9: If you're bold enough, even an empress can be tricked into becoming a disciple.

Having sent away the "Wealth-Distributing Boys" of the Yunlan Sect, the Hidden God Sect returned to its former tranquility.

Li Daoxuan sat on the threshold of the main hall, tossing the newly acquired bag of Spirit Stones in his hand, his brow furrowed so deeply it could crush a fly. Five hundred Spirit Stones were merely a drop in the bucket for the current Hidden God Sect. After all, his gluttonous Disciple Xiao Chen had already reached Foundation Establishment, and the resources needed for his future cultivation would increase exponentially. Add to that Da Huang, the picky-eater dog, and this little bit of family wealth wouldn't even last a month.

"If you're herding one sheep, you might as well herd a whole flock."

Li Daoxuan tucked the bag of Spirit Stones into his robes, stood up, and patted the dust off his buttocks. His gaze gradually sharpened. "If I keep shearing only Xiao Chen's wool, he'll go bald sooner or later. For the sustainable development of the Hidden God Sect, I must increase income and reduce expenditure."

The so-called "increasing income" was, naturally—taking on more Disciples.

The System's "10,000-fold Return for Teaching Disciples" mechanism was practically tailor-made for wholesale Disciples. As long as he had enough Disciples, let alone Imperial Artifacts of the Extreme Way, he could even churn out a pile of Immortal Artifacts.

"Let's go take a stroll in the back mountain."

With his hands behind his back, Li Daoxuan strolled toward the back mountain like an old landlord inspecting his territory.

The back mountain of the Hidden God Sect was an undeveloped primeval forest. Usually, not even a ghost could be seen, only some low-level Yao Beasts. But Li Daoxuan knew the web novel tropes well: true opportunities were often hidden in such god-forsaken places. For instance, falling off a cliff to find a Secret Manual, entering a cave to encounter an old man, or... picking up an injured goddess in a small grove.

He hadn't been in the woods for long when a strong scent of blood wafted into Li Daoxuan's nose with the wind.

"Is there a situation?"

Li Daoxuan paused, and his Great Emperor-level Divine Sense instantly spread out. In the next second, a subtle curve formed at the corner of his mouth.

Had he actually stumbled upon one?

Under an ancient tree not far ahead lay a black figure. It was a woman, her black tight-fitting attire soaked in blood. She wore a half-broken mask on her face; the exposed lower half was as pale as paper, yet it couldn't hide her peerless beauty.

She was like an Equinox Flower blooming in the Netherworld; even while at her last breath, she exuded a breathtaking beauty and... a spine-chilling Evil Qi.

[Ding!]

[Detected an S-grade Great Luck target ahead!]

[Scanning character template...]

[Name: Leng Yanran]

[Identity: Reincarnated Empress of the ancient Demon Realm (Critically injured and dying)]

[Personality: Cold-blooded, suspicious, decisive in killing]

[Recent Encounter: Suffered backlash from cultivating a Demonic Technique and was hunted by enemies to this point. Her Meridians are shattered, and her life hangs by a thread.]

[Disciple Suggestion: This target is extremely dangerous but has infinite potential. If subdued, she will become a sharp blade in the host's hand. Do you wish to take her as a Disciple?]

Li Daoxuan looked at the System panel floating before him and took a sharp breath.

Good heavens, the Demon Empress?

This wasn't just picking up a bargain; this was clearly picking up a time bomb! The Reincarnation of a powerhouse of this level likely had more schemes than a honeycomb. He might save her one moment and be killed by her the next to silence him.

But... Li Daoxuan glanced at the glaring "S-grade" on the System panel and thought about the 10,000-fold return reward.

"The bold feast, while the timid starve."

"For my Immortal Artifacts, for my Divine Medicine, I'll risk it!"

Li Daoxuan took a deep breath and instantly adjusted his expression. The supreme pressure belonging to a Great Emperor was perfectly restrained, leaving only a profound Dao rhyme. His entire being seemed to merge with heaven and earth.

With steady steps, he trod on the withered leaves, walking toward the tree step by step.

Just as he was three steps away from the woman...

Shua!

The previously unconscious woman abruptly opened her eyes. What kind of eyes were those? Cold, bloodthirsty, as if they contained mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Although she could not move, her fingertips held a poisonous needle flickering with dark light, fixed intently on Li Daoxuan's throat.

"One more step, and you die."

Her voice was hoarse, yet it carried an unquestionable killing intent.

Had it been an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator, they might have been scared witless by this Aura. But who was Li Daoxuan? He was a max-level Great Emperor. In his eyes, the threat from someone at the end of their tether was no different from a kitten bristling its fur.

Instead of backing away, Li Daoxuan took an audacious step forward and squatted directly in front of her.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Injured this badly, and still such a temper?"

He shook his head, his gaze scanning her body without restraint before finally stopping on the faint black Qi between her brows.

"Little girl, you haven't just been injured by pursuers, have you?"

"The 'Heavenly Demon Evil Qi' in your body has backfired, and your Meridians are mostly shattered. If you aren't treated, you will explode and die within half an hour, losing even the chance for Reincarnation."

Leng Yanran's pupils constricted sharply.

Waves of shock surged in her heart. The Heavenly Demon Evil Qi was a hidden danger left from her cultivation of the Swallowing Heaven Demonic Art in her previous life, and it was a secret of the Demon Realm. How could this young man, who seemingly had no cultivation, see through it at a glance?

Could he be an old monster sent by those Holy Lands?

No, that's not right.

If he were from a Holy Land, he would have struck her down the moment he saw a Devil Head like her; he wouldn't be wasting his breath.

"Who... exactly are you?" Leng Yanran gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay conscious while gripping the poisonous needle even tighter.

"Who I am is not important."

Li Daoxuan stood up, hands behind his back, giving her a profound side profile. "What's important is that in this entire world, no one but me can cure the poison in your body."

"Boasting."

Leng Yanran let out a cold laugh, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Even a Medicine King at the Soul Transformation Stage was helpless against the Evil Qi in my body. You, a mere Mortal, dare to speak such big words?"

Li Daoxuan did not argue.

He simply reached out a finger and lightly tapped it on Leng Yanran's forehead.

The movement seemed slow, yet it made it impossible for Leng Yanran to dodge.

"A Mortal?"

"That's just your blindness."

Boom!

As his fingertip touched her, a strand of extremely pure Great Emperor Origin, disguised by Li Daoxuan as gentle spiritual power, was instantly injected into Leng Yanran's Sea of Consciousness.

The Demonic Evil Qi that had been rampaging in her body like a wild horse instantly became as docile as a mouse meeting a cat. It obediently retreated to a corner of her Dantian, shivering.

The agonizing pain that had been tormenting her every moment miraculously vanished at that instant.

Leng Yanran was stunned.

She blankly felt the changes within her body. Her mouth slightly opened beneath the mask, her eyes filled with utter disbelief.

Just one finger?

He had suppressed the Demonic Evil Qi that had plagued her for two lifetimes?

How was this possible!

Unless... this person's cultivation had already surpassed her previous life's Peak, reaching that legendary Realm!

"A hidden expert... this is definitely a hidden expert!"

Leng Yanran after all was the Reincarnation of an empress, and her mind worked quickly. She instantly realized she had stumbled upon a massive Opportunity. This man before her was no Mortal; he was clearly a powerful patron she needed to cling to!

She struggled to sit up, but her physical weakness only allowed her to barely move her fingers.

The previous killing intent vanished instantly, replaced by a complex calculation and... longing.

To live.

Only by living could she seek revenge and return to her Peak.

And the person before her was her only hope.

"Senior..." Leng Yanran's voice softened, carrying a hint of probing. "Why... would you save me? I am a demonic Cultivator."

In the eyes of the Righteous Path, everyone has the right to kill demonic Cultivators. She didn't believe he had no ulterior motives.

"A demonic Cultivator?"

Li Daoxuan chuckled. He turned around and looked down at her, his gaze as indifferent as water.

"In my eyes, there is no righteous or demonic, only the strong and the weak."

"A blade in the hands of a good person is a weapon; in the hands of a bad person, it is a tool of murder. Cultivation Techniques are the same; they are righteous when used for good and evil when used for malice."

"I saved you because I took an interest in your... Aptitude."

Li Daoxuan paused, revealing his true intentions and throwing out the final bait.

"I can heal your injuries and even help you resolve the flaws in your Cultivation Technique, allowing you to surpass your previous life's Peak."

"However, there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world."

Leng Yanran's heart trembled.

Surpassing her previous life?

This temptation was too great—so great that she simply couldn't refuse. She stared intently into Li Daoxuan's eyes, trying to find a trace of a lie, but all she saw was a bottomless calm.

"What... do you want?" She took a deep breath, prepared to pay any price.

The corner of Li Daoxuan's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a smile that Leng Yanran couldn't decipher.

He slowly reached out his hand, palm facing up, and held it before Leng Yanran.

"It's very simple."

"Become my Disciple."

"Join my Hidden God Sect, and I will ensure you a life without worries, where neither gods nor demons can bury you. Do you... dare to agree?"