Pay-to-Win Cultivation: I Get 10,000x Returns

Before Zhang Xian could even open his mouth, Xia Chengyan leaned in, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

“Bro, don’t worry about Sister-in-law. She’s still holding down the front lines, and Little Zhu is sticking to her like glue. Those blind idiots trying to simp for her? They can’t even get within ten meters!”

Zhang Xian sighed, shaking his head. “I’ve told you a thousand times. Fellow Daoist Long Zhi is just an ordinary friend.”

“Got it. Loud and clear.” Xia Chengyan winked, wearing an expression that screamed I totally don’t believe you. “Just friends. Totally platonic. My lips are sealed around the Old Man. Your harem back in the Southern Region won’t hear a peep from me.”

Zhang Xian didn’t have the energy to explain himself again. He decided to pivot. “What’s the situation on the Western Front?”

Xia Chengyan’s playful demeanor instantly evaporated, replaced by a grim seriousness. “It’s bad, bro. Not gonna lie.”

He gestured vaguely toward the west. “The [Hatred] is spreading like a plague. It’s moving fast, and the pressure on the forward camps is insane. We’re constantly running into Western Region cultivators—even Nascent Soul experts—who’ve completely lost their minds to the corruption.”

He paused, a flicker of admiration crossing his face. “But ever since Sister-in-law showed up, things have stabilized a bit. Her Thunder Arts are basically kryptonite to the [Hatred]. She’s become the MVP out there.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Zhang Xian straightened his robes. “Let’s go take a look.”

During his last visit, he had been too focused on hunting down Yang Poxiao to properly inspect the battlefield. Now, he needed to see the threat for himself.

But Xia Chengyan quickly waved his hands, blocking the path. “Whoa, hold your horses. I know you miss her, but she isn’t going anywhere. There’s someone else who wants to meet you first.”

“Who?”

” Our Chairman.” Xia Chengyan lowered his voice again, emphasizing the title. “He heard you were in town and has been waiting for you.”

Lin Jianyuan?

Zhang Xian’s heart skipped a beat. The Chairman of the Heavenly Abyss Alliance. A supreme expert at the eighth level of the Nascent Soul realm. The legendary “Second Under Heaven.”

Zhang Xian had planned to investigate the core leadership of the Alliance eventually, but he hadn’t expected the man to initiate the meeting.

“Alright,” Zhang Xian nodded calmly. “Let’s pay our respects to Chairman Lin.”

Xia Chengyan led Zhang Xian through the winding, quiet backstreets of Jinyuan City until they reached a secluded estate. The noise of the city faded away, replaced by the gentle sound of flowing water. The villa was a sanctuary of peace, designed with small bridges and meticulously slightly overgrown gardens that evoked a profound sense of Zen.

As they stepped into the inner courtyard, Zhang Xian saw two figures sitting beside a stone table, engrossed in a game.

One was an old acquaintance—General Han Yichen of the Great Xia Dynasty. Clad in his standard military robes, his aura was as steady and immovable as a mountain. He stared at the board, a look of leisurely confidence on his face.

Sitting opposite him was a handsome young man in black martial attire.

His appearance was striking. A few strands of frost-white hair stained his temples, contrasting with his clear, bright eyes. But what shocked Zhang Xian was his aura—or rather, the lack of it.

The man’s energy was restrained to the absolute extreme. If Zhang Xian closed his eyes, he would swear an ordinary mortal with no cultivation was sitting there. Yet, visually, the man seemed to merge with the courtyard itself, a natural part of the world’s harmony.

Returning to Simplicity.

Although they had never met, Zhang Xian instantly knew who this was. Lin Jianyuan. This level of existence was far beyond what ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators could hope to achieve.

“General Han,” Zhang Xian spoke first, cupping his hands in greeting.

Han Yichen looked up. Surprise flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by a warm, genuine smile. “Fellow Daoist Zhang Xian! It’s been too long.”

Meeting an old friend in a foreign land—especially on the perilous front lines of the West—was a rare comfort. Han Yichen stood up to return the bow. “I didn’t expect our paths to cross here.”

Across the table, Lin Jianyuan raised his head. His gaze was gentle, landing softly on Zhang Xian.

Then, without warning, the supreme expert reached out with both hands and vigorously scrambled the pieces on the board, destroying the game instantly.

“Aiya! No more, no more!” Lin Jianyuan shot up from his seat, laughing loudly. “A distinguished guest has arrived! How can we be so rude as to keep playing?”

Han Yichen’s smile froze. He looked at the ruined board, then at Lin Jianyuan, his expression a mix of helplessness and disbelief. The General had clearly been winning.

Completely ignoring Han Yichen’s silent protest, Lin Jianyuan turned to Zhang Xian, cupping his hands with a bright, welcoming grin. “This must be young friend Zhang Xian from the Southern Region! Truly a fine figure! Heroic spirit, handsome features… you remind me of myself when I was younger! Hahahaha!”

Zhang Xian blinked internally.

This legendary powerhouse was… surprisingly amiable. Even a bit shameless. It was a far cry from the majestic, intimidating overlord he had imagined.

Outwardly, however, Zhang Xian remained perfectly composed. He bowed respectfully. “This Junior, Zhang Xian, pays his respects to Chairman Lin.”

“Eh, drop the formalities.” Lin Jianyuan waved his hand dismissively, his smile infectious.

Beside them, Xia Chengyan couldn’t help but snort. “Old Lin, seriously? Your sportsmanship is trash. You were about to lose, weren’t you?”

“Tsk!” Lin Jianyuan glared at the prince. “Brat, watch your mouth. I saw young friend Zhang coming from miles away. How could I let a guest just stand there watching us push rocks around? That would be incredibly impolite.”

Zhang Xian’s gaze drifted to the ruined game. The black and white stones were scattered across a grid of nineteen vertical and nineteen horizontal lines.

It was Go. Weiqi.

A fresh wave of shock rippled through Zhang Xian’s mind. Since arriving in the Central Continent, the traces of a “Senior Transmigrator” had been everywhere—the parliamentary structure of the Alliance, the modern slang, and now, this specific board game.

The man standing before him, the helmsman of the Heavenly Abyss Alliance, had to know something.

Keeping his face impassive, Zhang Xian feigned curiosity. “Chairman Lin, what kind of game is this? I don’t recall seeing it in the Southern Region.”

“This?” Lin Jianyuan smiled, picking up a black stone. “It’s called Go. It’s quite popular among the mortals of the Central Continent, but not many cultivators bother with it.”

Han Yichen chimed in, resigning himself to the cancelled match. “I only learned it after coming here. Chairman Lin dragged me into it. It looks simple, but the strategy is profound. The calculations required later in the game are terrifying.”

“Oh? Sounds interesting.” Zhang Xian raised an eyebrow.

Lin Jianyuan’s eyes lit up like a child who had just found a new playmate. “If young friend Zhang is interested, why don’t I teach you? Come, come, let’s have a round!”

“Alright,” Zhang Xian nodded. “I’ll have to ask Chairman Lin for guidance.”

Han Yichen chuckled and stepped aside, offering his seat.

Lin Jianyuan immediately began explaining the rules—liberties, eyes, capturing, life and death. He went through the basics with practiced ease. Zhang Xian played the role of the novice perfectly, nodding attentively and asking simple questions.

Once the tutorial was over, Lin Jianyuan couldn’t wait to start.

“Old Lin,” Xia Chengyan leaned against a pillar, grinning. ” aren’t you just bullying a noob to feel better about your loss earlier?”

“Nonsense!” Lin Jianyuan laughed heartily. “We’re just playing casually. Friendly match!”

They began.

Although Zhang Xian knew the rules from his previous life, he wasn’t a grandmaster. Compared to someone like Lin Jianyuan, who had likely immersed himself in the game for decades or centuries, the gap was vast.

Zhang Xian deliberately held back, playing a standard, cautious game and occasionally leaving “beginner” openings.

Lin Jianyuan, on the other hand, showed zero mercy.

He pressed forward aggressively, his style decisive and ruthless. He cut off Zhang Xian’s dragons, surrounded his territory, and slaughtered the black stones until the board was a massacre.

From the sidelines, Han Yichen and Xia Chengyan shook their heads. Xia Chengyan muttered something about “bullying the small with the big” and “shameless old men.”

Having secured a crushing victory, Lin Jianyuan sat back, looking thoroughly satisfied. The gloom of his near-loss to Han Yichen had completely vanished.

He patted Zhang Xian’s shoulder encouragingly. “Young friend Zhang, for a first game, this is actually quite good! Don’t underestimate Go. The layout, the calculation, the philosophy of trade-offs… it shares the same Dao as cultivation and Formation Arrays. If you study it in your spare time, you’ll find it greatly beneficial.”

Zhang Xian lowered his head humbly. “Chairman Lin is wise. This Junior has learned a lot.”