Two years ago, when Zhou Xun first entered this dream realm, he learned about the effects of the "Spring Condensation Scripture" and planned to take root in the Miaofu Pavilion at Red Leaf Square.
Using the opportunity at Red Leaf Square to serve as a spirit contract servant, he accumulated spirit stones to purchase spirit medicine to enhance his spiritual root.
Zhou Xun had his eyes set on a calming grass at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, costing only one hundred and fifty spirit essence.
He had already saved up one hundred and twenty spirit essence, and in just another month, he would be able to buy that spirit medicine and attempt to enhance his spiritual root.
However, he was abruptly kicked out.
As for the reason for the dismissal, Zhou Xun also had his suspicions.
He, an orphan, managed to join the Miaofu Pavilion, relying on the legacy of his parents.
A steward of the Miaofu Pavilion had been on intimate terms with Zhou Xun's late father; because of this relationship, Zhou Xun was able to become a spirit contract servant.
After joining the Miaofu Pavilion, Zhou Xun worked diligently and earned the appreciation of all the stewards.
Half a year ago, the Miaofu Pavilion suddenly announced that they would select one person from all the spirit contract servants to participate in the talisman master apprentice assessment.
This was an opportunity for all the servants to soar to great heights.
If one could become an apprentice, they could learn the art of talisman making at the Miaofu Pavilion, with a chance to become a talisman master.
It's important to know that even a tier one low-grade talisman master holds a position in the Miaofu Pavilion that is no less than that of a steward.
Not to mention, the income of a talisman master is several times that of a steward.
This was indeed a promising avenue.
For Zhou Xun, it was even more so, as the "Spring Condensation Scripture" in his hand required a large number of spirit medicines to enhance his spiritual root, and a talisman master position with a stable and substantial income was crucial for him.
However, there was only one spot for the apprentice assessment, making the competition incredibly intense.
Fortunately, Zhou Xun's meticulous work had left an excellent impression on all the stewards of the Miaofu Pavilion, and with the full support from that family friend, he was the top contender for the position.
The second in line was Wei Shangren.
This person was also a spiritual energy servant at the Miaofu Pavilion, but he was a person who aimed high but behaved poorly, lazy and arrogant.
However, he had an elder brother who was the most talented talisman master apprentice at the Miaofu Pavilion, garnering significant attention from the higher-ups, who even intended to take him as a son-in-law.
With such a brother in support, Wei Shangren also had significant backing for the position.
As disputes over the path arose, conflicts naturally developed, and soon the two were at odds, from then on becoming enemies.
At this moment, an unforeseen calamity struck,
Zhou Xun's family friend suddenly suffered an accident and perished.
Immediately following that, Zhou Xun was also instantly dismissed and kicked out.
"The position has yet to be announced, and the wind suddenly changed, leading to my dismissal from the Miaofu Pavilion. This matter must be related to the Wei Brothers!"
A trace of fierceness flashed in Zhou Xun's eyes.
But was quickly replaced by calmness.
"My current cultivation is merely at the Second Layer Qi Refining, and I have no ability to seek revenge against the Wei Shangren brothers,"
"Fortunately, with the full version of the 'Spring Condensation Scripture' in hand, I can enhance my spirit root talent,"
"Let me wait until my cultivation has reached a certain height to exact my revenge!"
...
The next day, Zhou Xun got up early.
"My immediate priority is to quickly find a job and accumulate spirit stones!"
With the spirit stones, he could purchase spirit medicine to enhance his spiritual root, and then rapidly increase his cultivation level!
Then earn even more spirit stones, buy better spirit medicines, and elevate his cultivation to even greater heights.
Increasingly fast, like a snowball effect.
...
After drinking a simple bowl of spirit rice porridge, he left home and headed to the West Plaza.
The West Plaza is located in the northwest of the market, where the stewards of Red Leaf Square's major shops and spirit fields frequently come to recruit cultivators, and over time, it has become the talent market for the Cultivation Realm.
On the main road, many cultivators were coming and going.
Some dressed like scholars, others like Daoists, of all types.
Occasionally, there were cultivators wearing beast hides, demon hunting cultivators, hurried in their stride, faces cautious.
"I wonder if Brother Shan has returned," Zhou Xun muttered to himself.
This Brother Shan, named Shan Xionghai, was a childhood playmate of Zhou Xun, now learning demon hunting with his uncle, a Fifth-Layer Qi Refining demon hunting cultivator, at the Hundred Savage Mountain.
The last time the two met was a year ago.
Shan Xionghai had specially brought Zhou Xun a Snow Python Rabbit, a non-ranking demon beast with a delicious taste.
Thinking of the taste of that demon beast flesh, Zhou Xun couldn't help but swallow his saliva!
As he was lost in thought, he arrived at his destination.
...
"Greetings, fellow Daoists, I am Wu Gui, the spirit field steward of the Wu Family," a middle-aged man in splendid red robes stood at the center of the crowd.
The Wu Family is one of the four major cultivation clans of Red Leaf Square, occupying thirty percent of the market share.
Of the one hundred spirit essence Zhou Xun paid annually as rent, 30 of them fell into the hands of the Wu Family.
For the lower-level cultivators living in Red Leaf Square, this Wu Family was akin to the sky over Red Leaf Square.
"As you all know, when the spirit grain ripens and emits its aroma, it easily attracts spirit aphids. Our Wu Family's spirit fields are about to ripen, and we require fifteen Daoist friends to help with eradicating the pests. This task will last a total of seven days."
"As for compensation..... The spirit rice consumed during this period will be provided by our Wu Family, and once the pest eradication is complete, ten spirit essence will be awarded!" the middle-aged man in red roared with a smile.
Upon hearing the news of ten spirit essence for seven days, the cultivators were all excited.
"The Wu Family is truly generous!"
"Such grandeur truly showcases the elegance of a great family!"
"The Wu Family has grand ambitions!"
It's important to know that usually they only earn ten Spirit Essence in a month, but now, in just seven days, they could earn ten Spirit Essence, making it an exceptionally lucrative job.
Zhou Xun felt moved upon hearing this.
"I didn't expect to encounter such a good job as soon as I arrived!"
"However, there are requirements for us as well!"
The red-robed steward pressed his hands down to calm the crowd's commotion and continued speaking:
"First, participants must cultivate a basic Gold or Fire Attribute Technique,"
Upon hearing this requirement, a large number of cultivators sighed deeply, showing expressions of realization.
Dealing with the Spirit Aphid typically involves two parts.
First, those cultivating Fire Attribute Techniques cast spells on the periphery to drive away the flying Spirit Aphids, while inside the Spirit Field, those cultivating Gold Attribute Techniques cast spells to exterminate them.
Since Spirit Aphids are naturally afraid of fire, using Fire Attribute Spells to repel them is highly effective.
As for Gold Attribute Spells, they possess sharp and precise characteristics, allowing them to kill the Spirit Aphids on Spirit Grain without harming the grain itself.
Of course, other attribute spells are not unusable, but compared to the Gold and Fire attributes, they are much less efficient.
"It's a pity I chose to study the Wood Attribute 'Nourishing Essence Technique' back then!" Zhou Xun thought regretfully.
At this moment, the voice of the red-robed steward resounded again.
"The second requirement is that the cultivation must be at least at the Third-Layer Qi Refining, those below it shouldn't come and join the commotion!"
Zhou Xun sighed, knowing he had even less chance, and thus prepared to leave.
"But clear-cutting Spirit Aphids, even cultivators at the Second-Layer Qi Refining can handle it, I ask the steward to make an exception!"
Suddenly, a middle-aged cultivator in a blue robe beside Zhou Xun spoke up.
He was a cultivator who specialized in Gold Attribute Spells, and many Spirit Farmers near Red Leaf Square liked to hire him for pest control, but unfortunately, his cultivation was only at the Second-Layer Qi Refining, which did not meet the red-robed steward's requirements.
Yet, he was reluctant to let such a job with ten Spirit Essence for seven days slip away.
His words resonated with the crowd.
It's important to know that most of the cultivators present were at the Second-Layer Qi Refining, so the steward's words effectively excluded most of them, prompting many to voice their support.
"Yes, steward, we all have rich experience in clearing Spirit Aphids!"
"We at the Second-Layer Qi Refining are definitely capable"
...
The red-robed middle-aged man saw this and his face immediately darkened.
Without hesitation, he released his mana outward, instantly unleashing a Middle-Stage Qi Refining aura.
The cultivators were taken aback.
"The affairs of the Wu Family are not for you to babble about!" The red-robed steward, his gaze burning, looked at each of the speaking cultivators.
Where his gaze landed, people retreated one after another, and soon, those below the Third-Layer Qi Refining withdrew, while those at the Third-Layer Qi Refining were filled with joy, lining up to sign up.
Zhou Xun, whose cultivation was only at the Second-Layer Qi Refining, did not meet the qualifications for registration and naturally was mixed in the crowd behind, enviously watching the cultivators who were signing up.
Suddenly, a commotion arose from the front of the signing-up crowd, as an elderly man with white hair was picked up by the red-robed steward and thrown out, accompanied by a look of disdain and a scold:
"What are you old bones doing here causing a scene!"
The elderly man continuously pleaded:
"Steward Wu, please make an exception, I'm also at the Third-Layer Qi Refining, please let me through!"
"Pah! Let you through, do you take me for a fool, hurry and scram!"
It turns out that once a cultivator exceeds sixty years of age, their physical functions begin to decline, with their divine sense and mana slowly waning.
Though the old man was at the Third-Layer Qi Refining, his appearance suggested he was nearly a hundred years old, and comparatively, his mana endurance was less than Zhou Xun's at the Second-Layer Qi Refining. Naturally, the red-robed steward was unwilling to recruit him.
Very soon, the red-robed steward of the Wu Family left with the recruited cultivators.
Zhou Xun shook his head and moved on to the next recruitment.
"What's your cultivation level?"
"Second-Layer Qi Refining...."
"We only recruit those at the Third-Layer Qi Refining, move along...."
...
"Second-Layer Qi Refining? Move, move, move!"
"Second-Layer Qi Refining? No, no!"
...
Zhou Xun went around to all the recruitments, and nearly every household required a cultivation level of Third-Layer Qi Refining or higher.
The only place without cultivation requirements was mining.
However, minefields often have thin spiritual energy, combined with the high intensity of work, leaving no time for cultivation.
Therefore, although the pay was high, no one was willing to go except for those whose cultivation prospects were constrained or parents earning cultivation resources for their children.
Zhou Xun, with his heart set on the Great Dao, naturally wouldn't join.
After waiting a day without finding any work suitable for him, Zhou Xun had to head back home.
A hundred or so meters from home, Zhou Xun spotted a figure pacing at his doorstep from afar.