Qingxiao Sect had a famed valley garden called Wenxia Garden.
Legend said that during the cusp of spring and summer, thousands of spirit flowers bloomed there, spiritual energy flowed like mist, and spirit beasts wandered freely.
It was the favored spot for disciples to train, stroll, or secretly meet.
But today, Lin Ce was ordered to investigate a troubling issue:
Spirit beasts were vanishing.
This task was personally assigned by the Second Elder of the inner sect. Over the past month, not only had several rare spirit beasts gone missing, even a few Qi Refinement disciples had disappeared within the garden, raising alarm.
"Why send me to investigate something like this?" Lin Ce frowned.
But he still went.
Shen Changsheng's Survival Rule No. 9:
"If a sect task must be taken, first investigate the one who assigned it."
Lin Ce understood well: as a new inner disciple, with no background and average achievements, he shouldn't have been chosen for this.
Only two possibilities remained:
Someone wanted to use this task to get him killed.
This was a trap, and he was the bait.
So he prepared accordingly.
He brought three freshly refined bone puppets:
One embedded with a Spiritburst Talisman,
One housing a Soul-Communion Gu,
And one for simple defense.
He wore a full-body soft armor made from snakehide, and swallowed a rare elixir called "Severed Thought", allowing his consciousness to stay clear even under severe injury.
He came not just to investigate—
He came ready to spring the trap.
Within Wenxia Garden, a sea of blossoms stretched far and wide.
Lin Ce strolled casually, like a normal sect disciple on patrol.
But in truth, his spiritual sense extended three zhang in every direction, always alert for ambush.
"...So beautiful."
A soft female voice suddenly rang out.
Lin Ce instinctively drew his dagger, spinning around—
Only to see a woman in white, standing amidst the flowers, flute in hand and a smile in her eyes.
"Who are you?" Lin Ce asked warily.
"I'm Senior Sister Chu Wan from Qinghui Peak.
You must be Junior Brother Lin Ce, the new puppet refiner? I came specifically to meet you."
A flicker of killing intent flashed in Lin Ce's gaze—then vanished.
Who are you?" Lin Ce asked warily.
"I'm Senior Sister Chu Wan from Qinghui Peak.
You must be Junior Brother Lin Ce, the new puppet refiner? I came specifically to meet you."
A flicker of killing intent flashed in Lin Ce's gaze—then vanished.
Chu Wan, third-ranked true disciple of Qinghui Peak.
Famed for her beauty and "gentle" demeanor.
Master of musical mind control—she once forced three opponents to injure themselves with a single flute piece.
There was no way she was simply "passing by."
"So it's Senior Sister Chu." Lin Ce sheathed his blade and cupped his hands.
"I didn't expect to disturb you while working on a minor investigation."
Chu Wan chuckled lightly.
"So many flowers, so few beasts—it's rather dull today.
Since we're both here… why not enjoy the view together?"
She offered him a vibrant red Zhuling Blossom.
Lin Ce accepted it, his fingers trembling ever so slightly—
Enough to flick the pollen into his sleeve's poison pouch,
While his skin shimmered faintly with a thin spiritual membrane.
"Thank you," he smiled harmlessly.
Chu Wan's eyes narrowed slightly.
She had failed to ensnare him.
She turned away, voice as gentle as ever:
"If you find anything unusual, don't hesitate to come to Qinghui Peak."
Lin Ce watched her leave. Only when her figure was gone did he mutter:
"A true disciple probing me?
This task runs deeper than I thought."
He continued deeper into the garden.
At the far end, behind a faux mountain rock formation—
He smelled blood.
Pulling aside the vines, he uncovered a rotting corpse.
The face was ruined, but the inner disciple token at the waist remained.
"An inner disciple… died mysteriously."
Kneeling to inspect, Lin Ce noted signs of spiritual erosion.
The soul had been devoured by a forbidden plant—
A Soul-Eater Blossom.
"Such a cursed item…
How did it end up here?"
"You've seen too much."
A cold voice echoed from behind.
Lin Ce sprang up instantly—
A black talisman shot out like a snake from his sleeve.
Boom!
Flames erupted as a black-robed man stepped through the fire, red-eyed, wielding a dagger etched with curses.
"Sword Enforcement Hall?" Lin Ce asked.
"No. Corpse Refinement Sect," the man licked his lips.
"What you saw… is just part of our trial."
"So Chu Wan—?"
"She's the buyer."
Lin Ce's expression turned glacial.
He quietly reached for his puppets.
"You think you'll leave alive?" The man crept closer.
Lin Ce gritted his teeth—
"Detonate!"
The Spiritburst puppet exploded.
Flames surged high. In the chaos, Lin Ce bolted.
The black-robed cultivator snarled, chasing at full speed.
At the garden's edge, Lin Ce spun around, launching the Soul-Communion Gu—
The insect erupted into black mist, swarming toward his pursuer.
The man charged through it, coughing blood, yet struck Lin Ce with one fierce blow—
"Die!!"
He lunged.
Lin Ce spat out a final puppet—
His Blood Spirit Puppet, refined with his own blood.
For a moment, the world fell silent.
The puppet roared, crashing into the man—
Both exploded.
Lin Ce hit the ground, bleeding heavily.
But he was still alive.
"Shen Changsheng's Survival Rule No. 64…" he muttered,
"If you prepare enough backup plans…
You can survive one mistake."
He dragged his broken body away.
Days later, word spread through the sect:
Wenxia Garden had suffered a sudden spirit beast riot.
One disciple was reported dead, the other missing.
Chu Wan entered closed-door cultivation.
Never appeared again.
And Lin Ce, in a remote and forgotten peak,
Awoke—alive.
"I'm still alive."
He opened his little notebook and wrote:
Rule 64 — Confirmed.