Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 600: Chapter 407 Recruitment Fair, Shopping Spree_2

Let’s put it this way, True Essence Pill works best for innate martial artists at the entry and controlling qi levels, but its effect is much less significant for those at the Mystical Mechanism and Ruwei levels.

Therefore, True Essence Pill is most attractive to innate martial artists at the entry and controlling qi levels.

Just as Yang Zhenshan was preparing to pick people, Li Shouning, who was sitting in the front row, suddenly stood up and said, ”Count this old man in!”

As soon as he spoke, everyone fell silent and turned to look at him.

Even Zhang Ye and Granny Meng were no exceptions.

”Brother Shouning, why is this so?” Zhang Ye asked with surprise and curiosity.

Li Shouning was a few years older than Zhang Ye, and their cultivation levels were not much different. Theoretically, given their cultivation levels, they should not really need the True Essence Pill or the Three Yellow Plums. However, Li Shouning took the initiative to request to guard Cui Xia Valley.

”My time is nearing its end; this old man wants to try once more!” Li Shouning said calmly.

Hearing this, Zhang Ye sighed helplessly, then slowly sat down and stopped speaking.

Time is nearing its end!

The lifespan of innate martial artists far exceeds that of ordinary people; the long-lived can even reach nearly three hundred years, such as the legendary Elder Qingmu. However, examples like Elder Qingmu are extremely rare, and most innate martial artists can only live around one hundred and fifty years, not even reaching three full cycles of sixty years.

This year, Zhang Ye is one hundred thirty-four years old, and Li Shouning is a few years older than him, now one hundred thirty-eight years old.

At most, they could only live another dozen years.

At their age, they no longer had pursuits, the only thing they desired was the state of Entering Tao.

To die in the evening after hearing the way in the morning is enough!

Li Shouning was not resigned and wanted to explore where the threshold of entering the Tao lay.

Although it was uncertain whether True Essence Pill and Three Yellow Plums could allow him to progress, at the moment, these were the best resources he could get.

Now, Yang Zhenshan could not yet comprehend Li Shouning’s feelings, but he could understand his thoughts, and Li Shouning’s willingness to guard Cui Xia Valley was also a good thing.

”Good, Senior Zhang is willing to guard Cui Xia Valley, now there is only one spot left!” Yang Zhenshan said cheerfully.

This made the gathered innate martial artists even more eager.

”Marquis Yang, please give the last spot to this old man!” Lu Zhongji from West Building Sword Sect spoke up.

”Old fellow, haven’t you always liked to stay at home teaching your disciples? Leave this spot for this old man. I am alone with no family distractions; I am most suitable for guarding Cui Xia Valley!” Loose cultivator Wu Anchou shouted.

Wu Anchou truly lives alone, following three rules throughout his life: not marrying, not procreating, and not taking disciples.

He lives at the foot of Bull Horn Mountain in the middle of Wanshan Ridge, also known as the Old Man of Bull Horn.

Yang Zhenshan thought about it and said, ”Let’s give this final spot to Elder Wu. Elder Wu is right; he has no attachments, making him most suitable to guard Cui Xia Valley!”

Upon hearing this, Wu Anchou burst into laughter, ”Brother Yang, I owe you a favor today!”

”Why is he suitable? I am also very suitable!” Lu Zhongji said to Yang Zhenshan, dissatisfied.

Before Yang Zhenshan could explain, Wu Anchou spoke first, ”Come on, you have so many disciples at home, are you really willing to leave them unattended?”

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhongji sighed softly and could only sit down helplessly.

He indeed did not feel assured about the disciples at home.

West Building Sword Sect, like Tiger Sect, both have rather shallow foundations.

Without his watch over them, he truly feared that his disciples might suffer disadvantages in the worldly society.

As for the others, seeing that the last spot was given to Wu Anchou, they all gave up.

It was not that they did not want to guard Cui Xia Valley, but rather they couldn’t compete with Wu Anchou.

Wu Anchou was also an elder in the worldly society; now a hundred years old, his strength was very formidable. Among the innate martial artists present, he could rank in the upper middle.

People like Zhang Luan, Li Zhen, and others would have to be ranked below him, An Yuxing was probably about the same level.

Having determined the four spots, Yang Zhenshan cleared his throat and said, ”Elders, do not feel disheartened if you cannot guard Cui Xia Valley. Even if you cannot guard Cui Xia Valley, you elders are still entitled to a stipend.”

”The royal family’s stipend is paid twice a year, Three Yellow Plums in October, and True Essence Pills in March of the next year. Elders can carry the Innate Token to enter the Imperial City to Fengxian Hall to collect them!”

”If by then the seniors cannot go to the Capital City to collect their honorarium, Fengxian Hall will keep it for them, and within three years of distribution, they can claim it at any time!”

”However, if it exceeds three years, Fengxian Hall will assume that something unexpected has happened to the seniors or they have passed away, and will reclaim the retained honorarium.”

”Do all the seniors understand?”

Yang Zhenshan asked.

”Mmm, understood!”

”Understood!”

A sporadic response arose from the group of Innate Martial Artists.

Yang Zhenshan continued: ”One more thing, some seniors may not have received the news, if you are in contact with them, please help pass on the word and remind them to not forget to collect their honorarium from Fengxian Hall in due course!”

In Da Rong’s registry, there are forty-three Innate Martial Artists, among which seven are from Sanshan Valley, and nine, including Yang Zhenshan himself, are nobles, with the remaining twenty-seven being worldly society Martial Artists.

Today, only twelve have come, not even half.

Actually, this is a normal occurrence. Although there are forty-three registered Innate Martial Artists in Da Rong, not all of them are present in Da Rong, and even fewer can be contacted.

Innate Martial Artists from the Eight Great Sects can be contacted because they have the force of their sect.

For a lone person like Wu Anchou, finding him is completely up to luck; it’s quite normal for him to leave and not return for months.

There are also those without a normal residence, wandering about like beggars, and not only within the territories of Da Rong but also wandering aimlessly beyond its borders.

After finishing the announcements, Yang Zhenshan stood up once again to salute everyone and said: ”Today, thank you seniors for giving face to this junior. If you happen to visit the Capital City in the future, feel free to join this junior for a drink!”

”Senior An knows; my drinks are rare and exquisite wines!”

”Really?” said Wu Anchou, somewhat skeptical, looking towards An Yuxing.

An Yuxing glanced at him, ”It’s good wine!”

”Getting praise from Old Man An, it must be good! Brother Yang, once we return, could you send a few jars of your drinks over to me?” Wu Anchou chatted familiarly with Yang Zhenshan.

Yang Zhenshan was about to agree when Zhang Luan interjected: ”Mr. Wu, if you say that, I must criticize you for being unscrupulous!”

”Brother Yang’s drinks are rare medicinal wines, not only nurturing the body but also revitalizing and refreshing the mind!”

”This junior exchanged a Treasure Medicine for five jars, and you want to get it for free without offering anything!”

Yang Zhenshan was speechless as he was about to agree when Zhang Luan butted in!

Wu Anchou didn’t take offense and said cheerfully, ”Marquis Zhang is right! It was rude of me, a Treasure Medicine for five jars. Alright, I will bring a Treasure Medicine to exchange with Brother Yang for a drink!”

Ji Zhen, who heard this, also came forward, ”Marquis Yang, please prepare ten jars of Hundred Herbs Brew for me too! I’ll send the Treasure Medicine to your residence later!”

He had experienced the effects of Hundred Herbs Brew and wanted to obtain more from Yang Zhenshan.

Previously, he had exchanged it with favors, but now those were used up, and it wouldn’t be proper to ask directly.

Now hearing that a Treasure Medicine could be exchanged for five jars, he couldn’t miss the opportunity.

”Also for me, ten jars, and I will have someone deliver the Treasure Medicine to your residence!” Zhang Shouning joined in.

He didn’t know the effects of Hundred Herbs Brew, but anything that could aid cultivation was not something he wanted to miss.

Besides, two Treasure Medicines were not much for him.

Yang Zhenshan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry; today’s event was truly full of changes.

It started with a recruitment fair and now turned into a rush sale.

”Here’s the deal, if any seniors want the Hundred Herbs Brew, you can send someone with the Treasure Medicine to my residence to make an exchange, one Treasure Medicine for five jars, fair to all!”

Yang Zhenshan decided to do business outright.

Previously, he never thought about selling the Hundred Herbs Brew, as its value couldn’t be measured with Silver Coin.

But an exchange with Treasure Medicine seemed feasible.

Besides, he was collecting 宝药 for Xue Qiaoer and intended to concoct Elixirs in the future, needing a lot of Treasure Medicine, whether fresh or processed, so the exchange wouldn’t be a loss for him.