"Actually, three years ago, you made the right call by not relying on talisman painting to join the Water Dragon Sect."

Xu Fugui puffed on his dry tobacco as he spoke slowly: "If you'd joined the Water Dragon Sect back then, odds are you'd be stuck on Sifang Island painting talismans all day. There's some freedom, but not really."

"You only get four days off each month. Whenever you go out, you have to ask for leave."

"Every month, they'll give you task requirements. If you finish the talismans early, no problem, but if not, you'll be stuck painting till you finish."

Isn't that basically the same as being a wage slave? Ji Yuan couldn't help asking: "So, does the Water Dragon Sect at least pay spirit stones every month for this?"

"Of course they do."

Xu Fugui stroked his beard and chuckled: "If there weren't any spirit stones, nobody would bother with that job. This way, those looking for a calm life and who don't like magical combat, will stay on Sifang Island and cultivate in peace."

If that's the case, joining via talisman painting isn't impossible… but then again, joining a cultivation sect only to be a wage slave? I'd rather bash my own head in.

Plus, with Water Dragon Sect's temperament, paint three top-grade talismans for the sect, maybe they'll pay you the spirit stones for one top-grade talisman if you're lucky.

Paint talismans for myself and sell them—much more lucrative, and way more freedom.

Peaceful cultivation, as long as you don't stir up trouble, you can be stable anywhere.

"Those like you, who enter Water Dragon Sect by strength, you'll be assigned to Chulong Island. Unless the sect faces some major event and we're all mobilized, we're basically free otherwise."

"But, two things to watch out for—one: don't violate sect rules. Two: every year you have to rack up a hundred task points."

"Task points?"

This was the first time Ji Yuan had heard of this term.

"Yeah, if you want to earn task points, you gotta go to Thousand Mechanism Island and pick up tasks. There's all sorts—every completed task gives you some task points. It's not hard; you just need to pile up a hundred per year. If you have to go somewhere, check Thousand Mechanism Island and see if there's any task for that spot. If it looks easy, you can pick it up and complete it while you're at it."

Xu Fugui paused, pondering for a moment, then continued: "Say, some Foundation Establishment seniors want to drink Spirit Joy Wine from Spiritual Joy City, but they don't want to run errands, so they'll post the task at Thousand Mechanism Island."

"If you're headed to Spiritual Joy City anyway, just grab the task along the way and earn some task points."

"Of course, if you want to cultivate in the sect, don't want to go out, and dislike complicated tasks, you can also submit talismans or elixirs for task points. That works too."

Oh, it's a pay-to-win system. Instant task completion… Ji Yuan couldn't help but sigh, this sect really knows how to pamper people.

Even their pay-to-win setup is ready.

Ji Yuan had made up his mind.

Tasks?

Not even a dog would do them!

I'll pay-to-win: hand in a few talismans per year to cover the requirement, and spend the rest of my time boosting my strength.

When it comes to joining the sect, Foundation Establishment is obviously top priority.

Anything else comes second.

"Alright, anything else I should watch out for?"

Ji Yuan pressed further.

"Nothing major, just small stuff. Once you're at Water Dragon Sect you'll figure it out. I'll introduce you to a senior later, so get yourself ready. If you don't get in, it'll be awkward."

Xu Fugui smiled meaningfully.

No worries. If I can't kill the demon beast, I'll use the Ascension Token to join—the end result's the same, I've got backup… Ji Yuan smiled and nodded.

"Alright."

"Hmm, still got a few days, go back and get ready."

Xu Fugui basically kicked him out, so Ji Yuan had to get up and take his leave.

After a while, once he was back home and had sat down, he kept turning things over in his mind… Since Water Dragon Sect has changed their rules, he really should give Du Wanyi a heads-up, let her prepare. That's a must.

The four of them used to be a cohort, now only two left… Who knows what happened to Yao Jingfeng.

This bond—Ji Yuan certainly cherishes it, and once he's in Water Dragon Sect he'll probably need Du Wanyi's help at some point.

As for whether she'll tell someone else, Ji Yuan wasn't worried.

It's best if she doesn't tell. If she does… then just call it off; one secret reveals a person's character. Either way, I'm not losing out.

Plus he'd have to make another trip to Mist Island.

Last time, he left in a rush—never got a chance to deal with the spirit chickens, spirit pigs, spirit fish, all that stuff.

And he still had to say goodbye to the Big Toad, have it watch the house.

Ji Yuan planned to settle down in Water Dragon Sect before returning to Mist Island to cultivate in seclusion again.

If that's the case, might as well let Du Wanyi know as well.

Time's already tight, so Ji Yuan figured, just go now.

Less than half an hour later, Ji Yuan was already sitting in Du Wanyi's home.

Her pretty peach-blossom eyes sized him up and down. Seeing her fourth brother was safe, she finally relaxed. "I thought you'd forgotten about the selection."

"Second sister, don't tease me."

Ji Yuan thought for a second, then said: "Less than ten days till Water Dragon Sect's selection. Have you heard any news?"

When it came to serious stuff, Du Wanyi frowned slightly.

"Honestly, fourth brother, if you hadn't come, I was about to look for you. Couple days ago, Dong Qian from the Mutual Aid Association sent a letter through someone. She says Water Dragon Sect might be recruiting very few people this year, but nobody's figured out why. She just told us to get ready."

Sure enough—just like Xu Fugui, Water Dragon Sect Mutual Aid Association couldn't get any inside news. Ji Yuan replied, "I've actually heard a bit. As long as you know, just don't tell outsiders."

"Of course, who would I tell besides you?"

Du Wanyi leaned in closer to Ji Yuan—he could already smell her perfume, and when he glanced down, inevitably caught a glimpse of cleavage. Flustered, he hurriedly looked away before telling her about the rule changes in Water Dragon Sect.

Once Du Wanyi heard him out, her smile vanished completely.

She stiffened, back upright in her seat.

"No talismans allowed, no elixirs either. So it's all raw strength now."

"You should be okay with that, right?"

Ji Yuan could tell—even though he hadn't seen Du Wanyi in half a year, her cultivation had risen from Qi Cultivation Stage 8 to Stage 9, plus she'd always been strong… If it's on land, taking out a late stage first-tier demon beast solo shouldn't be a problem.

"If I go all out, I can do it."

Du Wanyi took a deep breath. "No wonder Dong Qian said recruitment is way down this year. With rules like these, a lot of folks just won't dare try… although to be fair, Cloud Rain Marsh barely has any late-stage Qi Cultivators left this year."

"Yeah, still a few days left, you should get more prep in. If you need anything, just let me know."

Ji Yuan didn't want Du Wanyi running into more trouble.

"Alright, if I need something, I'll definitely ask you." Du Wanyi bit her lip and nodded.

"Got it."

Ji Yuan stood and said: "Just a few days left, I'd better go home and get ready, too. See you on Mountain Rain Island."

Every time Water Dragon Sect holds its selection, late-stage Qi Cultivators are tested on Mountain Rain Island.

"Okay."

Du Wanyi got up to see Ji Yuan off.

Once Ji Yuan's flying boat lifted off, he pretended to head back toward Zengtou City. Once he'd flown far enough, he changed direction and sped straight for the depths of Cloud Rain Marsh.

The next day, he once again arrived above the familiar mists.

So much time had passed—the fallout from the Foundation Establishment battles had faded, and Li Changhe had gone back home, restoring peace to the region.

Ji Yuan's flying boat had barely touched down on Mist Island when he heard the Big Toad croaking from within the dense fog.

"Gwaa——"

Ji Yuan didn't respond, because...

The spirit chickens were gone.

Spirit pigs… only half left.

Thankfully, the Spirit Field was still intact, and the herbs Ji Yuan had planted survived.

Why?

Because the Big Toad doesn't eat vegetables anymore—only meat now.

Ji Yuan was tempted to check how many spirit fish were left in the Fish Pond.

"Thud——"

The Big Toad landed beside Ji Yuan with a heavy thump.

"Gwaa gwaa——"

Ji Yuan looked up at it, and noticed a couple of reed chicken feathers stuck to its mouth.

"What about these?"

Ji Yuan pointed at the Chicken Cage.

The Big Toad immediately stuck out its tongue, pointed toward the depths of the mist, then went off on a long string of "gwaa gwaa gwaa."

After living with it for so long, Ji Yuan could more or less understand what it meant… Basically: it didn't eat those, another demon beast came to the island and ate them while it wasn't looking.

Ji Yuan said nothing, just jumped up and plucked a few more feathers from its mouth.

The Big Toad, seeing this, stopped croaking and even lowered its head to the ground like it was admitting fault.

Ji Yuan hadn't gotten this close to the big-mouthed toad in a while. He used to feed it spirit pig meat for body refining every day, but this time… it had helped itself and eaten four spirit pigs.

Such high-grade food—not only had its body changed some,

although its size hadn't grown, its skin seemed to have developed a thick armor, like stone armor, and the bumps on its back were even bigger than before.

But most conspicuously, its body was now exuding thick demon energy.

This thing—definitely much stronger than before.

Whatever, let it eat. Doesn't matter, they aren't worth much, especially compared to all those demon beasts it caught recently… If you count everything it ate as worth one spirit stone,

then everything it's brought Ji Yuan is worth at least ten spirit stones.

Ji Yuan had made a tidy profit selling demon beast corpses lately.

After poking around to confirm no outsiders had shown up, Ji Yuan left the Big Toad with detailed instructions—basically: I'm leaving for a while, guard the place, don't let anyone onto the island.

If anyone comes and you can't beat them, then run away—whatever.

Maybe it'd eaten too much spirit pig, because the Big Toad seemed a little smarter and nodded blankly.

Once everything was settled, Ji Yuan boarded his flying boat and took off, heading back to Zengtou City.

After returning, Ji Yuan went nowhere else.

After all, another four days had gone by, and now there was less than six days left until the Water Dragon Sect selection.

For cultivators, those six days were nothing but a blink.

On that day,

Ji Yuan awoke from meditation.

The day of Water Dragon Sect's selection… had finally arrived.

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