Chapter 8
Chapter 8
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Saga of a Workhorse Cultivator
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"So I'm just a laborer now. Fine."
Lu Yang quickly adjusted his mood.
"Strictly speaking, I could just kill myself and start over right now... but the Book of a Hundred Lives has a limited number of pages. It would be too much of a waste to restart just like this."
Although he was now a Formal Disciple, Lu Yang still knew very little about the Primal Saint Sect. His knowledge of the entire cultivation world was limited to what he'd read in books. Even though the thought of starting over had crossed his mind, he knew he should live a bit longer in this life to build up an advantage for the next.
Heaven Mending Peak was home to countless immortal caves, but only two places stood out. One was naturally the Peak Master's cave, and the other was a tall tower.
The tower had nine stories and was named "Meritorious Deeds."
Most transactions between Formal Disciples, the posting of bounties, and even the acceptance of sect missions took place at the Meritorious Deeds Tower, where they were under the protection of the Primal Saint Sect.
Lu Yang walked into the Meritorious Deeds Tower and approached a counter.
"Senior Brother, is this where I can accept sect missions?"
"Obviously. You... huh?"
As he spoke, the young Daoist behind the counter first gave Lu Yang a careless glance, but his eyes lit up when he saw his handsome face.
The next second, a friendly smile appeared on the young Daoist's face.
"Don't call me Senior Brother. My name is Zhao Xuhe, a Deacon Disciple of the Meritorious Deeds Hall. You must be a new disciple, Junior Brother? I haven't seen you before."
"I am Lu Yang. Greetings, Senior Brother."
Lu Yang hurriedly bowed, activating his Disciple Token to verify his identity.
Zhao Xuhe looked at the token, his expression softening further and his smile growing even brighter. "Excellent, excellent. Junior Brother Lu is quite a talent, very impressive indeed."
Zhao Xuhe sized him up with a gaze that made Lu Yang very uncomfortable, then suddenly said, "Junior Brother Lu, since you're looking for a sect mission, I happen to have one right here. Or rather, an opportunity for great fortune I can offer you. If it works out, I guarantee your future path to immortality will be wide and open."
"Really?"
Lu Yang showed interest on the surface, but inwardly, he grew vigilant.
"Absolutely! It couldn't be more real!"
Zhao Xuhe grinned, pointing toward the summit of Heaven Mending Peak. "The current Peak Master is looking for a son-in-law for his precious daughter. I see you have a dignified appearance..."
Lu Yang: "???"
I came here looking for a sect mission, wanting to earn my keep through hard work and diligence with my own two hands, and now you want me to be a kept man?
"What, not interested?"
Seeing Lu Yang's stiff expression, Zhao Xuhe pressed on even more enthusiastically, "This is a heaven-sent fortune! If you can marry into the Peak Master's family, you'll be a Foundation Establishment disciple from then on. Contribution points, cultivation methods, resources—you'll have everything you could want. Get this step right, and you'll save yourself sixty years of struggle."
Despite Zhao Xuhe's extravagant promises, Lu Yang remained unmoved.
In truth, if it were really just about being a kept man, Lu Yang wouldn't have minded.
But where was this place? The Primal Saint Sect! The orthodox Demon Sect! With Liu Xin's cautionary tale fresh in his mind, how could he possibly believe Zhao Xuhe's so-called recruitment for a son-in-law?
There was definitely a catch!
Thinking of this, Lu 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 have a... delicate problem."
Zhao Xuhe was taken aback. "A delicate problem?"
"To be honest," Lu Yang said, looking too ashamed to speak, "I'm afflicted with a venereal disease..."
As soon as he said this, the eagerness on Zhao Xuhe's face instantly cooled.
A venereal disease wasn't a big deal in itself; he had ways to cure it. The problem was *why* one would get such a disease. The reason behind it was the key.
"Ah, what a pity."
Zhao Xuhe shook his head. No matter how handsome Lu Yang was, the Peak Master would never allow his daughter to become Dao companions with a man who could get himself infected with such an illness.
Lu Yang said respectfully, "I've troubled Senior Brother."
One doesn't hit a smiling face. Seeing Lu Yang's respectful attitude, Zhao Xuhe's expression softened a little. "In that case, I'll pick a good mission for you."
"What kind of mission are you looking for?"
Lu Yang replied, "One with high contribution points and is relatively safe."
Zhao Xuhe's smile didn't falter, as he had clearly expected this. After all, every new disciple wanted such a mission. "I do have one, as a matter of fact."
With that, he handed Lu Yang a jade slip.
"Yin-Yang Immortal Flower. It needs to be nurtured with the essence blood and true qi of a Qi Refining Realm cultivator to survive. Heaven Mending Peak is buying them at the highest price—150 contribution points per flower."
Zhao Xuhe said kindly, "This is a mission posted by the Peak Master himself. There's no limit on the quantity; he'll buy as many as you can grow. And you don't need any special spiritual planting skills, Junior Brother. The Yin-Yang Immortal Flower is extremely resilient. As long as you plant it in your immortal cave, it won't wither easily."
Lu Yang was tempted at first, but he soon shook his head.
Seeing this, Zhao Xuhe frowned. "What's wrong?"
"Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother, but..." Lu Yang wore a bitter expression. "I still have to pay next month's rent for my immortal cave. I really can't afford to buy the Immortal Flower seeds."
"I see."
Zhao Xuhe sighed as well. "I've been through this stage myself, Senior Brother. I know how hard it is for you... Very well, I'll help you out."
Then, Zhao Xuhe held out his hand. "Give me your Disciple Token."
Lu Yang obediently handed it over. A moment later, he was surprised to find that 500 contribution points had appeared on his token out of nowhere!
Zhao Xuhe smiled faintly. "These are your backup contribution points from the Three Rivers Association. You can use them whenever you need. Go ahead and buy the Immortal Flower seeds."
Lu Yang's brows furrowed. "Senior Brother, isn't this the same as the cultivation method loan? I'm afraid..."
"The Three Rivers Association is a major power in the Inner Sect. New disciples who borrow can even enjoy thirty days interest-free. It's much cheaper than the sect's cultivation method loan."
"Besides, don't you want to buy the Immortal Flower seeds?" Zhao Xuhe's tone was gentle and friendly. "We have a Senior Brother in the Three Rivers Association who specializes in selling them. Since you've taken a loan from our association, I can put in a good word for you and have him sell you the seeds at cost price."
"There's such a good deal?" Lu Yang looked pleasantly surprised.
"That's because I feel an affinity with you, Junior Brother." Zhao Xuhe laughed as well. "Otherwise, I wouldn't tell just anyone about an opportunity like this!"
With that, Zhao Xuhe took out another jade slip and handed it to Lu Yang. "This is that Senior Brother's communication slip. I wish you a speedy fortune, Junior Brother."
"Thank you, Senior Brother!"
Lu Yang left, thanking him profusely.
Watching his retreating back, the corner of Zhao Xuhe's mouth curled into a cold sneer. He then began searching for his next prey within the Meritorious Deeds Tower.
Lu Yang didn't rush to find the "reliable Senior Brother" Zhao Xuhe had recommended to buy the Yin-Yang Immortal Flowers. Instead, he first returned to his immortal cave and did some calculations.
"A loan of 500 contribution points can buy ten Immortal Flower seeds. The annual interest rate is 36%, same as the cultivation method loan."
"Waking up early and working late every day, watering them with my essence blood and nurturing them with spiritual qi... it will probably take a year for them all to mature. I'll earn 1500 contribution points."
"After paying the rent, I'll only have 1140 contribution points left."
"Then I'll pay 460 for the cultivation method loan's principal and interest, leaving 680 points. After that, the 500 principal and 180 interest for the Immortal Flower seeds will be due..."
"It's all gone!?"
Where did my money go?
With this doubt, Lu Yang calculated it again. He then stared blankly at his own hands for a long time before coming back to his senses, and then he laughed in exasperation.
My goodness, they've calculated everything perfectly. They didn't even leave me money for food!
Truly worthy of the Primal Saint Sect!
As a disciple of the Primal Saint Sect, you start off in debt, then get stretched to your financial limits by the sect. The contribution points earned from missions are just enough to cover expenses.
If you want to earn more and save up, you have to work overtime and take on more missions.
Otherwise, the slightest misstep would break the financial chain, and the huge loans he carried would instantly become the last straw that breaks the camel's back.
As long as you're willing to suffer, you'll have endless suffering to endure.
To put it bluntly, they were dangling basic necessities in front of the lower-level disciples, forcing them to work themselves to death to add to the glory of the Primal Saint Sect.
"Beasts!"
Thinking of this, Lu Yang couldn't help but curse out loud. Then he tried to console himself:
"I work for the sect, the sect gives me contribution points, and then the loans and the immortal cave take back those contribution points. It's like the sect is producing and consuming its own goods, and I'm just enjoying the fruits of it all in the middle!"
Then, Lu Yang thought of the friendly and attentive Zhao Xuhe, and looked at the extra 500 contribution point loan on his Disciple Token, sneering inwardly.
"And since you showed no benevolence, don't blame me for being unrighteous."
"High-interest loan? I'll be a deadbeat!"
Despite saying this, the workhorse-like situation of the sect's disciples still left Lu Yang feeling suffocated. The more he thought about it, the worse he felt, and a nameless fire began to rise within him.
"...Demon?"
Just then, the curtain was drawn aside. It was Yun Miaoqing. She had heard Lu Yang's cursing, so she had gotten out of bed to see what was happening.
(End of Chapter)