The difficult path of cultivation for a grassroots female practitioner

Xiao Han was not too discouraged. She had done the work of pulling weeds for fifty spirit beads a day. She didn't believe that in such a big fairy city, she couldn't even find a job to make a living.

On the way to Zixiao City, she asked the people in the caravan about the place where Zixiao City issued tasks.

She felt much more relieved when she learned that there were several mission release points in Zixiao City.

So she didn't delay and went straight to the nearest task release point.

When passing by a shop selling magical instruments, Xiao Han was attracted by a wooden sign placed in front of the shop.

The wooden sign read: Recruiting weapon refining apprentices, two meals provided, and a monthly salary of one hundred spirit stones.

Xiao Han: What do you mean? As an apprentice, I don't have to pay tuition, but I still get a salary?

seriously?

At this time, a middle-aged Qi-cultivating cultivator happened to pass by. He slowed down his pace, glanced at the wooden sign, and then continued walking forward without any expression.

Xiao Han hurriedly stopped him, "Fellow Daoist, may I ask you something? The sign on this board says they're recruiting apprentices for weapon forging. Are the 100 spirit stones the monthly tuition fee, or does it also mean the apprentice will receive a salary?"

The middle-aged cultivator glanced at her and patiently explained, "This is the weapon refining workshop recruiting apprentices. The one hundred spirit stones are the apprentice's salary, not tuition."

Xiao Han looked surprised and asked, "Is this true? I can learn a skill without paying tuition and still get paid?"

Seeing her innocent and simple appearance, the middle-aged monk decided to do a good deed every day and said, "Don't expect too much. An apprentice like this won't learn any real skills without ten or eight years. I pay you because you have to work non-stop every day."

After saying this, the middle-aged cultivator felt that he had done a good thing. He glanced at Xiao Han in front of him and left in a good mood.

Unexpectedly, after the middle-aged monk said this, Xiao Han became even more interested.

When she was in Fuyuan City, she took a book on introductory weapon refining from Qian Wanshan and read it. At one point, she even wanted to buy some refining tools herself and try to refine some simple tools.

But at that time her cultivation was low and she didn't have any extra money to buy tools, so this wish was always on her mind.

Now, a good opportunity to learn refining for free and get paid is right in front of her, and it is real. How can she not be tempted?

As for the middle-aged monk's suggestion of working non-stop, she wasn't afraid of that. If a child from a poor family didn't even have the most basic virtue of hard work and perseverance, where would they stand?

With a monthly salary of 100 spirit stones, after deducting the rent, she still had 70 spirit stones left. Moreover, the weapon refinery provided meals, so she even saved on living expenses. This was no worse than writing a storybook.

Xiao Han walked into the store immediately.

The person guarding the shop was a young monk in his twenties, who seemed to be a waiter.

Seeing Xiao Han come in, he immediately stepped forward and asked, "Do you want to buy a magic weapon, or do you want one custom-made?"

Xiao Han shook his head and pointed at the wooden sign outside the door, "Are they recruiting weapon refining apprentices here?"

"Are you the customer who wants to be an apprentice?" the waiter looked at Xiao Han and asked.

Xiao Han nodded.

The waiter glanced at her again, hesitant to speak, and finally said, "Please wait a moment, I'll go call the shopkeeper out."

Then he ran to the backyard behind the store.

After a while, an old monk came out from the backyard with the waiter.

The old shopkeeper looked at Xiao Han, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "My fellow Daoist, if you want to be an apprentice in our Bailian Refining Workshop, you must sign a three-year contract at least."

Xiao Han was also worried about being cheated, so he asked, "Is the weapon refining workshop in Zixiao City?"

The old shopkeeper said, "Of course it's in this city. Zixiao City only has the Earth Fire Peak, and all the alchemy and weapon refineries in the city are there, so our weapon refinery is naturally no exception."

Xiao Han asked again, "Is it true that the two meals provided and the apprentice's monthly salary of 100 spirit stones are also provided?"

The old shopkeeper said with a bit of annoyance, "Our Bailian Refining Workshop is one of the best refineries in Zixiao City. How could the conditions written on the wooden sign outside be false?"

Xiao Han smiled awkwardly and said, "Then look at me. Can I be your apprentice?"

The old shopkeeper had already sensed her cultivation level and said, "Your cultivation level has indeed reached the minimum standard for being accepted as a disciple. However, let me be frank. After signing the contract, we will teach you the true art of refining weapons. Of course, we can't let you just quit. If you violate the contract, you will be severely punished."

Xiao Han said: "Okay, I understand."

Whether in ancient times or in modern times, it is never easy to learn a craft well.

Three years wasn't a long time. If I really didn't learn anything, it would just be three years of hard work. My cultivation was low, and I wasn't familiar with Zixiao City. This job was just a temporary fix. Once I got familiar with the situation here, I could find a suitable, lucrative job after three years.

The old shopkeeper did not let Xiao Han sign the contract right away, but instead took her to the Bailian Refining Workshop on Dihuo Peak and let her take a good look around.

Of course, what Xiao Han saw was what the old shopkeeper wanted her to see.

For example, the instrument exhibition hall.

Some of the instruments placed there are customized by customers, and some are prepared to be sold in the store.

The various magical instruments with various functions opened Xiao Han's eyes and moved him deeply. Pointing to a magical instrument shaped like a flower basket with five golden flowers inside, the old shopkeeper said, "This is a magical instrument custom-made for the granddaughter of the head of the Sun family, a family of immortal cultivators. It's a complete set of instruments, and the refining cost alone is three thousand spirit stones. This is the work of a third-rank refiner in our workshop."

He also started out as an apprentice and has now become a priest in our weapon refining workshop. He takes 70% of the cost of refining magic tools, while our weapon refining workshop only takes 30%. In other words, he spent ten days refining this flower basket magic tool and earned 2,100 spirit stones.

Becoming a weapon refiner is not dangerous and is respected by others. Isn't it much better than those cultivators who go out of the city to hunt and risk their lives to earn spirit stones?"

Xiao Han couldn't say anything except nod. She was hoping that one day she could make a living from this craft after completing her apprenticeship. So, naturally, she was tempted by the old shopkeeper's promise.

But what the old shopkeeper didn’t say was that the priest had to endure for most of his life before he finally made it.

Even if I can earn spirit stones now, it’s useless. I’m just like Grandma Yuan, with no hope of building a foundation.

The old shopkeeper took her to the workshops of several weapon-refining masters. In order not to disturb the masters who were working, they were not allowed to enter the workshops at will. Xiao Han just heard a noise outside.

The old shopkeeper talked about what skills and knowledge Xiao Han could learn as an apprentice without spending any money. Then he took Xiao Han to the supervisor of the weapon refining workshop and asked Xiao Han to sign the contract.