Troublemaker’s Guide to Immortality

Shendan Peak.

Ye Danxia stood before a patch of herbs, earnestly trying to sense their properties. After a long half-hour, she hesitantly spoke, "This Yellowheart Grass... is its medicinal potency down to just eighty percent?"

The senior disciple guiding her immediately looked impressed. "Actually, it's eighty-two percent. But Junior Sister Ye, you've only been studying this for a few days and can already sense medicinal strength. You're well on your way to becoming an outstanding alchemist."

As he spoke, a trace of earnest admiration rose in his eyes.

A Heavenly Spiritual Root.

Coupled with talent in alchemy.

This Junior Sister Ye was clearly destined for greatness.

And more than that, she was the personal disciple of the sect master. With the sect master's influence, her path would be cleared every step of the way. In the future, Ye Danxia would surely become a major figure in Tianxing Sect.

"Really?" Ye Danxia blushed slightly. "I've been struggling to sense the properties for so long, and even now I can barely tell them apart. I thought maybe my aptitude was poor."

Senior Brother Wang chuckled. "Your progress is already quite fast. Alchemy is vast and complex. Many spend their whole lives unable to even step through the door. Even those with decent aptitude need at least a month or two. But you? You've only spent a few days and have already found your footing. That's the mark of a rare genius."

A flicker of joy lit up Ye Danxia's eyes. "So you think... I really have a chance of becoming an alchemist?"

Senior Brother Wang nodded with certainty. "A very high chance. Within five years, you should be able to become a certified alchemist."

Everyone knew how difficult it was to achieve that title. In the past, Ye Danxia would have been thrilled at the thought of only needing five years.

But now, her mind wandered to the rumors she'd heard recently—about the sudden emergence of a peerless alchemy genius in the city's marketplace.

They said the woman was bold and flamboyant, much like Yun Jin, yet her astonishing talent in alchemy fully justified that arrogance. For some reason, Ye Danxia found herself fixated on this mysterious woman.

"Senior Brother… how do I compare to that alchemy genius from the marketplace? The young woman everyone's talking about?"

Senior Brother Wang froze.

…How to answer this tactfully?

Ye Danxia's talent was good, but compared to that monster?

That woman had become a First-Rank Alchemist in just four days, and was already a Second-Rank now. Most cultivators needed decades of grinding just to break through to the second rank.

Ye Danxia was gifted, but compared to that level…

How could he even explain it?

"Is the gap that big?" Ye Danxia's gaze dimmed.

Senior Brother Wang gave a sheepish smile. He wanted to offer some comfort, but what if she took it the wrong way and thought she could also reach Second Rank in just four days?

In the end, he said carefully, "Junior Sister, we shouldn't compare ourselves to freaks of nature like that. That young woman's talent is terrifying. Either she's the chosen disciple of a Holy Land, or a hidden trump card from a powerful sect. We come from a mid-tier sect. There's no comparing our paths. But don't look down on yourself either. Those elite disciples have the best teachers, the best resources from a young age. Their starting line was far ahead of ours. But if we keep working hard, we might still catch up in the end."

He was trying to cushion the blow.

But Ye Danxia nodded solemnly. "You're right. Those big sect disciples just have a higher starting point. Senior Brother Wang, I'll surpass that woman one day. So what if she's a Second-Rank Alchemist? I'll get there too!"

Senior Brother Wang: "…"

???

That wasn't what he meant at all!

Whatever. Let her interpret it however she wanted.

He chuckled. "Junior Sister, why keep your eyes fixed on some disciple from a big sect? You become an alchemist yourself, and Yun Jin won't even be worth mentioning next to you. You'll crush her with a wave of your hand. Wouldn't that feel amazing?"

Ye Danxia's eyes lit up, though she tried to maintain a graceful tone. "Yun Jin and I are friends. Senior Brother, please don't speak that way."

Everyone in Tianxing Sect knew the truth about Ye Danxia and Yun Jin's "friendship." And yet, whenever they met, it was always all 'sister this' and 'sister that.' Most assumed it was just a personal quirk of theirs.

"Alright, alright, I won't say another word." Senior Brother Wang laughed. "It's already midday. Go get some rest."

Ye Danxia obediently agreed and returned to her quarters, where nearby disciples were chattering about Gu Jinghong's strange behavior that morning.

She listened for a while, then sighed.

When Gu Jinghong first arrived, she thought this flashy Second Senior Brother would be something impressive. Instead, after one meeting, he had become Yun Jin's servant. Now, he was acting completely unhinged, beyond understanding.

A madman like that... she should keep her distance in the future.

Just as that thought crossed her mind, a voice from nearby said, "What a shame. Senior Brother Gu used to be so composed, and now he's been reduced to a lunatic. Who knows what Yun Jin has done to him behind the scenes."

"I bet he'd rather be dead."

"She's gone too far. Even with the servant contract, this kind of torment is inhumane."

"If it were me, and I had a tool like Gu Jinghong, I'd do more than make him run around like a fool. I'd have him kill my enemies. That would be far more efficient."

"Who says she didn't already? Don't you know? This morning, five Senior Brothers who once crossed Yun Jin were nearly killed by Gu Jinghong. If not for a crowd of disciples showing up to watch, he might've finished the job."

"What's so interesting about watching someone train sword techniques? Clearly he was waiting for a chance to strike. If Gu Jinghong does the dirty work, Yun Jin can stay in the shadows and deny everything."

"That's terrifying. If she's really like that... who does Yun Jin hate the most?"

As the words left their mouths, everyone turned and saw Ye Danxia nearby.

A sudden silence fell.

Right. If there was anyone Yun Jin truly loathed, it was none other than Ye Danxia.

No one dared speak further. They scattered quickly.

Ye Danxia's face shifted through several expressions, her gaze gradually growing cold.

Yun Jin had become wild, reckless, and cruel. She had even driven Gu Jinghong into madness.

How could she stand by and let her "sister" continue down such a path?

No. This had to be stopped.

~

"Danxia, I hear your recent progress has been excellent," Zhao Wujie said with a kind smile. "It was worth calling in a few favors to get you a spot on Shendan Peak."

"Thank you, Master," Ye Danxia replied with a flicker in her eyes. "Master, I heard Second Senior Brother came by this morning."

At the mention of Gu Jinghong, Zhao Wujie let out a weary sigh. "Your Second Senior Brother... alas."

Ye Danxia's eyes reddened slightly. "That day, I truly didn't expect him to take such a step. Otherwise, I would've stopped him. But in the end, everything that happened to him... began because of me. Seeing him suffer like this, it breaks my heart."

Zhao Wujie sighed deeply. "There's nothing we can do. The agreement was that as long as Jinghong survived the three months, Yun Jin could do as she pleased."

"Yun Jin may be my friend," Ye Danxia said softly, "but she's changed. I can no longer understand her. She now holds complete control over Second Senior Brother. Today, she can send him to act like a madman in the spiritual fields. Tomorrow, she could command him to kill. Or worse... what if she ordered him to attack me? Or you, Master? What will you do then—kill him, or let chaos reign?"

Zhao Wujie's expression darkened.

That was indeed a real concern.

"Master," Ye Danxia said firmly, "this must be stopped."

If she were the one who had obtained a servant like Gu Jinghong, she would already be plotting Yun Jin's death.

Yun Jin would likely do the same.

Gu Jinghong had once been her senior brother.

Now, he was nothing more than an enemy.