Chapter 46: Stealing Heavenly Secrets

"This technique is named Stealing Heavenly Secrets."

Having received Lu Yang's approval, Zhao Xuhe took out a jade slip, infused it with his spiritual sense, and handed it to Lu Yang; it was precisely the brief introduction to the efficacy of the Foundation Establishment secret technique he had mentioned.

Lu Yang swept his spiritual sense over it and immediately displayed an expression of astonishment.

At a glance, Lu Yang knew this "Stealing Heavenly Secrets" technique was created by a high expert of the Holy Sect, for every word between the lines carried the Holy Sect's distinctive style.

The so-called Stealing Heavenly Secrets, as the name implies, involves first identifying a cultivator of the opposite sex whose age, talent, and cultivation base are evenly matched with one's own, then forming a Daoist partner bond with them, and finally, through continuous dual cultivation, gradually planting one's own Qi seed into their body to replace their original Qi seed.

Once successful, the other party will no longer cultivate their own Qi seed, but rather the practitioner's Qi seed.

At that time, no matter what opportunities they encounter or what breakthroughs they achieve, the results will ultimately be stolen by the practitioner, rendering their lifelong cultivation nothing more than embroidery on another's robe.

Insidious, ruthless, treating talented individuals as mere resources... truly classic.

Thinking of this, Lu Yang glanced at Zhao Xuhe again, suddenly recalling that in the life before his last, he had heard Zhao Xuhe seemed to have become Daoist partners with Fairy Feixia.

'So that's how it was; no wonder they both perished after failing their Foundation Establishment breakthrough.'

'Looking at it now, Zhao Xuhe likely killed Fairy Feixia first, then died from his failed Foundation Establishment attempt; all his scheming amounted to nothing in the end...'

While silently criticizing him in his heart, Lu Yang also felt a hidden sense of awe.

From his perspective, Zhao Xuhe's preparations in that previous life were undeniably thorough, utilizing almost every available resource.

In that life, after Zhao Xuhe and Fairy Feixia became Daoist partners, he leveraged Skeleton Mountain to leap forward, not only breaking through to the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation but also obtaining two rare treasures for Foundation Establishment; considering this "Stealing Heavenly Secrets" technique, Fairy Feixia's share was effectively already in Zhao Xuhe's pocket.

All told, Zhao Xuhe had prepared fully three methods to break through to Foundation Establishment!

Yet what was the result?

He still failed!

"Foundation Establishment, Foundation Establishment, the Great Dao Immortal Foundation... without establishing a foundation, one remains merely an ordinary mortal; no wonder only Foundation Establishment cultivators deserve the title of True Person."

"Foundation Establishment is difficult, more difficult than ascending to the blue heavens..."

After sighing with emotion, Lu Yang looked again at the jade slip in his hand.

"What does Junior Brother think?"

Zhao Xuhe looked full of anticipation: "Using this as collateral, Junior Brother, lend me thirty thousand contribution points for a term of three months; in three months, I will definitely repay the debt."

"If I fail to repay it in full, the secret technique will be forfeited to you, Junior Brother, to offset the debt."

"However, even if I do repay it in full, I will still gift the secret technique to you, Junior Brother, as a token of gratitude for your timely aid in helping me through this difficult predicament!"

Zhao Xuhe spoke with great generosity and boldness, yet upon hearing this, Lu Yang merely sneered inwardly.

'It sounds as though if I agree to lend the money, this Stealing Heavenly Secrets technique becomes mine, and I cannot possibly lose either way... but in reality, it is nothing of the sort!'

The crux lies neither in the secret technique nor in lending the money.

It lies in the three-month time limit.

For once he lends the money, should Zhao Xuhe encounter any crisis within those three months, Lu Yang would be forced to intervene; otherwise, the money would never be recovered.

Therefore, this lending of money is not truly lending money, but lending oneself!

Zhao Xuhe clearly intended to use this Foundation Establishment secret technique to bind Lu Yang, forcing him to foot the bill for Zhao Xuhe's future adventures and the karmic consequences he incurs!

In short, this was a sugar-coated bullet.

Yet since it concerned Foundation Establishment, he found himself unable to refuse.

"But what if I want the secret technique yet wish to avoid taking responsibility..."

Lu Yang gazed at the jade slip in his hand, pondering how to eat the sugar coating and throw back the bullet, perhaps by sending Zhao Xuhe to become sworn brothers with Liu Xin...

However, he quickly dismissed this idea in his mind; just as he had taken Ouyang Haoze as a banner spirit yet failed to obtain the core technique of the Shenwu Sect from him, the Cultivation World possessed countless methods to prevent the leakage of techniques and divine abilities, and since Zhao Xuhe dared to approach him, he must have made preparations.

The success rate was far too low.

Lu Yang fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said: "... ery well."

"I can agree to Senior Brother's loan request, but I also have a condition; if Senior Brother cannot accept this condition, I would rather forfeit the secret technique."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xuhe was overjoyed: "Junior Brother, please speak!"

"The condition is very simple," Lu Yang said softly. "Senior Brother must hand over the authentic copy of the secret technique to me; otherwise, what if Senior Brother later regrets it and refuses to give it to me?"

"Of course, you may place a restriction on the authentic copy, such as one that causes it to self-destruct immediately if opened without authorization, which can be unlocked after three months. With Senior Brother's magic power, the restriction can last at least eighty years; this way, I am reassured, and you are reassured. What does Senior Brother think?"

Zhao Xuhe thought for a moment; it seemed there was no flaw?

The only issue was that his magic power was limited, and the restriction would automatically dissolve after eighty years when his magic power was exhausted, but by then, the opportunity would long have passed.

One must know that the lifespan of a Qi Condensation cultivator is around one hundred and fifty years.

Furthermore, once past the age of one hundred, when essence, qi, and spirit begin to wane, there is basically no hope left for breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

Lu Yang was already over twenty this year; eighty years later, he would certainly be over a hundred years old, half-buried in the grave, and even if he possessed the Foundation Establishment secret technique, it would be of no use.

After all, if this life is nearly over, what basis is there for establishing a foundation?

The next life?

The more Zhao Xuhe thought about it, the more he felt that Lu Yang's proposal was so appropriate that it achieved the transaction while avoiding mutual suspicion; truly a win-win situation!

"Junior Brother's request is entirely reasonable; let it be done!"

Zhao Xuhe nodded decisively, immediately took out another jade slip, first condensed his magic power to inscribe a restriction upon it, and then handed it to Lu Yang.

Seeing this, Lu Yang naturally accepted it with a beaming smile.

For a moment, both host and guest were delighted.

"From now on, Zhao Xuhe is essentially useless to me."

"If he manages to return alive, so be it; but if he truly causes trouble, I will not intervene; at worst, I can examine the secret technique after eighty years."

"Either way, I lose nothing..."

After seeing Zhao Xuhe off, Lu Yang hummed a little tune and cheerfully began arranging the market town, for nowadays, this market town was his foundation for survival.

Moreover, the Hundred Skeletons Return to Truth Great Formation within the market town was a Seventh Grade formation, while his Blood-Washing Heavenly River Sword Formation Diagram was only Ninth Grade, relying entirely on the Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light for its power; thus, if he could thoroughly comprehend the Hundred Skeletons Return to Truth Great Formation, drawing inferences from one instance to others would greatly aid his attainment in formation arts.

Soon, time passed.

In the blink of an eye, another month had gone by; Lu Yang startled awake from meditation, suddenly sensing a fragrant breeze sweeping toward him, and then saw a graceful, beautiful figure walk into the Blood-Robe Tower.

"Senior Sister..."

Lu Yang broke into a smile and said: "One does not visit the Three Treasures Hall without a cause; could it be that Senior Sister has gained new insights into formations and wishes to discuss them with me?"

"How many times must I say it? Just call me Feixia."

Fairy Feixia rolled her eyes at Lu Yang in mock annoyance, habitually settled herself into his lap, and then spoke in a soft, gentle voice: "Someone from the Holy Sect has arrived."

"Didn't they arrive long ago?"

Lu Yang replied with indifference: "I said last time that I only wish to cultivate in peace, have no intention of inviting trouble, and have no interest in whatever Witch-Ghost Secret Realm."

"The person who came this time is different."

Upon hearing Fairy Feixia's words, Lu Yang immediately narrowed his eyes: "... ho is it?"

"It is Second Senior Brother."

Fairy Feixia's expression turned serious: "Second Senior Brother of the Sanhe Society, a true disciple at the Great Perfection of Qi Condensation; this time, he personally instructed me to deliver this message."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yang's face gradually sank.

For if he remembered correctly, the founder of the Sanhe Society, this large faction within the Holy Sect... was seemingly a Foundation Establishment True Person?

(End of Chapter)