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

“Here. Spirit Stones, technique manuals, pills.”

Zhang Xian shoved the pile of items toward Long Zhi in one go. Then, he handed her a spirit sword that flowed with vibrant violet light.

“And this. A High Grade Spirit Treasure. I noticed your Thunder Spiritual Root is exceptionally pure, making this blade the most compatible match for you. With these resources, your strength should advance to the next level. You’ll have much more confidence when it comes time to rebuild your Sect.”

Long Zhi was completely stunned.

She stared at the mountain of precious resources piled before her. She stared at the spirit sword, which emitted an alluring arc of lightning, humming as if it had been forged specifically for her.

Her mind went blank. The quality of this blade far surpassed her shattered Thunder Chant Sword.

“This… this is too much!” Long Zhi instinctively took a step back, waving her hands frantically. “How can I accept such valuable treasures?”

Zhang Xian waved a hand, his expression the picture of calm.

“You misunderstand. Revitalizing the great powers of the Southern Region is a responsibility we all share. Besides, I’m not giving this away for free. Consider it an investment.”

“Investment?”

Long Zhi was even more confused. Yet, her hand seemed to move on its own, her pale fingers brushing against the cold steel of the blade. She could feel the majestic, rolling power of thunder contained within. Her eyes shone with a rare brilliance.

The sword was perfect.

“Yes, an investment,” Zhang Xian explained smoothly. “It means that when you rebuild the Spirit Ruins Sword Sect and become the Sect Leader, I own a share. In the future, I will take a percentage of the resources and profits the Sect produces. Of course, I won’t manage daily affairs. How the Sect develops is entirely up to you.”

Long Zhi nodded slowly, trying to process the concept. “So… you want to be the Supreme Elder?”

“Hmm. You could interpret it that way.”

Long Zhi hesitated. She looked at the spirit sword in her hand, then at the pile of resources. A fierce battle raged in her heart.

The temptation was overwhelming. As for the position of Supreme Elder? Rebuilding the Spirit Ruins Sword Sect was currently nothing more than empty talk. Giving away a title in a non-existent sect meant these treasures were essentially free gifts.

Zhang Xian saw her wavering.

“Don’t overthink it. Your spirit sword is destroyed. You don’t even have a suitable weapon right now, so how can you talk about hunting down the Seven Emotions or rebuilding your Sect? Without divine weapons and sharp tools, how will you fight those evil demons? Take it for now. You can repay me later.”

Long Zhi was left speechless.

He was right. Without strength, everything was just empty talk. And this new spirit sword… it felt destined to be hers. As a sword cultivator, she simply could not resist the allure.

Finally, she took a deep breath and solemnly tightened her grip on the hilt.

“Alright. I accept.”

[Ding! Gift of High Grade Spirit Treasure successful. Triggered 100x Return: Top Grade Spirit Treasure Essence x100 bottles.]

[Top Grade Spirit Treasure Essence: Heaven Grade material. Can be refined into Magical Artifacts or lower-grade Spirit Treasures to elevate their quality to Top Grade Spirit Treasure.]

[Ding! Gift successful. Triggered Return: Top Grade Spirit Stones x1,000,000.]

[Ding! Gift successful. Triggered Return: Jade Spirit Pill x20,000.]

[Jade Spirit Pill: Heaven Grade Pill. Greatly enhances cultivation for late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. Effect diminishes with repeated consumption.]

[Ding! Long Zhi’s Favorability increased. Current Favorability: 28.]

Listening to the long-unheard melody of system prompts, Zhang Xian felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him.

Long Zhi stored the spirit sword and resources. Her gaze swept over the unconscious figures of Lu Yao, Zi Xiao, and the others nearby, but she asked no questions. She looked around at the forest, devastated by their earlier battle, and sighed softly.

“You are terrifyingly powerful. You haven’t even broken through to the Nascent Soul realm, yet I am already no match for you.”

Zhang Xian smiled and waved his hand dismissively. “I just rely on the power of Spirit Treasures and burning resources.”

Long Zhi shook her head, her eyes serious. “No. Your comprehension of techniques far surpasses mine. Whether it was [Myriad Spirits Return to Ruins] or the [Purple Empyrean Dragon Roar Mantra], the power and artistic conception you unleashed were leagues above my own! Especially the [Purple Empyrean Dragon Roar Mantra]…”

She stopped, her expression hesitant but her eyes burning with a thirst for knowledge.

Zhang Xian secretly laughed. He cleared his throat, feigning a mysterious air.

“I now possess the Five Elements Spiritual Roots, which gives me a unique perspective on the world’s Spiritual Qi. Coupled with some fated chances, I’ve gained a few new insights into the application of these arts.”

Just then, Zhang Xian sensed movement. Not far away, the unconscious Song Zhang groaned, showing signs of waking up.

Zhang Xian didn’t even look. He casually pointed a finger and whispered a single word.

“Fall.”

Crackle!

A bolt of lightning struck Song Zhang with surgical precision. A wisp of green smoke rose from his hair, and his head, which had just lifted an inch off the ground, thudded back down. He was out cold again.

Witnessing this from close range, Long Zhi’s eyes widened. She could feel the exquisite flow of Qi and the restrained power within that casual strike—it was far beyond her own control over lightning. Her astonishment and curiosity deepened.

Zhang Xian smiled, deciding to stop teasing her.

He flipped his palm, and two jade slips emitting a warm, lustrous glow appeared. He handed them to her.

“These are some improvements and annotations I made to the [Myriad Spirits Return to Ruins] and the [Purple Empyrean Dragon Roar Mantra] in my spare time. Perhaps they can give you some inspiration.”

Long Zhi eagerly took the jade slips and probed them with her Divine Sense.

Instantly, she was captivated. The exquisitely brilliant sword path concepts and the profound mysteries of thunder contained within were mesmerizing. It was a complete subversion—and sublimation—of everything she had learned in her life.

She became intoxicated, utterly immersed in the Dao, forgetting the passage of time.

[Ding! Gift successful. Triggered Return: Heaven Grade Technique Comprehension x2,000.]

[Heaven Grade Technique Comprehension: Host can use this to comprehend lower-quality techniques, instantly elevating them to Heaven Grade.]

An unknown amount of time passed.

Long Zhi suddenly snapped back to reality. She discovered the sky was already bright. She had stood there, clutching the jade slips, for the entire night.

Beside her, Zhang Xian sat quietly in meditation, having acted as her Dharma Protector the entire time.

“I… I apologize, Fellow Daoist Zhang,” Long Zhi stammered, a rare blush coloring her pale cheeks. “I was discourteous. Such generous gifts, such great kindness… Long Zhi truly does not know how to repay you.”

[Ding! Long Zhi’s Favorability increased. Current Favorability: 33.]

Zhang Xian waved his hand casually, his demeanor calm and indifferent. “It’s a small matter. Don’t dwell on it.”

He paused, his gaze shifting toward the horizon as if recalling something. His tone shifted.

“However… there is actually a small favor I need from you right now.”

On the other side of the Ashen Wild Forest.

Baoyuan Zhenren’s face was as pale as paper. Cold sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead as his trembling hands pressed against the tottering light shield in front of him.

Outside the barrier, three figures floated in ominous silence.

In the center was Elder Chen. Her expression was blank, her eyes empty voids, drifting like a ghost.

Flanking her were two cultivators shrouded in wide black robes. Their bodies radiated the oppressive pressure of the First Stage of the Nascent Soul realm. But what truly made Baoyuan’s heart tremble were the weapons they held.

They gripped peculiarly shaped blades. Every time they slashed at his light shield, the impact erupted with a terrifying force far exceeding that of an ordinary early Nascent Soul cultivator.

Those were definitely not ordinary Spirit Treasures.

Pfft!

The light shield shuddered violently. Baoyuan felt a sweetness rise in his throat. He forcibly swallowed the blood back down, his heart filled with endless regret.