Chapter 15: Fishing

"Who made a deal with you? Talk about it in the next life!"

"With the Hundred Lives Book, at worst I'll just take the 'Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon Ascension Scripture' this life, and the 'Nine Transformations Dragon Art' next life; they'll still be mine!"

From the very beginning, Lu Yang had never trusted Zhao Xuhe.

What 'sharing the Dao scriptures' was, was merely a temporary measure; Lu Yang was certain that once Zhao Xuhe escaped with his life, he would definitely find a way to kill him.

Unfortunately, Zhao Xuhe was stronger; Lu Yang had no absolute guarantee of killing him and eliminating the threat forever. Even if he fought to the death, he himself might be the one to die.

Plus, the loan was about to expire, he couldn't repay it, and the time of this life was already running out, so as soon as he got the scripture, Lu Yang simply and decisively detonated himself.

【You recklessly detonated yourself and died.】

【Current remaining pages of the Hundred Lives Book: 97】

【Start a new life; you may choose one of the following rewards from your past life:

One: Treasure.

Two: Cultivation.

Three: Lifespan.

Four: Abandon all rewards and randomly awaken a talent based on your past life's experiences.】

"The person whose name is called, walk to me."

Consciousness returned clearly; Liu Xin's familiar and detestable voice rang out on the platform. Lu Yang ignored it and said in his heart: "I choose cultivation."

Boom!

The next second, Lu Yang felt a surge of true qi erupt from his dantian, then rapidly flow through his limbs and bones, beginning to wildly transform his essence, qi, and spirit. However, he gritted his teeth, activated the Qi-Collection Art he had obtained from the three black-clad men, and suppressed all movement entirely beneath his skin and flesh.

Moments later, Lu Yang finally exhaled a deep breath of turbid air.

"I'm back!"

Qi Refining Layer Four, Mid-stage!

Lifting his head to look at Liu Xin on the platform again, Lu Yang no longer felt the fear of their first meeting; at this time, Liu Xin was merely at Qi Refining Layer Six!

Only after he selected a registered disciple and refined them into the Primordial One Qi could he break through the bottleneck and advance to Qi Refining Late-stage. Only then would he possibly see through his Qi-Collection Art. Before that, even if Lu Yang stood right before him, Liu Xin would only see him as an ordinary person.

"But there is also an unexpected surprise."

Lu Yang gazed inward at his dantian and saw a misty white qi floating there. It was the Primordial One Qi from his previous life; surprisingly, it was still here in this life!

"I understand. The Hundred Lives Book doesn't rewind to the original anchor point, but to my previous life!"

This was undoubtedly a good thing.

Because it meant that the treasures, cultivation, and even lifespan he chose in every life could be retained for the next life, without having to start from scratch every time.

Lu Yang's actions next proceeded as usual.

Go on stage, get assigned, Harmony Hall.

Kill Yu Suzhen to death.

Lying low silently, breaking through after three months, and becoming a formal disciple without drawing attention.

"In this life, according to my plan, besides the remaining scroll of the 'Nine Transformations Dragon Art', there are two other major matters worth attempting."

The first is naturally the 'Merit Lottery'.

Lu Yang stayed in his cave dwelling for a few days, then went to the Merit Building to take the 'Accumulate Merit' mission, and immediately rushed straight to the Merit Pool without stopping.

"2025113!"

Standing among the crowd around the Merit Pool, Lu Yang stylishly combed his hair and began imagining how he should spend the money after winning the Merit Pool grand prize.

Ten billion! Ten billion! Enough to spend for a lifetime and never run out~!

Goodbye, poverty; I will miss you.

The next second, a clamor immediately erupted in the crowd. Countless people looked at Lu Yang in surprise, along with the Merit Fish drawn by the number he had selected.

"Brother, you have good luck."

Someone approached Lu Yang, his tone envious: "A purple Merit Fish. Although it's only slightly better than white and blue, it's still a rare encounter."

"... What?"

Lu Yang tilted his head, a row of question marks appearing above his brain.

Purple Merit Fish?

Not rainbow-colored?

Lu Yang quickly looked at the Merit Fish he had drawn; it was clearly emitting a line of blue light. He checked the number he had chosen again; 2025113 was correct.

Why didn't I win!?

Did that lucky guy from the previous life, Xiao Shiy, lie? But he couldn't possibly know someone could restart a life, so there was absolutely no reason for him to lie.

In that case...

"There's foul play!"

Lu Yang was so angry his hands were shaking, his face flushed red. Only then did he realize: What lucky guy? That Xiao Shiy was clearly a rigged plant!

"Forget it, at least it's a Merit Fish." Lu Yang could only comfort himself like this. Purple was considered rare, second only to gold and rainbow. Although he had no chance at the ten billion prize, eating the purple Merit Fish would probably allow his cultivation to quickly reach Qi Refining Layer Five.

Thinking this, Lu Yang felt much better.

Afterwards, to be safe, he didn't return to his cave dwelling with the Merit Fish. Instead, he ate it right there in front of everyone, then began to regulate his breathing and circulate his qi to refine it.

After finishing everything, Lu Yang clearly felt the several gazes that had fallen on him disperse.

The result was exactly as he expected; the essence and qi of the purple Merit Fish allowed him to smoothly break through to Qi Refining Layer Five, even letting him touch the threshold of Qi Refining Layer Six.

"This is just purple. If it were rainbow..."

Lu Yang was filled with longing. After all, in the previous life, after that Xiao Shiy ate the rainbow Merit Fish, he went from Qi Refining Layer One to Great Perfection overnight.

"Forget it, I won't force it."

Lu Yang quickly regained his composure. The first matter was a bust, but the second matter still had a chance: the 'Substitute Death Yin Puppet Price Bubble Incident'.

The old man of the Scripture Pavilion, Wang Borong, nearly lost everything because of this, only to be deceived by Zhao Xuhe and become cannon fodder for Panlong Island. But ultimately, it was because Wang Borong entered the market too late; he was different. He knew exactly when this price bubble would shift.

"Actually, the upward trend has already begun."

Lu Yang opened his disciple token to check the price of the Substitute Death Yin Puppet and found that there was indeed a slight fluctuation, clearly indicating that an insider was manipulating the market.

"To enter the market, I am still short of enough principal capital."

Lu Yang thought for a moment, then turned and headed toward the Merit Building.

As expected, to the senior disciples, he, a newly admitted disciple, was just a fat lamb waiting to be slaughtered. Before long, Zhao Xuhe approached him on his own initiative.

"Junior brother, your complexion is not good. Have you encountered some difficulty?"

Hearing this, Lu Yang raised his head and gave a bitter smile: "What difficulty could there be? It's just a lack of money. Does senior brother have any missions that can earn contribution points?"

"So it's a lack of money. Indeed, I have been through this. At your age, I also worried about contribution points, burning the candle at both ends every day. My Dao companion even despised me and broke up with me... Alas, endless missions every day, feeling like there is no hope for the future."

Zhao Xuhe spoke with a sighing tone, looking as if he shared Lu Yang's plight.

After finishing, he patted Lu Yang's shoulder and said: "I have wasted half my life, but finally summarized a truth that holds true everywhere."

"That is, money is dead."

"Therefore, one must make money breed money, using contribution points to earn contribution points, only then will one not become a slave of the Holy Sect and escape this fate of being a beast of burden!"

Hearing this, Lu Yang immediately showed an expression of admiration: "Hearing your words is better than reading books for ten years!"

However, soon after, Lu Yang lowered his head in disappointment: "But senior brother, I don't even have contribution points right now, so what can I use to earn contribution points?"

"Too small! Your vision is too small!"

Zhao Xuhe's expression became even more affectionate as he grinned: "Although you have no money right now, you can borrow! Just repay it after you earn the money, isn't that right?"

"But..." Lu Yang still looked hesitant.

Seeing that the business was here, Zhao Xuhe was not about to let it go and quickly said: "How about this? I see that you, junior brother, have a connection with me, so I will lend you some!"

Lu Yang's eyes immediately lit up: "Really?"

Seeing his eager, thirsty appearance, Zhao Xuhe was immediately certain: the fish had taken the bait!

"Of course it's true!"

While patting his chest to guarantee it, Zhao Xuhe then took out the so-called Sanhe Association's badge, and only then asked Lu Yang: "How much do you plan to borrow, junior brother?"

After a moment of silence, Lu Yang held up two fingers.

"Two hundred?"

"Two thousand!"

Lu Yang looked resolute: "To be honest, my Technique Loan has not been used yet; a Technique Loan is equivalent to 1,000 contribution points. There is also my newcomer benefit: the White Bone Flying Sword, the Blood-Qi Pill, and the Human-Faced Owl... I will use these as collateral. Senior Brother Zhao, can you lend me 2,000 contribution points?"

Zhao Xuhe was stunned.

Do young people nowadays act so recklessly?

I've only just spun a few words, and you go all in immediately?

Before Zhao Xuhe could even react, Lu Yang said something that shocked him even more: "Senior Brother Zhao, I plan to go all in and buy Substitute Death Yin Puppets."

"What!?"

Zhao Xuhe was first shocked, then seemed to think of something, and quickly lowered his voice: "Junior brother... did you perhaps learn some inside information?"

"Senior brother's insight is clear." Lu Yang also spoke in a low voice: "Earlier, when I was selecting techniques in the Scripture Pavilion, I eavesdropped on what Senior Brother Wang Borong at the entrance was saying. It seemed that the southern war situation was unfavorable, and the Ten Thousand People Pit that produces Substitute Death Yin Puppets has fallen. The Holy Sect has secretly blocked the relevant news..."

"Hiss!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xuhe immediately drew in a sharp breath of cold air. Immediately after, intense greed appeared in his eyes, clearly having smelled the business opportunity.

If the news is true, then the opportunity to get rich has arrived!

Watching the agitated and impatient Zhao Xuhe, Lu Yang sneered inwardly.

The fish has taken the bait!

Feels like I've been playing single-player the whole time, doesn't anyone else feel this?

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(End of this chapter)