Md Raho
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Ch 22
🕑 Added 2021-06-29 04:20:42 +0000 UTCOther 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 involved, 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.
Moreover, 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.
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-
"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 out out the fire in his heart cruelly. Sigh...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!
author's note- occasional comments can be rather inspiring. So try and express your opinions sometimes. Stay safe.
