Lin Shuang from the Qingshui Sect was still undergoing a physical examination by the elders when the young dropout from the Shenhai Luo Clan was successfully persuaded to return to his studies.
All twelve elders from the attending sects were momentarily stunned. Even Shui Qiantan from the Qingshui Sect hadn’t expected this, and for a moment, his white beard once again liquefied into droplets and was about to dissolve into a puddle!
“Excellent!” Shui Qiantan burst into laughter.
“Never did I expect that our disciples Lin Shuang and the others returning for rest would be replaced by substitute disciples who turned out to be equally outstanding!”
“Too exceptional, woe is me.”
The eleven sect elders: “…”
The elder who had originally intended to accuse them of violating the rules immediately shut his mouth.
Indeed, there were substitute disciples. Lin Shuang and the others had returned, and the substitutes had taken their place. This was in accordance with the rules. Otherwise, what was the purpose of having substitutes?
[…]
[…The Shanhai Sect, the Wanseng Sect, I didn’t expect you to be even more absurd than the Baihua Sect.]
“At least the Baihua Sect had Lin Shuang herself participating.”
“Yes, Shanhai Sect and Wanseng Sect, when asked in the future how you lost to the Qingshui Sect—because Lin Shuang told Meixin, beep beep babble…”]
[Shanhai Sect disciple exits the projection room.]
[Wanseng Sect disciple exits the projection room.]
[…]
The disciples of the Wansheng Sect and the Shanhai Sect, still submerged in slumber within the depths of the projected sea, were under observation. Their sect’s top disciple, though unharmed, was currently standing amidst a heap of sea snails in the abyssal waters, laboring diligently for over half a day.
Countless sea snails looked almost identical from the outside. They picked up the flower-shelled ones, but their disciple badges gave no response. They embraced the black-and-white ones, but still, their badges remained inactive.
“Just which one is the Gang brothers!” the Shanhai Sect’s top disciple was going mad.
The Wanseng Sect’s top disciple tapped his wooden fish, unable to voice complaints, but he used his monk cloth to gather a bunch of floating sea snails, then silently put them back down.
When the words of victory for the Qingshui Sect’s nine-thousand trial appeared on their disciple badges, the two of them involuntarily wore expressions of collapse.
Meanwhile, Meixin was passing right in front of them, hugging a sea snail that looked no different from the pile on the ground.
[…]
[!]
A giant underwater snail demon, carrying a heavy shell with brown patterns, as large as a hill, snored loudly. Now it had awakened and was speaking in an unskilled human voice.
“Human cultivators.”
“Old man didn’t deceive… you, did I? The Gang youngster is right here. Pick him up, take him away, the snail clan won’t stop you.”
The result was countless snail shells. The Shanhai Sect and the Wanseng Sect searched for a long time but couldn’t find the Gang from the Qingshui Sect!
“Ah, you call them by their worldly names, of course they won’t respond.”
“This kid’s full name is Gang. Gray Speck. White Stripe. Yellow-Brown Fine Groove. Fine Snail Rib. Wide Mouth… Red Inner Base, Second Layer.”
The top disciples from the Wanseng Sect and the Shanhai Sect: “…”
[…]
[…So he’s Gang Er?]
[Help—so that’s how you find him! It’s hidden in his name!]
[The Shanhai Sect and the Wanseng Sect didn’t even ask for the demon clan’s true name, yet they dared to take him away?!]
[Ah, I see now. The beep beep babble that Lin Shuang told Meixin was—after you arrive, first ask if you can project, then submit your visiting card, wait for the host to invite you in, remember to introduce yourself, then ask how the other party prefers to be addressed!]
[…So that’s how it is? The answer was this simple all along.]
“Ah, the first two spots in this round of persuasion have been swept by the Qingshui Sect.”
Li Hua, the senior sister explaining the competition, was not afraid of stirring the pot.
Adding insult to injury.
“Poor Shanhai Sect and Wanseng Sect, following right after the Baihua Sect, both failed.”
“As for the Mingzhong Sect and the Qidan Sect heading to the Northern Border, we don’t know their current situation. But even if one of them succeeds in persuasion, since they’re slower than the Qingshui Sect, they can at best rank third.”
“In this round, all sects will be further distanced by the Qingshui Sect.”
As she spoke, the projection screen of the six sects displayed the current scores.
[Current Rankings of the Six Sects:
1. Qingshui Sect: 470 points (Persuasion 200)
2. Baihua Sect: 212 points
3. Wanseng Sect: 167 points
…
5. Mingzhong Sect: 68 points
6. Qidan Sect: 38 points]
“The reward for successful persuasion is 100 points. Thus, even if Mingzhong Sect or Qidan Sect succeed in the Northern Border, their total points still cannot shake the Qingshui Sect’s current position.”
“Therefore, for the second round of competition, I can announce that for the Qingshui Sect, it’s already over ahead of schedule.”
Li Hua from the Baihua Sect sighed, “The Baihua Sect remains second, but the gap with the Qingshui Sect is too large.”
“The significance of continuing persuasion in the Northern Border—I personally believe it’s already minimal.”
[…]
[…?]
“The only remaining significance of persuasion in the Northern Border now,” Li Hua looked toward the competition ranking, “is not to catch up with the Qingshui Sect, but to see which of Mingzhong Sect and Qidan Sect will become the last place in this round.”
[…]
[…So the Qingshui Sect can go home early now, right?]
“Ah, if you want to praise the Baihua Sect for being second despite the embarrassing loss, just say it outright!”
Xu Xiang beside Li Hua shook his head, disapproving of her decisiveness, “This statement isn’t rigorous enough.”
“The significance of the competition isn’t in the rankings, but in the training.”
[Right. The Qingshui Sect is somewhat graceful.]
[Has a long-term vision.]
[The Qingshui Sect speaks better than the Baihua Sect!]
“Continuing persuasion in the Northern Border is meaningful.”
Xu Xiang gazed solemnly at the projected image. “According to the rules, our Qingshui Sect disciples can continue carrying out the persuasion mission in the Northern Border. More training experience means greater rewards.”
[…]
[…So he’s even harsher than Li Hua! Not giving other sects a way to survive!]
“Shameless Qingshui Sect!”
“Are these even human words?”
“If we knew it would be like this, why bother following each of the six sects’ projections separately! In the end, all three locations were completed by the Qingshui Sect!”
[…]
Lin Shuang, who was being discussed, was unaware of all this.
She had just picked up the “Thousand Mountains and Ten Thousand Waters Painting Manual” and was preparing to return to the cave mansion with Meng Zi and the others.
Meng Zi had received the “Thirteen Cliff Cuts” bestowed by Elder Yueshi, which perfectly complemented the “Shanhai Thirteen Sword Techniques,” forming a complete set.
Huangfu Yuan had received a cauldron gifted by the Shanhai Sect.
He remained expressionless.
The three returned to the cave mansion to rest.
In principle, this wasn’t within the scope of the competition projection.
But Lin Shuang was stopped outside the cave mansion by Xiao Hong and Xiao Lu.
“Lin Shuang,” Duan Wufang clasped his hands behind his back, stepping on a spring of spiritual water, sighing helplessly, “the great elders temporarily have no solution for your dantian, but if you encounter heavenly herbs or ancient secrets while traveling, perhaps you’ll find a solution.”
Heavenly herbs, ancient secrets bestowed by immortals… anything was possible.
“Right. Time waits for no one. I should go out and seek opportunities.”
Li Min also nodded.
“This is exactly why the Qidan Sect and Mingzhong Sect are facing difficulties in the Northern Border, unable to complete persuasion. Don’t you need to help them?”
[…]
[…]
“Ah.”
Duan Wufang paced back and forth on the clear spring, shouldering his large sword.
Heaved a heavy sigh.
“That poor little princess in the Northern Border, she’s a disciple of the Baihua Sect, right? Our Qingshui Sect has always been as benevolent as water. When cultivators from other sects are in trouble, how can we not lend a hand? What do you think, Lin Shuang?”
[Not human, Qingshui Sect.]
[I underestimated the Qingshui Sect’s audacity.]
“You’re not the biggest fan of multi-purpose arrows? The Northern Border royal family might just have a solution for your hundred dantians.”
“If we win another hundred points, we can skip the third round. Lying down, our Qingshui Sect will still enter the top three battle!”
Originally, the rules were three rounds: Wang Jian level, persuasion level, and another round.
Now the Qingshui Sect was far ahead.
This saved the next round of competition; they could literally lie down.
Upon hearing this, Lin Shuang’s eyes indeed flickered, stealing a glance at her schedule.
Tomorrow was the weekend.
“This is my rest time, Elder.”
Duan Wufang and Li Min: “…”
[…Thank you for Lin Shuang’s rest.]
“Go on your knees, Qidan Sect… thank Lin Shuang for not going to the Northern Border!”
“? She could go there tomorrow morning after resting.”
[…]
“The elders give spirit stones, and we’ll go.”
Meng Zi’s eyes were also flickering.
“A teleportation fee of fifty thousand spirit stones.”
But as soon as he mentioned spirit stones, Lin Shuang’s eye corner twitched.
“Meng Senior Brother inspired me. I suddenly thought of a method that can simultaneously complete the Northern Border mission and my one-day rest plan.”
“Hmm?” Meng Zi turned back.
Huangfu Yuan was outside the cave mansion, feeling the developed back muscles of the immortal crane.
The immortal crane dared not move, but his black eyes were also looking at her with interest.
Lin Shuang rubbed her chin, “The persuasion trial doesn’t specify how to complete it, as long as we bring the disciples back.”
“What? Are you going to make her come back herself?” Meng Zi hissed.
Lin Shuang looked at him, “No, but almost. I don’t plan to go myself.”
“We have people.”
[…]
[!]
[Who?]
Xiao Hong and Xiao Lu, the two elders, were also stunned, “What people?”
Lin Shuang smiled at them, “Since there are real tasks requiring disciples to go out in the nine-thousand trial, it shows that the examiners don’t want the disciples to merely participate in simulated drills within the sect.”
“They hope the disciples can enter the real outside world, to venture and grow.”
Meng Zi was confused.
But Huangfu Yuan showed a hint of understanding, “The real world has never been fair one-on-one.”
“Exactly.”
Lin Shuang nodded, praising him with a look of approval.
“Only in school, cough, within the sect, would there be one-on-one or three-on-three arena battles. But outside, the vastness of the world, the abundance of wandering cultivators, and the evil of heretical cultivators—no one will set up a regulated arena to protect us like the elders.”
“We should abandon the disciple mindset and view the persuasion exam with the eyes of a traveling cultivator.”
The real tasks of the nine-thousand trial should break free from the mindset of a good student.
Approach the exam with the mentality of a mature working professional!
“What’s the perspective of a traveling cultivator?” Meng Zi asked curiously.
Lin Shuang smiled strangely.
She didn’t answer but instead looked at the two already shocked Xiao Hong and Xiao Lu, then at Meng Zi.
“A teleportation to the Northern Border costs fifty thousand spirit stones.”
“I can completely use fifty thousand spirit stones to put up a bounty in the Northern Border, hiring capable people to complete this task for us.”
[!]
[…]
Projects should be outsourced when necessary, subcontracted when appropriate.
How could one person possibly build a Fortune 500 company?
Lin Shuang had never been more certain about how to complete this Northern Border persuasion task.
[Finally, finally!]
[?]
[This is Lin Shuang’s real secret to passing—letting the dolls pass themselves! Letting others help pass! I’ve been waiting for this!]
[…!]
The comments were breathless, a peak of discussion.
But Meng Zi didn’t want the profits to go to outsiders, “With fifty thousand spirit stones, you might as well give them to me…”
But Lin Shuang actually nodded, and as he was already lifting his spiritual tea cup, she curiously asked,
“Does the Yannie Pavilion take on such tasks?”
“Spit—”
Meng Zi spat out his spiritual tea.
What?
Had his identity as an Yannie assassin been exposed?! When! Impossible!
Huangfu Yuan’s gaze flickered, landing on Meng Zi’s stiff back.
A sip of spiritual tea was worth three spirit stones. Normally, even if Meng Zi coughed up blood, he wouldn’t spit out spiritual tea.
Lin Shuang shook her head.
“Feasible.”
Huangfu Yuan finally let go of the poor immortal crane, his five fingers resting on the warm furnace.
“Since the end of last year, when the nine-thousand trial began for the various sects, many disciples of the Lianshen stage have gone out to train, slaying heretical cultivators.”
“Low to mid-stage heretical cultivators of the Ninyuan stage have all avoided them, many not even coming out to act. The Yannie Pavilion’s assassination business has also been affected and is not thriving.”
[!]
[So because the Yannie Pavilion isn’t thriving, they can help you with persuasion?!]
“My ancestor…”
Lin Shuang glanced at her schedule for the next three days, “Yes, two days from now I happen to have a plan to admire ancient architectural complexes.”
[?]
“Why not move it to tomorrow? I’ve never been to the Yannie Pavilion.”
She wanted to go and see.
“…Can we not…”
Meng Zi trembled.
Huangfu Yuan lightly blinked his phoenix eyes, “There’s an Donghua Realm Yannie Pavilion headquarters near the Baihua Sect in the Shanhai Sect.”
[…]
[!]
Among the three, two were willing to go to the Yannie Pavilion to entrust the task.
The proposal was approved.
The fifty-thousand spirit stone commission would be covered by the wealthy Huangfu Yuan.
Meng Zi’s objection was overruled.
That night, after the two elders left, Huangfu Yuan suddenly held out two short hairs, offering them to Lin Shuang and Meng Zi.
Lin Shuang couldn’t help but put down her novel.
Meng Zi stopped counting spirit stones.
Two unremarkable shiny gray short hairs… were these from that day’s little puppy tracking the purple-robed auctioneer?
Was there news?
Lin Shuang immediately took them, holding the gray hairs between her fingers.
“Woof?” Meng Zi tried to communicate with it.
Huangfu Yuan: “…”
Lin Shuang pressed her forehead.
In an instant, the voice of the purple-robed person echoed in her consciousness.
“Master Yun, I’ve already prepared everything here, just waiting to present it to that person.”
“Ah, that day I also met three promising youngsters, unfortunately, they didn’t take the bait.”
Lin Shuang raised her eyebrows.
Meng Zi bared his teeth.
Could it be referring to the three of them?
“No matter, don’t cause trouble this time. First, present these tributes to the master.”
From the other end of the short hair, an old man’s voice sounded.
The voice was low, hard to distinguish.
Lin Shuang strained to hear the speaker’s words.
“Tell everyone, don’t cause trouble these days, stay quiet until March 16th. Oh, and tell those few, don’t be late.”
“Alright, Master Yun, don’t worry. I’ve already informed those guys. Who isn’t eagerly awaiting the day to present gifts to the master! The brothers have toiled hard all year, just hoping to please the master and receive some rewards.”
“I’ll go check the tributes again…”
The voice of the man in the purple robe soon became raspy and gradually blurred within the gray short fur.
The gray dog hair in Lin Shuang and Meng Zi’s hands also turned to ash instantly.
Huangpu Yuan stood tall, his hand resting on the brazier.
“The spiritual energy in the tail hair has been exhausted.”
—March 16
—Presented to the Master
—Auction Pavilion
—Tribute
Lin Shuang gazed at the keywords recorded by Xiao Ai.
Last time, during the theft incident involving the Daoist apprentice at Qing Shui Sect, the purple-robed figure with the Celestial Mechanism Order had collected a large amount of unevenly ranked stolen magical treasures.
Were those the tributes?
But those were only second- and third-tier magical artifacts—if even those could be offered as tribute, then the master receiving the tribute wasn’t very impressive either.
If the tribute is weak, the one collecting it can’t be too strong.
Are these evil cultivators aligned with Wang Jian’s faction from Shan Hai Sect?
Lin Shuang tapped her chin. “There are still ten days until March 16th.”
Ideally, on March 16th, when these evil cultivators come to offer their tribute, they should be caught in the act.
That way, the one receiving the tribute won’t be able to escape either.
Is it the Sun Elder or the Moon Elder from Shan Hai Sect, or someone unrelated? She was quite curious.
She needed to think of a way to report this Auction Pavilion on that day.
“How do we report it?” Meng Zi asked curiously.
Wasn’t it simple?
Report it to the city management, there were plenty of ways to do that.
The problem was there were still ten days to go—she hoped nothing would change in the meantime.
Lin Shuang waved at Meng Zi and applied a facial mask talisman to her face. “We’ll deal with it then. Now it’s my beauty sleep time. Shhh—”
“…”
Meng Zi immediately slapped his thigh. “Right, we still have plenty of time! The Auction Pavilion isn’t going to sprout legs and run off, so I’ll just recount my spirit stones again tonight and think about it tomorrow!”
After all, he couldn’t think of anything anyway.
Let the smart people handle it.
He then returned to his meditation chamber.
Huangpu Yuan nodded.
The more normal they appeared, the less likely they would raise suspicion.
He had waited until now, and was finally about to find his enemy.
He would never let the enemy escape again.
He also returned to his room, took out the Twelve Animal Talisman artifacts, and began polishing them patiently.
The next day, after finishing meditation inside the one-way mirror talisman, Lin Shuang had breakfast together with Zhao Keran.
After briefly exchanging cultivation insights from recent days, she bid farewell to her junior apprentice sister and set off with Meng Zi and Huangpu Yuan.
Zhao Keran originally wanted to follow them, but sighed and restrained herself.
She had diligently cultivated in the cave dwelling yesterday, and had matters to attend to today as well.
“Senior apprentice sister, you all go ahead. The Hundred Flowers Sect has invited me to provide commentary for the upcoming mid- to low-level duels. Today, I have to replace Senior Apprentice Brother Xu Xiang in commentating the matches, so I can’t go out with you.”
But as Zhao Keran formed sword seals with her hands, her face flushed with excitement, she still managed to clench her fist toward Lin Shuang.
“Senior sister, have fun. I’ll stay and observe the cultivation techniques of the other five sects!”
[…Didn’t the Hundred Flowers Sect inform her? The Persuasion to Study hasn’t concluded yet. The moment she steps out of the secluded cave dwelling, projections of the duel participants from the six sects will immediately appear.]
[Does she even know what Lin Shuang is planning to do?]
[Lin Shuang: Have fun? Sorry, junior sister, but your senior sister is going to hire an assassin for a mission.]
Zhao Keran waved as she watched Lin Shuang, Meng Zi, and Huangpu Yuan fly away on their swords.
She scratched her head as she walked.
“Is Senior Brother Meng distracted today? What’s wrong with him?” She had developed the habit of being observant.
Soon, she arrived at the viewing mountain.
This time, Zhao Keran didn’t sit at the Qing Shui Sect’s viewing stand. Instead, she was directly invited by Senior Apprentice Sister Li Hua from the Hundred Flowers Sect to the projection management area of the Hundred Flowers Sect.
“Hello everyone, we’re honored to have invited Zhao Keran, a junior apprentice sister from Qing Shui Sect, to participate in today’s commentary.”
Zhao Keran was not only Lin Shuang’s roommate and the Qing Shui Sect disciple who understood Lin Shuang best.
She was also a descendant of the Zhao family.
This special dual identity prompted the ever-gossipy Hundred Flowers Sect to immediately replace the overly serious Xu Xiang.
“Alright, enough chatter. Let’s take a look at the several sects still in the Northern Territory today.”
Senior Apprentice Sister Li Hua got straight to the point.
The disciples of the five sects in the projection appeared one by one in the central position.
The Hundred Flowers Sect, which had suffered a setback in the Zhao family, had already teleported to the Northern Territory and submitted a formal visit request to the imperial palace, preparing to meet the captured disciple Tao You from the Hundred Flowers Sect.
Senior Apprentice Sister Li Hua nodded. “After all, we’re from the same sect. If the Hundred Flowers Sect had originally chosen the Academy of Persuasion in the Northern Territory, perhaps we would have already succeeded.”
[Who says that isn’t true? Wasting precious silk cocoons and even a complete guide to the four seasons of flowers.]
But it’s also fair. The sects are separated, so they can’t immediately use their fellow disciples’ advantages to influence the persuasion to study.
“Not necessarily. My senior sister’s ‘Fastest Learning’ theory doesn’t say that.”
A somewhat soft and cute voice interrupted Senior Apprentice Sister Li Hua and the projection text.
[?]
Soon, Zhao Keran’s image appeared beside Senior Apprentice Sister Li Hua, her hands and feet moving in all directions.
Her body seemed to be divided into four parts.
Her hands, feet, and head each had their own agenda—practicing sword techniques, footwork, and still managing to speak in between. She was so busy, she couldn’t stop.
[…]
[…………]
When Zhao Keran saw the Hundred Flowers Sect submitting their visit request to the palace, she sighed heavily.
“Sigh.”
She looked as if the Hundred Flowers Sect had already lost.
“My senior sister’s ‘Fastest Learning’ says: first observe, then act.”
“Plan before acting. Rushing in recklessly might bring bad consequences.”
Before her words had even finished, the Hundred Flowers Sect’s three visit requests were thrown out by the palace guards.
“Spit! The Hundred Flowers Sect kidnapped our little princess and now dares to visit again!!”
“See? Isn’t that what I said?” Zhao Keran shrugged. “If they had investigated thoroughly beforehand and understood why the person was taken away, they wouldn’t have poured oil on the fire.”
“Sigh, now what can they do? The Hundred Flowers Sect is too slow. Keep trying!”
[!]
[…]
The projection quickly switched to the recently failed sects, Wan Seng and Shan Hai, who were still at the teleportation formation.
Senior Apprentice Sister Li Hua nodded. “It takes about half a day to a full day to teleport to the Northern Territory. Will they make it in time?”
“Sigh, it’s going to be tough.”
But just then, another heavy sigh came from beside Senior Apprentice Sister Li Hua.
[?]
In the projection, Zhao Keran’s hands and feet kept moving nonstop.
She even managed to point at the giant projection screen in front of her.
She tapped the image of the Wan Seng and Shan Hai disciples currently meditating inside the teleportation formation.
“Wasting time.”
[!]
Now is the ideal moment to analyze the previous setbacks in the Deep Sea Learning Initiative. We must capitalize on this opportunity to pinpoint coordination shortcomings and the root causes of failure, then refine the new learning strategy for the Northern Territory.
“What a pity.”
“Choosing to meditate and cultivate at a time like this means they’re going in the wrong direction.”
Zhao Keran shook her head.
Senior Apprentice Sister Li Hua, who was commentating, opened her mouth. “So, Zhao Keran doesn’t think they have a chance?”
Zhao Keran nodded regretfully. “Yes, my senior sister’s ‘Fastest Learning’ has already told me.”
Li Hua: “…”
[…]
[…………]
The next moment in the projection showed the already hard-working disciples of the Qi Dan Sect and Ming Chong Gate, who had been in the Northern Territory for three days.
One had finally delivered their visit request to the Northern Territory’s imperial palace through alchemy and magical artifacts.
The other had secretly contacted Tao You, the disciple of the Hundred Flowers Sect who was known for encouraging learning, through formations.
Their progress was quite fast.
Senior Apprentice Sister Li Hua finally looked expectantly at Zhao Keran. “These two sects have an early advantage. Compared to the other sects, do you think they have a better chance of completing the ‘Encouragement to Learning’?”
“In fact, Zhao Keran’s expectations are the same as mine…”
But before she could finish, Zhao Keran interrupted her.
“Jumping to conclusions too early can waste time if you’re wrong. Let’s continue watching. It’s too early to declare victory or defeat now.”
Li Hua: “…”
But you didn’t hesitate to declare those other sects hopeless just now!
But the next moment, the projection shifted to Lin Shuang, Meng Zi, and Huangpu Yuan, who had appeared in a modest general store.
This general store was so low-key that it could be described as having no customers at all.
Low-priced clearance baskets of needles and thread at the entrance, outdated hairpins on the shelves, rough statues of kitchen gods, dusty ladles… everything was there, but no one wanted to buy anything.
When Zhao Keran saw Lin Shuang’s figure, her eyes lit up.
“Zhao Keran, do you think your senior sister will really succeed in her commission at the Annihilation Pavilion?” Senior Apprentice Sister Li Hua asked sharply.
Zhao Keran’s eyes sparkled.
In her eyes, there was only one person.
“My senior sister is shining brightly today…”
“Even in such an old general store, she still shines. Oh, even the hairpin she picked up looks so noble.”
[…]
“Just look at all the dust in this shop—it’s slowing down my senior sister’s cultivation progress. Hmm, my senior sister casually brushed past a dust-removing spell cast by a passing cultivator. No wonder she’s my senior sister—saving three points of spiritual energy early in the morning. Truly, the morning holds the key to a successful day.”
“Ah, Senior Apprentice Sister Li Hua, what did you just ask me?”
Li Hua: “…”
[…]
[…………]
[Xu Xiang had nothing to say, but she talks way too much!]
[Qing Shui Sect is definitely not quite right in the head.]
In the projection, Lin Shuang was now observing this general store.
Her itinerary today was to appreciate ancient architectural complexes.
She was quite interested in the outdated but miscellaneous small items in the store, examining them one by one.
When she curiously picked up a dusty pearl hairpin from the second shelf inside the store, Meng Zi’s eyelid twitched.
The second shelf inside represented assassination missions for the Foundation Breaking realm.
How did she get it so right?
The outdated needles and thread displayed outside were assassination missions for the lower realm of Ningyuan.
She skipped right past them—was she looking down on him?
Or was she implying that she had already uncovered his identity as the Yuan Condensation assassin?
Meng Zi lowered his head, gripping his sword, taking a deep breath.
Stay calm.
She probably hadn’t discovered it.
Even this outpost of the Annihilation Pavilion had been revealed to her by Huangpu Yuan.
Lin Shuang was probably just making a suggestion by coincidence.
He mustn’t lose his composure.
Meng Zi took a deep breath and continued his act.
It wasn’t intentional deception, just that the assassin identity… was simply not very honorable.
It wasn’t important information anyway, so it was normal for him not to mention it, right?
“What do you think of this?”
Lin Shuang held up the hairpin and turned to show Meng Zi and Huangpu Yuan.
Meng Zi: “!”
Help.
Should he say it’s good or not?
For the Northern Territory mission, selecting an assassin symbolized by the hairpin would be far more effective.
Choosing a representative symbolized by the needle and thread would only be as effective as himself, so why not just use him!
Huangpu Yuan glanced at the dusty hairpin and smirked. “Junior apprentice sister, you have a great eye. As soon as you came in, you picked out the most valuable item in the store today.”
Meng Zi: “…”
Huangpu Yuan had previously commissioned the Annihilation Pavilion through Rong Bao Zhai multiple times.
He understood the business.
The Annihilation Pavilion’s assassins were spread across the four regions, but each branch had its own number of active assassins in their respective areas.
For example, he mostly took missions near Qing Shui Sect and wouldn’t go to Bai Hua Sect.
Also, the assassins weren’t available every day—they had different levels represented by hairpins and needles and thread, indicating the number of assassins available to take missions in the next five days.
Today, this general store looked well-stocked but had few customers.
Clearly, the Annihilation Pavilion wasn’t doing well lately, and many assassins were available.
Those who come to commission can choose a hairpin to designate an assassin.
The following text is translated into English:
Or broadly issue a mission, whoever was fast enough could take it.
As Meng Zi thought, he sighed.
Assassins like him, at the Condensation Realm level, had a low chance of being specifically requested.
Because of their low cultivation level, there wasn’t much point in specifically requesting them.
But entering the void was different.
“Alright,” Lin Shuang listened to Huangpu Yuan and walked toward the sleepy, slightly fat shopkeeper behind the counter with the hairpin.
“Excuse me, I’d like the best one. How much is it?”
The shopkeeper yawned listlessly, but after glancing at the hairpin, he sat up straight.
“This one, ten thousand per day.”
With a slap, he threw a wooden plaque toward Lin Shuang.
“There are some more styles not displayed outside. You can look for yourself.”
—Peak Foundation Breaking: 50,000 per day (Clearance price)
—Late Foundation Breaking: 30,000 per day (Clearance price)
—Late Foundation Breaking: 38,000 per day (Slightly discounted)
…
—Mid Foundation Breaking: 20,000 per day (Clearance price)
[!]
[…Business really isn’t good lately.]
[50,000 to teleport to the Northern Territory? So can I hire a Peak Foundation Breaking assassin for a day?]
[You just realized that? But even a Peak Foundation Breaking assassin can’t achieve the ability to shrink the earth to an inch—it would still take half a day to get there, and a full day for a round trip.]
[…]
“Is there anything better?” Lin Shuang asked curiously.
The slightly fat shopkeeper looked slightly surprised.
The disciples of various sects watching the projection were all stunned.
Higher than Peak Foundation Breaking? That would be Transcendence!
The shopkeeper looked deeply at Lin Shuang for a moment, then threw out an exquisite jade sparrow.
—Mid Transcendence: 200,000 per day.
[!]
[So it’s true! There were rumors that the Annihilation Pavilion has Transcendence-level assassins.]
Hissing, a bit expensive.
Lin Shuang sighed but made a mental note of the price.
“If I need guidance in the future, can I spend 200,000 to hire a Transcendence-level teacher for a full day?”
[…]
[…?]
The shopkeeper was stunned, but quickly answered, “If you pay now, I can go ask.”
The projection was silent.
Lin Shuang’s eyes flickered.
She couldn’t afford it right now.
She had plans to study the Thousand Mountains and Myriad Waters Painting soon, so she couldn’t spare the time.
But the shopkeeper’s words—”I can go ask”—did that mean there was currently a Transcendence-level assassin stationed here in this store?
Lin Shuang couldn’t help but look around the general store, which even had spider webs.
Behind the shopkeeper, the cabinet wall had an 80% chance of being a secret passage or illusion leading directly to the real interior of the Annihilation Pavilion?
Otherwise, the shopkeeper should have said something like “I’ll ask” or “I’ll send a message to ask,” rather than using the phrase “I’ll go ask.”
Lin Shuang nodded.
A safe house, it turned out to be right in front of her eyes.
200,000—if one day, someone at the Transcendence level really came after them, could they come here and pay to buy a day of protection from a Transcendence-level assassin?
“Forget it today. Can I have a way to contact you? I’ll ask you again if I need something in the future.”
More protection was never a bad thing.
Lin Shuang was in a good mood again, having gained another option for the day.
To her surprise, the shopkeeper actually nodded. “Yes, if your annual commission amount accumulates to one million spirit stones, you’ll be listed as a VIP. We can assign a shop assistant to respond to your assassination commissions in real-time.”
“If the chief you want is available, we will reserve the task time for you.”
[…]
[!]
One million spirit stones.
Lin Shuang feels regret; she can’t come up with that amount right now.
Huangpu Yuan silently looks at the VIP message stone in his spatial pouch.
Why didn’t he think to ask about these things earlier?
It’s like instantly gaining access to an assassin who specializes in killing cultivators…
(Note: I’ve slightly adjusted the phrasing for better flow in English while maintaining the original meaning. “劫修” is translated as “cultivator-killing” or “who specializes in killing cultivators” to convey the specific role. If “劫修” refers to a specific term in a novel’s cultivation system, you might want to keep it as “Jie Xiu” with context.)
Cultivators have their own set of tricks.
Huangpu Yuan looks down at Lin Shuang, then at the old wooden floorboards of the shop.
If he takes out the VIP stone now, how should he explain his past experience of hiring an Assassin’s Guild killer and reaching the amount of one million?
In the projection, disciples and elders are all watching.
Huangpu Yuan remains silent.
Meng Zi also presses his forehead; he’s been stunned by the figure of one million spirit stones.
“Alright then, I’ll spend 50,000 spirit stones now to post a task to bring back the princess of the Tao family from the Northern Regions. Can you recommend some experts for me?”
Lin Shuang speaks up.
“For 50,000 spirit stones, is there any optimal combination or discount package?”
“A cross-border transaction?”
The shopkeeper looks at her deeply.
Then he takes back the wooden tablet and jade sparrow he had given her earlier.
He throws her another one.
[Mid-Stage Foundation Breaking: Said to have connections with the Northern Regions, 50,000 spirit stones per day]
—This assassin completed a task in the Northern Regions five days ago and hasn’t returned yet. Hiring him for a Northern Regions mission comes with a gift of a Core Formation Peak assassin.
[Core Formation Peak (Gift): Proficient in sword techniques, 5,000 spirit stones per day]
“If you want, I can package them together for you.”
Huangpu Yuan nods.
But Lin Shuang speaks even faster, “How about adding a Core Formation Seventh Layer as well?”
The shopkeeper glances at her: “…Core Formation Seventh Layer.”
“Deal!”
[…]
[…Sending three Core Formation Seventh Layers, now they’re sending a Mid-Stage Foundation Breaking, a Core Formation Peak, and a Seventh Layer to the Northern Regions? I have nothing to say.]
[Teleportation costs 50,000, hiring costs 50,000. If successful, it means they have no additional losses.]
“Senior sister also completed the accumulation for becoming an Assassin’s Guild VIP with one million spirit stones,” Zhao Koren explains, her eyes sparkling.
[…]
[…]
Soon, the shopkeeper activates the jade tablet and sends out the task notice.
“Just a moment, I’ll have the Core Formation Peak assassin communicate with you.”
Lin Shuang nods.
In the blink of an eye, in the general store, as Lin Shuang expected, the illusionary wall behind the shopkeeper slowly opens.
A masked figure in black robes steps out, but after taking one step forward—he instantly turns around!
He flees, leaving behind the sound of a sword slicing through the air!
Lin Shuang and the other three: “?”
The shopkeeper: “…? Wait, let me go ask.”
He turns into the inner chamber and closes the wall.
He sees the fleeing masked assassin, dressed in black, quickly entering a pavilion hidden within the illusionary formation.
Inside, a dark-skinned man had just picked up his tea, chatting and laughing with a nearby round-faced couple.
The young man in the black mask rushes in and hastily removes his mask!
The three conversing late-stage cultivators all turn their heads at once—it’s none other than the Zhao Mingde couple, and Zhao Ming’s father, Zhao Shiliu!
“Bad news, Uncle Shiliu, Uncle Shiqiu!”
The Core Formation Peak man takes off his mask to reveal the simple face of Zhao Yibai, Zhao Xi!
“Lin Shuang is outside!”
“Spit——”
The Zhao Mingde couple spray out their tea.
“?What does she want? Who is she with? Hopefully not Xiaoran?”
“Uh, maybe she’s watching the battle projection?”
“…………”
*
Lin Shuang is sitting in the general store, writing down the key points of the task.
After finishing her writing fluently, she gently blows on the still-wet ink on the paper, but the person still hasn’t arrived.
“Hmm? What’s going on?”
After a long wait, she finally sees a stiff-limbed assassin unnaturally walk out again from the opened wall.
The man nods quickly and silently, cheerfully agreeing to all her detailed terms.
Lin Shuang is very satisfied.
But just as the man is about to leave to communicate with the Northern Regions’ Foundation Breaking assassin—
Lin Shuang suddenly speaks while looking at the “Real-Time Updated Heretic Cultivator Wanted List” provided by the shopkeeper, causing both him and Meng Zi to jump up from their chairs almost simultaneously.
“By the way, are you still recruiting members?”
“How does one obtain the identity of an Assassin’s Guild killer?”
Zhao Yibai: “…!”
Meng Zi: “…!”
Help—
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage