Yino's survival hinges on his first major confrontation with Mo Yuyan, the sword immortal destined to kill him. Instead of fleeing, he leverages his knowledge of her hidden obsession with chess, a hobby forbidden by her master due to her father's legacy. He orchestrates a bet where he intentionally loses a game of Go, satisfying her desire for a worthy opponent while securing a promise that she will not harm him. This gambit forces Yuyan to recruit him to the Wuji Sect, not out of duty, but out of a twisted curiosity and a need for a chess partner. Yino navigates the sect entrance politics, enduring the disdain of bootlicker disciples like Zhong Yuhe while maintaining his playboy facade. He secures the Ranmo Peak jade pendant, a life-saving trump card that allows him to summon Yuyan in times of dire peril. This milestone marks Yino's transition from a passive target to an active player within the sect's hierarchy. He gains a safe haven on Ranmo Peak, access to sect resources, and a powerful guardian, all while Yuyan remains unaware that her "useless" junior brother is manipulating her loneliness. The chess games become a recurring motif of their bond, where Yino teaches her formations and strategy, gradually breaking down her icy exterior. Yino also uses this time to secretly cultivate his demon bloodline, testing his limits and preparing for the inevitable clashes with the protagonist. He establishes a delicate balance, playing the role of the dependent junior brother while hoarding resources and information, ensuring that his presence in the sect is protected by the very person who was meant to execute him.

Yino's exploration of the Wuji Sect's back mountain leads him to the haunted Mountain Temple, where he encounters the Pleasure Demon Jinyue, a villainess infiltrating the sect. Initially, Yino views Jinyue as a threat, but he quickly realizes he can use her to navigate the deadly traps guarding the temple's secrets. As they descend into the dungeon, Yino deliberately guides Jinyue into triggering mechanisms, using her as a human shield to map the dangers. The alliance is fraught with tension; Jinyue attempts to use illusions to control Yino, but his demon bloodline, awakened by his aunt's pill, grants him resistance. The dynamic shifts when Yino sacrifices his safety to save Jinyue from a crushing trap, shedding tears that convince her of his sincerity. This moment breaks through Jinyue's cynical exterior, leading her to reveal her true fox spirit form to save him from a poisoned arrow. Together, they defeat the giant breeding worm boss, a creature Yino knows yields valuable scales. Yino claims the Nine-Colored Deer, a divine spirit beast imprisoned by the villain Gu Wanglan, and secures a pact with Jinyue. This milestone solidifies Yino's control over the Mountain Temple arc, turning a potential enemy into a reluctant ally. Jinyue's trust in Yino grows, complicating her mission to torment the protagonist. Yino gains the Nine-Colored Deer as a powerful asset and establishes a network of influence within the sect's shadows, proving his ability to manipulate even the most dangerous villains.

The narrative escalates as Yino, Yunjin, and Jinyue travel to the Northern Luo Snow Village to investigate the source of the deer cries. Yino's primary goal is to alter Yunjin's tragic fate; in the original plot, she dies in this arc. He ensures Yunjin bonds with the Nine-Colored Deer, transferring the contract to her and granting her a powerful ally that will protect her life. The mission brings Yino into direct conflict with the protagonist Chen Jianxin, who is being manipulated by the villain Gu Wanglan. Yino openly antagonizes Chen Jianxin, face-slapping him in front of the disciples and exposing his incompetence. He uses his knowledge of the village's customs and the Nine-Colored Compass to secure the deer's antler powder, resetting the compass's sensor to protect his secret. Yino's actions infuriate Chen Jianxin, who vows revenge, cementing a rivalry that will drive future conflicts. Yino also navigates the romantic tensions with Yunjin and Jinyue, managing their affections while keeping his focus on survival. He secures the village's trust, saves Yunjin from danger, and returns to the sect with significant merit and resources. This milestone marks Yino's successful intervention in the main storyline, saving a key character and drawing the protagonist's hostility, which Yino welcomes as a way to divert attention from his own schemes.

Yino's survival is underpinned by the interventions of his aunt, Xinyao, a demon messenger who has secretly nurtured him since childhood. In a poignant farewell, Xinyao feeds Yino a golden pill smuggled from the Western Regions, which catalyzes the awakening of his dormant demon bloodline. This gift grants Yino critical resistance to illusions, a power that proves vital against Jinyue and other demonic threats. Xinyao also provides Yino with a bottle of paper kites, each representing a favor from a powerful contact in Western Province City, giving him external resources and a safety net beyond the sect. Yino's bloodline awakening enhances his physical capabilities and spiritual resilience, allowing him to withstand the rigors of cultivation and combat. This milestone deepens the lore of Yino's heritage, revealing his mixed blood and the political complexities of the Grand Tutor's Mansion. It also strengthens the emotional bond between Yino and Xinyao, who views him as her cherished nephew despite her demonic nature. Yino realizes that his cheat is not just his knowledge, but the allies he has cultivated. He leverages his bloodline to survive the Mountain Temple and the Snow Village, using his enhanced abilities to defeat bosses and protect his friends. The awakening marks Yino's transition from a mortal relying on tricks to a hybrid cultivator with the potential to rival the geniuses of the world.