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

“Huh? The [Purple Empyrean Dragon Roar Mantra] can be utilized like that?”

A flash of surprise flickered in Zhang Xian’s eyes. Long Zhi’s talent was truly astonishing. To think she could refine a thunder technique to such an exquisite degree, even weaving in the profound mysteries of spatial escape arts.

But he had come prepared.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze piercing toward the heavens.

High above, in the distant reaches of the sky, a colossal barrier of light had already taken shape. It glowed with a faint, transcendent Buddhist aura, completely enveloping an area spanning dozens of miles.

Countless golden runes flowed across the surface of the light screen like a river of scripture, radiating a powerful force of suppression and purification. Beneath this dome, six puppets—identical in appearance to Zhang Xian—stood silent and motionless at six distinct cardinal points, serving as the anchors for the grand array.

The [Six Paths Buddhist Light] had been lying in wait for quite some time!

Long Zhi felt a sudden, needle-like pain stab into her mind. The sharp sensation paradoxically cleared her muddled consciousness. The Buddhist light cascading down from the heavens acted like invisible shackles, instantly suppressing the chaotic [Hatred] roiling within her body.

Just then, a voice drifted from behind her.

“Fortunate that you ran into me. Otherwise, if you had completely blackened, wouldn’t it be a disservice to this pristine white robe?”

The voice sounded vaguely familiar. Fighting back the splitting headache, Long Zhi slowly turned around.

What met her eyes was a handsome, steady face wearing a faint, easygoing smile.

“Zhang Xian…?” Long Zhi murmured.

An endless tide of exhaustion and searing pain from her Divine Soul washed over her. Her vision plunged into darkness, her consciousness shattered, and she collapsed limply backward.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Long Zhi’s heavy eyelids fluttered open. The first sensation to greet her was an intense chill, yet it was not biting; rather, it carried a soothing coolness that nourished her aching Divine Soul.

She realized she was lying atop a massive slab of Profound Ice, which radiated wisps of frigid Qi. About a zhang away, six puppets with deep, unfathomable auras stood guard, maintaining a protective formation. Above her, a soft green light screen pulsed with vigorous vitality, continuously repairing her damaged body.

She struggled to sit up, scanning her surroundings. Not far away, a familiar figure sat cross-legged, eyes closed in meditation.

It was Zhang Xian.

Sensing her movement, Zhang Xian slowly opened his eyes. “Fellow Daoist Long, do you still remember me?”

“Zhang Xian.” Long Zhi rubbed her forehead, which still throbbed with a phantom ache. Memories flooded back like a breaking dam—the violent thunder in the Ashen Wild Forest, the suppression, and finally, that familiar face.

“You saved me.” Long Zhi looked at him, her gaze complex.

Zhang Xian nodded. “You were lucky. The invasion of [Hatred] didn’t last too long, so your foundation remains intact. Otherwise, even a deity would find it hard to save you. However, to completely purge the residual corruption and stabilize your Divine Soul, you will need to remain within the [Six Paths Buddhist Light] for at least half a month.”

Long Zhi remained silent for a moment. Although she had been corrupted by [Hatred], she retained a crystal-clear memory of every single event.

She whispered softly, “Thank you.”

Subconsciously, her hand drifted to her waist, seeking the familiar hilt of her Thunder Chant Sword. Her fingers grasped only empty air.

Startled, she looked down.

The Thunder Chant Sword lay quietly in the corner of the Profound Ice platform. The blade had snapped cleanly into two pieces.

Long Zhi’s heart clenched. An indescribable wave of melancholy and heartache surged within her. She clearly remembered that before she lost consciousness, the blade had only suffered minor cracks and a dimming of its spiritual light…

Zhang Xian followed her gaze, a trace of awkwardness flashing across his face. He coughed dryly.

“Ahem. I… accidentally broke your spirit sword during the suppression. Don’t worry, I’ll compensate you with a new one.”

The line sounded incredibly familiar to Long Zhi, but her mind was still too chaotic to place it. she simply stared at the broken blade in silence, the light in her eyes dimming.

“Fellow Daoist Zhang,” Long Zhi raised her head, forcing down the disappointment in her heart. “Why are you here?”

Zhang Xian gave a brief account of his journey. He conveniently omitted his true objective—assassinating Yang Poxiao—and claimed he was invited by Xia Chengyan to the Central Continent to assist the Heavenly Abyss Alliance against the [Hatred] entity.

Finishing his story, Zhang Xian asked, “And you? How did you end up in the Central Continent, and in such a state?”

Long Zhi sighed lightly. A flicker of painful recollection passed through her clear, cold eyes.

“Back then, the evil demons launched a surprise attack on the Spirit Ruins Sword Sect. The Sect was annihilated. The Grand Master Ancestor desperately activated an ancient teleportation formation, attempting to send the few remaining third-generation disciples to safety. But the demons forcibly interrupted the process. Space shattered, and I fell into the void turbulence. When I woke up, I was already in the Central Continent.”

“I was severely injured, my Origin damaged, and contaminated by [Desire]. I prepared myself for death. But strangely, within a few days, the [Desire] eroding my mind suddenly vanished. Later, I learned that you and your Master had exterminated the source of the evil demons, causing the [Desire] within me to dissipate.”

The rest of the story aligned with Zhang Xian’s deductions.

During the days she carried the [Desire] corruption, Long Zhi’s cultivation had soared. She realized that while the Seven Emotions Evil Thoughts were terrifying, they could be utilized for cultivation if controlled properly.

At that time, unaware that Wang Chuan was already dead, her mind was consumed by the need to avenge her Sect. She deliberately sought out traces of the Evil Thoughts, eventually finding a wisp of [Hatred] and the Ashen Wild Forest—an excellent cultivation site.

She had believed that with her resistance to thunder techniques and the environmental advantages of the forest, she could maintain her original heart despite the erosion of [Hatred].

She was wrong. By the time she learned of Wang Chuan’s death, it was too late. The corruption had set in. She could only barely cling to a shred of her benevolent nature, restraining herself from slaughtering the innocent, until she crossed paths with Zhang Xian.

Finishing her tale, Long Zhi struggled to stand upon the Profound Ice. She faced Zhang Xian and bowed deeply.

“[Desire] destroyed, the demons slain. Long Zhi thanks Fellow Daoist for avenging the blood feud of the Spirit Ruins Sword Sect.”

Her voice carried a rare tremor of emotion. For the first time, genuine gratitude and sorrow appeared on her aloof features. No matter how cold her nature, the thought of the Sect that raised her and the teachers who died for her broke through her composure.

[Ding! Current Favorability: 18.]

“Fellow Daoist Long, there is no need for this.”

Zhang Xian gently raised his hand, releasing a soft force to support her figure. He quickly shifted the topic. “What are your plans now?”

Long Zhi took a deep breath, composing herself. After a moment of contemplation, she spoke slowly. “I intend to stay in the Central Continent to hunt down the remaining Seven Emotions Evil Thoughts. Once matters here are settled, I will return to the Southern Region and rebuild the Spirit Ruins Sword Sect.”

“Rebuild the Spirit Ruins Sword Sect?” Zhang Xian stroked his chin thoughtfully. “A noble ambition. But relying on you alone… I fear your strength may be insufficient.”

He paused, a meaningful smile curling his lips. “How about letting me invest a bit?”

“Invest?” Long Zhi blinked, stunned. She didn’t grasp his meaning.

Then, she watched as Zhang Xian began to unload items like a street magician performing a trick.

Clatter. Thud.

One after another, jade boxes burst open, revealing mountains of High Grade Spirit Stones that blinded the eye with their brilliance. The density of the Spiritual Qi they released was suffocating.

Next came scroll after scroll of ancient jade slips, each radiating the aura of time, recording exquisite techniques and peerless secret arts.

Then came rows of jade bottles, filled with pills for healing, foundation building, and breaking through bottlenecks.

Finally, light flashed in Zhang Xian’s palm. An ancient, elegant long sword materialized in his grip. Thunder patterns flickered faintly along the steel, emitting a heart-palpitating pressure.

It was undeniably a High Grade Spirit Treasure.