Chapter 4: Impossible to Guard Against

"A human is formed from the Primordial One Qi; refining Qi is refining oneself, purifying the self to reverse back to the Primordial state, thereby forging the perfect fruit of the Primordial One Qi where both form and spirit become miraculous."

After a long while, Lu Yang opened his eyes, his face breaking into a joyful expression.

Compared to the "Ode of Yin-Yang Great Bliss," the "Primordial Dao Scripture" truly resembled what a complete inheritance should look like.

The entire Dao Scripture began with mortals, requiring one to first practice a set of Primordial Arts to hammer and temper the body, even including a matching martial art named the Primordial Great Grasping Hand.

Only after the body was fully perfected would the cultivator begin to "reverse to the Primordial," first transforming the five viscera and six bowels, then the skin, flesh, tendons, and bones, until finally completely dissolving the physical form, refining the body into a strand of Primordial True Qi, thereafter gathering and scattering unpredictably, impervious to Daoist arts, and standing invincible in any duel from the very start.

Beyond this, the Dao Scripture also recorded many spells that could be used in conjunction with Primordial True Qi.

Techniques such as the Heavenly Net Dust-Dispelling Smoke, the Single-Will True Qi Sword, and the Spirit-Breath Qi-Absorbing Art were so complete in variety and diverse in function that Lu Yang felt his horizons had vastly expanded.

However, just at that moment, Lu Yang, who had been reading as if enchanted, suddenly froze:

"... hy does it end here?"

Lu Yang subconsciously looked up at Liu Xin, only then realizing that the "Primordial Dao Scripture" in his hands contained only the first half, its content cutting off abruptly.

"Junior Brother, the Dharma is not lightly bestowed."

Liu Xin chuckled lightly: "The second half of the 'Primordial Dao Scripture' concerns the secrets of Foundation Establishment and is not included in the sect's welfare benefits; it must be exchanged using contribution points."

Hearing this, Lu Yang shook his head helplessly: "I see now; this junior brother lost his composure."

"No matter, half a Dao Scripture is enough for you to cultivate, Junior Brother."

Liu Xin affectionately patted Lu Yang's shoulder: "Come, I will take you to Senior Butian Peak to select a cave dwelling; choose a good spot so we can visit each other often in the future."

Lu Yang nodded: "Thank you, Senior Brother."

Half an hour later, Senior Butian Peak.

In a remote cave dwelling at the foot of the mountain, Lu Yang officially settled down, while the original furniture and utensils inside the cave were swept out as trash.

Watching this scene, myriad thoughts churned in Lu Yang's heart.

"It seems being a formal disciple isn't easy either."

Senior Butian Peak was not large; although the Chusheng Sect had so many registered disciples every year, even with a promotion rate of only one in ten thousand, it would be enough to fill Senior Butian Peak.

But in reality?

As Lu Yang walked along, far from being overcrowded, Senior Butian Peak felt somewhat empty, with many cave dwellings lying idle and unoccupied by any disciples.

Where had all those formal disciples gone? Surely they couldn't afford to rent a cave dwelling?

Lu Yang shook his head, deciding not to delve deeper, and instead fetched a meditation cushion to sit upon, then assumed the five-hearts-to-sky posture, beginning his first cultivation session within the cave dwelling.

Without cultivating, all was well, but the moment he began, Lu Yang immediately felt nearly double the amount of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy compared to the outer sect swarming in, pouring entirely into his dantian, then circulating through his meridians to every part of his body, finally penetrating from the outside in, step by step merging into his five viscera, six bowels, skin, flesh, tendons, and bones.

The efficiency was so high that Lu Yang's face showed nothing but astonishment.

With the same amount of time and the same cultivation method, the true qi that took him a full day to refine in the outer sect required only one quarter of an hour to produce within an inner sect cave dwelling.

"No wonder inner sect cave dwellings cost money to rent."

It is easy to go from frugality to luxury but hard to go from luxury to frugality; once one experienced the speed of cultivation within a cave dwelling, it became difficult to endure cultivating anywhere else.

The next day, Lu Yang did not leave, but stayed cooped up in his cave dwelling, cultivating while simultaneously reviewing the Primordial Dao Scripture.

"Although cultivation in this world still depends on talent, there is no concept of spiritual roots; basically, as long as one has the determination, anyone can step onto the path of cultivation."

Despite this saying, cultivation had not become any easier because of it.

Because although mortals entering the Dao faced no restrictions from spiritual roots, the grade of the true qi they refined still determined the highest achievement a cultivator could reach in the future.

This was the function of the "Dharma."

The higher the level of the cultivation method, the higher the grade of true qi refined, and the more likely one was to reach higher realms in the future; conversely, the more likely one was to encounter bottlenecks.

True Qi had nine grades and thirty-six stages; the lower the grade number, the more superior it was, and the higher the stage number, the more powerful it became.

Generally speaking, true qi below the Seventh Grade meant no chance of Foundation Establishment, below the Third Grade made forming a Golden Core difficult, and attempting to condense a Nascent Soul without reaching the First Grade was a path of certain death with no hope of survival.

"Independent cultivators truly have no way out."

Lu Yang couldn't help but sigh; compared to great sects with complete inheritances, where did independent cultivators have any room to choose their methods? They simply practiced whatever they could get.

Under such circumstances, no matter how high one's talent or comprehension, they lost at the starting line and could only harbor regrets for the rest of their lives.

The difficulty of immortal cultivation was evident from this alone.

Thinking of this, Lu Yang gradually furrowed his brows.

"The 'Primordial True Qi' refined by the 'Primordial Dao Scripture' ranks at the First Stage of the Sixth Grade, giving the cultivator hope of Foundation Establishment; strictly speaking, it is not weak."

However, it still did not meet his expectations.

If he were merely an ordinary cultivator, it would be fine.

But now that he possessed such a rare treasure as the 【Book of Hundred Lives】, his future was promising, and a cultivation method that stopped at Foundation Establishment could no longer satisfy his ambitions.

"If only I could have that kind of supreme true inheritance ranked at the First Grade..."

Lu Yang indulged in a fantasy for a moment, then sighed: "Forget it, the road must be taken step by step; taking strides too large will just result in a snap and pulling a muscle."

"First cultivate the Primordial Dao Scripture, become a great Foundation Establishment expert, and then decide..."

Once the Dao Foundation was built, one would enjoy longevity and dwell in the world for three hundred years, nearly equivalent to a mortal dynasty, and could rightly be called a "great expert" in the Cultivation World.

Once he had strength, he could then scheme for higher inheritances, and immediately restart upon obtaining them.

Repeating this cycle, there would surely come a day when his dreams came true.

As long as he had patience and did not rush, time would always be a good friend standing on his side; this was the confidence the 【Book of Hundred Lives】 brought to Lu Yang.

Ten days later, Lu Yang's cave dwelling.

A white vapor steamed and misted, suddenly transforming into rolling black smoke, then into an invisible qi sword, and finally into a figure as ethereal and immortal as a fairy.

"I succeeded!"

Although the Primordial Dao Scripture was profound, it was not difficult to practice; in just ten short days, Lu Yang had successfully dissolved his physical form, refining his body into a strand of True Qi.

【Name: Lu Yang】

【Lifespan: 18】

【Cultivation Base: First Layer of Qi Condensation】

【Talent: Dual Cultivation Prodigy (White)】

【Cultivation Methods: Ode of Yin-Yang Great Bliss (Perfected), Primordial Qi Refining Body-Transforming Art (Perfected)】

【Divine Abilities: None】

【Treasures: None】

【Pages of the Book of Hundred Lives: 99】

Looking at the updated information on the Book of Hundred Lives, Lu Yang stepped into emptiness and trod upon the air, feeling his condition was better than ever; even the venereal disease of his original body had healed without medicine.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, just as Lu Yang was filled with pride and satisfaction, his brow furrowed; he abruptly stopped his movements, then looked again at the 【Book of Hundred Lives】, falling into a inexplicable reverie.

"... omething's wrong."

It seemed he had overlooked something.

Lu Yang subconsciously began to recall; in this life, he had encountered no difficulties, smoothly becoming a formal disciple and smoothly receiving the transmission of the Primordial Dao Scripture...

The next second, Lu Yang finally discovered what he had overlooked.

【After Yu Suzhen dual-cultivated with you to absorb your essence, she broke through to the Qi Condensation Realm; however, deeply rooted venereal disease made her true qi impossible to purge, confining her to bed for several months until she eventually fell critically ill and died.】

In the previous life, why did Senior Sister Yu die?

Since she was a formal disciple, she must have also received the transmission of the Primordial Dao Scripture; as long as she successfully refined it and transformed her body into qi, how could she possibly die from a venereal disease?

Did she fail to cultivate it?

"Impossible!" Lu Yang shook his head.

The Primordial Dao Scripture was not difficult to practice; since Yu Suzhen had the ability to break through to the Qi Condensation Realm, even if her aptitude was poor, it was impossible for her to fail to cultivate it after several months.

"Unless, what she practiced was not the Primordial Dao Scripture!"

In that instant, Lu Yang felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

The sound of his heartbeat had never been so clear, his breathing became rapid, and the previously excited expression quickly faded from Lu Yang's face:

"The Primordial Dao Scripture... was it specially prepared for me by Liu Xin?"

Lu Yang thought of the scene he had witnessed earlier in the Treasure Refining Hall.

That registered disciple in the Treasure Refining Hall had thought he had achieved the Great Dao, only to seek his own death; not only did he fail to break through, but he refined himself into a magic treasure instead.

Was that time and place, exactly like this time and place?

Just then, a familiar and affectionate call suddenly came from outside the cave dwelling:

"Junior Brother Lu, are you there?"

(End of Chapter)