《Ashes of Heaven》22- I'll Pass On This Dao
Advertisement
Other than the sound of a pen scratching against paper, Xuhan's hut was as silent as it could be. He sat on the bedside, hovering over the small table where a pile of organized sheets lay in front of him. For the last ten days, he had been busy filling up these sheets.
At the moment, he had just finished writing a passable manuscript for his book and was currently busy editing it thoroughly.
In his previous life, he had read a huge number of novels with the harem tag attached, not to mention all those shounen animes full of harem tropes and dense protagonists.
What had he not seen or read in those days?
Using all those experiences, he wrote tirelessly, dissecting tropes after tropes and filling the gaps in logic with vague criticism, erudite sounding words that were too advanced for this world, explanation of human nature through psychological theories no one had ever heard of, references to unknown ancient gods like Yun Che, Ji Ning, Nie Li, Han Lin, Rito Yuuki, Shido and Yuu Illhan...
The humongous amount of useless information inside his head were finally being used to their full potential. He presented arguments based on false premises and countered it with set up logic that would confuse any gullible reader.
He fashioned the book in such a way that no one would be able to find any flaws to the advice and guidelines he had written, mainly because they had no idea such tropes existed.
He even carefully designed his words to make his source of information mysterious, just in case another transmigrator or reincarnator read the book and learned his secret. After all, it would be idiotic to presume every transmigrator and reincarnator would be a good person. Han Xuhan didn't want to be targeted by anyone right now.
He used a lot of advice to improve personal lifestyle that he had learned from the internet, something that would definitely increase the credibility of his book when applied in real life. He also applied some indirect hints to make the readers feel that sucking up to one's own sect and getting closer to their own masters was a part of the overall process of becoming a harem king, something that was bound to be approved by the sect's authorities since it would strengthen their hold over the disciples.
Advertisement
After all, which sect didn't want their disciple to have better characters and be more dependent on their sect?
All the advice and guidelines he wrote in there pointed towards cultivating a decent character, a praiseworthy set of morals, better behaviour in daily life and many psychological issues that dealt with the problematic attitudes of traditional cultivators, altogether leading the readers into becoming a better person.
And if one becomes a better person compared to their peers and stand out in a crowd due to his better nature, obviously, he would receive more admiration and adoration from the opposite gender. In the world of cultivation, looks could be made better easily with minor techniques, so character was more important!
Alongside such indirect and "profound" words, Xuhan dropped the multitude of harem tropes and their detailed explanations. Then he mixed it up with every cheesy flirty lines he could remeber from his previous life that served only to confuse and arouse the passionate hearts of young readers...
There were dozens of discussion regarding dual cultivation, yin-yang integration and similarly familiar yet vague terms that gave off "realistic" impression. Countless high level cultivation techniques and dual cultivation methods stolen from junk novels were invloved between the lines. All in all, anyone could guess that this book wasn't written on a whim to fool others. How could a mortal author imagine that much detailed information regarding high level cultivation systems?
Who was going to challenge such flawless logic when such new possibilities opened up ahead of them all of a sudden?
Inwardly, Xuhan finally realized why all the scheming villains in novels and movies laughed so dementedly everytime their schemes worked, the allure was irresistible!
With this book, who can stop me from sweeping this sect clean?
Chuckling creepily, Xuhan set the pen aside, gathered a neat pile of papers from his table and walked out of his hut, his destination being the treasury of the sect.
After asking around, he had learned that the treasury was in charge of managing the auctions. Since Xuhan wanted to get the sect's recognition for his book, the auction was the best bet for him at the moment.
The elder in charge, upon seeing Xuhan again, flared up. He remembered this spendthrift disciple from before who had bought precious treasures and resources with loaned money given by the sect. Just as he was about to start yelling at him again for returning so soon-
Advertisement
"Elder, I'm not here to buy but sell!"
"-Huh?"
The elder was dumbfounded. Sell? What could a mortal sell to the treasury of a sect?
While the elder's thoughts had slammed into a block in their path, Xuhan pulled out his manuscript and handed it to the elder.
"Elder Shen, this is the copy of an ancient scripture I found in an old cave many years ago. I modified some parts and made it into this book that I believe would be treasured by any hot blooded male!"
The elder looked at the manuscript that has been thrust into his arms in a daze. The title of the book was...very eye-catching.
His heart lurching, the elder opened the book and started reading the book right then and there.
As a powerful cultivator, his reading speed was quite extraordinary. Within half an hour, he carefully finished reading the whole manuscript expressionlessly.
Xuhan calmly stood before him and watched as the elder finally looked up at him after completely reading the manuscript.
"Young man, what is your name?"
"This humble disciple is named Han Xuhan."
"Little Xuhan, are you interested in joining my pavilion and pursuing the great dao of the Crimson Star mountain peak? You have great potential, young man!"
"Eh? Pursuing dao? May I know which dao elder Shen pursues?"
Xuhan's heart was beating so fast. This was just like those fortunate encounters that happened to protagonists! Was his luck finally about to change? Could this elder be one of those legendary cheat "grandpa" ?
"The great dao of deceit and treachery, of course! Was that even a proper question? Couldn't you have guessed the answer already? Obviously, your potential in this dao is extraordinary!
So tell me, are you interested in becoming my personal disciple and create the legend of the greatest scammer in the world of cultivation?"
"...Erm, no. I'll pass on that."
The elder's answer put out the fire in his heart cruelly. Even if it was an alluring offer, Han Xuhan didnt want to become an infamous scammer. Moreover, what if the elder was making that offer just in order to scam him? He was pursuing that dao after all...why did he get his hopes up anyway? He wasn't the protagonist to begin with. Those fabled fated encounters wouldn't happen to him.
The enthusiastic elder didn't mind in the slightest. With the smell of spirit stones so close, who cared about some disciple even if he had potential? If necessary, they would collaborate again!
This book was the very epitome of what a scammer can reach using sheer wit and literary skills! On one side, its exterior had the allure to attract countless young men with its promise and seemingly legitimate information that was extremely hard to fake. On the other side, it was written so finely that even if anyone actually understood the scam, they couldn't find a way to refute it without using great influence. There were technically no lies in the book, but the premise was totally misleading! Anyone who complained against the author would find themselves in a tight position because this book vehemently supported the hierarchy and system of the sect's authority and advised the readers to love and protect their sect since filial piety to masters was a great virtue!
This was nothing but a money making scheme to trap gullible young men!
Of course, the great number of dating advise wasn't being overlooked here, but the aged elder didn't care about them with profit so close...
"Hahaha, disciple Xuhan, you brought it here to get the sect's endorsement so that it can recieve more attention from the start right?"
Xuhan nodded emphatically at the elder's question.
"It's decided then. We shall reveal this book after the auction ends tomorrow and encourage the disciples to buy this, hahaha...."
Xuhan managed to work out a fifty-fifty deal with the elder. Papers were not cheap in this world. The production cost set aside, Xuhan was intelligent enough to swallow a few disadvantages during the bartering for profit management and give a few shares to the elder as a "gift ".
Looking at his back as he returned to his own mountain peak, the elder chortled happily and clutched the manuscript in his hands with his eyes burning passionately.
Tomorrow, the auction would be held, and he was going to strike it rich!
Advertisement
- In Serial174 Chapters
Singer Sailor Merchant Mage
Car . . . Ice . . . Corner . . . Do not mix. But never mind! Here I am - alive somehow and somewhere different? There's an orange glow and I can't control my body much . . . Wow I'm tired . . . it's time to sleep again . . . Join our lead getting used to their new world from the womb and their new life with stats, levels and magic. What would you do if you were given a second chance at life? Very slow burn, Slice of life, Levels, Skills and Stats Warning I : Will be in the womb till Chapter 14 but small 1000 word chapters so only around 15,000 words before birth. Warning II : Slow pace and world building learning from a child's perspective about the world, they are not told about everything instantly. They grow they learn at their own pace. Larger Synopsis for the larger world. Follow our lead as they explore the world of the Compass Kingdoms, who battle and war on the main continent. The story will be about levelling up their friends and families lives as much as themselves. The challenges they will all face in trying to build a better future against the powers that would like things to stay the same or take advantages of the changes.
5 237 - In Serial40 Chapters
Rock Hard
There lies a rock. It sleeps within a cavern, alongside a marbled altar, and in the company of a glowing, green gem. There lies a world. It waits with bated breath, as its sentient beings are put through the meat grinder that is the tutorial There lies a couple, who know not what this system offers, nor what it might entail for their world. All they know is that they must live. This is the story of how that one rock averts the fate of this doomed world, and does its best to save this group of friends. [Congratulations User! You are the first of your kind to achieve sentience. Please select a class] Holder of the [RoyalRoad Writathon Achievement], completed in 3 weeks instead of 5 Update Schedule: 2 Chapters a week, on Monday and Saturday (times may vary, because my schedule has only gotten crazier since I've started), at an average length of 2K words.
8 81 - In Serial20 Chapters
Amongst the Stars
It only takes a single moment, a wrong turn, a few minutes late, or even letting someone pull out in front of you can change your life forever. In one Accident Matthew lost everything he loved, his parents, his legs, his scholarship, his life. He didn't die but felt like he had, when he was at his lowest moment all his “friends” abandoned him when they saw there was nothing left to gain. Spending every second confined in a prison when you used to be the best, the fastest, but one mistake took it all away. But who said moments only come once? A new Hope, A new Dream, a new Life.
8 167 - In Serial13 Chapters
Lizards Ascent
A small lizard woke up. Its eyes were gleaming with an Intelligence never seen before in its species. Follow the story of a lizard, as It learns about the world it lives in and gets stronger. Not actually Isekai.
8 122 - In Serial24 Chapters
Verdant Heart Seed - A Reverend Insanity fan-fiction
Back in the Late Antiquity Era, the protagonist meets his untimely demise. But Heaven and Earth always leaves a way out, his new cultivation journey begins anew on the path of reclaiming his former strength and defying Fate.---This is a story about a native cultivator of the Gu world. He lived in the era of/before Spectral Soul Demon Venerable (two venerable eras before the main RI plot). He suffered the rise of the demon venerable, barely able to make his arrangements before his death. He manages to rebirth, but doesn't everything go as planned. The story starts off in an isolated small word (grotto heaven), until the MC can grow and reclaim his former glory, before surpassing it. (long way, he was already rank 8 before) The MC has a pragmatic worldview, aligned with what you would expect from someone living hundreds of years in that kind of hostile environment. He doesn't shy away from immoral acts if it benefits him. The MC bears close resemblance to Fang Yuan in this regard, but his goal is not eternal life.One of my aims was to showcase the later introduced cultivation rules into the mortal cultivation (dao marks, attainment etc.) and explore novel scenarios within this highly technical cultivation environment.
8 169 - In Serial14 Chapters
Overdone Book Titles
Every single fucking story in existence on WattPad has practically the same names. It's fucking annoying.Highest ranking #830 in Non-Fiction.
8 60

