I Was Reborn as the Villain, but the System Bound Itself to the Female Leads - Chapter 32:

Chapter 32: Heart-Guarding Jade

“That’s… a black card?”

The gold-digging woman also caught sight of the card and was just as shocked. She had actually called someone who could pull out a black card a stinking beggar. If he was a beggar, then what did that make her? This time, she had truly humiliated herself.

As for those two security guards, the gold-digger, and that so-called Director Zhou, Lin Yuan didn’t care at all. When you stand high enough, the voices below can no longer reach you. Arguing with such people was a complete waste of time.

With the help of the hotel manager, Lin Yuan quickly checked into a luxury suite. He also booked the room next door for Yang Gang.

“If there’s anything you need, sir, just let me know.”

“Alright. If I need anything, I’ll find you.”

Lin Yuan replied to the hotel manager and then signaled for her to leave.

After locking the door, he took off all his clothes, then retrieved the Blood Pill from the Redwood Box.

“Alright, let’s see how much this Blood Pill can improve me.”

He sat cross-legged, mentally reviewing the Formless Technique to ensure he had no mistakes, then swallowed the Blood Pill in one gulp.

The pill dissolved instantly, turning into a liquid that flowed into his abdomen and then spread through all his limbs and bones.

A warm current surged through his body, quickly turning into burning heat. It felt like a fire ignited inside him. The terrifying heat reddened his skin, and sweat poured out uncontrollably.

Not daring to delay, Lin Yuan immediately began circulating the Formless Technique, though still quite unfamiliar with it. He followed the method described in the book—once, twice, three times… As the number of cycles increased, his technique became more fluid. A stream of energy began condensing within him and circulated through his meridians.

The burning sensation intensified. Lin Yuan felt like he was trapped in a sauna or inside an oven. It was as if the next second, he would be fully cooked—a roasted human.

Gritting his teeth, he endured, unaware of how much time had passed.

When he finally opened his eyes again, he felt his entire body was sticky and emitting a foul stench—so unbearable that even he couldn’t stand it.

Without hesitation, he rushed into the bathroom and scrubbed off all the grime.

After showering, he came out in a bathrobe, feeling utterly refreshed and relaxed.

“Comfortable. So satisfying!”

He moved his body around, testing his limbs. He felt a surge of strength coursing through him. Though he didn’t yet know his exact level, he was sure he had improved significantly.

According to the original novel’s classification, before reaching the Minor Heaven Realm, cultivation was divided into five grades: Human, Yellow, Mystic, Earth, and Heaven—Human being the lowest, Heaven the highest. Each grade was further split into lower, middle, and upper levels.

It was the most basic tiered system.

“Long Haochen is at mid Earth-grade now. If I want to compete with him, I’ll need to at least reach that level.”

Lin Yuan thought silently.

As the Child of Destiny, Long Haochen might only be at mid Earth-grade on the surface, but even Heaven-grade lower-level opponents would have trouble defeating him. As expected of the protagonist, surpassing higher levels was normal for him.

Inside the room, Lin Yuan threw a few punches at random, each one creating wind. It felt amazing.

He examined his body again. There were no signs of discomfort. Thanks to the Blood Pill’s body refinement, his physique had become perfect—defined muscles, completely free of the weakness he had before.

Checking the time, it was already past 10 p.m. Lin Yuan decided to stay at the hotel for the night, then visit two other places the next day to seize Long Haochen’s remaining fortuitous encounters.

The next day, fully rested, Lin Yuan woke Yang Gang and prepared to set out.

“Young Master, I feel like you’re a bit different from before.”

“Oh? What’s different?” Lin Yuan asked with a smile.

“You’ve become even more handsome.”

“Hehe… Is that all?”

“Sorry, Young Master. It’s just a feeling I can’t explain. Besides being more handsome, I really don’t know how to put it.”

Yang Gang scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

From the moment he saw Lin Yuan today, he felt something had changed. Maybe it was his aura or temperament, but it was definitely different—though in the end, all he could say was: he looked better than before.

“Alright, let’s go. We still have two more places to visit,” Lin Yuan said.

“Understood, Young Master.”

North City had an antique street. Most of the people who came here on regular days were small-time collectors or people with some disposable income. Average workers couldn’t afford this place—any random item here cost over 100,000 yuan.

Yang Gang drove them quickly to the antique street.

Lin Yuan didn’t stop to browse. He walked straight to a shop located at the very end of the street. Its name was “Old Brand.”

Inside, there was a glass counter displaying various strange artifacts, along with a number of finely crafted ancient jades.

As for whether the jade was genuine or fake—that depended on your own discerning eyes. It could be a real antique, or it might have just been carved a couple of days ago. The antique trade thrived on trickery. If you knew the field, you could navigate it. If not, you were bound to be scammed.

“Feel free to look around, customer. If something catches your eye, I can give you a discount.”

The shopkeeper was a well-groomed old man, around fifty years old, dressed in traditional-style clothing. A birdcage sat in front of him, with a parrot inside.

“Give you a discount! Give you a discount!” the parrot echoed.

Lin Yuan smiled and nodded, glancing around the store casually instead of heading straight to his target.

Eventually, he approached the ancient jade display. His gaze swept across the ornate pieces until he found what he was looking for.

It was a round piece of ancient jade with the image of the mythical beast Xuanwu carved on it. This jade was called the Heart-Guarding Jade. Though it was a jade artifact, it was actually a treasure artifact.

According to Lin Yuan’s memory from the original novel, the Heart-Guarding Jade could block a full-power strike from a high-level Heaven-grade expert. However, it had a limit—it could only block three attacks. After three uses, it would shatter.

In the original novel, Long Haochen used this very jade to escape death multiple times.

“Boss, let me take a look at that jade.”

Lin Yuan pointed at the Heart-Guarding Jade and spoke.

“Customer, you have a sharp eye. This is the finest jade in the entire shop. It’s said to protect the owner from disaster—a divine jade. If you like it, I’ll give it to you for 200,000 yuan.”

“200,000? Didn’t you just say you’d give me a discount?”

Lin Yuan smiled.

“Customer, 200,000 is already the discounted price.”

“I didn’t hear you mention any discount. How about this—you knock a bit more off the price, and I’ll take it. It’s a fine piece.”

“Hehehe…”

Seeing that Lin Yuan had a genuine intention to buy, the shopkeeper laughed and said, “Alright, since you’re serious, I’ll take another bit off. 180,000 yuan, final price. I can’t go any lower.”

“200,000, I’ll take that jade.”

Before Lin Yuan could respond, someone else spoke up first.