Pay-to-Win Cultivation: I Get 10,000x Returns Chapter 81

For the remainder of the meeting, Zhang Xian couldn’t focus on a single word. His mind was entirely consumed by two chilling phrases: "Xingxiu" and "the missing hundred years."

Only when the gathering dissolved and cultivators began to rise did he snap back to reality.

He followed the crowd onto the Yunmiao Sect’s flagship. He had seen the vessel from a distance days ago, but standing upon it was different. It was several times the size of the Cloud Raiment Pavilion’s ships, its massive hull etched with glowing, intricate array patterns.

Despite the grandeur, Zhang Xian felt no awe. His head was a storm of unanswered questions. Even his hatred for Nan Gongyao was temporarily pushed to the back of his mind.

Elder Wangya stood at the bow, his gaze sweeping over the assembled cultivators. "The investigation into Jianchen’s lineage will be entrusted to Supervisor Zhiyin," he announced solemnly.

Zhiyin gave a curt nod. Her mastery over puppetry allowed her to deploy countless avatars at once, making her the perfect candidate for a wide-scale search. While the Great Xia Emperor had already dispatched his Grand General, the other sects still needed to provide their own eyes and ears.

"Next, we address the mortal nations and minor worlds," Wangya continued. "I will personally assign detailed tasks to each of the seventy-two peaks."

Zhang Xian stepped forward, his voice steady. "I want to personally oversee the minor world near Shuicheng City."

Wangya glanced at Li Fuxi, who stood beside the youth. She gave a faint, affirming "Mm."

"Very well," Wangya agreed. It was a reasonable request.

A short distance away, Nan Gongyao spared Zhang Xian a passing glance before looking away. Two hundred years had passed; she had long since forgotten the face of the ordinary mortal she had casually snuffed out so long ago.

"I will also trouble Elder Wangya to arrange for a trusted array master to accompany us," Zhang Xian added.

Before Wangya could answer, Zhiyin spoke up. "I will go. I have some knowledge of array techniques myself."

Wangya pondered this for a moment. "That can be arranged. However, by inter-sect agreement, the exploration of any minor world requires a joint effort between two different sects."

Without missing a beat, Zhang Xian replied, "Then I shall invite Yun Qi from the Cloud Raiment Pavilion to join us."

"Agreed," Wangya nodded. "It is settled. Zhang Xian, you will depart for the minor world with Supervisor Zhiyin."

Wangya then turned his attention to the two supervisors. "Supervisors, why not move your quarters to our flagship temporarily? Especially Supervisor Zhiyin—with your puppet clusters active, you can oversee the entire operation from a central hub."

Li Fuxi spoke first, her tone icy and indifferent. "I won't be moving."

She looked at Zhang Xian, her eyes leaving no room for argument. "I am accompanying my disciple to the minor world."

One of the sect elders gasped in surprise. "With Supervisor Zhiyin there to protect him, what is there for you to worry about, Fuxi?"

Li Fuxi replied calmly, "That is precisely why I am worried."

Wangya went silent, his expression blank.

Zhiyin, however, seemed to have expected this. She took a half-step back, her form rippling like disturbed water. An identical copy split away from her—another puppet avatar, "Zhiyin Three."

"The master dislikes crowded places," Zhiyin Three stated flatly. "I can oversee the coordination from here. It makes no difference where the main body resides."

With that, Zhiyin, Li Fuxi, and Zhang Xian took to the sky on their swords, returning to their own vessel.

Wangya watched them go, murmuring to himself, "It has been centuries since the Southern Region faced such a crisis."

His reflection was interrupted by a sudden commotion. He turned to see Yun Wanqing boarding Zhang Xian’s vessel, accompanied by several disciples from the Cloud Raiment Pavilion.

A pang of melancholy hit Wangya. Since her arrival, Yun Wanqing had barely given him a hurried greeting. He hadn't expected her to be so proactive—specifically for Zhang Xian’s sake.

An elder nearby noticed Wangya’s darkening expression and let out an awkward, dry laugh. "Ahem... she must be going to discuss the logistics of the minor world, surely."

Wangya wearily rubbed his temples. With a flick of his finger, a shimmering map of the Yunmiao Sect’s territory materialized in the air. "Let us continue. Assigning responsibilities for the mortal nations..."

A short while later, Wangya looked up to see Yun Qi and the other disciples disembarking from Zhang Xian’s ship.

Then, Zhang Xian’s vessel began to sail away.

Yun Wanqing never got off.

Wangya stared, dumbfounded. "???"

The other elders looked even more aggrieved than their leader.

That beast, Zhang Xian! It was bad enough that he had ruined Liu Qingxuan and maintained an ambiguous relationship with his own master. Now he was seducing the Southern Region’s greatest beauty of the previous generation? It was outrageous!

The juniors might have despised him, but at that moment, every elder present wanted to slap him.

Inside the tea room of Zhang Xian’s vessel, a thin trail of sandalwood incense curled toward the ceiling. Zhang Xian, Zhiyin, and Yun Wanqing sat in a comfortable silence.

Zhiyin didn't drink. She simply smiled as she poured tea for the other two.

Yun Wanqing sat gracefully in a light-yellow silk dress. Her hair was styled in an exquisite serpent-shaped bun, with a few stray locks cascading down her snow-white neck.

"Where is Real Person Fuxi?" she asked softly.

Zhang Xian took a slow sip of tea. "My master is soaking in the hot springs. She won't be joining us."

Yun Wanqing let out a light, melodious laugh, covering her mouth with her hand. "The two of you have such a wonderful rapport. It is almost like..." she paused playfully, "...like family."

"You jest, Pavilion Master Yun," Zhang Xian replied, his expression unchanging. "My master is simply diligent in her cultivation."

He reached into his storage ring and produced a small, elegant green jade bottle. "This is a newly developed spiritual liquid from our minor world. Perhaps you would like to try it?"

Yun Wanqing accepted it and gently removed the stopper. A crisp, invigorating fragrance instantly filled the room.

"Such refined medicinal potency!" Her eyes widened in surprise. "What do you call this?"

"It is Dragon Saliva Jade Liquid. Earth-grade."

"Earth-grade?" she whispered.

"Indeed. If poured into spiritual pools, it significantly enhances both the quality and absorption speed of Qi. Please, accept this bottle as a gift. I hope your pavilion will handle the future sales of this product."

"How should we price it?"

"I know nothing of commerce," Zhang Xian said, placing five more identical bottles on the table. They clinked softly against the wood. "Set the price as you see fit, but do not flood the market. Release only one bottle every few years."

Yun Wanqing cradled the bottle in her palms, her gaze lingering on Zhang Xian. "Wanqing will remember this favor."

[System: Successfully gifted Earth-grade Dragon Saliva Jade Liquid. Triggered Return Reward: 100 bottles of Dragon Saliva Jade Liquid.]

[Current Favorability: 44]

After three rounds of tea, Zhang Xian’s tone turned serious. "Regarding the secret realm... there is something I don't understand. What is meant by the 'ability to bewitch hearts'?"

Yun Wanqing lowered her voice. "Elder Wangya discussed this with me in private. Humans possess seven emotions and six desires. These evil demons amplify a cultivator's deepest Obsession. Anyone whose Dao-heart is unstable will fall."

She reached into her sleeve and placed two luminous white jade pendants on the table. "These are Shangqing Pendants. They are high-grade magical artifacts designed solely to purify thoughts and maintain mental clarity. Wear them close to your body."

Zhiyin glanced at them. "As a puppet, I have no need for such things."

"These were intended for you and Real Person Fuxi," Yun Wanqing said, pushing them toward Zhang Xian.

Zhang Xian picked one up; it was warm and smooth to the touch. He hesitated for a moment, then asked a question that bordered on impolite.

"May I ask... is a cultivator's soul lamp truly an absolute indicator of life and death?"

The tea room fell deathly silent.

The implication was clear. Regarding the tragedy two hundred years ago, everyone assumed the party was dead because their lamps went out—everyone except Nan Gongyao and Xuan Zhou.

If Nan Gongyao survived a "zombie" emperor and mere trapping arrays, why did the others perish? Was there an internal crisis? Or was the evidence faked?

Yun Wanqing traced the rim of her teacup, her fingers trembling slightly. Finally, she whispered, "Cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage and above... do indeed possess the means to manipulate such things."

Zhang Xian narrowed his eyes. "So, a lit lamp doesn't necessarily mean life, and an extinguished lamp doesn't necessarily mean death?"