Chapter Seventy-Six: The Wages Are Too Low

Early that morning, Ye Mo left the ship and entered Donglai Immortal Village, searching everywhere in the village for work.

He did not worry for himself. Unlike the hundreds of martial artists from the sea vessel, as a Qi Refining cultivator, as long as he found work, he could earn spirit stones. The only question was how many.

“Ruyi Pill Pavilion! The most renowned alchemy house in the Immortal Village—this must be the one.”

Ye Mo came to the main street, stopping outside a three-story building with a sign reading “Ruyi Pill Pavilion,” and spent some time observing it.

The Ruyi Pill Pavilion was constructed from second-grade spiritual wood, making it very sturdy. A notice was posted outside, recruiting alchemy apprentices and assistants, with no particular requirements—any cultivator could apply.

Ye Mo had been considering which profession to choose as his means of earning spirit stones.

Alchemy was undoubtedly a promising path.

Every cultivator needed elixirs, and used them in great quantities. If he could become an alchemist, he would hold a respected position even in the Immortal Village.

After a moment’s thought, Ye Mo walked inside.

At the entrance, a gate attendant in blue robes saw Ye Mo, dressed as a martial artist, attempting to enter and immediately frowned. The attendant was himself a martial artist and could not discern whether Ye Mo had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage.

“All pills in this pavilion require spirit stones for purchase!” he said, politely but clearly doubting Ye Mo’s ability to pay.

“I heard you’re recruiting alchemy apprentices? I’d like to apply.”

Stopped by the blue-robed attendant, Ye Mo showed no sign of anger and answered with a faint smile.

“You’re applying for alchemy apprentice? You… are a cultivator?” The attendant was taken aback, glancing at the large recruitment notice posted by the building. It was clearly stated that both apprentices and assistants must be cultivators. Anyone literate could understand.

“That’s right,” Ye Mo replied calmly.

The attendant’s manner became much more respectful. Despite Ye Mo’s worn martial attire, a cultivator was still a cultivator. Regardless of his present condition, he was eligible to apply.

“Very well, please follow me. I’ll take you to see Master Wang, our resident alchemist.”

With humility, the attendant led Ye Mo inside.

The first floor of Ruyi Pill Pavilion connected to a pill refining workshop at the back. Through a side door, the attendant led Ye Mo into a refined courtyard spanning several acres, filled with spiritual herbs whose fragrance was intoxicating. An elegant and antiquated corridor led to the innermost alchemy chamber.

Though small, the courtyard was reminiscent of a true immortal’s dwelling.

Ye Mo could not help but praise it inwardly.

“Might I ask, is Master Wang the resident alchemist here?” Ye Mo asked as he took in the surroundings.

“Yes, indeed! Master Wang is our most distinguished alchemist aside from the Pavilion Master himself. They’re so close they address each other as brothers! Our Ruyi Alchemy Workshop is one of the oldest and most reputable in Donglai Immortal Village, now in its third generation.

“There are not many alchemists in the village to begin with. With Master Wang and the Pavilion Master, plus several ordinary alchemists, our strength is considerable. Add in a good number of apprentices, and our elixirs have never lacked for buyers.”

Pride tinged the attendant’s tone. Soon, the two reached the chamber.

A young cultivator, perhaps in his twenties, lounged at the door, sampling a few spirit herbs.

“Alchemist Gao, this cultivator has come to apply as an alchemy apprentice. Is Master Wang available?” the attendant asked respectfully.

This young man was Master Wang’s disciple, himself an alchemist.

Glancing at Ye Mo, the young alchemist frowned. “Judging by your appearance, you’ve just started cultivating, haven’t you? Any experience with alchemy?”

“None with alchemy, but I’ve prepared body-tempering decoctions before,” Ye Mo replied quickly, a trace of unease rising within. Was alchemy experience required even for apprentice positions?

“No experience at all? Then you’d best give up on being an apprentice. The requirement is that at least two out of every ten batches of ingredients result in pills. Each batch costs several spirit stones; we can’t let you waste them. Someone like you shouldn’t consider being an apprentice. However, I do need an alchemy assistant—someone to help with chores, tend the herb garden, and gain some experience identifying herbs and learning the basics. Are you interested?”

The young alchemist’s voice was serious.

“An alchemy assistant? What’s the monthly wage?” Ye Mo hesitated, asking.

“One spirit stone a month, not including board or lodging. After three to five years of study, you may formally become an apprentice and earn five spirit stones a month. In another ten to twenty years, you might become an alchemist yourself. Consider this carefully.”

The young alchemist shook his head as he spoke.

Ye Mo was stunned.

One spirit stone a month—so little!

Given the prices in the Immortal Village, even the cheapest Vitality Pill cost one spirit stone, and renting a small room cost the same. If he stayed to learn alchemy, for three to five years he’d earn nothing, as all his wages would go to rent, leaving nothing for cultivation.

If he were alone, he could perhaps grit his teeth and endure a few years at the workshop. But behind him were Mo Ling, Wang Hu, and many other martial artists, all urgently needing elixirs to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

“Thank you, Alchemist Gao. I’ll give it some thought,” Ye Mo said, lowering his head.

“Don’t let the low wage deter you—this is a craft being handed down. If you decide, seek me out. I’m usually here refining pills.”

The young alchemist could see Ye Mo was dissatisfied and sneered faintly.

Ye Mo forced a bitter smile, cupped his hands in farewell, and followed the attendant out.

Once outside, Ye Mo walked the street, his spirits heavy.

Without spirit stones, he could not buy pills, magic tools, or cultivation techniques, and thus could not improve his Qi Refining stage or his abilities. Without cultivation or strength, he could not find better work or earn more spirit stones. It was a vicious cycle.

Cultivation without spirit stones was impossible.

Ye Mo shook his head, deciding to visit every alchemy house, tool workshop, and beast-taming hall in the village, in hopes of finding better-paying work.

He was in desperate need of spirit stones to buy a few Vitality Pills and help Mo Ling, Wang Hu, and the others break through to become cultivators.

...

On another street of Donglai Immortal Village, Mo Ling too was urgently searching, going from shop to workshop, inquiring after work—doing just what Ye Mo was doing.

But her situation was even more difficult.

At least Ye Mo was a Qi Refining cultivator; she was not even a cultivator yet, only a late-stage body-forging martial artist.

Martial artists in the Immortal Village had no way to earn spirit stones; at best, they could make a little extra silver or gold. Yet she refused to give up, determined to ask everywhere.

“Miss, martial artists can’t earn spirit stones. At most you’ll get a bit more gold or silver for your labor. That’s how it is in all of Donglai Immortal Village—and other immortal villages too,” a middle-aged shopkeeper at a spiritual tool store explained, shaking his head.

“Thank you for your time,” Mo Ling bowed and left, disappointed.

Just then, a middle-aged cultivator and an elderly man were crossing the street toward her.

“Brother Mo, last time you went out to hunt sea monsters, you were injured. Has it improved?” the middle-aged cultivator asked with concern.

The elderly man, thin and white-bearded, wore a white robe and had a somewhat otherworldly air, though his face looked weary.

“Thank you for your concern, Brother Ge. My wounds are mostly healed, but full recovery will likely take another year or two. I’m getting old—injuries heal slowly,” the old man replied, his voice frail.

Mo Ling, lost in thought, heard the voices. Her body trembled, and she looked up in shock, instantly recognizing the old man’s face.

“Grandfather!” she cried, her voice quivering, and rushed into his arms.

The familiar voice startled the old man, but seeing his beloved granddaughter in his embrace, he was overwhelmed.

“Ling’er, is it really you?”

The old man’s hand trembled as he stroked Mo Ling’s hair. For a moment, he could hardly believe his granddaughter from distant Donglai Kingdom was before him.

“Yes, Grandfather, it’s Ling’er! I’ve been searching so hard for you!” Mo Ling choked out, weeping.

“You silly child, how did you find your way to Donglai Immortal Village? The sea is so dangerous—you must have suffered greatly,” he said, his voice full of affection.

“It doesn’t matter. Finding you makes it all worthwhile!” Mo Ling sobbed.

“You child… you child…” The old man’s eyes grew moist.

He was none other than Mo Ling’s grandfather, Mo Nan, a third-level Qi Refining cultivator. Mo Ling was his most cherished granddaughter.

In years past, he would return to Donglai Kingdom every few years to visit family and stay for a month or two. But last year, he was badly injured hunting sea monsters and had not yet recovered, making sea voyages impossible for the time being.

After a while, Mo Nan gently pushed Mo Ling away, wiped her tears, and said, “Come, let’s go to the inn and you can tell me how you got here.”

He turned to the middle-aged cultivator. “Brother Ge, I’ll take my leave. My granddaughter and I must catch up!”

“Haha, congratulations on your reunion! I won’t intrude—let’s have tea at the Xianhong Pavilion another time,” Brother Ge replied with a laugh.

Mo Nan bowed and led Mo Ling to a house in the village.

“Grandfather, is housing in the village expensive?” Mo Ling asked curiously upon entering.

It was a private residence with several rooms. Donglai Immortal Village did not have many cultivators—fewer than a hundred permanent residents, and only two or three hundred visiting wanderers; the rest were mostly martial artists. Thus, the houses for cultivators were quite spacious.

“This house is rented—it’s one spirit stone a month! But living inside the village is very safe, with immortal guards patrolling day and night. If you live outside, you might die without ever knowing how,” Mo Nan explained, seating Mo Ling beside him.

“Ling’er, how did you manage to get here? The seas are perilous; it’s not easy for ordinary martial artists to reach this place!”

Mo Ling recounted her journey—how longing for her grandfather and the pursuit of the immortal path led her to set sail with a merchant fleet, only for disaster to strike. A storm wrecked their ship, marooning her and the others on a nameless island, where they battled to survive against sea monsters. Later, they built a raft and were captured by pirates, but Ye Mo broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, slew the pirate leader, and cowed the entire crew.

Through countless dangers, they finally reached Donglai Immortal Village, only to face hardship anew.

“Indeed, you’ve suffered much! It’s a blessing you arrived safely. For martial artists, seeking the immortal path here is a matter of chance—among hundreds, perhaps not one succeeds. Countless martial artists perish at sea,” Mo Nan sighed.

“But you mentioned your leader—Ye Mo, was it? He broke through on the pirate ship? That’s extraordinary. Where did he get a Vitality Pill?

“Speaking of which, I have some here. Take one. When you reach the ninth level of body refinement, you can use it to form your Nascent Soul.

“For now, focus on cultivating your body. Don’t bother looking for work in the village. The rule that ‘martial artists can only earn gold and silver’ exists to prevent too many mediocre martial artists from becoming cultivators and exhausting resources. Without the support of a cultivator, ordinary martial artists simply can’t break through. Only the kin, friends, or disciples of cultivators get that chance.”

Mo Nan fetched a small bottle from his sleeve and handed her a low-grade Vitality Pill. “If I weren’t injured, I could earn three to five spirit stones a month and support your cultivation. But lately, I’ve earned nothing and have little in reserve. I can only help you break through; after that, you’ll have to rely on yourself.”

“Grandfather, you were hurt? Was it serious?” Mo Ling exclaimed, immediately helping him sit more comfortably, her eyes full of worry.

“Cough… cough…” Mo Nan coughed twice before shaking his head. “Last year, I was hurt hunting sea monsters, but it’s nothing serious. With a little more rest, I’ll be fine. In the meantime, focus on your cultivation. Once you’re a true cultivator, finding work will be much easier.”