That makes sense!
Xu Changshou nodded inwardly. Jiang Xiaochuan was absolutely right; the legendary Foundation Establishment Pill was fundamentally just a Barrier Breaking Pill, albeit of a vastly superior grade.
It increased the chance of successfully reaching Foundation Establishment.
The gulf between a mere Qi Condensation disciple and a Foundation Establishment grand cultivator was as vast as the chasm between heaven and earth.
Once a cultivator reached Foundation Establishment, their identity, status, raw strength, and even their clan’s standing would undergo a major change.
More importantly, their mortal lifespan would double, surging from a hundred and fifty years to a staggering three centuries.
Naturally, the value of a Foundation Establishment Pill rose accordingly.
Jiang Xiaochuan said, “Compared with a Foundation Establishment Pill, an ordinary Barrier Breaking Pill is a small matter. A Foundation Establishment Pill is a second-grade pill. Normally, you could buy an entire bottle of cheap second-grade Pills for anywhere between one and ten Spirit Stones.”
“But a single Foundation Establishment Pill costs over a thousand Spirit Stones, and even then it is hard to find one.”
“Many lesser cultivation clans could bankrupt their entire lineage and still fall short of affording a single one.”
“Naturally, such a Pill is beyond our reach. Sigh!”
“Senior Brother Xu, it is far too early to dream of Foundation Establishment. Let us focus on piercing the seventh layer of Qi Condensation first. Hehe, once I do, I will be your Senior Brother.”
“Oh, stop it. Is that all you aspire to?”
The two were bantering when a sudden commotion erupted outside the courtyard.
“Hurry! Get to the Lecture Hall! The Task List has been published!”
“Truly? Excellent, let’s go look!”
“Move, to the Lecture Hall!”
…
The Task List? Already?
Xu Changshou and Jiang Xiaochuan exchanged a sharp look before bolting out the door, racing down the steps toward the Lecture Hall.
By now, almost every Miscellaneous Disciple on the peak was sprinting in the same direction.
Before they were formally dispatched from Chuxiu Peak, the Sect always published the Task List. This ledger dictated where each Miscellaneous Disciple would be permanently stationed and the work they would do.
It was a decree that determined the future; naturally, the anxiety in the air was palpable.
Breathing heavily, the two arrived at the bulletin board. Ye Shanhu and the rest of their courtyard were already crowded around it.
There were seven lists.
They corresponded to the Sect’s seven domains: Taiyi Peak, Danxia Peak, Chihuo Peak, Heavenly Machine Peak, Bagua Peak, Fengdu Peak, and Green Ink Peak.
The crowd immediately swarmed the first list, which was densely packed with over a hundred names.
Scanning the lines, Xu Changshou quickly spotted Jiang Xiaochuan’s assignment: Jiang Xiaochuan, Taiyi Peak, Medicine Garden Boy.
A Medicine Garden Boy was tasked with guarding the spirit medicine fields. It was a good assignment, offering ample free time for cultivation and basking in Spiritual Qi far denser than the outer grounds.
Before the placements were finalized, Jiang Xiaochuan had used connections and gifts.
Han Zong said enviously, “Not bad at all. Junior Brother Jiang actually secured a placement on Taiyi Peak.”
“Congratulations, Junior Brother Jiang.”
Xu Changshou asked out of genuine curiosity, “Junior Brother Jiang, I truly believed you were aiming for Danxia Peak. I never expected Taiyi Peak.”
Jiang Xiaochuan smiled. “My sights were set on Taiyi Peak from the start. The competition for Danxia Peak is fierce, and besides, my Spirit Roots lack the Water-Fire-Wood combination.”
“You planned that well!”
Xu Changshou nodded in silent approval.
Had Jiang Xiaochuan spent money seeking Danxia Peak without the proper elemental affinities, those Spirit Stones would have simply been wasted.
“Taiyi Peak is excellent; the conditions are certainly on par with Danxia Peak.”
“Without a doubt. Guarding the spirit medicine garden is a profitable assignment. With so many spiritual herbs, obtaining even one herb would be worth a fortune.”
“Look! Senior Brother Li is assigned to Taiyi Peak as well.”
Xu Changshou peered closer and indeed found Li Linhao’s name: Li Linhao, Taiyi Peak, Immortal Crane Keeper.
Immortal Crane Keeper. It was a rather obscure assignment; Xu Changshou had never even heard of such a role.
After reading the first list, they moved down the line to the second:
Ye Shanhu, Danxia Peak, Alchemy Attendant.
Zhang Feixian, Danxia Peak, Alchemy Attendant.
Lin Xian’er, Danxia Peak, Alchemy Attendant.
Looking through the Danxia Peak list, Xu Changshou felt a twinge of disappointment. His name was nowhere to be found.
From their Gengzi Courtyard, only those three were listed.
Beside him, Qian Yuanbao’s face was unhappy. He had also spent money seeking a place on Danxia Peak, but had ultimately failed to secure a spot.
“Congratulations! A massive congratulations, Senior Sister Ye.”
“Congratulations, Senior Brother Zhang! Congratulations, Junior Sister Lin!”
“The three Fellow Daoists have encountered a fine opportunity.”
“We are simply green with envy.”
The crowd peppered the trio with congratulations and envious looks.
When Miscellaneous Disciples entered Danxia Peak, they were generally assigned as Alchemy Attendants. They would initially help the alchemists and gradually learn alchemy themselves.
In truth, a large share of the Sect’s low-tier alchemists had come from the ranks of the Miscellaneous Disciples.
These Miscellaneous Disciples had little hope of ever reaching Foundation Establishment. But by mastering alchemy, they proved their worth, providing the sect with pills until they left at a hundred.
Most alchemists were wealthy. After leaving the sect at a hundred, they could bring home plenty of Spirit Stones to help their families.
For many Miscellaneous Disciples, this was the lifelong goal.
Confirming his absence from the first two lists, Xu Changshou felt uneasy. Both Taiyi Peak and Danxia Peak sat directly atop the Sect’s primary spirit veins, boasting incredibly dense Spiritual Qi. The other peaks simply could not compare.
With his poor Spirit Root, he desperately needed an environment saturated with Spiritual Qi to stand a chance. Sadly…
Worried, Xu Changshou hurriedly scanned the remaining lists.
His name was not there.
Fourth list: Qian Yuanbao, Heavenly Machine Peak, Mining Boy.
His name was absent.
Fifth list: Shi Wantong, Bagua Peak, Array Front Boy.
Still no name.
After reading five lists, Xu Changshou’s heart sank.
Only two lists remained: the rosters for Fengdu Peak and Green Ink Peak.
Fengdu Peak specialized in corpse refinement. Their work involved digging graves and finding corpses.
Green Ink Peak specialized in drawing Talismans. It required a continuous expenditure of Spiritual Qi.
Neither peak seemed a good destination.
In a daze, Xu Changshou forced his eyes toward the sixth list.
There, he immediately spotted Han Zong’s assignment: Han Zong, Fengdu Peak, Tomb-Seeking Attendant.
“This-!”
Han Zong’s face darkened. Damn it, I spent money seeking a better assignment. How did I still end up at Fengdu Peak?
The very first lesson a Tomb-Seeking Attendant learned was how to dig graves.
The mere thought sent a shiver down one’s spine.
…
Thank the heavens. At least I’m not on that list. I won’t have to dig graves.
Relieved, Xu Changshou looked at the final, large list. It held just one name:
Xu Changshou, Green Ink Peak, Talisman Boy.
Xu Changshou’s face instantly blackened. So I really am going to draw talismans.
The thought of drawing talismans all day and continually pouring Spiritual Qi into them left him feeling powerless. Damn it all! Out of the hundreds of disciples on Chuxiu Peak, why am I the only one being sent to Green Ink Peak? Is it seriously because I was the only one who had not sought favors?!
“Look! There’s only one name on the Green Ink Peak roster. Xu Changshou. Who is that unlucky one?”
“Unlucky is an understatement. I heard Green Ink Peak has the worst conditions in the sect.”
“Senior Brother Xu, my deepest condolences. But honestly, Green Ink Peak isn’t all bad. The work is hard, but at least it is safe and not life-threatening.”
“Junior Brother Han and Senior Brother Xu truly pulled the shortest straws. One is doomed to rob graves in the dark, and the other has to draw talismans.”
According to Sect protocol, following the publication of the Task List, they had another two months before they could report to their respective peaks.
Simultaneously, the next group of new disciples would move into Chuxiu Peak to take their place.
The next day.
Jiang Xiaochuan burst into Xu Changshou’s room, practically vibrating with excitement. “Senior Brother Xu, I am going into seclusion! The next time I step out of that door, you’ll be the one bowing and calling me Senior Brother! Hahaha!”