Chapter Five: Critical Hit Triggered, Drawing the Affinity with Flora

Cao Xuan was actually not bad-looking; in his previous life, he would have been considered decent-featured, and with a little grooming, he could be quite a handsome young man. But this was the cultivation world, where some were born with extraordinary appearances—sword-like brows, starry eyes, striking features, radiant smiles, faces like sculpted jade, and so on. Compared to them, Cao Xuan's looks were nothing remarkable.

However, in the world of cultivation, strength was everything. Cultivation relied on resources, companions, methods, and land—the first of which was wealth. Those with riches were never simple individuals, for ordinary people could not easily obtain or keep wealth. The fact that Cao Xuan could produce a hundred lower-grade spirit stones in one breath meant, in the eyes of every cultivator in the Spirit Herb Pavilion, that he was no ordinary man.

Cao Xuan casually picked up six bottles of pills, his mind turning over the thought. After waiting a moment and hearing no warning from the system, he realized that items acquired after a cashback purchase could indeed be given away.

Lin Miaoxuan's gaze burned as she looked at the pills in Cao Xuan's hand. But she was well aware—he had already given her the equivalent of two pills in spirit stones; it was impossible for him to offer his own cultivation resources as well. Still, if she managed to forge a good relationship with Cao Xuan, perhaps her future cultivation resources would be secured.

Thinking of the possibility that, among the prospective outer disciples, she might gain a few more resources, and thus become a formal outer disciple even faster, Lin Miaoxuan began to fantasize about advancing quickly, joining the inner sect, becoming a personal disciple, and eventually ascending to the rank of Foundation Establishment Protector. She was unaware that her mindset was slowly shifting.

Suddenly, as Lin Miaoxuan was lost in thought, Cao Xuan seized her delicate hand, pressing the six bottles of pills into her palm.

"Sister Lin, you must be anxious about the assessment in six months. Take these six bottles and focus on your cultivation," he said.

Every year, Azure Cloud Sect held examinations, but they were only for disciples who had entered the sect three years prior. Lin Miaoxuan, like Cao Xuan, was at the third level of Qi Refinement, but she had joined a year after him, meaning her assessment was actually a year and a half away.

Thus, she stammered, "No… Brother Cao, my assessment is in a year… um… well, thank you, Brother Cao."

Her face flushed, her voice growing softer still, not even noticing that Cao Xuan had not let go of her hand.

But indeed, why wait a year and a half for the assessment? If she could break through early and apply for the test a year ahead of schedule to become a formal outer disciple, wouldn't that be better? With these six bottles of pills, could she not reach the fourth level of Qi Refinement?

Her mind racing, Lin Miaoxuan let Cao Xuan hold her hand, her thoughts drifting far away.

Meanwhile, Cao Xuan stared at the interface in his mind, his heart equally stirred.

[Ding~ Gifted Lin Miaoxuan 10 Gathering Qi Pills and 5 bottles of Condensing Qi Powder, cashback in progress.]

[Ding~ Lin Miaoxuan's multiplier is 10x, cashback: 100 Gathering Qi Pills, 50 bottles of Condensing Qi Powder!]

[Ding~ Host has no storage artifact; items are temporarily stored in system space!]

[Note: System space is for temporary storage; once withdrawn, items cannot be returned.]

Feeling the sudden abundance of resources in his mind, Cao Xuan thought, if Han Tianzun could ascend by taking pills, why shouldn't I?

He then wondered if he could take out a few more Gathering Qi Pills and give them to Lin Miaoxuan again, but immediately a warning sounded in his mind.

[Ding~ Warning: Items received from cashback cannot be gifted repeatedly. Forcing a gift will not trigger cashback!]

Cao Xuan understood. In other words, cashback items could still be given away, just without triggering another cashback—it would be a true gift. But if he worked it differently, there might still be a way.

He had begun to grasp the workings of the system.

Only then did he realize he was still holding Lin Miaoxuan's soft hand, absentmindedly rubbing it, which must have looked quite improper to those around, as he could hear the whispers and comments.

"Senior brother, look at that—so shameless, to be so indecent in broad daylight!"

The senior brother coughed, "Well, if someone gave you six bottles of pills, would you let them hold your hand?"

The junior brother replied righteously, "Senior brother, what are you saying… just the hand? Maybe something more, otherwise I’d feel uneasy taking them!"

"…"

Some of the older cultivators only shook their heads. "Ah, such youth, unaware of the true value of resources!"

"A female cultivator? What of it? Once your cultivation is high enough, you’ll never lack for female companions."

"A wastrel, no matter if he’s the scion of a cultivator, will never amount to much in the end."

"Just wait—once her strength surpasses his, she’ll cast him aside like an old shoe."

For the first time, the cultivation world was witnessing a true sycophant, and the common thought arose that such a man would never win the house.

…

Lin Miaoxuan, after a brief fantasy, returned to herself, noticing that Brother Cao was still holding her hand and gently rubbing it. She instinctively wanted to pull away, but immediately stopped, her cheeks tinged with red. She felt the weight of the six bottles of pills in her palm, a sense of satisfaction that made her reluctant to let go.

She didn’t even dare to draw her hand away, fearing that if she did, Brother Cao would take back the pills.

Without a word, she simply let it be, feeling as if in a dream—just as the junior brother had said, it all seemed unreal.

These pills were worth a hundred spirit stones, equal to ten months of her stipend. In modern terms, it was like spending ten months' salary on luxury goods for a girl.

What harm was there in letting him hold her hand? This was the first time someone had showered a female cultivator with such lavish resources, leaving her dizzy with surprise.

While Lin Miaoxuan’s heart raced, the interface in Cao Xuan’s mind was also flickering with notifications.

[Ding~ Lin Miaoxuan’s affection +10]

[Ding~ Lin Miaoxuan’s affection +10]

…

[Ding~ Lin Miaoxuan’s affection +10]

[Ding~ Lin Miaoxuan’s emotions fluctuate greatly, triggering a critical hit. Affection +30]

[Ding~ Lin Miaoxuan’s current affection reaches 90]

[Became the system host’s sycophant, gaining one lottery draw. Draw now?]

What? Did I just succeed at this reversal?

Yes, draw now!

Instantly, a phantom lottery interface appeared before Cao Xuan.

"Shua, shua, shua—"

"Stop!"

[Ding~ Draw successful. Gained: Affinity with Plants; pill absorption efficiency increased by 50%.]

As the interface notification faded, Cao Xuan felt his mind clear, his senses heightened. He could even sense the affinity of all the herbs and pills in the Spirit Herb Pavilion toward him. At that moment, he could hardly wait to return to the sect and begin cultivating.

Regaining his composure, Cao Xuan finally became aware of the soft hand in his grasp, but felt no regret in letting go.

"Sister Lin, since you have the pills, return to the sect and focus on your cultivation," he said, lifting his foot to leave the Spirit Herb Pavilion.

Suddenly, a delicate hand clutched at his sleeve. Lin Miaoxuan, cheeks flushed, spoke in a gentle voice:

"Brother Cao, didn’t you say you wanted to stroll around the Azure Mountain Market? I’d like to spend a little more time with you."