First achieve immortality, then cultivate immortality.

With Mu Changfeng gone, Xu Mu felt even more melancholy.

This senior brother held special significance for him.

This feeling of melancholy is similar to joining a company, getting used to it, and preparing to stay, only to have the senior employee who mentored you suddenly leave.

This company doesn't seem to be as good as I imagined...

Now that we've lost a powerful backer at the ninth level of Qi Refining, our income has also decreased.

He had previously provided Mu Changfeng with spiritual herbs, and after they were sold, he could get 80% of the profits. Although it wasn't much, it was better than nothing.

The already meager wallet was further strained by the loss of another source of income.

There's no other way but to keep hiding.

His hope was to master the cultivation methods and have sufficient self-protection abilities before his lifespan was nearing its end and he had to leave the sect.

……

"Who is the most skilled outer disciple here at cultivating spiritual herbs?"

On this day, a young man suddenly came to the Hall of Transmission of Skills and immediately expressed his demands.

Such people often hold high positions and like to be aggressive.

Judging from the style of the Taoist robe and the waist tag, the other party was clearly an inner disciple.

Xu Mu disliked this person at first sight, but unfortunately, he was the one who was best at cultivating spiritual herbs, a fact well-known in Beimu Village.

"Senior brother, are you looking for me?" he asked, taking the initiative to speak.

Wu Zongping looked him up and down and asked, "You're the outer disciple who's been farming for fifteen years?"

"Indeed, I am Xu Mu, greetings, Senior Brother." Xu Mu bowed politely.

Wu Zongping nodded: "Well, in that case, come with me, I'll take you to the inner sect."

"Huh? You want me to become an inner disciple?" Xu Mu asked.

Wu Zongping rolled his eyes: "You're dreaming. A pharmacist in Yulongtian has passed away and needs a replacement, so you're the one."

"Oh, going to Yulongtian? I have no objection... but I have to tell Master Yutian of Kitaki Village that the sacred fields here need my care."

Xu Mu scratched his head and glanced at Senior Sister Mo Yao again.

It's not a big deal here. He was just a teaching assistant, so it's fine if he leaves. My senior sister will just be a little busier.

Mo Yao didn't say anything.

Wu Zongping frowned slightly and said calmly, "Alright, I'll go with you and talk to him, and let him make the arrangements."

Xu Mu could only nod and take him to find Master Yutian.

Upon hearing this, Master Yutian flew into a rage: "He cultivates half of these spiritual fields; who will cultivate them if he leaves?"

"That's none of my business. Yulongtian needs people. If you have any objections, go talk to Elder Yanfu," Wu Zongping said calmly.

"Don't try to intimidate me with the elder's name! You can take anyone away from here, but you can't take him," Master Yutian sneered.

Xu Mu was somewhat moved by what he heard.

True value lies in personal ability; even leaders are reluctant to let him go.

Wu Zongping snorted coldly, took out a token and said, "Have you forgotten the sect rules? The spiritual herbs in Yulongtian are all grade three or above. How can your inferior herbs compare?"

How much of the medicinal herb fields could there be? How did they end up being entrusted to him all in the first place? Why not just distribute the burden back to him now?

Upon seeing the gold-plated token, Master Yutian could only swallow his words, his face grim and unable to utter a sound.

Seeing that he had nothing more to say, Wu Zongping said calmly, "Let's go."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Xu Mu hesitated and did not set off immediately, but looked at Master Yutian with reluctance.

Master Yutian sighed helplessly: "Go there and study hard. Those are the materials for refining important pills such as Foundation Establishment Pills. You can't afford to lose them."

"Yes, Your Excellency." Xu Mu bowed respectfully.

"Go ahead," Master Yutian waved his hand.

Xu Mu nodded and then left with Wu Zongping.

……

Yulongtian is located at the foot of the Qinglan Mountains, deep within the inner gate, and is surrounded by mountains.

The spiritual energy here is far more abundant than that of the outer sect.

The surrounding rocks are so nourished by spiritual energy that they resemble jade, hence the name Jade Dragon Field.

Wu Zongping brought Xu Mu here and arranged for him to take care of the medicinal herbs without any explanation. He also called an elderly herbalist to guide him. Throughout the process, he did not ask Xu Mu's opinion.

Xu Mu observed that the entire medicinal garden was extremely vast, with a centralized management area of ​​over a hundred miles, unlike the outer sect which was scattered across one hilltop after another.

There were more than a dozen herbalists performing spells in the field, watering, weeding, and channeling spiritual energy. They looked very professional, far superior to the rough techniques of the outer disciples.

"Follow Old Yu and learn as soon as possible how to cultivate spiritual herbs of grade three or higher," Wu Zongping said calmly.

"Yes, sir." Xu Mu bowed respectfully.

Arriving here is considered a promotion; not only is the spiritual energy abundant, which is beneficial to one's cultivation, but the salary is also high.

After giving the elderly pharmacist some more instructions, Wu Zongping turned and left.

The pharmacist, named Lao Yu, bowed and scraped, his posture somewhat obsequious.

Xu Mu was somewhat surprised.

This was the first time he had ever seen cultivators like this. Perhaps it was because the outer sect consisted of outer sect disciples, and Foundation Establishment cultivators rarely showed up. It was mostly the stewards who managed things, so they couldn't put on any official airs.

We're all at the Qi Refining stage. At worst, we can leave the immortal mountain. We certainly won't starve, or we might simply give up cultivation and go to the mortal world to enjoy its riches and pleasures. Maybe we can even live a carefree and happy life.

People with spiritual roots are naturally superior, so why should they put up with this nonsense?

The more ruthless ones secretly cultivate a special skill, making it easy for them to challenge opponents of higher levels. After killing someone, they escape and hide in the mortal realm, making it extremely difficult for sects to capture them.

I've heard that there have been similar cases before, so the outer sect pays special attention to the sect's rules. The stewards don't dare to openly disregard the rules; at most, they'll make things difficult for others like Wang Yin did.

But the old Yu in front of me is no different from the honest and simple farmers in the world; he is completely disciplined.

"You're new here, just call me Lao Yu. We're all here to work, regardless of senior or junior brother status. Just be relaxed and don't cause any conflicts," Lao Yu said with a smile, dropping his fawning tone.

Xu Mu smiled and nodded, then gave a brief self-introduction.

After getting to know each other, Old Yu flew into the air on his sword, not taking him into the herb garden, but instead beckoning him to fly together to the mountainside on the opposite side.

There are several houses on the mountain, which are the residences of the herbalists. Among them is a study, which is filled with books and notes about spiritual herbs, which are exactly what Xu Mu needs to learn.

"The entire herb garden is surrounded by arrays. The only entrance and exit is the path we just passed. When entering or leaving, you must pass right under the noses of the field guards. Be careful not to bring anything unclean."

Old Yu said meaningfully.

Xu Mu knew what he meant and nodded to show that he understood.

This feels like entering a factory; it's a closed-off management system where employees are treated like thieves.

The dormitory is located outside the herb garden, and students can only enter the garden when they are working.

"Work hard, the income here is at least five times higher than what you earn outside the sect," Old Yu said with a smile, patting him on the shoulder to encourage him.

"So tall?" Xu Mu's eyes lit up.

"Haha, of course, otherwise a lot of people would want to come here." Old Yu laughed.

Xu Mu now understood why the other party was being so obsequious.

A salary of 3,000? Is the boss even human?

With a salary of 15,000, I can live like a monster.

As for rest and cultivation time, Old Yu didn't care much: "Anyway, with our talent, we won't be able to reach the Foundation Establishment stage in the end, so why bother about it?"

He suggested that Xu Mu find a Daoist partner, have a child with spiritual roots, and use the money he earned from talismans to lay a foundation for the child's future.

Otherwise, you won't be able to build your foundation, and the more resources you spend, the more you lose. It's better to save them for your own children.

"Your previous pharmacist wouldn't listen to advice and eventually died of old age. All his hundred years of cultivation were for nothing. What was the point?"

Xu Mu could only smile and say, "I'm new here, I need to get used to things first."

"That's true." Old Yu nodded with a smile.

"Then you should learn how to care for grade three spiritual herbs first. These herbs cannot be damaged without careful attention. You can't afford to pay for even one if you do."

As he spoke, he arranged for Xu Mu to undergo "pre-job training".

Xu Mu felt safer and had a higher income here, so he happily stayed here to farm.