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

At this point, only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea remained before the three-hour deadline set by Zhou Tong.

Outside the gate of the logistics camp, a hunched figure stumbled out of the shadows of the dense forest. Gu An looked extremely disheveled; his ill-fitting gray cloth robe was torn to shreds by thorns, and his face was covered in streaks of black and yellow mud. Only his eyes shone with a light that was a mixture of extreme fear and greed.

"Huff... huff..."

Gu An clutched his chest, panting heavily.

It wasn't all a disguise. The "Heart-Shattering Yin Sha Seal" at his heart was throbbing wildly, and the chilling, malevolent energy within him was like countless fine needles shooting through his heart meridians into his limbs and bones. This was a death knell, the last shackle Zhou Tong had left behind.

Just before stepping into the camp gate, Gu An used the act of wiping away sweat to subtly tap his chest twice with his fingertips.

The "blood cocoon" that was originally used to isolate his senses melted away instantly under the wash of the Yi Wood True Qi. The naked black rune was exposed again and resonated with Zhou Tong's divine sense without any hindrance.

If you're going to put on an act, you have to go all the way. If this mark is blocked, you'll probably be hit with a soul-searching spell before you even open your mouth.

"Halt! What are you doing!" the guard shouted sternly.

"It's...it's me!" Gu An raised his filthy face, holding up the black iron token, his voice trembling. "Elder Zhou...Elder Zhou sent me on a mission! Quickly...let me in! I'll be killed if I'm too late!"

The disciple recognized the token, and seeing Gu An's lifeless appearance, he frowned in disgust and waved for him to pass.

Gu An scrambled and crawled toward Zhou Tong's tent.

……

Inside the tent, Zhou Tong was sitting cross-legged on a grand chair with his eyes closed, the two iron walnuts in his hands spinning rapidly.

On the table in front of him was a cup of tea that had long since gone cold.

"There's still half an incense stick left."

Zhou Tong slowly opened his eyes, a cold glint flashing in his sinister gaze. "Looks like that rat died on the way, or... it was trying to run away with the money?"

He sneered, preparing to make a hand seal to detonate the evil seal left in Gu An's body.

Just then, the tent flap was suddenly flung open.

"M-Master! Your humble servant...your humble servant is back!"

With a piercing cry, Gu An collapsed to the ground like a tattered sack, sliding to the front of the table.

Ignoring the pain in his body, he shakily pulled a heavy storage bag from his pocket, raised it high above his head as if presenting a treasure.

"Thankfully... I didn't fail you! The final payment... is almost back!"

Zhou Tong paused in his movements, and his originally cold gaze instantly turned scorching the moment he saw the storage bag.

But he didn't reach out to take it immediately. Instead, he pointed out with one finger, and a divine sense pierced into Gu An's body like a sharp sword.

Gu An's body stiffened abruptly, his teeth clenched tightly, allowing the divine sense to ravage his heart meridian. He desperately controlled the fluctuations of spiritual energy within his body, maintaining a state of flux at the third level of Qi Refining, daring not to offer the slightest resistance.

A moment later, Zhou Tong withdrew his divine sense, a satisfied look on his face.

The mark was intact, and because it was nearing the point of eruption, it was in an extremely unstable and active state. This indicated that the rogue cultivator in front of them hadn't resorted to tricks; in fact, he had risked his life to get back.

"You're lucky to be alive."

Zhou Tong casually waved his hand, and a beam of gray light entered Gu An's body.

Gu An felt a sudden sense of relief in his heart, and the feeling of impending death that had been hanging over him vanished instantly. He collapsed to the ground, completely exhausted, gasping for breath, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

"Is this the final payment?"

Zhou Tong grabbed the storage bag and probed it with his divine sense.

The next moment, even with his composure at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining, his breathing became slightly rapid.

Inside the storage bag, five hundred low-grade spirit stones and five mid-grade spirit stones radiating rich spiritual energy were neatly arranged!

This is a huge sum of money!

Even for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, this is a considerable windfall, let alone for a Qi Refining cultivator who is still struggling to find resources.

That damned Fatty Ma actually amassed such a huge fortune!

"Good! Very good!"

The gloom on Zhou Tong's face vanished, and a rare smile even appeared on his lips. He put the storage bag into his pocket, looked at Gu An lying on the ground like a dead dog, and his eyes showed less murderous intent and more pleasing disdain for the tool.

"What did they say on the black market?" Zhou Tong asked casually, in high spirits.

"Reporting...Reporting to my lord." Gu An finally dared to raise his head, his face showing relief and flattery after surviving the ordeal. "The black market...at first they wouldn't admit it. I...I told them that Manager Ma died in the camp because of this money...and I tricked them by saying that you knew where the copy of the ledger was...they were afraid of making a big fuss, so they...that's when they finally coughed up the money."

These words were half true and half false, explaining why he had been gone for so long while cleverly extricating himself from the situation and flattering Zhou Tong.

"You're clever."

Zhou Tong was in a good mood. This kind of rogue cultivator, who was afraid of death but also had some cleverness, was the most convenient to use.

He casually pulled a porcelain bottle from his sleeve and tossed it in front of Gu An like a bone.

"This is a Qi-Harmony Pill. Although it's not of high grade, it's still a great tonic for someone like you who's just a weakling in the early stages of Qi Refining. Take it; consider it a reward."

Gu An held the porcelain vase as if it were a priceless treasure, kowtowing repeatedly: "Thank you so much for your gift, sir! Thank you so much for your gift, sir! I... I will definitely follow your lead from now on!"

In truth, he knew very well that this so-called "Qi-Harmony Pill" was nothing more than a cheap product made from the leftover dregs of refining Qi-Gathering Pills. Consuming too much of it would lead to the accumulation of toxins and hardening of the meridians. But in Zhou Tong's eyes, this was already an immense blessing.

"Alright, get out of here."

Zhou Tong waved his hand, clearly intending to send the guest away.

However, Gu An did not leave immediately.

He remained kneeling on the ground, rubbing his hands hesitantly, a troubled expression on his face as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

"What? You think the reward isn't enough?" Zhou Tong frowned, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"No, no, no! How dare I!" Gu An waved his hands repeatedly in fright, and said with a bitter face, "It's just... it's just that I want to beg you, sir, to have mercy on me and give me a different job."

"Change jobs?" Zhou Tong sneered. "What, you think those jobs in the special ward that only involve emptying chamber pots and washing bandages are too tiring?"

"I don't mind the hard work! As long as I get spirit stones, I'll do anything, even if it's just eating shit!"

Gu An's face showed extreme fear as he lowered his voice and said, "But...but the special care area is too eerie, sir! First, several caregivers died, and last night, Manager Ma...and that happened again...I always feel that place is gloomy, and I'm afraid there's something unclean there...I still want to keep my life to serve you, sir!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Tong's heart stirred slightly.

There's definitely something wrong with the special protection zone; the Corpse Puppet Sect has been watching it for a while now. This kid may be useless, but he's at least a clever errand boy. It would be a shame if he died there for no reason.

"So what kind of job do you want?" Zhou Tong asked casually.

Gu An's eyes darted around, as if he had already prepared his explanation: "I heard... I heard that there's a 'waste recycling team' in the logistics department, which is responsible for transporting and burying unwanted rotten meat and waste. Although the job is a bit dirty and smelly, and involves traveling a long distance, it's... but it's quiet! And being away from those important figures makes me feel more at ease..."

"Recycling team?"

Zhou Tong thought about it and realized that it was indeed a tough job that no one wanted to do.

The task was to transport the remains and severed limbs, tainted with cadaver poison and plague, from the special protected area and the battlefield to the vicinity of "Mine No. 3," dozens of miles away, for deep burial. Along the way, they would not only have to endure the stench but also potentially encounter roaming wild beasts.

This kind of work is usually assigned to disciples who have made mistakes or the lowest-ranking laborers.

"You certainly know how to pick, always choosing jobs that involve rolling around in piles of dead bodies."

Zhou Tong chuckled, and seeing Gu An's pathetic appearance, the last trace of doubt in his heart dissipated.

What evil intentions could a cowardly cultivator who only wants to hide in a garbage dump and eke out a living have?

"Since you're willing to deal with the dead, then I'll grant your wish."

Zhou Tong took a dusty wooden plaque from the shelf behind the desk and casually tossed it to Gu An.

"It just so happens that the squad leader over there was bitten to death by poisonous insects a few days ago, so his position is vacant. You can take this badge and fill in. From now on, you'll be in charge of that corpse transport route. Remember, keep your hands and feet clean. If you let that filth leak out and pollute the water source, I'll skin you alive!"

Gu An grabbed the wooden plaque, his hands trembling, his face filled with ecstatic joy.

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir! I'll go right away! I promise I'll bury that rotten flesh completely!"

He kowtowed several times in gratitude before leaving the tent, clutching the bottle of inferior pills and his waist token, his body bowed.

……

The moment Gu An stepped out of the Law Enforcement Hall camp, the humility and ecstasy on his face vanished instantly.

He glanced down at the gray wooden plaque in his hand, which was engraved with the word "recycling," and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

Waste recycling team.

What others would consider an unlucky job to be avoided at all costs, he saw as a shortcut to a golden path.

First, this position grants legitimate access rights, allowing one to rightfully drive a corpse transport vehicle out of Broken Soul Valley and head to Mine No. 3—the area where the Nine Dragons Demon Cauldron is located.

Secondly, and most importantly.

Most of the "waste materials" here are corpses.

Whether it's the disciples poisoned by the Corpse Puppet Sect, the green-haired zombies whose limbs were originally materials for corpse refining, or even the seriously injured who were deemed beyond saving... they would all eventually converge on this convoy.

For Gu An, who had cultivated the "Life Forest Wood Technique" and was able to devour corpse poison and wood evil to improve his cultivation, this was hardly a corpse transport vehicle.

These are clearly mobile treasure troves filled with cultivation resources!

"Butcher Zhou, you thought I was going to do hard labor, but you didn't know I was going to eat at a buffet."

Gu An tucked the waist token into his pocket, tightened his tattered clothes, and walked briskly toward the Class C special protection zone.

Now that the road is open, it's time to pick up that "partner" who also wants to escape.

……

When we returned to Camp No. 4, it was already dawn.

The tent was still filled with that cloying medicinal smell. Shen Wan wasn't asleep; she leaned against the headboard of the cold jade bed, her deep eyes meeting Gu An's the moment he lifted the curtain.

When she saw Gu An return unharmed and without much fatigue on his face, a barely perceptible look of surprise flashed in her eyes.

"Resolved?"

Her voice was still hoarse, but it had gained some strength compared to a few days ago.

Gu An didn't say anything, but walked to the bedside and casually threw the bottle of inferior "Heqi Pill" on the table with a soft "bang".

Then, he pulled out the dusty "Recycling Team Squad Leader" badge from his pocket and waved it in front of Shen Wan.

"The road is open."

Gu An pulled over the shabby little stool and sat down, pouring himself a glass of cold water and gulping it down. "Starting tomorrow, I'll be the head of the 'garbage' transport team here. That hearse has been modified; there's a hidden compartment at the bottom, big enough to hide a person."

Shen Wan looked at the waist tag, and a hint of emotion finally appeared on her originally calm face.

She knew very well how difficult it was to get this position under the nose of someone like Zhou Tong. It required not only spirit stones, but also an extremely precise grasp of people's hearts.

"You're even more cunning than I imagined," Shen Wan commented aptly.

"That was to survive."

Gu An replied casually, then his gaze turned serious. "The road has been paved, but having a waist token isn't enough to get through Mine No. 3. That area is now the territory of the Corpse Puppet Sect, filled with corpse refining and poison arrays."

He took out the sheepskin scroll map he had bought from the black market from his storage bag, spread it out in front of Shen Wan, and pointed to the mark with a skull drawn on it.

"You said that an elder in your family was involved in setting up the formation there. I want to know, besides the obvious mine tunnel, is there any other way to bypass the patrols of those armored corpses?"

Shen Wan looked down at the map and remained silent for a moment.

"have."

She extended her slender finger and gently tapped a rock wall on the map that seemed to be a dead end. "Here, there is an old ventilation shaft. Although it's abandoned, if we can break through the restrictions there, we can go directly to the corpse-raising pool at the bottom of the mine."

"A corpse-raising pool?" Gu An frowned.

"That's the place with the heaviest yin energy in the entire mine, and also... the place where the thing you're looking for might exist."

Shen Wan raised her head, her gaze fixed intently on Gu An. "However, that's also where the corpse poison is most concentrated. Apart from the core disciples of the Corpse Puppet Sect, no one dares to approach. If you want to go there, you must prepare your travel expenses."

"What toll?" Gu An asked.

"Something that allows you to remain undetected amidst piles of corpses, something that lets you breathe like a zombie."