“Fine, I'll just work!”
Lü Yang quickly adjusted his emotions.
“Strictly speaking, I could actually commit suicide and restart now, but the pages of the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes are limited. Restarting like this would be too wasteful.”
Although he had now become an official disciple, Lü Yang still had little understanding of the Primordial Saint Sect, and his knowledge of the entire Cultivation World was limited to what he had read in books. Even though he already had the idea of restarting, to accumulate advantages for his next life, he should live a bit longer in this life.
Within Mending Heaven Peak, there were countless caves, but only two places stood out. One was naturally the cave of the Peak Master, and the other was a tall building.
The building had nine floors and was named “Merit”.
Official disciples conducted transactions, posted bounties, and even accepted sect missions mostly in the Merit Building, where they could receive the protection of the Holy Sect.
Lü Yang walked into the Merit Building and approached a counter.
“Senior Brother, may I ask if sect missions are received here?”
As the words fell, the young Daoist at the counter glanced at Lü Yang indifferently at first, but upon seeing his handsome appearance, his eyes lit up.
In the next moment, a friendly 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, right? I haven't seen you before.”
“I am Lü Yang. Greetings, Senior Brother.”
Lü Yang hurriedly saluted and activated his disciple token to verify his identity.
Zhao Xuhe looked at the token, his expression becoming even more gentle, and his smile even more radiant: “Not bad, not bad. Junior Brother Lü is quite the talent, very impressive.”
Zhao Xuhe then looked at Lü Yang with a gaze that made him feel uncomfortable, and suddenly said: “Junior Brother Lü, since you're looking for a sect mission, I happen to have one for you, or rather, an opportunity for wealth. If it works out, your path to immortality will be vast in the future.”
“Really?”
Lü Yang appeared interested on the surface, but in his heart, he became vigilant.
“Absolutely! Couldn't be more real!”
Zhao Xuhe grinned and pointed to the top of Mending Heaven Peak: “The current Peak Master intends to find a son-in-law for his daughter. I see that you have a dignified appearance...”
Lü Yang: “???”
I came to find a sect mission because I wanted to earn money through my own hard work and diligence, and now you want me to live off a woman?
“What, you're not willing?”
Seeing Lü Yang's stiff expression, Zhao Xuhe became even more enthusiastic in his persuasion: “This is a tremendous opportunity for wealth. If you can enter the Peak Master's cave, from then on, you'll be a Foundation Establishment disciple, with contribution points, cultivation methods, and resources all at your disposal. Taking this step correctly can save you sixty years of detours.”
Despite Zhao Xuhe's eloquence, Lü Yang remained unmoved.
Actually, if it were truly about living off a woman, Lü Yang wouldn't mind.
But where was this? The Primordial Saint Sect! The orthodox path of the demonic way!
With Liu Xin's previous example, how could he possibly believe Zhao Xuhe's so-called son-in-law proposal?
There must be 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 son-in-law, but I have an unspeakable difficulty.”
Zhao Xuhe was taken aback: “Unspeakable difficulty?”
“To be honest,” Lü Yang looked embarrassed, “I am afflicted with a venereal disease.”
Upon hearing this, the eagerness on Zhao Xuhe's face immediately faded.
Venereal disease wasn't a big deal; he had ways to cure it.
The problem was, why did he contract it? The reason behind it was the key.
“Ah, what a pity.”
Zhao Xuhe shook his head.
No matter how handsome Lü Yang was, the Peak Master would never allow his daughter to become a Dao companion with a man who could make himself sick.
Lü Yang respectfully said: “Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother.”
Not hitting a smiling face, Lü Yang's respectful demeanor made Zhao Xuhe's expression improve slightly: “In that case, I'll pick a good mission for you.”
“What kind of mission are you looking for?”
Lü Yang said, “High contribution points, relatively safe.”
Zhao Xuhe’s smile didn’t change, clearly expecting this—after all, every new disciple wanted this kind of task. “I really do have one.”
As he spoke, he handed Lü Yang a jade slip.
“Yin-Yang Immortal Bloom, requires a Qi Refining Realm cultivator to nurture it with blood essence and true qi to grow. Mending Heaven Peak purchases it at the highest price, 150 contribution points per flower.”
Zhao Xuhe said kindly, “This task was issued by the Peak Lord himself. No quantity limit. However many you grow, they’ll buy them all. And you don’t need to have any herbal cultivation skills. The Yin-Yang Immortal Bloom is extremely adaptable. As long as it’s planted in your cave dwelling, it won’t wither easily.”
Lü Yang was tempted at first, but soon shook his head.
Zhao Xuhe frowned at this. “What’s wrong?”
“Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother,” Lü Yang said bitterly, “But I still need to pay next month’s rent for my cave dwelling. I really can’t afford to buy the Immortal Bloom seeds.”
“I see.”
Zhao Xuhe also sighed. “I’ve been through this stage myself, I know it’s not easy. Fine, let me help you.”
Then he reached out his hand. “Give me your disciple token.”
Lü Yang obediently handed it over, and moments later, he was shocked to see an extra 500 contribution points appear on it out of nowhere!
Zhao Xuhe smiled slightly. “This is your reserve contribution points from the Three Rivers Association. You can use them anytime you need. Go buy the Immortal Bloom seeds.”
Lü Yang frowned deeply. “Senior Brother, isn’t this just like a cultivation method loan? I’m afraid…”
“The Three Rivers Association is a major power within the inner sect of the Primordial Saint Sect. New disciples borrowing can even enjoy thirty days of interest-free terms, which is much cheaper than the sect’s method loans.”
“And didn’t you want to buy Immortal Bloom seeds?” Zhao Xuhe said kindly, “We have a Senior Brother in the Three Rivers Association who specializes in selling these. Since you’ve borrowed from us, I’ll put in a good word for you—he can sell you the seeds at cost price.”
“Is there really such a good deal?” Lü Yang looked overjoyed.
“Isn’t it because I felt a connection with you, Junior Brother?” Zhao Xuhe also laughed. “If it weren’t so, I wouldn’t even tell most people about this kind of opportunity!”
With that, Zhao Xuhe took out another jade slip and handed it to Lü Yang. “This is that Senior Brother’s communication jade slip. Wishing you early wealth and success, Junior Brother.”
“Thank you, Senior Brother!”
Lü Yang left with endless gratitude.
But as he watched Lü Yang’s departing back, Zhao Xuhe curled his lips into a cold smile and immediately began searching for his next prey in the Merit Hall.
Lü Yang didn’t rush to find the “reliable Senior Brother” Zhao Xuhe had introduced to buy the Yin-Yang Immortal Bloom.
Instead, he returned to his cave dwelling first and did some calculations.
“A loan of 500 contribution points can buy ten Immortal Bloom seeds. The annual interest rate is the same as the method loan—36%.”
“Getting up early and working late every day, watering with blood essence, nurturing with spiritual energy—it’s estimated it will take a full year for them all to mature, earning 1500 contribution points.”
“After paying rent, I’ll have 1140 contribution points left.”
“Repaying the method loan principal and interest costs 460, leaving 680 contribution points, and then the Immortal Bloom seed loan of 500 plus 180 interest will come due…”
“Nothing left!?”
Where’s my money?
With this doubt in mind, Lü Yang recalculated once more, then stared blankly at his hands, only snapping out of it a long while later and bursting out laughing in anger.
Good grief, they really calculated it down to the last copper—didn’t even leave me food money!
No wonder it’s the Demon Sect!
As a disciple of the Primordial Saint Sect, the start was to carry debt, then be yanked to the limit along the funding chain by the sect.
The contribution points earned from taking tasks were just enough to cover expenses.
If he wanted to earn more, save money, he had to work overtime and take on more tasks.
Otherwise, with the slightest misstep, if the funding chain broke, the several massive loans he carried would instantly become the final straw that broke the camel’s back.
As long as you’re willing to suffer, you’ll never run out of suffering.
To put it bluntly, they were dangling rigid necessities over low-level disciples, forcing them to work themselves to death, all to lay bricks and mortar for the glory of the Primordial Saint Sect.
“Animals!”
Thinking of this, Lü Yang couldn’t help cursing out loud, then tried to comfort himself:
“I work for the Primordial Saint Sect, the sect gives me contribution points, then takes them back through loans and rent—it’s self-produced and self-sold by the sect, and I get to enjoy the process from the middle!”
Immediately after, Lü Yang recalled the warm and diligent Zhao Xuhe, looked again at the extra 500 contribution point loan on his disciple token, and sneered internally.
“And since you’re being ruthless, don’t blame me for being unjust.”
“Usury? I’ll be a deadbeat!”
Though he said that, the harsh life of a sect disciple still made Lü Yang feel stifled, the more he thought, the more upset he got, and a nameless fire surged within him.
“…Demonic scum?”
Just then, the curtain lifted—it was Yun Miaoqing, who had heard Lü Yang’s loud cursing and got out of bed to check on the situation.