Chapter 236: It’s All About the Routine

Inside the palace of the Qin Kingdom:

“Long’er, have you been troubled by anything lately?” The King of Qin had secluded himself for ten years to comprehend the rules and break through to the Grand Heaven Stage. The moment he emerged from his retreat, someone had murdered his son, which enraged him greatly.

Zou Tenglong was born to the King and his most beloved woman. Unfortunately, a few years later, that beloved woman passed away, causing the King immense grief. He transformed his sorrow into motivation and secluded himself once more.

The country could not be without a ruler, so the King used a secret method to control someone, forcibly enhancing their cultivation, altering their appearance, and having them impersonate him.

Now, his most cherished child had miraculously come back to life, which naturally delighted him greatly. Although he didn’t know the reason, the King attributed this miracle to divine protection upon his son.

“Father, I’m fine, but I feel guilty for hiding something from you,” Zou Tenglong said. He was no longer the same Zou Tenglong as before.

After his body was possessed by the white bone as beautiful as jade, he was no longer the same person.

The King gently patted Zou Tenglong’s head. “It doesn’t matter, Long’er. Whatever you hide, your father won’t be angry.”

“Father, this is a fragmentary map I bought from a stall when I was traveling around the capital. It points to the forbidden area called the Sea of Demon’s Grave,” Zou Tenglong said, pulling out a map made from an unknown material, clearly quite old.

Upon hearing the words “Sea of Demon’s Grave,” the King was momentarily startled. He then took the incomplete map and examined it carefully.

This incomplete map only showed one coordinate—the Sea of Demon’s Grave.

On the upper part of the map were a few small characters:

“The Seven Sage’s Treasure Map.”

As the King looked at the map, his expression subtly changed.

“Long’er, has anyone else obtained this map?” the King asked.

“I don’t know. After I obtained it, I’ve kept it on me. Originally, I planned to wait until my strength improved before exploring the Sea of Demon’s Grave. But now I’ve decided that regardless of whether there’s treasure or not, I should hand this treasure map over to you, Father,” Zou Tenglong replied.

“My good son,” the King said with a nod. He then told him to rest well and left.

Watching the King leave, a faint eerie smile appeared on Zou Tenglong’s calm face.

“Damn you! Wait until I rise again, and that will be the day of your doom!” Zou Tenglong clenched his fists, his eyes burning with a terrifying flame.

…

At this moment, deep within an unknown forest.

A man and a bird were walking joyfully together.

“One for you, one for me—you’ve got to grow up quickly, Chick.”

“Oooooo…”

Lin Fan now took out the storage rings he had looted and began happily cracking open pills with Chick.

Chick stood on Lin Fan’s shoulder, flapping its wings joyfully. Its sharp little beak instantly cracked open a pill and swallowed it.

This pill raid had been extremely satisfying for Lin Fan. Overall, his initial expedition had gone very smoothly, and he had looted many high-quality pills.

Especially the Blood Spirit, who had offered a huge amount of valuable resources, more than enough for Lin Fan to indulge in a pill feast.

As for some strange pills, Lin Fan refrained from consuming them, such as a pill called the Triple Infant Pill, which had a horrifying origin.

This Triple Infant Pill was extracted from the womb the moment the infant formed, then soaked in medicinal herbs and refined with various spirit medicines.

Even if Lin Fan were desperate for cultivation experience, he wouldn’t dare to take such a pill—it was simply too cruel and inhumane.

Now, Lin Fan took out the Seven Sage’s Treasure Map and began examining it carefully.

The next destination was the Sea of Demon’s Grave.

To Lin Fan, the Seven Sage’s Treasure Map had initially seemed like a good thing, but now it had become a tool to exact revenge.

Lin Fan had many doubts. Although he understood that the Seven Sage’s Treasure Map wasn’t something good, he still didn’t know exactly who the Seven Sages were.

Since obtaining that mysterious pill, Lin Fan had realized that someone had set a trap for him.

That Life-Altering Divine Pill was indeed a miraculous pill—it could transform even the worst talent into an extraordinary one. However, hidden within it was a fragment of divine consciousness. If someone were to swallow the pill, their talent would indeed improve, but they would also be possessed by that fragment of consciousness.

If it weren’t for the system that could detect and warn him, Lin Fan would have unknowingly fallen into the trap.

But thinking about it, it made sense.

Ancient treasures like this were all tricks. Which powerful cultivator would willingly distribute all their treasures and even draw maps for future generations to find and claim?

Unprovoked kindness is rarely sincere—it’s either deceit or theft.

This was a famous saying. After all, there’s no such thing as free gifts falling from the sky.

After this incident, Lin Fan even began to doubt his own system, unsure of its true purpose.

Still, he had stopped trying to guard against the system. After all, his current strength was entirely thanks to the system. If the system had ill intentions, what could he possibly do to resist?

So, for things beyond his control, it was better not to dwell on them.

Now, the cultivator behind the Seven Sage’s Treasure Map had drawn it out, luring future generations to follow the map step by step into the abyss, eventually becoming nothing more than a furnace for the powerful cultivator.

Thinking about this, Lin Fan couldn’t help but laugh. If he hadn’t experienced it himself, he might have believed the nonsense he read in novels.

“Oooooo…” Chick had just refined a pill and began chirping impatiently again.

“What are you shouting for? I won’t forget you,” Lin Fan said, tossing another pill. Chick immediately caught it in its beak, its expression full of satisfaction.

Lin Fan continued tossing pill after pill into his mouth.

“Ding! Congratulations on consuming a Grade-Tier Lower Divine Pill—’Soul Tempering Pill.’ Experience increased by 2,000,000.”

…

Each pill turned into experience, and Lin Fan’s heart was filled with joy.

The sky gradually darkened, and thunder rumbled in the distance, signaling an impending rainstorm.

Lin Fan quickened his pace. He needed to find shelter soon. After walking another dozen miles, a cave appeared before him.

Inside the cave, Lin Fan surveyed the area. There were charred wood fragments on the ground, indicating that someone had stayed here before.

Lin Fan tidied up the space and took out a blanket from his bag, spreading it on the ground.

Just then, heavy rain began pouring outside.

Unable to fall asleep, Lin Fan thought about the loot he had collected earlier. Since it was just sitting there, he might as well put it to use.

It had been a while since he last crafted artifacts. Now he felt a bit itchy with excitement.

The Divine Artifact, the “Hongzhuan No. 95,” had been the result of his intense crafting back then. He wondered if he still had that kind of luck now.