Tianque Sect, Qingluan Peak.
It had already been more than a month since the Ascension Conference, and Lu Zhiyun had more or less gotten used to life here.
As usual, she brewed tea and placed it at the door of Senior Brother’s room, then knocked lightly twice.
There was still no response.
Lu Zhiyun was about to leave when she suddenly heard a bone-chilling, sinister laugh coming from inside the room.
“Jie jie jie jie jie jie jie…”
The laughter was sharp and eerie, like a demon’s whisper.
Lu Zhiyun felt her hair stand on end, and quickly ducked into a nearby corner.
After making sure the person inside hadn’t noticed her, she took out a small notebook and began writing swiftly.
“Day thirty-two, undercover in the Tianque Sect. I have finally discovered something suspicious about the demon cultivator Lin Shu…”
Two months ago, Jiang Chenyin, the Imperial Diviner of the Great Qian Dynasty, sought out Lu Zhiyun.
At that time, Lu Zhiyun was just a humble constable in the Capital City.
She didn’t understand why such an important figure would come looking for her.
“Lu Zhiyun, I’ve been observing you for years!”
The moment they met, Jiang Chenyin greeted her briefly, then ignored her and began recounting, one by one, everything Lu Zhiyun had done over the years.
From helping the neighbor lady next door find her pet Da Huang (even if it was just a dog), to leading raids that wiped out dozens of Hehuan Sect establishments handing out free Recording Stones, and so on—she left nothing out.
Listening to this endless narration, Lu Zhiyun was left stunned.
Had she really done so many good deeds?
But… surely this couldn’t just be a compliment, or an excuse to give her a “Sweep Away Vice and Uphold Righteousness” banner?
Looking at the petite girl in front of her, cloaked so that her face couldn’t be seen, Lu Zhiyun was at a loss as to what Jiang Chenyin wanted.
Once she’d finished her long list, Jiang Chenyin breathed a sigh of relief.
Luckily, she’d memorized it all in advance, otherwise she might have forgotten her lines!
But with that, the sense of justice in the other party should be somewhat roused, right?
She moved to the main topic.
“Here’s the situation—have you heard of the Tianque Sect that’s been rising rapidly lately?”
Of course Lu Zhiyun had heard of them.
Whenever she had spare time, Lu Zhiyun liked listening to teahouse storytellers talk about cultivation world gossip.
Even though she had no cultivation talent and her Spirit Root was terribly poor, she had always longed for the path of cultivation.
“I’ve heard a lot! They’re one of the newly promoted Super Sects in recent years, and they say it’s the fastest sect to ever ascend from a second-rate sect to Super Sect status. Even storytellers in the taverns make ‘Legend of the Tianque Sect’ a household tale!”
Lu Zhiyun replied.
“Rumor has it that it’s all thanks to the arrival of the Senior Brother, who brought great fortune to the sect!”
“Bah! That sanctimonious hypocrite!”
Jiang Chenyin couldn’t contain herself after hearing Lu Zhiyun’s words.
A month ago, Tianque Sect was summoned to the Royal Court to receive the Super Sect title.
That person was with them, but Jiang Chenyin hadn’t paid much attention at first.
Who would have guessed that during the banquet, he would sneak into her boudoir and draw a pig head on her undergarments?
As the Imperial Diviner, holding a position second only to the Emperor, how could she dare tell anyone that her private chambers had been intruded upon?
Especially since her room was protected by a special Protective Formation—anyone with impure intentions who entered would be instantly teleported away.
A Protective Formation?!
Later, Jiang Chenyin suddenly recalled this detail, and it sent chills down her spine.
There were only two kinds of people who could sneak in undetected: one with pure intentions, and one with purely evil intentions!
If that man’s heart was pure, why on earth would he break into a girl’s room for no reason?
Which meant—he could only be rotten to the core!
Absolutely wicked!
Following this thread, Jiang Chenyin began divining his Life Destiny, planning to find a chance to get her revenge.
But when she checked, a huge problem appeared.
That person from the Tianque Sect—his Life Destiny appeared in a crimson red, a color only found in those of monstrous evil.
That red was like a sea of blood, drowning Jiang Chenyin’s spiritual senses.
A crimson Life Destiny… the Omen… combine that with the meteoric rise of a formerly mediocre sect… all these signs together, Jiang Chenyin realized something!
That person was a demon cultivator—one especially skilled at concealing his nature!
Of course, she couldn’t just tell Lu Zhiyun all the details.
It was far too embarrassing to admit she’d only discovered the demon cultivator because someone broke into her room!
Bringing her thoughts back to the present, Jiang Chenyin realized her loss of composure.
She coughed lightly and summarized:
“Not long ago, I was praying for Great Qian, but something went wrong midway. Do you know why?”
“Why?”
Lu Zhiyun asked, puzzled.
“Because a Disaster Star has appeared!”
Jiang Chenyin explained. Seeing Lu Zhiyun still confused, she continued, “A Disaster Star means that a truly evil person has appeared in this world, obstructing the dynasty’s progress.”
Thinking back to their earlier conversation, Lu Zhiyun immediately understood—the Imperial Diviner was saying that Senior Brother was the Disaster Star!
A storm began to swirl in her mind.
This sort of plot was common in storybooks: some people seemed good, but were just putting on an act!
Only when the truth was revealed would everyone realize he was the real villain!
Seeing her catch on so quickly, Jiang Chenyin showed a “the student can be taught” smile.
“Lu Zhiyun, after observing you for a long time, I’ve decided to send you undercover into the Tianque Sect. Help me gather evidence that the Senior Brother is a demon cultivator. If possible, collect as much proof as you can!”
“The future of Great Qian rests on our shoulders! Let’s encourage each other to persevere!”
Jiang Chenyin’s passionate words completely ignited Lu Zhiyun’s sense of justice—her desire to rid the land of evil for the sake of the country.
Lu Zhiyun knew her cultivation talent was lacking.
She’d settled for becoming a constable out of her sense of justice.
Now that Jiang Chenyin was telling her she could become a heroine who would save Great Qian, she could hardly resist.
Even if her deeds went unnoticed, she would gladly accept the task!
Seeing the awakening lion in Lu Zhiyun’s eyes, Jiang Chenyin started to give more details.
“That demon cultivator has a way of concealing himself from heaven’s gaze. All I can divine is that every month, he slaughters countless living beings, but I can never figure out where he commits his crimes. You must be vigilant!”
“And that demon cultivator is handsome and charming—you must beware his wiles! Do not be like the Emperor, who fell for his sweet talk!”
“And one more thing…”
Once the instructions were finished, and her hot-blooded excitement faded, Lu Zhiyun suddenly remembered a question.
“By the way, why did the Imperial Diviner choose me?”
There were so many talented young people in Great Qian—why her?
Jiang Chenyin couldn’t admit how hard it was to find someone with low cultivation, poor talent, but clever and unlikely to be noticed!
If not for the Emperor being so easily smitten by good looks, getting fooled by that demon cultivator’s honeyed words, and only sending half-hearted investigations, would she have to work so hard?
“Don’t ask! Heaven’s secrets cannot be revealed!”
Jiang Chenyin clasped her hands behind her back, implying everything with silence.
So it was fated that she would deal with this demon cultivator?
Lu Zhiyun made a silent vow in her heart—she would see this through!
***
Inside a small attic, Lin Shu was still “jie jie jie jie”-ing with that sinister laugh, clutching a half-bitten pastry in his hand.
The pastry gave off a stench that was even worse than a three-day-old corpse-like stench.
“Jie jie jie! Damn it! No wonder my Poison Resistance is +1—when did Junior Uncle swap out my pastries?!”
Lin Shu stared at the panel only he could see, his face contorted in a miserable, wicked smile.
His laughter was only because he’d been poisoned by the pastry.
This time, the side effect seemed to be an uncontrollable, brilliant, sunny smile.
As for why he ate the pastry, it was all thanks to the system.
As a transmigrator, having a system was normal—don’t ask!
Just like how primary schoolers have homework helpers, a cultivator without a system who relies solely on hard work… isn’t that just too boring?
Lin Shu’s system came a little late.
It didn’t arrive when he transmigrated, but only appeared after he entered the Tianque Sect.
Lin Shu still didn’t fully understand its name or usage.
He only roughly knew that the system seemed to issue tasks based on fulfilling other people’s wishes.
For example, just now, while practicing cultivation, the system popped up with a mission.
【Continue cultivating. Root Bone +5】
【Stop cultivating, and shout “I am Southern Tong!”. Poison Resistance +100】
【Do five somersaults on the spot, then walk on your hands back to your room and eat a bite of pastry. Poison Resistance +1】
Faced with these three options, Lin Shu of course chose the third!
The problem with this system was that to get the reward, you always had to pay some kind of price.
The more generous the reward, the steeper the price!
Based on the Junior Sisters peeking at him practicing just now, Lin Shu guessed what would happen.
Option one would fulfill the Junior Sisters’ wish, so the infatuated Junior Brothers and Senior Brothers would take turns challenging him—ruthlessly.
Option two was a white lie, but his reputation would be ruined, and the Junior Sisters would report him to the sect, where Junior Uncle would try all sorts of strange medicines on him.
Although option three was rather abstract and strange, abstract was fine.
At least 【+1】was the best result he could endure without too many side effects.
Lin Shu had the misfortune of once trying 【Poison Resistance +5】before he understood the system, and almost didn’t survive his fourteenth year.
That time was on his own birthday, when Junior Uncle personally made him cakes…
Naturally, he fulfilled Junior Uncle’s wish…
Since then, Lin Shu would rather be a little abstract, as long as he could stay alive.
After all, living meant he could keep getting system rewards!
He didn’t know why the system wanted him to eat a pastry after returning to his room, but at least nothing too bad had happened.
Now that he thought about it!
Someone had just knocked on the door…
It must be the new Junior Sister?
He’d been busy cultivating these days and had almost forgotten about it!
He ought to go say hello, or else it would be rude!
Thinking this, Lin Shu kept up his “jie jie jie” wicked laugh and pushed open the door.
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