Troublemaker’s Guide to Immortality

"Elder Bai Yu is the guardian divine beast of the Tianxing Sect," Yue Zhao explained. "He is bound by contract and cannot attack any disciple of the sect. Elder Both Bai Yu and Ling Fei once opposed this issue, and Long Yi agreed to change the training methods for his disciples on Ba Ti Peak. As for himself, he claimed he would only use 'evil' spirit beasts for tempering. But whether a spirit beast is evil or not, that's up to his judgment alone. The Sect Master supports Long Yi entirely in this, which is why he remains so loyal. He knows without the Sect Master's protection, with the things he's done, he wouldn't last a day in the Tianxing Sect."

Yun Jin narrowed her eyes slightly and nodded in silence.

Yue Zhao didn't press further. The more they talked about this, the more powerless it felt. Even someone as strong as Bai Yu couldn't stop Long Yi from using spirit beast blood. At most, they could keep him from doing it openly. But in private, no one could watch him all the time. And with Zhao Wuji shielding him, putting a complete stop to it was close to impossible.

Yun Jin did not linger on the subject either. Soon, they arrived at their next destination.

Jiyin Peak.

Yue Zhao gave a brief introduction. "The Peak Lord here is named Yu Xiao. He specializes in sound-based arts. He's rather cold and avoids outsiders. I'm not sure if he'll even agree to see us."

But to their surprise, when Jiyin Peak's disciples announced their arrival, Yu Xiao agreed to receive them.

Even Yue Zhao looked a bit stunned. He and Yun Jin immediately followed.

They found Yu Xiao in a quiet grove, seated before a guqin. He played slowly, the notes rising and falling, each tugging subtly at the emotions. The high notes stirred the heart, while the low ones dragged it into gloom.

The moment Yun Jin stepped into the grove, a familiar voice echoed in her mind.

[Detected soul-based attack. Use ten simplified attempts to block it?]

"Yes," she replied calmly.

Almost instantly, the music lost its power. To her, it became no different from ordinary sound—pleasing, but nothing more. Yu Xiao glanced at her with some surprise. His fingers moved faster across the strings.

Beside her, Yue Zhao was clearly affected. His face shifted between joy and sorrow, tears brimming at his eyes. His emotions churned with the rhythm.

Yun Jin silently pulled out a recording stone and aimed it at Yue Zhao.

The music came to an abrupt halt.

Startled, Yun Jin quickly tucked the stone away, but Yue Zhao had already seen it.

His face turned pale. "Xiao Jin, hand over the recording stone."

"What recording stone? I don't have anything like that." Yun Jin blinked innocently.

Yue Zhao reached out, clearly intent on taking it by force.

Yun Jin ducked behind Yu Xiao without hesitation.

Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow. Yue Zhao's face stiffened, and he quickly bowed. "Peak Lord Yu, my junior sister is playful and got carried away. Please forgive her."

Yu Xiao moved a single finger, and Yun Jin was pulled forward by a formless force.

Yue Zhao's heart tightened. Yu Xiao was notoriously aloof. If she had offended him, she might not get away unscathed. But Yun Jin showed not a trace of fear. She even flashed a bright, cheeky smile at him.

Yu Xiao spoke coolly. "You didn't seem affected by my music."

Yun Jin blinked. "Because Peak Lord Yu held back. That tune didn't even carry a tenth of your strength."

She wasn't wrong. If it had been a true soul attack, ten simplifications wouldn't have been enough to block it.

Yu Xiao's lips moved ever so slightly. "Then why was your senior brother affected?"

What a great question.

Yun Jin was immediately reminded of her thesis defense in a certain world. She straightened and launched into a fluent explanation. "First, though Senior Brother's cultivation is high, he was unprepared. The moment he stepped in, he didn't resist, so the music caught him off guard. Second, his mind is too burdened. I suspect he has unresolved trauma. These unresolved thoughts accumulate into what cultivators call heart demons. The music must have triggered them. Third, he's too emotional…"

She rambled on eloquently, analyzing Yue Zhao's every weakness like writing an academic paper. Yu Xiao listened with growing interest.

He nodded. "Indeed. I've noticed that the effect of music depends not only on cultivation, but also on mental resilience. As for Yue Zhao…"

Yun Jin picked up smoothly, "Exactly. Senior Brother still has much room to improve. That said, the environment also enhances the music's effect. For example…"

The two of them soon plunged into a deep and spirited discussion about music, emotion, and the soul.

Factors of influence. Variables of vulnerability. Philosophical resonance.

Meanwhile, Yue Zhao stood to the side, bewildered.

Excuse me?

Were they seriously dissecting his trauma like this, right in front of him?

He began coughing violently to interrupt them.

Yun Jin glanced at him and reluctantly changed the subject. "Peak Lord, let's give my Senior Brother a bit of dignity and pause here."

Yu Xiao looked at Yue Zhao in slight disdain. "Come alone next time. We'll continue our discussion then."

"…???"

Yun Jin readily agreed with a bright smile.

When they brought up the matter of seeds, the conversation went smoothly. Yu Xiao had little interest in them, but he did invite Yun Jin to return and continue their discussion on music.

After they left Jiyin Peak, Yue Zhao gave Yun Jin a long look.

She put on an innocent face. "It was all to build rapport with the Peak Lord. Your small sacrifice was worth it."

"…The recording stone."

Yun Jin sighed and handed it over.

Only then did Yue Zhao look satisfied.

Yun Jin, of course, was unfazed. She still had seventeen or eighteen identical copies tucked away in her storage pouch. After that, they visited Cheng Guang, Peak Lord of Wanzhen Peak, and Mo Tianxin, Peak Lord of Qianfu Peak.

One was an expert in formations, the other in talismans. Both were masters of their craft.

The seed deals went smoothly. Yun Jin even considered trying her hand at formations and talismans in the future. She didn't have time herself, but maybe she could take in a few talented disciples.

If her disciples were strong, then she would be strong. Problem solved.

Next, Yue Zhao brought her to Luoxia Peak to meet Chen Wenqian, and then to Daoxin Peak for Du Wuqing.

Chen Wenqian, being good friends with Fang Mingyue, had already prepared tea and waited for them. The transaction went without a hitch.

Daoxin Peak, however, was a different story.

Du Wuqing had always been one of the neutral Peak Lords. But this time, it seemed he had already caved under pressure and surrendered to Zhao Wuji. He didn't even meet with them. Clearly, he had shifted from neutrality to full allegiance.

It was disappointing, but not surprising.

Neither Yue Zhao nor Yun Jin dwelled on it.

They moved on to their final destination.