Troublemaker’s Guide to Immortality

In the past, whether it was cultivation or swordsmanship, Yue Zhao had always been a full realm above Si Wanning. Because of that, he hadn't taken the challenge too seriously.

His strength might not amount to much in the wider world, but within the younger generation of the Tianxing Sect, he was firmly in first place.

Or so he thought.

But the moment they exchanged blows, Yue Zhao's expression changed. Second Junior Sister's sword technique had taken a massive leap. The strange flow and sudden variations in her attacks threw him off completely.

Si Wanning noticed his startled reaction and couldn't resist teasing him. Mimicking Yun Jin, she shouted deliberately, "Lotus Bloom Sword Art, Seventh Layer!"

Seventh... seventh layer?

Before Yue Zhao could react, seven lotus petals bloomed silently around Si Wanning.

His mind reeled.

He was certain she, like him, had been stuck at the peak of the sixth layer. And now, in just one morning, she had reached the seventh?

How was that even possible?

His thoughts raced like lightning.

This world, as far as he knew, was supposed to follow the laws of cultivation.

There was only one person who never quite made sense...

While trying to fend off her sword strikes, Yue Zhao glanced toward Yun Jin.

She was—drinking tea and eating sunflower seeds.

That explained it!

Si Wanning's sudden breakthrough had to be related to their little junior sister. Yue Zhao suddenly regretted taking so long to return. Gritting his teeth, he focused on countering Si Wanning's attacks. Thankfully, his cultivation was stronger, and though his sword art was only at the sixth layer, it was an Mystic-tier high-grade technique. In the end, he managed to suppress her.

Si Wanning grinned, unbothered. "Alright, match over. Eldest Senior Brother, you can leave now. Oh, right—didn't you gather the pills? Hand them over, then scram."

She reached for the storage pouch at his waist.

Yue Zhao clutched it tightly. "Men and women shouldn't be so intimate! Second Junior Sister, have you no shame?"

Si Wanning blinked innocently. "Little Junior Sister and I still have sword practice. Since Eldest Senior Brother took so long to return, I assume you didn't want to join us? I'm just helping you out."

"Oh?" Yun Jin stood up, feigning surprise. "So Eldest Senior Brother doesn't want to train with us? Fine. Hand over the storage pouch, then go play tiles with someone else!"

Had this been an incense stick's time earlier, Yue Zhao would've happily bolted.

But now…

He stood tall and righteous. "Second Junior Sister, don't you slander me! I only delayed because I was trying to collect more pill types. I would never avoid sword practice. In fact, my greatest wish in this life is to train with Junior Sister. Even if you held a sword to my throat, I still wouldn't leave."

He looked as though he were facing death without fear.

Yun Jin and Si Wanning both laughed.

"Here, Junior Sister," Yue Zhao said, handing over a storage pouch. "I gathered what I could. Mostly first and second-grade pills, seventeen kinds in total. Third-grade pills are more expensive, so I only found four types after searching the entire sect. Everything is in there."

Yun Jin accepted the pouch but didn't check it immediately. Instead, she asked, "Since you're back, why not join us for sword practice?"

"Of course!" Yue Zhao nodded eagerly.

"With no reluctance at all?" Yun Jin asked again.

Yue Zhao replied at once, "What are you saying, Junior Sister? As the eldest disciple, it's my duty to set an example. How could I delay sword training? Come, let's begin immediately!"

Pumped with enthusiasm, Yue Zhao started practicing.

He didn't know how Yun Jin had helped Si Wanning advance, but the proof was undeniable!

Even if clinging to Junior Sister's coattails felt a little shameful, he had thick skin. As long as no one said anything, who cared?

Yun Jin didn't tease him further. She applied the advanced simplification to the Void-Piercing Sword Art, then gave Yue Zhao a few personalized pointers based on what she observed.

His talent actually exceeded Si Wanning's.

After just a few rounds of guidance, his demeanor changed completely. His strikes grew faster, his sword angles sharper and more unpredictable.

Unlike Si Wanning, he didn't reach the Selfless Realm, but during a routine swing, his technique subtly shifted—and the breakthrough came naturally, almost without him realizing.

He had reached the seventh layer.

Just like that.

Yue Zhao's hand trembled around his sword hilt. He and Si Wanning had been stuck at this bottleneck for ten years. In the beginning, they had trained earnestly. But eventually, no amount of repetition brought them any closer to breakthrough. Like others in their situation, they had no choice but to wait for a fabled opportunity.

But this time was different.

Even without mentioning Yun Jin's direct guidance, just the act of practicing seemed to generate insight. Each time they went through their forms, they gained something new. The progress was minor, but steady. It had to be that her pointers were so profound, it took repeated practice to fully absorb them.

They didn't fear hard work. What they feared was working hard for nothing. And now, with progress guaranteed, the seventh layer might not even be the end. Could they… aim for the ninth?

Both Yue Zhao and Si Wanning felt a surge of excitement.

They turned to look at Yun Jin in unison.

All of this was thanks to her.

Yun Jin waved a hand casually. "No need to thank me. Senior Brother, Senior Sister, I'm going back to study the pills. You two, don't slack off—keep practicing."

This time, neither of them hesitated.

They both agreed immediately—and eagerly.

Who wouldn't love the feeling of continuous growth?

This was the change brought by their Junior Sister, and they had no intention of letting her down. Once Yun Jin was sure they wouldn't try to sneak away, she strolled back to her hut. She set up a barrier around it. Not for defense, but simply as a sign that she was entering seclusion, so others wouldn't barge in.

Then she examined the pills Yue Zhao had brought.

Among them, first-grade pills were the most common, second-grade pills came next, and there were only four types of third-grade pills.

She started with the third-grade ones.

They were Yi Qi Pill, Qingxin Pill, Juqi Paste, and Disinfectant Powder.

Juqi Paste was a pill used to boost cultivation. Once she reached the Golden Core stage, she would need to refine it in bulk. Among the second-grade pills, Yun Jin singled out a Huanglong Pill. She remembered Gu Jinghong mentioning it once—it was a pill that increased spiritual energy.

Perfect. This was the one.

She quickly applied simplification to the Huanglong Pill. Originally, it required twenty-three ingredients. After simplification, only ten were needed. Some of those ten were still missing, so Yun Jin used her messaging talisman to inform Yue Zhao.

He had long-standing trade connections with Baicao Pavilion. If he requested the ingredients, the pavilion would likely be more than happy to provide them. That evening, Yue Zhao delivered the materials to her doorstep.

Yun Jin immediately began mass refining Huanglong Pills. Inside her room, three pill furnaces were arranged in a neat row. As she placed the herbs in, all three furnaces began to work in sync—diligent, precise, the very picture of industriousness.

Previously, she had tried to operate more than three furnaces at once, but the results had shown that three was her current limit. Any more would require advancing her cultivation.

The furnaces rumbled to life.

Feeling idle, Yun Jin took out the ring and tried again.

She remembered that in her previous life, Ye Danxia had managed to open this ring during the Foundation Establishment stage. But she didn't know exactly when—after all, by then, she had fallen into servitude and could no longer access such secrets.

She had tried several times before, but always felt just short of the power required.

This time, she didn't expect much.

But as she casually channeled a thread of spiritual power into the ring...

The barrier—

Suddenly broke on its own.