Brother, how come you're a witch?

There are many ways to make money in the cultivation world.

The fastest way to make money is through murder and robbery.

Su Yan was quite skilled at this, but he was no longer a wandering cultivator, but a disciple of a prestigious sect. Within the sect's territory, it was really difficult for him to do so.

We have no choice but to go through some formal channels.

Su Yan was troubled. He changed his clothes, pushed open the door, and went out to the sect market. He wanted to find a way to make money, and since he was going to participate in the summit selection next month, he needed to find some more potent kidney tonics.

Before even leaving his residence, Su Yan saw someone walking towards him and waving at him.

"Junior Brother Su, where are we going?"

"So it's Senior Brother Lu Jing. Please come in, Senior Brother."

Su Yan cupped his hands in greeting to the newcomer.

Lu Jing is a well-known figure in the outer sect. He is the chief senior disciple of the outer sect and has held this position for ten years.

Being the top disciple in the outer sect for one year is awesome, but for ten years it's miserable.

This means that he has tried for at least ten years but has failed to reach the Foundation Establishment stage and join the inner sect. The lifespan of a Qi Refining cultivator is not long, and ten years is already a considerable period of time.

Moreover, the Xuanqing Sect uses a ten- to fifteen-year term, and outer disciples who exceed this term will be expelled. If Lu Jing does not advance this year, he will probably have to leave the mountain.

"Junior brother, did you have someone else attend class for you today? I saw you signed in on the roster, but I didn't see you there. Stop doing things like this. Cultivation isn't for the elders, it's for yourself."

Lu Jing walked closer, patted Su Yan on the shoulder, and spoke earnestly:

"The old guard has told me several times that you can't bring female disciples into the men's quarters. I understand that young people are passionate, but before you reach the Nascent Soul stage, you should focus your energy on cultivation and not get caught up in romantic feelings. Look how pale you are. I heard you didn't get back until late last night. Sigh, you still need to be more restrained..."

Su Yan's lips twitched. To outsiders, this was the kind of relationship he had with Ye Jingqiu?

No, this should just be Lu Jing's personal opinion. Judging from his expression when he spoke, he was speaking to himself rather than Su Yan.

Most people would only think that Su Yan and Ye Jingqiu had a good relationship, but they certainly wouldn't believe that this genius of the Sword Ruins would have an affair with a useless person with five spiritual roots.

"Senior Brother Lu."

Su Yan raised his hand to interrupt Lu Jing's incessant rambling:

Do you know where I can get Foundation Establishment Pills?

Lu Jing was taken aback, then gave a wry smile: "You're doing this for the summit selection at the end of next month? Junior brother, you should prepare for next year. Foundation Establishment Pills aren't easy to obtain."

"I'm not afraid of being laughed at by my junior brothers. I spent ten years in the outer sect, working hard and saving up a lot of spirit stones. I couldn't even buy a Foundation Establishment Pill. I also sent many junior brothers into the inner sect, so I have quite a wide network of connections. I still couldn't get a Foundation Establishment Pill by going through this route in the inner sect."

"It's clear that this item is truly rare. Junior brother, don't even think about it. You'll have to rely on your own breakthrough."

Su Yan nodded, expecting this outcome from asking Lu Jing, but he figured he might as well ask. It didn't cost any money to ask, and who knows, maybe he'd find a way.

"I see. You must be very knowledgeable, Senior Brother. I won't consider that option then... Well, Senior Brother, I have something to attend to. If it's nothing urgent, I'll be going now."

Since there was no other way, Su Yan naturally had to leave as soon as possible.

"Hey! Remember what I said: cultivate diligently, don't skip classes, and don't bring female disciples to your residence!"

Lu Jing called out from behind.

Su Yan waved his hand, left the main gate of his residence, and walked along the main road toward the Forum Square.

Today was another day without Ye Jingqiu following him around. While Su Yan was in a good mood, he was also a little unaccustomed to it. He quickly slapped his forehead to suppress this mischievous thought.

There are several markets within the Xuanqing Sect, one of which is not far from the Dao Discussion Square.

When Su Yan arrived, it was the busiest time of the afternoon, with the main street teeming with people.

The sects that produce valuable immortal peaks, such as Hundred Refinements, Divine Pills, Beast Taming, Spirit Nourishing, and Unique Arrays, all have their own impressive official stalls here, selling their own products.

However, the crowds tend to gather more at private shops and even street stalls, because while official products are good, they are inevitably more expensive.

Normally, aside from pills and spiritual herbs that need to be ingested and which are more selective, people usually buy high-quality replicas or second-hand magical artifacts and formations. After all, they're just buying them to do sect missions or attend classes, not to fight demons, so that's good enough.

Su Yan first went to the stall at Shendan Peak. Under the teasing gazes of the disciples selling the goods, he stocked up on some better yang-boosting and kidney-tonifying pills. With a pained expression, he clutched the spirit stone bag at his waist that was bleeding profusely and walked out of the shop.

A useless person with five spiritual roots is poor; a sword cultivator is also poor; a useless sword cultivator with five spiritual roots is even poorer.

After Su Yan traveled through time, all he had left was a communication jade token, and even his underwear was made from banana leaves broken off from the roadside.

After joining the Xuanqing Sect, his aptitude was too low and his allowance was too low. He was also harassed by Ye Jingqiu every day and had no time to take on sect missions to work and study. Naturally, he couldn't make ends meet with the spirit stones he had.

But even if they went to work-study programs, things wouldn't be much better. The tasks that Qi Refining disciples could take on were nothing more than feeding rabbits for Beast Taming Peak, carrying bricks for Qi Array Peak, or helping old ladies onto flying boats, and the pay was very low.

It might just be enough to maintain the flying sword.

Lu Jing's ability to accumulate enough spirit stones to confidently purchase Foundation Establishment Pills within ten years demonstrates his strength and hard work.

Su Yan sighed inwardly. He didn't have ten years; at most, it was less than two months. It was definitely not enough for him to work for the sect to make ends meet.

As he was pondering ways to make money, he was suddenly interrupted by an argument next to him.

"What? I just bought this flying sword from you last month. You promised to buy it back from me anytime at the same price as you, minus twenty spirit stones. Why are you deducting so much now!"

"Fellow Daoist, please don't get so agitated. Look at the wear and tear on it. Did you use it to fight the Heavenly Demon? It's not unreasonable for me to deduct this amount from your score."

"Don't give me that. I only took him to a few practical lessons of the 'Long Wind Sword Technique' at Qingren Peak. I used it very carefully and took great care of it. Where is there any wear and tear?"

"Look, look! Aren't there several scratches on the crystal of the spiritual energy return array under the hilt of this flying sword?"

"Didn't you just scratch this with your fingernail?"

The swordsman selling flying swords approached and, through the magnifying glass in the stall owner's hand, saw the scratches clearly. He flew into a rage:

"And for such a small scratch, you're offering me half the price?"

"This piece is mainly responsible for recovering spiritual energy, which affects the duration of combat. It is very important, and it is the special technology of this flying sword, making it very difficult to repair," the stall owner said with certainty.

"Damn it! I'm not selling it then, you swindler! I'd rather have this flying sword rot in my hands!"

The swordsman snatched back the flying sword, cursing and about to leave, but the stall owner quickly put away his magnifying glass and stopped him.

"Hey, wait a minute! Aren't you waiting for the money to buy another flying sword? That sword is more suitable for the swordsmanship you've switched to, and the Ultimate Swordsmanship Challenge you signed up for also requires that sword. Don't act impulsively. How about I add this amount for you?"