The mountains and rivers were like a painting, the setting sun like blood. Lu Yang stood upon the sea of clouds. After waiting for quite a while without a palm strike descending from the heavens to smash him into dust, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Was that just now... a Foundation Establishment Daoist Master?"
Lu Yang did not even dare to mutter to himself, thinking only in his heart. His expression was as unsightly as it could be; after all, the gap between them was simply too vast. Not only his body, but even his thoughts had been frozen.
He only reacted after Daoist Hongyun had left. The feeling was like a mouse caught in a cat's paws. It was no longer a so-called difference in power, but a difference in level, instantly extinguishing all the arrogance in Lu Yang's heart.
"I am still too weak, I have no power."
Originally, after defeating Liu Xin and the others against overwhelming odds, Lu Yang had swept away the gloom of his past life and felt high-spirited. Now, however, he had once again calmed his state of mind. The Immortal Path is long; one must still forge ahead with diligence.
Lu Yang sighed with emotion for a moment, then recalled the matter with Xiao Shiye, and fear once again appeared in his eyes.
"Luck, can it actually be bestowed by others?"
At this point, he remembered. Before heading to the Merit Pool, Xiao Shiye had said something: "It just so happens that I've suddenly gotten a bit lucky recently, so I want to take the opportunity to try my hand." Gotten a bit lucky recently.
At the time, Lu Yang had only thought it was the humility of a Son of Heaven, but looking at it now, perhaps that was the truth. He really had only become lucky recently. Because of that Daoist Hongyun!
"The rainbow fish in the Merit Pool must be the Rainbow Merit Fish. Daoist Hongyun wanted to use Xiao Shiye's hand to fish it out of the Merit Pool?"
"If that's really the case, then he succeeded in the last life. However, speaking of which, in the last life, after Xiao Shiye fished out the Rainbow Merit Fish, he announced he was entering seclusion and was never heard from again."
The more Lu Yang thought about it, the more terrified he became. Fishing, fishing... once the fish is caught, the bait is naturally useless, isn't it? Thinking of this, Lu Yang suddenly raised his head.
The Primordial Saint Sect, the Heaven-Linking Cloud Sea. Perhaps to those high-level figures of the Saint Sect, who were as elusive as dragons that show their heads but hide their tails, these so-called disciples were nothing more than a school of fish being raised in a fish pond?
"As expected of the Saint Sect..."
Lu Yang took a deep breath, somewhat understanding why no one had slapped him to death. A single fish, even if it jumps around a bit more energetically and has some unspeakable secrets, what of it? They might even think you're a talented individual!
"Regardless, at least the secret of the Book of a Hundred Lives wasn't exposed."
Lu Yang felt fortunate in his heart.
Not only that, but the karma related to the Book of a Hundred Lives also seemed to have been concealed from Daoist Master Hongyun, to the point that the other party had no suspicion at all as to why he possessed a cultivation level of the fourth level of Qi Refining before even joining the sect.
"Best not to delay. I'll head back and eat first."
Fortunately, although the Innate Dao Scripture was taken away by Daoist Hongyun, Lu Yang had already memorized all of its contents beforehand. This was a good habit Lu Yang had developed because of the Book of a Hundred Lives. Whenever he encountered a decent cultivation technique or divine ability, he would immediately memorize it.
That way, he could use it in his next life without needing to spend contribution points to exchange for it again. Moreover, Daoist Hongyun took away the Innate Dao Scripture, but he did not take Fairy Qingchen's Secret Explanation of Formation Treasures.
"Indeed, the two are not comparable in the slightest. Fairy Qingchen's item is clearly not worthy of that person's notice... but for me, it is of great use."
In truth, Lu Yang did not place much importance on the Innate Dao Scripture, because he had already set his sights on Zhao Xuhe's third-grade true art. The Innate Dao Scripture was optional for him. Instead, it was cultivation skills like the Secret Explanation of Formation Treasures, which involved setting up formations and refining treasures, that he found very interesting.
As for the Innate Primordial Qi Myriad Spirits Banner...
"There will always be a chance. We'll see about it in the next life."
Returning to his cave residence, Lu Yang first patiently settled down to cultivate peacefully, studying the Secret Explanation of Formation Treasures while slowly repairing the damage to his sword pellet. It was not until half a month later that he came out of seclusion again. This time, he went to find Zhao Xuhe.
But when he arrived at Zhao Xuhe's cave residence, he saw Zhao Xuhe arguing with a stern-looking young man dressed in the uniform of the Law Enforcement Hall.
"Senior Brother, you have to believe me. Don't you understand my, Zhao Xuhe's, reputation? It's been very good for over a decade. It's just 1000 contribution points, isn't it? I'll definitely pay it back... What? Interest!? You... fine. It's not a problem. Senior Brother, just give me a few more days' grace, and I'll definitely pay it all back, principal and interest."
After the two were entangled for a moment, the disciple from the Law Enforcement Hall left with a cold sneer. Zhao Xuhe, on the other hand, stood in place with a gloomy expression, the aura around his body fluctuating. Lu Yang saw that the timing was right and immediately showed himself, walking over.
"Senior Brother Zhao, long time no see."
Zhao Xuhe looked up at the sound of his voice and instantly noticed Lu Yang's undisguised aura. His pupils shrank abruptly.
"Junior Brother Lu, you've broken through to the late stage of the Qi Refining Realm!?"
"A stroke of luck, just a stroke of luck."
Lu Yang smiled faintly and said, "My aptitude is dull. I was in seclusion for several months and spent quite a few contribution points to have this lucky breakthrough. I've made a fool of myself in front of Senior Brother."
Hearing this, Zhao Xuhe's expression grew even stiffer, even faintly distorted. After all, they had both speculated on Death-Substituting Yin Skeletons. He had speculated until he was bankrupt and had lost everything, even his paramours had run off with others.
Yet Lu Yang had made a fortune, and even used the contribution points he earned to break through to the late stage of the Qi Refining Realm. What was even more infuriating was that he might not even be Lu Yang's opponent now!
"Although I obtained Daoist Master Panlong's opportunity, because my luck wasn't enough and my merit was insufficient, I only ended up with half of that third-grade true art."
For this, he had even specially asked his master once. His master performed a divination of karma and concluded that it was because he had speculated on Death-Substituting Yin Skeletons, prematurely using up the merit he had accumulated over three lifetimes, which led to his failure at the final hurdle.
At this thought, Zhao Xuhe nearly ground his teeth to dust. Half of a third-grade true art, containing only the Qi Refining Realm part, the Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Art, but missing the Foundation Establishment Realm technique. To him, it was completely useless!
Not to mention he was now in debt. He didn't even dare to dissipate his cultivation to switch techniques, fearing that debt collectors would show up during the transition. Seeing him powerless after dissipating his cultivation, they would simply turn into robbers on the spot, plundering him clean before silencing him forever.
Then he would truly have no one to cry to.
"Junior Brother, is there something you've come to find me for?"
"It's a long story."
Lu Yang sighed.
"To be honest with Senior Brother, I have come to ask for your guidance. This junior brother has recently run into some trouble."
"Trouble?"
Zhao Xuhe's eyes lit up. Hearing this, Lu Yang sighed and said, "I was previously focused solely on cultivation. It wasn't until I broke through to the late stage of the Qi Refining Realm that I learned about the issue of True Qi grades.
My heart is filled with regret." Hearing Lu Yang say this, Zhao Xuhe suddenly felt much better.
"So it was about the grade of your True Qi."
Zhao Xuhe offered a few words of false comfort, "Most disciples in the Saint Sect are actually unaware of this point, so it's quite normal for Junior Brother not to know."
"Ai, things in this world are hard to predict."
Lu Yang shook his head helplessly.
"So, the reason I've come to find Senior Brother this time is to ask if there's any way to raise the grade of my True Qi. It would be even better if there's a superior cultivation technique... As for the price, Senior Brother doesn't need to worry. I can still afford one or two thousand contribution points."
"... Oh?"
Hearing Lu Yang say this, Zhao Xuhe's mind immediately became active. One or two thousand contribution points... he happened to be in urgent need of exactly that sum right now. In a flash, Zhao Xuhe's thoughts raced, and then he suddenly said: "Junior Brother Lu, if you put it that way...
I really do have a cultivation technique on hand that's suitable for you. As long as you cultivate it, you can definitely raise the grade of your True Qi."
"Really?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Yang's face immediately showed a look of anticipation.
"What cultivation technique is it?"
Zhao Xuhe hesitated for a moment upon hearing this. For some reason, he had a strange feeling, but on second thought, this cultivation technique was only half a book, it was already useless. Rather than keeping it, it was better to make use of this waste and use it to pay off his own debts.
Thinking of this, Zhao Xuhe immediately gritted his teeth, took out the Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Art he had obtained from Coiling Dragon Island from his bosom, and handed it to Lu Yang.
(End of this chapter)