I cultivate the Purple Mansion Golden Elixir Dao on Earth

"That kid doesn't seem to be swayed by the money... Do you think the old man might have had someone talk to him beforehand, and is now putting on an act for us?"

The gates were wide open. Stepping onto the blue stone path leading inside, a faint, inexplicable fragrance filled the air, but it vanished in an instant.

Yang Wanyi followed Yang Ruixing into the temple. Looking at the thin figure in the Taoist robe in front of her, she had a strange look in her eyes and asked Yang Ruixing in a flippant manner.

—What good would that do?

And why don't you keep calling me an "old geezer" and a "bastard" these days?

Yang Ruixing almost blurted that out.

But having grown up with his younger sister's unpredictable and capricious nature, he simply glanced at Yang Wanyi and then at Jiang Songjing's retreating figure leading the way, without saying a word.

However, Yang Ruixing also had some doubts and concerns.

After hearing his father's request at his sickbed, before coming to Baiyang Temple, although he always appeared gentle and forgiving, he secretly sent people to thoroughly investigate the background and origins of this "younger brother".

With only a few days' difference in time, he learned everything about Jiang Songjing's school, experiences, and even the heartbreak she suffered in college. Therefore, he understood perfectly that Jiang Songjing was just a good-for-nothing who had failed to find a job after graduating from university and had no choice but to come to this Taoist temple to live off subsidies and become a Taoist priest.

But why was he able to refuse the service fee that he had deliberately offered to test him, when they had not yet made their intentions clear and he was still unaware of his own background?

"...The bait of official rank can be used to lure out the average talents in the world, but it cannot be used to devour the heroes of the world."

A sentence he had read in a history book before flashed through Yang Ruixing's mind, making him chuckle.

Could it be that this so-called "younger brother" really has the heroic spirit of regarding money as dirt?

Or perhaps, that old man who was bedridden had actually been having an affair with Jiang Songjing all along... Just as Yang Wanyi said, it was all just a play they put on?

Yang Ruixing watched Jiang Songjing's retreating figure, his eyes narrowed slightly, and his expression darkened a little.

……

"What exactly is the purpose of these people's visit? They are clearly wealthy and powerful, and they don't seem to be here to offer incense. They've come specifically for me... What do they want?"

While Yang Wanyi and Yang Ruixing were speculating, at the same time, Jiang Songjing was also filled with deep doubts, and her brows furrowed slightly.

"...Never mind, let's take them to the main hall first. In front of the Three Pure Ones statue, let the Heavenly Venerables hear what we have to say... If only Master could hear us."

A sudden pang of sadness swept through her heart. But just then, Jiang Songjing heard a surprised voice come from behind her:

"Why is there a tourist in this temple? And why is he piling up all those books next to him? Is he setting up a stall?"

Jiang Songjing felt a chill run down her spine and immediately realized what was being said. She turned her head to look at the heavily made-up woman.

The woman was staring wide-eyed at Lin Yu, who was sitting alone on the stone bench.

Although several new people had arrived at the temple, Lin Yu didn't even raise his head. He continued to quietly flip through the book, writing and drawing with a pen, presumably listing formulas and studying his "Daoist Theory".

"That's not a tourist. He's a distinguished guest of our temple. He's cultivated his inner self and is extremely pure. Please don't disturb him, female devotees."

But this had absolutely no effect on the woman. She glanced at Jiang Songjing sideways and scoffed:

"He's a distinguished guest, so what are we, lowly guests?"

After saying that, the woman took a step and walked towards Lin Yu.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Songjing's expression changed drastically, and he immediately went over to stop him. However, the muscular man who had been silent all along blocked his way, as imposing as a deep pool and a towering mountain, preventing him from advancing even an inch.

Jiang Songjing tried to reach out and push him away, but the muscular man grabbed her hand.

Although her movements were neither too loose nor too tight, Jiang Songjing couldn't pull herself out or move an inch.

"...What do you mean by this! Trying to become robbers?! This is a place for Taoist cultivation, aren't you afraid I'll call the police?!"

Jiang Songjing suppressed her anger, her eyes almost spitting fire.

He stared intently at the muscular man and the woman who had leisurely walked up to Lin Yu, each word almost squeezed out between clenched teeth. The young man beside him sighed regretfully, but an undisguised smile appeared on his face:

"Master Qiu Jing, I'm sorry. My younger sister is usually quite lively."

"...However, she probably just wants to make a friend. It wouldn't hurt for her to chat a little with this distinguished guest, would it?"

Yang Ruixing was very happy.

Yes, I'm very happy.

Although Uncle Shan was just the family's bodyguard and driver, he was also the old man's most trusted person.

Since Uncle Shan dared to stand up and block Jiang Songjing, and even make an offensive move against this "young master" for the sake of a young lady like Yang Wanyi, it means that the old man has not gone mad and is not prepared to hand over the inheritance rights or most of his personal property to this illegitimate son.

In an instant, most of Yang Ruixing's worries disappeared, and he paid no attention to Yang Wanyi's rash actions.

As for the middle-aged man sitting on the stone bench—

An ordinary person was able to use this to find out the old man's attitude.

Faced with such an unexpected joy, what does it matter what his own fate is like, or whether he will be manipulated by Yang Wanyi...?

Looking at Yang Ruixing's expression, Jiang Songjing naturally couldn't guess what he was thinking, nor did he have the patience to try.

Faced with this predicament of making no progress, he stopped wasting his breath.

He gritted his teeth, staring intently at the woman's retreating figure, and silently hardened his resolve:

If that woman dares to offend Brother Lin, he'll fight these people to the death, even if he gets beaten half to death!

This ruthlessness that surfaced in her heart surprised even Jiang Songjing herself.

Unbeknownst to him, after spending the last few days together, Lin Yu, this mysterious middle-aged man, had become a mentor and friend in his eyes, holding a position second only to the old Taoist Yun Fu!

Jiang Songjing suddenly understood.

But just as he made up his mind, what happened next was completely beyond his imagination.

The woman had already walked up to Lin Yu's side.

The two were both under that pine tree.

The pine tree swayed gently, seemingly resisting slightly, or perhaps disdainfully.

But how could the pine tree have any feelings?

The woman's face revealed a gentle smile, yet something twisted was hidden within that smile.

At this moment, she seemed to want to say something.

However, at that moment, Lin Yu raised his head.

then……

The woman's eyes widened suddenly, as if she had seen something terrifying!

Her eyes seemed to bulge out, her body swayed violently, and she suddenly screamed "Ah!"

Then, she suddenly took a few steps back, then a few more, and finally returned to the group as if fleeing for her life!

"this……"

Not only Jiang Songjing, but even Yang Ruixing was taken aback.

Uncle Shan and Yang Xiyi, who had previously appeared nonchalant and indifferent to everything, also turned their attention to the middle-aged man under the pine tree.

But Lin Yu simply lowered her head, seemingly oblivious, and reopened the book.

What's wrong with you?

"...Don't ask any more questions!"

Yang Wanyi stretched out her hand, adorned with long, manicured nails, and touched her chest, still shaken.

She said with lingering fear:

"I just walked up to that person, before I could even say anything, he looked up, and I suddenly felt like I was possessed; my body involuntarily leaned backward..."

"—How strange! I never felt this scared when I accidentally got caught in a gunfight in New York. I even dared to hide behind bulletproof glass and take pictures of my best friend. But that person, that person... who was that person?!"

By the end, Yang Wanyi's voice was trembling, clearly indicating that she was extremely frightened.

These words startled Yang Ruixing, who couldn't help but give Lin Yu a deep look.

But this is not an urgent matter to deal with right now.

Yang Ruixing then put on a smile again and looked at Jiang Songjing:

"Uncle Shan, let go a little... Daoist Qiu Jing, there's nothing more to it now, why don't we go to the main hall to discuss serious matters?"

The muscular man silently released Jiang Songjing's hand, which had been gripping it tightly. Jiang Songjing flexed her wrist, looked directly at Yang Ruixing's practiced and businesslike smile, and nodded silently.

His gaze was reserved, and no one could discern his thoughts at that moment.

……

The main hall door closed gently, but the sound was still quite noticeable.

Without opening the door to participate in their conversation or eavesdropping, Lin Yu already knew what they were talking about.

"It seems that the rise and advancement of Jiang Songjing's character, as exemplified by his 'pond accumulation,' can be traced back to his family background. The foundation for his vast business empire was built upon the first pot of gold from this legacy."

Lin Yu thought casually as she turned another page of her book, "Quantum and Life: Model Hypotheses."

Knowing the purpose of this group of people's visit today was not difficult for Lin Yu at all.

Although he is now using his mind to cultivate his golden nature, he has after all entered the third level of embryonic breathing, and his true breath has been refined into magical power.

For ordinary cultivators practicing embryonic breathing, this amount of magical power is just a trivial trick used for washing clothes and blowing air.

But for Lin Yu, who possessed the cultivation of a True Lord, this was enough for him to display some of his supernatural and profound abilities—namely, the commonly used [Soul-Listening Incense].

Although casually listening to souls and prying into minds wherever he goes might seem like the practices of a demonic sect, in Lin Yu's mind, it was perfectly normal and orthodox Xuanmen (mystical sect) methods. And in his previous life's cultivation world, this was common knowledge.

—If searching a soul causes harm to a person, it would naturally violate the laws of nature and result in karmic consequences; but if listening to a soul does not harm the person, and their memories are intact while my knowledge is enhanced, then why not?

Therefore, in the cultivation world of the past, any Foundation Establishment or Purple Mansion cultivator, in order to avoid being affected by those below them, would diligently learn some mind-searching and soul-capturing techniques even if their Dao Foundation abilities didn't include methods that could captivate the mind. Otherwise, they would only be able to use quick-fix demonic methods, which could harm others' minds, but if it affected their own cultivation, that would be disastrous.

Of course, the same applies to ascending. All the True Persons of the Purple Mansion have this awareness.

For example, in his previous life, Lin Yu would always calm his mind and prepare himself to have his thoughts and memories read before each audience with the incarnation of the True Lord Ganmu, even if he had only met him a few times. He would not allow himself to have any thoughts other than worship for the True Lord.

Even though he understood that his desire to calm his mind would inevitably be seen by the True Lord, and that any hidden thoughts would be revealed to him.

But he had no choice but to do it.

Because this is the attitude of the lower-ranking cultivator towards the True Lord!

Searching the soul and examining memories is a ritual performed by the emperor, and it is something that must be done.

Of course, the reason Lin Yu earned the nickname "Peeping into the Dark" in his previous life wasn't just because his "Soul-Listening Incense" could silently and subtly perceive people's thoughts amidst subtle changes. It was also because this supernatural ability could even discern a cultivator's spiritual insights and mental state regarding techniques—truly astonishing!

Therefore, the title "Peeping into the Dark" is largely due to the envy and jealousy of those lower-level cultivators and their peers towards Lin Yu.

"As for that Yang Wanyi... she's quite lucky."

Lin Yu turned another page of the lecture notes in her hand. The hypothesis on this page was quite interesting. She marked the verification steps next to it while continuing to ponder the idea in her mind.

"Ever since I proclaimed my Dao in Heaven, I have been the focus of Heaven and Earth's attention, a veritable pioneer of the Dao. The grandeur of my destiny in this world defies description. Although this world has not yet differentiated into the cultivation realm of my previous life, and spiritual energy is only in its nascent stage, the difference in status still exists!"

"Therefore, when she uttered offensive words, she at least slashed her own life by 30%!"

"And by the time she reached me, she had already reduced her own lifespan by fifty percent!"

"If she hadn't suddenly realized something and had a premonition of impending doom, she would probably have run out of life and luck today, and been killed by various accidents. But even though she pulled back from the brink and preserved some of her life, she is far from having those carefree days before."

"...In the rest of her life, various calamities will accompany her, and she will be very likely to be killed if she encounters any dangerous situation again."

As Lin Yu wrote out equations to verify the hypothesis, she thought about it calmly.

These thoughts only lingered in his mind; he had no intention of protecting Yang Wanyi and was quite indifferent to her life or death.

You should know that with his current True Lord cultivation level and the blessing of the wondrous golden nature of his fruition, he can almost be regarded as a Golden Core True Lord in this world.

In a previous life, what would have happened to a mortal who dared to personally offend a True Lord in front of him?

—I fear that the next second will be the moment when the divine realm is reached its peak, and his body will be completely destroyed, leaving him with nothing but his name and the world's memories of him!

But in this world, it only reduced one's lifespan by 80%.

This demonstrates the tolerance of this land.

Lin Yu's pen suddenly paused, the tip resting on the last line of equations on the page "Quantum and Life: Model Hypotheses".

at the same time.

Accompanied by a soft "Eh".

The next second, a soft, melodious sound, like that of a lyrebird, rang out beside Lin Yu:

"I've read this book too... The hypotheses in it seem to have some flaws."