Urban Cultivation with a Demonic System-Chapter 43: Guiding Nether Lamp! Taibai Phecda!
"It’s ready."
Su Yuan approached Chu Lanxi and Chen Nuoyi, placing five red pills on the counter.
Chu Lanxi examined the pills carefully and called out to an employee who was busy nearby:
"Brother Wang, come over and check the goods."
"Sure thing, boss."
The employee called Brother Wang hurried over, picked up one of the red pills, and carefully scraped off a layer of powder, inhaling it.
"Hiss——"
The next moment, Brother Wang took a deep breath, his muscles starting to tense and twitch uncontrollably.
After a long while, with a look of deep intoxication on his face, he slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, seemingly entering a sage mode, becoming very calm.
"Boss, the goods are fine."
Brother Wang sniffed, nodding his head.
"Thank you for your hard work."
After sending him away, Chu Lanxi looked at Su Yuan with a bit of surprise:
"You really have some skills. Are you interested in working part-time as our shop’s alchemist after school?"
"The salary and such are negotiable. How about a hundred bucks for every Calming Pill you make? The shop needs about a hundred Calming Pills per month."
Hearing this wage, Su Yuan suddenly felt tempted.
After all, his method of alchemy wasn’t like that of a real alchemist, who had to guard the pill furnace and use various techniques to create pills.
He only had to consume Spiritual Power, the rest was handled by Demon Technique·Finger Spirit.
But the price Chu Lanxi offered seemed rather low for actual alchemists.
Su Yuan’s eyes immediately revealed a dangerous glint:
"Lanzi, is that all an alchemist earns? You’re not trying to rip off an acquaintance, are you!"
Chu Lanxi chuckled and said:
"Yuanzi, the alchemist market isn’t what it used to be. Nowadays, there’s a glut of graduates from the Alchemy Department every year, and except for those with real skills, aren’t they just workers on the alchemy assembly line?"
"With smart alchemy furnaces becoming more common, the wages for average alchemists are only going to keep dropping. This is really a friendly rate."
Su Yuan was speechless.
He couldn’t help but recall that in almost all cultivation novels, alchemists were considered to be a very noble profession. So why did it seem so worthless now?
This was the downside of industrialized cultivation—artisan spirit? Non-existent.
"Alright, alright, a hundred it is."
Su Yuan pretended to be reluctant, though he was secretly pleased.
But Chu Lanxi, unaware of his true thoughts, continued:
"How about this, besides alchemy, you can take a leisurely position as a shop assistant here. I’ll pay you seventy an hour."
Su Yuan: "Godfather."
Chu Lanxi then turned to Chen Nuoyi:
"Class rep, do you want to work as a receptionist in my shop? The hourly wage would be a hundred and seventy."
Upon hearing this, Su Yuan grabbed Chu Lanxi by the collar:
"Son, what do you mean by this? Why settle me with seventy while offering the class rep a hundred seventy?"
Chu Lanxi remained calm and said:
"Do you think money grows on trees? With me here, there’s already enough to attract a lot of female customers. Now I urgently need to expand the male customer base."
"And it’s quite clear, your appeal to males doesn’t match that of a pure and charming girl."
"Of course, if you’re willing to crossdress, I might consider giving you a raise."
Su Yuan: "..."
In the end, Su Yuan and Chen Nuoyi accepted the job, and both started right away that day.
Even though this shop was a mysterious sect for those over seventeen, the clients were mostly ordinary city workers, making the job rather laid-back.
However, this lifestyle was vastly different from what Su Yuan envisioned—a life walking on the edge with the Demon Dao.
And so, Su Yuan and Chen Nuoyi began their routine of attending school during the day, heading to the cafeteria for roast goose after school, and then working at the Honey Peach Oolong Sect.
Time flew by to Saturday.
Taihua High School followed a one-day weekend system, so there were classes on Saturdays.
However, this particular Saturday was unique as the eight classes of seniors didn’t have lessons but instead gathered early in the morning on the field under the school leaders’ guidance.
A powerful figure from one of the Ten Great Immortal Mansions was arriving.
As a streak of light flashed across the sky, everyone felt a chill run down their spine.
Here he comes!
Standing in the line-up of Class 2, Su Yuan watched in envy as the luxurious flying ship approached.
He saw the streamlined vessel gradually touching down in the center of the field, with its doors slowly opening under everyone’s gaze. A figure stepped out boldly.
As school leaders hurried to greet them, Su Yuan curiously examined the newcomer.
It was a young man, seemingly under thirty, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. His demeanor was calm and steady, without any hint of arrogance.
Suddenly, whispers of surprise arose within the crowd.
"The rumor is indeed true; the strong figure visiting our school is none other than the famous sword cultivator from the Evil Extermination Sword Sect, Taibai Phecda!"
"It’s said he became a Master Golden Core eleven years ago, and even served as a spokesperson for Juque Company... but that company went bankrupt shortly after his endorsement."
"Taibai Phecda?!"
Hearing the students’ discussions around him, Su Yuan realized he recognized this eminent figure.
Of course, it was through advertisements.
Indeed, this individual was a legend, not only graduating first from the Evil Extermination Sword Sect but he also created a new Sword Dao system, hailed as one of the most outstanding sword immortals of the younger generation, with even higher prospects.
However, if it were only that, Taibai Phecda’s fame would remain limited to sword cultivators and wouldn’t be so widespread.
What truly made him famous was his peculiar fate.
Because any brand he endorsed inevitably faced major setbacks within a year, either going bankrupt or at least losing half its market value.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him the Guiding Nether Lamp of industries.
Su Yuan reckoned that this figure resorted to teaching at Taihua High School partly because those companies he supposedly "doomed" collectively chased him away.
The question now was whether his fate would only affect those companies and sects or drag the school down too.
Su Yuan couldn’t help but worry about Taihua High School’s future, wondering if it would go out of business as well.
Just as Su Yuan was lost in thought, a "ding" suddenly echoed in his ears.
[You’ve come face-to-face with a giant of the Demon Dao!]
Alright, the Demon Dao giant again, huh? System, I’ve really figured you out.
[Standing before you is the sword demon Taibai Phecda, who sequentially destroyed the Juque Sect, Imperial Sword Sect, Chaotic Sword Hall, and heavily damaged the Five Elements Sword Sect and Greed Wolf Sword Pavilion.]
[Now, the sword demon descends upon Taihua Sect, with intentions to destroy thoroughly apparent!]
[And although you refuse to be subordinate for long, you must now bend to the sword demon’s will, using his strength to overturn Taihua Sect.]
[The Taihua Collapse Plan series of tasks have been updated!]
[Task: Leverage]
[Earn the sword demon’s attention through the upcoming Martial Arts Tournament without revealing your identity!]
[Task Progress: Attention (0/100)]
[Task Reward: Demon Technique·Finger Weapon]
