"Senior Brother Liu? He came looking for me!?"
Hearing the voice from outside the Immortal Cave, Lü Yang's pupils constricted, and his face instantly darkened to the extreme. Not only did he not respond, but he also reined in his Aura.
"...Junior Brother?"
The voice came again, but Lü Yang still didn't respond. Although he had no evidence, he was already certain that there was a problem with the content of the Innate Dao Book he was Cultivating!
"I still suffered from a lack of experience. I didn't suspect anything before."
"Joyful Union Hall and Butian Peak have a close relationship, so the Cultivation Technique's content should also be related to Dual Cultivation. However, the Innate Dao Book has nothing to do with Dual Cultivation."
"He tricked me!"
"But why would he harm me? Although Chu Sheng Sect is a Demonic Path sect, it still has sect rules. Private duels are strictly forbidden between official Disciples. Once discovered..."
Thinking of this, Lü Yang slapped his head.
"How could I have believed the evil of the Demonic Path!"
"Once discovered, once discovered... If it's not discovered, it doesn't count as a private duel?"
The more Lü Yang thought about it, the uglier his expression became. Ultimately, it was force of habit. Liu Xin's every word and action before had fulfilled the duties of a welcoming Disciple.
Aside from introducing the situation of the Inner Sect, he also diligently and unreservedly provided all the benefits an Inner Sect Disciple should have, such as Magic Treasures, Medicinal Pills, Spirit Beasts, and so on. He didn't miss a single one, especially in the Artifact Refining Hall, where he even instructed the attendant to get him the best.
It was all a facade!
Everything before was for that final step of handing him the "Innate Dao Book," to make him lower his guard and completely trust his good intentions!
"Now that I think about it, he might have even harbored thoughts of taking everything for himself."
"After all, if he killed me, all the Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, and Spirit Beasts I obtained would naturally become his. No wonder he specifically said to get the best!"
That beast!
Just then, another sound came from outside the Immortal Cave.
The next second, with a "crack," the Formation of Lü Yang's Immortal Cave exploded, and the main door was torn apart by a sword light!
With the door wide open, Liu Xin, robes fluttering, stepped inside.
Upon seeing Lü Yang, Liu Xin's face revealed a joyous expression, like a harvest, and he nodded in satisfaction: "Junior Brother is indeed a talent."
Boom!
Before Liu Xin could finish speaking, Lü Yang directly exploded!
The surging Innate True Qi, carrying the Magical Artifact Bone Jade Sword, finally transformed into a sharp sword light, slashing towards Liu Xin with an unstoppable Aura.
However, the next second, the sword light stopped abruptly.
"...A dying struggle..."
Liu Xin neither dodged nor evaded; he simply formed a hand seal, and Lü Yang's body instantly lost control, as if he had become someone else's Puppet!
"This Innate Dao Book is truly a good thing," Liu Xin couldn't help but laugh at this sight. "A Cultivator transforms their Physical Body and Primordial Spirit into a wisp of Innate Qi, which can be used as medicine, refined into a treasure, or even used to increase Cultivation. With this wondrous treasure, I can certainly hope to reach the Late Stage of Qi Refining!"
"To be able to help me Breakthrough, Junior Brother, you can be considered to have died a worthy death."
As his words fell, Liu Xin immediately began to change his hand seals. Lü Yang instantly felt his consciousness gradually dissipate, as if it was being forcibly erased!
At this moment, Lü Yang was enlightened:
"This is the second half of the Innate Dao Book!"
"The first half is a trap for others to Cultivate, and the second half is the true method. It's just waiting for others to Cultivate the first half, and then make wedding clothes for oneself!"
Rather than a Cultivation Technique, it was more like an Artifact Refining technique.
However, it wasn't refining objects, but refining people, and it even made people refine themselves. The true Cultivator hid in the dark, saving both trouble and effort.
It was called a Dao Book, but it was actually a Demonic Technique!
"You're formidable. This lifetime is yours."
Thinking of this, Lü Yang simply stopped resisting and allowed his consciousness to dissipate. In fact, after the initial shock and anger, he had now regained his calm and composure.
"A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit. You can trick me once, but I have countless more chances."
"I'll remember this grudge!"
The next second, Lü Yang's consciousness plunged into darkness.
In the void, only the rustling sound of pages turning remained.
[You were refined by Liu Xin, your consciousness gone, completely transformed into a wisp of Innate True Qi, and you died.]
[Current book of hundred lives remaining pages: 98]
[Starting a new life, you can choose one of the following gains from your previous life:
One: Treasure.
Two: Cultivation.
Three: Lifespan.
Four: Abandon all gains and randomly awaken a talent based on your previous life's experience.]
"Those whose names are called, come forward."
A familiar voice came from the stage. Lü Yang gritted his teeth to control his emotions, not looking up, but focusing his thoughts on the panel before him.
Treasure, Cultivation, Lifespan.
If he could, Lü Yang would of course want to choose Cultivation, but he was worried about being discovered and then being unable to explain where his Cultivation came from.
As for lifespan, he skipped it directly.
"Can I only choose Treasure then?"
Lü Yang frowned. Speaking of treasures, he only had a Bone Jade Sword that was barely presentable, but without Cultivation, he couldn't activate a Magical Artifact.
Just then, Lü Yang's gaze suddenly paused.
Because just now, the book of hundred lives suddenly gave him a feedback.
"This... can also be considered a Treasure?"
Lü Yang was first surprised, then thoughtful, and finally gritted his teeth and made a decision: choose one, retain one Treasure obtained in the previous life.
The next second, an anomaly suddenly occurred!
Without alarming anyone, all anomalies were confined within Lü Yang's Dantian. At its source, it was a swirling, misty white Qi.
Innate True Qi!
The Innate True Qi that Lü Yang had refined in his previous life, after dissolving his internal organs, skin, flesh, tendons, and bones, was actually considered a Treasure, and now he had exchanged for it!
"Incredible," Lü Yang lowered his eyelids, hiding the surprise in his eyes.
Because he discovered that he could not only manipulate this ball of Innate True Qi as easily as his own arm, but he could even use it to cast the Spells from his previous life!
"Under normal circumstances, this should be impossible."
"Because to control Innate True Qi, one must use the secret method of the second half. But I am different, because this wisp of Innate True Qi is me!"
The two were originally one, and for Lü Yang, it was equivalent to having an additional Qi Refining First Layer Clone.
"Moreover, before I died in my previous life, I heard Liu Xin say that this Innate True Qi, when used in medicine, can assist in Breakthroughs. This wisp of True Qi will have great use in the future!"
After organizing his gains, Lü Yang began his actions for this lifetime.
First, he was still assigned to Joyful Union Hall.
Then, he met Yu Suzhen.
However, this time, to avoid attracting attention, Lü Yang did not use Senior Sister Yu's primordial yin to Breakthrough to the Qi Refining Realm, but instead fed it all to the Innate True Qi.
"In this life, I will lie low and not be reckless!"
Sure enough, Liu Xin, who was waiting outside the door, saw that Lü Yang did not Breakthrough after Dual Cultivating with Yu Suzhen, and immediately lost interest in Lü Yang.
Immediately after, Lü Yang patiently waited.
Ten-odd days later, a Disciple named "Qin Yu" from Joyful Union Hall Breakthrough, and Lü Yang saw Liu Xin rush over upon hearing the news, happily taking him away.
A few more days passed, Liu Xin announced he was entering seclusion, and the Senior Brother responsible for welcoming Disciples was replaced.
But Lü Yang still didn't show his face.
"Heaven knows what kind of person this new Senior Brother is. What if he's also like Liu Xin... Hmm, it's better if I don't stick my neck out."
"To be safe, I'll wait another month."
Thus, another half a month passed. It wasn't until another Outer Sect Disciple Breakthrough to Qi Refining and ascended to the Inner Sect, and was safe and sound, that Lü Yang chose to Breakthrough.
With the Innate True Qi's enhancement, Lü Yang could actually Breakthrough without Dual Cultivation.
However, to cover his tracks, he still casually found a few Outer Sect Disciples for Dual Cultivation.
And this time, the official Disciple responsible for welcoming him was much more perfunctory, completely lacking Liu Xin's enthusiasm, and even showed a hint of disdain.
"This is the Scripture Pavilion."
After receiving his benefits, the other party led him to a pavilion and casually said, "Go in with your token. Exchange for whatever Cultivation Technique you want with contribution points."
After speaking, the other party directly left.
However, Lü Yang felt much more at ease at this sight. Small figures also had their advantages. The person not putting him in his eyes actually suited his intentions perfectly.
Thinking of this, Lü Yang turned to look at Butian Peak in the distance.
"Liu Xin... Hmph!"
A few days ago, Liu Xin emerged from seclusion, officially Breakthrough to the Late Stage of Qi Refining, and even became a Personal Disciple of the Butian Peak Master. He was currently riding high.
Lü Yang snorted coldly, withdrew his gaze, and strode into the Scripture Pavilion.
Although he harbored thoughts of revenge, he was too weak now. Without power, the most urgent task was to diligently Cultivate. Everything else could wait until he became strong.
A gentleman's revenge, ten years is not too late.
A temporary expedient, no need to rush for a moment!