Chapter 5: I Will Remember This Grudge

"Senior Brother Liu? He has come knocking!?"

Hearing the voice from outside the cave dwelling, Lu Yang's pupils constricted sharply, his face instantly darkening to the extreme; not only did he not respond, but he also retracted his qi signature.

"... unior Brother?"

The voice came again, yet Lu Yang still did not respond; although he lacked evidence, he was now certain that the content of the Innate Dao Scripture he was cultivating was flawed!

"I suffered due to my own experience; I actually failed to suspect it before."

"The Hehuan Hall and Senior Butian Peak are closely related, so the cultivation method should logically involve dual cultivation, yet the Innate Dao Scripture has nothing to do with dual cultivation."

"I've been deceived by him!"

"But why would he want to harm me? Although the Chusheng Sect is a demonic path, it still has sect rules; private fighting among formal disciples is strictly prohibited, and once discovered..."

Thinking of this, Lu Yang suddenly slapped his forehead.

"How could I have believed the evil of a demonic sect!"

"'Once discovered, once discovered'... does that mean if I'm not discovered, it doesn't count as private fighting?"

The more Lu Yang thought, the uglier his expression became; ultimately, it was inertia at play, as Liu Xin's every word and deed previously had fulfilled the duties of a guiding disciple.

Besides introducing the situation of the inner sect, he also covered the benefits due to inner sect disciples—magic treasures, elixirs, spirit beasts, and so on; he could be described as having done his utmost without holding anything back, ensuring I received everything, especially at the Lianbaodian, where he even instructed the steward there to give me the best.

It was all an illusion!

Everything before was merely to set the stage for that final step of handing me the "Innate Dao Scripture," making me lower my guard and completely believe in his good intentions!

"Thinking about it now, he probably even harbored thoughts of embezzling my possessions."

"After all, once I'm killed, the magic tools, elixirs, and spirit beasts I obtained would naturally all belong to him... no wonder he specifically said to get the best!"

You beast!

Just then, a sound came from outside the cave dwelling once more.

The next second, with a loud "crack," the formation of the cave dwelling where Lu Yang resided exploded with a roar, and the great door was torn apart by a blade of sword light!

With the great door wide open, Liu Xin drifted in, his robes fluttering.

Upon seeing Lu Yang, a look of harvest-like joy appeared on Liu Xin's face, and he nodded in satisfaction: "Junior Brother is truly a talent..."

Boom!

Before Liu Xin could finish speaking, Lu Yang exploded directly!

Towering Innate True Qi enveloped the magic treasure Bone Jade Sword, finally transforming into a sharp sword light that slashed toward Liu Xin with an unstoppable momentum.

However, the next second, the sword light halted abruptly.

"... dying struggle."

Seeing this, Liu Xin neither dodged nor avoided; he simply formed a hand seal, and Lu Yang's body instantly lost control, as if he had become someone else's puppet!

"This Innate Dao Scripture is truly a good thing." Seeing this scene, Liu Xin could not help but laugh loudly: "The cultivator transforms their physical body and primordial spirit into a strand of Innate Qi, which can be used as medicine, refined into treasures, or even used to increase cultivation base; with this rare treasure, I daresay reaching the Late Stage of Qi Condensation is within sight!"

"Since you can aid my breakthrough, Junior Brother, you have died a worthy death."

As his words fell, Liu Xin immediately began changing his hand seals, and Lu Yang instantly felt his consciousness starting to dissipate, as if it were being forcibly erased!

At this moment, enlightenment struck Lu Yang:

"This is the second half of the Innate Dao Scripture!"

"The first half is a trap for others to cultivate, while the second half is the true method, waiting for someone to cultivate the first half so they can reap the rewards!"

Rather than a cultivation method, this is more akin to a technique of refining treasures.

It is just not refining treasures from objects, but refining them from people, making people refine themselves, while the true cultivator hides in the shadows, saving trouble and effort.

Named a Dao Scripture, it is in reality a demonic art!

"You are formidable; I yield this life to you."

Thinking this, Lu Yang simply stopped resisting, allowing his consciousness to dissipate, and after the initial shock and rage, he instead regained his calm composure.

"A fall into the pit makes you wiser; you can deceive me once, but I have countless lives."

"I will remember this grudge!"

The next second, Lu Yang's consciousness plunged into darkness.

In the void, only the sound of turning pages remained, rustling softly.

【You were refined by Liu Xin, your consciousness completely erased, transforming entirely into a strand of Innate True Qi. You have died.】

【Current remaining pages of the Book of Hundred Lives: 98】

【Restarting a new life, you may choose one of the following gains from your previous life:

One: Treasures.

Two: Cultivation Base.

Three: Lifespan.

Four: Forfeit all gains to randomly awaken a talent based on your previous life's experiences.】

"Those whose names are called, come before me."

The familiar voice came from the platform; Lu Yang clenched his teeth to restrain his emotions, keeping his head down while focusing his thoughts on the panel before him.

Treasures, cultivation base, lifespan.

If possible, Lu Yang would naturally choose cultivation base, but he feared being discovered, leaving him unable to explain where his cultivation came from.

As for lifespan, he skipped it directly.

"I can only choose treasures, then..."

Lu Yang frowned deeply; speaking of treasures, he only had a Bone Jade Sword that was barely presentable, but without cultivation base, possessing a magic tool was useless as he could not activate it.

Just then, Lu Yang's gaze suddenly paused.

Because just moments ago, the Book of Hundred Lives had given him feedback.

"Can this... even count as a treasure?"

Lu Yang was first startled, then showed a thoughtful expression, before finally gritting his teeth and making a decision: Choose One, retain one treasure obtained in the previous life.

The next second, a sudden change occurred!

Without alerting anyone, all changes were confined within Lu Yang's dantian; the source was unmistakably a wisp of misty, steaming white qi.

Innate True Qi!

The Innate True Qi that Lu Yang had refined in his previous life by dissolving his internal organs, flesh, skin, bones, and tendons actually counted as a treasure, and now he had exchanged for it!

"Unbelievable." Lu Yang lowered his eyelids, hiding the surprise in his eyes.

This was because he discovered that not only could he manipulate this clump of Innate True Qi as easily as moving his own limbs, but he could also use it to cast spells from his previous life!

"Under normal circumstances, this should be impossible."

"Because to manipulate Innate True Qi, one must use the secret method from the second half. But I am different, because this strand of Innate True Qi is myself!"

The two were originally one entity; for Lu Yang, it was equivalent to having an additional clone at the First Layer of Qi Condensation.

"Moreover, before I died in my previous life, I heard Liu Xin say that this Innate True Qi could assist in breaking through realms after being used as medicine... this strand of True Qi will have great use in the future!"

After organizing his gains, Lu Yang began his actions for this life.

First, he was once again assigned to the Hehuan Hall.

Then, he would surpass Yu Suzhen.

However, this time, to avoid attracting attention, Lu Yang did not use Senior Sister Yu's yuan yin to break through to the Qi Condensation Realm, but instead fed it all to the Innate True Qi.

"In this life, I must lie low and not act rashly!"

As expected, Liu Xin, who was guarding outside, saw that Lu Yang had not broken through after dual cultivating with Yu Suzhen and immediately lost interest in him.

Immediately after, Lu Yang waited patiently.

Ten-plus days later, a disciple of the Hehuan Hall named "Qin Yu" broke through; Lu Yang saw Liu Xin rush over upon hearing the news and happily lead him away.

A few days later, Liu Xin announced a closed-door cultivation, and the senior brother responsible for guiding new disciples was replaced.

But Lu Yang still did not show himself.

"Who knows what kind of person this new senior brother is; what if he is just like Liu Xin... Hmm, it is better not to stick my head out."

"To be safe, I will wait another month."

Thus, another half-month passed; only after another outer sect disciple broke through to Qi Condensation and promoted to the inner sect safely did Lu Yang choose to break through.

With the blessing of the Innate True Qi, Lu Yang actually did not need dual cultivation to break through.

However, to deceive the public eye, he casually found a few outer sect disciples to dual cultivate with.

This time, the formal disciple responsible for guiding him was much more perfunctory, lacking Liu Xin's enthusiasm entirely, and his expression even showed a hint of disdain.

"This is the Cangshuge."

After collecting his benefits, the man led him to the front of a pavilion and said casually: "Take this token and go in; exchange contribution points for whatever cultivation method you want."

Having said that, the man left immediately with a flick of his sleeves.

However, seeing this, Lu Yang felt greatly reassured; small figures have their advantages, and the fact that this person did not take him seriously actually suited his intentions perfectly.

Thinking of this, Lu Yang turned to look at the distant Senior Butian Peak.

"Liu Xin... Hmph!"

Several days ago, Liu Xin had exited closed-door cultivation, officially breaking through to the Late Stage of Qi Condensation, and had even become a direct disciple of the Senior Butian Peak Master, currently basking in his moment of triumph.

Lu Yang snorted coldly, withdrew his gaze, and strode into the Cangshuge.

Although he intended to take revenge, he was currently too weak; without power, the most urgent task was to cultivate diligently, and everything else could wait until he became stronger.

A gentleman waits ten years to avenge a wrong; it is never too late.

An expedient measure; there is no rush for the moment!

(End of Chapter)