10: Fundraising

Among the nine Utility Disciples before him, only Xiong Hu was confident he could achieve Qi Refining Stage 3 within the next four years. The others, when asked by Lin Feng, showed a hint of bitterness on their faces.

They no longer possessed the youthful vigor they had when they first arrived at the Sect. After a year of Cultivating and learning within the Sect, they now understood what Cultivation entailed. They were well aware of the rules of the Cultivation World, especially those of Cloud-Soaring Pavilion. Cultivation not only demanded strict Aptitude of Spiritual Root but also required personal diligence and abundant resources, among other things. It was far from the beautiful dream they had imagined when they first joined the Sect.

Seeing everyone's expressions, Lin Feng felt confident. Even if this group could become Qi Refining Cultivators, they were still young and didn't know how to handle problems, making them easy to persuade. Lin Feng cleared his throat, smiled at them, and confidently announced:

"I have a method that can help everyone, but it requires all of us here to work together and cooperate. Are you willing?" After speaking, Lin Feng deliberately kept them in suspense, watching their reactions.

The nine Utility Disciples before him looked at Lin Feng with curiosity upon hearing his words. If Lin Feng had a way for them to pass the assessment, that would be excellent. These Utility Disciples did not want to be assigned by the Sect to work as a Utility Disciple in a Sect market or as a shop assistant down the mountain, spending their lives busy with no prospect of advancement, right after embarking on the path of Cultivation.

At this moment, everyone's gaze was fixed on Lin Feng. Even Xiong Hu's eyes were wide as he stared at him. Among them, a Utility Disciple named Qi Liang, who was usually the most astute, was a Four Spiritual Root pseudo-Spiritual Root Disciple and had no confidence in his ability to successfully Breakthrough. Seeing that Lin Feng had a solution, he didn't hesitate and eagerly asked Lin Feng.

"Senior Brother Lin, please don't keep us in suspense. Quickly tell us, Junior Brothers! We've been together for a year, and we Fellow Brothers would never doubt your character. Senior Brother, please tell us clearly what you need us to do. We will definitely cooperate with you fully!"

The others nodded in agreement with Qi Liang's words, echoing his sentiments.

Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, he brought out ten wooden sticks, each as thick as a finger, which he had prepared earlier. In front of them, he easily broke one stick and smiled at everyone.

"See, one wooden stick is easy to break." After saying that, he took the other nine wooden sticks, holding a full handful in his hand. Lin Feng tried to break them, and all ten broke. A hint of embarrassment flashed across Lin Feng's face, but he quickly composed himself and confidently began to explain the principle to everyone.

"One wooden stick is easy to break, but what about nine? It requires a lot of strength. What does this mean? It means that if we are united, we will become even stronger."

After Lin Feng finished speaking, he put on a profound expression, leaving the several children, around ten years old, utterly confused. At this moment, Qi Kun scratched his head, completely failing to understand Lin Feng's meaning, and asked Lin Feng with a questioning look:

"Senior Brother Lin, I think I understand and don't understand what you're saying. What exactly do you mean?"

Lin Feng glanced at Qi Kun, nodded at him, signaling him not to worry, and then stood in front of everyone, confidently saying:

"I recently went to Cloud-Soaring Pavilion Plaza and saw that there are many Medicinal Pills that can accelerate our Cultivation speed. These Medicinal Pills are quite expensive, as you all know. The Spirit Stones accumulated by those of you present over a year are at most enough to buy one bottle of Medicinal Pills to improve your Cultivation. Although one bottle of Medicinal Pills only lasts us about a month, I suddenly had an idea while browsing the plaza."

Lin Feng paused, once again piquing everyone's interest. Seeing their eager expressions, he then slowly said:

"I am now at Qi Refining Stage 3 and don't need to worry about the Sect assessment. I have been studying the Dao of Talismans crafting recently. If I spend the next four years learning to craft Talismans, there is a good chance I can become a Talisman Maker. The speed at which a Talisman Maker earns Spirit Stones is many times faster than the one Spirit Stone we receive each month for performing tasks."

At this moment, Xiong Hu, in his simple way, asked Lin Feng, "Senior Brother, what does this Talismans crafting have to do with you breaking the wooden sticks just now?"

Lin Feng squinted at Xiong Hu, then slowly began to explain to everyone:

"I have enough time to learn Talismans crafting. After I master it, I can earn a lot of Spirit Stones. However, I currently don't have enough Spirit Stones to buy the Materials for Talismans crafting. You, on the other hand, have surplus Spirit Stones, but you don't have time to learn Talismans crafting. We can cooperate! I will learn how to craft Talismans, and once I succeed, wouldn't it be better if we all earn Spirit Stones together? As long as we pool some Spirit Stones to buy the Materials, we can utilize the unused Spirit Stones you have, and I can also earn Spirit Stones through Talismans crafting and then give back to everyone."

Lin Feng looked at the few half-grown children in front of him, who hadn't yet reacted, and quickly informed everyone:

"If we unite, we can accomplish more things. And after I master it, I will return the Spirit Stones you contributed today three to four times over. This way, I learn Talismans crafting, and everyone can earn more Spirit Stones. Wouldn't that be even better?"

After Lin Feng finished speaking, he leisurely observed the few people in front of him, appearing unhurried as he awaited his Junior Brothers' replies. At this moment, the several youths, swayed by Lin Feng's persuasion, were all hot-blooded. A three-to-four-fold return! Their eyes lit up one by one, and they all praised Lin Feng's method, unanimously agreeing with his idea and offering to hand over their Spirit Stones to Lin Feng.

Seeing everyone's agreement, Lin Feng immediately stated that he would draw up a written agreement with his Junior Brothers, promising a threefold return within four years.

Everyone took out their accumulated Spirit Stones. Some had spent money trying Medicinal Pills for Cultivation, while others had saved theirs. So, some took out all twelve Spirit Stones, while others only had six or seven left. In total, Lin Feng managed to gather eighty Spirit Stones.

Lin Feng and his Fellow Brothers agreed that this matter should not be spread, lest it attract the attention of interested parties and cause them trouble. Everyone promised not to speak of it, and amidst their joy, Lin Feng had gathered enough Spirit Stones.

After Lin Feng sent off his Junior Brothers, he secretly thought to himself, "How lucky." It was fortunate that these people were young and easily swayed. If it had been a few older, more experienced Fellow Brothers, it would have been extremely difficult to accomplish. Not to mention some might be unwilling to participate, it was highly possible that someone might deliberately cause trouble. Fortunately, they were all a bunch of innocent little kids.

The reason Lin Feng dared to do this was that others would never dare to make such a guarantee. But Lin Feng was different; he possessed the green entry "Talisman Control." The success rate of the Talisman he crafted was 30% higher than others, and Lin Feng's Comprehension Ability was also good. Learning Talismans crafting itself was faster for him than for ordinary people, and with a 30% higher success rate than others, Lin Feng had absolute confidence that he could quickly master the skill of Talismans crafting.

Lin Feng, having obtained the Spirit Stones, feared that delays might lead to complications. Early the next morning, he arrived at Cloud-Soaring Pavilion Plaza with eighty Spirit Stones in a cloth bag, tucked at his waist. He dared not let go of it along the way, fearing he might accidentally find Senior Sister Chen's stall again.

This time, Lin Feng readily purchased the items he desired: a low-grade Magical Artifact, the Azure Wolf Talisman Brush, a box of spiritual ink, and two complimentary stacks of Talisman paper. Since Lin Feng could not afford the "Basic Talisman" Talismans crafting classic, he negotiated with Senior Sister Chen and paid ten Spirit Stones to rent it at a high price for one month.

A "Basic Talismans crafting" Jade Slip cost fifty Spirit Stones, which Lin Feng did not have. This time, in his negotiation with Senior Sister Chen, Senior Sister Chen, to secure Lin Feng's order, went all out and agreed to let Lin Feng observe it for a month.