Chapter 73: Must I Die?

"Zhao Fengchun" took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, and spoke slowly: "I can teach you the Magic Art, but this art of mine requires a Dharma Artifact to mask one's own spiritual power fluctuations and cultivation level. If you only learn the art, you can only change your appearance, which is of little use. Anyone who has traded blows with you will easily recognize you from your spiritual power fluctuations."

"It doesn't matter, just teach me," Ruan Xing said nonchalantly, thinking she could find an opportunity later to take the Dharma Artifact from the Demon Cultivator, or find one with a similar effect in the future.

"As for Contribution Points, I cannot give you any. The identity I am currently disguising myself as is an Outer Sect Disciple in urgent need of Foundation Establishment. In the eyes of others, my Contribution Points are very important to me; giving them to you would arouse suspicion."

"That's all negotiable, but you can't possibly not give me Spirit Stones, right?" Ruan Xing reached out with a grin.

"Zhao Fengchun" took out his Storage Bag with some grievance, opened it, and took out Spirit Stones for her.

"Just this much? You've got to be kidding? A dignified Foundation Establishment Late Stage Demon Cultivator has this little strength?" Ruan Xing looked somewhat disdainful.

"Zhao Fengchun's" face turned pale and stiff. "One hundred Spirit Stones is not a small amount. Even if I work diligently in the Xuanbing Sect for a month, I might not necessarily have one hundred Spirit Stones."

He had never suffered such grievances before. If it weren't for Ruan Xing calling out his identity as a Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator, and his fear that she might have a backup plan preventing him from acting rashly, he would have killed her long ago.

"Fine." Ruan Xing stopped being picky, accepted the Spirit Stones, and told "Zhao Fengchun" to start teaching her the disguise Magic Art.

Under the guidance of "Zhao Fengchun," Ruan Xing tried several times without success and couldn't help but suspect, "Is what you're teaching me real? You aren't trying to trick me on purpose, are you?"

"Zhao Fengchun" rolled his eyes. "It's you who are too stupid. I really can't figure out how someone with your brain managed to cultivate to Qi Refining Layer Nine."

Ruan Xing wasn't angry; she chuckled, "Then if you were outsmarted by me, doesn't that make you even stupider than me?"

"You—" Having insulted himself, "Zhao Fengchun" had no choice but to swallow his anger and huffed to express his dissatisfaction.

After nearly half an hour, Ruan Xing finally grasped the method and transformed into a woman in her early twenties, modeled after her own appearance in her previous life. She had no mirror, so she looked at her current appearance in the reflection of "Zhao Fengchun's" black eyes and asked, "How is it? Does it count as a success?"

"Mm, it's a success." "Zhao Fengchun" looked at the bright and pretty woman before him. "Most people, when first learning this, turn into the person they are most familiar with. Who is this? Your mother?"

"None of your business." Ruan Xing only maintained it for less than two minutes before changing back, feeling a bit reluctant to lose the feeling of not having to look up at people.

According to the real Zhao Fengchun's popular science, she had entered the Dao too early, and she would likely only be able to maintain the appearance of a child until she reshaped her physical body; this was one of the reasons she was so eager to learn this Magic Art.

Whether others could recognize her was secondary; the main thing was that after she reached Foundation Establishment, she could travel outside with a different face.

"This cultivation technique is derived from the Transformation Technique of monster cultivators, and after being modified by the Demon Sect, it has become what it is now. Once you practice it to a profound level, even a great expert at the Return to Ruins Stage will not be able to see through the change in appearance, and you can even cast this technique on others—even on the dead."

"Zhao Fengchun" spoke softly as he introduced it, the last sentence said with profound meaning.

"So you killed the original Xie Huai, changed into his appearance, and took over his identity?" Ruan Xing suddenly realized.

"Zhao Fengchun" denied it: "I do not possess such a profound Magic Art."

"Fine, that's that. You hurry back to sleep, and we'll contact each other if anything comes up." Ruan Xing closed the door, preparing to send him off.

After "Zhao Fengchun" left, Ruan Xing did not sleep. While guarding against the Demon Cultivator making a surprise return, she took the opportunity to study the Illusion Technique for the whole night.

By the time the morning light broke, no accidents had occurred. It seemed the Demon Cultivator had indeed temporarily set aside his murderous intent.

Her Sect Jade Token vibrated slightly; it was a message from Qin Yi, asking her to go to the Sect Affairs Hall together after she woke up.

Ruan Xing thought for a moment and then ended this Real-scene Simulation.

Time returned to noon the previous day.

Ruan Xing opened her eyes. She was still lying on the couch, and she proceeded to conduct a Text Simulation according to this route.

【Simulation in progress】

At six years old, you entered the Xuanbing Sect and became an Outer Sect Disciple.

At night, the Demon Cultivator disguised as Zhao Fengchun came to your room to find you. You saw through his disguise, and after a conversation, you reached an agreement: he would teach you the Illusion Technique, and you would hide his identity for him.

You began to practice the Illusion Technique diligently.

A few days later, Qin Yi and Zhao Fengchun went out to perform a Sect mission. Before leaving, Zhao Fengchun invited you again, but you refused her in order to practice the Illusion Technique.

Half a month later, Zhao Fengchun returned to the Sect alone, bringing the news of Qin Yi's death. Their team encountered an accident, and Qin Yi died in the mouth of a Monster Beast while protecting her. You comforted her a few times, but it had no effect. She became sorrowful and depressed, and this failed mission also caused her to lose the qualification to continue living in the Yi-character Courtyard.

A month later, a disciple anonymously reported that Zhao Fengchun was colluding with a Demon Cultivator and provided evidence. The evidence was irrefutable, and Zhao Fengchun could not defend herself. The Sect Elder immediately decided to summon all disciples in the Sect to publicly execute Zhao Fengchun. Zhao Fengchun was placed on the execution platform and died from the punishment of Heavenly Thunder.

One night, not long after Zhao Fengchun died, you were practicing the Illusion Technique in your room when you were attacked by the Demon Cultivator, and you died.

【Simulation ended】

Ruan Xing chose a random skill and subsequently obtained the Illusion Technique (Level 1).

This Demon Cultivator didn't lie to her about the Magic Art.

But to reach the state where the Demon Cultivator maintained his disguise twenty-four hours a day, one would need to practice to at least Level 4 or higher.

However, what she didn't understand was why the Demon Cultivator lay dormant for over a month, only to start killing her after Qin Yi and Zhao Fengchun died? Was it impossible for her not to die?

The Demon Cultivator seemed to really hold a grudge against her...

Perhaps the Demon Cultivator believed she was on good terms with Qin Yi and Zhao Fengchun, and that her backup plan lay with Qin Yi, which was why he killed the two of them before coming to kill her.

She was truly sorry, but she had no backup plan at all; it was all a bluff.

She hadn't expected it to implicate Qin Yi and the others.

Qin Yi and the others died truly unjustly, but Ruan Xing wanting to save them wasn't as simple as just stopping them from going on the Sect mission. The Demon Cultivator was suspicious; as long as the Demon Cultivator still had murderous intent toward her, Qin Yi and the others would sooner or later be in danger. If Ruan Xing wasted all her points on how to help them avoid danger, that would be putting the cart before the horse.

To forge iron, one must be strong oneself. As long as she made the Demon Cultivator believe that the cost of killing her was too high, and he gave up voluntarily, then Qin Yi and the others would truly be safe.

She had to reach Foundation Establishment as soon as possible.

Thinking this way, Ruan Xing took a nap, restored her energy, and in the afternoon, she went to the dining hall to get a food box and returned to eat dinner.

When night came and "Zhao Fengchun" arrived, Ruan Xing "persuaded" the other party by appealing to his emotions and reasoning.

This time, she did not let the Demon Cultivator teach her the Illusion Technique, but instead only asked for Contribution Points and Spirit Stones.

The Demon Cultivator thought for a moment. "Spirit Stones I can give you, how many do you want? Contribution Points are out of the question; it will arouse suspicion."

"As long as the Spirit Stones are in place, my mouth is very tight." Ruan Xing smiled and rubbed her fingers together. "Just treat the Contribution Points as a loan to me; I will return the full amount to you in three days."

"You've only been in the Sect for one day, where would you get the Contribution Points to pay me back?" Xie Huai asked, using Zhao Fengchun's face, his eyes full of suspicion.

"That's none of your concern. I have my own clever ways. If you don't believe me, I can swear a Heart Demon Oath."

Xie Huai didn't buy it and said readily, "Then swear it."

"How many Contribution Points do you have?"

"One thousand four hundred." One thousand four hundred, that was enough. Ruan Xing calculated and held up three fingers. "I swear that in three days, I will return the borrowed Contribution Points in full. If I break this oath, may my body die and my Dao vanish!"

"Add your name," Xie Huai said.

"Good kid!" Ruan Xing cursed inwardly. She didn't understand how oaths between cultivators were sworn, so she completely copied the wording Wang Zhi used in the Simulation.

So it turned out one had to add a name; wouldn't the oath Wang Zhi swore be a load of nonsense? Naive as she was, she had been tricked again after all.

"I, Liu Bo, swear that the Contribution Points borrowed three days from now will definitely be returned in full. If I violate this oath, may my body perish and my Dao dissipate!"

"Is your name really Liu Bo?"

"Of course!" Ruan Xing's face was full of sincerity.

The Demon Cultivator seemed to believe her and stopped doubting, taking out his Sect Jade Token to connect with hers and transfer the points.

It was as if she had heard an electronic voice broadcast in the void.

"Ding-dong, your Alipay has received: 1,400 yuan."

Ruan Xing looked at the balance of Contribution Points in her jade token, her eyes squinting with a smile.

"You must pay it back," Xie Huai emphasized again.

"I know, I know," Ruan Xing spread her hands. "What about the hush money?"

Xie Huai took out one hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones and gave them to her. Once Ruan Xing got them in her hands, she immediately closed the door to see him out. "Alright, take care, I won't see you out."

Xie Huai left, helpless and annoyed.

Ruan Xing went back and lay down on the couch again, starting the Simulation.

To save points and also to avoid facing a crazed Xie Huai three days later, Ruan Xing used Real-scene Simulation for everything.

She spent Contribution Points to exchange for cultivation methods and Magic Arts at the Treasure Pavilion. After reading them once and storing them in her memory, she ended the Simulation and started over. It only cost thirty-some points to memorize over thirty types of Magic Arts and the Xuanbing Sect's Foundation Establishment cultivation method.

The Xuanbing Sect's cultivation method is called the Tongxuan Scripture, an Earth-grade cultivation method. Exchanging for it requires one thousand Contribution Points, but one can only obtain the portion from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment; the rest is missing, and one must also swear a Heart Demon Oath not to spread it.

However, Ruan Xing had sworn the Heart Demon Oath within the Simulation, so she wasn't sure if it would actually take effect.

She only memorized these cultivation methods and Magic Arts without practicing them, so they did not appear on her character panel. She would carefully select a few to learn once she had more points later.

As for the Foundation Establishment Pill, it required five hundred Contribution Points to exchange. This is a third-grade Pill, which can sell for a high price of seven to eight hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones per pill at Wanbao Tower.

She took a deep breath; now she had to start gambling on her luck.

She still had seven hundred and fifty points. If nothing went wrong, she really didn't want to top up those one hundred Spirit Stones right now.

Text Simulation started. After she exchanged for two Foundation Establishment Pills, she chose to leave the Sect and discarded all extra items on her person. The Demon Cultivator sensed something was wrong, chased her out, and killed her.

After obtaining several useless items like clothes, hair ties, blood-stained soil, and the Demon Cultivator's belt, she finally rolled a Foundation Establishment Pill on the fifth attempt.

Fortunately, her luck wasn't too bad.

Next, it was time to simulate cultivation.

But before that, she had to return the Contribution Points to the Demon Cultivator; otherwise, she would only have three days in the Text Simulation, which was too wasteful.

If she returned them to him, she could have over a month of cultivation time.

Although less than a quarter of an hour had passed in reality, Ruan Xing had already studied efficiently for over a month in the Real-scene Simulation, and she felt mentally exhausted.

Better to sleep first.

After a night of deep sleep, Ruan Xing was woken up by a buzzing sound from her Sect Jade Token.

She rubbed her eyes and yawned, checked the Sect Jade Token, replied "Okay" to Qin Yi, and got up to wash.

Yesterday, she had seen a Dust-Gathering Technique among the Magic Arts. It could keep oneself tidy, clean a room, and even be engraved into dharma robes to achieve an effect of being untainted by dust. Although its value was low, it was indeed a practical and good Magic Art.

There was no need to waste points on such a low-grade Magic Art; she would just practice it herself when she had time after finishing this period, which would save her time on washing up.

When she went out, she happened to see the young neighbor next door watering the flowers at his doorway, and she greeted him in a pleasant mood, "Good morning, Junior Brother."

The youth was stunned for a moment, then lowered his head reservedly, "Good morning... Senior Sister."

Walking out of the Bing-character Courtyard area, she saw Qin Yi and Zhao Fengchun waiting for her at the entrance of the residential area from afar.

Zhao Fengchun waved her hand, "Junior Sister Ruan, over here!"

The three met up and flew their Swords together in the direction of the Sect Affairs Hall.

Qin Yi was focused on selecting suitable Sect missions, while Zhao Fengchun took Ruan Xing around to look at things casually, explaining them to her.

Ruan Xing had already seen them in the Simulation and was uninterested. Seeing Qin Yi looking so seriously, she asked casually, "Did you discuss this yesterday?"

Zhao Fengchun nodded, "Yes, we met with several other Senior Brothers and Sisters yesterday. Because we took the mission to maintain the Secret Realm, we spent the first twenty-some days at the Hanshan Secret Realm and haven't done a single mission this month. Therefore, everyone unanimously agreed to take on a Yellow-grade Upper-tier Monster Beast mission so that everyone can complete their mission quota for this month."

Ruan Xing had no intention of stopping them, and since she hadn't chosen to memorize that part during her Simulation, she didn't know what mission Qin Yi had ultimately chosen.

"Junior Sister, come over and take a look," Qin Yi called Zhao Fengchun over.

He had selected two missions and asked Zhao Fengchun, "Which one do you think is better?"

The first was to go to the Sui-ice Valley to catch six snow ferrets, with a total reward of five hundred Contribution Points.

The second was to go and kill a wild boar Monster Beast outside Qingyuan City, with a total reward of three hundred Contribution Points.

The grade and difficulty of the two missions were the same. The reason for the difference in rewards was that the first mission was to catch them alive; the snow ferrets needed to be handed over.

The second was to kill; after killing the wild boar Monster Beast, the carcass would be theirs to dispose of. The Monster Beast's blood, meat, and bones could all be sold for Spirit Stones. A single Qi Refining-stage wild boar Monster Beast was worth about one hundred to two hundred Spirit Stones in total.

Zhao Fengchun bit her lip, "I don't know which one to choose either... but it's summer now. Although the Sui-ice Valley is still cold, the snow ferrets are probably all hidden away this season and aren't easy to find. But if we kill the wild boar Monster Beast, I might drag Senior Brother down again..."

"Then let's choose the first one," Qin Yi decided firmly. Seeing Zhao Fengchun's surprised look, he smiled and said, "The second one is too time-consuming. After killing it, we still have to process the carcass and transport it to the city to sell. There are only a few days left this month; it would be bad if we were delayed and couldn't make it back to turn in the mission. Besides, the first mission has more Contribution Points."

Zhao Fengchun was somewhat moved, "Thank you, Senior Brother."

Ruan Xing couldn't help but complain in her heart; this excuse was too lame. Did finding snow ferrets not take time?

However, she didn't expose the two of them to make them awkward, but instead thought about how to increase their survival rate.

If nothing went wrong, no matter what mission Qin Yi chose, the Demon Cultivator would find a way to make trouble.

Thanks to Gebeiliya for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to book friend 202220713133929686 for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to Meizi0924 for the monthly ticket~ Congratulations to Xingbao for receiving her first chicken leg! Thanks to Qing Yu Yue for the character tip~(End of chapter)