I risked my life, using the butterfly effect to shatter the immortal realm.

The wheelchair rolled over the rotten threshold, making a teeth-grinding creak.

Yu Liang loosened his grip, and the knot in the storage bag slipped off.

"Splash—"

A deep blue light instantly illuminated the dilapidated hall, and 500,000 spirit stones cascaded down like a waterfall.

Several faces, already distorted in the shadows, now appeared even more ferocious and greedy under the blue light.

"mine!"

Su Xiu lunged forward, desperately protecting the pile of spirit stones: "This is my life savings! I'll fight anyone who tries to take it!"

"Five hundred thousand..."

He gripped the Ink Cube tightly, its single eye flashing blue light.

"Idle resources are a crime. Su Xiu, allocate 50,000. A section of the spine of a Golden Core demon beast just came out of the black market. It's perfect for turning Lao Liu's broken erhu into a subsonic killing instrument, and by the way, plate my serrated knife with a layer of mithril."

"Dream on!" Su Xiu shrieked, spitting everywhere. "This is the principal for paying off a debt! Unless I die!"

"Oh dear, this is such an ominous sign, it's like someone is going to die."

Hongyao leaned closer to Su Xiu: "Little Xiu, broaden your horizons. The only thing missing from the ultimate 'Smiling Netherworld Powder' is the Heartbreak Grass. It's only 30,000, and you can try the first bowl of soup—it's strawberry flavored."

Su Xiu bristled, scrambling back as if her hair was standing on end: "No way! You think rotten intestines are food? Even a pig would foam at the mouth if he smelled your soup!"

"Tsk, doesn't know its value." Hongyao sighed resentfully, her fingertips tracing the armrest of Yu Liang's wheelchair, leaving several smoking, corrosive marks. "If I don't have money to buy a Heavenly Poison Scorpion, how am I going to train my junior brother's Vajra Indestructible Technique? My head hurts so much, I really want to kill someone to relieve this..."

Yu Liang was paralyzed in a wheelchair, and although his broken body had been regenerated with the help of Pig Master, it was still incomplete.

But the "scar of divine retribution" on his chest was writhing wildly, causing excruciating pain.

These lunatics didn't treat him like a wounded soldier at all.

"Old man," Yu Liang stared at Gu Santong, who was being forced to drink, "this time you've really stirred up a hornet's nest. If you can't pay it back in three years..."

"If you don't pay me back, I'll fill the hole for you."

Gu Santong put down his wine gourd, shaking off the dust from the roof beams. "You're tough. You even dare to renege on the will of Heaven. Are you afraid of creditors? As long as you don't die, the debt won't go to waste."

He kicked the spirit stone on the ground and pointed it at Su Xiu.

"As for Su Xiu... she's got a good plan. She'll become a nominal disciple and the chief financial officer of Zizhu Peak. From now on, every single thing on this wretched peak will be under her control."

Su Xiu looked up, her eyes shining: "You'll listen to me even when it comes to spending money?"

"I'll listen to you." Gu Santong rolled his eyes. "As long as you don't starve to death."

"Eat! Eat first!"

Su Xiu's stomach rumbled at just the right moment.

With lightning speed, she grabbed a handful of spirit stones and stuffed them into her bosom, keeping a wary eye on everyone as she ran towards the kitchen, glancing back every few steps.

A moment later, Su Xiu screamed and rushed back to the main hall: "Monster! There's a goat-headed monster spitting in the kitchen!"

Yu Liang's hand instinctively reached for the three copper coins in his pocket, his eyes suddenly turning cold, and killing intent instantly gathered: "Who's attacking?"

With a clatter, an alpaca wearing a pink apron strolled into the main hall, carrying a plate of food on its front hooves. Its eyes were indifferent, and it snorted as it passed Yu Liang.

"Let me introduce you, Ah Tuo." Gu Santong patted the alpaca's rump. "Sent by the demon race to work. His skills are top-notch, and most importantly, he's cheap—one low-grade spirit stone a month, and he brings his own rations."

Yu Liang's eyes widened, his jaw nearly dropping to the floor: "A demon race...working for someone?"

"You're making a fuss over nothing."

Mo Ju removed the mechanical device and wiped his hands: "Demons also need to eat. Hard work leads to wealth, which is better than the third son who farms the land."

The soil in the corner flowerpot stirred: "Superficial."

Zombies, drug addicts, cyborgs, farming fanatics, blind musicians, and an alpaca who cooks.

Although Zizhu Peak is crazy, it also gives you a sense of security.

However, the peace was fleeting.

"Buzz—"

A grand and solemn voice suddenly resounded above the Qingxuan Sect.

That was the pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

The terrifying sound wave pierced through the clouds and shattered the only two remaining windows of the main hall on Purple Bamboo Peak.

The decree of Sect Leader Xuanweizi.

"Yu Liang, a disciple of Zizhu Peak, is physically disabled but determined. He dedicates himself to exploring the Dao of Heaven for the sake of his sect. His pure and patriotic heart is commendable!"

The sound echoed through the seven peaks, each word carrying an undeniable "righteous spirit," stirring the blood of the listeners.

Only Yu Liang's hand, which was holding a chopstick, remained frozen in mid-air.

A chill crept up my spine and straight to the top of my head.

Not right.

Would that old fox be so kind?

Sure enough, the next sentence came.

He is hereby specially appointed as a "model of inspiration for the sect" and awarded 10,000 spirit stones.

Su Xiu's eyes lit up, and she almost dropped her chopsticks: "Ten thousand? I'm rich!"

Yu Liang's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

The voice took a sharp turn, carrying a hint of "kindness" encouraging a junior, but concealing a chilling murderous intent, like a dagger coated in honey:

"On the path of cultivation, one either advances or regresses. From this day forward, all disciples of our sect may challenge Yu Liang to a 'sparring session' to learn from his indomitable spirit."

"The victor will be awarded five hundred spirit stones."

Snapped.

The chopsticks in Yu Liang's hand snapped in two.

"Old fox!"

He squeezed out three words through his teeth, his gums almost bleeding.

What kind of inspirational role model is this? This is clearly putting him on the hot seat!

This is a case of flattery to kill!

The 500,000 spirit stones were extorted. Since the sect leader couldn't openly renege on the debt, he resorted to this tactic—using someone else to do the dirty work.

In the eyes of those outer and inner disciples, what is Yu Liang now?

A mortal without spiritual power.

A useless person who rose to power by playing the victim and humiliated all the peak masters.

More importantly, it's a walking money bag!

You can get five hundred spirit stones just by defeating such a useless person?

This is like gold falling from the sky; you can pick it up without even bending down!

"It's over..." Su Xiu realized, her face turning deathly pale. The bowl in her hand clattered to the ground. "Five hundred spirit stones... They'll kill you for money! They could drown us all with their spit!"

"Someone is coming."

Mo Ju's single eye flashed with blue light as he suddenly raised the still-dripping serrated knife, his tone surprisingly excited. "Perfect timing, my 'Bone Crusher No. 3' requires the precise dimensions of a cultivator's patella."

"Oh my! So many people! So many fresh, warm bodies!"

Hongyao suddenly screamed, her voice filled with uncontrollable excitement.

She threw down her chopsticks, cupped that beautiful yet distorted face in her hands, and her eyes gleamed with a sickly light, like a hungry wolf eyeing a flock of sheep.

"Junior brother! Did you hear that? The sect leader is so thoughtful! He specially sent so many guinea pigs for testing the medicine!"

Hongyao rushed to Yu Liang, her face almost touching his nose, her breathing rapid and carrying a strong smell of blood.

"Don't be afraid, your senior sister will protect you! That 'Smiling Half-Step Madness' hasn't even been tested on humans yet... Hehe, I'm going to make them dance with laughter until their hearts explode!"

These lunatics.

Looking at his senior brothers and sisters who were eager to fight, Yu Liang felt even colder.

They don't care about the consequences of killing, but he can't.

His body is now as fragile as paper; even the slightest thought requires calculation of cause and effect.

If a real fight breaks out, even a slight aftershock of spiritual energy could blast him to smithereens.

If one does not use the deception of cause and effect, one will surely die.

Use it, your body breaks down, or you die.

Killing without shedding blood—that's what a true sect leader is all about.

The noise at the foot of the mountain grew louder and louder, like boiling water spreading towards the summit.

The torchlight stretched out in a continuous line, resembling a ferocious fire dragon.

"Where is Yu Liang of Zizhu Peak? Zhao Tiezhu from the outer sect has come to seek his guidance!"

"Get out of my way! Those five hundred spirit stones are mine!"

"Senior Brother Yu Liang! I want to learn your 'unyielding spirit'! Come out and take your beating!"

"Five hundred spirit stones..."

Yu Liang's lips curled into a self-deprecating smile.

It turns out that my life is only worth five hundred stones.

"Third Senior Brother!" Yu Liang roared at the flowerpot, "Stop playing dead! Get your treasure out! Seal off the mountain! Not a single fly is allowed in!"

"Give me the money!" Yu Liang turned and yelled at Su Xiu, "Hurry up! Otherwise, all the money will be stolen!"

Su Xiu looked pained, and with trembling hands, she pulled out a spirit stone and tossed it to Tu San: "Use it sparingly! This can buy three pigs!"

Tu San sniffed the spirit stone, and his bald head instantly burrowed into the ground.

Boom—

Purple Bamboo Peak trembled violently.

Countless purplish-black vines burst forth from the ground, covered with barbs and man-eating flowers dripping with sticky sap, instantly forming a green wall a hundred meters high.

The commotion below the mountain instantly turned into terrified screams.

"Fourth Senior Brother, the pen!"

Yu Liang grabbed a charcoal pencil and wrote several large characters in a flamboyant style on a rotten wooden board:

[I am in seclusion seeking enlightenment; unauthorized personnel are not permitted entry! Trespassers will be fed to pigs!]

"Post it out!"

After doing all this, Yu Liang slumped in his wheelchair, too weak to even lift a finger.

……

Late at night, atop Zizhu Peak.

The wind howled, carrying a biting chill.

Yu Liang, wrapped in his tattered Taoist robe, sat alone on the spare coffin lid at the edge of the cliff.

"Five hundred spirit stones..."

Yu Liang's voice was hoarse, like sandpaper scraping the ground.

"Sect Leader, isn't this not just revenge, but also a test?"

They were testing what trump cards this mortal had that made him dare to challenge a Golden Core cultivator.

To test whether he harbors a secret that could overturn the game.

Either demonstrate your value so that the sect is reluctant to kill you, or exhaust your life force through endless harassment.

This is an open conspiracy.

"Want to see a play?"

Yu Liang took out three copper coins from his pocket and gently twirled them between his fingers. The coins clinked together and made a crisp "ding" sound, which was particularly clear in the quiet night.

Then I'll show you all you want.

A glint of madness flashed in his eyes, the exhilaration of a gambler betting their life on the line.

Yu Liang mouthed silently to the void, to the towering main peak:

"But can you afford the theater tickets?"