Immortal Refiner

Entering the Liu Clan’s General Affairs Hall, Li Qing found the official in charge to be a cultivator in the Late Qi Refining Realm.

Li Qing felt like he was nothing more than a fresh patch of chives, ripe for the harvest in the official’s eyes.

”Hehe, young friend, your identity token has been registered. With this, you’re now authorized to cultivate within the Liu Clan’s Spiritual Vein grounds.”

The Elder in charge handed Li Qing a wooden token, a smile never leaving his face.

Liu Sheng, standing nearby, chuckled and clapped Li Qing on the shoulder. ”Brother Li, from now on, we’re family. Don’t hesitate to ask for anything you need.”

Li Qing couldn’t help but scoff inwardly.

His status in the Liu Clan was practically at the bottom of the ladder. He wouldn’t dare presume to be on equal footing with a direct descendant of the Liu Clan’s cultivation lineage.

But Li Qing was adept at maintaining appearances. He expressed his gratitude, saying, ”Thank you, Brother Liu! Thank you, Senior!”

Whether navigating the Jianghu or the cultivation world, it was always wise to keep one’s posture humble when starting from the bottom.

”Well, young friend, take a look at these. These are the tasks the Liu Clan currently needs help with. See if any catch your eye,” the Elder said with a sly smile, his expression like that of an old fox.

Li Qing raised his eyes to the Mission Board:

Spirit Plant Cultivator: Tend spirit fields. Required to surrender eighty percent of the spirit rice harvest.

Spirit rice was a plant imbued with pure heaven and earth spiritual energy. During his tour of the Liu Clan, he had seen vast fields of it, with many cultivators toiling to care for the seedlings.

Eighty percent!

Seeing such an exorbitant surrender rate, Li Qing couldn’t help but marvel at the benefits of controlling the means of production.

As if sensing his thoughts, Liu Sheng explained, ”Brother Li, don’t let the eighty percent scare you. Compared to the rest of the cultivation world, the Liu Clan is actually quite lenient.”

”Most other cultivation clans demand ninety percent or even the entire harvest, giving cultivators only a few spirit stones for their year’s work.”

”There are even some unscrupulous cultivation clans that specialize in capturing rogue cultivators with low cultivation levels, treating them as slaves for life.”

Li Qing didn’t doubt the truth of Liu Sheng’s words. Where there was profit to be made, some people would always resort to such vile and despicable acts.

After all, the cultivation world isn’t governed by laws. Might makes right, and even if some cultivation clans secretly engage in such activities, as long as they’re discreet, no one will bother to play the self-righteous hero.

However, cultivating spirit fields requires time to learn several cultivation techniques, and it’s best suited for those who cultivate wood-attribute cultivation manuals.

This task wasn’t even on Li Qing’s radar.

As for the easier, more relaxed jobs on the Mission Board, someone of his status wasn’t qualified to take them.

For instance, tasks like Liu Sheng’s—guarding the clan’s protective array, feeding the Spirit Fish in the lake, or managing a shop in the market—were reserved exclusively for descendants of the Liu Clan.

Li Qing continued scrolling down, searching for something more suitable.

Spirit Mine Worker: Venture deep into the mine to excavate spirit stones. Earn 10% of the spirit stones as compensation.

Excavate spirit stones? The Liu Clan actually owned a spirit stone mine?

Li Qing couldn’t help but ask, ”Your clan is truly powerful, possessing a spirit stone mine!”

He wasn’t some ignorant newbie to cultivation. He understood the importance of spirit stones—they served not only as hard currency but also as invaluable aids to cultivation.

Even if he had enough spirit stones, Li Qing could cultivate using the pure spiritual energy within them, even while residing in the mundane world where spiritual energy was scarce.

”Hehe, young friend, you misunderstand. How could our Liu Clan possibly possess the authority to control a spirit stone mine?”

”This spirit stone mine belongs to the upper sect. Our Liu Clan is merely responsible for sending people to assist in its excavation.”

”After all, disciples from those major sects are incredibly noble. Their time is naturally dedicated to cultivation. How could they stoop to the level of digging for spirit stones in a mine?”

The Elder explained patiently.

Two more missions remained on the board, both carrying a degree of danger: venturing out to eliminate rogue cultivators and accompanying the Liu Clan’s merchant caravan to the Heavenly River Sect’s market to sell goods.

It was obvious that the former required considerable strength, and Li Qing didn’t believe he possessed it.

The latter also posed risks. If trouble arose, survival would be virtually impossible. After all, any rogue cultivators daring to target the Liu Clan’s merchant caravan would undoubtedly have their own methods and confidence, fully prepared to succeed.

”So, Brother Li, have you decided which path to take?”

Li Qing felt slightly disappointed. He hadn’t found any apprentice positions, such as Weapon Refinement Apprentice or Pill Refinement Apprentice.

It made sense. Cultivation techniques were typically closely guarded family secrets, so why would they ever take outsiders as apprentices?

After weighing his options, Li Qing ultimately decided to become a miner.

That’s right. Since the spirit stone mine belonged to the Heavenly River Sect, he wouldn’t have to worry about rogue cultivators trying to seize it.

He’d learned from Liu Sheng that the Heavenly River Sect was the most powerful cultivation sect in the entire Maple Country. They had numerous Foundation Establishment Elders, not to mention several Core Formation Grand Cultivators!

Joining this sect was the dream of nearly every cultivator in the Maple Country.

Unfortunately, the sect’s power meant its entry requirements were naturally high. For a rogue cultivator like Li Qing, who had only recently taken up cultivation and possessed average talent, there was no hope of joining.

”Well, being a spirit mine worker isn’t bad,” Liu Sheng said, clasping his hands in a respectful gesture. ”With your Martial Dao skills, Brother Li, you might even earn a handsome reward. Since you’ve made your decision, I’ll take my leave. I must return to my clan to oversee the formation.”

”Farewell, Brother Liu!” Li Qing replied gratefully.

Once Li Qing had chosen his task, the Elder in charge nodded and began explaining the important details of the job.

”Listen carefully to what I’m about to say. This is the Upper Sect’s spirit stone mine. Although Upper Sect disciples don’t participate in the mining, they do send people to guard and inspect the operation.”

”First, about the mining schedule. Each month, you’ll spend about ten days in the mine extracting spirit stones. The remaining twenty days, you can stay at the clan to cultivate.”

”This mission isn’t just a collaboration between our Liu Clan and the Upper Sect. Other cultivation clans affiliated with the Heavenly River Sect have also taken on this task.”

”Second, before entering the mine, you’re strictly forbidden from bringing any spatial artifacts like storage pouches. This rule is in place to prevent miners from secretly pocketing spirit stones.”

”Third, each miner has their own designated mining area. Under no circumstances are you allowed to privately absorb the spiritual energy from the spirit stones. This is absolutely crucial!”

”There was once an ignorant fool who, after digging up spirit stones, secretly used them for his own cultivation. When discovered, he was immediately stripped of his cultivation.”

Hearing these warnings, Li Qing nodded repeatedly, assuring the elder that he understood.

Seeing how honest and earnest Li Qing was, the Elder in charge of the General Affairs Hall smiled approvingly. ”Good, you understand. Earning spirit stones is fine, but you must do so through proper means.”

”You may return now. It will be about ten days before the Liu Clan’s next mining operation begins. During this time, you are free to remain within the clan and cultivate in quiet meditation. Someone will notify you when it’s time to start work.”

And so, Li Qing, now officially assigned to the spirit stone mine, left the General Affairs Hall.

For a moment, he felt a strange sense of novelty, like he had just graduated and found his first job in his past life.

”Not bad at all. That’s essentially working one day and resting two. It’s all thanks to the competition among the other cultivation clans with ties to the Heavenly River Sect, as each clan takes turns mining the spirit stone veins.”

Having twenty days of free time each month for cultivation already satisfied Li Qing immensely.

Holding his identity token, Li Qing happily followed the number on it toward his residence, located in the area where all the Liu Clan’s hired laborers lived.

After walking for a while, Li Qing whistled and, mounting the spirited Fan Tong, rode toward his assigned quarters.

”Area C, Courtyard No. 49... this should be it.”

Indeed, even as lowly laborers in a cultivation clan, cultivators still deserved a measure of privacy. Thus, each person was assigned their own independent courtyard.

Though small, the courtyard was situated atop a second-tier Spiritual Vein. While perhaps not the most concentrated source of spiritual energy, it was more than sufficient to meet Li Qing’s cultivation needs.

Riding Fan Tong, Li Qing passed many identical courtyards. The tiger’s’ imposing size and strength drew numerous curious glances from other cultivators working as laborers for the Liu Clan, just like Li Qing.

Noticing these gazes, Li Qing sighed.

”Ah, once I earn enough spirit stones, I’ll buy you a spirit beast pouch. How does that sound?” Li Qing patted Fan Tong’s head.

The tiger merely purred in response, its meaning unclear.

Finally, after a long journey, Li Qing arrived at his courtyard.

The furnishings were simple yet elegant: a two-story small building and a well in the courtyard. Nothing else.

”Hmm, this humble abode is mine, and my virtue shall make it fragrant!” Li Qing nodded with satisfaction.

(End of the Chapter)

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