Sixty years of blacksmithing, a single hammer blow forging a celestial being.

Manager Zhao glanced at Li Ping'an and said,

"Which sect did you work as a menial servant in before?"

Li Pingan said.

"Reporting to the steward, I used to work as a handyman in a small sect called the Beginning Sect. My cultivation never improved much, so I was sent down the mountain to retire."

"However, due to a decline in my family's fortunes, I've almost lost my ability to support myself. That's why I've come to seek refuge with the Danxian Sect. I don't ask for anything else, just a small monthly stipend to support myself and leave some savings for my children and grandchildren—that would be enough!"

Upon hearing this, Manager Zhao nodded and said.

"What kind of sect is the Primordial Sect? Never heard of it! But since you've come here as a menial alchemist, as long as you do a good job, the sect won't kick you out!"

"Although you possess cultivation, you are quite old after all, and I believe your vital energy has already declined!"

"yes!"

Li Ping'an nodded and made a wry smile.

"I was originally at the second level of Qi Refining, but as I've gotten older, my cultivation has dropped to the first level!"

Upon hearing this, Manager Zhao nodded and said.

"Alright! Work hard here, and the sect won't treat you unfairly!"

He was quite polite to Li Ping'an.

Because he himself was also at the first level of Qi Refining cultivation.

Li Ping'an's cultivation level was comparable to his, so naturally he couldn't use his cultivation level to suppress Li Ping'an.

The only saving grace is that Li Ping'an's vital energy is now depleted and his cultivation has regressed.

I believe that he won't even be considered to have reached the Qi Refining stage soon.

This was something that reassured Manager Zhao somewhat.

After all, it's never comfortable to have someone under your command who's better than you.

And this is exactly what Li Ping'an wanted most.

He has already suppressed his cultivation level to an extremely low level.

However, to reassure Steward Zhao, he said that his cultivation was declining.

To avoid being targeted by Manager Zhao and causing unnecessary trouble for himself.

"And you, kid! Come here and do your job properly, you hear?"

After speaking with Li Ping'an, Steward Zhao turned to look at He Wangshu.

His tone was not as kind as when he was talking to Li Ping'an.

Instead, they immediately launched into a tirade of abuse.

"I think you're the kind of kid who's always trying to cheat and shirk responsibility! Let me tell you, don't try any of your tricks on me! If I catch you slacking off, do you know what the consequences will be?"

After saying that, Manager Zhao patted his waist.

He then spoke, revealing a thick bundle of whips tied around his waist.

"Watch out, or I'll show you the power of my whip!"

Upon hearing this, how could He Wangshu dare to utter a single word of dissent?

He nodded obsequiously in agreement.

Manager Zhao glared at He Wangshu again, only then noticing his submissive appearance.

He nodded in satisfaction and said.

"You two didn't bring much with you, did you? Now that you're here, get to work and get familiar with the work environment! I'll arrange accommodations for you tonight!"

Without waiting for a reply, he led Li Ping'an and He Wangshu away.

After navigating a series of winding mountain roads, we arrived at a cluster of buildings.

Manager Zhao pointed to the cluster of buildings in front of them and said...

"This whole place is a pill-refining room! It's full of pill-making workshops!"

Li Ping'an was taken aback by the sheer size of the alchemy room.

Goodness, the Pill Immortal Sect truly lives up to its name, with so many pill refining rooms.

It's likely that all the disciples in the Danxian Sect can refine pills.

It is estimated that the sect's economy is entirely supported by alchemy.

In that case, Li Ping'an thought about how he could frantically inhale the waste gas in these alchemy rooms in the future.

Collect the remaining pills to create new elixirs.

He couldn't help but feel overjoyed and extremely happy.

On the other side, He Wangshu's expression was not so good.

As Manager Zhao said.

"You two are responsible for cleaning all the alchemy rooms every day! And you're also in charge of all the firewood for alchemy! Now go up the mountain and chop some firewood!"

After saying that, Steward Zhao gave each of the two men an axe.

He pointed to the dense forest beside him and said.

"The two of you must chop 500 catties of firewood every day before you can come down the mountain! At night, you'll also be responsible for cleaning up those abandoned alchemy furnaces! That's your work for today! Go!"

After saying that, Steward Zhao did not say anything more to the two of them.

He swayed as he walked away, humming a little tune.

He Wangshu held the heavy axe, his face filled with bitterness.

He looked at Li Ping'an beside him and asked.

"Grandpa! Five hundred catties of firewood a day, how are you going to chop this?"

Li Pingan smiled at him and said.

"No problem! It's just 500 jin (250 kg). Come on! I'll take you up the mountain to chop firewood!"

He wasn't as heavy-hearted as He Wangshu.

He had long regarded this place as his paradise for cultivating immortality.

The environment is nice, he's quite satisfied!

Upon arriving at the mountain, He Wangshu looked at the trees that were even thicker than himself.

I couldn't help but feel a little worried.

How can he cut down such a thick tree?

He weighed the axe in his hand and spat twice.

He Wangshu laboriously swung his axe and chopped at an iron tree.

With a snap, the axe in his hand flew out of his hand.

Only a shallow mark remained on the iron tree.

He Wangshu was astonished; this iron tree was far too hard!

"No! Since I, He Wangshu, am determined to make a name for myself in the Danxian Sect, I cannot give up so easily!"

He Wangshu forced himself to endure the tingling and numbness in his hands.

He then went and retrieved the axe.

This time, he didn't exert as much force as before.

Instead, he gripped the axe tightly, his strength perfectly balanced.

Cut it down on that iron tree.

Although the force wasn't as great as before, it still left a deep mark.

It seems that the method of chopping wood is also very important.

With this experience, He Wangshu immediately gained confidence.

He chopped at the iron tree again and again with his axe.

I don't know how long they chopped it down.

It could be half an hour, or it could be an hour.

He Wangshu's hands were bleeding; it was blood from rubbing after the blisters broke.

But He Wangshu did not stop at all, gritting her teeth.

With the final axe blow, an iron tree thicker than himself was lifted into the air.

And so He Wangshu abruptly cut it in half.

Seeing this, Li Ping'an couldn't help but nod in agreement.

It seems this little kid isn't the type to act on impulse or make empty boasts.

He truly possesses resilience.

"I finally cut it off!"

He Wangshu was so exhausted that he almost collapsed to the ground.

He glanced at the cycad at his feet.

Li Pingan said, "This cycad can probably yield about thirty pounds of firewood!"

"Only thirty-odd pounds?"

Upon hearing this, He Wangshu's eyes widened in surprise.

It took him almost an hour to cut down the iron tree.

He exhausted all his strength.

Now Li Ping'an is telling him that he can only produce about thirty catties of firewood?

Li Ping'an nodded and said.

"Do you think alchemy has no requirements for firewood? Only the most solid part in the middle needs to be burned; the rest is unusable!"

He Wangshu's small face was filled with despair.

He's been chopping for so long and only got 30 jin (15 kg), but he can only chop 50

How long will it take to cut them down?

Wouldn't that mean we wouldn't even be able to complete the first task?

"fine!"

Seeing the despair on his face, Li Ping'an patted his chest and said.

"What are you panicking about with your grandpa around?"