Something's Wrong—Young Master Really Gets It!

So, pursuit was definitely out of the question. He could only think of another way.

Wang Mu rubbed his head.

Lowering his gaze to the Fat Manager still kneeling before him, he asked in surprise, "Any other bad news?"

"N-No..."

"Then why are you still here?"

"..."

The Fat Manager pulled a long face. "Holy Son, you never told this subordinate to leave!"

Wang Mu thought for a moment, then casually flicked out a High-Grade Spirit Stone. "All right, you've worked hard these years. This is your compensation. From now on, go do whatever you should be doing!"

The Fat Manager nervously caught the Spirit Stone, his mind blank as he failed to react.

Wang Mu added, "Remember, under no circumstances are you to take people to hunt down Lin Yan without permission. If I find out, you know the consequences!"

Sensing the chill in Wang Mu's words, the Fat Manager's legs clenched together. He repeatedly kowtowed. "Yes, yes, yes! This subordinate will obey the Holy Son's command!"

Wang Mu nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand. "Go!"

The Fat Manager staggered to his feet and hurried into the night.

Only after leaving Everlasting Island

did the Fat Manager glance back, then look at the High-Grade Spirit Stone in his hand, warmed by his tight grip.

It still felt unreal.

That was it? Nothing happened?

The Holy Son had actually let me go just like that?

Forget punishment—he hadn't even scolded me once.

And he even rewarded me with a High-Grade Spirit Stone?

Was this really the legendary number-one wastrel of the Northern Region, the one whose moods were as fickle as the wind and who killed without batting an eye?

On the island.

Wang Mu's personal maids watched this unfold, strange expressions appearing on their pretty faces.

This was nothing like the Young Master's usual style.

Under normal circumstances,

that Fat Manager would have at least been skinned alive. If he survived in the end, he would have to thank the Young Master for sparing his life.

What was going on today?

Just as they were puzzled, their Young Master began staring blankly into space again.

[Congratulations, you have successfully invested 1 High-Grade Spirit Stone in Zhang Wanquan. Investment progress has reached 100%!]

[You will receive a 100% return of Zhang Wanquan's future Cultivation Effect gains!]

[...]

Just one High-Grade Spirit Stone had maxed out the investment progress?

Zhang Wanquan, Zhang Wanquan!

You were way too cheap, weren't you?

Wait!

Wang Mu's eyes lit up as something suddenly occurred to him.

No matter whom he invested in,

the cultivation gains returned to him by the system came with Spiritual Power compressed to the utmost limit, purer even than an Earth Immortal's.

It was merely a matter of quantity.

Then... was it possible that investing in a thousand Ordinary people could match one Child of Luck?

And if a thousand weren't enough, what about ten thousand?

A hundred thousand?

This should be a viable method too, right?

After all, Children of Luck were hard to find.

But in this Cultivation World, people with ordinary aptitude were more numerous than salted fish in the sea.

Wang Mu felt this was a path that might actually work.

But the matter was of great importance.

He had to test it first.

Wang Mu drew a deep breath and ordered, "Gather everyone on the island!"

One maid asked in surprise, "Everyone? The men too?"

"???"

Wang Mu frowned and stared at the maid who had spoken.

What kind of question was that?

What did you think this Young Master wanted to do?

The maid hurriedly lowered her head. "Yes!"

A quarter of an hour later.

All the Cultivators on the island had assembled before Wang Mu's courtyard.

There were men and women among them—flower arrangers, bird keepers, zither players, flute players, dancers...

And many guards as well.

Their cultivation levels varied.

They ranged from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment.

The strongest among them was the island's chief steward, called Zixia, who had reached the initial Golden Core stage.

She appeared to be only eighteen or nineteen, with skin like congealed cream. Clad in a long purple dress, her flowing hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall, making her especially captivating.

Though she looked like a young girl, she possessed a mature air.

She was also highly capable, handling matters large and small across the island with impeccable order.

[Name: Zixia]

[Race: Human Race]

[Realm: Initial Golden Core Stage]

[Aptitude: Supreme Grade]

[Traits: Tempered a Thousand Times. In pain, cultivation speed increases—the greater the pain, the greater the pleasure!]

[Investment Assessment: Aptitude is relatively poor. Not recommended to waste resources.]

Supreme-grade aptitude

meant she had the potential to become a Nascent Soul Venerable.

In the Outside world, that would be enough to stir the winds and clouds and become the ancestor of one region.

Even within a Sacred Land,

she would be more than qualified to become an Inner Sect Disciple.

Yet the system had given such a lowly evaluation.

Wang Mu found it rather absurd.

He could not help looking at Zixia twice more.

Those two glances

made Zixia, whose face was usually cold and aloof, panic inwardly.

Why is the Young Master suddenly looking at me?

Why does that gaze seem to carry a hint of humiliation and belittlement?

What does he want?

Zixia took a deep breath, lowered her head, and cupped her hands. "Young Master, as you instructed, this servant has gathered everyone on the island here."

"You've worked hard, Zixia!"

Wang Mu looked at her calmly. A pill bottle appeared in his hand, which he handed to her. "This is your reward!"

Zixia: "!!!"

Her heartbeat instantly soared.

She had been on Everlasting Island for ten years.

Aside from slaps and whips,

she had never seen Wang Mu reward anyone beneath him with anything.

One who shows courtesy for no reason is either a traitor or a thief!

Suddenly, Zixia recalled how, some time ago, the Young Master had forcibly taken an Inner Sect female Disciple.

Her complexion changed slightly.

The Young Master has grown up!

"Y-Young Master, this servant... isn't ready yet!" Zixia bit her lip and spoke up with forced courage.

"???"

Wang Mu was utterly baffled.

He was giving you a pill as a reward. What did you need to prepare for?

And why the hell were you blushing?

"Take it when it's given to you!" Wang Mu said flatly.

Listening to those utterly emotionless words,

Zixia's heart skipped a beat.

Oh no, how does the Young Master know I like this kind of thing?

She dropped to her knees, pressed her legs tightly together, and accepted the pill while biting her lip. When she opened the bottle, a watery sheen instantly filled her eyes.

A Nirvana Pill!

A spiritual pill that increased cultivation!

It was extremely valuable, and its effects were better than ordinary spiritual pills of the same rank.

But its side effects were equally obvious.

During the refinement process, the Cultivator would suffer extreme pain.

That settled it—the Young Master really got it!

Zixia's delicate body trembled, and her legs felt weak.

Wang Mu paid no attention to Zixia's inner drama.

He had several more chests of High-Grade Spirit Stones brought over.

He distributed one to each of the remaining servant girls, maids, and guards present.

There were more than five hundred people in total.

Sure enough.

The system notifications in his mind rang without pause.

Everyone's investment progress instantly maxed out.

Immediately afterward,

Wang Mu ordered everyone to sit down and cultivate on the spot.

The crowd had no idea why, but they did not dare disobey his orders and complied one by one.

[Congratulations, you have received a return of Cultivation Effect gains from Zixia!]

[Congratulations, you have received a return of Cultivation Effect gains from Wang Dazhui!]

[Congratulations, you have received a return of Cultivation Effect gains from Chen Hu!]

[...]

Dense notification chimes rang out.

Wang Mu's cultivation within his body also increased bit by bit.

Though it was slow,

it was extremely noticeable!

After one night passed,

Wang Mu opened his eyes once more.

The aura within his body had already reached the ninth level of Qi Refinement!