Chapter 6 — Ten Thousandfold Return

The Azure Origin Sect treasury had seven floors.

Shen Yuan had access to six.

The seventh was reserved for the Sect Master, Grand Elder, and emergencies threatening the survival of the sect.

Naturally, the item Gu Tianhe mentioned was on the seventh floor.

"Convenient."

Shen Yuan stood before the sealed stone door.

Gu Tianhe placed his palm against the formation.

"You asked for our strangest Yin treasure."

"I did."

"Strange treasures tend to end up here."

The formation recognized the Sect Master's aura.

One seal opened.

Then another.

Then another.

Shen Yuan watched quietly.

He could probably walk through the door.

Or remove it.

Or perhaps convince space that the door wasn't relevant.

He resisted the temptation.

Breaking into his own sect's treasury would create unnecessary paperwork.

The final seal opened.

Cold air escaped.

Gu Tianhe entered.

Shen Yuan followed.

The seventh floor was smaller than expected.

Only thirty-seven items rested inside.

Every one was separated by an individual formation.

Weapons.

Ancient scriptures.

Sealed jade boxes.

Several pills.

A broken bronze bell.

A black sword fragment.

A piece of wood that radiated enough vitality to make grass grow between the stone tiles.

Shen Yuan's system immediately began reacting.

**[High-value resources detected.]**

He ignored it.

For now.

Gu Tianhe led him toward the back.

"There."

A transparent crystal container rested on a pedestal.

Inside—

was a piece of ice.

At least, that was what it looked like.

Dark-blue.

Nearly black.

Roughly the size of a human fist.

White mist rotated around it.

Shen Yuan approached.

The temperature dropped.

His system activated.

**[Analyzing...]**

Gu Tianhe folded his arms.

"We call it the Thousand-Year Yin Crystal."

Shen Yuan looked at him.

"That's not its real name."

"We know."

"Then why call it that?"

"Because 'mysterious blue frozen object nobody understands' was inconvenient."

Fair.

Shen Yuan focused.

The system completed its analysis.

**[Item identified.]**

**[Fragmented Lunar Yin Marrow.]**

**Grade:** Spirit — Transcendent

**Condition:** Incomplete

**Origin:** Unknown lunar-type spiritual body

**Effects:**

Contains concentrated Lunar Yin Essence.

Can nourish Yin-attributed physiques.

Can assist awakening of Yin meridians.

Can refine Ice spiritual roots.

Can serve as foundation material for advanced Yin cultivation.

**Suitability for Lin Yue: 99%.**

Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed.

Ninety-nine.

Now that was interesting.

"How much?"

Gu Tianhe raised an eyebrow.

"You haven't even examined it."

"I have."

"How?"

"Profoundly."

Gu Tianhe regretted asking.

"Twenty million high-grade spirit stones."

Shen Yuan stared.

Gu Tianhe stared back.

"You're robbing me."

"You asked for the price."

"That's not a price. That's extortion."

"It's been sitting in the seventh-floor treasury for three hundred years."

"Then nobody wants it."

"Which means it's an antique."

"That's not how value works."

"It is when I'm Sect Master."

Shen Yuan almost admired him.

Almost.

"Five million."

"Eighteen."

"Six."

"Seventeen."

"Six and a half."

"Fifteen."

Shen Yuan paused.

"You dropped two million."

"I want to finish before sunset."

"Eight."

"Twelve."

"Nine."

"Ten."

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Shen Yuan extended his hand.

"Deal."

Gu Tianhe looked at it.

Then shook.

"Ten million high-grade spirit stones."

"Yes."

"From your personal reserves."

"Yes."

"No borrowing from the sect."

"Yes."

"No telling the finance elders I authorized a discount."

Shen Yuan frowned.

"Why?"

"They wanted twenty-five million."

Shen Yuan stared at him.

Gu Tianhe smiled.

Perhaps the Sect Master wasn't as dignified as people believed.

The formation opened.

The Lunar Yin Marrow floated into Shen Yuan's hand.

Nothing happened.

Gu Tianhe watched carefully.

"You're unaffected?"

"Should I be?"

"The last elder who touched it directly lost feeling in his arm for three months."

Shen Yuan looked at the crystal.

Then at Gu Tianhe.

"You could have mentioned that."

"You already grabbed it."

Fair.

Shen Yuan stored the treasure.

"Payment later."

Gu Tianhe's expression darkened.

"You said—"

"I'll send it."

"Today."

"Eventually today."

"Shen Yuan."

Shen Yuan was already walking away.

---

Lin Yue had been assigned a residence.

She hadn't entered it yet.

Instead, she stood outside Shen Yuan's palace staring down the mountain.

Cloudveil Peak felt strange.

Quiet.

Not empty.

Peaceful.

The disciple residences were scattered across terraces beneath the main palace.

Each had its own courtyard.

Small cultivation chamber.

Study.

Bedroom.

Even a private training space.

Lin Yue had expected to share a room with several disciples.

Then she remembered—

there were no other disciples.

She was the entire younger generation of Cloudveil Peak.

That realization was slightly intimidating.

"Senior Sister Lin."

Lin Yue turned.

The attendant who had served Shen Yuan earlier approached carrying folded robes.

She immediately shook her head.

"Please don't call me that."

He stopped.

"But you are Peak Master Shen's first disciple."

"There are no junior disciples."

"Not yet."

Lin Yue looked toward the empty residences.

That was true.

The attendant handed her the robes.

White and pale blue.

Cloud patterns embroidered along the sleeves.

The emblem of Cloudveil Peak rested over the chest.

"Your disciple uniform."

Lin Yue touched the fabric carefully.

It was made from Spirit Silk.

Even the uniform was more expensive than most clothing she'd owned.

"Thank you."

The attendant smiled.

"Your residence has been prepared."

"Master said I should remain near the palace."

"Then remain here."

Lin Yue hesitated.

"Has Master always been..."

She searched for the correct word.

The attendant waited.

"...generous?"

The attendant's expression became complicated.

"Peak Master Shen?"

"Yes."

"No."

Lin Yue blinked.

The answer came far too quickly.

"He isn't stingy," the attendant clarified. "He simply never had anyone to give things to."

"Oh."

"Although today he ordered us to prepare every disciple residence."

"Every?"

"All thirty-six."

Lin Yue looked down the mountain.

Thirty-six courtyards.

For one disciple.

"Why?"

The attendant smiled.

"I stopped asking why Peak Master Shen does things several years ago."

That seemed wise.

A ripple passed through the air.

The attendant straightened.

Shen Yuan appeared in the courtyard.

Lin Yue bowed.

"Master."

"How do you feel?"

"Much better."

Shen Yuan inspected her.

**[Foundation Integrity: 69%]**

**[Meridian Integrity: 83%]**

Good.

The sixth-grade pill had done its job.

Now came the important part.

"I found something."

Lin Yue immediately became cautious.

After the sixth-grade pill, those words were dangerous.

Shen Yuan retrieved the Lunar Yin Marrow.

The moment it appeared—

Lin Yue gasped.

The Nine-Yin Immortal Body reacted.

Frost spread beneath her feet.

The dark-blue crystal trembled in Shen Yuan's palm.

Then floated.

Lin Yue stepped backward.

"Master?"

Shen Yuan's eyes brightened.

The reaction was stronger than expected.

The system appeared.

**[Extremely compatible resource detected.]**

**[Recommended investment.]**

**[Warning: Direct absorption in disciple's current condition carries 63% probability of foundation collapse.]**

Shen Yuan frowned.

Not yet.

"System, what does she need first?"

**[Repair foundation to minimum 85% integrity.]**

Shen Yuan smiled.

Conveniently—

he had something for that.

He retrieved another bottle.

Lin Yue's expression changed immediately.

"Master."

"Hm?"

"What is that?"

"Medicine."

"What grade?"

Shen Yuan opened the bottle.

Nine-colored medicinal light briefly illuminated the courtyard.

Lin Yue stopped breathing.

The attendant took three steps backward.

"Eighth."

Lin Yue closed her eyes.

Shen Yuan tilted his head.

"What's wrong?"

"Master."

"Yes?"

"I think we need to discuss what normal gifts are."

Shen Yuan nearly laughed.

"Later."

He handed her the bottle.

Lin Yue didn't take it.

"Master."

"Lin Yue."

"This is an eighth-grade pill."

"I know."

"Does the sect even have eighth-grade pills?"

Shen Yuan thought.

Probably.

Maybe one.

That wasn't important.

"It does now."

That answer somehow made things worse.

Lin Yue stared at him.

Shen Yuan pushed the bottle toward her.

"Take it."

She hesitated.

Then remembered what he'd told her.

Become strong.

That would be enough.

Lin Yue accepted the bottle.

**[Ding!]**

Shen Yuan's system activated.

**[Disciple Lin Yue received: Eighth-grade Nine Revolutions Meridian Rebirth Pill.]**

**[Evaluating investment...]**

**[Resource suitability: Exceptional.]**

**[Disciple need: Very High.]**

**[Compatibility bonus detected.]**

**[First Disciple Bonus detected.]**

**[Chain Investment bonus detected.]**

Chain Investment?

That was new.

**[Host has consecutively provided resources addressing the disciple's primary cultivation deficiency.]**

**[Multiplier probability increased.]**

Shen Yuan's attention sharpened.

**[Cashback multiplier determined.]**

**[800× Cashback activated.]**

Eight hundred.

**[Congratulations, Host.]**

**[Obtained: Half-Immortal Nine Heavens Foundation Rebirth Pill.]**

Shen Yuan's eyes widened slightly.

Half-Immortal.

Better.

Much better.

He inspected it.

---

**[Nine Heavens Foundation Rebirth Pill]**

**Grade:** Half-Immortal

Reconstructs the user's cultivation foundation according to their innate potential.

Removes mortal foundation impurities.

Strengthens meridians, spiritual roots, dantian, and physical vessel.

**Warning:** Excessive for cultivators below Foundation Establishment without external protection.

---

Shen Yuan stored it.

Useful later.

Lin Yue swallowed the eighth-grade pill.

This time Shen Yuan erected a barrier around them.

The effect was violent.

Boom.

Spiritual Qi erupted.

Lin Yue's body lifted several centimeters from the ground.

Nine-colored medicinal energy circulated through her meridians.

Old scars cracked.

Then dissolved.

Her damaged spiritual root began changing.

The fractures vanished.

Its pale-blue color deepened.

The system updated continuously.

**[Meridian Integrity: 83% → 91%]**

**[Foundation Integrity: 69% → 74%]**

**[76%]**

**[81%]**

**[87%]**

**[Spiritual Root restoration complete.]**

**[Spiritual Root quality increased.]**

**[High-grade Ice Spiritual Root → Superior Ice Spiritual Root.]**

Lin Yue opened her eyes.

Pale blue light flashed through them.

The courtyard froze.

Shen Yuan snapped his fingers.

The frost disappeared before it reached the buildings.

The attendant stared.

Lin Yue slowly lowered to the ground.

She immediately sensed the difference.

Her spiritual root—

was whole.

Not merely repaired.

Stronger.

Cleaner.

She instinctively tried to circulate the Cold River Breathing Art.

Shen Yuan's voice came immediately.

"Don't."

She stopped.

"Sorry."

"Good instinct. Wrong technique."

Lin Yue nodded.

Shen Yuan retrieved the Lunar Yin Marrow.

This time, the system displayed:

**[Foundation requirements satisfied.]**

Excellent.

"This is the important one."

Lin Yue looked at the dark-blue crystal.

"What is it?"

"Lunar Yin Marrow."

She had never heard of it.

"What grade?"

"Transcendent Spirit-grade."

Lin Yue was beginning to dislike that question.

Every answer was worse than the last.

Shen Yuan handed it toward her.

She didn't move.

"Master."

"Yes?"

"How much did this cost?"

"Ten million high-grade spirit stones."

Lin Yue's face went completely blank.

The attendant quietly left.

He wanted no involvement in this conversation.

"Ten..."

Lin Yue couldn't finish.

Shen Yuan waved dismissively.

"Spirit stones are meant to be spent."

"Ten million?"

"High-grade."

"That doesn't make it better!"

Shen Yuan blinked.

That was the loudest he'd heard her speak.

Interesting.

Lin Yue immediately realized she had raised her voice at her master.

Her face reddened.

"This disciple apologizes."

Shen Yuan smiled.

"No need."

Then he became serious.

"This resource is necessary."

Lin Yue looked at the crystal.

"Why?"

"Because repairing you isn't enough."

She looked up.

"Your physique has already awakened."

Shen Yuan continued.

"If we simply repair your spiritual root and send you back to cultivating normally, the same thing will eventually happen again."

Her expression tightened.

"So..."

"We change the foundation."

"How?"

Shen Yuan held out the Lunar Yin Marrow.

"Starting with this."

Lin Yue stared.

Then slowly accepted it.

The instant her fingers touched the crystal—

**[Ding!]**

Shen Yuan waited.

The system interface changed.

Golden light flooded his vision.

More intense than before.

Much more intense.

**[Disciple Lin Yue received: Fragmented Lunar Yin Marrow.]**

**[Evaluating investment...]**

**[Resource suitability: Perfect.]**

Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed.

Perfect.

Not exceptional.

Perfect.

**[Disciple need: Critical.]**

**[Compatibility bonus detected.]**

**[First Disciple Bonus detected.]**

**[Chain Investment bonus detected.]**

**[Physique Awakening Investment detected.]**

The golden light intensified.

**[Special multiplier probability significantly increased.]**

Shen Yuan's heartbeat accelerated.

Then—

**[Cashback multiplier determined.]**

The number appeared.

Shen Yuan stared.

**[10,000× Cashback activated.]**

Silence.

There it was.

The number he'd been waiting for.

Ten thousand.

The system chimed again.

**[Congratulations, Host.]**

**[Investment quality exceeded standard return parameters.]**

**[Equivalent reward optimization activated.]**

Shen Yuan frowned.

Equivalent reward?

The system explained.

**[Direct quantity multiplication would produce unusable redundant resources.]**

**[Reward converted to higher-order equivalent.]**

Then—

the final notification appeared.

**[Obtained: Primordial Lunar Origin.]**

Shen Yuan stopped.

Even the name sounded unreasonable.

He immediately inspected it.

The system interface expanded.

---

**[Primordial Lunar Origin]**

**Grade:** Dao-Origin

A fragment of primordial Yin authority born from the conceptual origin of lunar existence before the division of conventional Immortal Laws.

May be used to:

**Comprehend Primordial Yin Dao**

**Create Lunar Dao Domain**

**Refine Dao-Origin Artifact**

**Strengthen Primordial-type physiques**

**Construct autonomous celestial body**

**Seed a high-level world with Lunar Law**

**Warning:**

Current mortal realm cannot naturally produce this resource.

Unrestricted manifestation may destabilize surrounding laws.

---

Shen Yuan read the description.

Then read it again.

Construct...

a celestial body?

He looked at Lin Yue.

She was holding a fist-sized piece of Lunar Yin Marrow.

He had received something capable of creating a moon.

"Master?"

Lin Yue looked concerned.

Shen Yuan had been silent for too long.

"Are you alright?"

Shen Yuan slowly looked at her.

"Very."

Perhaps too well.

The system hadn't exaggerated.

Ten thousand times wasn't merely ten thousand copies.

At sufficiently high investment quality, it could elevate the very nature of the returned resource.

Spirit-grade Lunar Yin material had become—

Primordial Lunar Origin.

Shen Yuan suddenly understood something important.

The system wasn't rewarding monetary value.

It was rewarding significance.

Give the right disciple the right resource at the right moment—

and the return could become absurd.

He smiled.

Lin Yue became nervous.

"Master?"

"Nothing."

That smile widened slightly.

"You're doing very well."

Lin Yue looked down at the crystal.

She hadn't done anything.

But she decided not to argue.

Shen Yuan activated Disciple Inspection.

**[Recommended Action:]**

**Assist disciple in absorbing Fragmented Lunar Yin Marrow.]**

**[Estimated result:]**

**Nine-Yin Immortal Body awakening: 3% → 9–12%**

**First Yin Channel formation probability: 87%**

**Foundation evolution probability: High**

Shen Yuan nodded.

Good.

Chapter six's most important experiment had succeeded.

But another thought appeared.

If a single disciple could produce this...

What happened when he had five?

Ten?

Thirty-six?

Shen Yuan looked toward the empty residences scattered down Cloudveil Peak.

For the first time—

thirty-six suddenly seemed like a very small number.