Chapter 1: Master of the Cave Heaven

"I've always known your Cultivation is mediocre and your aptitude ordinary. After all, even though it's said you've cultivated since childhood, you haven't participated in the Dao examination all these years. To this day, you have no notable deeds circulating among your peers."

Cultivator Zhang spoke with utmost sincerity, "If you truly were a genius, no matter how low-profile you kept, you wouldn't still be a nobody."

Li Yinsheng's face darkened. "Then what exactly did you see in me, Zhang?"

"It's not that I've taken a liking to you. It's Martial Uncle Miaoyin of my Tingyun Temple who favors you!" Cultivator Zhang continued rubbing his hands together. He looked at Li Yinsheng's chiseled face, revealing a trace of eagerness. "The venerable elder is currently searching for her eighteenth Dual Cultivation Dao Companion. It just so happened that a few days ago, a female disciple was selling your portrait. And guess what?

"Ha! The moment she saw your portrait, she fell for you! She insisted I invite you to join our temple, saying her search for an eighteenth Dao Companion is finally over!"

Li Yinsheng fell silent.

"Junior Li, with a face like yours, how many female disciples in the entire Zhengyang Dharma Vein wouldn't call you handsome?" Cultivator Zhang beamed with excitement. "I used to think physical appearance was useless in Cultivation, but looking at it now, I was truly shallow!

"Although Martial Uncle Miaoyin is over eighty years old, her Cultivation is profound. She has mastered the art of retaining her youth and looks just like a young girl!

"Moreover, what she practices is the authentic path of Dual Cultivation, absolutely not some Absorption and Replenishment Evil Skill. To have gained her favor now, you've really hit the jackpot."

"Senior Zhang," Li Yinsheng sighed and turned to walk away. "I still have many chores to handle in the temple. If you have nothing else, please leave."

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't leave, Junior Li!" Cultivator Zhang trailed behind him, urging earnestly. "Martial Uncle Miaoyin is serious! She told me to pass on a message: if you are willing to be her Dao Companion, on top of covering all your Cultivation expenses, she will give you a monthly allowance of two thousand talismanic coins.

"Also, also! She knows your temple is still supporting a senior whose Cultivation has been completely lost. She said she wouldn't mind if you brought that senior along to Tingyun Temple...

"Besides, Junior Li, your aptitude is mediocre. You only have a pretty face. Once Xuanzhen Temple disbands, you'll only be able to join some small Daoist Temple as an ordinary disciple, copying scriptures and striking bells, earning three to four hundred talismanic coins a month at most.

"How could a life like that compare to the bright future you'd have with Martial Uncle Miaoyin? This is a massive opportunity for you!"

"Senior Zhang," Li Yinsheng stopped in his tracks and sighed. "Do you know Yue He of Songyue Temple and Yu Luan of Gengyan Temple?"

"You also know of these two seniors, Junior Li?" Cultivator Zhang's tone filled with sudden respect. "They are both esteemed seniors who deeply researched the path of Dual Cultivation. They cultivated into Daoists many years ago and regained their youth. In terms of Cultivation, they likely possess over a hundred and twenty years' worth."

At the mention of the word "Daoist", a trace of reverence appeared in Cultivator Zhang's eyes. "Martial Uncle Miaoyin of our temple has always held these two seniors in the highest regard," he continued. "She has always hoped to achieve the status of a Daoist through the path of Dual Cultivation just like them..."

"The month before last, Yue He sent someone over to invite me to be her Dao Companion, offering a monthly allowance of five thousand talismanic coins," Li Yinsheng said.

Cultivator Zhang was instantly stunned.

Li Yinsheng continued, "And last month, Yu Luan sent someone over to invite me to be her Dao Companion as well. She offered six thousand talismanic coins a month, plus a gifted Upper Grade fine-gold Magic Sword."

Cultivator Zhang was utterly dumbfounded.

After his expression shifted several times, he forced an awkward smile. "The matter of a Dao Companion is of utmost importance. Junior Li, you should consider it carefully.

"How about this? You think it over, Junior Li. I've delivered the message, so I'll return to report back first and visit again in a few days..."

As he spoke, Cultivator Zhang pulled a Talisman from his waist, took a few phantom steps into the air, and rode the wind away.

Watching the man's figure shrink in the sky, a flash of apprehension and envy crossed Li Yinsheng's eyes. This person could rely on a Fuyao Talisman for Flying in the Sky, whereas Li Yinsheng could neither afford this Talisman nor possessed enough Cultivation to use it so nimbly. The other party might have seemed amiable and frank, but he was ultimately a Cultivator with at least thirty to forty years of Cultivation.

Ever since transmigrating to this world, Li Yinsheng had cultivated bitterly without pause since the age of nine, meaning he had been at it for thirteen years. Yet, limited by his aptitude, no matter how hard he worked or how much he neglected sleep and meals, his results at most equaled about twenty years of Cultivation for an ordinary Cultivator. Strictly speaking, the Cultivation of that Daoist just now was almost double his own.

Thinking about how thirteen years of bitter Cultivation had only amounted to this little bit of progress, Li Yinsheng couldn't help but sigh at his own usefulness compared to his incompetent golden cheat.

With a single thought, a lifelike scroll unrolled in his mind.

In an endless, boundless lake, countless lotus flowers and leaves stood gracefully. A full moon in the sky illuminated the dark night, and directly beneath the full moon was a White Jade Platform about ten feet across. At the same time, in the night sky of the scroll, the moonlight transformed into lines of pale gold text:

[Master of the Cave Heaven: Mu Xiaoyu

Cultivation Aspiration: None

Cultivation Reward: None]

This was his golden cheat. It had been with him since the very first day he transmigrated.

Simultaneously, this was a golden cheat that had never played a single role. It wasn't hard to tell from the information provided by it—its master didn't even seem to be him!

"Mu Xiaoyu! Just who on earth is Mu Xiaoyu?! How can you be so selfish as to write your name on my golden cheat?!" he wondered indignantly.

A burst of suona horns playing DOOT-DOOT-DOOT alongside a CLANG CLANG CLANG of gongs and drums rang out from outside the door. The racket interrupted Li Yinsheng's thoughts, immediately stunning him.

Although Xuanzhen Peak was located at the edge of the Hundred Thousand Mountains and wasn't entirely isolated from the mortal world, it was still far away from human habitation after all.