Qingfeng Daoist Temple.
"In just six days, I've aged sixty years. The life-buying money in this world is way too sinister..."
Ancestral Hall.
An elderly Daoist with graying hair looked at his aged reflection in the copper mirror and couldn't help but smack his lips in amazement.
His name was Lin Heng. Six months ago, he had crossed over to this parallel world and was the only disciple in Qingfeng Daoist Temple.
His master, under the Daoist name Master Qingxu, sounded quite impressive, but in reality, he had no cultivation at all.
Nonetheless, Master Qingxu was upright and passionate, so he still earned the respect of the local elderly villagers.
But it was precisely because of this.
A pilgrim, encountering the sinister life-buying money and unable to find help elsewhere, came to Master Qingxu.
Master Qingxu, with his warm-hearted nature, readily took on the life-buying money, declaring he would stand firm to the end!
As a result, he was dealt with that very night...
As the only disciple of the temple, Lin Heng naturally became the new Observatory Master.
Who would have thought, after burying his master that night,
The next morning, he had aged ten years.
Even more terrifying, every day thereafter, he would age ten years!
In just six days.
Lin Heng went from a young and handsome man to a withered old man!
This sinister transformation left Lin Heng dumbfounded, but soon, he understood the reason.
It turned out this life-buying money was also known as seven-day borrowed life money.
Every day, it would borrow ten years of his lifespan.
Initially, this thing was meant for Master Qingxu, but the old fellow, being over eighty and nearing the end of his life, passed away in just one day.
Then this thing set its sights on Lin Heng, planning to borrow the remaining six days from him.
Lin Heng never imagined that, despite being only twenty, he could actually endure six days of borrowed life?!
However, whether he could endure it was no longer important.
Because that life-buying money was quite the trickster.
Anyone whose life it bought, if they didn't die in seven days, it would come at midnight to claim their life.
Its main goal was to leave no path for survival!
Regarding this, Lin Heng was also at a loss.
There was nothing to be done; the Daoist Sect in this world was in decline, and finding experts was difficult.
Sneaky and evil things were on the rampage, seizing every opportunity.
In the six months since Lin Heng crossed over, he had already heard of many strange occurrences.
For instance, receiving a midnight call, with the other party speaking in a Republican-era accent, only to find out it was the great-grandmother from the family tree!
Or developers in Anxi unearthing an ancient emperor's tomb, with archaeologists rushing in, only to first encounter dozens of rilaises!
Even more outrageous, a social big brother's revered Guan Gong statue suddenly opened its eyes and, with one slash, shaved off the brother's long hair!
Each one of these stories was more absurd than the last.
Previously, Lin Heng thought most were rumors, but now he could confirm that something was indeed unsettling in the world.
"Alas!"
"The yellow talisman glutinous rice still exists, but the demon catcher of the past is nowhere to be seen."
"During the peak of Daoism, how dare these evil spirits show such arrogance?"
Lin Heng lamented and sighed, taking a swig of strong liquor, and then made a wish to the ancestors for a rich second-generation life in the next lifetime, planning to hang himself shortly after.
Unexpectedly, at that moment, a voice suddenly rang in his mind.
[Ding! Detected Host's nostalgia for Daoism, initiating Daoism Revival System binding!]
Hmm?
The sudden mechanical sound made Lin Heng's hand tremble, his eyes instantly widening!
"System? It's actually a system?!"
A look of ecstasy appeared in Lin Heng's murky eyes.
Having undergone ten years of online novel education as a transmigrator, he knew all too well about this sort of thing!
"Ah Xi, quickly introduce your functions!" Lin Heng eagerly said.
"Alright."
The system also responded politely and immediately gave a detailed self-introduction.
An hour later.
Lin Heng understood the functions of this system.
The Daoism Revival System, as the name suggests, wanted him to promote Daoist culture and restore Daoism's glory!
In this process, for every believer gained, he'd receive corresponding Reputation Value.
Reputation Value could be used in a lottery, with prizes of all sorts, including divine techniques, magical treasures, and elixirs—only what you couldn't imagine, nothing you couldn't win!
"Not bad!"
Lin Heng expressed his anticipation for the lottery content.
However, regarding acquiring believers, there was one restriction imposed by the system.
Lin Heng had to adhere to the Path of Non-action, only allowing things to take their natural course, without forcing or, like the Buddhist Sect, fawning over incense burners!
To this, Lin Heng responded enthusiastically, exactly what I want!
Besides the Reputation Value feature, the system's other function was to slay demons.
Every time Lin Heng eliminated fierce demons, he'd gain corresponding cultivation rewards.
The higher the demon's realm, the more cultivation he would gain!
"Makes sense!"
Lin Heng was very satisfied with this reward model.
"By the way, Ah Xi, since it's the initial binding, there should be a beginner's gift, right?" Lin Heng inquired, not willing to miss any chance for benefits.
The system was also quite generous.
[Begin distributing the beginner's gift pack!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining Tai Chi Feather Duster!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining Innate True Qi!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining Five Thunders Righteous Method!]
Tai Chi Feather Duster: From Wudang Mountain, one of the Five Great Daoist Sacred Lands, a purification magical artifact; with one sweep, impurities vanish!
Innate True Qi: A secret from Qingcheng Mountain, one of the Five Great Daoist Sacred Lands, with Qi in the body, both offense and defense are prepared!
Five Thunders Righteous Method: From Dragon and Tiger Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion, a divine technique, when the five thunders descend, evils are eradicated!
"Goodness!"
Upon seeing the system's gift pack, Lin Heng exclaimed in delight!
He initially just wanted to get some beginner's benefits, never expecting the system to be so generous!
All three items came from Daoist Holy Lands?
This generation's Daoist Holy Lands are Lao Mountain focused on arts, Maoshan focused on talismans, Wudang Mountain focused on martial arts, Qingcheng Mountain focused on Qi, and Dragon and Tiger Mountain focused on elixirs!
Anything from these Five Great Holy Lands, no matter what, is definitely a top-tier treasure!
Though Lin Heng wasn't too clear on Tai Chi Feather Duster and Innate True Qi, he had heard of the renowned Five Thunders Righteous Method.
This divine technique is a secret of the Dragon and Tiger Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion!
One of Daoism's supreme Thunder Skills!
Since the first two can be placed alongside this divine technique as a beginner's gift, they can't be too shabby!
Lin Heng was increasingly satisfied with this system.
At that moment, the system also prompted whether to integrate the divine techniques now.
To this, Lin Heng, of course, did not hesitate.
"Integrate!"
...
At the same time.
A silhouette in Qing Dynasty official robes appeared on the winding path with a gentle mountain breeze.
The moonlight like water fell on him, illuminating a face with rotting flesh, a ghastly blue face with fanged teeth.
However, this terrifying 'zombie' was holding a live streaming phone.
At that moment, in the live stream room, the bullet comments were flying.
"Wow, Brother Chong actually went to the Daoist temple to expose fraudsters?"
"Woah, dressing up as a zombie to scare a Daoist; who came up with this way to expose fraud? It's too thrilling!"
"Indeed, there's nothing Brother Chong wouldn't dare to play with in the pranks world, a true daredevil; who else could match him?"
"Um, I'd like to say, streamer, you should hold back a bit. If you run into a real Daoist, be careful or they'll capture you!"