The news spread through the sect like wildfire, carried on whispers and envious curses.
"Rainbow Merit Fish. Grand Prize: ONE BILLION Contribution Points."
Lü Yang pieced together the story from the hushed, excited chatter around him.
The First Saint Sect maintained a permanent special mission: "Cultivating Merit." Deep in the cloud-sea beneath the Sacred Fire Cliff lay a blessed plot—the Merit Pool. Within it swam miraculous spirit-creatures known as Merit Fish.
They came in five grades, marked by color: White, Blue, Purple, Gold… and the legendary Rainbow.
The closer to rainbow hues, the more potent the fish's essence. Consuming it could purify one's Qi and shatter cultivation bottlenecks.
Thus, the "Cultivating Merit" mission was born.
Each disciple could attempt it once per month. They would pick a number at random, pay 10 Contribution Points, and receive the corresponding fish.
But there was a catch—a lottery. The 10 points weren't a fee; they went into a massive, ever-growing prize pool. A sect elder had decreed it centuries ago: whoever drew the single Rainbow Merit Fish would win the entire accumulated jackpot.
For nearly a hundred years, no one had won. The pot swelled to astronomical heights.
And then, yesterday, it happened.
The century-old jackpot—a staggering One Billion Points—was won by a disciple who had been in the sect for less than ten days.
"One billion… ONE BILLION!" The old librarian rocked in his chair, muttering the number like a curse, his face a mask of bitter envy. His own meager contributions over the years were part of that lost fortune.
The lucky disciple, Xiao Shiye, didn't just win the points. He consumed the Rainbow Fish and shot from the 1st Level of Qi Refining to the Peak of Qi Refining in a single night. Now, he was the personal disciple of a Foundation Establishment Elder, in seclusion to attempt his own breakthrough.
Even Lü Yang felt a sharp pang of jealousy. But it was quickly replaced by cold, focused calculation.
The winner hadn't hidden his lucky number. It was publicly known:
"2025113"
Lü Yang burned the sequence into his memory. Next life. That number is mine.
A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. "Junior Brother Lü?"
He looked up. Fairy Qingchen stood there, a mask of pleasant surprise on her flawless face. "What a coincidence."
"Ah, Qingchen. Is it time?" The old librarian perked up, his malaise vanishing into brisk action.
"Senior Brother, you're going cave exploring too?" Lü Yang asked.
"What else?" the old man grumbled. "Just lost a fortune. If I don't find some extra income, I'll starve!"
"Lost?"
"A speculative disaster," the librarian sighed, launching into a lament. "Some time back, the sect clashed with the Jiangnan's Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion. They seized a southern Corpse Refining Ground from us."
"The 'Substitute Puppets' refined there are precious treasures. Once the ground was lost, their price here skyrocketed. Everyone hoarded. I was cautious, watched… then, seeing prices only rise, I bought a batch at a premium."
He slapped his thigh. "The moment my purchase cleared, news came: the Holy Sect launched a counter-attack and recaptured the ground. The price crashed, lower than before! Ruined!"
Lü Yang could only offer a silent, sympathetic stare.
"But, thank the heavens for Qingchen," the old man said, brightening. "A truly good soul."
Fairy Qingchen demurred with a shy smile. "You flatter me, Senior Brother."
"Genuine praise! You introduced me to Senior Brother Zhao. Without him buying my stock at cost, I'd be destitute."
Senior Brother Zhao? Zhao Xuhe? Lü Yang's senses sharpened.
"By the way, Junior Brother Lü." Qingchen turned her luminous eyes on him. "Have you reconsidered joining our cave expedition?"
"This Junior Brother is foolish and timid," Lü Yang bowed slightly, his voice humble. "New to the sect, weak in cultivation. I only wish to focus on steady training. Exploration is too dangerous; my heart is willing, but my strength is lacking."
"Kid, I don't like that attitude," the librarian scoffed. "Steady training? For nobodies like us, with no backing or wealth, silent cultivation is a road to nowhere!"
"Cultivation is about defying heaven! No risk, no reward! When others are fearful, you must be greedy! Only then can you seize destiny!"
Others are fearful, you are greedy… no wonder you went bankrupt, Lü Yang thought. Outwardly, he just offered more polite refusals.
"Rotten wood cannot be carved!" The old man huffed, turning to leave in a swirl of robes.
Fairy Qingchen gave Lü Yang one last, unreadable look before following.
Heaven Mending Peak. A Secluded Cave.
Qingchen led the old librarian to a hidden compound, asking him to wait in the outer courtyard. She proceeded to an inner quiet room.
The door opened. Zhao Xuhe stepped out.
"Failed again? He still refused?" Zhao Xuhe's brow furrowed at Qingchen's report. "A firm Dao heart. A pity. But he's expendable."
"Senior Brother… I think something's wrong with him," Qingchen said, her voice dropping, a flicker of unease in her eyes. "The life-lamps of my three… associates… extinguished last night. I sent them to deal with Lü Yang. They haven't returned."
"You know their strength—all at the 3rd Level of Qi Refining. For Lü Yang to kill them… could he have reached the Mid-Stage?"
"Impossible!" Zhao Xuhe dismissed it instantly. "Breaking a bottleneck is immensely difficult. In a few days, the most he could achieve is the 3rd Level, not Mid-Stage."
"Don't overthink it. I checked his purchase records. He bought many Yuan Qi Pills. Recklessly consuming them to reach the 3rd Level is plausible. As for your three…"
Zhao Xuhe's eyes glinted with cold analysis. "He exchanged his points for a technique—the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion's Divine Firmament Sword Control Art. If he has a natural talent for the sword and grasped it quickly, ambushing and killing your men is within reason."
"Senior Brother is wise," Qingchen conceded after a moment. Zhao Xuhe's logic was sound. She remembered her own decade-long struggle to break into the Mid-Stage. For a new disciple to do it in a month? Only a reborn immortal could manage that.
"Enough. We'll deal with him later." Zhao Xuhe waved a hand, his expression turning severe. "Focus on the 'cave exploration.' Are the participants assembled?"
"All of them," Qingchen nodded, a sly smile returning. "Especially the librarian, Wang Bairong. You bought his Substitute Puppets. He trusts us completely now."
"Good." A cruel, satisfied smile spread across Zhao Xuhe's face. "Our Holy Sect has never lacked for talented, ambitious disciples. Whether we make our fortune this time… depends entirely on the generous contributions of our dear fellow apprentices."