Troublemaker’s Guide to Immortality

Yun Jin's expression was a little complicated. She couldn't help but say, "Senior Brother, there's really no need for this."

Yue Zhao gave a calm smile. "Xiao Jin, you might not realize this, but you've already become a unique presence within the Tianxing Sect. The Sect Master has controlled Tianxing Sect for so long, and you're the only person who's ever managed to stand toe-to-toe with him and even walk away with the upper hand.

Even Elder Ming and Elder Jian, who normally remain uninvolved in sect affairs, are willing to speak out for your sake. And Senior Ling… she even asked Senior Bai Yu to come forward for you. That's not all. With your talent, you've created one miracle after another. To everyone in the Tianxing Sect, you're something else entirely. Do you understand?"

Yun Jin blinked. She was different?

Yue Zhao continued in a gentle voice, "Everyone believes you'll keep creating miracles. And through those miracles, you'll become a beacon, a source of light."

A true pillar of faith for the Tianxing Sect.

If Yun Jin continued walking this path, continued becoming stronger, then the day she surpassed Zhao Wuji would be the day she became the sect's uncrowned ruler.

And Yue Zhao had no problem nudging things along behind the scenes. In fact, he already had. Rumors were spreading among the disciples—that the moment Yun Jin stepped in, the seed embargo would be broken.

"Senior Brother, aren't you exaggerating a little?" Yun Jin asked, a bit embarrassed.

"Not in the slightest." Yue Zhao chuckled. "You probably don't know what the Tianxing Sect was like before you arrived."

Back then, the sect was suffocating, drained of vitality. Everything was under Zhao Wuji's thumb. People wanted to resist, but they didn't know how. So they just endured, day after day. It was no exaggeration to call it a stagnant pond. But after Yun Jin came, everything began to shift.

Some began to resist. Others started making plans behind the scenes. Minds stirred, hearts wavered, and sleepless nights became more common.

All of this change had begun with Yun Jin.

To Yue Zhao, his junior sister belonged on a pedestal.

Yun Jin listened, a little flustered but not entirely uncomfortable. After all… she was kind of amazing.

She couldn't help feeling a bit smug. Of course she was the best.

"Senior Brother, how do you plan to handle the seed situation?" she asked.

On the one hand, they needed to solve the seed crisis for the other peaks, to reinforce Yun Jin's image as someone who worked miracles.

On the other, Hundred Herbs Pavilion couldn't know that she was Yun Jin.

Her identity would be revealed eventually, but not yet. The timing had to be perfect.

"There's no real difficulty here," Yue Zhao said smoothly. "I've already made the arrangements. As soon as you emerged from seclusion, the seeds were delivered to Tianjian Peak. When the time comes, you'll distribute them to the other peaks yourself. Didn't you want to study weapon forging under Yang Hui? These seeds could serve as your bargaining chip."

Yun Jin nodded in understanding. "And how did you explain things to Hundred Herbs Pavilion?"

"I told them I had a personal grudge against Zhao Wuji and couldn't stand seeing him throw his weight around," Yue Zhao said with a raised eyebrow. "Then I hinted that I planned to support Tianjian Peak to oppose him. Pavilion Master Chen is a clever man. He understood."

Yun Jin laughed.

That explanation sounded a little too straightforward, even risky.

But it actually wasn't.

To Chen Changrong, they had to be disciples of some powerful sect—maybe even from a Holy Land. If Yue Zhao said he had a grudge against Zhao Wuji, how would Chen Changrong interpret that?

There was no way he'd think Yue Zhao was just an ordinary Tianxing Sect disciple. What kind of disciple could possibly harbor a grudge against the Sect Master?

Chen Changrong would assume it had something to do with Qingxiao Pavilion, Zhao Wuji's father's sect. Most likely, he would believe that Yue Zhao's "grudge" stemmed from some high-level conflict involving Qingxiao Pavilion.

In doing so, Yue Zhao had subtly elevated their status. If they had enemies in Qingxiao Pavilion, they had to be from one of the Four Holy Lands. Chen Changrong would be fully convinced now—they were definitely Holy Land disciples.

A little investigation would reveal that Tianjian Peak had been suppressed for years, but had recently started making a surprising comeback.

Was that because Tianjian Peak had grown stronger?

No.

More likely, it was thanks to "Ren Woxing" and his junior sister, working behind the scenes to support it. Even Yun Jin's recent brazen behavior could be chalked up to being directed by the two of them—just to make Zhao Wuji miserable.

Yue Zhao hadn't said any of this out loud, but he didn't need to. Chen Changrong would fill in the blanks all by himself.

From now on, in order to maintain the partnership, Chen would even help cover for them. He would make sure no one suspected a link between the seed shipments and that mysterious alchemy genius.

Yue Zhao glanced at Yun Jin's thoughtful expression and smiled faintly. He had lived two lives and learned how to read the intricacies of human nature. But his junior sister seemed to understand all of this instinctively. She might seem bold and reckless on the surface, but everyone she wanted to win over ended up liking her.

She always drew clear lines between allies and enemies.

That, too, was a kind of talent.

"So," Yue Zhao said, "to avoid drawing suspicion to the connection between Hundred Herbs Pavilion and Tianjian Peak, this shipment of seeds is being framed as a business deal. Hundred Herbs Pavilion sells the seeds at a low price, and once the spiritual plants mature, the peaks are to sell a portion of the yield back to them at a discounted rate. The terms are fair, and the other peaks will accept them gladly. Tianjian Peak is simply acting as a middleman. It's just business, so no one will think too much."

Yun Jin nodded. "That works."

"I'll go arrange for the shipment now," Yue Zhao said.

He left to contact Chen Changrong.

Just a few hours later, the seeds arrived—along with a set of neatly drafted contracts.

Yun Jin skimmed them. As expected, they were perfectly reasonable.

"Xiao Jin, shall I accompany you on a visit to the other peaks?" Yue Zhao offered.

"Sure." Yun Jin perked up and agreed.

Truth be told, in both her past and current life, she had never visited all ten peaks of the Tianxing Sect. This was a good opportunity to finally see them with her own eyes.

They started with the closest: Mingyue Peak.

Mingyue Peak was Tianjian Peak's neighbor. Its peak lord, Fang Mingyue, was known to lean toward their side. She had publicly spoken in Tianjian Peak's defense more than once.

If they were seeking allies, she would be the first choice.

But that was a matter for the future. Without sufficient strength, talk of alliances was meaningless.

For now, Yun Jin was only here to deliver seeds.

At the spiritual fields of Mingyue Peak, the crops had been entirely cleared out. A few leftover seeds had been planted here and there, but the fields were mostly barren.

Fang Mingyue looked at the desolate land, frowning. She had seized the chance to reclaim the fields, yes—but Zhao Wuji's methods had been excessively harsh.

Seeds were the foundation of everything. By cutting off their supply, he had struck directly at the root. Even if they nurtured new planting masters in the future, what use would it be?

"Peak Lord, Yue Zhao and Yun Jin of Tianjian Peak are here to see you," a disciple reported.