Troublemaker’s Guide to Immortality

Amidst the bombastic soundtrack, even those who hadn't planned to buy a Perfect Foundation Establishment Pill found themselves caught in the frenzy.

So many people here! If they got chosen—forget the pill—

Wouldn't that prove they were the Chosen of Fortune?!

Even just to test their luck, they silently prayed:

"Pick me."

"Pick me."

The collective tension and anticipation flooded Yun Jin's system with [Emotional Value].

As she watched the numbers surpass even her most dramatic "showing off" sessions, a realization struck:

Emotion farming needed diversification.

Beyond awe or excitement, one emotion trumped all others for sheer intensity—fear.

If she could terrify crowds on a massive scale, the [Emotional Value] yield would be unimaginable.

But Yun Jin was not yet that ruthless. She wanted power—not at any cost.

Take tonight: Auctioning the pills could've squeezed far more profit from the hyped-up crowd. The [Emotional Value] would've skyrocketed too.

Yet she'd chosen a fair lottery instead.

Earn money, but not greedily.

Harvest emotions, but not ruthlessly.

Her price—one top-grade spirit stone per pill—was deliberate. The modified recipe's research value alone made it a steal for alchemy sects.

After a night of carefully orchestrated chaos, this was her genuine gift to the "family."

And the emotion‑points she collected that night were substantial.

Fear‑based emotion‑points might have been even higher, but she resisted that path—for now.

While she pondered future strategies, the ten firefly beasts had already selected the ten lucky buyers.

Glowing lights descended upon them

Being chosen among this crowd must prove they were truly destined.

"Next, please welcome our ten lucky participants on stage."

The "If You Are the One" theme played again.

The ten stepped forward, proud and bold.

Yun Jin asked if any wanted to forfeit.

None did. They weren't foolish—this pill could be resold for more.

One exchange of money and medicine, done.

Yun Jin smiled, a touch wistful. "Dear friends, that's the end of tonight's event. Though good times are brief, our hearts remain forever connected."

The elegant strains of "Unforgettable Tonight" filled the air. Yun Jin twitched her lips. Has Eldest Senior Brother become weirder by the moment? It's like nobody knows he's transmigrated—and now he's letting loose.

She stifled the urge to complain and declared the event officially closed.

Apparently this was the most exciting alchemy demonstration they'd ever seen.

No one wanted to leave.

Only after Ming Heng and the respected elders came out to restore order did people finally drift away.

"Master, should we go say hello to the junior sisters?" Si Wan Ning looked reluctant. She was even starting to regret not coming with Yun Jin. It had been so much fun!

"Why bother," Lin Ya snapped, grabbing her arm. "Let's hurry back to the sect. If they discover we sneaked out to watch, we'll be in trouble."

Si Wan Ning frowned. "What is the harm if they find out?"

Lin Ya said sternly, "Plenty. We'd miss the fun of snagging goods with everyone. Yun Jin will likely gift us something. But is that what we want?"

"No!" Si Wan Ning replied reflexively.

"That settles it. Let's go," Lin Ya hustled her off.

He was the chief of Tianjian Peak. If he were caught scrambling for goods with junior disciples, how could he save face?

"Senior Brother," Yun Jin yawned. "I'll leave the rest to you. I'm going back and rest."

In truth, she was eager to check her system panel. She'd thought she heard a system alert earlier, but had been too busy selling.

"All right, head back to the sect. I'll handle things here." Yue Zhao looked energized, already planning his next business moves so he could keep control.

His commercial empire in this marketplace was just getting started.

But then Yue Zhao hesitated. "Wait, it's not safe for you to go alone. Let me send you."

Yun Jin reluctantly agreed.

Just as they left the market, Yue Zhao squinted. "Master? Second Junior Sister?" he called.

Two figures ahead paused, then hurried on even faster. Yue Zhao snorted with amusement. Even from a distance their furtive walk gave them away.

"It really is them," Yun Jin smiled. "Senior Brother, you can go back. I'll find Master and the others."

"Master, Second Senior Sister!" Yun Jin called as she dashed forward.

Lin Ya made a swift turn, clamped a hand over Yun Jin's mouth.

Yun Jin blinked innocently.

Lin Ya sighed. "Stop calling out. Just go back with me, okay?"

Yun Jin nodded obediently. Lin Ya finally released her. She looked at her Master and senior sister with a grin. Lin Ya stood tall, smoothing his image. "I came out for your sake—you know your temperament, you'd get beaten out there. I am not here to join the crowd."

"I understand," Yun Jin said. "Master, I am already a Second‑Grade Alchemist. Once I breakthrough, I will surely refine the Heaven‑Mending Pill."

The Heaven‑Mending Pill—a grade‑seven miracle pill—worked even for Unity cultivators. Normally, refining grade‑seven pills requires being at Unity stage and holding a Seventh‑Grade Alchemist rank for success.

The Pillmaster of the Shendan Peak, Huo Lie, had Unity cultivation, but only a Fifth‑Grade Alchemist rank. His failure rate would be extremely high—and the sect wouldn't waste so many herbs for his experiments.

Moreover, Huo Lie was Zhao Wuji's loyal follower. Asking him to refine it for the Master was out of the question.

Yun Jin had to do it herself.

She had little hope of breaking Unity in three months, but progressing to late Golden Core stage was realistic. Then her rank would rise to Fourth‑Grade, and she could stack simplification attempts.

Last time, while still in Qi Refining, she refinanced a Second‑Grade pill. The system warned she'd need more simplifications—but she was only a step from Foundation at the time, so she didn't use many.

But refining the Heaven‑Mending Pill would require them—hundreds, maybe thousands. For all the efforts the old Master gave for her in her past life, she repaid in gratitude. Yun Jin renewed resolve to make the Heaven‑Mending Pill.

Lin Ya paused, moved by her determination. His voice trembled. "You don't have to push so hard. I've grown used to the injury over time."

"If you don't get better, how will you protect us?" Yun Jin spoke with demanding clarity. "I will make the Heaven‑Mending Pill. You rest and restore your strength. If you don't take care of yourself, I won't be happy. Understand? Just promise me."

"???" Lin Ya was speechless. He was touched, yes. But her tone—it felt oddly bossy.

When they returned to Tianjian Peak, Yun Jin darted to her quarters.

Her little Iron‑Eating Beast was already asleep, so she did not bother it. She checked her Emotional Value ledger. Previously she earned mostly through Divine Manifestation—instant but short‑lived. Tonight she spent four hours continually harvesting Emotional Value.

With prior balance, her Simplification Attempts reached a shocking 2 300+.

She gained 200 000 Emotional Value in one night.

About 1 000 spectators gave at least 200 each on average.

This deal was a success.

She'd formed partnerships with other market vendors, increased personal profits, and boosted her simplification count. But this couldn't be routine. Gathering so many people again would be difficult—short‑term opportunities for great Emotional Value were rare.

She remembered hearing a system prompt mid‑event.

She checked it. A message she'd overlooked:

[Ding]

[ Simplification Attempts reached one thousand, Simplification‑Level system unlocked. Current level: Basic Simplification. Every 10 Basic = one Medium. Every 10 Medium = one Advanced. ]

[ Note: Basic Simplification only handles same‑level content e.g. Foundation pills, Qi Refinement origins. Medium has some chance to leap one level. Advanced has higher chance for significant leaps. ]

Yun Jin narrowed her eyes.

2 300 Basic Simplifications = 230 Medium or 23 Advanced attempts.

That huge Emotional Value haul suddenly seemed finite.

She needed advanced attempts to cross levels for that Heaven‑Mending Pill. She sighed—it was back to grinding for more Emotional Value.

She then checked her Iron‑Eating Beast's progress. Its Charge ability had reached Level 2, about fifty percent mastered after many repetitions. A few more days and it would hit Level 3. She also needed to improve its cultivation—with new pill formulas.

Her planting efforts also needed attention.

She needed to study herbalist techniques. Currently, herbs taking centuries to mature couldn't rely on natural growth—seeds would become extinct. Only herbalists could accelerate growth and create ideal environments.

Legend said Xuandan Gate had a Ninth‑Grade Herbalist who could mature millennia‑old herbs in one year.

Such a legendary herbalist was peerless even in Xuandan Gate.

Alchemy begins with herbs.

Yun Jin recalled Tianxing Sect also had herbalist techniques. She would visit Elder Ming tomorrow, using her 1 000 sect points to redeem some seldom‑used herbalist manuals. That should suffice.

Also she needed to start Azure Lotus Sword Art training. Tomorrow she would connect with senior brothers to build rapport and urge them onward. Sword Art required ten sword intentions mastery before proficiency.

Yun Jin suddenly felt overwhelmed by her own schedule.

Then her eyes lit up. "System, Gu Jinghong is now my servant. When the master has matters, the servant awaits. That is acceptable, correct?"

The system paused then answered mechanically:

[ This is not a permanent master‑servant contract. ]

"Still, it lasts three months. During that time he is mine." Yun Jin said forcefully. "Update his data panel. Further, any Emotional Value he generates will count to me. And he should help with tasks I cannot handle."

"For example, if I can't watch everyone's sword practice, Gu Jinghong can. He should gain proficiency too!"

This effectively gave her a second self.

Servants are for use, after all.

All a servant's deeds belong to the master.

And what is the master's belongs to them.

The system returned and obediently updated his panel.

First, Gu Jinghong's data appeared on her panel.