Chapter 4: Zhang Tie
Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Zhang Tie
"In that case, would you be interested in becoming an Honored Guest Elder for our Cyan Dragon Mountain?"
Upon hearing Li Ping’s words, Meng Qingyi’s eyes lit up. "Fellow Daoist Li, to be honest, this is precisely why I have come today. If you become an Honored Guest Elder of our Cyan Dragon Mountain with your Foundation Establishment cultivation, you will not only receive a Tier Two cave-dwelling free of charge, but also be allowed to select a primary Cultivation Technique from Cyan Dragon Mountain’s Dharma Transmission Pavilion for free. Furthermore, you will receive an annual stipend of Spirit Stones."
More than ten days ago, once the phenomenon from his Foundation Establishment had faded, she had already investigated Li Ping.
She learned that he had a clean background and preferred to avoid trouble, focusing wholeheartedly on his cultivation.
She naturally felt a favorable impression of such a Cultivator; recruiting him would bolster Cyan Dragon Mountain’s strength.
A look of satisfaction appeared in Li Ping’s eyes when he heard these terms.
Renting a Tier Two cave-dwelling for a full year would cost dozens of Spirit Stones. A hundred years of rent was equivalent to the cost of a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Moreover, a High-tier Cultivation Technique would cost several hundred Spirit Stones at a minimum.
If he could get both the cave-dwelling and the Cultivation Technique for free, it would undoubtedly relieve a great deal of his financial pressure.
After a moment’s thought, he said hesitantly, "To be honest, if your esteemed master hadn’t established this Immortal City, I fear I never would have had the opportunity to reach Foundation Establishment. For that, I hold the Cyan Dragon Mountain lineage in high regard. It’s just... my abilities are still meager. I’m not sure if I’d be able to fulfill the duties of an Honored Guest Elder."
His underlying meaning was clear: he wanted to know the specifics of the Honored Guest Elder position.
’Things like: is the workload heavy? Is the work dangerous? Is there extra compensation for additional tasks?’
"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Li," Fairy Meng said with a light laugh. "Our city’s Honored Guest Elders are free to do as they please, aside from having to complete a few Immortal City missions every so often. And upon completing those missions, the Immortal City provides a corresponding reward of Spirit Stones. Furthermore, since you’re at the Early-stage Foundation Establishment, the Immortal City won’t assign you any missions that are beyond your capabilities."
"As for restrictions, there is one. Once you become one of our city’s Honored Guest Elders, if you wish to leave, you must first serve for a full sixty years. Otherwise, you will have to pay a penalty of ten times the value of the free Cultivation Technique and cave-dwelling..."
Li Ping nodded. "I see."
’Such restrictions were to be expected. After all, the Immortal City offered generous terms to recruit Honored Guest Elders; they weren’t just going to support him for nothing.’
’He wasn’t too concerned about the mandatory missions from the Immortal City.’
’He possessed the Legacy Tree, so he was destined to make great achievements in various cultivation-related arts. Becoming a Tier Two Talisman Maker or a Tier Two Alchemist was a foreseeable outcome.’
’When that time came, any mandatory missions the Immortal City assigned him would surely be production-related and free of danger.’
’The only thing that gave him pause was the sixty-year service term. After all, he was only about forty years old in this life, yet he was about to sign what amounted to a sixty-year indenture contract.’
’However, from what Li Ping understood, the Immortal City’s conditions weren’t actually unreasonable. Among all the nations of the Western Wilderness, only Fenglan Immortal City could truly be called a haven for Loose Cultivators.’
’The sects in the surrounding nations preferred to cultivate their members from a young age. For a Loose Cultivator like him, the requirements to join were far stricter than those of the Immortal City.’
’Cultivation Clans were even more insular. It would be impossible for him to join one unless he was willing to marry into the family as a live-in son-in-law.’
’The sects in the northern Western Wilderness nations of Yan and Liang, on the other hand, were happy to accept Loose Cultivators. The problem was that their territories bordered the Grassland, leading to years of intense warfare against the Cultivators of the Tuluo People. It was far too dangerous. Li Ping wouldn’t go there even if he had to become a live-in son-in-law.’
’Fine, sixty years it is!’
Li Ping sighed internally, then said aloud, "Fairy Meng, I need some time to consider. I will give you my answer within ten days. Is that acceptable?"
In truth, Li Ping had already decided to join the Cyan Dragon Mountain lineage and become an Honored Guest Elder of the Immortal City.
The only reason he asked for time was to use the opportunity to verify what Meng Qingyi had told him through other channels, just to be absolutely sure.
Fairy Meng had anticipated Li Ping’s reaction. She said with a smile, "It’s perfectly fine for you to consider it carefully. Feel free to ask around. You’ll find that the benefits our Cyan Dragon Mountain lineage provides for its Honored Guest Elders are the most generous in all the surrounding nations."
...
After bidding farewell to Meng Qingyi, Li Ping headed toward the Outer City.
The rent for a Tier Two cave-dwelling was too expensive; his everyday residence was actually in the Outer City. He had only rented this one for the sake of his Foundation Establishment.
As Li Ping approached a leatherworking shop in Wuyi Lane in the Outer City, he heard voices chatting inside.
From their voices, it was a young man and an old man.
The young man’s voice sounded somewhat distracted. "Big Brother went to the Inner City to attempt Foundation Establishment. I don’t know if he succeeded or not."
Hearing this, the old man’s voice dripped with disdain. "That Li kid certainly has some skill, but do you think Foundation Establishment is so easy?"
"He scammed all those Spirit Stones from you. He probably failed his Foundation Establishment and has already snuck out of the Immortal City for good. And let’s say he did... let’s say he got incredibly lucky and actually succeeded. He probably wouldn’t give you the time of day anymore."
"Only a fool like you would believe his lies."
The old man was still fuming as he spoke. "I get angry just thinking about it! How did I take on such a stupid apprentice? You let that Li kid trick you into making an oath, and for the last twenty years, you’ve handed over what, four or five hundred Spirit Stones? That’s enough to buy the complete teachings for a Tier Two Leatherworker! And now, it’s all gone down the drain!"
"Master, Big Brother wouldn’t cheat me!" the young man retorted, disagreeing with the old man.
"This foolish apprentice! You’ll be the death of me!" The old man’s voice was filled with exasperation.
...
"Ahem..."
After listening for a good while, Li Ping cleared his throat and stepped into the leatherworking shop.
His cough startled the two figures in the middle of the shop, who were busy processing a Demon Beast Hide.
The two figures were a tall, white-haired elder and a young man who looked simple and honest, but whose eyes were bright and spirited.
When they looked over, Li Ping stopped suppressing his aura. The Spiritual Pressure of a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator washed over them, plain as day.
The tall, white-haired elder saw Li Ping, and upon feeling his aura, his eyes filled with utter disbelief. "Li... kid, you..."
His words died in his throat as he met Li Ping’s smiling eyes. His lips moved, but he couldn’t get the rest of the sentence out. An incredibly complex expression crossed his face.
At last, his attitude became respectful. He called out clearly, "Senior."
The elder was older than Li Ping and had just been calling him "Li kid" without a second thought.
But now that Li Ping was a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, the chasm in status and strength between them was immense. The old man no longer dared to show the slightest disrespect.
In contrast, the honest-looking young man beside him was beaming with joy. "Big Brother, you became a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!"
Unlike his master, he didn’t feel like anything had changed about Li Ping.
His Big Brother was still his Big Brother.