Surviving in the Demonic Sect, one begins cultivation by retrieving corpses.

As Gu Zhao traveled along, he found everything new and fascinating, and was dazzled by what he saw.

He was indeed very different from Sui Nanfeng.

Everywhere you look, there are restaurants, gambling dens, and brothels of the same caliber as Shuiyuanju.

The place was bustling with activity, and there were quite a few disciples, seemingly no less so than Sui Nanfeng.

However, along the way, not a single shop selling talismans, magical artifacts, or elixirs could be found. All that could be seen were places for eating, drinking, and having fun.

Seeing his expression, the stableman explained, "Brother Zhao, you don't know this."

"This area is not a place where we menial laborers should often come, let alone things like talismans and magical artifacts, which are simply beyond our means with our meager salaries."

"Take the most common low-grade water-repelling talisman for example. It costs five hundred magic coins for one, but its effect only lasts for one or two hours."

"We corpse retrievers only earn a little over three thousand coins a month, how could we afford that?"

Several body retrievers standing nearby nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

The stableman sighed again, "As for magical artifacts, we wouldn't even dare to dream of them!"

"Not to mention the superior magic sword in Fairy Ni's hand, even the most ordinary low-grade magic weapon would be difficult to afford, in addition to its high price."

"When purchasing it, a 10% immortal bond tax must be paid to the sect. The annual maintenance and tempering will be an ongoing expense."

Gu Zhao was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, feeling that the words sounded strangely familiar.

Do I need to pay vehicle purchase tax when I buy a car?

Even purchasing religious implements requires paying taxes.

Seeing Gu Zhao's expression, the stableman smiled faintly: "Brother Zhao, have you ever heard of 'the bookworm of the Way'?"

Gu Zhao asked in confusion, "What is meant by 'the vermin of the Dao'?"

Ma Fang slowly explained, "It's not that there aren't such people in the Southern Frontier. They are all rootless and unaffiliated rogue cultivators who privately gather in the mountains and forests, occupy mountains and enclose land, illegally cultivate spiritual fields, and steal the spiritual energy of heaven and earth..."

"Even worse, some set up altars without authorization, privately cast ritual implements, and draw their own talismans, completely disregarding the sect's control."

"These kinds of people are called parasites of the Way."

A corpse retriever chimed in at the opportune moment, "I heard that in the past, there was a rogue cultivator in the Southern Frontier who established his own sect. The sect's foundation had barely been laid when a great figure in the heavens flicked his finger and turned him into ashes, causing his complete annihilation."

Ma Fang's expression gradually darkened. "In the Qingming world, the greatest crime is to deviate from the orthodox lineage, betray one's master's and ancestral rules, and become a despised parasite of the Dao."

"This is also a rule established by that Jade Capital!"

Gu Zhao listened quietly to these words, and already had a general understanding of the situation.

This is an ironclad rule known even to ordinary corpse retrievers, so it's easy to imagine that this must be an unforgivable top crime in the Qingming world.

Such treacherous parasites must never be touched.

Baiyujing's rules are the rules!

There are no shops selling magical artifacts, talismans, spirit beasts, or elixirs here.

He also understood.

It turns out that such cultivation resources were never something that servants could hope for; only outer disciples were qualified to access them.

Ultimately, this place is nothing more than a place for people to indulge in pleasure, entertainment, and frivolous pursuits.

The stable boy chuckled and said, "Brother Zhao, do you know who comes here the most?"

Gu Zhao asked curiously, "Those people?"

The stableman looked around, his gaze subtly sweeping over the flow of people coming and going.

Those who came and went were all dressed in proper robes and were well-dressed.

I don't see any characteristics of a menial servant!

Unlike in Sui Nanfeng, where you can almost tell that those with aged appearances are corpse retrievers and those with thick fingers are bone palpating specialists.

This comparison shows that...

Their group, dressed in the rough, short clothes typical of corpse retrievers, stood out conspicuously, already attracting the attention of many passersby.

The stableman chuckled, "Brother Zhao, aren't there some people from our tenement among these people?"

Gu Zhao thought for a moment, then suddenly realized: "It's Junior Sister Pei!"

Pei Xiaoxiao comes from a family of cultivators and has a wealth of resources. She never lacks cultivation resources, but she is only of average talent and is therefore temporarily assigned to menial tasks.

Many of her relatives and friends are in the outer sect or even the inner sect, and have deep roots in the sect.

Therefore, she never had to do chores or hard labor. She only needed to focus on cultivation and break through the Qi Refining Realm as soon as possible, and she could naturally advance to the outer sect.

The stableman continued, "Besides those from wealthy families, the rest are stewards of the lower courtyards, managers of the three departments and two halls, and at the very least, inspectors like Jiang Xiubao. Only they are qualified to come here to eat, drink, and relax."

At this point, the stableman's face broke into a sincere smile: "Speaking of which, I haven't yet congratulated Zhao-ge on his promotion to the position of inspector."

He couldn't hide the envy in his eyes, and the other corpse retrievers beside him also looked on with longing.

It should be noted that the monthly salary of inspectors is much higher than that of ordinary laborers, and they also have no shortage of extra income on a daily basis.

Gu Zhao felt no sense of pride whatsoever.

The lesson of Jiang Xiubao's past is still fresh in our minds; a mere prosecutor's position is ultimately not something to rely on.

Only by joining the outer sect as soon as possible, as Gong Yuzhou said, and finding a reliable master to rely on, can one gain a foothold on the path of cultivation.

This is a long and arduous road.

The stable boy and his companions ignored the strange looks from passersby and continued straight uphill, eventually stopping at a certain spot.

Before me stood a secluded cave, with three ancient characters engraved on the stone gate—Jingyuan Cave.

Only a few gentle female cultivators stood in front of the cave entrance to greet the guests, their demeanor serene and composed.

A smile spread across the stable floor, and he turned to say, "This is it!"

The other body retrievers traveling with him immediately understood, and murmured in amazement:

"So this is the famous Jingyuan Cave."

Gu Zhao looked around. The place was secluded, quiet, and elegant, much quieter than the noisy taverns and brothels on the mountainside.

As soon as the five men from the stables arrived at the door, a female cultivator calmly stepped forward to greet them. Her gaze swept over their coarse clothes and short jackets, but her expression remained calm, showing no sign of disdain.

"Please come in, fellow Taoist masters."

The group responded and entered the cave. As soon as they stepped inside, they discovered that it was a completely different world inside.

The entire mountain was hollowed out to create a large hall, which is three stories high.

On the first floor, female cultivators sang and danced, their music melodious.

The second floor has tables and chairs where people can rest and enjoy the view.

The third floor consists of quiet rooms where one can cultivate.

What's most touching is that the moment they entered the stable, a rich aroma of wine wafted over them, making them feel refreshed and invigorated.

The stableman laughed and said, "I told Zhao-ge'er last time that there are several kinds of spirit wines in the outer sect, brewed from several kinds of spirit fruits. The taste is so good that it can make people swallow their tongues."

"A pot of wine costs five or six thousand coins. I thought I would never have the chance to drink it in my life, but I didn't expect that only a month later, I, Old Ma, would get to drink it."

"This Jingyuan Cave is one of the few places in the outer sect that has spiritual wine."

The stableman coughed, then lowered his voice, "Besides buying a pot of spirit wine and serving a table of fine food and wine, Jingyuan Cave also offers... special services."

The group of corpse retrievers understood immediately, their eyes lighting up as they looked at the group of female cultivators bustling around on the first floor.

"Brother Ma, you're really amazing!"

"This money was well spent; it was all used wisely."

Gu Zhao blinked, drank, and then...?

A complete service!