Chapter 18: The Correct Usage of the Cheat

"A predecessor's cave abode?"

Hearing Zhao Xuhe's proposal, Lu Yang shook his head: "Senior Brother's enthusiastic invitation is appreciated, but this junior brother's divine abilities are unrefined; nowadays, I only wish to devote myself wholeheartedly to cultivation."

"Oh?" Zhao Xuhe narrowed his eyes upon hearing this: "Could it be that Junior Brother does not trust me?"

"Senior Brother worries too much; it is simply that this junior brother has not yet learned any divine abilities and possesses no capability for magical combat. Even if I were to go out with Senior Brother, I would only be a burden dragging you back."

Lu Yang's reasoning was perfectly reasonable.

After all, he had not long joined the sect before he started speculating on Substitute Death Yin Puppets, even pledging the technique loans from the Library Pavilion as collateral—a fact Zhao Xuhe was also clear about.

"... n that case, forget it."

Zhao Xuhe shook his head, his expression turning cold.

At this very moment, murderous intent had already arisen in his heart; after all, he had lost everything down to his pants, yet Lu Yang could still make money and exit early.

How could he accept this?

More importantly, the contribution points Lu Yang earned were originally borrowed from him; rounding it off, that money should rightfully belong to him!

"Very well, let us just leave it stored with you for now."

Zhao Xuhe sneered inwardly: "Only knowing how to cultivate without learning combat divine abilities, does he think he is still in those righteous famous sects where one can cultivate in peace? Once I settle matters on Panlong Island, I will find an opportunity to sneak into his cave abode late at night, kill him, and those contribution points will still be mine!"

"Barring any accidents, that surname Zhao should already be thinking about how to deal with me."

Leaving Zhao Xuhe's cave abode, Lu Yang swaggered toward the Library Pavilion; having already guessed Zhao Xuhe's thoughts, he was not the least bit panicked.

After all, these past few days had not been wasted.

While others were frantically speculating on Substitute Death Yin Puppets, he had kept his ears shut to outside affairs, purchased a large batch of elixirs, and immediately entered secluded cultivation.

The fourth to sixth layers of Qi Refining all belong to the mid-stage; there are no bottlenecks, and one can break through simply by spending money to consume pills.

Having earned a huge profit of ten thousand contribution points, Lu Yang naturally would not be stingy; thus, at this moment, he had already broken through to reach the sixth layer of Qi Refining, standing at the peak of the mid-stage.

Incidentally, the venereal disease his original body carried was also cured by him exchanging contribution points for a Dust-Washing Pill.

In fact, it has been proven that the greatest incurable disease in a person's life is the disease of poverty.

The reason Yu Suzhen in his first life was killed by her own venereal disease was, in the final analysis, simply because she lacked money.

As for the mid-stage bottleneck, he had originally wanted to try breaking through using the Primordial One Qi, but unfortunately, perhaps due to insufficient quantity, the effect was negligible.

From this, it can be seen that the number of people Liu Xin swindled to death in the past was likely not limited to just him.

As for not learning divine abilities, that was naturally just a deception to fool Zhao Xuhe.

In his previous life, he had relied on setting up arrays and launching surprise attacks to barely suppress Zhao Xuhe when the latter's qi was depleted and strength exhausted; in this life, however, there was no need for such trouble.

Even in a direct confrontation, he had the confidence to escape!

"Senior Brother Wang, have you been well recently?"

Arriving at the Library Pavilion, Lu Yang skillfully took out a wine gourd and smiled: "This is fine Drunken Flower Brew; I specially obtained it for Senior Brother."

"... t's you kid again."

At the entrance of the Library Pavilion, Wang Bairong, who looked exceedingly aged, twitched the corner of his eye upon hearing this, then sighed with emotion: "Drunk Flower Brew that costs fifty contribution points per gourd."

"You kid have truly struck it rich."

In this life, Lu Yang had focused on building a good relationship with Wang Bairong.

Initially, Wang Bairong had been indifferent toward him, but ever since the Substitute Death Yin Puppet bubble burst, this senior brother from the Library Pavilion had treated him much better.

The reason was very simple.

Just before the Substitute Death Yin Puppet disaster struck, he had persuaded Wang Bairong to sell off part of the goods he had hoarded, thereby avoiding a fate of losing everything.

Since then, Wang Bairong had been immensely grateful to him.

"Pitiful that this old man has lived empty-handed for several decades, yet cannot see things as clearly as a kid like you; if you had not awakened me, I fear I would have already suffered qi deviation by now."

"Where would you say such a thing; Senior Brother must not belittle himself."

Lu Yang shook his head: "As the saying goes, good words cannot persuade a ghost destined to die; this junior brother advised many people that day, yet only Senior Brother truly took it to heart."

"For Senior Brother to dare to rein in at the cliff's edge is also a form of wisdom."

"Mm."

Hearing this, Wang Bairong narrowed his eyes and stroked his beard; although he knew Lu Yang was deliberately flattering him, these words became more and more pleasing to his ear the more he heard them.

Immediately after, the two set up a table and chairs and began drinking together.

Wang Bairong did not stand on ceremony, directly pouring a full cup of Drunken Flower Brew and draining it in one gulp, before slowly speaking: "You kid, what exactly are you after?"

At this moment, this was the only doubt remaining in Wang Bairong's heart.

"You and I have no kinship or prior connection; could it be that you truly believe the nonsense spread outside, thinking that this old man is some hidden expert of the Library Pavilion waiting for a fated person?"

"How could that be?"

While pouring wine for Wang Bairong, Lu Yang smiled: "As the saying goes, having an elder in the family is like having a treasure; this humble one simply feels that since Senior Brother has managed to live to such an advanced age within the Holy Sect, you must possess some ability, and since you serve in the Library Pavilion, perhaps you could offer this humble one some guidance on techniques and divine abilities."

Lu Yang spoke with extreme sincerity.

After hearing this, Wang Bairong neither affirmed nor denied, merely continuing to pour wine; as he drank, he began complaining about the Holy Sect's shameless act of harvesting its disciples like leeks this time.

"Simply beasts!"

"Coincidentally, just when the price climbed to its peak, they suddenly acted to suppress it; this was absolutely premeditated—there are bad people among the high echelons of the Holy Sect!"

While pouring wine, Lu Yang casually echoed his sentiments.

Only after Wang Bairong had drunk enough to start swaying his head did he lower his voice: "Senior Brother, I have come this time to select a technique or divine ability."

"I wonder if Senior Brother has any recommendations? The more powerful the divine ability, the better!"

"I knew you kid had something to ask of me!" Wang Bairong chuckled with a grin, saying proudly: "However, asking me means you have asked the right person!"

Lu Yang hastily cupped his hands: "Please, Senior Brother, teach me."

"First of all, do not even think about true top-tier divine abilities; our Library Pavilion is merely a branch pavilion of Senior Butian Peak, so the power of its techniques and divine abilities is limited."

"The truly formidable divine abilities are all up at the Sacred Fire Cliff; only true disciples can learn them!"

"But this is normal; we disciples in the early and mid-stages of Qi Refining are merely the cattle and horses of the Holy Sect; how could we possibly be granted powerful divine abilities?"

After all, what need do cattle and horses have to understand so much? Understanding too much is actually detrimental to unity.

As for true disciples, they are the ones who have truly entered the Holy Sect's establishment, the elite destined to inherit the sect's mantle in the future, so naturally, they receive entirely different treatment.

"Is there no compromise?" Lu Yang asked in a low voice.

"Of course there is!"

Wang Bairong smiled slightly; having worked in the Library Pavilion for over forty years, with such seniority, there was no technique or divine ability in the pavilion he did not recognize.

Although he did not know the specific contents, he was perfectly clear about the effects after mastering them.

"In this Library Pavilion of ours, if we are to speak truly of divine abilities with superior power after mastery, there are actually only three kinds, and each one has severe side effects."

"Side effects?"

Speaking of this, Wang Bairong's expression became extremely grave as he said in a heavy voice: "For instance, I know of a divine ability called 'Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light'; by sacrificing one's body to empower a magic treasure, its power increases greatly, but upon completion, not only is one's lifespan reduced, but one can no longer continue cultivating, effectively cutting off one's own path to immortality."

"Tell me, are the side effects significant or not?"

Wang Bairong's original intention was to scare Lu Yang off, but he did not expect that after hearing his advice, Lu Yang showed not the slightest disappointment, but instead became even more excited.

"Such a divine ability is destined to be used by me!"

Although the side effects were indeed severe, they were limited to this life only; and what do the side effects of this life have to do with the me of the next life?

He seemed to have found the correct usage method for the 【Book of Hundred Lives】!

(End of Chapter)