"Your temperament is not bad. You menial workers are not required to serve for half a lifetime; you can also cultivate in your daily life. If you can reach the first level of Qi Condensation, you will no longer be a menial worker and can be promoted to an outer sect disciple." Young Miller spoke indifferently, flicking his wide sleeve. Instantly, in front of Ethan Brooks and Little George, a coarse hemp robe appeared for each of them, with a thumb-sized wooden token on top, engraved with the character "杂" (menial).

In addition, there was a small booklet, with three small characters written on the cover.

Qi Condensation Manual.

When these three characters fell into Ethan Brooks's eyes, his breathing immediately became a little rapid. He stared fixedly at the booklet, and what flashed through his mind was the earlier words of flattery from the green-robed man to the cold-faced woman, mentioning the seventh level of Qi Condensation.

"If reaching the first level of Qi Condensation allows one to become an outer sect disciple, then the woman who captured me is at the seventh level of Qi Condensation... What is Qi Condensation? Could this be the legendary method of cultivating immortality? This must be the wages for being a menial worker. Although it's not silver, if I could take it out, it would surely sell for a hundred gold!" Ethan Brooks's heart pounded with excitement. He grabbed the robe, wrapping the wooden token and the booklet inside.

"Room Seven in the West Wing is your residence. Starting tomorrow, your job is to chop firewood—ten logs per person per day. If you can't do it, then don't eat." Young Miller finished speaking and closed his eyes.

Ethan Brooks took a deep breath, imitating the other's earlier gesture, cupped his fists in salute, then pulled Little George along and hurried toward the living quarters. This place seemed like a greatly enlarged siheyuan (courtyard house). Following the room numbers outside each flat-roofed house, they found Room Seven in the West Wing, pushed open the door, and entered.

The room was not large. Besides two small beds, there was a table. Though simple, it was very clean. After sitting on one of the beds, Little George could no longer hold back and burst into loud sobs.

He was only about twelve or thirteen years old, but his crying was extremely loud, echoing as if it could be heard even outside.

"My father is a rich man, so I should be a rich man too. I don't want to be a menial worker..." Little George cried bitterly, his body trembling so that his fat shook with it.

"Don't cry. Actually, if you think about it, this place isn't so bad. We're working for immortals—imagine how many people would envy us if they heard that." Ethan Brooks quickly closed the door and tried to comfort him.

"I don't want to work. My family has money, and... my marriage has already been arranged, the betrothal gifts have been sent. Pity my beautiful fiancée who hasn't even entered the door yet—won't she become a living widow..." The more Little George cried, the sadder he became.

Ethan Brooks's expression turned a bit odd. He thought to himself, this Little George is so young and already engaged, while he himself, at this age, hasn't even held a woman's hand. He couldn't help but sigh that it's good to be rich. Little George's family is wealthy and wants for nothing, while he himself is penniless, his ancestral home sold last year, and now he still owes Mr. Carter a huge debt.

But thinking of the debt, Ethan Brooks felt amused. He figured that since he had come here, if Mr. Carter had the ability, he could come and find him. If not, by the time he got out, half a lifetime would have passed, and the other party... would probably be gone.

The more he thought about it, the more Ethan Brooks felt this place was pretty good. He could solve his food and clothing without spending money, and even before working, he had already received wages worth a hundred gold. Especially since this was a place where immortals lived, Ethan Brooks felt that coming here was truly a blessing in disguise.

Annoyed by Little George's crying, Ethan Brooks simply picked up the booklet from inside the coarse robe, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began to read. Opening the first page and reading the first sentence, Ethan Brooks was a bit dumbfounded.

"A man must have a patron. If a mortal wants a life of wealth, and a cultivator wants a life without worries, join my Reliance Sect, and this old man will be your patron." This was the opening statement in the booklet, signed by the Patriarch of Reliance.

Just a few dozen words, yet they exuded an indescribable air of dominance, and the blatant advocacy of seeking a patron made Ethan Brooks pause, suddenly feeling that these words made a lot of sense.

"Reliance Sect—could this be the true meaning of the Reliance Sect? That in life, one must seek a patron, and after finding one, will enjoy a lifetime of wealth and peace." The more Ethan Brooks thought about it, the more he felt this was absolutely right. If he had a high official as a patron, how could he have failed the imperial exams three times in a row? As he pondered, he felt a vague respect for this Patriarch of Reliance whom he had never met. He felt that a certain door in his life was slowly opening with these words.

"In other words, in this Reliance Sect, I must use every means to find myself a patron. Only then can I live here without worries." Ethan Brooks's eyes grew brighter and brighter as he continued to read the booklet in his hands, forgetting the time, forgetting Little George's wailing beside him.

It wasn't until late at night, when Little George had cried himself to sleep and his thunderous snores echoed through the room, that Ethan Brooks reluctantly closed the booklet. Though he looked a bit tired, his eyes were shining with spirit.

"This book isn't worth a hundred gold—it's worth a thousand!" Ethan Brooks muttered to himself. For someone whose lifelong dream was to become an official and get rich, if he rated something as worth a thousand gold, then to him, it was already second only to life itself.

Just as he was getting excited, Little George's snoring suddenly stopped. Ethan Brooks was startled and looked over, only to see Little George, eyes closed, actually sit up from the bed, flailing his arms and muttering to himself.