Chapter 3

This body is really tough.

Tough enough that Lin Du almost got herself bruised by her own bones.

She lay awkwardly on the ground, finding it increasingly difficult to breathe, but suddenly felt a pill in her palm.

It was the system’s reward.

“Are you okay?” Du Shao was startled and quickly tried to help her up, only to see the child who had fallen now sitting on the ground with her legs outstretched like an old farmer resting on a field ridge. All she was missing was a pipe to tap the ashes from.

The fluidity of the movements left both onlookers dumbfounded.

Where you fall, you stay.

“I’m fine, don’t worry about me, sister. I just need to rest a bit.”

While saying this, Lin Du popped the pill into her mouth, tried to let it dissolve, but it didn’t.

She tried biting it, but it didn’t break.

There was a moment of silence before she forced it down, nearly choking in the process.

Why is it that in books, cultivators just pop a pill, and it’s gone? Do none of you in the cultivation world need water to swallow your pills? Has no one ever choked to death on a pill?

Lin Du had a moment of existential crisis.

【…Sorry, Host, I forgot you’re just a mortal.】

Lin Du kept a straight face but asked in her mind, “Forgive me, but are cultivators’ throats made of iron?”

【Cultivators have high physical resilience. Mainly, you’re just too weak, dear.】

Lin Du smirked. Just as she was about to say something, she felt a faint warmth spreading in her stomach, followed by a cool sensation reaching her lungs, and suddenly, her labored breathing eased. The constant feeling of breathlessness and weakness started to fade.

She relaxed, closed her eyes, and focused on the path of the medicine’s power as it spread from her stomach to her lungs, slowly dispersing through her veins.

This feeling of clarity was something this body had never experienced before.

She took deep breaths, sighing in relief from the comfort.

Du Shao stood nearby, initially intending to help her up, but then noticed a gentle breeze swirling around Lin Du as she sat there, rooted in place.

“Don’t move her,” a voice echoed from the sky. “Step back, don’t disturb her while she absorbs the spiritual energy.”

Du Shao was taken aback and suddenly realized something.

Absorbing spiritual energy? But Lin Du was clearly a mortal before…

People approaching from below the mountain also looked towards the stone steps where Lin Du sat, seemingly carefree.

Lin Du only felt an overwhelming sense of comfort, instinctively tracing the path of the pill’s energy within her consciousness, with a breeze gently wrapping around her.

The gentle spring breeze was intoxicating, making her want to absorb more.

Her body felt light, her mind clear, her spirit tranquil—utterly at peace.

Lin Du couldn’t help but feel as though she was merging with the spring breeze.

The green mountains seemed like mist, the forest teeming with life beginning anew—buds sprouting, peach blossoms blooming, hummingbirds chirping, beasts moving with ease. Even the veins on the green leaves were visible, fine fuzz clearly defined.

Wait a minute…

Lin Du suddenly realized something: why could she see the forest scene with her eyes closed?

【Dear, once your lungs were cleared, you instinctively grasped the flow of energy in your veins. Coupled with your perfect ice spiritual root, you automatically learned to absorb spiritual energy and reached the early stage of the Phoenix First Realm.】

【As expected of a chosen cultivator.】

Lin Du remained calm. Oh, so I’ve started cultivating.

Her chest was no longer tight, her breathing steady. Not bad.

Except… she felt a bit nauseous.

Lin Du frowned and suddenly spat out a mouthful of dark red blood.

“System, you sold me fake medicine!”

【I didn’t! That was old, stagnant blood being expelled from your body due to your previous chronic illnesses!】

Lin Du assessed her condition and indeed felt as comfortable as before, with no discomfort.

She slowly raised her eyes and realized that a crowd had gathered around her.

The onlookers saw the pale, delicate child spit out a mouthful of old blood before opening her eyes. She then casually wiped the bloodstained lips with her arm, letting it drop lazily onto her knee. With her other hand, she ran her long fingers through her hair, tilted her head, and casually glanced at them.

“Stop staring. If you keep looking, I’ll start charging—ten coins per person.”

After all, this body was penniless, being just a minor character in the story, brilliant but short-lived. Lin Du herself had no idea how the original owner had survived the past decade.

She was just joking, and as she was about to sit up, a bag of spirit stones suddenly flew over from somewhere, accompanied by a mocking laugh.

“Ten spirit stones is a bit too little. A mere mortal climbing the mountain and entering the Tao in just a quarter of an hour—you’re the first in a thousand years. At least it’s worth a thousand gold.”

The voice was arrogant and lingering, with a tickling, soothing quality. Lin Du thought this person could easily charm a hundred people with that voice alone, and even find a romantic interest on her second uncle’s WeChat.

People expected Lin Du to feel embarrassed by this lofty, patronizing gesture, but she opened the storage bag, glanced inside, and then smiled, standing up and brushing off the dust from her green robe. “Thank you.”

A thousand spirit stones, an unexpected windfall.

Her nonchalant demeanor made the owner of the voice chuckle softly.

“Good nature.”

Lin Du glanced at Du Shao and extended a hand. “Sister, let’s go up the mountain.”

Du Shao finally reacted, and with a nod, took her hand, completely forgetting about her fiancé beside them.

After entering the Tao, Lin Du felt different from her former mortal self—she walked quickly and steadily, feeling light and strong. If she ignored the occasional pain in her heart, she felt like a blissful immortal.

The once gloomy, sullen youth now had a bit of the youthful vitality typical of his age.

Her steps were light, her skin still pale, but her expression was much more lively. The aloof, casual look that should have been on her face now appeared refined and elegant.

“Danger, she has entered the Tao.”

A voice from the clouds sounded a warning.

The arrogant voice spoke again, “Entering the Tao? Is the Buddhist Tao not a Tao? She appears so transparent and free-spirited, practicing Buddhism would suit her well.”

“Demon monk, the Buddhist temple cannot accommodate your golden body. Are you here to cause trouble at our Zhong Zhou sect’s selection?”

Another light laugh followed. “Interesting, truly interesting. Demon monk? Is that what you call me in Zhong Zhou?”

“This child is from our Zhong Zhou. Our Supreme Sect can afford to take her.”

“This child seems to have congenital deficiencies. If she comes to our Ji Shi Sect, we might be able to save her.”

“I think I can also…” A voice suddenly interjected.

“No, you cannot,” three voices responded simultaneously.

Lin Du was completely unaware that several “immortals” in the clouds were already debating over her like a little demon.

The mountain didn’t seem so high anymore, and after just a short while, they reached the summit.

As they stepped onto the last stone step, the surrounding clouds seemed to part automatically. Before them was a bright, sunlit expanse.

The spring sunshine spread warmly across the large eight-trigram-shaped plaza. On the high platforms around the plaza, various sect plaques were displayed, with tables set up and elders from different sects seated behind them, smiling.

Instead of the Taoist immortals in flowing white robes Lin Du had imagined, it resembled a room adorned with exquisite gem-studded silks, sparkling brilliantly from afar, like celestial maidens.

The plaza was bustling with nearly a hundred candidates waiting, some calling out to friends, some standing alone, but it wasn’t a sea of white. Silks, satin, gems, and pearls were all present.

She instinctively glanced at Du Shao, who was also dressed in an elaborate hairstyle with red gems adorning her hairpins. Her red lips were slightly pursed, her cheeks rosy, and her bright apricot eyes showed joy rather than surprise.

Lin Du suppressed her surprise, realizing that contemporary immortal dramas had a strong impact on her perceptions.

She felt like an outsider entering a grand garden, similar to Granny Liu’s experience.

Du Shao noticed the gaze Lin Du was receiving and remembered the child’s ill-fitting green robe and the simple peach twig used as a hairpin, feeling even more sympathetic.

“Child, don’t be afraid. Zhong Zhou is vast and prosperous, with many wealthy people. Today, besides the children of noble families, there are also ordinary village folk. Heroes are not judged by their origins.”

…

Lin Du was silent for a moment. Besides the 1986 version of “Journey to the West,” no one had told her that immortals also needed to dress in fine clothes.

The system quickly chimed in to provide some insights for this cultivation novice.

【Is it possible, I mean, is there such a possibility? After all, the cultivation world has spiritual energy, and productivity is many times higher than the mortal world. Therefore, silks and satins aren’t that valuable, and the expensive items are the robes with engraved formations!】

Lin Du responded with a nod, “Reasonable, very reasonable.”