"Fine. If it's work, then it's work."
Lü Yang quickly adjusted his mindset.
"Strictly speaking, I could actually kill myself right now and restart… but the pages in the Book of a Hundred Lives are limited. Restarting just like that would be a huge loss."
Although he had now become a formal disciple, Lü Yang still knew very little about Chu Saint Sect, and his understanding of the cultivation world as a whole was limited to what he had read in books. While the thought of restarting had already crossed his mind, if he wanted to accumulate advantages for his next life, then in this one he ought to live as long as possible.
There were countless cave dwellings within Bu Tian Peak. However, only two locations were truly eye-catching. One was naturally the peak lord's residence; the other was a tall building.
The building had nine floors and was called the Merit Hall.
Transactions between formal disciples, the posting of bounties, and the accepting of sect missions were mostly carried out in the Merit Hall, where one could also enjoy the protection of the Holy Sect.
Lü Yang entered the Merit Hall and walked up to a counter.
"Senior brother, may I ask if sect missions are taken here?"
"Stupid question, you—… hmm?"
As the words fell, the young Daoist behind the counter first glanced at Lü Yang absentmindedly. Then, upon seeing his handsome appearance, his eyes lit up.
In the next instant, a warm and friendly smile appeared on the young Daoist's face.
"Why call me senior brother? My name is Zhao Xuhe, a steward disciple of the Merit Hall. Junior brother, you must be newly admitted, right? I don't think I've seen you before."
"My name is Lü Yang. Greetings, senior brother."
Lü Yang quickly performed a salute while activating his disciple token to verify his identity.
Zhao Xuhe glanced at the token. His expression softened even further, and his smile grew even brighter.
"Not bad, not bad, Junior Brother Lü—now that is real talent. Very good indeed."
As he spoke, Zhao Xuhe looked Lü Yang up and down with a gaze that made him distinctly uncomfortable. Then he suddenly said,
"Junior Brother Lü, since you're looking for sect missions, I just happen to have one here. Or rather, a stroke of fortune I can give you. If it succeeds, I can guarantee you a boundless immortal path in the future…"
"Really?"
On the surface, Lü Yang showed interest, but inwardly he became alert.
"Absolutely real—couldn't be more real!"
Zhao Xuhe grinned broadly, pointed toward the summit of Bu Tian Peak, and said,
"The current peak lord intends to recruit a son-in-law for his precious daughter. Seeing as you're so handsome…"
Lü Yang: "???"
I came here to take sect missions so I could rely on my own two hands—on diligence and hard work—to earn money. And now you're telling 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 heaven-sent fortune! If you can enter the peak lord's residence, from that point on you'll be a Foundation Establishment disciple. Contribution points, techniques, resources—you'll have everything you need. Take this step right, and you'll save yourself sixty years of detours…"
Despite Zhao Xuhe's flowery words, Lü Yang remained unmoved.
Actually, if it really were just living off a woman, Lü Yang wouldn't necessarily mind.
But where was this? Chu Saint Sect! The orthodox demonic path! With Liu Xin's fate as a cautionary example, how could he possibly believe Zhao Xuhe's talk of recruiting a son-in-law?
There had to be a problem!
With that thought, Lü Yang simply sighed and said,
"Senior Brother Zhao, it's not that I'm unwilling to become a live-in son-in-law. It's just… I have unspeakable difficulties."
Zhao Xuhe was stunned. "Unspeakable difficulties?"
"To be honest…" Lü Yang wore an embarrassed expression, as if ashamed to speak.
"I suffer from… a venereal disease."
The moment those words were spoken, the eagerness on Zhao Xuhe's face immediately cooled.
A venereal disease in itself wasn't a big problem—he had ways to cure it. The real issue was… how did one even contract such a disease? The reason behind it was the key.
"Ah, what a pity…"
Zhao Xuhe shook his head. No matter how good Lü Yang's looks were, the peak lord would never allow his daughter to form a Dao companion bond with a man capable of getting himself infected like that.
"Sorry to have troubled you, senior brother," Lü Yang said respectfully.
One shouldn't hit a smiling face. Seeing how polite Lü Yang was, Zhao Xuhe's expression eased somewhat.
"In that case, I'll pick a good mission for you instead."
"What kind of mission would junior brother like?" he asked.
"One with high contribution points and relatively safe," Lü Yang replied.
Zhao Xuhe's smile did not change at all, clearly having anticipated this. After all, every newly admitted disciple wanted that sort of mission.
"I really do have one like that."
As he spoke, he handed Lü Yang a jade slip.
"Yin–Yang Immortal Blossoms. They require Qi Refinement cultivators to nurture them with essence blood and true qi in order to survive. Bu Tian Peak will purchase them at the highest price—one blossom for 150 contribution points."
Zhao Xuhe said warmly,
"This is a mission personally issued by the peak lord. There's no limit on quantity—however many you grow, they'll buy. And you don't need any special skill in spirit plants. Yin–Yang Immortal Blossoms are extremely adaptable. As long as you plant them in your cave dwelling, they won't easily wither."
At first, Lü Yang felt tempted upon hearing this, but he soon shook his head again.
Seeing this, Zhao Xuhe frowned. "What's wrong?"
"Thank you for your guidance, senior brother, but…" Lü Yang said bitterly,
"I still have to pay next month's cave dwelling rent. I really can't afford to buy the blossom seeds."
"So that's how it is."
Zhao Xuhe sighed as well.
"I've been through this stage too. I know how hard it is for you… Very well, I'll help you out."
He then extended his hand. "Give me your disciple token."
Lü Yang obediently handed it over. Moments later, he was shocked to discover that 500 contribution points had appeared on it out of thin air!
Zhao Xuhe smiled faintly.
"This is a standby contribution loan from the Sanhe Association. You can draw on it whenever you need it. Go buy the blossom seeds."
Lü Yang frowned deeply.
"Senior brother, isn't this just like a technique loan? I'm afraid…"
"The Sanhe Association is a major power within the inner sect. New disciples who borrow can enjoy thirty days of interest-free grace. It's much cheaper than the Holy Sect's technique loans."
"And don't you want to buy the blossom seeds?" Zhao Xuhe said gently, his tone warm and friendly.
"Our Sanhe Association happens to have a senior brother who specializes in selling them. Since you've borrowed from us, I can put in a few good words for you and have him sell the seeds to you at cost…"
"There's really such a good thing?" Lü Yang's face lit up with joy.
"Well, that's because you and I get along, junior brother," Zhao Xuhe laughed as well.
"Otherwise, I wouldn't tell just anyone about an opportunity like this!"
As he spoke, Zhao Xuhe took out another jade slip and handed it to Lü Yang.
"This is that senior brother's communication jade slip. I wish you an early fortune."
"Thank you so much, senior brother!"
Lü Yang left with profuse thanks.
As he watched Lü Yang's departing figure, Zhao Xuhe curled his lips into a cold smile, then turned back to search the Merit Hall for his next prey.
Lü Yang did not rush to find the "reliable senior brother" Zhao Xuhe had introduced to buy Yin–Yang Immortal Blossoms. Instead, he returned to his cave dwelling first and carefully did the math.
"A loan of 500 contribution points lets me buy ten blossom seeds. The annual interest rate is the same as the technique loan—36%.
"If I work from dawn till dusk, nurturing them with essence blood and feeding them with spiritual energy, it'll still take about a year for all of them to mature, earning 1,500 contribution points.
"After paying the rent, that leaves me with 1,140 contribution points.
"Then I repay the technique loan—principal plus interest—460 points, leaving 680.
"And then the blossom loan principal of 500 plus 180 interest comes due…"
"Nothing left!?"
Where did my money go?
With this doubt, Lü Yang calculated it again. Then he stared blankly at his own hands. Only after a long while did he come back to his senses—and immediately burst out laughing in anger.
Good grief. They've calculated everything perfectly—not even leaving me money for food!
Truly worthy of Chu Saint Sect!
As a Holy Sect disciple, you start the game already in debt. Then the sect stretches your cash flow to the limit. The contribution points you earn from missions are only enough to cover expenses.
If you want to earn more or save up, you have to work overtime and take on more missions.
Otherwise, with just one misstep and a broken cash flow, the several massive loans hanging over you will instantly become the final straw that crushes the camel.
As long as you're willing to endure hardship, you'll never run out of hardship.
To put it plainly, they use rigid necessities to dangle bait in front of low-level disciples, forcing them to work themselves to death, all to add bricks and tiles to the glory of Chu Saint Sect.
"Bastards!"
Thinking this, Lü Yang couldn't help but curse aloud. Then he comforted himself:
"I work for the Holy Sect, the Holy Sect pays contribution points. Loans and cave dwellings also collect contribution points. In the end, it's all internal circulation—I'm the one benefiting in the middle!"
Then Lü Yang recalled the earlier warmth and enthusiasm of Zhao Xuhe. Looking again at the extra 500 contribution points on his disciple token, he sneered inwardly.
"And since you're being unrighteous, don't blame me for being unjust."
"Loan sharks? I'll default!"
Even so, the beast-of-burden existence of a Holy Sect disciple still left Lü Yang feeling stifled. The more he thought about it, the worse it felt. A nameless fire surged straight upward in his chest.
"…Demonic cultivator?"
At that moment, the curtain was lifted. It turned out that Yun Miaoqing had heard Lü Yang's outburst of curses. She got out of bed and came over to see what was going on.