Chapter 60 Caught Exploiting a Loophole; Hard Work Is Simply Out of the Question

Li Wudao rubbed his hands together, feeling a slight surge of excitement.

He had a particular fondness for exploiting system loopholes, and this time he had finally managed to find a way around the rules.

As the old saying goes, one cannot grow wealthy without unexpected windfalls, just as a horse cannot fatten without nocturnal forage.

The opportunity for overnight riches was right before his eyes; who could possibly resist such a temptation?

"Brother Lin, do you know what this is?"

Li Wudao asked with a beaming smile, unable to conceal his impatience.

The talisman was roughly three inches long and possessed an antique yellowish hue. The front side featured patterns composed of intricate circles and lines, intermingled with some unfamiliar ancient characters.

The reverse side was branded with profound and esoteric array markings, densely packed and interwoven in layers so complex that the exact number of lines could not be discerned.

"Hiss—"

The very moment the Great Teleportation Talisman appeared, a faint flash of thunder-light flickered across its surface, and the surrounding space seemed to churn for a brief moment, vaguely stirring gentle ripples.

"If my eyes do not deceive me, this must be a talisman, and of a rather high grade."

Lin Yan's eyes widened into perfect circles as he stared fixedly at the Great Teleportation Talisman in Li Wudao's hand, looking utterly astonished.

"You have quite the eye, young man. Could it be that you have practiced the Dao of talismans?"

Li Wudao asked in surprise. The Xuantian Sect did not possess talismans, and he himself had only just learned of them.

"Hehe, my father used to be a disciple of the Thunder Fire Sect, which specializes in talismans and elixirs. Growing up immersed in that environment, I picked up a smattering of knowledge."

Lin Yan scratched the back of his head.

"I see."

Li Wudao nodded, his thoughts drifting away.

He recalled that the Thunder Fire Sect was also a first-rate sect in the southern part of the Eastern Wastelands, and they would likewise be entering the Hundred Flowers Secret Realm on this upcoming trip.

To be honest, he was quite interested in the Dao of talismans. Perhaps within the secret realm, he would truly be able to experience the relative strengths of different sects.

"Since you understand a little about talismans, I shall gift this talisman to you."

Li Wudao pushed the Great Teleportation Talisman forward and explained, "In the future, if you encounter formidable enemies, simply infuse it with true essence and crush it, and it will help you escape your predicament."

Lin Yan was so startled that his heart leapt into his throat; this talisman was a supreme life-saving instrument.

A single talisman was worth an entire major city, yet Li Wudao was bestowing it upon him so casually?

"Brother Li, this... I truly cannot accept anything more. I am unworthy of such a gift, and my conscience cannot bear it."

He waved his hands and repeatedly backed away, his expression laced with anxiety.

He and Li Wudao were neither kin nor old acquaintances; he dared not harbor such extravagant hopes.

"Why are you acting so overly polite with me? The Great Chu Dynasty is still keeping its eyes on you, and Chu Xinhui might make a move against you at any moment. If you end up dead, how will you ever avenge your grievances and wash away your shame...?"

After a round of earnest and patient persuasion, Li Wudao shoved the Great Teleportation Talisman back into his hands.

"I am not helping you for nothing. These items are not free handouts. Once you make something of yourself in the future, I will expect you to repay me manifold."

Seeing that Lin Yan was still hesitating and fidgeting, Li Wudao darkened his expression and put on a stern, cold facade.

"I understand, Brother Li... Words cannot express my gratitude for such great kindness!"

Lin Yan drew a deep breath, his eyes burning with fervor as he swallowed back whatever else he had intended to say.

He was not a man skilled in eloquence. Rather than uttering empty words, it was better to keep them locked within his heart and deliver tangible repayment in the future.

Li Wudao felt a slight blush of embarrassment.

Bloody hell, nowadays even giving away free gifts meant people refused to take them; he had nearly failed to complete his investment.

Right at that moment,

The corner of his mouth curved upward, and the system prompt finally rang out.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for a successful investment. Investment item: Great Teleportation Talisman x1]

[Reward feedback in progress...]

[Warning!]

[Detected malicious rule-breaking behavior by the host; reward revoked!]

[The system issues a severe warning: if the host attempts to exploit system loopholes for rewards again, the bond will be directly dissolved!]

"..."

Li Wudao froze, his expression blank with shock as the smile on his lips twisted into a bitter wryness.

He had actually thought he discovered a business opportunity to get rich and would make a massive profit this time.

Instead, the moment he exploited a loophole, the system caught him and administered on-the-spot sanctions.

"System, dear system, I beg you to let me exploit the loophole just one more time. I am willing to do anything."

Li Wudao fawned and pleaded, shouting silently within his heart.

An Imperial-grade treasure was within arm's reach, only for the cooked duck to sprout wings and fly away!

The system remained silent for several breaths before finally responding.

[Does the host have any shame left? You are hands down the worst batch of host I have ever guided.]

The mechanical female voice was cold and detached, yet the underlying tone of disdain was unmistakable.

Li Wudao offered an awkward chuckle, muttering to himself internally, "Since when can shame be eaten as a meal? This damn system is so petty..."

He sighed with a sense of lingering unwillingness; his second attempt at bug-exploiting had ended in utter failure.

"Brother Li, what is wrong? Your expression looks rather poor."

Lin Yan's eyes flickered with suspicion and genuine concern.

The young man was standing there foolishly, his expression shifting unpredictably between looking like he wanted to cry and wanting to laugh, completely unfathomable.

"Cough cough... It's nothing."

Li Wudao snapped back to his senses, coughed awkwardly twice to change the subject, and said, "Keep those few items safe and do not flaunt them. I have matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first."

With that, he strode away.

If he stayed any longer, he feared Lin Yan might start noticing certain clues.

"Brother Li truly is a wondrous and eccentric person..."

Lin Yan tilted his head, strange ripples crossing his eyes as he felt the young man was somewhat impossible to figure out.

"A newcomer completing a sect mission requires at the very least the late stage of Body Tempering. With the items Brother Li gave me, the remaining time is more than enough."

Looking down at the three treasures in his palm, a trace of warmth bloomed in his heart, accompanied by a firm and confident expression.

Sect regulations stipulated that newcomers must complete corresponding missions within one month following the grand newcomer competition, or face severe penalties.

Had it been earlier, he genuinely would not have been confident in passing the mission assessment; the high probability was that he would fail and be demoted to a menial disciple.

But now, with the elixirs provided by Li Wudao, completing the mission within a month should not prove difficult.

...

Misty Peak.

Li Wudao lay reclining on a rattan chair, holding a fishing rod in his left hand and a wine gourd in his right, basking in the sunshine with immense contentment.

Compared to the dry and tedious process of cultivation, this was the kind of lifestyle he truly pursued.

Two hours drifted by.

Unsurprisingly, he finished empty-handed once again, not even catching a glimpse of a fish.

Li Wudao cared little about this; he was already used to it and remained utterly tranquil.

He was not fishing for fish; he was fishing for a state of mind.

"With those three items, that fellow Lin Yan should have no problem surviving the newbie village."

Li Wudao crossed his legs and pondered quietly.

He held high hopes for young Lin Yan, whose character was commendable. If the boy wished to seek vengeance in the future, he wouldn't mind lending a hand to deal with the Great Chu Dynasty.

Enough of that. He suddenly straightened up, stretched his limbs, and strolled outside.

A short while later,

Li Wudao returned carrying a plump earth-spirit chicken.

Smacking his lips and saluting with drool, he noted that he hadn't eaten meat in so long that his taste buds were practically fading into blandness.

Since he had nothing to do today, he might as well roast a little chicken to feast on.

"Little Jiang, hurry over to Misty Peak. We have an important matter to discuss."

After sending this message via the voice transmission jade slip, Li Wudao didn't wait for a reply before rushing headlong toward the kitchen.

Once the ingredients were prepped, he gathered some firewood and built a simple barbecue rack by the lakeside.

Lin Yan had been taken care of, and Jiang Churan could not be left out either. When it came to investing, one had to grasp both ends; whether palm or back of the hand, both were sources of wool and must be treated with absolute equality.

Even Li Wudao himself couldn't help but marvel.

This schedule was entirely too fulfilling, seamlessly connected like a true master of time management.

Meanwhile.

Within Xuantian Peak, Jiang Churan halted her cultivation, her nimble, clear eyes filled with surprise.

"Could this fellow have gotten himself into trouble again?"

She knitted her delicate brows. Though unwilling, she briskly stood up and pushed open the door.

Regardless of anything else, she had given Li Wudao her word to protect him for a year, and naturally, she would not break her promise.

With that thought, Jiang Churan wasted no time in speeding toward Misty Peak.

She still retained memories of Misty Peak from her past life, having visited a few times, so she navigated the familiar paths straight down to the valley floor.

At that moment, by the lake of Misty Peak, flames danced and a rich, mouth-watering aroma filled the air.

Li Wudao was squatting before the fire, turning the roasting chicken with a cheerful disposition as he hummed a tune: "Braised chicken wings, I love to eat them..."

Catching sight of this scene, Jiang Churan instantly froze, her eyes glazed with bewilderment.

Did this look like someone with an important matter to discuss?

"Oh, Little Jiang, you arrived so quickly! Tell me, how did you manage to find the way? The first time I came here, I got completely lost..."

Li Wudao greeted her, beaming broadly.

Immediately afterward, he gestured for the young woman to sit on the rattan chair, pointing at the roasting chicken and saying, "Wait just a moment longer, it will be fully roasted soon enough."

"You dragged me over here in such a rush, just to... eat this?"

Jiang Churan's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she glared at him with displeasure, the look in her eyes suggesting she wanted nothing more than to commit murder.

To think she had been worried something might have gone wrong with him, only to arrive and find out it was nothing more than such a trivial matter.

"That's right, do you not like eating chicken?"

Li Wudao stroked his chin, completely oblivious as he added, "I have other items as well; surely one of the flavors will satisfy you."

Hearing this,

Jiang Churan lowered her gaze, letting out a cold hum. "The Hundred Flowers Secret Realm opens in just a few days, and instead of cultivating diligently, you are sitting here roasting chicken wings?"

Based on her current understanding, Li Wudao's strength within the secret realm would barely be enough for self-preservation. If he encountered the prodigies of the other two sects, he would likely be suppressed entirely.

Should he unfortunately run into a tier-three peak demonic beast, it would be a nine-deaths-and-one-survival scenario.

Looking at the young woman's clear eyes, which brimmed with frustration at his lack of ambition, Li Wudao felt a slight ripple in his heart, though he secretly chuckled to himself:

"Diligent cultivation is impossible, absolutely impossible in this lifetime. Only by hacking can one manage to sustain this lifestyle..."

He understood Jiang Churan's indignation.

However, when one could rely on a system to grow strong effortlessly, why bang one's head against the wall with ineffective hard work?

Furthermore, with his current peak strength and the numerous trump cards in his possession, he had nothing to fear from his peers in battle and felt completely unpanicked.