Troublemaker’s Guide to Immortality

Yun Jin accepted the favor from Yang Hui. In the future, she would be sure to repay it.

By the time she finished storing away the jade slips, dawn was breaking.

After a moment's thought, Yun Jin contacted a few of her senior brothers and sisters through her messaging token and arranged to meet them at Yue Zhao's place.

"Little junior sister," Si Wanning yawned, "Why so serious today? Did something happen?"

Yun Jin was about to answer when Si Wanning suddenly looked alert. "I've been practicing my sword forms properly these days!"

Yun Jin gave her a helpless smile. "Second senior sister, I never said you were slacking."

Only then did Si Wanning relax. These days, she was more nervous around Yun Jin than even their master Lin Ya.

"Junior sister, how did your closed-door training go this time?" Yue Zhao asked with curiosity. Yun Jin had gone straight to the Earthfire Chamber and hadn't come to see them since. Figuring she needed rest, he hadn't disturbed her.

Yun Jin casually brought out the Tai'a Sword.

Yue Zhao's eyes changed in an instant.

The Tai'a Sword looked the same as before, yet now it carried a subtle, calming aura.

"It's already Two-Star…" Yue Zhao's voice trembled.

"Barely made it. It's now a mid-tier Mystic-grade weapon. With its unique qualities, it's no weaker than Ruan Jun's weapon," Yun Jin replied.

Ruan Jun wasn't a sword cultivator. He specialized in powerful palm techniques and wielded a pair of enchanted gloves called the Luminous Gold Gloves, high-grade Mystic-level treasures.

In terms of rank, they did surpass the Tai'a Sword. But Yun Jin had full confidence her weapon wouldn't lose out to any high-grade Mystic treasures.

Still, considering Ruan Jun's master was Zhao Wuji, and Zhao Wuji's hatred toward her, he would no doubt prepare more trump cards for Ruan Jun.

She'd need to stay on guard in the upcoming duel.

Yue Zhao looked at the confident Yun Jin, his heart filled with complex emotions.

Two months ago, she had just entered the Foundation Establishment realm, yet boldly challenged a Nascent Soul cultivator to a death match. Everyone thought she was crazy.

Even they, her own sectmates, hadn't believed she could win.

But now, two months later, she had reached the Golden Core stage.

She had begun mastering the Azure Lotus Sword Art. With her level of talent, she had likely advanced even further by now.

And now, she wielded the reforged Tai'a Sword.

Could this really happen? Could she truly fight across major realms?

Golden Core versus Nascent Soul—it still sounded absurd.

Yet a strange feeling stirred in Yue Zhao's heart.

He believed… she might actually win.

One month remained.

To most cultivators, that was a short time.

But for Yun Jin?

She had only been cultivating for two months total.

A month could be enough for her to ascend to another level entirely.

Then, the outcome would be truly unpredictable.

Still, a worry lingered in Yue Zhao's mind.

Even if Yun Jin won, then what? Killing Ruan Jun would mean removing one of Zhao Wuji's prized disciples. He might grieve, but it wouldn't cripple him.

More likely, Zhao Wuji would snap. He might drop all pretense and strike directly at Yun Jin.

And if that happened…

Who could protect her then?

The same idea Yue Zhao had suppressed before surfaced again.

His junior sister deserved a broader future.

Didn't that seventh-grade alchemist Qi Yu say he wanted her as a disciple?

Perhaps…

A flurry of thoughts whirled in his mind, but before he could make sense of them, Yun Jin spoke.

"Senior brother, senior sister, weren't you all saving points to trade for the recipe of the Bu Tian Pill? Did you get it yet?"

Yue Zhao blinked. "Almost. If we really want it, we could trade for it now."

Yun Jin looked confused.

He explained, "You can convert spirit stones into sect points. But the exchange rate is steep. One high-grade spirit stone only gives one point. Hardly anyone would spend so much."

"Then do it," Yun Jin said. "I need the Bu Tian Pill recipe."

Yue Zhao's expression shifted. He stared at Yun Jin, stunned.

That was a seventh-grade pill.

Si Wanning looked just as confused. "Junior sister, what do you want the Bu Tian Pill recipe for? Even if we get it, we'd still need a top-tier alchemist to make it."

Yue Zhao suddenly frowned. "Wait, do you know about Qi Yu? Are you planning to ask him for help?"

Qi Yu had been eager to take Yun Jin as a disciple. If she asked, he'd likely agree to help.

But…

A seventh-grade pill was a tremendous favor.

Even though Yue Zhao thought apprenticing under Qi Yu was a good idea, carrying such a heavy debt from the start would leave Yun Jin in a poor position. If Qi Yu ever tried to control her, would she even have the right to refuse?

"No. I can't allow that," Yue Zhao blurted out.

Yun Jin looked at him in confusion. "What Qi Yu? What are you refusing?"

Yue Zhao froze. "You don't know about Qi Yu?"

She shook her head.

She truly didn't.

Yue Zhao was speechless. "Then why do you want the recipe?"

Yun Jin's voice was calm. "Because I want to refine the Bu Tian Pill myself."

Clack.

They turned to see Yu Songnian's teacup had fallen to the ground.

He awkwardly lowered his head. He'd been too shocked. Wasn't necessary for everyone to stare like that.

Si Wanning couldn't help herself. "Junior sister! That's a seventh-grade pill! Only seventh-grade alchemists have a decent chance at refining one. Sixth-grade alchemists might barely manage it. Fifth-grade? Only if they risk everything. But anyone below that? It's unheard of!"

Typically:

Golden Core cultivators could reach third-grade alchemy.

Nascent Soul cultivators could become fourth-grade.

Divine Transformation cultivators might reach fifth-grade.

Late Divine Transformation might attempt sixth-grade.

For seventh-grade, the base requirement was Unity realm.

And Yun Jin?

She was still in the Golden Core stage. That cultivation speed alone was monstrous.

But in terms of alchemy?

She'd be lucky to attempt third-grade at best.

The gap between her and seventh-grade was as vast as the heavens.

"I know," Yun Jin said with a smile. "But still, it's worth trying."

With the system at her side, she still had a chance.

If she didn't try, maybe she could save herself.

But what about her master? Her senior brothers and sisters?

They would be left with no hope.

Even if she lowered herself to beg the experts for protection, such safety would only be temporary. Once those experts withdrew their support, they'd be left exposed.

Only if Lin Ya regained his strength…

Could Tianjian Peak rise again.

After all, her master at full strength had once firmly suppressed Zhao Wuji.