'Go from being an expendable grunt in a sweatshop to a core member of the workshop? Sounds like they're just stringing me along.'
Jiang Yi didn't think this was much to look forward to. The Qianji Sect wasn't some legendary Immortal Dao Upper Sect; it was just a minor sect.
Its main products were the Hundred Soul Banner, the Hundred Shadows Magical Robe, and the White Bone Magical Sword.
Just from the names, you could tell it was pure Demon Dao!
The attrition rate for the Mortal Servants and laborers on the various peaks and in the various departments was quite high.
'But for a Demon Dao sect, it's strange that they'd adopt a sustainable model of establishing schools of Daoism to select both talent and consumables.'
Jiang Yi mused. According to his understanding, didn't most Demon Dao sects drain the pond to catch the fish, treating common Mortals like livestock?
'They actually paid you in talisman coins for working for the Sect? The very thought was incredible.'
As for that whole business He the Venerable mentioned with Luo Qian'er from Sewing Peak, it was just the classic, cringey story of a simp and a Factory Girl. Jiang Yi paid it no mind.
The body's previous owner had worked himself to the bone, putting in twelve to fourteen, sometimes even sixteen to eighteen hours a day, just to earn a little over one or two thousand coins a month.
Yet he had spent money like water, buying all sorts of things for Luo Qian'er and even renting a Cave Mansion for her. What an idiot—his mind must have been clouded by lard!
'If it were me, I would never do such a thing.'
'What luck. I transmigrate only to end up as a Manual Laborer who'd already gone all-in and lost. It's a good thing he didn't leave me with any debt. Being an expendable cog in a sweatshop is bad enough; if I had to pay off loans on top of that, life wouldn't be worth living.'
Jiang Yi walked quickly, reaching the foot of the mountain in no time.
The Lower Courtyard sounded impressive, but it was really just a few white-walled, black-tiled buildings. Two ferocious stone beasts flanked the entrance, and above it hung a plaque with the two large words "Daoist Sect."
'The Demon Dao is still a Dao, so calling themselves a "Daoist Sect" isn't technically wrong. But if they love to make themselves sound good, why call themselves the "Demon Dao"? If it were me, I'd call us the "Saint Sect." '
Jiang Yi grumbled to himself as he stepped through a side entrance and approached the Steward stationed there.
"You're just in time. It's crowded today; the queue is already full. We'll start the registration once the bell from Guanlan Peak rings," the Steward said.
Jiang Yi gave a slight nod and sat down behind a long table near the main gate of the front courtyard. On it were ink, brushes, and ledgers.
He had, after all, attended a school of Daoism, so he was literate.
The Qianji Sect was quite famous on Beimang Ridge. Its Hundred Shadows Magical Robe and White Bone Magical Sword sold so well that nearly every Demonic Cultivator in the vicinity owned one.
So, there was no shortage of "expendables" clamoring to join the Sect as Mortal Servants.
Among them, aside from the unpromising students sent by the schools of Daoism in the major Prefecture Cities, there were also many Mountain and Marsh Wild Cultivators, and even common Mortals who had gotten wind of the recruitment from who-knows-where.
Jiang Yi sat quietly for a while. The Great Sun rose above the horizon, draping the mountain peaks in golden light.
The bell on Guanlan Peak began to toll. It rang nine times in total, the booming sound waves spreading across the surrounding five peaks.
The Steward opened the main gate of the Lower Courtyard. A long line had formed outside; a quick glance revealed over a hundred people.
'Even a role as an expendable laborer in a sweatshop is something people have to fight for. In this rotten world, how is anyone supposed to achieve longevity through Cultivation!'
Jiang Yi sighed from the bottom of his heart, then took a deep breath and projected his voice:
"One at a time, no pushing! And listen up: state your name and origin clearly. If you don't have anything to prove your identity, then you can leave!"
...
...
"Alright, go home and wait for news. The results should be posted publicly tomorrow."
Well into the afternoon, Jiang Yi finally finished registering the last person.
Once the main gate of the Lower Courtyard was closed again, he slowly began to organize the Fish Scale Register—which recorded everyone's name, origin, and background—carefully sorting and categorizing the entries.
Two incense sticks later, Jiang Yi had finished his work and gave a detailed report to the Steward:
"A total of two hundred sixty-three people registered. Half of them were recommended by the schools of Daoism and have reliable Body Mirror Tokens."
"Another eighty-three are Wild Cultivators or Loose Cultivators who will require background checks..."
Unlike the previous owner, who was dull and taciturn, Jiang Yi was methodical. He could handle even a menial task like registration with impressive efficiency.
The Steward was pleased to hear this report and thought to himself:
'This Mortal Servant from Red Flame Peak is certainly sharper than the ones from the other peaks. He's saved me a lot of trouble.'
His previously stern expression immediately softened into a smile, and he said gently:
"Thank you for your hard work, Junior Brother Jiang."
Jiang Yi quickly cupped his hands:
"I have not yet been formally accepted into the Sect. I'm not worthy of being called 'Junior Brother'."
The Steward waved his hand dismissively:
"Inner Sect Disciples are rare to begin with, and I'm hardly some esteemed Lord True Inheritance."
"We're all just trying to make a living in the Sect, so there's no harm in calling each other brother-disciples."
Only then did Jiang Yi accept the address, calling him "Senior Brother" in turn.
The Steward introduced himself as Lin. He had once been a Servant on Sewing Peak, but after his health declined, he voluntarily took an idle post in the Lower Courtyard.
He flipped through the Fish Scale Register, confirmed there were no major issues, and began to speak slowly,
"Junior Brother Jiang, since this is your first time handling recruitment, there are a few things you need to understand. I'll lay them out for you."
Jiang Yi's heart skipped a beat. He knew the main event was here.
Even He the Venerable, a veteran on Red Flame Peak, had been envious when he got this assignment. It was clear how much of a racket it was.
"For this recruitment, Red Flame Peak needs to fill thirty-one vacancies, Gathering Herbs Peak needs nine, Nourishing Soul Peak needs twelve, and Sewing Peak needs forty-three."
Steward Lin, as if worried Jiang Yi was just a naive greenhorn, explained patiently,
"Some of these positions are good, some are bad. Many of the applicants from the schools of Daoism are willing to spend money to have the Lower Courtyard pull some strings for them."
"It's a simple matter of lifting a finger for us..."
Steward Lin paused here and shot Jiang Yi a look. Seeing no sign of objection on his face, he continued,
"Look, these two here: Xu Jinsheng from the Prefecture City's school of Daoism, and Zhao Fang. One wants to go to the Spirit Plant Room on Gathering Herbs Peak, and the other wants to go to the Grinding and Carving Room on Red Flame Peak."
"The price for the former is eighteen hundred talisman coins; for the latter, it's six hundred."
'So they have a price list!'
Jiang Yi's eyes widened in understanding, and he immediately cursed inwardly:
'These days, you even have to pull strings just to become disposable Cattle and Horses in a sweatshop!'
"There are many others like them. Junior Brother Jiang, you were sent by a Servant to oversee the recruitment and handle the registration for the Lower Courtyard. It's hard work, naturally."
"And I certainly won't have you do it for free."
Steward Lin waggled his hand and said with a smile,
"Your cut is two thousand coins! Are you satisfied with that, Junior Brother Jiang?"
'What a lucrative post!'
Jiang Yi clicked his tongue in amazement. He'd have to toil away in the Quenching Room for a whole month to earn that much.
He immediately cupped his hands and bowed:
"Senior Brother is too generous! This junior brother thanks you!"
'This kid knows how things work.'
Steward Lin nodded in satisfaction. He stood to make at least ten thousand talisman coins from this whole affair.
He was willing to part with two thousand coins, firstly, out of respect for Old Yang from Red Flame Peak, and secondly, because Jiang Yi worked so diligently, genuinely saving him a great deal of trouble.
With the deal struck, Jiang Yi began to "assign the positions." He would submit the register later, and tomorrow, the Servants from each peak would come to collect their new recruits.
Before leaving the Lower Courtyard, Jiang Yi couldn't help but ask,
"Senior Brother, why are these students from the schools of Daoism so willing to spend such a large sum?"
He had been in this body for seven or eight days now. From what he could piece together from its fragmented memories, the state of the world hadn't deteriorated to the point where people couldn't survive.
Beimang Ridge was under the rule of the Zhao Country, which was no different from most feudal dynasties. Although harsh taxes and official exploitation weighed heavily on the common folk, leaving them gasping for breath, it was still possible to survive.
This was especially true for those who attended the schools of Daoism. They must have had decent family backgrounds to some extent; otherwise, how could they have afforded the Cultivation resources needed for three years of study?
There was absolutely no need for them to sell themselves to the Qianji Sect, willingly becoming Outer Sect Mortal Servants, serving as expendable Cattle and Horses.
In reality, very few people who toiled here for twelve years could save up enough talisman coins to leave the mountain.
"Junior Brother Jiang, haven't you heard? In the Yanfu Vast Land, the world is ruled by the Dao!"
Steward Lin puffed out his chest and said with a broad smile,
"This 'Dao,' of course, encompasses everything. It doesn't matter if it's the Demon Dao, the Immortal Dao, the Buddhist Dao, or the Demon Dao—as long as it possesses a legitimate lineage, it can rule the world!"
"It's the same all across the Five Domains!"