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

Chapter 298: The Third Illusion

Zhang Xian continued, “Then why don’t you tell me? You don’t need to lower your guard. If I show any sign of being improper, you can attack at any time.”

Seeing Zhang Lele still hesitating, he suddenly had an inspiration. “I’ve got it! I have a way to prove myself!”

“What way?”

Zhang Xian said, “The techniques you learned from the Yunmiao Sect—I can teach you the corresponding Heaven-grade techniques! Such profound things can’t be faked, right? Whether it’s Heaven-grade or not, you’ll know as soon as you see it!”

Zhang Lele frowned. “Heaven-grade? You’re just talking big.”

She then listed several names: “[Nine Turns Jade Condensation Sutra], [Yunmiao Sword Scripture], [Green Tide Life and Death Art].”

She listed several in one breath, covering all five elements.

Zhang Xian was shocked. “You have a five-element spirit root?”

Zhang Lele smiled with a hint of pride. “Five-element Supreme Spirit Root. Stop pretending to be ignorant.”

Zhang Xian said somewhat smugly, “Little girl, you’ve really grown up! Unfortunately, I also have a five-element spirit root, and my grade is even higher than yours. Currently, I’m at the four-element Heaven-grade Nascent Soul stage.”

Zhang Lele couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Say whatever you want. If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll really prepare to cut you down.”

She clearly remembered that her Brother Zhang Shan had a pure mortal body with no spirit root at all.

Going from a mortal to a four-element Heaven-grade Nascent Soul in just a few hundred years? Who are you trying to fool!

Zhang Xian also didn’t bother to explain further. He planned to directly inscribe the techniques onto a cultivation jade slip, but when he touched his body, he realized he didn’t even have a jade slip. He said helplessly, “Do you have paper and brush?”

Zhang Lele wanted to see what tricks this fake Brother Shan could pull. She said, “Follow me.”

She wanted to see what he could write.

Zhang Xian confidently strode forward. “It’s fine, I know the way.”

After saying that, he was the first to jog toward the familiar two-story building in the memory of the small mountain village.

Zhang Lele looked at his back, and for a moment, her gaze couldn’t help but become dazed.

That back, that walking posture, even that sense of familiarity that seemed so natural—it seemed to overlap with the scene from two hundred years ago.

In the past, when Brother Shan returned from hunting, he would also walk ahead like this, sometimes with a bit of smugness if the harvest was plentiful, while she would follow behind like a little follower, overjoyed.

“No!” Zhang Lele suddenly shook her head, forcibly pulling her mind back. “I can’t be fooled by him again! This illusion is getting more and more powerful. After he finishes writing, if it’s wrong, I’ll cut him down immediately. I can’t indulge in this any longer!”

Returning to the simple yet memory-filled two-story building, Zhang Xian found paper and a brush, sat on the familiar small stool, and began writing vigorously.

Zhang Lele stood to the side with her arms crossed, watching coldly, but her gaze involuntarily fell on his free and easy handwriting.

That handwriting was almost identical to the copybooks her elder brother left when teaching her to read and write.

Her heartstrings were gently plucked once again.

[Ding! Current Favorability: -3.]

Zhang Xian’s brush moved like a dragon, quickly finishing writing a copy of the [Twelve Turns Jade Condensation Sutra]. He handed it to Zhang Lele with a smug expression. “Here, take a look!”

He continued, “As for the other ones you mentioned, I haven’t cultivated them deeply, but I do have insights on improved Heaven-grade versions of the [Yunmiao Sword Scripture] and the [Heavenly Palace Azure Cloud Sword]. Wait a moment, I’ll write them for you together.”

Zhang Lele took the technique manual with the ink still wet, half-believing and half-doubting. At first, she just glanced at it casually, but soon, her expression changed.

She had suppressed [Obsession] for several years, and her realm comprehension had improved rapidly. Now at the mid-stage Nascent Soul, her discernment was extraordinary.

After just reading a few lines of the general outline and the opening lines of the cultivation method, she was immediately awed by the profound mysteries contained within.

This was incomparable to any version of the [Jade Condensation Sutra] she knew. Its intricacies far exceeded imagination!

Could an illusion really create such a real, such profound Heaven-grade technique out of thin air?

She immediately shook her head, dismissing this thought. Her gaze toward Zhang Xian was filled with shock and uncertainty.

Could the person before her really be…?

Once this thought arose, it spread like wildfire in her heart.

[Ding! Current Favorability: 2.]

Zhang Xian sensed the change in her aura and was secretly pleased, but on the surface, he remained calm. He quietly continued writing and soon finished two more Heaven-grade techniques, handing them over together.

If before there was only a faint glimmer of hope, now, with three Heaven-grade techniques far beyond her understanding placed before her, Zhang Lele’s heart was already stirred by towering waves!

She was at least fifty percent convinced that this seemingly absurd possibility before her might be true?

Was the long story he made up earlier also true?

[Ding! Success, triggered return. Return: Heaven-grade Technique Comprehension x3000.]

[Heaven-grade Technique Comprehension: The host can use it to comprehend lower-quality techniques, elevating them to Heaven-grade.]

[Ding! Current Favorability: 22.]

Damn, is the system this awesome? It works even in illusions?

Zhang Xian saw the unconcealed shock and excitement on her face and knew the timing was about right. He smiled gently and said, “I know you still have many doubts in your heart, and that’s fine. Now, can you tell me what specific predicament you’re facing? We need to hurry.”

Zhang Lele took a deep breath, trying to calm her turbulent emotions, and finally slowly began to speak, recounting her experiences in the illusion.

“In the underwater grand formation, I originally used [Obsession] to temper my state of mind. My cultivation progress was extremely fast, and I soon reached the fifth level of Nascent Soul.”

“According to Master’s plan, they would release the Four Symbols True Defense Formation at the right time, allowing [Obsession] to escape. I only needed to kill it in the illusion to succeed and leave seclusion.”

“At first, it went smoothly. It was no match for me at all. I gradually forced it into a corner and successfully killed it.”

“Right after I killed [Obsession], before I could even rejoice, several powerful Seven Emotions Evil Thoughts suddenly appeared! Outnumbered, I was no match for them and was quickly killed by them.”

Zhang Xian was stunned. “Killed?”

Zhang Lele explained, “Yes, but dying in the illusion doesn’t mean immediate failure. The illusion restarts, but with each restart, the power of the Seven Emotions increases, and the previously killed Seven Emotions also revive.”

Zhang Xian understood—this corresponded to the intensification of evil thought erosion in reality. “Then how many times have you failed?”

Zhang Lele looked somewhat dejected. “I’ve already failed twice. This is the third time.”

“When the illusion restarted the second time, I was reborn near the Yunmiao Sect. By the time I rushed back to the sect, [Obsession] was already leading a large number of corrupted cultivators to attack the mountain gate. Later, Master came to support, and we barely managed to repel them.”