Chapter 2

### Initiating Spectator Mode?

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened an old diary and read the words of promise written inside.

### The Secret of the White Stone

The key to the success rate of the Juyuan Pill lies not in the herbs but in the combination and a special additive. This additive is called White Stone, found on the White Wood Peak in the middle section of the Wanshou Mountain. The mountain is covered with trees that have white bark, hence the name White Wood Peak. The White Stone looks like an ordinary rock, but when ground into powder and mixed into the Juyuan Pill before firing, it can significantly increase the success rate. By chance, Lin He discovered this secret and, by applying it broadly, found that the White Stone could also improve the success rate of many other elixirs.

### The Challenge of Alchemy

Alchemy is not difficult; one can master it with a bit of practice. The challenge lies in collecting the herbs and the low success rate. Lin He's supply of White Stone was exhausted, so he needed to find more. After leaving the mountain gate, Lin He released his mode of transportation, a paper kite he had personally refined. Disciples who were well-regarded in the Wanshou Sect had flying swords, but Lin He, being a discarded waste, had to solve his transportation problem himself.

The paper kite, when taken from his backpack, was only the size of a palm. It had a slot at the back where a first-grade spirit stone could be inserted. After inserting the stone, the kite slowly grew to a length of about two meters and floated in the air. Lin He leaped onto it, and the kite wobbled at a height of about three meters, flying at a speed of about thirty kilometers per hour.

The scenery in the mountains was beautiful, but Lin He had seen it all before. The warm sunlight made him so comfortable that he dozed off on the kite, only to be awakened by the sound of a fight.

### The Confrontation

Stopping the kite in the forest and putting it away, Lin He followed the sounds for a while. About fifty meters away, in a valley, two groups of people were facing off. In the open space between them, two cultivators were engaged in a duel. After years of cultivation, Lin He, though lacking in skills, had developed keen eyesight. From a distance, he could see that the two were fighting with real intensity.

Upon closer inspection, he recognized one side. The eldest disciple of the Southern Sect of the Wanshou Sect, Si Zilong, and the second eldest disciple, Yun Xiangyi, were standing on the sidelines. The young man in the arena had a green thread-embroidered mountain, the symbol of the Southern Sect, on his chest. The opposing side was undoubtedly from the Northern Sect, as they had a sword embroidered on their chests. The second eldest of the Wanshou Sect, Wan Laoer, was a sword cultivator who had split the sect. It was rumored that Wan Laoer had broken through to the Golden Core stage and was now an Essence Core expert.

The two young men in the duel were both wielding swords, their sword qi flying back and forth, as if they were determined to kill each other. It looked like a fierce battle, but in reality, neither could harm the other because they both had defensive magical treasures, ironwood shields, a specialty of the Wanshou Sect. According to Lin He's understanding, they were both around the Fifth Stage of Qi Cultivation. The sword qi they released could not penetrate the ironwood shield's defense, so the battle was more about show than actual danger. Unless they used other magical treasures, like the defensive-breaking treasure Lin He had in his backpack—Yuanhun Sand, which could lower the opponent's defense. Incidentally, Yuanhun Sand had nothing to do with ghosts; it was called that because it emitted a ghostly wailing sound when used, which could scare the timid.

Private duels between disciples of the Northern and Southern Sects were common. As long as no one died, the elders on both sides usually didn't interfere. In the world of cultivation, strength spoke, and the one with the greater power was right. No one cared about reason; to make others follow your will, you had to show your strength.

The eldest disciple, Si Zilong, stood tall and handsome in a white robe, gracefully pointing and whispering to the curvaceous, red-robed Yun Xiangyi, who giggled and swayed. The most infuriating thing was that this guy had a face that could attract women easily.

Enviously eyeing the flying sword at Si Zilong's waist, Lin He hesitated about whether to initiate spectator mode. With his cultivation, it wasn't hard to avoid being noticed by the few in the arena, as their attention was on the duel. But it would be difficult to leave after the fight.

### The Unexpected Intruder

As Lin He hesitated, another cultivator appeared in the sky, riding a flying sword. From a distance, a voice could be heard: "Ha ha ha, what a delightful scene. Hey, this girl has a bit of charm. Come with me, and I'll ensure your cultivation progresses rapidly and your life is filled with joy."

The shadow in the sky was still hundreds of meters away, but the voice had already reached the ground. A disciple from the Northern Sect shouted fearlessly, "Who are you, wild Taoist, to cause trouble in the Wanshou Sect's territory?" As he spoke, a shadow descended from the sky and slapped the disciple hard, causing him to spit out blood and two teeth.

"Bad news, it's the Wanshou Old Monster, a Golden Core expert. Everyone, run!" Si Zilong, who had been calmly directing the scene, suddenly activated his flying sword and fled. The one who shouted the warning was a disciple from the Northern Sect.

The Wanshou Old Monster was a well-known wandering Taoist in the Wanshou Mountain area, or in modern terms, a lecherous cultivator. He had a Taoist temple on a peak in the western part of Wanshou Mountain, where he kept over a hundred female disciples as cauldrons for dual cultivation. The old man was highly cultivated, and the Wanshou Sect was plagued by internal strife, so the Northern and Southern Sects generally left him alone.

The old monster was a lecherous demon who had kidnapped and later released many female disciples from both the Northern and Southern Sects. Fortunately, these female disciples often saw their cultivation improve after being kidnapped, and in a world that valued strength and not chastity, such incidents were often overlooked unless they involved important disciples. When such things happened, the high-ranking figures of the Northern and Southern Sects usually turned a blind eye.

The shadows of the fleeing disciples from both sects disappeared in a flurry, leaving only the second eldest disciple, Yun Xiangyi, who was visibly frightened and pale. The eldest disciple, who had been so affectionate with her moments ago, had already fled. Yun Xiangyi, overwhelmed with fear, collapsed to the ground, trembling.

Hiding in the forest, Lin He sighed at the dramatic ups and downs of life. Deciding to quietly leave, he took a step, only to see a shadow land in front of him. A Taoist with a goatee stood before him.

"Little one, others ran in fear of my reputation. Why didn't you run?"

The old monster looked menacing, and Lin He sighed at his bad luck, thinking: I'm not trying to run; I just didn't have the chance.

"Little one isn't trying to run. I was so frightened by your dragon's might that my limbs turned to jelly," Lin He said with a fawning smile, bowing and scraping to the Wanshou Old Monster.

Hearing the term "dragon's might," the old monster was pleased and said, "You speak well, little one. I'll let you off today."

The old man was eccentric and unpredictable, never following any rules. He did things based on his mood. Lin He had heard many stories about him and dared not risk his life.

"Thank you, venerable immortal! I never thought you would be so kind. You are the only great expert who has spoken to me kindly," Lin He said, rubbing his hands and looking very excited, though his eyes kept darting to Yun Xiangyi, who had recovered somewhat and was touching her sword, ready to resist. Lin He thought, this girl has some courage, but as an Eighth Stage Qi Cultivator, she has no chance against a Golden Core expert. She should just accept it. Alas, the greatest sorrow in life is to watch others enjoy what you can only dream of.

"You have good taste, little one. I see you've noticed this girl. I like you, and I need a clever servant. Follow me, and you can choose any of the female disciples in my temple, including this one after I've had my way with her," the old monster said, his eyes narrowing and a cold smile appearing on his lips.

Lin He looked longingly at the old monster, bowing deeply and saying, "Thank you, venerable immortal! I am deeply grateful and will never be able to repay your kindness." He spouted flattery, causing Yun Xiangyi to look at him with disgust.

Lin He ignored her, turning to Yun Xiangyi and saying, "Second Elder Sister, it's been a while. Being chosen by the venerable immortal is your good fortune. Follow him, and you'll live a life of joy and freedom."

Seeing his sincerity, the Wanshou Old Monster relaxed his guard. This little one didn't seem like a hidden expert; he was just a First Stage Qi Cultivator. His earlier act seemed genuine, not fake.

"Shut up! As an inner disciple of the Wanshou Sect, I can die, but I won't disgrace my sect. I won't submit, even if it means death," Yun Xiangyi said, her heart broken. She had been deeply in love with the eldest disciple, but he had fled when the time came. Being captured by the old monster would mean humiliation, and she preferred death to returning with her honor tarnished.

As for the shameless little one in front of her, Yun Xiangyi recognized him. He had been one of the inner disciples of the sect, but after three years of cultivation with no progress, the sect had given him two more years before finally giving up on him. She never thought she would encounter him here, and she was appalled by his lack of integrity.

"Venerable immortal, this girl is disrespectful. Why don't you take her right here and let me see her smooth skin? Hehe, I've been eyeing her for a while. Look at her figure, her face, her breasts, and her long legs. She's a real beauty. After you're done with her, I'll be content with a taste," Lin He said, his face lecherous, his mouth watering as he slowly moved toward Yun Xiangyi, gesturing at her figure and legs.