Lin Yuan's "Recruitment Notice for Miscellaneous Disciples of Starfall Peak" was written in a very simple and unadorned way.
There were no flowery words, no tempting promises, just a few dry lines posted in the most inconspicuous corner of the sect's administrative hall:
"Starfall Peak is recruiting thirty menial disciples."
Requirements: Hardworking, quick-witted, and able to adapt to remote environments.
Benefits: Free room and board, monthly salary of five low-grade spirit stones.
Those interested should report to Starfall Peak starting today; latecomers will not be accepted. —Peak Master Lin Yuan
This treatment, let alone compared to inner disciples, is at the bottom even compared to some of the more lucrative menial jobs in the outer sect. Not to mention the infamous reputation of Starfall Peak as the "useless peak master" and "a godforsaken place." Lin Yuan himself wondered if this notice would just be swept away like trash after it was posted.
However, reality slapped him in the face.
Less than half a day after the announcement was posted, figures appeared on the mountain path of Starfall Peak, which had just been covered by the Star Spirit Guiding Array and was still somewhat deserted!
At first, there were only a few simple-looking outer disciples with apprehension and curiosity in their eyes, or nominal disciples whose cultivation had stagnated and who were seeking an opportunity. Most of them were desperate or had heard about the strange phenomenon of the array beams shooting into the sky at Starfall Peak last night (although the news was quickly suppressed by the sect's higher-ups), and came to try their luck with a "what if" mentality.
But when they actually set foot on Starfall Peak, everyone was stunned!
The imagined scene of sparse spiritual energy and desolate ruins did not appear. The entire mountain was shrouded in a faint silver halo, and the air was unbelievably fresh. Every breath carried the crisp, starlight-like scent that was refreshing and invigorating! Although the concentration of spiritual energy was still much lower than that of the main peak, it was far superior to where they had been before! Especially the area at the summit, where the stellar energy and Daoist aura were so rich that they were invigorating!
"This...this is Starfall Peak? Wasn't it supposed to be a barren mountain?"
"My God! This spiritual energy! I feel like the bottleneck that's been holding me back for three years has finally loosened!"
"Look! The light from that spirit-guiding array! Such profound runes!"
A chorus of exclamations rose and fell. Lin Yuan stood with his hands behind his back at the edge of the stone platform, watching the endless stream of people rushing down the mountain, and the expressions of shock and ecstasy on the faces of the servant disciples. He was overjoyed! He couldn't suppress the smile on his face!
He deliberately kept a straight face, adopting a nonchalant, "basic" demeanor, and said to Feng Qinghuang, who had also been startled by the "spectacle" and had just finished her training, "Disciple, did you see that? This is the grandeur of my Starfall Peak! Good wine needs no bush!"
Feng Qinghuang watched the growing crowd below the mountain, almost filling the mountain path, a hint of surprise flashing in her usually cold eyes. She hadn't expected that a mere Star Spirit Guiding Array covering the entire peak could attract so many people. It seemed the thirst for a suitable cultivation environment among the lower-level disciples of the Heavenly Evolution Sect far exceeded her imagination. She nodded slightly: "Master...you've thought this through." Although she felt it was more like a lucky break.
The recruitment process was simple and straightforward. Lin Yuan directly handed over the selection authority to Feng Qinghuang: "Disciple, you have a good eye, so pick whoever you like, as long as they are quick and efficient!" He was happy to be a hands-off manager.
Feng Qinghuang didn't refuse. With a sweep of her powerful divine sense, she understood the physical attributes, temperament, and even the hidden emotional fluctuations of the hundreds of people below the mountain. Those with shifty eyes and ulterior motives; those with dull talents and no potential; those who clearly couldn't endure hardship and were spoiled... were instantly eliminated.
In the end, thirty menial disciples were selected. Most of them were honest and upright young disciples with clear eyes and cultivation levels in the late stage of Qi Induction or the early stage of Yuan Transformation. Their faces were filled with barely suppressed excitement and gratitude.
"Greetings, Peak Master Lin! Greetings, Senior Sister Feng!" The thirty people bowed in unison, their voices loud and clear, filled with heartfelt respect. Joining Starfall Peak, a place experiencing a spiritual resurgence, was like a windfall for them!
Feeling the reverent gazes and hearing the uniform address of "Peak Master," Lin Yuan felt an unprecedented sense of comfort surge from the soles of his feet to the top of his head! This feeling... was so prestigious! It was a million times better than being a team leader with two interns in his previous life!
"Hmm, no need for formalities." Lin Yuan tried to make his voice sound more authoritative. "Now that you've joined my Starfall Peak, you're one of us. Your primary task is to maintain the cleanliness of the peak and tend to the medicinal fields... well, although we don't have any yet. Secondly, familiarize yourself with the outer nodes of the Star Spirit Guiding Array, and perform regular maintenance to ensure the array operates without problems! Specific tasks will be arranged by your Senior Sister Feng!" He once again passed the specific tasks to Feng Qinghuang.
Feng Qinghuang responded calmly, her cold gaze sweeping over the crowd: "The rules of Starfall Peak are only two: diligence and fulfilling one's duties. Those who are diligent will receive help, and those who do their duty well will naturally have their opportunities. Those who overstep their bounds and cause trouble will have their cultivation abolished and be expelled from the sect. Do not say you were not warned." Her voice was not loud, but it carried a chilling authority that made all the menial disciples tremble and hurriedly bow in agreement.
The servants were quickly assigned tasks by Feng Qinghuang in an orderly manner: clearing mountain paths, repairing cave dwellings (mainly Lin Yuan's), cleaning the stone platform, familiarizing themselves with the array nodes... Starfall Peak instantly became lively and full of long-lost vitality.
Watching the servant disciples working enthusiastically, Lin Yuan nodded in satisfaction. Just as he was about to find a place to continue his "Starry Ape Body Tempering Project," a system notification suddenly sounded:
"Ding! Increased popularity detected at Starfall Peak (Miscellaneous Disciples +30), triggering the 'Popularity Feedback' mechanism!"
"Reward: Host's chain repair speed increased by 10% (lasts until popularity changes)!"
"Special Reward: 3 [Starry Spirit Gathering Bonsai]seeds (Planted at spiritual energy nodes, they can slowly condense star essence, improve the local environment, and have a small chance of bearing 'Starry Berries,' which are delicious and nourish the soul)!"
Chain repair accelerated! And potted plant seeds too? Lin Yuan's eyes lit up even more! This system is such a thoughtful little helper!
He immediately took out the three seeds, which resembled miniature stars and shimmered with a soft silver light, with great interest. Coincidentally, there were several natural spiritual energy nodes along the edge of the stone platform, enhanced by the Star Spirit Guiding Array.
"Come, come, let your master show you his skills!" Lin Yuan called to a round-faced maid named Xiao Cui who was wiping a stone bench not far away, preparing to personally demonstrate planting and, incidentally, reinforce his image as an "omnipotent" master.
He chose a spot, rolled up his sleeves with an air of seriousness (though he wasn't very muscular), picked up the small hoe handed to him by the servant, and, imitating the gardening shows he had watched in his previous life, prepared to dig a hole.
However, ideals are often grand, while reality is often harsh.
Lin Yuan's body was originally occupied by a cultivation failure, someone who never did any physical labor. Plus, he had just finished practicing the "Starry Body Tempering Technique," and his muscles were still sore. This hoe strike…
"Ouch!"
He didn't control his strength well, and the hoe slammed hard into a rock, making his hands go numb. The hoe flew out of his hand and crashed with a "bang" onto the stone table that another servant had just wiped clean!
"Ah!" The young servant shuddered in fright.
Lin Yuan himself stumbled due to the recoil and almost fell flat on his face! Fortunately, Xiao Cui, who was next to him, caught him in time.
The scene was quite awkward at one point.
The servants wanted to laugh but dared not, their faces turning red from holding it in.
Feng Qinghuang stood not far away, watching her master's disheveled yet forced composure. In her clear, cold eyes, a faint smile rippled like a pebble thrown into an icy lake. She silently turned her head, her shoulders seeming to shrug slightly.
Lin Yuan blushed and quickly straightened up, casually patting the dust off his sleeves: "Cough cough, it was an accident, purely an accident! This stone... is quite stubborn! Xiao Cui, come here, bury the seed deep, and water it! Remember, this is a 'Starry Divine Tree' seed specially bestowed by this peak master, take good care of it!" He quickly shoved the seed into Xiao Cui's hands, put his hands behind his back, and with seemingly steady but actually flustered steps, slipped back to his cave as if fleeing.
"Pfft..." Watching Lin Yuan disappear at the entrance of the cave, one of the servants finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, then quickly covered his mouth. The others also couldn't help but chuckle; the Peak Master was... actually quite down-to-earth?
Feng Qinghuang gently shook her head, watching Xiao Cui carefully plant the three star seeds. She then looked at Lin Yuan's tightly closed cave door. The heaviness in her heart brought by her memories of her past life seemed to be diluted by this little farce.
Starfall Peak seems to be starting to get interesting.
At this moment, among the busy and vibrant disciples, a middle-aged man named "Wang Laoshi," with an honest appearance and exceptionally hardworking demeanor, had a glint of shrewdness flash beneath his lowered eyelids. As he diligently wiped the stone pillars around the array nodes, he silently memorized everything on the summit, especially Lin Yuan's clumsy "planting performance" and Feng Qinghuang's occasional subtle expressions.
In his sleeve, a communication jade talisman was slightly warm.