Chapter 75: So Ruthless, Even Unto Oneself

With Su Jian’s assistance, the shop in the east of the city was swiftly arranged. Zhao Qianxue sent off the staff, instructing them to report to the store at the proper hour tomorrow.

Her beautiful eyes shifted as she mused, “Little Jian, what shall we call this new shop?”

The name “Snow Pavilion” could no longer be used, lest it attract the attention of those lurking in the shadows.

Su Jian thought for a moment, then shrugged helplessly. “I’m useless at naming things. That’s up to you.”

“...Immortal Guest House?” Zhao Qianxue suggested.

“That’ll do!” Su Jian decided promptly. Truth be told, the name mattered little—so long as it was simple and memorable.

The hour was already late; in another half-hour, dusk would settle. Su Jian and Zhao Qianxue immediately set out for home.

As they left the city, rumors about the looting of the Treasure Pavilion repeatedly reached their ears. The event had caused a great stir in Hanshan City.

Zhao Qianxue was slightly surprised; she hadn’t expected Su Jian’s so-called “side business” to be this. Yet she knew such matters were best kept quiet, so she pretended nothing had happened.

In truth, not only did the Alliance of the Righteous afford the Treasure Pavilion some respect, even the Divine Palace of Azure Waters did so when it was in power. Both sides often traded with one another.

Soon enough, they returned to Lingxiu Village.

The first thing Su Jian did upon entering was to summon a player.

Dealing with the mastermind behind the scenes could not be delayed for a moment. He only hoped not to end up with another weakling.

[You have summoned three players this time. All are from the same world. You may choose one to summon.]

[...]

[Yi Xiaochuan]

[Zhao Gao]

[Cui Wenzi]

First, the saintly one was ruled out.

Though Su Jian preferred Zhao Gao’s temperament, Cui Wenzi was famed as an immortal on earth, highly skilled in alchemy, and his cultivation was surely impressive.

In his own world, Cui Wenzi had even created the Elixir of Immortality. Though this elixir had dire flaws, and was ruined once the celestial meteorite was destroyed, its shortcomings could not overshadow the miraculous feat.

Su Jian glanced at the elixir in the system—the price was a staggering five million points of spiritual power... utterly unattainable.

If a cultivator of great promise were to choose such a shortcut despite its flaws, it would be a grave mistake. Each major breakthrough in cultivation multiplied a practitioner’s lifespan.

He could understand Cui Wenzi—cultivators, detached from the mundane world, undergo a shift in mindset. Yet Su Jian knew little about him. When the time came... he hoped he wouldn’t be hard to control.

[Player summoned successfully. He has arrived randomly in the wilds with a suitable identity. Please edit the player’s exclusive quest.]

Su Jian pondered briefly, then began to edit...

[Secretly spread word that Su Jian and Zhao Qianxue have fallen into the hands of the Alliance of the Righteous. Then proceed to the beastfolk, find a way to contact the current Beast Emperor, and inform him that the former emperor’s daughter is plotting to seize the throne.]

[The former Beast Emperor’s daughter has already begun her schemes in secret. You may start with the courtyard at No. 75 Yonghe Street in Yingdu City, and the shop at No. 36 on the main street, and do whatever is necessary to eliminate her.]

Su Jian sighed deeply.

This time, he had gone all out, not even sparing himself.

Though the quest sounded complicated, it was essentially a single objective. Removing the mastermind was urgent, and the sooner, the better.

He was still following his usual approach—previously, he had used the Treasure Pavilion to provoke the Alliance of the Righteous.

Hopefully, the Beast Emperor would prove useful, and there would be only one chance to strike while the enemy was off guard.

If used well, there was every opportunity to deal a fatal blow to the mastermind.

[Please set the time limit for the player to complete the quest.]

Su Jian considered... and murmured tentatively, “Ten days to inform the current Beast Emperor about the former emperor’s daughter; all other tasks must be completed within a year.”

[Please set the contents of the player’s starter gift pack.]

Ah... so it’s possible!

That settled it. If he wanted the player to do their utmost, he had to give them a real chance at success.

Not force them to attempt the impossible and risk their lives for nothing. Otherwise, they would quickly become apathetic.

Su Jian took out several sheets of paper, intending to give Cui Wenzi some guidance.

On the first page, he detailed the mastermind’s use of Shen Jingya’s identity and their purpose.

On the second, he described the suppression of the Dragon-Tiger Primordial Spirit in the Tribunal of Punishment.

He wasn’t sure whether the spirit was dead or alive, but it was at least a clue.

That was all he knew.

Su Jian reflected, then added to the starter gift pack a binding talisman, two great teleportation talismans, several concealment talismans, and a handful of shape-shifting pills.

At such a critical juncture, generosity was essential.

Otherwise, Cui Wenzi might perish along the way—or end up like the Saint, who missed killing Xi Wang by a single binding talisman.

Yet another issue lay before him.

This matter hadn’t arisen suddenly; he had noticed it after summoning the Saint.

Su Jian anticipated eagerly, “Can the quest penalty be altered?”

[Please re-edit.]

So it could be changed—now he was relieved.

Otherwise, a penalty of reduced lifespan was pointless for someone like the Saint, who was already immortal.

Cui Wenzi was much the same—he had even produced the Elixir of Immortality; perhaps he would be even more adept in a proper cultivation world.

[If the player fails to complete the quest within the time limit, he will suffer unbearable itching all over, the torment of ice and fire, and for every day overdue, his lifespan will decrease by ten percent.

From the tenth day onward, the player will lose all abilities, including cultivation. When his lifespan ends, he will perish utterly, body and soul.]

This was much safer, and not entirely a dead end; the player had at least ten days to make amends.

If his lifespan didn’t last until the eleventh day, he had only himself to blame for lack of diligence.

The tasks assigned to each player were tailored within their abilities.

[Quest generated. Awaiting player acceptance.]

[Current remaining spiritual power: 76,535.]

...

Cui Wenzi felt the chill of the evening breeze and exhaled softly, his figure suddenly rising into the air.

He sensed this utterly strange world and was overwhelmed with thoughts.

Was this a dream, or had he finally ascended?

Especially with the quests and rewards appearing in his mind...

[Your entire future life’s path.]

[A celestial meteorite containing limitless power.]

[The Supreme Meditation Sutra.]

And once the quest was completed, he could return to his original world.

Since he had already achieved ascension, why would he want to return?