The city’s protective array hummed steadily overhead, spilling out motley spiritual energy that shimmered like the aurora.
Beneath the glow, three massive immortal boats hovered high in the sky, strange as a mirage over the sea.
Different sect emblems lit up on the sides of the boats, dividing the entire plaza into three distinct zones.
The Three Sects had been recruiting disciples here for half a month already. Most people coming and going in the plaza had grown used to the sight, rarely bothering to look up.
In one corner, Li Yin tilted her head back, gazing at the gorgeous spiritual lights above, and let out a small gasp of awe.
After all, this was supposed to be a scene from the game. Now, it was her reality.
It all started a few days ago.
Cultivation Love Manual was an otome-style holographic Chinese romance game with a ton of romanceable targets.
Li Yin had been a die-hard player of the game—at least until she posted that scathing long review.
The official promo had promised players a sweet happy ending experience. But after grinding nearly ten save files, every single one ended in a bad end.
On the night of yet another bad end trigger, Li Yin tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
So, under the cover of night, she logged into the official site and unleashed a thousand-word rant detailing her utterly miserable experience. Fellow players who read it expressed deep sympathy.
Li Yin capped off her review with the classic refund demand: “…This is straight-up player abuse! Where’s the romance game we were promised? Refund!”
Who could’ve guessed that the very next day after posting the review, she transmigrated into the game.
They’d rather let her transmigrate than issue a refund. She meant it. She was dying inside.
The game world of yesteryear had become a vast xianxia realm where people could fly through the sky and so could boats.
Right now, she was hunkered down in a plaza corner, admiring—or rather, paying respects to—the physicists’ flying coffins… no, the Cultivation World’s aerial transport.
“Young friend, haven’t decided which sect to join yet? I’ve seen you studying things here for quite a while.”
Perhaps because Li Yin was staring so intently, a voice suddenly spoke up from beside her. The woman’s voice continued,
“The Three Sects recruit only once every ten years. Miss this chance, and you’ll have to wait a long time.”
Was she talking to Li Yin?
Li Yin realized it belatedly and glanced sideways. A unfamiliar female cultivator was beaming at her.
Logically speaking, how long she stayed here was her business. But Li Yin felt a pang of guilt anyway. She tugged her cloak tighter around herself, huddling on the ground like a sneaky rat.
Her eyes drooped slightly, her lashes fluttering.
It took a good while before Xia Erruo heard the girl in front of her mumble a muffled response.
After Li Yin replied, the female cultivator mimicked her posture and squatted down beside her.
Li Yin resisted the urge to scoot away, lest she seem even more suspicious.
“There are plenty of sects in the Cultivation World, but these three are the closest to Northern Delusion City. Only they come here to recruit.”
The friendly female cultivator glanced up at the immortal boats. “Those boats aren’t just for escorting new disciples back to the sects.
Northern Delusion City is the closest city in the Cultivation World to the Demon Domain. The boats serve to put on a show for the Three Sects, but more importantly, they’re there to intimidate the demonic cultivators on the other side of the border.”
At the words “demonic cultivators,” Li Yin instinctively clenched her fingers.
Thankfully, the cloak was baggy enough to hide her fidgeting.
She knew the woman wasn’t wrong. This really was the city closest to the Demon Domain.
In the game, Northern Delusion City was the frontline against demonic cultivators—the easiest place in the Cultivation World to encounter them.
In other words, if a demonic cultivator wanted to sneak into the Cultivation World, Northern Delusion City would be their first stop.
And she was that demonic cultivator who’d just infiltrated the Cultivation World, arriving right at the first stop upon transmigration.
Li Yin’s gaze couldn’t help drifting straight ahead.
Just two handspans in front of her floated a game panel with a gold-trimmed frame.
Over the past few days, she’d figured it out. After transmigrating into the game, she could summon the game panel with a thought—and only she could see it.
At the top of the panel was an official email:
【Dear Player, we fully understand your concerns! This time, we guarantee your satisfaction!】
【You have received a golden finger: Max-Level Charm (No need to pursue, premium targets, click to claim)!】
Of course, this wasn’t some generous gift from the stingy devs. It was compensation after her raging review.
Li Yin figured the unfamiliar female cultivator approaching her was probably due to this golden finger’s influence.
Her gaze shifted down to her status card, which explained how the golden finger worked.
【Name: Li Yin】
【Aptitude: Single Wood Spiritual Root】
【Cultivation: Foundation Establishment】
【Identity: Personal Disciple of the Jade Joy Palace Lord from the Demon Domain’s Jade Ecstasy Palace】
【Special Buffs: Max-Level Charm (All sentient beings cannot resist your charm. Their love at first sight is only natural. Duration: Permanent)
Jade Ecstasy Technique (Cultivating this method allows conversion between demonic qi and spiritual qi, and steps into the path of dual cultivation. Greatly reduces solo cultivation efficiency, but massively boosts dual cultivation efficiency. Duration: Permanent)】
【Inventory Items: Mustard Seed Pouch, Messaging Treasure Mirror, High-Grade Defense Cloak, Jade Ecstasy Myriad Methods, Spirit Crystals (1000)…】
When she first transmigrated and got the golden finger, Li Yin had been thrilled. Max-level charm in a romance game? Speedrun unlocked.
But then her eyes slid over to her identity, and she immediately behaved herself—
She was in the Cultivation World, yet her identity was a demonic cultivator infiltrating it.
The game’s core lore was the eternal clash between Dao cultivators and demonic cultivators. If exposed, Li Yin would be in a “kill on sight” death spiral.
Worse still, she had to admit that out of all her random identity cards since starting the game, this was the best one yet.
Great aptitude, high status, loaded with wealth.
Thanks to the high randomness of Cultivation Love Manual, after picking a target, everything on the opening identity card except the name was randomized.
The identity pool ranged from village mortal girls to immortal sect elites. Players just had to roll with whatever they got, living out the ultimate isekai roulette.
Special events during routes were also decided by random dice rolls.
The one guarantee? Your starting position was always near your target, to kick off the game.
And nearly all of Li Yin’s bad ends tied back to this random system.
Not just the meh identities with zero plot utility.
Most special events required dice rolls for success—like breakthrough rates, escape chances, relapse mortality—and she always bombed them.
Remembering those unfriendly moments, Li Yin quietly wiped away a bitter tear.
The female cultivator didn’t notice her odd mood or realize that this seemingly harmless, introverted girl was actually a little demonic cultivator fresh off infiltrating the Cultivation World.
Like a newbie guide, she began introducing the three sects overhead to Li Yin. “That’s Hidden Sword Mountain…”
The game’s lore was inevitably shallow compared to reality. This world had auto-filled in tons of extra details.
Not one to pass up free intel, Li Yin didn’t refuse the explanation. She looked up at Hidden Sword Mountain’s boat too.
The boat was primarily black and gold, its hull etched with massive, intricate runes that radiated oppressive might. The lit-up sect emblem on one side merged mountain and sword motifs—easy to recognize.
“Hidden Sword Mountain is full of sword cultivators, with the highest combat power.
Lots of cultivators join sects just for a safe haven. Hearing it’s the strongest, they blindly sign up,
only to regret it later because the training there is brutally intense.”
The female cultivator shook her head. “Sadly, joining a master isn’t child’s play. Can’t just come and go as you please.
By the time they regret it, it’s too late. Hidden Sword Mountain suits hardcore strength-seekers only.”
Li Yin nodded vigorously in agreement.
Her second-route target had been from Hidden Sword Mountain—a total cultivation maniac.
That run, she’d drawn “little senior sister” childhood sweetheart, complete with built-up bonds and high favorability.
Even so, the target showed no mercy, constantly mocking her for slacking in cultivation.
And with his innate Dragon Proud Heaven traits, his cultivation speed was insane. Once he overtook her, he even refused to call her “little senior sister” anymore.
Seeing Li Yin’s face full of agreement, the female cultivator smiled faintly and turned to another boat, one even more ethereal and misty.
That boat was white and gold, wreathed in drifting clouds. Its flashing emblem featured cloud patterns, brimming with dao charm.
“That’s Azure Profound Sect. Mostly law cultivators, second only to Hidden Sword Mountain in fighting strength. Over the past century, they’ve been neck-and-neck.
But it’s all from the disciples’ hard work, so the atmosphere top to bottom is super strict.”
“Looks all fairy-misty, but daily life is nothing but cultivation. No room for leisure.”
Sounds like gathering spot number two for grind kings.
Li Yin pondered.
Different sects had different playstyles in the game. Out of her nearly ten save files, she’d never targeted anyone from Azure Profound Sect or rolled one of their identity cards.
So she didn’t know much about it.
Racking her brain yielded nothing on Azure Profound’s mechanics, so Li Yin gave up and asked proactively,
“What’s the third sect?”
“Myriad Beasts Sect.” The female cultivator grinned brightly, like she’d been waiting for that question.
“Myriad Beasts Sect specializes in beast taming. Compared to the other two sects’ disciples grinding away, the vibe there is way more relaxed.
After all, Myriad Beasts Sect disciples build bonds with wild mountain spirit beasts through daily, gradual interaction—nurturing that companionship over time.”
From her description, Li Yin silently summed it up as “chill atmosphere, low pressure, no grind culture.”
Compared to knowing zilch about Azure Profound Sect, she knew Myriad Beasts Sect better.
She’d stumbled on a forum meltdown post about it once and, for the drama, read the attached strategy guide too.
In-game, Myriad Beasts Sect’s main gimmick was beast taming, determined by random affinity rolls per forum guides.
High affinity? Easy tame. Low? Tough—need resources to bribe, and in battle, super-low affinity could trigger betrayal events.
The forum ranter who’d cussed out the devs was the poor sap who’d gotten backstabbed by their own beast.
Unclear how beast taming would play out now that the game was real, or how affinities got rolled.
But after the intro, Li Yin’s heart leaned toward Myriad Beasts Sect.
Between “high-pressure grind” and “low-pressure chill,” people usually picked the latter.
“Have you decided on a sect, young friend?” The female cultivator asked with a beaming smile, a hint of expectation lurking beneath.
Li Yin looked conflicted. “Let me think a bit more. Thanks for telling me all this.”
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to choose right away. As a demonic cultivator infiltrating the Cultivation World, she had a mission.
As a personal disciple of the Jade Joy Palace Lord from the Demon Domain’s Jade Ecstasy Palace, the moment she’d slipped into Northern Delusion City, her master had tasked her remotely via messaging treasure mirror—with quotas, no less.
The messages in the mirror were deleted, but Li Yin had them memorized—
“You should’ve reached the Cultivation World by now, timing-wise.”
Remember, good disciple, your charm conquers all!
“Hurry and sow discord among the righteous disciples. Make them fall head over heels for you, turn brothers against each other, pit master against disciple, shatter their dao hearts—then ruthlessly harvest their cultivation via dual cultivation!”
“Your master believes you’ll have them dancing in your palm. When your cultivation soars, I’ll personally welcome you back to the palace!”
“Oh right, your master planted Jade Ecstasy Palace inside agents in the Cultivation World. Both have impressive cultivation now.”
“Consider them cauldrons I prepared for you. I’ve told them to link up in Northern Delusion City. Looking forward to your good news.”
If the woman chatting her up hadn’t been the wrong gender, she might’ve been one of those cauldrons her master mentioned—talk about an awkward werewolf self-destruct.
So after talking this long, why hadn’t master’s inside agents shown up yet?
Li Yin was getting anxious. Waiting online.
From the Myriad Beasts Sect boat overlooking the plaza, two squatting figures looked tiny. But with cultivator eyesight, they were crystal clear.
After Li Yin said “let me think,” a flicker of disappointment crossed the female cultivator’s expectant smile.
“Senior Sister Xia went recruiting again, and it looks like she got rejected.” A young disciple from the Myriad Beasts Sect sprawled over the railing on the immortal boat’s deck, sighing helplessly.
A gray feather eagle perched on his shoulder. Sensing its master’s low mood, the gray feather eagle let out a soft cry, as if offering comfort.
Nearby, a chubby male disciple shook his head repeatedly. “I told her not to go, but she insisted on embarrassing herself. What can you do about it?
Cultivators these days are all hot-tempered and eager for quick results. Who has the patience to settle down and cultivate beast taming?
The sect recruits fewer disciples every year. Senior Sister Xia should face reality sooner rather than later.”
The disciple draped over the railing argued softly, “Senior Sister Xia just wants to fight for a few more disciples for the sect…”
Their conversation couldn’t escape the ears of high-level cultivators.
In the immortal boat’s quiet chamber, a youth sat with his arms crossed over his chest and one foot propped casually on his knee. He leaned back against the chair in front of the tea table with utter nonchalance.
A vibrant red hair ribbon tied his hair into a high ponytail at the back of his head, clashing rebelliously with the elegant azure hues of his cloud-patterned robe.
Hearing the disciples’ chatter outside, a cold, undisguised sneer spread across the youth’s handsome face.
“It looks like your Myriad Beasts Sect has fallen on hard times too. If things go south one day and you can’t make it, why not come join my Azure Profound Sect?”
Across the tea table, the other man didn’t argue with him. He continued brewing tea with focused attention, his raised hand moving with elegant, unhurried grace.
A natural curve always lingered at the corners of his mouth, his gentle aura blending into the rising steam from the teacups.
Seeing his calm and composed demeanor, Ji Lingyao’s mockery deepened.
“What, are you really that serene, without a single ripple? What are you even thinking? You’re an elder of the Myriad Beasts Sect now—you’ve climbed higher than me…”
As he spoke, his brows furrowed, his expression turning inscrutable. He gnashed his teeth.
“A grand sect elder—are you really willing to become a cauldron for some little girl?”
“Jade Ecstasy Palace saved my life,” Yao Guanheng replied unhurriedly. He finished brewing the tea, lowered his eyes to take a sip first, then continued.
“Since the Young Lord’s cultivation is still shallow, nourishing her with my own isn’t out of the question.”
The man was as warm and refined as jade, his immortal grace radiant. Yet in his words, he placed himself squarely in the role of the cauldron.
Hearing this answer, Ji Lingyao could hardly believe it. “What kind of joke is this? You really think that?”
Yao Guanheng’s smile didn’t waver. He levitated another cup of freshly brewed tea in front of Ji Lingyao. “Good tea. You should try some too.”
“Ridiculous! Absurd!” Ji Lingyao saw that his expression seemed genuine. He viciously swatted the teacup away and cursed twice more.
“You’re really repaying that favor, huh? Willing to let a demonic cultivator ruin your entire cultivation…”
Jade Ecstasy Palace had saved them from demonic cultivators, but only because they had ulterior motives. They’d even branded them with slave marks. Otherwise, they never would have let them return to the Cultivation World.
Ji Lingyao hadn’t expected him to fail to grasp even this basic logic.
Of course, all this talk of willingly debasing himself might just be a lie. Though both were enslaved by Jade Ecstasy Palace, their relationship wasn’t close enough for true candor.
Having been brushed off, Yao Guanheng didn’t get angry. He levitated the teacup back into place, mildly regretting the tea that had spilled onto the ground.
Ji Lingyao reined in his emotions. Once calmed, he sarcastically tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“Since you’re so eager, why don’t you go welcome that whatever Young Lord? I’m done serving.”
He snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and stormed off. Ice filled his eyes.
No matter what, he absolutely refused to submit himself to a little demonic cultivator girl.
Thinking of the person they were about to lead in, Ji Lingyao curled his lips with malicious intent.
He only hoped that little girl’s disguise was flawless. Otherwise, if that man saw through it, she’d probably wish for death.
On the ground below, Li Yin suddenly shivered and inexplicably pulled her cloak tighter around herself.
Having waited ages with no sign of anyone, she couldn’t help complaining inwardly.
Just how reliable is the inside contact Master arranged, anyway?!