Chapter 183: Chapter 153: Appointed as Hon

"My second condition is that my daughter must be accepted into the sect as a True Disciple."

Lu Qian glanced at Linglong. The little girl, although somewhat scared, still managed to perform a proper courtesy. However, under the perception of his Divine Sense, it was obvious that this girl was still an ordinary mortal.

"Does your daughter possess a Spiritual Root?"

Cui Shanyan nodded: "That’s right, but she is still young, her Spiritual Root has not yet matured, and her Dantian is still in chaos, so it’s impossible to determine the attribute or length of her Spiritual Root. However, I have had enough of living as a Loose Cultivator, so I must fight for a future for my daughter."

Seeing Lu Qian falling into deep thought, Cui Shanyan added: "As long as she becomes a True Disciple, being the True Disciple of an Elder would also work."

So that’s it. The reason Cui Shanyan hasn’t been able to find a sect willing to take him in is that both these conditions are too harsh.

Especially the first condition.

In ordinary sects, having fifty acres of a Spirit Medicine Garden is already rare, as it serves as a crucial economic source for the sect. How could they possibly give it up for Cui Shanyan to experiment with and refine his Dharma Gate?

Refining such a technique could take dozens or even hundreds of years, with costs being truly prohibitive.

In fact, there were Foundation Establishment Sects that once accepted Cui Shanyan, but in the end, the expenses were too great, and the cost provided to him for experimentation surpassed the output he brought, so they had to terminate his employment.

Perhaps a Golden Core Sect could bear this cost, but Golden Core Sects do not lack a Spirit Alchemist like Cui Shanyan, who has Foundation Establishment inheritance.

The second condition was somewhat easier to discuss. The primary issue is that Cui Linglong’s potential is uncertain. If it turns out she has a Pseudo-Spiritual Root or Residual Spiritual Root, the resources enjoyed by a True Disciple would be wasted, and it might also negatively impact her master.

Seeing Lu Qian silent for a long time, Cui Shanyan sighed inwardly and was about to speak when Lu Qian suddenly spoke: "I’ll get straight to the point. It seems Fellow Daoist Cui is not in great shape and might find it difficult to keep trying his luck across various counties and sects. The most crucial thing is that your daughter’s Spiritual Root will mature in a year or two, urgently requiring guidance from a renowned teacher. Given Fellow Daoist Cui’s cultivation, it might be hard to lay a good foundation for her, potentially affecting her future path."

Lu Qian’s words hit the nail on the head, each sentence piercing the heart, making Cui Shanyan’s face turn pale and adding to his already heavy burden.

"If the Yunshan Sect cannot accept these two conditions, what does Fellow Daoist Cui plan to do? From what I know, no other sects in Chongming County can fulfill your requirements."

Cui Shanyan’s eyes lost focus, lips trembling. He looked down at Linglong, who was at a loss, then at the expressionless Lu Qian. Reflecting on all he had seen and heard along the way, he knew the Yunshan Sect had become the leader in the southern part of Chongming County, with a very bright future. After a long while, he sighed heavily, as if drained of all strength.

"Sect Leader Lu is entirely right, but due to my late master’s last will, I have no choice. I am willing to serve the Yunshan Sect for ten years in exchange for Linglong becoming a True Disciple of the Yunshan Sect. After ten years, I will continue my journey to find a sect able to meet my first condition."

Lu Qian looked at him for a while, having quietly considered everything, suddenly revealing a faint smile.

"Fellow Daoist Cui, our sect is eager for talent. Since you have offered a compromise, shall I propose a compromise as well? Perhaps my proposal will pleasantly surprise you."

Under Cui Shanyan’s confused gaze, Lu Qian said slowly: "We cannot offer you fifty acres of a Spirit Medicine Garden at the moment. However, my sect is willing to allocate a Tier One Advanced Spirit Vein for you. How does that sound?"

Cui Shanyan’s eyes widened, his breathing suddenly rapid.

"We have a Spirit Mountain called Lotus Peak. On it lies a Tier One Advanced Spirit Vein. Apart from a few buildings on the mountain, the entire mountain shall be allocated to Fellow Daoist Cui as a testing ground. There are currently ten acres of a Spirit Medicine Garden on the mountain, and thirty acres of Spirit Field can be developed. Subsequent manpower and resources needed for development will be gradually provided by our sect."

"However, within the Bichao Mountain of our sect’s mountain gate, there is a twenty-acre Spirit Medicine Garden. Fellow Daoist Cui will need to oversee it and instruct our sect disciples in maintaining it using standard cultivation techniques."

Cui Shanyan’s heart raced, a flush appeared on his face, and his mood shifted drastically, soaring from the depths to the peaks, nodding enthusiastically.

This condition is acceptable! Or rather, it couldn’t be better unless it was the direct offering of fifty acres of a Spirit Medicine Garden!

Lu Qian also smiled: "I’m glad you’re willing, Fellow Daoist Cui." 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

With the Yunshan Sect still newly founded and lacking many disciples, what Foundation Establishment Sect could present such terms? The Spirit Vein their disciples could hardly use in time, let alone so lavishly share its Spiritual Qi to construct a Spirit Medicine Garden.

This was a win-win situation. At present, Lotus Peak had not been utilized, now serving as a test site for Cui Shanyan and providing Yunshan Sect with a valuable talent who could guide the cultivation of Bichao Mountain’s Spirit Medicine Garden, greatly enhancing Spirit Medicine cultivation techniques. Additionally, under Cui Shanyan’s supervision, Lotus Peak would continue to be developed.

In the unlikely event that Cui Shanyan’s research bore no results, Yunshan Sect would still gain a fully developed Lotus Peak, serving as a centralized Spirit Medicine cultivation base.

"As for the second condition, my sect cannot entirely agree. This matter is unrelated to Linglong’s future Spiritual Root; it’s simply that our disciple cultivation system differs from other sects. After entering the sect, disciples must undergo educational training and assessment, advancing from Outer Disciple to Inner Sect Jia Class before qualifying to be apprenticed to an Elder or the Sect Leader and becoming a True Disciple."

"However, I can assure you that if Linglong fails to complete her advancement, she will still enjoy the same status and resources as a True Disciple."

Lu Qian explained the Yunshan Sect’s disciple advancement system to Cui Shanyan. This already invigorated middle-aged man pondered for a moment before finally nodding in agreement with Lu Qian’s terms.

Immediately, Lu Qian asked Jiang Qingfeng to bring paper and ink, and a contract was signed with Cui Shanyan, appointing him as an Honored Guest Elder for the Yunshan Sect, specializing in Spirit Medicine cultivation and planting.

This recruitment event, along with future loose cultivator recruitment, was how Lu Qian planned to proceed. For those still young, they could be directly admitted into the sect, becoming Yunshan disciples. For those of older age, unless they insisted on entry and passed assessments, they would all be hired as Honored Guest Elders, kept at a distance from the core of Yunshan Sect.

At present, both parties were delighted. Lu Qian had attendant disciples take the Cui father and daughter to enjoy good food and drink, and rest well, before later sending them to the mountain gate.

With the matter settled, the guest room quieted down. Lu Qian and Jiang Qingfeng exchanged wry smiles, thinking of Baitao.

In this light, even though Taotao sneaked out and caused trouble, her actions brought a talent to the sect, making her once again meritorious. Ah, if her performance improves later, her confinement might be reduced.

After gathering his thoughts, Lu Qian called for a meeting. In a short time, besides Qingfeng and Lin Le, Master Xuan Ji, Zheng Duan, and several cultivators stationed by Shuangye Alliance at Shuangye Square were all present at the meeting hall.

Lu Qian clapped his hands to call for silence and then instructed: "Lin Le, please update everyone on the marketplace earnings of these past few days."

Lin Le acknowledged and stood up, just about to speak, when suddenly, with a loud bang, the meeting room door burst open.