Chapter 36: Raise Pigs? I Want to Farm.

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Raise Pigs? I Want to Farm.

Li Changsheng glanced over, his eyes quickly scanning the booklet.

The booklet was divided into three sections: "Demon Hunting," "Mining," and "Exploration."

Having made out the information in the booklet, Li Changsheng spoke up just before the man could put his pen to paper. "Sir, I’m not familiar with these three posts. Could you explain them?"

Jiaoyang paused. Just as he was about to speak, ten lustrous, crystalline stones appeared on his desk.

"Sir, this is my first time here. I would appreciate it if you could explain things to me."

Li Changsheng took out another ten Spirit Stones, placed them gently in front of the man, and offered a cupped-fist salute.

Jiaoyang looked up and sized him up, then set down his writing brush. With a sweep of his sleeve, the Spirit Stones on the desk vanished.

"You may be young, but you’re a sensible one. Much more tactful than that bunch of paupers."

Jiaoyang made a backhanded comment, then pointed to the booklet and said, "’Demon Hunting’ means joining the Demon Hunting Corps, which belongs to the Miscellaneous Peak. They frequently enter the Wanzhong Mountains Range to hunt beasts and capture demons. The pay is high, and the benefits are excellent."

’And you probably die just as quickly,’ Li Changsheng thought to himself.

Jiaoyang continued, "’Mining’ means being stationed to guard the mineral veins the sect has discovered in the Ten Thousand Mountains. The pay is also excellent."

"’Exploration’ means venturing into the mountain peaks and ravines that the sect has not yet investigated. For every resource-rich mineral vein or Spirit Plant Treasure Land you discover, you get an exclusive ten-percent share of whatever is extracted."

Don’t be mistaken—ten percent might not sound like much, but it’s actually a huge amount. Extracting resources is no simple matter.

It requires manpower, the deployment of Arrays, and finally, Cultivators to guard the site. All of these are resources that require a significant upfront investment.

That’s why resource extraction is typically undertaken by factions, not individuals.

For the Cyan Yang Sect to offer a ten-percent share of the yield is nothing short of extremely generous.

Those without the ambition to advance their cultivation further could even use this opportunity to establish a small family clan under the Cyan Yang Sect’s protection.

Jiaoyang’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was just loud enough for everyone present to hear.

Li Changsheng glanced around and saw that the others’ expressions barely changed. Clearly, they were already aware of everything Jiaoyang had just explained.

The "Exploration" column on the list had the most names, accounting for more than half of the people present.

Jiaoyang waited for a moment, but when no one else was sensible enough to offer a tribute, he grew inwardly annoyed at their lack of savvy.

’Serves them right for being cannon fodder. A bunch of paupers.’

He developed a faint, almost imperceptible smidgen of goodwill toward the tactful Li Changsheng.

Of course, goodwill was one thing, but it was impossible to grant him the same freedom that Chang the Pill Master enjoyed.

Jiaoyang pointed at the booklet and smiled. "On account of your good sense, I’ll let you choose your own assignment."

At these words, murmurs broke out among the three groups. Even Chang the Pill Master glanced over, curious to see what he would choose.

Of the three options, the safest was, paradoxically, the one that seemed the most dangerous: the Demon Hunting Corps.

This was because the Demon Hunting Corps always entered the mountains in teams. When pursuing a major target, the entire corps might even mobilize, making the actual risk of danger quite low.

Li Changsheng’s gaze shifted back and forth between the three options.

To be honest, he didn’t want to go to any of them. No matter how safe the Demon Hunting Corps was, it still meant going into the mountains, and who knew what you might run into there?

After a moment of deliberation, Li Changsheng leaned in slightly and whispered, "Lord Jiao, as you can see, my cultivation is only at the second level of Qi Cultivation. I’d be a burden no matter where I go. Is it possible..."

Jiaoyang raised an eyebrow. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a CLATTERING sound on the desk.

A small pile of lustrous Spirit Stones had appeared, half-burying the booklet. They glittered, catching the eye.

"This..."

Jiaoyang’s professional eyes swept over the pile. He roughly estimated there were no fewer than a hundred Spirit Stones.

Li Changsheng bowed respectfully. "I implore you, Sir, to be lenient, considering my feeble cultivation."

Jiaoyang’s sleeve swept over the Spirit Stones. He cleared his throat twice and sighed. "Very well. Your cultivation is indeed too low."

"If I were to assign you to one of those posts, I’d probably just end up getting an earful."

"Let’s do this. You mentioned earlier you’re good at raising pigs?"

Li Changsheng replied earnestly, "My family has raised pigs for generations."

Hearing this, Jiaoyang couldn’t help but laugh. "Haha, you could call that a family legacy! As it happens, I have the perfect place for you."

"Feng Hui, in a moment, take Li Changsheng to see Steward Meng at the Spirit Beast Cage. Tell him this is a newly assigned disciple."

A young man standing behind him immediately stepped forward and answered, "Yes, Steward Jiao."

An idea struck Li Changsheng. Feigning hesitation, he stepped forward and said, "Thank you, Lord Jiao. But, uh... Sir, is it possible for me to tend a Spirit Field instead?"

After speaking, he looked at Steward Jiao with apprehension.

Jiaoyang paused, taken aback. He looked at Li Changsheng with an unreadable smile. "Are you sure?"

Li Changsheng bowed slightly. "I would be grateful for the trouble, Sir."

Jiaoyang waved his hand dismissively. It made no difference to him where the boy went. He turned his head and gave Feng Hui a few instructions.

The other cultivators saw Li Changsheng’s delighted expression and sneered in disdain.

Why had they all come to the Wanzhong Mountains Range? To risk their lives for a chance at a future, of course. If one was going to act like Li Changsheng, they might as well have stayed home.

It wasn’t as if the main Cyan Yang Sect didn’t have its own Spirit Fields and Spirit Beast Cages.

Pleased with his earnings, Jiaoyang was in a fine mood. With a wave of his hand, he led the largest group of people toward the west side of the Marketplace.

The other two groups, led by two outer-sect disciples, headed south and north, respectively.

Only Li Changsheng and Chang the Pill Master remained.

Chang the Pill Master gave Li Changsheng a slight nod, then walked toward the cluster of buildings to the east with his hands clasped behind his back.

Feng Hui beckoned to Li Changsheng. "Come on, Junior Brother Li. I’ll take you to the Spirit Fields."

"Thank you, Senior Brother," Li Changsheng said politely.

The two of them headed east along the main road. Along the way, Li Changsheng struck up a friendly conversation with Feng Hui, and from his descriptions, began to form a rough picture of the Miscellaneous Peak.

The Miscellaneous Peak was overseen by three Dao Foundation Realm Elders from the Miscellaneous Cultivation Lineage, who served as its ultimate authorities.

Of the three, Elder Qing and Elder Mi did not involve themselves in mundane affairs, focusing solely on their cultivation.

All major matters on the Miscellaneous Peak were essentially handled by Elder Lan, who oversaw all operations.

Below the three Elders, the next most powerful figures were three Vein Condensation Realm Stewards.

Left Steward Tong Zuo, who was in charge of the Demon Hunting Corps.

Steward Luo Fang, who managed the Marketplace and commanded the Patrol Guard.

And Steward Shen Tu, who was responsible for managing the Miscellaneous Peak’s resource logistics.

Beneath these three great Stewards were other Stewards in charge of the Spirit Fields, the beast pens, and the four major districts of the Marketplace—A, B, C, and D.

Further down the ladder were dozens of Stewards, captains, and so on, each responsible for specific duties...

The two continued their idle chat as they passed through the bustling streets and soon left the bounds of the Marketplace.

When they reached an open space, Feng Hui stopped. To Li Changsheng’s surprise, he waved his hand, and a piece of animal hide shimmering with spiritual light appeared.

As Feng Hui channeled Spiritual Power into it, the hide expanded in the wind, transforming in the blink of an eye into a bat with a wingspan of at least ten feet.

It was the first time Li Changsheng had ever seen a piece of animal hide that could transform into such a massive bat.

Moreover, lines of glowing patterns lit up across the bat’s body, yet it possessed not a shred of life force. It was clearly not a living creature.

"Senior Brother Feng, what is that?"

A smug look appeared in Feng Hui’s eyes. He waved his hand and chuckled. "Oh, it’s nothing valuable. Just a simple flying-type talismanic artifact."

Li Changsheng exclaimed in shock, "A talismanic artifact!"