Nolan Clark couldn’t go to the servants’ quarters every day, so he could only occasionally use an invisibility spell to check in, or summon Wesley Benson, who was in charge of the servants, to ask about things. The first time he called Wesley Benson over, Wesley Benson was truly excited for a while, thinking that the sect leader’s grandmaster had summoned him to impart some profound technique, and that he had finally made it. But after returning, he was downcast for several days. However, it didn’t take long for him to recover, and he continued to diligently perform his morning and evening lessons every day as before. Grant Benson also noticed that Wesley Benson’s body simply couldn’t retain true energy; no matter how vast the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, it was impossible for it to remain in his constitution. At most, it was just “passing through.”

The feedback Nolan Clark received surprised him greatly—he could hardly believe it. But after he himself quietly went to check and saw that Gordon Brooks really did fall asleep by the stove while steaming a pot of rice, he was convinced: Gordon Brooks had truly become a sleepyhead!

Colin Foster received the report, stroked his beard and pondered for a long time, then suddenly laughed: “Well, well! The founder has given us a muddle-headed one, not a prodigy. What could that mean? Let it be, let it be…” From then on, Gordon Brooks never received any special attention from the sect leader again.

On the table were two stacks of copper coins, each with more than a dozen coins. Between the two stacks was a small ant. The little ant swayed its head from side to side, not knowing which direction to crawl. Around the table sat a circle of people, holding their breath and staring wide-eyed at the little ant on the tabletop. With so many eyes watching, the ant seemed unable to move, just sitting there with its antennae waving, not taking a single step forward.

The two people sitting at the very front, and also the most nervous, were Julian Reed and Trevor Harris. At this moment, Gordon Brooks was already sitting on the edge of the bed, dozing off. His way of sleeping was quite strange—he couldn’t hear most of what people said, nor did he notice much, but when it came to truly important words or matters, he never missed a thing; he knew it all.

Julian Reed’s eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the ant, his lips moving slightly as if casting some kind of curse. Sure enough, his actions had an effect: the little ant suddenly started moving, lowering its head and charging straight ahead. But instead of heading his way, it ran toward Trevor Harris.

Julian Reed’s face grew uglier and uglier, while Trevor Harris couldn’t hide his joy. Finally, when the ant’s antennae touched the stack of copper coins on Trevor Harris’s side, Trevor Harris cheered, “I won again!” He swept his big hand across the table, and both stacks of copper coins fell into his lap. It turned out to be a gambling game.

These servants also had their own wages. Working here, although they didn’t earn as much as they would at an inn down the mountain, it wasn’t much less. Cultivators, especially those from a sect like the Wuwei Sword Sect, still had some generosity. Not all of these servants could become disciples, so their labor was compensated. If they weren’t chosen, when they left the mountain, at least they wouldn’t be left destitute.

Those who left the mountain were already top experts in the mortal world’s martial arts circles, but no one ever knew their origins. If anyone leaked information, a sect from the cultivation world would naturally step in to handle it.

As for how the Wuwei Sword Sect had so much money to pay their wages—well, every so often, some uncles from the sect would go traveling, find wealthy merchants or noble heirs who had done good deeds but were plagued by illness, and display some divine powers to cure them. Naturally, generous rewards would follow. That’s how the Wuwei Sword Sect, such a large sect, managed its expenses without strain.

These servants had no use for the money anyway. Once forced to leave the mountain, they were already experts in their own right—why worry about making a living? So they spent freely, and since there wasn’t much to spend on up here, they started this gambling game.

Julian Reed had already lost twelve rounds in a row, losing all his savings. Looking at the happy Trevor Harris, he said a bit sheepishly, “Brother Harris, can you lend me a little?” Trevor Harris rolled his eyes, “No way!” Julian Reed was embarrassed: “But if I have no money, how can I buy wine? You know…” Julian Reed couldn’t go without wine, and every so often he would sneak down the mountain to buy some.

Trevor Harris said, “If you’re out of money, you can win it back.” Julian Reed pulled a long face: “I don’t even have enough to make another bet.” “Who says you don’t?” Trevor Harris reminded him, “Don’t you still have a teleportation jade talisman?” Julian Reed immediately felt conflicted: “That…”

Trevor Harris raised his eyelids: “If you’re not betting, then forget it.” Julian Reed hurriedly grabbed him, “Bet, bet! I’m all in!” Gritting his teeth, he took out the pristine jade talisman and slapped it on the table with a smack: “How much is this worth?”

This stumped everyone. They looked at each other, but no one spoke up. Who could say how much such a rare jade talisman was worth? Trevor Harris thought for a moment, gritted his teeth and said, “One hundred coins!” Julian Reed snorted, took the talisman back. Trevor Harris immediately said, “Two hundred coins!” “Four hundred coins, not a penny less, or forget it!”