At the edge of the Market, where cultivators and mortals mingled, a few shacks had been haphazardly thrown together from bamboo and thatch at the entrance of an alley, serving as eateries and general stores.

The Qingfeng Sect’s management of the Market was limited to the four streets within the Grand Array; they basically took a hands-off approach to the areas outside.

But there was one rule: no matter how one set up a stall to sell goods, they were forbidden from establishing a formal shop. Otherwise, the Market Steward would lead a team to demolish it the very next day and expel the offending cultivator from the Market’s vicinity.

That was why in second-rate locations like the stall-pitching square, no one dared to build shacks or shops, obediently sticking to simple stalls.

Only further out did Loose Cultivators test the boundaries, setting up a few structures that were half-residence, half-business to run some simple enterprises.

Several servant disciples from the Qingfeng Sect sat in an eatery, having ordered a few side dishes and a pot of Spirit Tea, whispering amongst themselves.

The surrounding Loose Cultivators cast envious glances at the group. The corners of their standard-issue Qingfeng Sect Daoist Robes were adorned with maple leaves, and no Cultivation Family or Loose Cultivator in all of Black Mountain dared to create a similar robe.

"They’re Qingfeng Sect disciples! Look, every one of them has a storage pouch. Truly worthy of a great and prestigious sect."

"Tch, they’re just servant disciples... When the next recruitment comes around, we should sign up too. We’ll definitely pass!"

The two Qi Refining First Layer youths put their heads together, imagining the glorious life they would lead after becoming Sect Disciples.

"But I heard the Qingfeng Sect’s recruitment standards get higher every year. By the time it’s our turn..."

"We just have to work harder when we get home! We can definitely do it!"

"Junior Brother Lu, why isn’t that big shot from the Inner Sect you mentioned here yet? For this mission, the few of us pooled our money to bribe the Steward, and Junior Brother Xun even stole a Magical Artifact from his family. We can’t afford any mistakes!"

Onlookers would never guess that these glamorous Qingfeng Sect servant disciples were actually riddled with anxiety, seemingly in deep trouble.

The leader, a bald man with a fierce expression, had gathered a few servant disciples around him ever since he joined the Sect. He came from a rough background.

However, among the servant disciples, only two types of people could command true prestige and influence.

The first were those with profound cultivation, who had a chance to be promoted to Outer Sect Disciples.

The second were those with connections, whose elders or relatives held important positions within the Sect.

The bald man had neither, and after suffering a couple of setbacks, he had learned to keep a low profile.

This small group had gathered together mainly to avoid being bullied by the senior members of the Sect and to be able to receive some normal Sect missions.

Otherwise, if they repeatedly drew time-consuming and laborious tasks like mining ore veins or visiting mortal towns, their lives as servant disciples would be no different from those of Loose Cultivators on the outside.

In recent years, servant disciples with a specialized skill had become more and more sought after.

For disciples like them, who had only their cultivation and were not proficient in any of the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, life was becoming increasingly difficult.

"Brother Cai, please don’t worry. This Senior Brother Bai from the Inner Sect is a man of his word. Since he promised to help me, he definitely won’t go back on it."

Lu Song said with a solemn expression, his words firm and resonant.

"Who knows if we can trust your word? Previously, that Elder Tong was begging to join us, but then the Steward of the Spirit Plant Hall took a liking to his farming skills, assigned him a Spirit Field, and rewarded him with Elixirs. Suddenly, he looked down on our team and made up an excuse to quit!"

The triangular-eyed disciple next to Brother Cai spoke indignantly, his tone filled with resentment.

"Are you sure you didn’t just make this all up so Boss Cai wouldn’t kick you off the team?"

A trace of suspicion appeared on Brother Cai’s face. The idea that a mere servant disciple could have connections in the Inner Sect, and even persuade someone of that status to condescend to help them, seemed absurd no matter how he thought about it.

He had been desperate at the time. Having finally landed a lucrative Sect mission, his only thought had been to find a powerful expert to help, without considering whether it was all plausible.

Lu Song’s face flushed. It was true that Elder Tong had acted dishonorably in the matter.

The two of them were weak and isolated in the Sect, and earning contribution points was incredibly difficult.

Elder Tong had found an opportunity to speak with the triangular-eyed Junior Brother Xun, expressing his interest in joining Boss Cai’s team.

Upon completion, this Sect mission would grant at least thirty contribution points to each member. Elder Tong only had a Third-Layer Qi Refining Cultivation. If not for the strong recommendations from both Lu Song and Junior Brother Xun, Boss Cai would not have wanted to add another person to share the rewards.

Given Elder Tong’s cultivation and age, he would be of little help in the mission.

Who would have thought that last month, the Spirit Field under Elder Tong’s care would have a bountiful harvest, yielding a full forty percent more Spirit Rice than the previous year. This delighted the Steward of the Spirit Plant Hall who was in charge of the matter.

Not only did he allocate another hundred acres of Spirit Fields and two Firework Daoists to Elder Tong, but he also bestowed upon him a Small Barrier-Breaking Pill.

Overjoyed, Elder Tong used the excuse of needing to enter seclusion to take the pill and directly withdrew from the team, no longer participating in the Sect mission.

"Senior Brother Tong truly wanted to come. It’s just that at his age, if he doesn’t break through to the Mid-Stage Qi Refining soon, he might never get another chance in this lifetime. That’s why he was so eager to take the elixir."

Lu Song was never one for words to begin with, and feeling that he was in the wrong, he spoke haltingly.

"Before he went into seclusion, he told me that he would host a banquet to apologize to all you senior and junior brothers when he gets back."

"Hmph. We won’t be associating with him in the future. Let him be a good little Spirit Farmer... You’d better hope what you said is true. We brothers have bet our entire fortunes on this mission. If I find out you’ve been lying to me, I’ll make sure you regret it!"

Brother Cai snorted coldly and turned his head, unwilling to say more.

About half an hour passed. Just as the servant disciples were growing restless and their patience was wearing thin, the wooden door of the eatery was pushed open, and a young cultivator walked in.

"Senior Brother Bai, over here!"

Lu Song’s eyes lit up as he stood up and called out joyfully.

Boss Cai and the others straightened up, their expressions turning serious. They also smoothed out their Daoist Robes, rose to their feet to welcome him, and began to size him up curiously.

’He really is young, probably about the same age as Junior Brother Xun... He’s not what you’d call handsome, but looking at him feels like a gentle spring breeze. ’Gentle as jade’ is the perfect way to describe him... I hope the rumors are true—that this Senior Brother Bai is low-key but his cultivation is actually among the best in the Inner Sect.’

Several thoughts flashed through Boss Cai’s mind as he and the other two servant disciples bowed in greeting.

"Sit. No need for formalities."

Bai Zichen naturally took the seat of honor at the head of the table. The difference in status between an Inner Sect Disciple and a servant disciple was like that between the clouds and the mud; there was no need for false modesty in such small matters.

With a wave of his hand, he set up a Sound Insulation Technique around the table to prevent their conversation from being overheard.

"Junior Brother Lu tells me you’ve accepted a Sect mission that is beyond your capabilities and that you wish for my assistance?"

For nearly a year, Bai Zichen had been engrossed in his cultivation. Disappointingly, no one tactless enough to bother him had appeared in the Inner Sect.

Having reached the Late-Stage Qi Refining, Qi Replenishing Pills were no longer effective for him. The only things that could still help his cultivation were Purple Ginseng Pills.

Compared to Qi Replenishing Pills, Purple Ginseng Pills were several times more potent, and naturally, they took much longer to refine and absorb.

In one year, he had only used up a single bottle, which was enough to bring his cultivation from the Qi Refining Seventh Layer to its peak.

It was just then that Lu Song had come to him for help, saying there was a Sect mission he needed assistance with.

Bai Zichen had been cooped up in his Cave Mansion for nearly a year and was thinking of going out for a change of pace anyway. Furthermore, Lu Song was a collaborator of his, and the opportunity to open that Secret Realm still depended on him. After a moment’s thought, he had agreed.