Chapter 8: The Tale of a Laborer Cultivating Immortality

“If I have to work, then I'll work!”

Lü Yang quickly adjusted his emotions.

“Strictly speaking, I could actually commit suicide and restart right now. However, the number of pages in the *Book of a Hundred Lifetimes* is limited; restarting directly like this would be too much of a waste.”

Although he had become a formal disciple, Lü Yang still knew very little about the Chusheng Sect, and his knowledge of the entire cultivation world was limited to what he had read in books. While the thought of restarting had crossed his mind, in order to accumulate an advantage for his next life, he needed to live as long as possible in this one.

There were countless caves within Butian Peak, but only two were particularly prominent. One was naturally the Peak Master's residence, and the other was a high tower.

The tower had nine stories and was named "Shan Gong" (Merit Hall).

Trading among formal disciples, posting bounties, and even accepting sect missions were mostly conducted at the Merit Hall, where one could receive the protection of the Holy Sect.

Lü Yang entered the Merit Hall and approached a counter.

“Senior Brother, I was wondering if sect missions are collected here.”

“Nonsense, you—huh?”

As the words fell, the young Daoist behind the counter first gave Lü Yang a casual glance, but his eyes lit up upon seeing Lü Yang's handsome features.

In the next second, a friendly smile appeared on the young Daoist's face.

“Why call me Senior Brother? My name is Zhao Xuhe, a deacon disciple of the Merit Hall. Junior Brother, you must be a new recruit, right? I haven't seen you before.”

“I am Lü Yang. Greetings, Senior Brother.”

Lü Yang hurriedly bowed and simultaneously activated his disciple token to verify his identity.

Zhao Xuhe looked at the token, his expression softening further and his smile brightening. “Not bad, not bad at all. Junior Brother Lü is quite a talented-looking fellow. Very impressive.”

Zhao Xuhe began to eye him up with a gaze that made Lü Yang feel quite uncomfortable, before suddenly saying, “Junior Brother Lü, since you are looking for sect missions, I happen to have a mission—or rather, a stroke of fortune—that I can offer you. If you succeed, I guarantee a vast path toward immortality in your future...”

“Really?”

Lü Yang feigned interest on the surface, but his heart grew wary.

“Truly! It couldn't be more real!”

Zhao Xuhe grinned and pointed toward the summit of Butian Peak. “The current Peak Master intends to recruit a son-in-law for her daughter. I see you have a dignified appearance...”

Lü Yang: “???”

*I came here looking for sect missions because I want to earn money through my own two hands, through diligence and hard work. And now you actually want me to live off a woman?*

“What, not interested?”

Seeing Lü Yang's stiff expression, Zhao Xuhe became even more persuasive. “This is a massive fortune! If you can enter the Peak Master's cave, from then on, you will be a Foundation Establishment disciple. Contribution points, cultivation techniques, resources—you'll have everything. If you take this step correctly, you can skip sixty years of detours...”

Despite Zhao Xuhe's flowery words, Lü Yang remained unmoved.

In truth, if it really meant living off a woman, Lü Yang wouldn't have minded.

But where was he? The Chusheng Sect! An orthodox demonic sect! With the precedent of Liu Xin, how could he possibly believe Zhao Xuhe's claims about recruiting a son-in-law?

There was definitely something wrong!

Thinking of this, Lü Yang simply sighed and said, “Senior Brother Zhao, it's not that I don't want to be a live-in son-in-law, but I truly have a difficulty that is hard to speak of.”

Zhao Xuhe was stunned. “A difficulty hard to speak of?”

“To tell you the truth,” Lü Yang said with a look of embarrassment, “I am afflicted with a venereal disease...”

As soon as these words were uttered, the eagerness on Zhao Xuhe's face instantly cooled.

A venereal disease wasn't actually a big deal; he had ways to cure it. The problem was, why did he have it? The reason behind it was the key.

“Sigh, what a pity.”

Zhao Xuhe shook his head. No matter how handsome Lü Yang was, the Peak Master would never allow her daughter to become a Dao companion to a man who could get himself sick like that.

Lü Yang said respectfully, “I have troubled you, Senior Brother.”

Since one shouldn't strike a smiling face, and because Lü Yang was being so respectful, Zhao Xuhe's expression improved slightly. He said, “In that case, I'll pick a good mission for you.”

“What kind of mission do you want?”

Lü Yang said, “High contribution points and relatively safe.”

Zhao Xuhe's smile remained unchanged; he had clearly expected this, as all new disciples wanted such missions. “I actually do have one.”

With that, he handed Lü Yang a jade slip.

“The Yin-Yang Immortal Flower. It requires a Qi Refining stage cultivator to feed it with essence blood and true qi to survive. Butian Peak buys them at the highest price: 150 contribution points per flower.”

Zhao Xuhe said kindly, “This is a mission issued by the Peak Master herself. There is no limit on quantity; the more you grow, the more they will buy. Furthermore, you don't need any specific spiritual plant cultivation skills. The Yin-Yang Immortal Flower is extremely adaptable; as long as you plant it in your cave, it won't wither easily.”

Lü Yang was initially tempted, but he soon shook his head.

Seeing this, Zhao Xuhe frowned. “What's wrong?”

“Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother, but...” Lü Yang looked bitter. “I still have to pay next month's cave rent. I truly lack the strength to purchase the immortal flower seeds.”

“I see.”

Zhao Xuhe also let out a sigh. “I went through this stage myself, so I know how hard it is... Very well, let me help you.”

Then, Zhao Xuhe reached out. “Give me your disciple token.”

Lü Yang obediently handed it over. A moment later, he discovered to his surprise that 500 contribution points had appeared out of thin air on his token!

Zhao Xuhe smiled slightly. “These are your reserve contribution points from the Sanhe Association. You can use them whenever you need them in the future. Go buy the immortal flower seeds.”

Lü Yang frowned deeply. “Senior Brother, isn't this just like the cultivation technique loan? I'm afraid...”

“The Sanhe Association is a major power within the inner sect. New disciples can enjoy a thirty-day interest-free period on loans, which is much cheaper than the sect's cultivation technique loans.”

“And didn't you want to buy the seeds?” Zhao Xuhe's tone was gentle and kind. “One of my brothers in the Sanhe Association specializes in selling these. Since you've taken a loan from our association, I'll put in a good word for you, and he can sell the seeds to you at cost price...”

“There's such a good deal?” Lü Yang looked pleasantly surprised.

“That's only because I feel a certain affinity for you, Junior Brother.” Zhao Xuhe laughed loudly. “If it weren't for that, I wouldn't tell an ordinary person about such an opportunity!”

After speaking, Zhao Xuhe took out another jade slip and handed it to Lü Yang. “This is that brother's communication jade slip. I wish you early prosperity, Junior Brother.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother!”

Lü Yang left, expressing his endless gratitude.

Watching his retreating figure, the corners of Zhao Xuhe's mouth curled into a cold sneer. He then immediately began searching the Merit Hall for his next prey.

***

Lü Yang did not rush to find the "reliable brother" introduced by Zhao Xuhe to buy the Yin-Yang Immortal Flowers. Instead, he returned to his cave first to do some math.

“A loan of 500 contribution points can buy ten seeds. The annual interest rate is 36%, the same as the cultivation technique loan.”

“Working from dawn till dusk, watering them with essence blood and feeding them spiritual qi, it is estimated to take a full year for them all to mature, earning 1,500 contribution points.”

“After paying the rent, only 1,140 contribution points remain.”

“After paying 460 for the principal and interest of the cultivation technique loan, 680 contribution points remain. Then, the 500 principal plus 180 interest for the immortal flower loan comes due...”

“It's gone!?”

*Where is my money?*

With this doubt, Lü Yang calculated it once more. He stared blankly at his hands for a long time before finally snapping out of it, laughing in sheer anger.

*Good grief, they've calculated everything so that not even a cent is left for my food!*

*As expected of the Chusheng Sect!*

As a disciple of the Holy Sect, one starts by being saddled with debt, followed by being squeezed to the limit by the sect's financial chain. The contribution points earned from missions are only enough to cover expenses.

To earn more and save money, one must work more overtime and take more missions.

Otherwise, if one is slightly careless and the cash flow breaks, the several massive loans on his back will instantly become the last straw that breaks the camel's back.

If you are willing to suffer, you will have endless suffering.

To put it bluntly, they used essential needs to keep the bottom-tier disciples hanging, forcing them to work their lives away to add bricks and mortar to the glory of the Chusheng Sect.

“Bastards!”

Thinking of this, Lü Yang couldn't help but curse loudly, before comforting himself

“I work for the sect, the sect issues contribution points, and the loans and caves collect contribution points. It's essentially the sect producing and selling to itself; I'm just sitting in the middle enjoying the scraps!”

Immediately after, Lü Yang thought of the previously kind and attentive Zhao Xuhe. Looking at the 500-point loan on his disciple token, he sneered inwardly.

“And since you won't be kind, don't blame me for being unrighteous.”

“Usury? I'll be a deadbeat!”

Even so, the plight of a sect disciple as a beast of burden still made Lü Yang feel stifled. The more he thought about it, the more bitter it felt, and a nameless rage surged within him.

“...A demon?”

Just then, the curtain was lifted. It turned out that Yun Miaoqing had heard Lü Yang's cursing and had risen from her bed to see what was happening.