Cultivating in Reverse: My Sign-In System Wants Me Dead

The banquet continued.

At first, many young cultivators still maintained restraint. They sat properly, ate slowly, and spoke carefully, as if every movement represented their sect’s dignity.

Then the spiritual energy in the food began to circulate.

Gradually, the expressions of the younger generation changed.

Some closed their eyes and quietly refined the spiritual energy.

Some had faint light rising from their bodies.

Some who had been stuck before a small barrier suddenly trembled, and their aura rose by half a step.

The banquet hall became livelier.

Many elders could not help but look toward the dishes with complicated expressions.

This was not ordinary hospitality. Even for major forces, giving this kind of feast to so many people was not cheap.

City Lord Yue Cangyu had said it was his treat.

Now everyone understood that he meant it.

Tang Ziyan and Liu Meng also felt their cultivation stir.

The food Su Bai had given them was not wasted.

Liu Meng’s cheeks became faintly flushed as she refined the spiritual energy. Her aura did not break through, but it became smoother and more stable.

Tang Ziyan remained calmer, but the poison Qi hidden in her body moved more actively, like a snake waking beneath fallen leaves.

Su Bai looked at them.

Then he looked at the spiritual tea before him.

The tea was clear and fragrant. Its spiritual energy was gentle, suitable for nourishing the mind.

Su Bai silently pushed his cup to the middle, then divided it into two smaller cups.

Liu Meng froze again.

Tang Ziyan looked at him.

Su Bai said calmly, "Drink while the spiritual energy is still warm."

Liu Meng’s eyes grew brighter.

"Senior Brother Su..."

Tang Ziyan stared at the cup for a moment, then accepted it.

"You are very good at giving away things you do not plan to use."

Su Bai paused.

That was difficult to refute.

Tang Sisi covered her smile with her sleeve.

Unfortunately, Su Bai’s own mood was getting worse.

Everyone was enjoying the banquet.

Only he sat there with an empty plate, an empty cup, and a stomach that refused to calm down.

His hunger grew sharper.

Then his gaze accidentally landed on Tang Ziyan.

She had just taken a sip of tea.

A faint trace of moisture remained on her lips.

Su Bai’s throat moved.

For one terrifying moment, his body reacted to the faint trace of poison aura mixed with Tang Ziyan’s breath.

Su Bai’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He quickly looked away.

’This was going too far.’

Wanting poison was one thing. Considering someone’s saliva as possible nourishment was another.

That had crossed from cultivation abnormality into social disaster.

Su Bai closed his eyes.

He had to understand what was happening.

After reaching the Golden Core Realm, this hunger had become obvious.

Before, his body had already reacted well to harmful things. But it had still been manageable.

Now, simply thinking of something dangerous and "delicious" could make him hungry.

This was not ordinary appetite.

It was a cultivation change.

Su Bai sank his mind inward.

After his Golden Core formed, the Crystalline Tree Spirit Root had connected his Yin and Yang more completely.

The bridge was no longer just a bridge. It had become a circulation route.

What one side desired, the other side could now feel.

What one side refined, the other side could now use.

Su Bai’s thoughts moved quickly.

Like sorting through old documents in a collapsing office, he arranged the possible causes one by one.

First possibility.

His two origins had become more deeply connected through the spirit root bridge.

Perhaps the hunger did not come from his physical body alone.

Perhaps it came from the other origin.

Second possibility.

The Binary Void-Sun Supreme Method had changed his needs.

It was not only Qi cultivation. It also refined the body.

Body cultivation always required fuel.

Ordinary cultivators who trained flesh and blood ate more than Qi cultivators.

Third possibility.

Both were true.

His other origin had begun craving nourishment, and his cultivation method had given that craving a place to burn.

Su Bai opened his eyes.

His expression remained calm.

Inwardly, he sighed.

He had once escaped being hungry like a mortal.

Now, he had become hungry like a monster with preferences.

Just then, the music in Azure Hall slowly faded.

The laughter and conversation weakened.

Every gaze turned toward the center of the hall.

City Lord Yue Cangyu had returned.

He walked to the center of Azure Hall and stood beneath the floating lanterns.

The hall became silent.

Yue Cangyu looked around.

"It seems everyone has eaten."

No one spoke.

A few younger cultivators who had broken through earlier lowered their heads gratefully.

Yue Cangyu’s gaze swept over them.

"This banquet was not arranged merely for courtesy."

His voice was calm.

"Tonight’s meal is my way of helping the younger generation gain one more breath of strength before stepping near danger."

Several juniors’ expressions changed.

Even the elders became solemn.

Yue Cangyu continued, "According to previous records, the Fallen-Star Sanctuary should still be twenty-eight days away from its expected opening."

The hall stirred.

"However," Yue Cangyu said, "the sanctuary has begun reacting early."

The hall became quiet again.

"The outer formation trembled last night."

"The entrance pressure has risen beyond the same period in previous cycles."

"And the Ashen-Blood Miasma readings are unstable."

Although many elders had already heard fragments of this news, hearing it publicly still caused the atmosphere to sink.

The younger generation became visibly tense.

Yue Cangyu did not soften his words.

"The Fallen-Star Sanctuary is already dangerous. This time, it may become more dangerous than the records suggest."

He raised one hand slightly.

"First matter."

"The Immaculate Lotus-Heart Pill."

Many people straightened.

"As most of you know, one high-grade Immaculate Lotus-Heart Pill can usually protect a cultivator for roughly one day within ordinary Ashen-Blood Miasma density."

Yue Cangyu’s gaze became sharper.

"This time, do not calculate according to ordinary density."

The hall fell silent.

"If the miasma thickens, the pill’s protection time may shorten by half. In deeper regions, it may shorten even more."

Some younger cultivators’ faces paled.

That meant the number of pills they prepared might suddenly become insufficient.

Yue Cangyu continued, "I am saying that from tonight onward, all forces should prepare using the worst reasonable estimate."

His words were plain.

But no one took them lightly.

Yue Cangyu then said, "Second matter."

"The entry slots."

The hall became even quieter.

Su Bai listened carefully.

Yue Cangyu said, "As you might know, before the Great Fissure, mystic realm exploration had fewer restrictions. Those who wished to enter entered. Those who wished to risk death risked death."

His eyes lowered slightly.

"Then the Great Fissure happened."

No one spoke.

Even the young cultivators who had not lived through that time knew the weight of those words.

The cultivation world had lost too many people then.

The damage had not ended with the battle.

Afterward, entire generations weakened.

Yue Cangyu said calmly, "After that, the major forces agreed to restrict certain dangerous mystic realms. Not to hoard opportunity, but to prevent the younger generation from being thrown away meaninglessly."

He raised his hand.

A faint silver thread of light appeared above his palm.

It was thin, almost invisible.

Yet the moment it appeared, many elders’ eyes became serious.

"Each slot corresponds to one Spatial Return Thread."

The silver thread curled slowly.

"When a disciple enters, the thread binds to the disciple’s soul tag. If the mystic realm shows signs of collapsing, closing early, or undergoing a danger surge, the outside formation can attempt to pull that disciple back."

Attempt.

Su Bai noticed the word.

Yue Cangyu did not say guarantee.

"This does not make exploration safe," Yue Cangyu continued. "If a disciple dies suddenly, the thread cannot save the dead. If one is betrayed and unable to signal, the outside may not know. If one goes too deep or enters a sealed region, the thread may weaken."

The silver thread in his hand trembled faintly.

"And this time, there is a new problem."

The hall became so quiet that even breathing seemed loud.

Yue Cangyu said, "If the Ashen-Blood Miasma becomes stronger than expected, it may corrode the Spatial Return Thread connection."

Several faces changed instantly.

Even some elders stood halfway before sitting back down.

Liu Meng’s fingers tightened around her cup.

Qin Baoshan’s expression became grave.

Han Yuelin’s lazy posture disappeared.

Ji Ruyue’s eyes cooled.

Tang Ziyan’s gaze sharpened.

Su Bai looked at the silver thread above Yue Cangyu’s palm.

A rescue line that could be corroded.

That changed the meaning of the Fallen-Star Sanctuary.

Yue Cangyu said, "If the thread connection weakens, retreat immediately toward the nearest ruined outpost. Do not continue deeper. Do not gamble that the formation outside can drag you back through thick miasma."

His voice became colder.

"Do not overestimate your luck."

No one laughed.

Yue Cangyu looked at the younger generation.

"Opportunities matter. Lives matter more."

Then his tone eased slightly.

"Still, I did not gather everyone here to frighten you into retreat."

The silver thread disappeared.

"With enough Immaculate Lotus-Heart Pills, careful movement, and proper cooperation, the outer and middle regions should remain manageable. Do not be greedy. Take only what you can bear. Return when your protection begins to thin."

The atmosphere loosened a little.

Yue Cangyu continued, "During the remaining twenty-eight days, Azure-Jade City will keep all participating forces informed of formation changes. If the sanctuary awakens further, you will know."

He looked around the hall.

"I also hope the younger generation can use this banquet to become familiar with each other."

Some elders’ expressions shifted.

Yue Cangyu said, "Cultivating friendship is also another form of Dao. Once inside, helping each other may save more lives than fighting over a single herb."

The words were noble.

Many juniors nodded.

Several elders also nodded.

Su Bai quietly observed Yue Cangyu’s face.

The City Lord said it sincerely.

But he probably did not believe everyone would follow it.

There would always be rivalry.

There would always be greed.

There would always be someone who thought another person’s life was worth less than a treasure.

Yue Cangyu knew this.

That was why his gaze looked calm, but not naive.

After speaking, Yue Cangyu swept his eyes across the hall again.

Then his gaze suddenly paused.

It landed on Lu Canghai.

For the first time since entering Azure Hall, Yue Cangyu’s expression changed.

A hint of surprise appeared. Then it became genuine warmth.

"Old friend."

The hall stirred.

Old friend?

Everyone followed his gaze.

Lu Canghai’s hand, which had been holding a teacup, stopped.

Yue Cangyu looked at him carefully.

"So it is true."

His eyes narrowed slightly, but the emotion in them was not hostility.

"Your aura is steady again."

A faint smile appeared on Yue Cangyu’s face.

"You recovered."

The hall became silent.

Many people already suspected it.

But hearing Yue Cangyu say it publicly was different.

Lu Canghai wanted to remain calm.

He truly did.

But the moment everyone’s gaze gathered on him, he felt the corner of his eye twitch.

This old fellow.

Could he not greet people privately?

Lu Canghai put down his teacup and smiled.

"Barely recovered a little. Not worth troubling the City Lord."

Yue Cangyu laughed softly.

"If this is barely, then many people in this hall should stop calling themselves healthy."

Several elders’ expressions became strange.

Lu Canghai’s smile stiffened slightly.

Yue Cangyu looked at him for another moment.

Then his gaze sharpened with thought.

"Was it related to the heavenly blessing that descended upon Radiant Sky Sect earlier?"

The hall froze.

Lu Canghai’s heart skipped.

Li Xuanzong’s expression remained calm, but his eyes changed.

Su Bai silently lowered his gaze.

He suddenly felt that his empty plate was no longer the most troublesome thing tonight.

Every faction in Azure Hall turned toward Radiant Sky Sect.

Lu Canghai looked at Yue Cangyu.

For the first time tonight, he almost wanted to curse.

Old friend?

This was not how old friends helped each other.