"If I have to be a worker, then so be it!"
Lu Yang quickly adjusted his mood.
"Strictly speaking, I could just kill myself and restart right now... but the Book of a Hundred Lives has a limited number of pages. Restarting directly like this would be too much of a loss."
Although he was now a Formal Disciple, Lu Yang still knew very little about the Primordial Saint Sect. His knowledge of the entire cultivation world was limited to what he had read in books.
Even though the thought of restarting had already crossed his mind, in order to build up advantages for his next life, he should try to live a bit longer in this one. There were countless cave residences on Heaven Mending Peak, but only two places were truly eye-catching.
One was naturally the Peak Master's cave residence, and the other was a tall building. The building had nine floors and was named Merit Hall. Most transactions between Formal Disciples, the posting of bounties, and even the acceptance of sect missions were conducted in the Merit Hall, where one could receive the protection of the Saint Sect.
Lu Yang walked into the Merit Hall and approached a counter.
"Senior Brother, might I ask if this is where one accepts sect missions?"
"Nonsense, you... huh?"
As his voice fell, the young Daoist behind the counter first gave Lu Yang a careless glance, but his eyes lit up after seeing his handsome features. The next second, a cordial smile appeared on the young Daoist's face.
"No need to call me Senior Brother. My name is Zhao Xuhe, a deacon disciple of the Merit Hall. You must be a new disciple, Junior Brother, right? I haven't seen you before."
"I am Lu Yang. Greetings, Senior Brother."
Lu Yang hurriedly offered a salute, activating his disciple token at the same time to verify his identity. Zhao Xuhe glanced at the token, his expression growing even gentler and his smile even brighter.
"Not bad, not bad. Junior Brother Lu is a man of fine bearing, very good 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, it's an opportunity for great fortune that I can give you. If you succeed, I guarantee your future Immortal Path will be vast..."
"Really?"
Lu Yang showed a look of interest on the surface, but inwardly, he became vigilant.
"Absolutely real! It couldn't be more real!"
Zhao Xuhe grinned and pointed towards the summit of Heaven Mending Peak, saying, "The current Peak Master intends to find a husband for his own precious daughter, and I see that you have a dignified appearance..." Lu Yang: "???"
I came looking for sect missions, wanting to rely on my own two hands, to earn wealth through diligence and hard work, and now you actually want me to live off a woman?
"What, you're not willing?"
Seeing Lu Yang's stiff expression, Zhao Xuhe persuaded him even more enthusiastically, "This is a heaven-sent fortune! If you can enter the Peak Master's cave residence, from then on you'll be a Foundation Establishment disciple. Contribution points, cultivation techniques, resources... you'll have everything you could want.
If you take this step correctly, you can avoid sixty years of detours..." Despite Zhao Xuhe's extravagant promises, Lu Yang remained unmoved. In truth, if it were really just about living off a woman, Lu Yang wouldn't have minded.
But where was this? The Primordial Saint Sect! The orthodox demonic path!
With Liu Xin's cautionary tale as a precedent, how could he possibly believe Zhao Xuhe's so-called talk of recruiting a son-in-law? There was definitely something wrong! 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 truly have a predicament that's difficult to speak of."
Zhao Xuhe was taken aback.
"A predicament that's difficult to speak of?"
"To tell you the truth," Lu Yang said with a look of shame, "I am afflicted with a venereal disease..."
As soon as he said this, the eager expression on Zhao Xuhe's face instantly cooled. A venereal disease itself wasn't a major issue; he had ways to cure it. The problem was the reason why one would contract such a disease in the first place.
The story behind it was the key.
"Ai, 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 sick in such a way. Lu Yang said respectfully, "I've troubled Senior Brother."
One does not hit a smiling face. With Lu Yang being so respectful, Zhao Xuhe's expression softened a bit. He said, "Since it's like this, I'll pick a good mission for you."
"What kind of mission are you looking for?"
Lu Yang said, "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 just like that."
After speaking, he handed a jade slip to Lu Yang.
"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 cordially, "This mission was posted by the Peak Master himself, and there's no limit. They'll buy as many as you can grow. What's more, you don't need any corresponding spiritual plant skills, Junior Brother.
The Yin-Yang Immortal Flower is extremely adaptable. As long as you plant it in your cave residence, it won't wither easily." Lu Yang was tempted at first, but he soon shook his head.
Seeing this, Zhao Xuhe frowned.
"What is it?"
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother, it's just..."
Lu Yang said with a bitter expression, "I still have to pay next month's rent for my cave residence, so I really can't afford to purchase the Immortal Flower seeds."
"I see."
Zhao Xuhe sighed as well.
"I've also been through this stage, so I know it's not easy for you... Fine, I'll help you."
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 discover that 500 contribution points had appeared on his token out of thin air! Zhao Xuhe smiled faintly.
"These are your backup contribution points from the Three Rivers Society. You can use and withdraw them whenever you need them in the future. Go ahead and use them to buy the Immortal Flower seeds."
Lu Yang's brows furrowed.
"Senior Brother, isn't this the same as a cultivation technique loan? I'm afraid..."
"The Three Rivers Society is a major power within the Saint Sect's inner sect. New disciples who take out a loan can even enjoy a thirty-day interest-free period. It's much cheaper than the Saint Sect's cultivation technique loan."
"Besides, didn't you want to buy Immortal Flower seeds?"
Zhao Xuhe's tone was gentle and friendly.
"We have a senior brother in the Three Rivers Society who specializes in selling them. Since you've taken a loan from our Three Rivers Society, I can put in a good word for you and have him sell you the Immortal Flower seeds at cost..."
"There's such a good thing?"
Lu Yang looked pleasantly surprised.
"That's because you and I hit it off, Junior Brother."
Zhao Xuhe laughed heartily as well.
"If not for that, 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, saying, "This is that senior brother's communication jade slip. I wish you a speedy fortune, Junior Brother."
"Thank you, Senior Brother!"
Lu Yang departed, offering a thousand thanks. Watching his departing back, the corner of Zhao Xuhe's mouth curled into a cold sneer, and he immediately began searching for his next prey within the Merit Hall. Lu Yang didn't rush off to find the "reliable senior brother" Zhao Xuhe had introduced to purchase Yin-Yang Immortal Flowers.
Instead, he first returned to his cave residence 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 technique loan."
"Working from dawn till dusk every day, watering them with essence blood and nurturing them with spiritual energy, it's estimated to take a full year for them to mature, earning 1500 contribution points."
"After paying the rent, I'll only have 1140 contribution points left."
"Then I pay 460 for the principal and interest of the cultivation technique loan, leaving 680 contribution points. And then, the 500 principal for the Immortal Flower seeds plus 180 in interest comes due..."
"It's all gone?!"
Where did my money go? Carrying this doubt, Lu Yang calculated it one more time. He then stared blankly at his own hands.
After a long moment, he came back to his senses and couldn't help but laugh in anger. Well, I'll be. They calculated everything perfectly, not even leaving me enough money to eat!
Truly worthy of the Primordial Saint Sect! As a disciple of the Saint Sect, you start the game in debt. Then, the sect stretches your financial chain to its breaking point.
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, taking on more and more missions. Otherwise, with the slightest misstep, your financial chain would snap, and the massive loans on his back would instantly become the last straw that breaks the camel's back.
As long as you're willing to suffer, you'll find there's no end to the suffering you have to endure. To put it bluntly, they were dangling basic necessities in front of the lower-level disciples, forcing them to work desperately, all to contribute to the glory of the Primordial Saint Sect.
"Beasts!"
At this thought, Lu Yang couldn't help but curse out loud, before trying to comfort himself: "I work for the Saint Sect, the Saint Sect gives me contribution points, and the loans and cave residences take those contribution points back.
It's basically the Saint Sect producing and selling to itself, and I'm just sitting here in the middle, reaping all the benefits!" Immediately after, Lu Yang thought of the friendly and attentive Zhao Xuhe. He looked down at the additional 500-contribution-point loan on the disciple token in his hand and sneered inwardly.
"And since you are unscrupulous, don't blame me for being dishonorable."
"Loan sharking? I'll just be a deadbeat!"
Despite his words, the beast-of-burden-like situation of the Saint Sect disciples still left Lu Yang feeling suffocated. The more he thought about it, the worse it tasted, and a nameless fire began to rise within him.
"... Demon?"
Just then, the curtain was parted. It was Yun Miaoqing. Having heard Lu Yang cursing out loud, she had gotten out of bed to see what was happening.
(End of Chapter)