The buildings on Thousand Mechanism Island are few but large.

Especially the hall responsible for issuing tasks to Qi Cultivation Stage disciples, which is unimaginably vast.

When Ji Yuan and the other three entered, they saw a multitude of people, either observing the numerous tasks projected on the wall by an array or discussing matters with fellow cultivators on the side.

Some people hurried away after accepting tasks.

Others returned from completing missions outside.

Those returning exhibited a range of emotions, some looked jubilant while others appeared worried.

It was truly a reflection of the myriad states of humanity.

Ji Yuan had been here once before, but he only looked at the missions on the wall briefly and didn't scrutinize them closely. Some aspects were beyond his understanding.

Han Feiyu led Ji Yuan and the other two to a wall on the southern side, pointing to the lines of text above, saying:

"The tasks in the Thousand Mechanism Hall are divided into four levels: A, B, C, and D. Level D tasks are the simplest, with no danger at all, but the rewards are minimal, and some only offer fewer than ten merit points."

"Like that one..."

"[Level D Task: Require an assistant who is a mid-level first-tier alchemist]

[Task Duration: 1 day]

[Task Reward: 5 merit points]"

Indeed, that's quite simple... Ji Yuan thought to himself.

"Level C tasks are slightly more difficult, but as long as you perform normally, there isn't any mortal danger."

"For Level B tasks, you must be careful. Any mistake could cost the life of even a Peak of Qi Refining cultivator."

"As for Level A tasks, I wouldn't recommend them. The rewards are indeed plentiful, but once you go, survival for a Qi Cultivation Stage cultivator is like a one in ten chance."

"Look at that one."

Han Feiyu pointed to a line at the top of the wall in front of them.

Ji Yuan had noticed it long ago.

"[Level A Task: Kill the early Foundation Establishment stage Yunshan cultivator.]

[Task Duration: Half a month]

[Task Reward: 1 One-Stripe Foundation Establishment Pill, 1000 merit points]"

The task was simple and straightforward, but it seemed out of place in this Qi Cultivation Stage task hall... It should be in the Foundation Establishment cultivators' task hall.

Yet the reward was indeed generous, 1000 merit points, plus a Foundation Establishment Pill.

"In the beginning, I suggest you take on some Level D and Level C tasks to practice. Also, for some Level C tasks, don't rush into accepting them. It's best to understand the situation beforehand. For instance, if the task involves going to the Hongjia Village, the cultivators there are extremely xenophobic, and you need someone from that village to take you in for it to go smoothly."

Han Feiyu spoke meticulously about every detail.

"Any task marked with a red dot in front means it can be accepted repeatedly. If you take on such tasks, be wary of fellow Water Dragon Sect members. Some might be assigned the same task as you, so beware of trickery."

Ji Yuan nodded while also scrutinizing carefully.

Soon, he found the task he wanted...

Submit 1 top-grade first-tier Talisman or top-grade first-tier Elixir to receive 10 merit points.

You can submit up to 10 items per year.

Obviously, this was the Water Dragon Sect's way of accommodating certain well-off cultivators... Ji Yuan indicated, those cultivators are like me!

Dong Qian and Du Wanyi were also looking and suddenly seemed to notice something. They whispered to each other for a while, then hurried to the Thousand Mechanism Hall's duty cultivators. After some words, they cheerfully returned.

"What task did you take on, keeping it from us?"

Han Feiyu chuckled gleefully.

"You certainly wouldn't be interested."

Dong Qian covered her mouth, laughed, and compared to Du Wanyi, she indeed had a more mature charm.

"It's Level D Task 108."

Du Wanyi directly revealed it.

Ji Yuan looked over.

"[Level D Task: Kong Yifei wants to propose to Bei Nianwei, location at Mount Shui Island, date February 30th, and still need 18 fellow cultivators as witnesses.]

[Task Duration: Half a day.]

[Task Reward: 2 merit points.]"

The person who issued this task... is indeed remarkable.

After a round of casual chatting, the four parted ways.

Ji Yuan excused himself to visit Sifang Island, leaving alone. After circling around once, he returned to Thousand Mechanism Island and came to the duty cultivator to submit 10 top-grade first-tier Talismans.

Thus, his merit point quota for the year was also completed.

Merit points, aside from needing to accumulate at least 100 annually, also served as currency to purchase resources from the Water Dragon Sect, equivalent to Spirit Stones.

He then went to a nearby hall to experience the purchasing power of merit points... Not too bad, 1 merit point was equivalent to two pieces of low-grade Spirit Stones.

By this calculation, submitting 1 top-grade Talisman by Ji Yuan was essentially equal to 20 pieces of low-grade Spirit Stones.

If he were to sell it outside, it would fetch about 20-30 pieces of low-grade Spirit Stones.

But the difference is... merit points are valuable!

Many resources not available in the Hundred Treasures Tower, such as thousand-year-old Qinghui grass and even Foundation Establishment Pills, could be exchanged for with merit points.

Only the price was exceedingly high. Ji Yuan counted the long string of zeroes behind the Foundation Establishment Pill and abandoned the idea of grinding tasks.

But even if the merit points weren't used to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills, using them to trade for other Magical Artifacts or Elixirs was extremely worthwhile.

No wonder so many cultivators came to Thousand Mechanism Island every day. Since accepting tasks here and completing them outside essentially yielded double the gain.

It's free resources, and not doing it would be a waste.

Since Ji Yuan didn't find any particularly appealing tasks and didn't want to venture outside, he left the place and returned to his Cave Mansion on Chulong Island.

Ji Yuan cultivated at home for a few days and also attempted to refine top-grade Spirit Gathering Pills.

Once he succeeded with the first one, he felt reassured.

The [Enlightenment Room] proved its worth once again without letting him down.

Having gained some cultivation insights and noticing the timing was about right, Ji Yuan decided to visit Elder Xu and inquire about Li Changhe's matters.

As a Qi Cultivation cultivator, Elder Xu naturally resided on Chulong Island.

However, he wasn't in the same Ding District as Ji Yuan but in House No. 78 in the Yi District.

That morning.

Ji Yuan wandered around District B a few times before finally finding house number seventy-eight.

From the outside, it didn't look much different from Ji Yuan's own courtyard. He went up to knock on the door and lightly touched the restriction with Spiritual Qi. This way, if Xu Fugui was home and not cultivating, he would feel it.

After waiting for a few breaths, the door opened.

"Who is it, this early in the morning."

Peeking out from behind the door was an old pipe smoker, followed by the figure of Elder Xu.

"Oh, a rare guest, I thought you wouldn't recognize us after joining the Water Dragon Sect."

Although Elder Xu spoke like this,

the look in his eyes at Ji Yuan was extremely satisfied, as Ji Yuan was someone he watched grow up.

Now seeing Ji Yuan join the Water Dragon Sect, this feeling made Xu Fugui quite proud as well.

"Alright, come in and talk."

Xu Fugui made some space, and Ji Yuan followed him inside.

Ji Yuan's front yard had two peach trees planted, while Xu Fugui's front yard had some bamboo stalks. It was springtime, the season when bamboo shoots start to grow.

In the courtyard, several sharp tips had already sprouted.

"Let's use the bamboo shoots to fry a dish to pair with wine, and the two of us will have a drink."

Xu Fugui said cheerfully.

Ji Yuan wasn't in a hurry and agreed, thinking that having wine and food this early in the morning was a rare experience.

Xu Fugui was someone who did what he said. In just a short time, he dug up some spring bamboo shoots, fried two plates of cured demon beast meat, and even made some peanuts.

The two of them sat in a pavilion in the backyard, drinking and chatting.

Ji Yuan took the opportunity to ask his question.

"Grandmaster Xu, why can't I seem to get the hang of the third level of the 'Canglang Sword Technique,' the Nine Layered Waves?"

This had been a problem troubling Ji Yuan; he believed he had a decent talent and had even mastered the third level of the 'Water Drop Finger.'

But the Nine Layered Waves had always eluded him.

Xu Fugui took a sip of wine and chuckled, "Right now, you can only manage the Six Layered Waves, but the remaining three layers just won't come together."

Ji Yuan was taken aback.

"Exactly."

It seemed that Elder Xu really knew why.

"Simple, you need to reach the peak of Qi Refining to perform the Nine Layered Waves, otherwise the Spiritual Qi stored in your Dantian isn't enough to sustain it."

"So that's how it is."

Ji Yuan was relieved to know that it wasn't a matter of his understanding, which put his mind at ease.

"Here, eat, let me toast to you, Elder."

"..."

After eating and drinking to their fill,

Ji Yuan recounted the incident where he saved Li Changhe, and even took out the Ascension Token to show Elder Xu.

Seeing the Ascension Token, the slightly drunken Xu Fugui sobered up immediately.

He looked at the opportunity in front of him with a somewhat complicated expression.

"Have you already met with Li Changhe?" Xu Fugui asked.

"Not yet… I'm still some distance from reaching Foundation Establishment, and I don't have anything to trouble him with."

Facing Elder Xu, Ji Yuan naturally spoke the truth.

But this time Xu Fugui remained silent for a long while, only finally exhaling a breath of wine and saying slowly, "Since you're willing to share this with me… I won't deceive you, but this time it indeed involves the sect's Golden Core Elders."

"I'll only tell you what I know, but how to decide… that will be up to you."

Xu Fugui spoke solemnly, and Ji Yuan also perked up.

"Alright!"

"You should know some things about our Water Dragon Sect… Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators are considered disciples, and once you reach Foundation Establishment Stage, you can be considered a backbone within the sect. At that point, you can establish an island and become an Island Master. And when it comes to the Golden Core stage, you are looked up to as a pillar of white jade in our Water Dragon Sect."

"But even those pillars of white jade don't get along so amicably."

Ji Yuan nodded slightly.

That was certainly true, since where there are people, there are conflicts, let alone in a cultivation sect where there are interests at stake.

"Within our sect's Golden Core Elders, there are three factions. One is led by the Great Elder, another by the Third Elder, and the last by our Sect Leader. Of these, the factions of the Great Elder and Third Elder are the most fiercely competitive."

"Li Changhe's father is our sect's Elder Li Gang, and they belong to the Great Elder's faction."

Ji Yuan nodded understandingly, "So if I get too close to Senior Li Changhe, I would become a target for those on the Third Elder's side?"

"Not exactly. If you get close to Li Changhe, you'll certainly get support from the Li Family. Just like Li Changhe said, he can give you a Foundation Establishment Pill. But the choice is yours."

Xu Fugui exhaled a puff of smoke without giving a direct recommendation.

Ji Yuan acknowledged with an "Mm."

Just as Elder Xu said, there are pros and cons to siding with the Li Family… Positions in this sort of thing are inherently like that.

"I haven't even reached the peak of Qi Refining yet, so the Third Elder faction probably won't bother with me, right?"

"They won't, but some cultivators who want to join the Third Elder's faction and haven't been recruited yet… they might be looking for a way to ingratiate themselves."

"That's true."

While speaking, Ji Yuan reached a conclusion in his heart.

Regarding Li Changhe, he decided to maintain the current relationship—neither too close nor too distant. Should a situation arise that he cannot avoid, he could seek help from Li Changhe.

If not, he would wait until he was ready for Foundation Establishment to ask for a few Foundation Establishment Pills.

The opportunity for Foundation Establishment is worth the favor.

"Alright then, if you're free later, I'll take you to meet someone."

Elder Xu tapped his shoe with his pipe and stood up.

"I'm free." Ji Yuan stood up with him and asked, "Who exactly are we meeting? You've mentioned it several times, Grandmaster Xu."

"Whom indeed…"

Xu Fugui squinted and smiled, "To meet my master."

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