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

Song Zhang watched as Lu Yao summoned a pristine white spiritual cloud, carrying the three new disciples as they drifted toward the distant peaks.

Waves of emotion rippled through his heart.

He had entered the Sect centuries ago, and for just as long, he had harbored a secret admiration for his beautiful Little Junior Sister. Unfortunately, he had never managed to advance their relationship beyond fellow disciples.

As for the nasty rumors circulating in the sect—that Little Junior Sister was nothing more than Master Hu’s Cultivation Furnace—Song Zhang had always scoffed at them.

The Guiyuan Sect was a titan of the Central Continent, a renowned Orthodox Sect. How could they possibly harbor such demonic and heretical practices? It was clearly the malicious slander of petty individuals jealous of their prestige.

“Ah… I heard Junior Sister explored a cave dwelling a few days ago and encountered a remnant of [Hatred]. Even Senior Sister Lu Shu… no wonder she looks so haggard and dispirited.”

Song Zhang sighed, his heart aching with chivalrous intent.

“During this time, I must comfort her properly. She needs care.”

Only when the spiritual cloud had completely vanished into the depths of the sea of clouds did he reluctantly withdraw his gaze. He collected his wandering thoughts, straightened his face into a mask of severity, and turned back to lecture the remaining envious disciples.

Golden Zen Palace, Side Hall.

Lu Yao brought the three new disciples to the mountain range under the Golden Zen Palace’s jurisdiction and assigned them independent residences.

She deliberately arranged “Yu Yun’s” room in a secluded small courtyard, the one closest to her own personal quarters.

Inside the side hall, Lu Yao sat upright on the main seat. She briefly explained the Guiyuan Sect’s rules and precepts, distributed several jade slips recording the introductory inner sect mental cultivation methods, and then waved her hand.

“You may go down and cultivate diligently. If you have any questions, you can come to find me at any time.”

She paused, her gaze landing on the chubby youth. “Yu Yun, you stay behind.”

The other two disciples bowed in acknowledgment, but their eyes couldn’t help but dart toward Yu Yun with barely concealed resentment.

This fatty, with his ordinary appearance and mediocre aptitude, was clearly being favored by the beautiful Senior Sister. But they didn’t dare voice their complaints. They swallowed their jealousy and silently withdrew.

The heavy doors closed. Only Lu Yao and Yu Yun remained in the hall.

Lu Yao’s tense nerves finally relaxed a fraction. She waved her hand, establishing a silence restriction around the room.

She looked at the chubby, amiable-looking man before her, her eyes filled with doubt and probing caution.

“Who are you to the Senior?”

She simply couldn’t connect this harmless-looking doughboy with the decisive, terrifying “Lin Xuanwei” who had slaughtered a Nascent Soul cultivator with a touch. She assumed he was like her—another pawn sent by the Senior to monitor the situation.

Upon hearing this, the harmless, simple, and honest smile on “Yu Yun’s” face instantly vanished.

It was replaced by a calm so deep it felt like staring into an abyss.

He examined Lu Yao, the corner of his mouth curling into a playful, dangerous arc.

“Not bad. You successfully completed the second step. I honestly thought I would be walking into a Guiyuan Sect ambush formation right now. It seems you are quite obedient.”

Lu Yao stared.

Every hair on her body stood on end.

Although the appearance and physique were completely different, that voice, that tone, and that overwhelming sense of indifferent control were identical to the killing god in the quiet room.

“S-Senior?”

Lu Yao gasped in shock. Her legs went weak, and she instinctively moved to kneel. “Greetings, Senior! Lu Yao… Lu Yao has acted entirely according to Senior’s instructions!”

Zhang Xian casually flicked his sleeve. An invisible, gentle force caught her, stopping her knees from hitting the floor.

“No need for formalities. You’ve done well.”

His voice was plain, yet it carried an unquestionable authority. “As long as you continue to do as I say, I guarantee your safety. Hu Yanqing has entered Secluded Cultivation?”

“Yes! Senior’s calculations are flawless,” Lu Yao replied hurriedly, her voice tinged with excitement and lingering fear. “After Master obtained that jade slip, he immediately announced he was entering Secluded Cultivation to comprehend it!”

Zhang Xian smirked.

That jade slip was a volume from the System’s rewards—a genuine Heaven Grade Dual Cultivation technique. However, Zhang Xian had maliciously deleted the crucial bridging chapters and left only the obscure, difficult-to-decipher peripheral details.

Let Hu Yanqing rot his brain trying to figure that puzzle out.

“Did he suspect you?” Zhang Xian asked.

“Master activated the [Devouring Origin Curse] to test me.” A shiver ran through Lu Yao. “If not for Senior’s [Ice Needle Poison] suppressing the curse’s power, Yao’er… Yao’er would definitely be living a fate worse than death. I wouldn’t have been able to hold on.”

“It seems your acting skills are up to par.” Zhang Xian nodded slightly, unsurprised. “Hu Yanqing is in seclusion and won’t emerge for a short time. Now, within this Golden Zen Palace, with your current status, how many resources can you mobilize? Do you have a say in matters?”

Lu Yao composed herself, carefully considering the question.

“Reporting to Senior: With Master in seclusion, the few Senior Brothers with high cultivation are mostly in deep meditation as well. Currently, the one managing daily affairs is Second Senior Brother, Song Zhang…”

She hesitated, biting her lip. “He… he has quite a favorable impression of Yao’er. As long as I use some… soft methods… he generally won’t interfere with my decisions, provided they aren’t too outrageous. The other Senior Brothers are mostly the same.”

Her voice lowered towards the end, carrying a trace of shame.

Zhang Xian raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. “Heh. You certainly get around, don’t you?”

Lu Yao’s face flushed crimson. She quickly lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.

“Alright,” Zhang Xian said, dropping the teasing tone.

Spiritual light flowed at his fingertips. He raised his hand and quickly sketched several names in the air with glowing Qi.

“One more thing. These people… help me investigate them. I need everything—habits, locations, relationships. The more detailed, the better.”

Lu Yao looked up at the names floating in the air. Her expression gradually became strange.

Wen Yan

Song Zheng

Yu Zhiwei

These were all famous female cultivators within the Sect. They either possessed unfathomable cultivation, exceptional talent, or breathtaking beauty.

It seems even the most powerful men cannot escape the allure of beautiful women, she thought bitterly. He is just another lecher after all.

“What’s wrong?” Zhang Xian asked faintly, noticing her expression.

He didn’t care what she thought. These names weren’t a lust list; they were targets. After entering the Guiyuan Sect’s inner sanctum, the System had pinged these women as high-value “Destiny Daughters” with massive Destiny Points.

Harvesting them meant harvesting points.

Lu Yao quickly collected her thoughts and bowed respectfully. “It’s nothing, Senior.” She took a deep breath and began her report.

“Wen Yan is the Palace Master of the Inquiry Dao Palace—one of the Upper Six Palaces. Her cultivation is unfathomable, rumored to have already reached the seventh level of the Nascent Soul realm. Her status is revered, and she rarely appears in public.”

“Song Zheng is Grandmaster Taichu’s direct granddaughter. Her bloodline is extremely noble. She follows the Grandmaster year-round in Secluded Cultivation and almost never walks within the Sect. Very few have seen her true face. She is a mystery.”

“Junior Sister Yu Zhiwei… She entered the Sect under the Guizang Palace two years ago. She possesses a Top Grade Fire Spiritual Root. Her talent is astonishing, and her appearance is said to be capable of toppling kingdoms. She is the object of admiration for countless disciples.”

Zhang Xian listened quietly, his expression bored. But when he heard the words “Guizang Palace,” a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

“Oh? She’s in the Guizang Palace? If I remember correctly, the Palace Master there is called Yang Poxiao, right?”

“That is correct.” Lu Yao nodded. “Palace Master Yang Poxiao arrived at the Guiyuan Sect only three years ago. Initially unknown, he displayed terrifying talent, broke through to the Nascent Soul realm at record speed, and was personally appointed as Palace Master by the Supreme Elder.”

She paused, seemingly in awe of the legend.

“Palace Master Yang is the only person in the history of our Sect to hold the position of an Upper Six Palace Master with only early-stage Nascent Soul cultivation. Because of her Top Grade Fire Spiritual Root—which perfectly complements Palace Master Yang’s attributes—Junior Sister Yu was accepted as his Direct Disciple immediately upon entry.”

The Guiyuan Sect had a strict hierarchy: the Upper Six, Middle Twelve, and Lower Eighteen Palaces. The Golden Zen Palace was merely one of the Lower Eighteen. Yang Poxiao sitting in the Upper Six was a testament to his freakish rise.

“I see…” Zhang Xian murmured, a cold smirk touching his lips. “So she is the prized disciple of an old friend.”

He looked at Lu Yao, his eyes narrowing.

“Then this Venerable Self is obligated to pay her some… special attention.”