Longevity: Starting as a menial servant in the Green Wood Sect

The morning mist was damp and cold, like a wet, old cotton wadding, weighing heavily on the Bingzi Lingtian (a type of sacred field).

Inside the thatched hut, Gu An slowly exhaled a breath of stale air. The breath dissipated the moment it came into contact with the air, without stirring up any white mist.

He looked down and examined himself. Deep within his dantian, the newly formed cyan mist-like spiritual energy was now as still as a stagnant pool.

Under the forceful suppression of the "Turtle Breathing Technique," the vigorous vitality of the third level of Qi Refining was sealed off layer by layer, all the pores closed, and the body temperature dropped to a slightly cool level.

Only a few faint, scattered spiritual energies remained in his meridians, floating and mixed, just like a cripple at the second level of Qi Refining who had just suffered a severe injury and whose realm was unstable.

[Turtle Breathing Technique: Proficient (15/200)]

[Status: Dormant (Stealth Coefficient: 50%)]

"That's about it."

Gu An tugged at his patched gray cloth coat, deliberately opening the collar slightly to reveal the bruise on his collarbone that hadn't faded yet—a gift left by Zhao Feng's kick a few days ago.

Pushing open the door, the usually deathly quiet morning seemed unusually noisy today.

A large crowd had already gathered in front of the notice board in the distance, their excited chatter boiling like water on the barren hillside.

"Have you heard? The sect has shown great mercy!"

"The standards for the outer sect assessment have been lowered! Only the third level of Qi Refining is required! No need to wait until the fourth level!"

"Really? Does that mean I have a chance?"

Gu An paused slightly, his eyelids drooping to conceal the cold light in his eyes.

The Qingmu Sect has a strict hierarchy, with outer disciples being worlds apart from menial laborers. Once you enter the outer sect, you not only no longer have to cultivate those damned spirit fields, but you also receive two low-grade spirit stones every month, and you even have the opportunity to learn advanced cultivation techniques.

In previous years, only those at the fourth level of Qi Refining were eligible to apply for the assessment, and the pass rate was less than 30%. Now, the threshold has been drastically lowered, which is tantamount to a meteoric rise for these poor people who toil in the fields.

"Gu boy! What are you standing there for?!"

A slender figure squeezed out from the crowd and grabbed Gu An's arm with surprising force.

It was Wang Ermazi from next door, usually the most snobbish of men, but now he was beaming, spittle flying everywhere: "Haven't you been stuck at the peak of the second level of Qi Refining? Hurry up and try it out, what if you break through on the spot? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, I heard there's no limit to the number of spots this time!"

Gu An was pulled so hard he stumbled, then clutched his chest and coughed violently, his face turning deathly pale: "Cough cough... Brother Wang, you know my body... I was injured a few days ago, and now I can barely walk. How can I dare to think about such things?"

Wang Ermazi released his grip with disdain and patted his sleeves: "That's right, Manager Zhao's kick was no light one. He really has no luck; he deserves to be a peasant for life."

After saying that, he ignored Gu An and turned to disappear into the crowd, desperately trying to find more words that would be favorable to him on the red notice.

Gu An retreated to the corner next to the haystack, leaning against the cold earthen wall, and coldly watched his fellow disciples who had fallen into fanaticism.

There are no free lunches in the sky, only traps.

If the sect were truly so kind, this Miscellaneous Service Peak would have been empty long ago.

"If you don't want to die, stay away from that notice."

A hoarse, deep voice suddenly rang in my ears.

Gu An turned his head and saw that Old Zhang had squatted in the shadow of the haystack at some point. The pipe in his hand had long been extinguished, but he was still biting the mouthpiece tightly, and his face was trembling slightly with wrinkles.

"Uncle Zhang?" Gu An subtly shifted his body, blocking the view of outsiders.

Old Zhang's cloudy old eyes stared intently at the group of cheering young people, his gaze revealing not envy, but deep fear.

"That's a death warrant."

Old Zhang lowered his voice and spoke very quickly, as if afraid of being blown away by the wind, "My nephew who works in the inner sect's dining hall sent a message last night. The Blood Blade Sect next door has gone mad. In order to seize that newly discovered miniature spirit stone mine, they are launching a fierce attack on our stronghold in Black Wind Valley."

Gu An's heart skipped a beat. The Blood Blade Sect was a notorious demonic sect, known for its ruthless methods, where killing and soul-refining were commonplace.

"The situation at the front is critical; too many disciples are dying." Old Zhang's hands trembled violently, his pipe clanging against his teeth. "The sect's mine protection formation needs manpower to maintain it, but inner disciples are precious; we can't afford to lose them. So..."

"So we need cannon fodder." Gu An continued, his voice eerily calm.

"Yes, cannon fodder!" Old Zhang swallowed hard. "Sending these Qi Refining Level 3 cultivators over there isn't to kill the enemy, it's to use them as human stakes! Fill them into the array's cores, drain their spiritual energy to keep the array running, and less than one in ten will survive!"

Gu An looked at his fellow disciples in the distance who were still dreaming of cultivating immortality, and felt it was all absurd.

The so-called opportunity is nothing more than a handful of poisoned bait casually scattered by those in power to fill a hole. And these hungry fish, without even seeing the hook, rush to bite it.

"when--!"

A piercing gong suddenly rang out, shattering all the noise. A suffocating spiritual pressure descended from the sky, and the once bustling grain-drying field instantly fell silent.

In mid-air, Zhao Feng stood on a flying leaf magic weapon, his green robe fluttering in the wind. But his expression today was different from his usual arrogance. His sinister triangular eyes revealed an undisguised greed and eagerness, like a butcher looking at pigs and sheep waiting to be slaughtered.

Behind him stood ten disciples of the Enforcement Hall, each with their hands on their sword hilts, exuding a murderous aura. They weren't there to recruit disciples; they were clearly there to arrest criminals.

"Everyone, listen up!"

Zhao Feng's voice, amplified by spiritual energy, was so loud it hurt people's eardrums: "The sect has decreed a special examination. All those at the third level of Qi Refining and above must immediately step forward and follow me to the outer sect to report! No delays are permitted!"

The crowd fell silent. The people who had been excited were now stunned by the grim atmosphere.

"What? You're asking for it?"

Zhao Feng snorted coldly and waved his hand, "Investigate! Take away everyone whose cultivation level meets the requirements! Don't let a single one escape!"

"yes!"

Ten law enforcement disciples rushed into the crowd like wolves and tigers, carrying specially made sensing discs in their hands, scanning anyone they saw.

"drop--!"

The Dharma disc glowed red in front of a burly man.

"Qi Refining Level 3, take him away!" Two law enforcement disciples grabbed the burly man from both sides and dragged him out.

"No... I'm not going! Sir, I'm not going to the outer gate!" The burly man finally realized something was wrong and struggled desperately. "I have an elderly mother at home, and I still have to farm..."

"So noisy!"

Zhao Feng pointed a finger from a distance, and a burst of spiritual energy slapped the burly man hard across the face, knocking out all his teeth and knocking him unconscious.

"take away!"

This scene shattered everyone's illusions.

What was originally a ladder to heaven instantly turned into a slide to hell. The crowd began to stir; some wanted to retreat, some wanted to run away, but under the pressure of the sixth level of Qi Refining and the encirclement of the enforcement team, this group of scattered servants had nowhere to escape.

Gu An huddled beside the haystack, trying his best to make his presence felt.

He watched as his familiar fellow disciples were forcibly dragged away, some crying and screaming, some begging for mercy, and some even losing control of their bladders in fear.

This is the dog-eat-dog world of cultivation. The weak don't even have the right to choose where they die.

Soon, the search team closed in on the corner.

A stern-faced law enforcement disciple, holding a magic disc, strode up to Gu An and Old Zhang.

Old Zhang stood up shakily. The magic disc swept over him, but there was no reaction. Although he was at the third level of Qi Refining, his blood and qi were declining, and his spiritual power had long since deteriorated. The magic disc determined that he was no longer of any use.

The disciple, disdainfully pushing Old Zhang aside, pointed the cold magic disc at Gu An.

At that moment, Gu An's heart clenched, but the "Turtle Breathing Technique" had already been activated to its maximum.

He was gambling that the magic disc could only sense the intensity of spiritual energy, but not the vitality locked deep within his dantian.

"drop……"

The pointer on the divination disc trembled slightly before falling limply.

The disciple frowned, scrutinizing Gu An with suspicion: "Second level of Qi Refining? Why is your aura so chaotic?"

Gu An clutched his chest at the opportune moment, letting out a heart-wrenching cough, a trickle of black blood even escaping from the corner of his mouth: "Reporting...reporting to Senior Brother, I suffered internal injuries a few days ago, my meridians...cough cough...my meridians are somewhat damaged..."

"waste."

Before the disciples could speak, Zhao Feng, who was in mid-air, spoke first.

Zhao Feng's gaze pierced through the crowd and landed on Gu An. He naturally recognized this kid, the unlucky fellow he had almost kicked to death.

With a sweep of divine sense, Gu An's meridians, which resembled rotten cotton, and his unstable aura were laid bare.

This kind of trash is considered too impure for use as array batteries in mines, and if it dies on the way, its body will have to be disposed of in a lot of trouble.

"Bringing this sickly fellow along would be a waste of food," Zhao Feng waved his hand dismissively. "Get him out of here."

Upon hearing this, the disciple immediately put away the magic disc and turned to walk towards the next target.

Gu An felt as if he had been granted a pardon. His body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground, burying his head deep in his knees, as if he had been terrified.

But in that unseen shadow, his back was already soaked with cold sweat, and his lowered eyes were filled with a deathly clarity.

Fifteen minutes later, the threshing ground was more than half empty.

More than thirty menial servants at the third level of Qi Refining were forcibly taken away, their cries fading into the distance and eventually disappearing at the end of the mountain path.

All that remained were a group of the elderly, the weak, the sick, the disabled, and the lucky monks struggling at the lower levels of Qi cultivation.

Zhao Feng stood on the flying leaf magic artifact, looking at the group of waste materials that had been filtered out, and a cruel smile appeared on his lips.

"The rest of you, listen up."

"Since we have fewer people, the spirit field tasks that originally belonged to them will be shared by you."

"Next month's quota will be increased by 20% for everyone. Those who fail to meet it... the mine is still short a few more laborers!"

After saying that, he laughed loudly, rode his magical artifact, and soared into the sky, leaving behind only a despairing sigh.

Gu An slowly stood up and dusted himself off. "An extra 20% rent?"

For him, who had mastered the advanced level of "Minor Cloud Rain Technique," this was nothing.

What truly chilled him was the feeling of powerlessness, of being treated like livestock and slaughtered at will. Today he was at the third level of Qi Refining, would he be reduced to the second level tomorrow?

As long as they remain in this cage, the butcher's knife will fall sooner or later.