[“I’m the Most Generous”: Night, inner gate south—dog hole—treasure, got it? Lin Shuang glanced at the latest message, her ‘snowboard’-like broadsword never slowing down.
Paper for third-tier talismans—her current stock was running low. But to purchase materials for spiritual treasures above third-tier within the sect, she needed to complete at least six tasks annually. She still had two left this year. Tasks like this trading one were the most convenient to fulfill.
Lin Shuang headed north, swiftly passing through the Transmission Hall and the Management Hall, arriving at the hundred-zhang cliff where the inner and outer gates intersected. This towering cliff encircled the area on all sides. Rumor had it that special restrictions were in place—even disciples couldn’t peek into the inner gate by flying their swords from outside.
Four stone bridges spanned the ten-thousand-zhang cliffs, serving as the paths into the inner gate. But each entrance had disciples standing guard all day. Outer gate disciples generally couldn’t enter, but exceptions always existed.
“Senior Brother, Senior Sister, I’m here to deliver something.” Lin Shuang calmly took out her disciple badge, showing the two gatekeepers at the south gate today the task commission.
The guards on both sides nodded, immediately letting her pass.
“Come out right after you finish delivering.”
“Understood.”
Lin Shuang proceeded inward. Thirty miles east of the south gate lay the ‘dog hole’ mentioned by the buyer. Beside it stood a striking three-story pavilion with red bricks and green tiles. In front of the pavilion, a red flag with white characters fluttered in the wind—Rongbaozhai.
Approaching, Lin Shuang spotted a Hundred-Treasure Shelf leaning against the outer wall of the small pavilion. She stepped forward, placing five spirit stones into the Wealth Basin on the shelf.
The Hundred-Treasure Shelf rumbled open, and a centrally placed empty Jiezi bag responded by unfurling. Lin Shuang immediately pulled out her square wooden table and shoved it inside.
She sealed the Jiezi bag, patted her hands, and left.
She didn’t forget to send the first half of the pickup password to the trader.
[“Become the Fastest Female Cultivator”]: Yi Wu Er.
After completing the operation, she retraced her steps.
The shopkeeper on the first floor of Rongbaozhai’s pavilion lay lazily on a bamboo rocking chair, his pale fingers—seemingly unaccustomed to daylight—holding a book over his forehead. His half-lidded gaze swept over her before drowsily shifting to other disciples delivering ‘packages,’ then closing again.
During this time, he coughed several times, as if trying to hack out his lungs.
Passing by the shop, Lin Shuang couldn’t help but show a look of sympathy. Without a healthy body, all efforts were futile—truly pitiable.
She returned from the south gate to the outer gate, arriving half an incense stick’s time earlier than the agreed transaction.
The deal was completed right on schedule.
Lin Shuang was very satisfied with herself today.
Shortly after she left, a figure hurriedly landed in front of Rongbaozhai.
Two mismatched black boots—one even exposing a gray sock inside. His black martial robe and red sash were tangled and disheveled.
“Senior Brother Huangpu, I’m here to collect the third-tier talisman!” Meng Zi formed a seal, leaping down midair with his sword strapped to his back.
“It’s on the Treasure Shelf!”
The man on the first floor of Rongbaozhai didn’t even lift his eyelids, lazily wiping blood from the corner of his mouth as he pointed to the right wall.
Meng Zi rubbed his hands together, immediately transferring the initial payment of six hundred spirit stones to the fastest girl.
Soon, he received the second half of the pickup password—Shen Liu Yi.
Facing the Treasure Shelf, Meng Zi nervously closed his eyes.
This large transaction, worth twelve hundred spirit stones, made his heart race.
He clasped his hands together, silently reciting his ancestor’s Daoist name once. Then, facing the Treasure Shelf, he formed a seal and rearranged the wooden block characters on it, piecing together the pickup key.
“Open!”
With Meng Zi’s shout, the Treasure Shelf rumbled and shifted.
The crimson Jiezi bag at its center swiftly unfurled before him.
A serious glint flashed in Meng Zi’s peach-blossom eyes as he suppressed his eagerness, carefully extending his right hand into the Jiezi bag.
He feared damaging the third-tier talisman.
Though third-tier talismans were nearly as durable as mid-grade yellow paper and wouldn’t tear easily, this was something he’d fought hard for—saving spirit stones for over ten days to afford it.
Meng Zi felt he couldn’t be too careful.
Yet, when his long middle and index fingers fumbled around inside the Jiezi bag for a while, finally brushing against something cold and attempting to grasp the thin talisman—
He lifted a plain, somewhat heavy table leg.
“???”
Applying more force to pull it out, there was another… table leg…?
Then came a square tabletop, followed by… two more table legs.
“???”
[“Little White”]: Senior Brother Meng, have you got the third-tier gathering talisman? I’m heading to the Transmission Hall—mind if I borrow it later for a look?
Meng Zi stared at the wooden table in his hands: “!”
The man on Rongbaozhai’s first floor, who’d been coughing nonstop, also looked at the square wooden table in his grip. His half-closed eyes suddenly widened a fraction.
*
The next day, Lin Shuang awoke in her wooden house, warmed year-round by a perpetual spring-like array. She stretched comfortably.
After eating the soft white steamed buns automatically kneaded and cooked by the dough mixer, she sat at Zhao Kekan’s desk amid the sound of musical cultivation, writing this week’s journal.
[This Week’s Pomodoro Clock Statistics:
1. Cultivation: 20.5 hours (+19% from last week)
– Learned the seventh stage of Haoran Jue (+21% speed)
– Learned the first third-tier talisman (-12%). Cause: Lack of third-tier talisman paper
– Need to complete sect tasks ASAP next week to obtain purchasing qualifications
…
2. Social Interaction: 2.6 hours (+1%)
– 90% with Zhao Kekan (roommate)
– 10% with Senior Brother Xu Rui (superior-subordinate)
3. Beauty/Skincare: 2 hours (+2%)
4. Mood-Boosting Entertainment: 6.9 hours (+13%)
– Note: Dreamed of Grandma seven times, leading to emotional regression—hence increased leisure time to prevent derailment
5. Fat-Burning & Fitness: 2.1 hours (-10%)
– Note: Needs attention. Already found a fixed workout partner—expected improvement.
6. Earnings: 1800 spirit stones (600 pending), increase from last week
…]
While journaling, Lin Shuang tapped her forehead with a fine wolf-hair brush. From last week’s efficiency summary, she identified shortcomings to adjust next week’s and next month’s plans—a routine since her grandmother’s passing.
If she skipped planning for a week, she’d feel uneasy all over, as if something were off.
“Mid-grade talisman paper is insufficient; talisman progress lags severely behind other projects.”
“Also, fitness needs improvement.”
The lion-dog talisman, Xiao Ai, spat out a note as it input her adjusted schedule.
[Countermeasures for the Original Body’s Looming Death Crisis]
[Method 1: Become the world’s strongest, fearless (current strongest: Yuheng Sect’s reclusive elder, about to ascend, 1455 years of cultivation)]
– Estimated catch-up time: 1241.3 more years (current strength: 85x Qi Condensation third-layer peak ≈ Yuan Formation first layer?)
Qi Condensation → Yuan Formation → Divine Spirit → Void Entry → Tribulation Crossing → Ascension.
She was still a junior.
Lin Shuang held her forehead.
[Method 2: Create a fifth-tier time-reversal talisman to find the true culprit (requires Divine Spirit cultivation)
– Current: Fifth-tier talisman materials (0/5), creation method (0%)]
One option required 1200 more years. The other lacked materials and methods.
Lin Shuang: “…”
She chose to continue lying flat.
[Xiao Ai Reminder: Accelerate goals via:
1. Increase cultivation speed
2. Befriend genius Dao companions
3. Find divine pets/heavenly treasures
4. Become sect leader’s direct disciple ASAP to obtain fifth-tier reversal talisman/materials
…]
Lin Shuang patted Xiao Ai’s paper head, her phoenix eyes sparkling.
“You’re a grown-up Xiao Ai now—learn to complete goals independently.”
As she spoke, Zhao Kekan pushed the door open.
Upon entering, she immediately noticed the unusual emptiness and stepped back out, re-entering as if doubting her door-opening technique.
“Senior Sister, where’s your desk?”
Zhao Kekan rubbed her eyes, but the room remained empty—her senior sister was writing at Zhao Kekan’s desk.
Her round face flashed confusion.
“Hmm, I applied for a new one—delivery tomorrow. Borrowing yours for now.”
Lin Shuang opened Xiao Ai’s Pomodoro timer.
“Perfect timing—we haven’t had our daily incense-stick chat yet.”
After losing her only relative, she’d realized not everyone would wait for her return. Unspoken care and love, if delayed, might never have another chance.
No matter how busy, she always made time daily to listen and share.
Of course, indulgence wasn’t allowed—it’d disrupt both parties’ priorities. Her junior sister was also at a critical cultivation stage.
“Shall we start now?”
Lin Shuang looked expectantly at her.
“…”
Zhao Kekan instinctively glanced outside.
Daily Shen period—roommate communication time.
Her expression read, ‘As expected, Senior Sister is always punctual,’ as she walked to the desk.
“Senior Sister, I just returned from the Transmission Hall. Brought a first-grade sound transmission talisman—year-end disciple assessments are nearing.”
Lin Shuang reached out.
“That can wait. I need to take a sect task.”
She flipped through next week’s plan.
“Ah, right—year-end’s approaching. I still have one team-building outing left this year. Almost forgot—thankfully you reminded me. I’ll adjust: accept an outbound sect task, team of two or three, two-to-three-day trip nearby.”
Zhao Kekan nearly dropped her cup.
“…”
Senior Sister, treating sect tasks as team outings—does Senior Brother Xu Rui know?
“If you’re not joining me, let’s cram our next three days’ chats into today. Deal?”
“!”
Zhao Kekan facepalmed.
[Dear Cousin,
My roommate is truly persistent. Three years of unwavering punctuality—daily schedules never missed: cultivation, rest, bonding.
If not for her stagnation at Qi Condensation third layer, I’d swear she’d become the strongest female cultivator. No—the fastest strongest female cultivator.
She multitasks cultivation like no other—even today left me in awe.
Yet, for some reason, she remains stuck. Any advice to help her break through? Though our sects feud, legends say we were once one—our techniques should complement.
—Zhao Kekan]
Shanhai Sect’s outer gate manager, Zhao Ming, shook his head after reading his cousin’s letter via paper crane.
What nonsense was this about multitasking cultivation?
Her stagnation was precisely because it’s impossible—lack of focused Dao heart!
Sighing, he reached for his communication stone to admonish Zhao Kekan when his quiet room door burst open.
“Senior Brother! Someone drew twelve first-tier talismans and one third-tier simultaneously—I saw it!”
Zhao Ming: “…”
A sword-wrapped figure (barely recognizable as a flying sword) shot in.
Spotless shoes, polished with dust-repelling charms, landed gracefully.
“Senior Brother, how is this possible?” Xiao Qi was still marveling.
Zhao Ming glanced at the letter, then chuckled.
“Cultivation requires focus.”
“Though talisman masters have strong divine sense, each talisman demands singular concentration.”
“Just as we swordsmen can’t execute two techniques at once.”
Xiao Qi scoffed, cradling his treasured sword to check its wrappings.
“But I saw it—her brushstrokes pierced the paper, ink seeping into the table.”
“Thus forming a second-layer third-tier talisman!”
Zhao Ming: “???”
The talisman was on the table?!
Impossible.
That night, under cover of darkness, Zhao Ming crept from his bed.
Seeing his junior brother asleep, he slipped out of Shanhai Sect’s quiet room, donned night attire, and melted into the shadows.
“Brother…”
His assassination partner for the bounty mission wore a haphazardly buttoned black outfit and a crooked double-layered mask.
He pulled out an utterly ordinary square wooden table.
Zhao Ming: “……?”
*
Meanwhile, in Clearwater Sect’s Wooden House No. 99, Lin Shuang checked her communication stone.
The ‘Generous One’ still hadn’t transferred the remaining 600 spirit stones.
Still inspecting the goods?
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage