Ye Shanhu explained, “Since we are Miscellaneous Disciples, the Sect recruited us for one purpose: labor. Naturally, as Qi Condensation cultivators, the tasks required of us are those beyond the capabilities of mortals. However, until we reach the seventh layer of Qi Condensation, we are not even considered true Miscellaneous Disciples. Only then will we possess the capability to actually work.”
“Mm.”
Xu Changshou nodded in silent agreement. It was only at the seventh layer of Qi Condensation that a cultivator could manifest their Spiritual Qi externally. Only then were they considered true cultivators.
Prior to the seventh layer, they were little more than ordinary mortals blessed with extraordinary physical strength.
External release of Spiritual Qi was the absolute prerequisite to participate in the Sect’s operations.
As they stood now, they lacked the qualifications to even serve as Miscellaneous Disciples.
Ye Shanhu continued, “The Sect has ordered us to register our Spirit Roots again. Our assignments will be based on them.”
“Duties are assigned based on our Spirit Roots?” Su Mo asked, his brow furrowing.
Ye Shanhu replied calmly, “Indeed. Three years from now, we will be distributed among the seven main peaks to serve as Miscellaneous Disciples. The basis for these assignments is, naturally, our Spirit Roots. For instance, if your Spirit Root possesses Water, Fire, and Wood attributes, you may be sent to Danxia Peak to serve as an alchemy apprentice. If you possess Metal, Fire, and Wind attributes, you will likely be sent to Chihuo Peak as a bellows boy. If your affinities include the Dark attribute, then Fengdu Peak awaits.”
Su Mo’s scowl deepened. “I possess a Metal, Fire, and Wind Spirit Root. Does that mean I am destined for Chihuo Peak?”
Ye Shanhu nodded. “Precisely. You will probably be assigned there.”
“Senior Sister Ye, what exactly does a bellows boy do?” Su Mo asked.
Ye Shanhu spread her hands. “A bellows boy operates the forge bellows for the artifact refiners.”
“This…”
Su Mo’s face turned visibly dark.
“Senior Sister Ye, do all Miscellaneous Disciples possess triple-attribute Spirit Roots?”
Xu Changshou was the one who voiced the question.
He possessed a Ten-Element Mixed Spirit Root. With such an absurdly cluttered foundation, which peak might he be assigned to?
He worried privately. When registering at the Affairs Hall, Liu Chuansheng had officially recorded him as having a Five-Element Mixed Spirit Root. If this registration exposed his true Ten-Element Mixed Spirit Root, would he be expelled from the Sect entirely?
Ye Shanhu clarified, “We Miscellaneous Disciples generally harbor three or four mixed elements. Anyone blessed with a pure dual-attribute or single-attribute Spirit Root would likely be sent to Lingxiu Peak.”
Jiang Xiaochuan chimed in, “Senior Sister Ye, which of the seven main peaks is the most desirable?”
“Taiyi Peak and Danxia Peak, without question,” she stated matter-of-factly.
“Why?”
“Taiyi Peak is the main peak. The elders there are the Sect’s highest echelon; they cultivate in seclusion and do not have many chores for disciples, making the duties there quite relaxed. Danxia Peak is populated by alchemists. Serving them is grueling, but occasionally, an apprentice is rewarded with some lower-quality pills. For us Miscellaneous Disciples, that would be a valuable opportunity. Furthermore, those assigned to Danxia Peak will eventually learn the rudiments of alchemy. There is also the matter of Spiritual Qi. The Green Immortal Sect sits upon three primary Spiritual Veins. Taiyi Peak, Danxia Peak, and Lingxiu Peak each have one. Therefore, cultivation naturally progresses faster on those summits.” This chapter was taken from novelping(.)com without permission.
Zhang Feixian beamed with sheer joy. “Excellent! I possess Water, Fire, and Wood. I can go to Danxia Peak!”
Jiang Xiaochuan pressed further, “And the worst peaks?”
Ye Shanhu pondered for a moment. “The most abysmal postings are Fengdu Peak and Green Ink Peak.”
“Ah!”
Han Zong’s face twisted in bitter despair. “Senior Sister Ye, my Spirit Root harbors the Dark attribute. Am I doomed to Fengdu Peak? What makes it so terrible?”
Ye Shanhu offered a sympathetic shrug. “Blame your rotten luck. Fengdu Peak specializes in corpse refinement. The primary duty of a Miscellaneous Disciple there is to dig graves and find corpses to supply the refiners with bodies.”
“What?!”
Han Zong looked as though he might weep.
“Senior Sister Ye, what is wrong with Green Ink Peak?” Lin Xian’er asked.
“Green Ink Peak is dedicated to talisman crafting,” Ye Shanhu explained. “Among the Six Arts of the Immortal Dao, it is considered the least useful. Talismans aid cultivators in combat and are roughly divided into three categories: attack, defense, and escape. During the Qi Condensation stage, disciples rely heavily on talismans because they cannot yet use Magical Artifacts. However, once a cultivator breaches Foundation Establishment, most have their own Magical Artifacts, so Magical Artifacts tend to replace talismans.”
That makes perfect sense…
Xu Changshou nodded to himself. From what little he understood, talismans did seem of limited use. Take the yellow fireball talisman Zhang Zhengyuan had gifted Landlord Wang. If a cultivator possessed a Fire attribute, they could casually hurl true fireballs by the seventh layer of Qi Condensation. That fireball talisman would be of little use then.
“Furthermore, Green Ink Peak is the only peak without a Golden Core cultivator,” Ye Shanhu continued, detailing its bleak reality. “Not only are they devoid of a Golden Core master, they have only one Foundation Establishment cultivator. The density of Spiritual Qi at Green Ink Peak ranks dead last. It is the absolute worst place to end up.”
“Senior Sister Ye, what kind of Spirit Root leads a disciple to Green Ink Peak?”
Xu Changshou scratched his head. After hearing her brutal assessment, Green Ink Peak sounded like a poor place to go.
“The more chaotic and mixed a person’s Spirit Roots, the higher the likelihood of being assigned to Green Ink Peak.”
“Why?” Xu Changshou’s face darkened. He held a Ten-Element Mixed Spirit Root. Who could possibly be more chaotic than him?
Ye Shanhu laughed. “Because drafting talismans requires channeling a diverse array of elemental energies. Nearly all ten attributes are utilized. Naturally, the more chaotic the foundation, the better suited they are to the work.”
Xu Changshou’s expression turned utterly ashen.
Ye Shanhu paused, surprised by his visceral reaction. “Junior Brother Xu, why are you so agitated? What is your Spirit Root?”
“Uh…”
Xu Changshou hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering, “I possess a Five-Element Mixed Spirit Root.”
“What? A Five-Element Mixed Spirit Root?”
“Senior Brother Xu’s ‘talent’ is truly… one of a kind.”
Shock rippled through the gathered disciples.
Xu Changshou held his tongue. What would they think if I told them I had a Ten-Element Mixed Spirit Root?
A wry smile curled Ye Shanhu’s lips. “Junior Brother Xu, your luck is terrible. Green Ink Peak recruits disciples with four or more attributes. I have also heard that talisman crafting is work that requires expending Spiritual Qi. It consumes a great deal of Spiritual Qi.”
Xu Changshou forced a bitter smile. “Senior Sister Ye, is there any way I can avoid Green Ink Peak?”
Ye Shanhu chuckled softly. “Junior Brother Xu, do you truly believe we can defy the will of the Sect?”
“Uh…”
Xu Changshou had no retort. He was only a Miscellaneous Disciple; he could hardly defy the sect.
Ye Shanhu covered her mouth and laughed. “Do not despair just yet, Junior Brother Xu. It is not entirely hopeless.”
“There is a way?”
“It is quite simple. Two paths exist,” Ye Shanhu said. “First, if you are acquainted with a Foundation Establishment grandmaster, ask them to request you for another peak. Green Ink Peak’s influence is pitifully weak; they would generally avoid challenging a Foundation Establishment master from a rival peak.”
“Second, you grease the wheels. Give gifts and use your connections. Ultimately, the placement of a single Miscellaneous Disciple is not very important to anyone.”
“Thank you for the guidance, Senior Sister Ye.”
Xu Changshou cupped his hands respectfully, but he felt more troubled.
Ye Shanhu’s logic was flawless: either rely on powerful connections or Spirit Stones.
He was utterly devoid of both.
The most valuable things within his Storage Bag consisted of four Qi Gathering Pills and fifty Fragmented Spirit Stones.
They were hardly enough to offer as gifts.
What Foundation Establishment cultivator would care about these few pills and fragments?
Forget it. Drawing talismans would still be better than herding cattle.
Coming from the lowest rungs of mortal society had blessed Xu Changshou with one advantage: he could keep his spirits up.
Whatever happened, he could quickly adjust his outlook.