The Martial Hall was located on Twilight Mist Peak.
Every evening, colorful mist would rise from the summit. From afar, the entire peak looked like an otherworldly realm—stunningly beautiful and dreamlike.
When Lin Yuan walked into the Martial Hall, he couldn’t help but smile. The hall’s stewards rotated every five days, and to his surprise, it was Elder Song again this time.
“Greetings, Elder Song!” He cupped his hands and bowed respectfully.
“What? Regretting your choice already?” Elder Song said, annoyed at the sight of him.
“I haven’t regretted anything. I just want to choose another technique.”
“Only outer sect disciples are qualified to select new techniques.”
“I understand, so I plan to exchange contribution points.” As Lin Yuan spoke, he handed over his identity token.
Elder Song took it, examined it briefly, then said after a pause, “You have enough points. But I still recommend exchanging them for some pills to improve your strength. If you enter the inner sect in the next servant disciple tournament, you won’t have to spend anything at all.”
That was true. Most disciples simply relied on the basic Breathing Technique. Only after entering the outer sect did they change their cultivation method.
“I’ve made up my mind. I ask for your understanding, Elder Song,” Lin Yuan insisted.
“Fine, fine. I knew you were a stubborn one.”
After deducting all the contribution points, Elder Song’s expression shifted slightly. “You broke through to the 5th stage Qi Refining Realm?”
“I just got lucky.”
“Breaking through a stage so quickly isn’t just luck—it shows you’ve got some talent.” Elder Song thought for a moment, then handed the token back and said quietly, “There’s a copy of the Greenwood Qi Refining Technique on the west bookshelf upstairs. Study it closely.”
Lin Yuan understood instantly—this was a reminder.
He headed to the second floor and went straight to the west bookshelf. After searching for a while, he found the Greenwood Qi Refining Technique.
The technique embodied the concept of wood growing slowly. It could be cultivated all the way to late Foundation Establishment Realm. Though slow, it stabilized the foundation, honed cultivation barriers, and built a solid base.
For someone without talent or resources, this kind of technique was ideal.
Unfortunately…
Lin Yuan put it back and continued searching.
Before long, a dusty technique book caught his attention.
“Nine Yin Evil Condensation Technique,” 1st-tier high-grade, with a maximum cultivation limit of peak Foundation Establishment Realm.
He picked it up and brushed the dust off gently.
The first page read: “This technique carries severe side effects. Cultivate with extreme caution.”
If it didn’t have side effects, I wouldn’t even look at it.
Ignoring the warning, Lin Yuan flipped through the book. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
After half a cup of tea’s time, he had a rough understanding.
The so-called “Nine Yin” was just a numerical term—he only needed to absorb things containing yin energy. For example, cultivating at night and drawing moonlight yin energy, or training in cold caves. He could even absorb toxins from creatures like spiders and centipedes.
All of these could be used to condense evil energy.
Combining evil energy with spiritual power not only sped up cultivation but greatly enhanced its power.
“This is it.”
Lin Yuan took the technique and returned to the first floor.
“Is that technique any good?” Elder Song asked, smiling as he received the book—but his smile froze as soon as he read the cover.
“Nine Yin… Nine Yin Evil Condensation Technique? Are you crazy? Why did you choose this one?”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“What’s wrong? This technique allows yin energy to invade your body. Over time, you’ll become something neither human nor ghost! It was added to the archive just to fill space—not for actual cultivation!”
Lin Yuan chuckled, “How’s the cultivation speed?”
“Ridiculously fast.”
Elder Song didn’t argue. In fact, many had tried this technique in the past.
But none had succeeded. Quite a few had suffered Qi deviation and died.
At least people still tried the Seven-Slaughter Demon Blade. Now, no one even dared attempt the Nine Yin Evil Condensation Technique.
“Please register it for me,” Lin Yuan said, bowing.
“You’re insane. Truly insane! One Seven-Slaughter Demon Blade wasn’t enough for you, and now you want this too? Trying to take shortcuts isn’t so simple. What a waste of a good disciple…”
Grumbling, Elder Song registered the technique for him.
Lin Yuan smiled and accepted it, then went to a corner to start copying the contents.
Once done, he flipped through the miscellaneous books on the first floor.
He vaguely remembered hearing the term “Bewildering Illusion Formation” somewhere before. But it had been too long, and he couldn’t recall where—so he decided to search for clues.
After half a day of reading, he finally found something useful.
Opening the sect history records, a short entry caught his eye:
[581 years ago, Ancestor Yuan Lingqing passed away, leaving behind the Zhou Tian Bewildering Illusion Formation containing an inheritance to test future generations.]
“Ancestor Yuan Lingqing? Hiss… I remember now, wasn’t he a Nascent Soul Realm expert? Could that place be where his inheritance lies?”
Lin Yuan kept reading.
[521 years ago, sixty years after the ancestor’s death, the Nine Evils Sect invaded. All disciples of the Immortal Gate Sect rose to resist. The war lasted sixty years.] New chapters come out on NovelPing first.
[Afterward, the Nine Evils Sect was destroyed, but the Immortal Gate Sect suffered heavy losses.]
[Since then, the Nascent Soul inheritance vanished, and no one has found its trace.]
After reading, Lin Yuan’s heart surged with excitement.
He’d heard rumors that the Immortal Gate Sect once had a Nascent Soul expert, but he hadn’t believed it. Now, it seemed it was true.
“The reason the Nascent Soul inheritance hasn’t been discovered might be due to the Zhou Tian Bewildering Illusion Formation. If I can find it, I could skyrocket overnight!”
Having found what he wanted, Lin Yuan left satisfied.
Watching his back as he walked away, Elder Song sighed silently.
If Lin Yuan had just listened and cultivated steadily, he’d definitely have been qualified to become a steward someday. With a bit more, he might have even become a Golden Core Elder.
Now… he was as good as ruined.
…
Leaving Twilight Mist Peak, Lin Yuan made his way to Hundred Herbs Peak.
This was where the Fragrant Pill Pavilion and Spirit Plant Garden were located.
The Fragrant Pill Pavilion focused on alchemy. The Spirit Plant Garden cultivated all kinds of spiritual herbs and spiritual grains.
“Halt. Who are you? What’s your purpose here?”
Before reaching the peak, Lin Yuan was stopped.
“My name is Lin Yuan. This is my identity token.”
Seeing the token marked with the status of a pill slave, the gatekeeper’s tone immediately softened.
“Go on then. Take care of yourself.”
Every year, many pill slaves died at the Fragrant Pill Pavilion. Some deserved it. But Lin Yuan was a legitimate disciple of the Immortal Gate Sect. Given how dangerous this job was, no wonder the guards spoke kindly.
The higher he climbed, the more abundant the spiritual Qi became.
Lin Yuan couldn’t help but marvel.
No wonder people were willing to bribe Lai Ren with huge sums just to work here.
The spiritual Qi alone put Hundred Herbs Peak far above the rest.
While he was looking around, a young girl with double buns and a pale yellow robe suddenly appeared in front of him.
“You’re the new pill slave, right? Here, try this Strength Pill.” As she spoke, she flicked her finger.
A pitch-black pill flew straight into Lin Yuan’s mouth.
It melted the moment it touched his tongue. By the time he realized, it was too late to spit it out.
[Consumed low-quality Strength Pill. Side effect acquired: chain farting.]