You Were Meant to Be a Bootlicker, So How Did You Become an Immortal Lord? - Chapter 2:

Chapter 2: Who Dares Attack the Mountain Protection Formation!

Lin Xiaoyue sneered coldly, her charming face carrying a hint of disdain. “Oh? Someone like you actually has a treasure?”

“If that’s the case, then take it out and show me.”

She clearly didn’t believe Su Bai had anything valuable. She was just bored and curious to see what this old man could possibly bring out.

“Sister Lin, when I was young, I once explored the mountains and came across a fragment of a sword technique. Unfortunately, my talent is mediocre, and I never managed to comprehend it.”

“I believe that with your exceptional talent and deep understanding of the sword, you’ll surely be able to recognize its origin.”

Su Bai appeared respectful on the surface, but in truth, he was setting a trap.

He understood the nature of proud women like Lin Xiaoyue. The more you flattered them, the more likely they’d walk right into the pit.

Su Bai was already laughing inwardly. As long as she accepted the sword manual fragment, the system would return a critical reward with over ten thousand times the value!

She was still feeling self-satisfied, completely unaware she was being played.

“A sword technique fragment? Let me see it.”

Lin Xiaoyue’s voice was lazy and uninterested, but as a sword cultivator, she would never miss the chance to study a sword technique.

“This is…”

Her half-closed eyes suddenly lit up the moment she received the fragment from Su Bai. She stared at it without moving.

“This is… the Fire Phoenix Sword Technique!”

Her lips parted in shock. Even though she tried to suppress her expression, the astonishment on her face was impossible to hide.

But what she didn’t know was that while she was excited, Su Bai was even more thrilled.

He was ecstatic inside.

Damn, could this really be something valuable?

If the system gives a 10,000x return, what kind of treasure would he get?

“Miss Lin, what is this Fire Phoenix Sword Technique? Is it powerful?” Su Bai asked cautiously.

“Of course it’s powerful!” Lin Xiaoyue snorted coldly, quickly regaining her composure.

She stared hard at the old man before her—his hair and beard white, missing teeth—and couldn’t help but feel that the heavens were unfair.

How could this old man be so lucky?

To have actually found the signature sword technique of the legendary Fire Phoenix Sword Sovereign!

It was maddening!

“This technique isn’t just powerful. If I had gotten this fragment when I first entered the sect, I might’ve entered the Dao through the sword and reached the Foundation Establishment Realm within a year!”

The more she looked at Su Bai now, the more pleasing he seemed. Her mood had clearly improved.

She casually took out a spirit stone and tossed it to him.

“You did well. This is your reward.”

“I’ll be entering seclusion for a few days. If this fragment helps me derive sword techniques, I’ll reward you further.”

“Leave for now. Don’t disturb me these next two days!”

Clearly impatient, Lin Xiaoyue stared eagerly at the fragment, already mimicking movements with her hands.

Her expression shifted between frowning in deep thought and smiling with sudden clarity. Her face was filled with anticipation.

All her attention was locked on the sword technique. She didn’t even notice Su Bai lowering his head and trembling as he walked out.

“Holy crap, amazing!”

Just past the courtyard gate, Su Bai couldn’t hold it in. He let out an excited whisper and grinned so wide his mouth almost cracked.

But his exaggerated movements strained his back again. He clutched his waist and leaned against the wall as he hobbled back.

If anyone saw him right now, they’d probably think Miss Lin wasn’t cultivating sword techniques but instead practicing secret techniques from the Joyous Union Sect.

Just then, a pleasant system chime rang in his ears.

[Congratulations, host! Gift delivered successfully.]
[Gift: Fire Phoenix Sword Technique Fragment (Heaven-grade)]
[10,000x Critical Return Triggered: Vermilion Bird Demon-Suppressing Sword (Divine-grade)]

As the system spoke, the complete memory of the Vermilion Bird Demon-Suppressing Sword technique appeared in Su Bai’s mind.

It was an ancient sword technique said to channel the power of the Vermilion Bird—a mythical beast of old—and summon its divine flames.

Each sword strike would carry an indestructible blaze, capable of destroying all evils. It was an extremely domineering technique.

Most importantly, it didn’t require high cultivation to use.

Even a mortal could ignite the Vermilion Bird’s flame by consuming their own blood essence.

It was perfect for Su Bai in his current state.

Back in his room, Su Bai pulled out a long sword in a plain black scabbard.

Seeing the sword, Su Bai’s eyes teared up.

This sword had been a gift from a female cultivator who once had feelings for him.

Back then, he was under thirty—handsome and in his prime. In the blink of an eye, decades had passed, and now he was just an old man.

“Enough reminiscing. Now that I’ve mastered this ancient technique, I’ll definitely find a way to regain my youth and return to the glory of seven rounds in one night!”

“Damn it all, sword come to me!”

“No—fire, come!”

With Su Bai’s shout, there was no heat or dramatic blast, just a small flicker of flame quietly appearing at the sword’s tip.

Su Bai stared at the tiny flame, visibly hesitant.

“This… this is the Vermilion Bird’s divine fire?”

“Come on, you kidding me? This little flicker can barely light a cigarette. And this is supposed to be the Vermilion Bird Demon-Suppressing Sword?”

But remembering that the system wouldn’t deceive him, Su Bai waved his hand and flicked the flame outward.

Unexpectedly, the tiny flame passed right through the wall and shot dozens of meters into the distance.

In the night, the flame carved a bright trail through the air before vanishing.

Then—

Boom!

A loud explosion echoed.

The sky lit up with multicolored clouds and a blinding flash that illuminated half the night sky. Alarms immediately rang out.

“Something’s wrong! Someone attacked the mountain protection formation!”

“A hole’s been burned through the barrier! There must be a powerful enemy!”

“All disciples of Azure Cloud Sect, assemble and defend!”

As authoritative voices rang out, the ten great elders of Azure Cloud Sect flew out from their respective peaks.

In a flash, they arrived from over a kilometer away. Each of them flew through the sky on radiant lights, their elegant purple robes fluttering as they hovered in midair, radiating overwhelming presence.

These ten elders all had cultivation at the Golden Core Realm!

This was the true grandeur of an ancient thousand-year sect!

Su Bai emerged from his room, leaning on a cane and holding his waist as he limped outside. The scene before him left him dazed.

No way…

That tiny flame caused all this?

It even burned a hole in the mountain protection formation?

This was insane!

Su Bai forced a bitter smile and hobbled toward the gathering plaza.

He deliberately put on a shocked expression, terrified someone would realize he was the one behind the commotion.

This was Su Bai’s cunning.

Though he’d worked as a menial laborer in Azure Cloud Sect for years, he was never stupid—just underpowered.

In the cultivation world, deception and scheming were everywhere. If anyone found out about his ability, many would set their sights on him.

An innocent man holding a treasure is still guilty of the crime.