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

Chapter 259: I Have More Radical Methods

Zhang Xian’s gaze remained calm. “Actually, I have more radical methods to make you talk. I just can’t be bothered to use them. There is no personal enmity between us, only differing stances. Fellow Daoist, arguing further is meaningless.”

Wen Yan sensed the subtle changes within her body—the mending of her meridians, the faint return of strength. She remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking.

“What do you want to know?”

“The same three questions. Tell me everything.”

As he spoke, he pointed at the empty space beside him. The Sword Intent of the Heaven-grade [Heart-Questioning Sword] silently enveloped Wen Yan, an invisible blade ensuring her words were true.

Wen Yan closed her eyes, organizing her thoughts—or perhaps escaping reality.

“Grandmaster Taichu is my Grand-Teacher. I was the direct disciple of the previous Palace Master of the Wendao Palace. I was taken up the mountain as a child… After my master Perished, I succeeded her position. It has been over 1,200 years.”

She took a breath.

“Regarding [Hatred]… I only remember that four years ago, Grand-Teacher summoned Palace Master Xuanzhao and me. He said he had discovered [Hatred], which was being controlled by Qianji. He ordered me to drive it to the Western Region, specifically instructing us not to kill it.”

“Later, [Hatred] erupted in the West. It wasn’t until a few months ago that Grand-Teacher mentioned it again. He said [Hatred] had transferred to a female cultivator. He told us that if we encountered her, we must spare her life, as he had other important uses for her.”

Zhang Xian nodded. This matched his deductions. “What about the [Desire] calamity in the Southern Region? Did Taichu arrange that?”

Wen Yan fell into thought, then shook her head. “Grand-Teacher only mentioned it once, over 200 years ago. He said [Desire] was breeding in the South and that we need not concern ourselves with it. That was all.”

“Besides you, who else knows Taichu’s secrets?”

“Palace Master Xuanzhao. He was the disciple Grand-Teacher valued most. Within the Guiyuan Sect, aside from Grand-Teacher himself, his seniority was the highest. Oh, and Song Zheng. She is Grand-Teacher’s direct granddaughter. She was sometimes present for important discussions.”

Hearing this, Zhang Xian’s heart stirred. A wisp of remnant soul light appeared at his fingertip.

Wen Yan’s pupils contracted. “Xuanzhao? He… he is already…”

“He tried to kill me. I killed him instead,” Zhang Xian said indifferently. “So when I came to your sect seeking revenge, you can’t blame me.”

He pinched his fingers, and the remnant soul dissipated into nothingness.

Wen Yan trembled violently, her face paling further. The fear in her eyes deepened.

“Anyone else?”

Wen Yan lowered her head, avoiding his gaze. “I… I am not sure. Master usually summoned us separately. Such matters… are not honorable.”

Zhang Xian hummed. “How did Taichu learn about the Seven Emotions?”

“A long time ago, while traveling, Grand-Teacher personally suppressed one of the Seven Emotions Evil Thoughts: [Greed]. He even displayed it to us, using its power to help us overcome our Inner Demons. This isn’t a top secret among the sect’s higher-ups; many of the Thirty-Six Palace Masters know.”

Zhang Xian paused. “Suppressed Greed? When?”

“Very early. Shortly after I became a Palace Master.”

It seems Taichu knew about the Seven Emotions far earlier than I imagined, Zhang Xian thought.

“What is his relationship with The Drifting King?”

Wen Yan shook her head. “I know very little about that. Grand-Teacher only mentioned The Drifting King occasionally, always with a tone of high regard.”

“As for the [Stone Gate of Fate]… I only know he is obsessed with it. I don’t know why. The Drifting King is a figure from 10,000 years ago. I doubt even Grand-Teacher ever met him.”

“Do you know Taichu’s exact lifespan?”

“From the day I joined the sect, he was already at the Half-Step Soul Formation realm. We speculated his lifespan exceeded 3,000 years, but no one knows the exact number.”

In the cultivation world, Nascent Soul cultivators could live over 2,000 years. Secret arts could extend that limit, but the cap was unknown.

Zhang Xian didn’t dwell on it. The Half-Demon King had died over 3,000 years ago and had no memory of Taichu. The timelines were blurry.

Seeing Zhang Xian lost in thought, Wen Yan added defensively, “In my thousand years in the sect, Grand-Teacher never did anything heinous. Only this matter of the Seven Emotions…”

“That one matter is enough,” Zhang Xian interrupted coldly. “Billions in the Western Region suffered because of it. He is the chief culprit.”

“You probably don’t know, but he has extended his hand to the Southern Region now. I just want to ask him why. My bombardment of your sect today? You brought it upon yourselves.”

Wen Yan retorted indignantly. “The victor is king, the loser a bandit. Why use such high-sounding words? If not for Grand-Teacher, would the cultivation world have enjoyed thousands of years of peace?”

“When the Half-Demon King slaughtered half the cultivation clans over the Drifting King, she stirred boundless calamity. Which sect today isn’t built on a mountain of bones?”

She grew agitated. “Do you think the Heavenly Abyss Alliance is clean? Their underhanded dealings are numerous! And you—how many innocent cultivators died at your hands a few days ago?”

Zhang Xian chuckled, mocking her. “Hmph. As you said: victor is king, loser is bandit. Right now, you are a prisoner. Arguing is meaningless. If I were weaker, I would be dead at Xuanzhao’s hands.”

He pressed for details about the Guiyuan Sect’s internal factions, resources, and Taichu’s habits. Under the [Heart-Questioning Sword], Wen Yan answered truthfully, but no major clues surfaced.

Finished, Zhang Xian left the quiet room, locking Wen Yan inside.

Over the next two days, Zhang Xian sorted through the library he had looted from the Guiyuan Sect.

He hadn’t forgotten to send puppets to raid their archives during the bombardment. The collection was vast, worthy of the world’s number one sect.

However, Zhang Xian discovered a telling fact: there wasn’t a single Heaven-grade cultivation technique. Even the best artifacts, like those used by Xuanzhao and Wen Yan, were merely high-quality Low Grade Spirit Treasures.

“It seems Earth-grade techniques and Low Grade Spirit Treasures are the absolute limit this world can nurture,” Zhang Xian mused.

It confirmed his theory. The ceiling of this world was low.