"Well, well, well, if it isn't the 'cultivation genius' Lin Yu?"
"Ten years at the Qi Condensation First Layer, Qingli Town's number one freeloader, born-loser Young Master Lin!"
Just as Lin Yu stepped out of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion in Qingli Town, he heard his peers mocking him in the street. Lin Yu brushed them off as if they were farting, not even bothering to dignify them with a look. He continued humming a brisk little tune, clutching tightly to a birthday gift for his wife, Zhang Junwan, and hurried home with joy filling his heart.
Yet fate seemed never to have favored this "genius." The moment he pushed open the door, his smile instantly froze on his face. The room was in utter disarray, and Zhang Junwan lay in a pool of blood, devoid of breath. The perpetrator turned out to be a demon sect mole lurking within the family. With a mocking gaze at Lin Yu, who was still at the Qi Condensation First Layer, the killer strolled off unhurriedly.
Lin Yu broke down, crying bitterly in unadulterated agony, weeping until blood seeped from his eyes before finally collapsing in a dead faint from sheer exhaustion. In this world, who could truly understand his pain? The tragic song of a good-for-nothing had thus begun.
***
### Chapter 2: The Mysterious Liquid, A Desperate Turning Point
Lin Batian dragged his heavy body back from the ancient extraterrestrial battlefield. His armor was shattered and stained with blood. Having survived countless life-and-death struggles, he was utterly exhausted, yearning only to return home soon to reunite with his wife and child. Yet before he could even catch his breath, a devastating bolt from the blue struck him—his home had suffered a terrible catastrophe; his daughter-in-law had been brutally murdered, and his son Lin Yu had been left bleeding from the eyes, running a high fever, and teetering on the brink of death.
"How could this happen?!" Lin Batian roared, his voice fraught with anguish and fury. Staggering into the room, his eyes instantly reddened at the sight of the weak, flickering breath of Lin Yu. The once vibrant and spirited son was now like a candle in the wind, liable to be extinguished at any moment.
Burning with anxiety, Lin Batian paced back and forth across the room until his gaze landed on a small bottle in the corner. He had picked it up inadvertently in the ancient battlefield; the bottle contained a single drop of cold, white ancient liquid that radiated a mysterious aura. At the time, he had merely found it novel and pocketed it casually, never expecting it would now become his only hope.
"I'll treat a dead horse as a live one!" Gritting his teeth, Lin Batian picked up the bottle and meticulously let that single drop of ancient liquid fall into Lin Yu's eyes.
The moment the ancient liquid made contact with Lin Yu's eyes, a bizarre phenomenon occurred. The previously scorching eyelids gradually cooled, and the incessant flow of fresh blood slowly stopped. Lin Batian stared anxiously, not daring to even draw a full breath.
At that very moment, Lin Yu's fingers twitched slightly.
"Yu'er!" Lin Batian cried out in pleasant surprise. Could this mysterious ancient liquid truly possess miraculous effects?
Yet just as hope swelled within him, Lin Yu's body suddenly grew rigid once more, his aura growing fainter still. This abrupt reversal made Lin Batian's heart leap back into his throat. He gripped Lin Yu's hand tightly and murmured, "Son, you must hold on!"
***
### Chapter 3: Regaining Sight, The Immortal Pupil Appears
Lin Yu drifted through darkness and torment for a full day and night, his consciousness like a flickering candle in the wind, on the verge of extinction at any moment. At times he dreamed of his sweet past with Zhang Junwan, only to be jolted awake by seas of blood and shrieks—the harrowing scene of his wife's brutal murder, replaying in an endless loop within his mind.
After who knows how long, Lin Yu slowly regained consciousness, only to find pitch-black darkness all around him as terror instantly swallowed him whole.
"My eyes... am I blind?" he muttered in despair, his hands flailing frantically before his face.
Just then, a wisp of faint light filtered through—he could actually see! He looked in the mirror and saw that he had changed; his eyeballs had turned purple! *Was I turned into a demon? Why are my eyeballs purple?*
As he tried to recollect, a fragmented memory surfaced: *"Leave the Immortal Pupil and spare your life!"* a demon lord towering with demonic flames and wielding a trident shouted furiously at a white-robed old man at the end of his tether. Looking closer, that Old Man's eyes were purple too! *Could it be that I possess the same Immortal Pupil as that immortal?*
Suddenly the memory fragment cut off, and Lin Yu still found it hard to believe this heaven-sent fortune.
Without the luxury of celebrating, Lin Yu was consumed by a towering hatred. Stumbling to Zhang Junwan's grave, he dropped to his knees with a heavy thud, tears streaming down his face. "Junwan, I am useless; I couldn't protect you. But rest assured, I will surely uncover the truth, tear those murderers to shreds, and avenge you!" Every single word was laden with his resolve and agony, echoing before the solitary grave.
After bidding farewell to his wife, Lin Yu wandered the streets in a daze. Suddenly, he overheard passersby discussing that Qingyun City was about to hold the Qingyun Sect's Spiritual Root awakening ceremony. As long as one awakened a Spiritual Root, one could step onto the path of cultivation and possess formidable power. For Lin Yu, this was undoubtedly a ray of light piercing the darkness.
"Perhaps this is my chance for vengeance." Lin Yu clenched his fists, a flash of determination in his eyes.
Yet just as he prepared to set off for Qingyun City, a group of mysterious figures suddenly materialized, boxing him in completely.
"Kid, you want to go to the Qingyun Sect?" The leader sneered, malice dripping from his gaze.
Lin Yu's heart tightened. He didn't know who these people were or why they were blocking his path. But he did not retreat.
"Step aside!" he roared, his blood burning. Even if the road ahead was unknown, even if peril lurked at every turn, he would never give up the chance for revenge.
***
### Chapter 4: Multi-Treasure Little Li, Heading to Qingyun Together
The moment Lin Yu made up his mind to head to Qingyun City for the Spiritual Root awakening ceremony, his path was blocked by a group of mysterious figures. The burly leader brandished a long saber that flashed with cold light and spoke malevolently, "Kid, if you know what's good for you, don't go poking your nose into this, or you'll regret it!"
Lin Yu's heart sank. He knew full well these men were of unknown origin and formidable strength, but the fire of vengeance left him utterly fearless, and he braced himself for a desperate fight.
Just as the tension reached a boiling point, a voice rang out abruptly: "Hey-yo, bullying a weak little bro in broad daylight, have you guys no shame at all?!"
The crowd turned toward the source of the voice to see a plump young man strolling over in a leisurely, roguish sway. It was none other than Li Shubao. A cynical smile hung at the corner of his mouth, and he was tossing a brightly gleaming jade pendant in his hand, looking as though he cared nothing for the hair-trigger situation before him.
The mysterious leader's face darkened as he barked, "Where did this fresh-faced fool spring from? Mind your own business!"
Li Shubao, however, remained unfazed. He snapped his fingers, and a crowd of sturdy guards immediately swarmed out from behind him, surrounding the mysterious men and their cohorts.
"I don't have many faults, except that I love meddling in other people's business—especially scummy bullying like this!" He blinked and shot a wink at Lin Yu. "Little bro, don't be afraid, I've got you!"
With Li Shubao's help, the mysterious men quickly tucked their tails between their legs and fled. Lin Yu was profoundly grateful and thanked Li Shubao.
Li Shubao waved a hand dismissively. "Think nothing of it! Seeing as you're in a rush to get to the Qingyun Sect and I was planning to go check out the excitement myself, why don't we travel together?"
Lin Yu hesitated for a moment; thinking that an extra companion meant an extra layer of mutual support, he agreed.
The two set off on the road to Qingyun City. Along the way, Li Shubao's tongue was as nimble as ever, whether he was spinning bizarre tales of the cultivation world or pulling out all sorts of weird treasures to show off, turning what should have been a dreary journey into a lighthearted and pleasant trip. Lin Yu couldn't help marveling inwardly that while this Li Shubao looked thoroughly unreliable, he was remarkably righteous at critical moments. He truly was a fascinating fellow, and Lin Yu quietly grew to look forward to their shared experiences in the Qingyun Sect.
***
### Chapter 5: Immortal Pupil Memories, Array Formation to Slaughter the Enemy
After enduring various trials, Lin Yu and Li Shubao finally arrived at Qingyun City and checked into the Qingyun Inn. With travelers coming and going and all walks of life congregating there, the inn inherently carried an air of mystery.
Exhausted from a full day of travel, Lin Yu had just lain down on the bed to rest when suddenly, a bizarre flash of light swept through his Immortal Pupil, and a massive influx of unfamiliar memories flooded his mind. These memories surged like a tidal wave, causing a splitting headache.
As it turned out, this pair of Immortal Pupils had an extraordinary background, serving as the heritage left behind by an peerless immortal from the Primordial Epoch who excelled simultaneously in alchemy, arrays, talismans, and artifact crafting. Relying on these Immortal Pupils, the immortal had once roamed freely across heaven and earth, only to be ultimately ambushed and betrayed through a conspiracy between a traitor and the Demon Emperor. Before drawing his final breath, the immortal had sealed his lifelong learnings and supreme power within the Immortal Pupils, awaiting a fated person to unlock them.
Lin Yu was both shocked and delighted—this was the ultimate golden finger he had always dreamed of! Just as he was immersed in these memories, a commotion suddenly sounded from outside the inn. It turned out that members of the demon sect had sensed the anomaly of the Immortal Pupils and tracked him down, attempting to seize their power.
"Hmph, trying to steal my lucky opportunity? Not so easily!"
Lin Yu shed his previous good-for-nothing persona, his gaze hardening with ruthless decisiveness. Although his current cultivation realm was not high, relying on the combat techniques and formidable spells he had just acquired from the Immortal Pupil memories, he instantly set up a simple yet remarkably formidable array.
The demon sect members kicked the door open, only to blunder straight into the array, spinning around in dizzying confusion. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Yu launched his attack, slaying enemies across realms and beating the demon sect intruders back in utter rout. As he fought, he mentally organized the cultivation knowledge bestowed by the Immortal Pupil, realizing that his future path of cultivation would be smooth sailing.
This battle attracted quite a few experts from the Justice Alliance to watch, and they praised Lin Yu's performance endlessly. Li Shubao holstered on from the side, shouting, "I told you my brother here is no ordinary man!"
Buoyed by this engagement, Lin Yu's reputation skyrocketed. He also harvested a vast bounty of treasures dropped by the fleeing demon sect members, kicking off a frantic spree of wealth accumulation. He knew that he, the former good-for-nothing, was about to stir up monstrous waves in this cultivation world, and this pair of Immortal Pupils was the starting point of his ascent to becoming an all-rounded grandmaster.
***
### Chapter 6: A Glimpse of the Threshold, Cultivation Kicks Off
Following the harrowing battle at the Qingyun Inn, Lin Yu locked himself in his room, burning with impatience to study the secrets of the Immortal Pupils. This mysterious pair of eyes was his greatest reliance for a counterattack against his past as a good-for-nothing.
He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, centered his mind, and attempted to channel the power of the Immortal Pupils. In an instant, countless mystical runes gushed forth from the pupils, pouring into his sea of consciousness. These runes pulsed with an arcane glow, containing ancient and potent cultivation methods. Lin Yu was wild with joy—wasn't this the very golden finger he had dreamed of?
"Ha, who knew cultivation could be played like this!" Lin Yu couldn't help laughing aloud. This method was vastly faster than conventional cultivation; it was practically Heaven itself lending a hand to a loser like him.
Following the cultivation pointers welling up from the Immortal Pupils, he circulated the spiritual qi within his body. The spiritual qi, which had previously resembled a mere trickle, instantly surged with roaring momentum, galloping unceasingly through his meridians. With every single complete cycle of circulation, Lin Yu could clearly sense his strength leaping forward by bounds.
When morning came, while the outside of the inn remained tranquil, Lin Yu had undergone an earth-shattering transformation. He had leaped straight from a little rookie at the Qi Condensation First Layer to the Qi Condensation Sixth Layer! If word of this speed leaked out, it would undoubtedly drop the jaws of everyone in the world.
"Now, those people who once looked down on me will have to recalculate their estimates," Lin Yu curved the corners of his lips into a confident smile, brimming with smug flexes.
He stepped out of his room, took a deep breath, and felt the surging power within his body. This was merely the first step on his cultivation journey; more challenges awaited him in the future. Yet Lin Yu felt not an ounce of fear. He believed that relying on these Immortal Pupils and his own immense fortune, he would surely become an all-around master.
At that moment, he seemed to already envision himself standing at the peak of the world, surrounded by a harem of wives and revered by countless mortals. And all of this started from mastering the rapid cultivation tricks of the Immortal Pupils.
***
### Chapter 7: Qingyun Awakening, Nine-Layer Spiritual Root
With a heart full of anticipation, Lin Yu stepped into the grand hall of the Qingyun Sect's Spiritual Root awakening ceremony. The interior was solemn and stately, countless pairs of eyes locked tightly upon the glowing awakening crystal.
When his turn arrived, Lin Yu took a deep breath and slowly placed his hand onto the crystal. In a flash, the crystal erupted with dazzling brilliance, unleashing nine resplendent beams of light that soared straight into the clouds.
"A Nine-Layer Spiritual Root!" An exclamation burst from the crowd. This ought to have been a peerless talent, and its possessor was destined to become a legend in the cultivation world.
However, following the brief shock, the scene fell into an eerie silence. The elders exchanged glances, their eyes filled with helpless resignation. As it turned out, while a Nine-Layer Spiritual Root was formidable, it demanded an astronomical amount of cultivation resources—an expenditure that not even the entire cultivation empire could easily sustain for a single person. Moreover, the cultivation techniques suited for a Nine-Layer Spiritual Root had long since been lost to time; even with astonishing innate talent, it was difficult to unleash its full potential.
"This... what are we to do?" Lin Yu's eyes widened, his initial joy instantly supplanted by dread and bewilderment. He never imagined that his supreme talent would turn into a burden.
Ultimately, following deliberations among the elders, Lin Yu was assigned to do odd jobs in the outer courtyard.
"A genius with a Nine-Layer Spiritual Root, reduced to such a plight." The onlookers shook their heads and sighed.
Though bitterness lingered in his heart, Lin Yu did not lose heart. "Resources and techniques? I will certainly find a way to resolve this!" he vowed silently, determination flashing in his eyes.
In the outer courtyard, Lin Yu juggled menial chores while utilizing the power of the Immortal Pupils to hunt everywhere for a cultivation method that suited him. He believed that as long as he did not give up, one day he would shatter this seemingly unsolvable predicament, make the Nine-Layer Spiritual Root bloom with its proper brilliance, and carve out a domain of his own in this cultivation realm.
***
### Chapter 8: Midnight Cultivation, Immortal Maiden Bathing
Night draped its veil over the Qingyun Sect, bringing profound stillness to all things, save for the faint glow of spiritual power flickering within Lin Yu's courtyard. Sitting cross-legged with spiritual qi swirling around his form, he was relying on the mysterious power of the Immortal Pupils to diligently explore cultivation techniques suited for the Nine-Layer Spiritual Root. Although the memories within the pupils remained incomplete, he firmly believed that once fully unlocked, he would undoubtedly unearth the ancient cultivation manuals of the Nine-Layer Immortal Eyes.
Unawares, midnight had arrived. Growing somewhat fatigued from his cultivation, Lin Yu stood up to stretch and wandered inadvertently deep into the small bamboo grove. Abruptly, he caught the sound of cheerful chatter among several women.
"My cultivation feels like it's advanced significantly again today," a crisp voice drifted over.
"Indeed, we must press on with our cultivation and strive to break through sooner," another voice chimed in agreement.
A thought stirred in Lin Yu's mind. Figuring he might glean some cultivation experience from their conversation, he crept forward on tiptoe. Moonlight filtered down through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, and Lin Yu vaguely discerned several slender, graceful female figures by a pool of water, seemingly bathing.
Just as he thought to quietly withdraw, he accidentally snapped a dry twig.
"Who's there?" the women barked alertedly, whipping their gazes toward him in unison. In his panic, Lin Yu's purple Immortal Pupils involuntarily flickered.
"A demon's eyes!" one of the women shrieked in terror.
"No, I'm not..." Lin Yu attempted to explain, but they immediately pigeonholed him as a demon—and a perth to boot.
"Seize him! Don't let the demon escape!" The women unleashed their spells one after another, raining attacks down upon Lin Yu.
Left with no choice, Lin Yu could only dodge while shouting his innocence: "It's a misunderstanding! I only came to overhear your cultivation experience, I'm no demon!"
But the women, in their rattled state, refused to listen, pressing the pursuit even more fiercely.
Dashing this way and that, Lin Yu cursed his wretched luck internally. He had merely intended to steal some experience, never expecting to stir up such a massive hornet's nest. He could only rely on his agile footwork and the fruits of his recent cultivation to maneuver through the bamboo grove, praying this misunderstanding would clear up soon—otherwise, his humiliating tale of "midnight cultivation, stumbling into the immortal maidens' bath" would likely spread across the entire Qingyun Sect.
***
### Chapter 9: Su Yao to the Rescue, Spiritual Plant Task
Chased into a miserable rout by the group of women in the bamboo grove and on the verge of being cornered, Lin Yu watched as a dazzling flash of spellcraft streaked in from the side, precisely neutralizing the women's attacks. Lin Yu raised his eyes to see a woman clad in pale blue robes approaching on a flying sword—it was none other than Senior Sister Su Yao.
Su Yao arched her delicate brows and snapped at the women, "Cease your attacks! He is no demon."
With Su Yao's intervention, the misunderstanding was finally cleared up. Flushed with embarrassment, Lin Yu bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
Through this ordeal, the bond between Lin Yu and Su Yao grew significantly closer. Seeing that Lin Yu remained largely clueless about sect affairs, Su Yao warmly introduced him to the chores of the outer sect, informing him that he could earn sect contribution points to exchange for cultivation resources.
"The Spiritual Plant Garden is a decent place. Tending to and cultivating rare spiritual plants not only yields generous points, but it's also immensely helpful for future alchemy," Su Yao explained patiently.
Lin Yu's eyes lit up. Wasn't this precisely what he needed? He immediately resolved to try his hand at the Spiritual Plant Garden.
In the Spiritual Plant Garden, Lin Yu busied himself every day meticulously caring for the flora—watering, fertilizing, and clearing pests. Su Yao frequently dropped by to lend a hand, and the two discussed spiritual plant knowledge together, quiet romantic sparks kindling between them.
"Junior Brother Lin, look at this spiritual plant; its leaves are turning yellow, likely due to insufficient nourishment," Su Yao pointed out, indicating a particular specimen. Lin Yu leaned in for a close inspection and nodded in agreement. As days passed, their cooperation grew increasingly tacit.
Over time, the spiritual plants under Lin Yu's care flourished vigorously, and he even cultivated a few exceptionally rare varieties, earning him a massive bounty of sect contribution points. These points allowed him to trade for precious cultivation resources, steadily elevating his strength. Meanwhile, his affection with Su Yao germinated and sprouted like the spiritual plants around them amidst their daily companionship in the garden. Because of Su Yao's appearance, Lin Yu's path of cultivation seemed to grow warmer and filled with greater promise. He looked forward with a full heart to how his experiences in the Spiritual Plant Garden would lay a solid foundation for his alchemy and open up a brand-new chapter in his immortal journey.
***
### Chapter 10: A Senior Brother's Jealousy and a Brutal Schooling
Lin Yu and Su Yao grew increasingly harmonious in the Spiritual Plant Garden, spending every day tending to the plants together amid endless laughter. This drove Su Yao's senior brother, Zhao Yu, half-mad with fury. Zhao Yu had harbored romantic feelings for Su Yao for a long time, and he could never tolerate Lin Yu, this "wet-behind-the-ears punk," sticking his nose in between them.
One day, Zhao Yu finally seized an opportunity. The sect issued a mission to harvest spiritual herbs—a perilous endeavor fraught with hazard where injury could occur at the slightest misstep. Capitalizing on his seniority, Zhao Yu intentionally assigned this task to Lin Yu and sneered from the side, "Hmph, Lin Yu, aren't you quite the capable one? This mission is yours now. Try not to die out there, or Junior Sister Su Yao will have something to cry over."
Lin Yu understood full well that Zhao Yu was trying to make things difficult for him, but he felt no anger. Instead, the corners of his mouth curled up into an innocent, harmless smile. "Rest assured, Senior Brother, I will surely complete the mission."
Seeing Lin Yu's submissive demeanor, Zhao Yu felt only contempt, convinced Lin Yu was merely a soft persimmon ripe for the squashing.
Lin Yu followed the team to the valley where the spiritual herbs grew. The valley was fraught with perils and infested with all manner of fierce demonic beasts. The other disciples proceeded with extreme caution; only Lin Yu remained unhurried and unbothered, as though he had long been prepared.
Suddenly, a massive wind wolf burst from the brush and lunged straight at the group. The other disciples turned pale with fright, losing their wits entirely. Panic-stricken, Zhao Yu screamed, "Lin Yu, get in there!"
Yet Lin Yu remained unhurried, letting out a soft sigh. "Senior Brother, didn't you say I'm capable? Then I suppose I'll show you a trick or two."
The words barely left his lips when spiritual qi overflowed his entire form, and the formidable spellcraft he had recently cultivated with the aid of the Immortal Pupils was unleashed in an instant. With a wave of his hand, a piercing sword qi howled through the air, cleaving the wind wolf cleanly in two.
The crowd dropped their jaws in sheer disbelief, and Zhao Yu's eyes bulged as he stared in utter shock.
Dusting off his hands, Lin Yu looked at Zhao Yu with a beaming smile and said, "Senior Brother, the mission is complete. I'll be heading back first." With that, he strutted away, leaving Zhao Yu frozen in place with a face alternating between green and white, bitterly regretting that he had provoked this wolf-in-sheep's-clothing "hardcore player."