools; how could they not see the Xianxia Sect's intentions? It was clearly to force them, these Loose Cultivators, to become Miners, to dig mines for the Xianxia Sect and serve as manual laborers.

Although their aptitude was mediocre, everyone wanted to cultivate the Dao for longevity and become a great Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

This was the ambition of the Loose Cultivators, yet now the Xianxia Sect wanted to strip away even this sliver of hope.

"If that is the case, then what should we do? We can't just leave Miyun City."

"Heh, to be honest, I won't leave. Other Loose Cultivator cities are no better than this one."

"Isn't that right? By comparison, Miyun City is still quite good; at least there is food and drink, and a large amount of resources. If we went elsewhere, we would survive even less."

"Since that is the case, why don't we move outside the city? It is said that many Loose Cultivators have formed an alliance and plan to establish a Loose Cultivator Market outside the city. If we Loose Cultivators band together, we can also survive in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, and the rent is very cheap—only one Low-grade Spirit Stone per month is enough."

"One Low-grade Spirit Stone? Isn't that almost the same as free? If there is such a place, only a dog would live in Miyun City."

"You can't say that. How can a market outside compare to Miyun City? At least Miyun City has Patrol Guards for protection, and those Robber Cultivators dare not act rashly inside the city; safety is guaranteed."

"That's right, there is no law outside; Robber Cultivators can strike at any time, and you wouldn't even know how you died."

"Heh, who doesn't know that it's safe in the city? The problem is, can you afford to live here? Two Middle-grade Spirit Stones a month—with that many Spirit Stones, I might as well buy Pills to improve my cultivation."

"That's right, although Miyun City is large, there is no place for us to stay."

"The current Miyun City is no longer the Loose Cultivator city of the past; one can't even afford to live in the sewers anymore."

The many Loose Cultivators discussed it heatedly; they were also helpless.

Some poor cultivators began to pack their things, planning to head to the Loose Cultivator Market outside to live; after all, the prices outside the city were relatively cheaper, while the prices inside the city were truly too expensive.

…………

At this time, Zhou Sui also saw some familiar neighbor cultivators starting to pack their things and leaving Miyun City one after another.

Because they simply did not have that many Spirit Stones on them and could not afford such expensive rent, they could only live in the Loose Cultivator Market outside the city. After all, most cultivators were actually "living paycheck to paycheck"; basically, any Spirit Stones they had were spent on buying Pills to consume and improve their cultivation.

Of course, Zhou Sui was not that miserable; he had plenty of Spirit Stones, so he went to the Deacon Hall of Miyun City and paid six months of rent, paying the price of twelve Middle-grade Spirit Stones.

"Damn Xianxia Sect, sooner or later I will make you pay the price."

Zhou Sui clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. Having his house snatched away for no reason and still having to pay high rent—no one could swallow this anger.

If he ever bought a house again, then he was a dog; the property rights of houses in this world had no guarantees at all.

But he was not a reckless person; it was impossible for him to rashly oppose the Xianxia Sect, as this was, after all, a Golden Core sect.

However, he had noted down this grudge.

Once his cultivation reached Major Achievement, there would sooner or later be a day to pay them back.

But for now, he could only temporarily endure it.

After all, his cultivation was merely at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer; he was simply not on the table.

"Uncle Zhang, where do you plan to go?"

After returning home, Zhou Sui immediately noticed that his neighbor Zhang Cheng seemed to be packing his luggage.

"Sigh, I plan to go be a Miner; I'm afraid I'll have to leave in a moment."

Zhang Cheng said helplessly.

"Be a Miner?"

Hearing this, Zhou Sui could not help but be startled: "But Uncle Zhang, aren't you an Alchemist? You shouldn't need to go be a Miner, and staying in the Red Gold Mine as a Miner for a long time—I'm afraid there will be no hope of Foundation Establishment in this life."

He had not expected that Zhang Cheng would actually make such a choice.

"There is no other way. Although I am a First-tier Alchemist, I am only at the First Tier Mid Grade level, at most capable of refining ordinary Pills. Because of refining Pills, I have long since exhausted my family's wealth and am simply unable to pay the rent here."

Zhang Cheng was very helpless: "However, that Loose Cultivator Market outside is very unsafe. If an Alchemist like me were to go to the Loose Cultivator Market, I would definitely be treated like a fat sheep and slaughtered."

"After thinking it over, it is better to join the Xianxia Sect as a Miner. That way, I can live in Miyun City for free, and there is also a considerable income every month."

"Admittedly, there will be the side effect of Red Gold Qi entering the body, but it is still better than being killed by Robber Cultivators. And such side effects are not necessarily without a solution; it just requires a lot of Spirit Stones."

"In fact, it is not just me who made this choice; many neighbors have also chosen to become Miners and signed contracts with the Xianxia Sect to mine for them. This is also a decent way out."

After saying these words, he sighed, feeling helpless; this was the helplessness of a Loose Cultivator.

He also did not want to be exploited by the Xianxia Sect, but reality forced his hand.

(End of chapter)