Chapter 4: Outer Sect Steward!
“A single Stainless Pill helped me step into the third level of Qi Refining.”
“The remaining few should be enough to send me straight into the late stage of Qi Refining.”
Lu Qingyang’s eyes flickered, his mood somewhat elated.
With just this bottle of Stainless Pills, he could rise into the Outer Gate.
Never mind that he still had two years left.
He estimated that in three months at most, he would step into the fourth level of Qi Refining.
Thinking of this, Lu Qingyang put away the pill bottle, flipping his hand to place it into his storage bag.
Today was the day his Spirit Field’s harvest was to be handed over, so he had to get there early.
After all, the yield of the field he tended each year was tied to the contribution points he earned that year.
Lu Qingyang hesitated no longer. He left the Menial Court and immediately headed toward the Spirit Field.
Around the Spirit Field, quite a few menial workers were already bustling about.
From a distance, streaks of gray figures busied themselves among the fields, a scene of lively commotion.
The entire Chaotian Sect had over a hundred mu of Spirit Fields alone.
Though most of them were merely first-tier Spirit Fields.
But with just this much wealth, they still ranked among the powers of the Great Zhou.
Thus the Chaotian Sect also had quite a few menial workers, as many as a thousand.
Apart from cultivation, these people were also responsible for sweeping the mountain gate, irrigating the Spirit Fields, and refining herbs and minerals.
Menial disciples held low status, but they were still the cornerstone of the Chaotian Sect.
The Chaotian Sect was not stingy when it came to the contribution points menial workers earned.
As long as one worked bitterly for a year, one could earn at least nearly a hundred contribution points.
Thinking of this, Lu Qingyang felt some anticipation over how many contribution points a year of bitter labor tending his Spirit Field would bring him…
Just as Lu Qingyang was nearing his Spirit Field.
He saw from afar that a circle of people had already gathered at the edge of the field.
Among them were not only menial workers, but astonishingly, white-robed disciples as well.
“What’s going on? Outer Gate disciples came too?”
Lu Qingyang frowned, a trace of confusion and worry surfacing in his eyes.
In the past, wasn’t it always the menial steward who came to inspect the harvest? Why are there Outer Gate disciples here today?
Lu Qingyang felt somewhat uneasy, but he still quickened his steps toward the Spirit Field.
Before he could get close, an older gray-robed menial worker in the crowd spotted him.
“Hey, he’s here! Junior Brother Lu is here!”
“Quick, quick, quick! Everyone make way, let Junior Brother Lu through!”
That older menial worker waved his hand, shooing away the onlookers.
At the same time, he joyfully beckoned to Lu Qingyang, signaling him to come over.
Lu Qingyang stepped forward.
“Greetings, Steward Li. What are they…”
“Heh heh, Junior Brother Lu, you’ve tended this Spirit Field well. Even the Outer Gate Senior Brother was drawn over by you.”
The gray-robed menial worker named Steward Li spoke with a smile.
Then, bending at the waist, he brought forth a white-robed cultivator from behind him.
“This is Senior Brother Zhang, a steward of our Spirit Field Bureau. He came specially today to see your Spirit Field.”
“Just by eye, the yield of your Spirit Field this year can reach at least three hundred catties. That’s the highest per-mu yield in the entire history of our Chaotian Sect!”
“So I invited Senior Brother Zhang to come see for himself.”
Steward Li’s face brimmed with smiles, and so did his words.
His surname was Li, given name Fu. In his early years, he too had been a menial worker of the Chaotian Sect.
Later, because he failed to break through to the mid-stage of Qi Refining within the allotted time, he had lingered in the Menial Court ever since.
Fortunately, through years of bitter cultivation, though nearly seventy, he had barely stepped into the mid-stage of Qi Refining.
Now he held the post of steward of a Menial Court.
Toward old cultivators like Li Fu, the Chaotian Sect was not too harsh.
Generally, an old menial worker who could cultivate to the mid-stage of Qi Refining had a chance to take up a steward post in the Menial Bureau, as long as he accumulated enough contribution points.
Such work was much easier than serving in the Menial Court.
He might even be able to go further on the Dao Path.
Therefore Li Fu had always been diligent and conscientious, never daring to slack off in the slightest.
On top of that, Lu Qingyang had tended such an excellent Spirit Field under his charge, so Li Fu was naturally wreathed in smiles, sharing in the glory.
His merit would surely not be overlooked by the sect…
“So it’s Senior Brother Zhang.”
“This humble one pays his respects.”
After understanding the whole situation, Lu Qingyang respectfully made a bow.
Toward an Outer Gate steward of the Chaotian Sect, he held great respect.
To serve as a steward in the Outer Gate, one’s cultivation had to be at least late-stage Qi Refining, so by reason and by emotion, he ought to be respectful.
“You’re Lu Qingyang?”
“Your cultivation isn’t bad at all. Once you rise into the Outer Gate, would you be interested in coming to work in my Spirit Field Bureau?”
The Zhang steward was quite straightforward, inviting him with a warm face.
Lu Qingyang blinked in surprise. “Me?”
“That’s right!”
Steward Zhang nodded with a smile.
“Three hundred catties per mu — my Spirit Field Bureau has never seen such a feat!”
“Rest assured, if the weighing today confirms it, then on top of the contribution points you deserve, I’ll add another twenty percent!”
“Consider it a reward from my Spirit Field Bureau!”
Steward Zhang said with a smile.
His words made everyone around, including Li Fu, envy him greatly.
To be noticed by an Outer Gate Senior Brother while still in the Menial Court — such talent and fortune truly made one envious!
Moreover, the contribution points for a yield of three hundred catties of spirit rice, plus another twenty percent, would come to at least two hundred points!
Converted to spirit stones, that was at least several hundred!
This made everyone wish they could take his place.
Toward this sudden good fortune, Lu Qingyang was delighted in his heart as well.
He never imagined that years of irrigating his Spirit Field with the high-level Minor Rain-Cloud Art would actually draw such fortune.
The Spirit Field Bureau was one of his goals after rising into the Outer Gate.
The Chaotian Sect’s Three Peaks and Nine Bureaus — apart from the Law Enforcement Bureau and the War Enforcement Bureau, which were main combat halls.
The remaining five bureaus were all logistical halls.
Whether it was the Spell Art Bureau, the Spirit Field Bureau, the Spirit Beast Bureau, the Spirit Pill Bureau, or the Spirit Artifact Bureau, as long as it wasn’t the Menial Bureau, Lu Qingyang could accept it.
But the one he wanted most was the Spirit Field Bureau. For no other reason than safety.
As for the legendary Sect Master Bureau, Lu Qingyang had never considered it.
Because that bureau was too mysterious, not at all something he could come into contact with.
And so Lu Qingyang cupped his hands and gave his thanks.
“Thank you for your support, Senior Brother. If I can rise into the Outer Gate, this Junior Brother will report to the Spirit Field Bureau.”
“I will not fail your expectations!”
“Hahahaha!”
Steward Zhang laughed heartily.
“Good. In that case, I’ll settle your contribution points right now.”
With that, the tall, thin steward reached into his robes and took out a small scale the size of a palm.
“This is a Dharma Artifact my Spirit Field Bureau uses specially to measure the yield of Spirit Fields. It can tally the output of all spirit grains, spirit vegetables, and spirit fruits, weighing out any kind and any amount!”
With that, he raised his hand and tossed the little scale high into the air.
The little scale flew up, growing as it met the wind.
In an instant it became several zhang in size, hanging in mid-air.
Then, several “clang clang clang” sounds rang out.
One after another, silver lights shot out from the little scale, landing accurately upon Lu Qingyang’s Spirit Field.
“Zeng zeng zeng!”
The streaks of silver light shuttled through the Spirit Field like sharp blades.
In mere moments, this one mu of Spirit Field was harvested clean.
Bundles of spirit rice drifted toward the sky as if guided by an arm, piling up into a small mountain in mid-air.
“Tsk tsk tsk, this one mu of Spirit Field can produce at least three hundred and twenty catties!”
“Too exaggerated! An ordinary Spirit Field produces at most a bit over two hundred catties per mu, yet Senior Brother Lu’s yield is so abundant!”
“Rumor has it Senior Brother Lu long ago cultivated the Minor Rain-Cloud Art to the high level. Now it seems the rumors were true!”
The crowd of menial workers watched this scene, all letting out shocked cries.
Steward Zhang took it all in, and inwardly he too made up his mind.
This boy is still a menial worker, yet he can produce so much spirit rice. His talent is truly extraordinary.
Once this boy enters the Outer Gate, I can get on familiar terms with him. Perhaps he’ll be of use in the future.
A talent like this is rare even in the Outer Gate!
As all the spirit rice entered the scale, Lu Qingyang’s final per-mu number was finally revealed!
“Final per-mu yield… four hundred and twenty catties!”
“Hiss!”
“Hiss hiss!”
“…”
Hearing Li Fu’s loud announcement, a chorus of sharp intakes of breath rose from the crowd…