After receiving his monthly stipend, Fan Wubing did not leave Fulu Peak but instead turned to head toward the Delegation Hall nearby.
He planned to see if there were any commissions suitable for him.
No way around it, he had to earn a living somehow.
The Eternal Immortal Sect was located in the central area of the Profound One Spirit Marsh, at the border of two secular countries, surrounded by three major cities where immortals and mortals intermingled. It was a transportation hub in all four directions. In such a place, resources were abundant, and the transportation was convenient. Both the Immortal Dao and Martial Dao were highly developed, and everything was great, except for the extremely high cost of living.
A single low-grade Spirit Stone could barely cover a month's worth of food; it was impossible to do anything else.
Although over the years, he lived simply and had some savings, one could not live off them forever.
However, that was only part of the reason. The main thing was that Fan Wubing was determined not to hide on Enlightenment Peak for his whole life. He had a player panel, after all, and had vowed to extend his blood bar beyond the panel, not just achieve this goal in a dream.
The Delegation Hall was quite grand, far more impressive than those buildings on Enlightenment Peak that had long lost their immortal glory.
A row of vermilion lacquered pillars, decorated with carved dragons and painted phoenixes, supported the roof beams, exuding an aura of majestic grandeur.
As Fan Wubing walked into the grand hall, he immediately felt a noble righteousness filling the space. The so-called prestigious sect was well-deserved in terms of appearance.
"Wow, a rare guest, indeed!"
A young man in white approached Fan Wubing. He had remarkable looks, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and a blue jade pendant hanging from his waist, crystal-clear.
Seeing the newcomer, Fan Wubing's tense expression slightly relaxed, and he cupped his hands with a smile,
"Senior Brother Wei."
This person was named Wei Changkong, and although their relationship couldn't be called close, he was one of the few people Fan Wubing could exchange a few words with upon meeting.
Wei Changkong belonged to the first type of renowned individuals in the Eternal Immortal Sect—an extraordinary person. Terms like "sword path genius," "descendant of famous families," "ease at cultivating immortality" were frequently used to describe him.
The reason he and Fan Wubing got along relatively well was mainly because of his senior sister, Fu Ming.
His fundamental purpose for interacting with Fan Wubing was to have a word with Fu Ming.
Although he had not succeeded to this day, he was generous and never gave up. He also didn't lower himself to please Fan Wubing, maintaining a balanced attitude as a clear and exceptional youth.
"Are you about to venture out?" Wei Changkong examined him from head to toe.
Fan Wubing shook his head,
"Senior Brother Wei, you're overstating it. I'm here to see if there's a commission suitable for me, to broaden my horizons."
Wei Changkong asked with a smile,
"Would you like me to give you some recommendations?"
"That would be best, indeed."
After all, being here for the first time, having a good guide could save a lot of hassle.
As one of the top sects in the Profound One Spirit Marsh, the Eternal Immortal Sect received numerous commissions from all directions, various in form and purpose. They ranged from eliminating Nascent Soul Old Demons who occupied a territory and sacrificed a city, to cutting ribbons for the grand opening of secular Treasure Towers, to serving as guards and bodyguards for noble sons and daughters of families. Even marriage proposals were posted here.
Fan Wubing thought to himself, who in their right mind would give up the path of cultivating immortals to marry a mortal family's daughter?
Just as he thought this, a disciple indeed came over, without a word, and accepted a marriage proposal commission.
"There really is someone, huh!" he couldn't help but say.
Wei Changkong laughed and said,
"Junior Brother Wubing, living a secluded life, you might not understand this aspect. In fact, the immortal path is arduous. Some mortals, who accidentally acquire immortal destinies and are recruited into the sect, start cultivating. But after a while, they find that they are not cut out for it, unable to progress or endure the hardships. Over time, they give up and are on the verge of being persuaded to leave the sect. It's better for them to find a good way out while they still have the title of sect disciple."
This... is indeed realistic. After all, joining an immortal sect doesn't mean immediate ascension to the heavens.
After saying this, Wei Changkong suddenly realized something and awkwardly added,
"Sorry, Junior Brother. I didn't mean to offend you."
Fan Wubing understood his meaning, smiled, and said,
"Senior Brother Wei, it's alright, I'm not the type to fuss over such things."
Ordinarily, given Fan Wubing's nearly ten-year delay in formally beginning his cultivation, he should have been persuaded to leave. But since he was directly recruited by Yushan Daoist as a direct disciple, rather than entering through the sect's admissions ceremony held every five years, he was an exception.
This was one of the reasons he often faced resentment from others.
Fan Wubing's gaze suddenly fell on a special commission,
"Heavy Reward for a Child!"
It described a wealthy family named Li in Weiri City below the mountain. The couple had been married for many years without producing a child. After consulting an old physician, it was found that the wife had accumulated a mass of reversed Yin Qi in her body, causing her Yin essence to be unaccepting and unable to nurture life.
After fruitless attempts to find a solution, the client could only turn to the Eternal Immortal Sect, hoping someone could help his wife dispel this reversed Yin Qi in her body.
Surely, a prestigious sect like the Eternal Immortal Sect must have a solution.
Several disciples had already taken on this commission but had failed. Therefore, the reward had been continuously increasing and was now up to 100 contribution points.
In the Delegation Hall, most commissions recommended for Qi Refining Stage disciples were typically around 10 to 20 contribution points. Even for those recommended for Foundation Establishment Stage disciples, commissions offering over 100 contribution points were rare.
Without hesitation, Fan Wubing accepted this commission. Instantly, a wisp of immortal energy from the center of the grand hall's square immortal mirror infused into his Sect Token.
Wei Changkong asked with a smile,
"What commission did you take?"
Fan Wubing replied,
"Heavy Reward for a Child."
Wei Changkong's face froze, then he anxiously said,
"Junior Brother Wubing, you're still young. Even if you can't cultivate immortality now, who can predict the future? Don't lose hope and become self-destructive like those people. Think about your master, Yushan Daoist, your senior sister Fu Ming, and those family members and friends who pin their hopes on you. Even consider me!
"Is 'Heavy Reward for a Child' something we, as disciples of a prestigious sect, should be doing? Over the years, indeed, many secular individuals, seeking immortal destiny, have entertained wicked thoughts of trying to produce offspring with the blood of cultivators, hoping to give birth to progeny with the potential for cultivation. But for a cultivator, engaging in such reckless acts without regard for oneself, to shed essential essence carelessly would lead to a ruined foundation!"
Seeing his worried expression, Fan Wubing felt warmth in his heart. He showed him the commission content,
"Senior Brother Wei, you can rest assured now; it's not what you think."
Wei Changkong's face flushed slightly,
"The people in the Delegation Hall, they write these commissions in such sensational manners... A proper commission, yet written so improperly. Ahem!
"Nevertheless, I've heard of this commission. A fellow junior brother of mine took it but failed. Not only did he fail, but he also returned having lost dozens of pounds! When asked what happened, he dared not say. He's at the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment, oh, Junior Brother Wubing, are you sure you want to take it? If you fail, the contribution points will be deducted to increase the reward."
Fan Wubing cupped his fists and said,
"Thank you, Senior Brother Wei, for your concern. I have a unique secret technique for producing offspring that might help."
"Secret technique for producing offspring?"
Wei Changkong was a bit confused; it went beyond his understanding,
"Then, be careful."
After bidding farewell to Wei Changkong, Fan Wubing began his preparations.
He, of course, didn't have any unique secret technique for producing offspring; it was just to convince Wei Changkong, though he might not be convinced.
In reality, the reason he unhesitatingly accepted this commission was that this "Heavy Reward for a Child" commission was a part of a side quest in "The Long Immortal Journey."
"This side quest might be an important part of laying my foundation!"
Of course, those 100 contribution points were also crucial.
The gold content of the first pot of gold goes without saying.
Fan Wubing was determined to succeed.