Chapter 101: It Had to Be You, Senior Brother Zhao
Chapter 101: It Has to Be You, Senior Brother Zhao
The plan was flawless, but reality proved harsh.
"I didn't choose to inherit my previous life's cultivation, so neither the Corpse Dissolution True Method nor the Heavenly Silkworm Secret—those two great divine abilities—carried over. Relearning them will take time."
Fortunately, with the guardian deity Su Nu by his side, Lü Yang no longer needed to endure the hundred hardships of his past life. Directly cultivating divine abilities with Foundation Establishment-level empowerment meant he could regain his Foundation Establishment divine sense and [Corpse Dissolution Immortal] status within months, restoring his cultivation to its previous peak.
With this in mind, Lü Yang wasn't in a hurry to execute his plan.
After all, he'd be planting spies under the nose of a Foundation Establishment True Person. To be safe, it was better to wait until he'd fully recovered before acting.
Leaving his cave dwelling, he met with Liu Xin.
From Liu Xin's hands, he received half of the Innate Dao Book.
After watching the other depart, Lü Yang used an illusion technique to conceal himself. Calculating with his fingers, he soon arrived at a secluded cave dwelling on Mending Heaven Peak.
Inside, furious roars echoed:
"My opportunity! That was my opportunity, yet someone stole it... Rational? How can I be rational? What reason do I have left to be rational!"
It was Zhao Xuhe's voice.
As expected, with Lü Yang's appearance and the disappearance of True Person Panlong's inheritance, Zhao Xuhe had once again hit rock bottom, now cursing loudly in frustration.
Soon, the cave's entrance opened, and Zhao Xuhe's longtime lover, Fairy Qinghe, stepped out with a frosty expression. Turning back, she spat, "Zhao Xuhe, we're through," before striding away without hesitation. Lü Yang calculated—she was likely heading straight for Liu Xin's cave dwelling...
The sound of smashing objects resumed inside.
Opening his dharma eye, Lü Yang quickly spotted Zhao Xuhe venting his rage within. A faint smile curled his lips. "Senior Brother Zhao... it just had to be you."
In this life, his greatest enemy was undoubtedly Fulong Arhat.
He had no intention of dispersing his cultivation to start anew. After all, third-grade true techniques were rare—aside from the 《Nine Transforming Dragon Art》, the rest belonged to the Saint Sect.
But the Saint Sect's techniques... felt even less reliable.
At least he knew the flaws of the 《Nine Transforming Dragon Art》, whereas the Saint Sect's third-grade techniques remained as obscure as flowers veiled in mist.
Thus, it was better to find a solution within the 《Nine Transforming Dragon Art》.
"Though the technique has flaws, they likely only affect Qi Refining cultivators. Otherwise, why would Fulong wait until I was about to break through to Foundation Establishment before appearing?"
"If he came after I reached Foundation Establishment, wouldn't the gains be greater?"
"Yet he didn't... The only explanation is that once I succeed in Foundation Establishment, I'd escape his control. That's why he had to stop me in advance!"
In other words, if he could break through to Foundation Establishment despite Fulong's interference, he could turn the tables!
That said, Lü Yang knew his limits. Fulong Arhat had already refined one Heavenly Gang position. With mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, he was no match for the arhat.
At least, not before reaching Foundation Establishment himself.
Thus, brute force wasn't an option—only strategy remained.
"Though I plan to secure a true disciple position in the Saint Sect for protection this life, I can't stake everything on the Saint Sect."
After all... this was the Saint Sect they were talking about.
Even a cunning rabbit has three burrows—how much more so for a person?
Thus, Lü Yang needed backup plans—several, in fact—to ensure he could handle Fulong Arhat if the monk still came for him.
And Zhao Xuhe was one such backup plan.
In the next instant, Lü Yang directly activated his divine sense, violently invading Zhao Xuhe's mind.
..........
As the haze of alcohol faded, Zhao Xuhe's eyes snapped open. Between drowsiness and wakefulness, fragmented memories abruptly flooded his mind.
"Where am I...?"
Zhao Xuhe looked around blankly, slow to regain his bearings. Only when the shard-like memories gradually clarified did understanding dawn on his face.
"...These are memories from my past life!"
Within the memories, he saw a youth bearing eighty percent resemblance to himself—soaring through the skies, laughing proudly between heaven and earth, the very picture of vigor and ambition.
"So that's it... My past life was actually True Person Panlong!"
Zhao Xuhe understood.
"No wonder I had such affinity with that True Person Panlong's techniques—they were mine all along! As for the merit accumulated over three lifetimes, that was from my time as a True Person."
"As for why I lack more memories or the innate talent expected of a True Person's reincarnation... That's normal. A True Person's fruit lasts only five lifetimes, and I'm already Panlong's fifth. With the great limit approaching, many marvels have been lost. Otherwise, how could I have fallen to such straits?"
Zhao Xuhe didn't doubt the memories in the slightest.
After all, they were logical and coherent, link upon link. Even aspects that seemed flawed at first glance yielded reasonable explanations upon closer scrutiny.
More importantly, one thing within the memories was undeniably real.
"The 《Nine Transforming Dragon Art》!"
Focusing, Zhao Xuhe recalled the technique's contents word for word—complete with corresponding insights and annotations!
No mistake—these must be my past self's comprehension of the technique!
Beyond that, even the 《Myriad Chariots Dragon Ascension Treasure Scroll》 was present, sending Zhao Xuhe into near-delirious joy as he practically danced within his cave.
Yet soon, his expression turned grave once more.
"In this life, someone is definitely scheming against me!"
After brief contemplation, Zhao Xuhe's sharp mind quickly pinpointed the mastermind:
"The Mending Heaven Peak Master!"
If before, as the peak master's disciple, Zhao Xuhe had harbored some reverence for him, now only resentment remained.
"That old fossil is a True Person himself—what right did he have to take me, a True Person's reincarnation, as his disciple? Clearly taking advantage! And when the inheritance I left for myself suddenly vanished, that old bastard claimed my affinity with it had ended? Utter nonsense..."
Could he have skimmed off my own legacy for himself?
The more Zhao Xuhe thought, the angrier he grew. Only after a long while did he gradually calm down. "...The old fossil holds too much power. Mustn't let him discover I've awakened my past memories."
For now, he would endure this humiliation!
And wait for heaven's timing!
With determined eyes, Zhao Xuhe seemed to truly become the wind-and-rain-commanding True Person Panlong from his memories. "In this life, I will surely return to Foundation Establishment!"
"No matter the hardships, I'll defy the heavens themselves!"
...........
Watching Zhao Xuhe swear oaths to the sky and regain his vigor within the cave, Lü Yang smiled in satisfaction.
The so-called "past life memories" were entirely fabricated by Lü Yang. With Su Nu's empowerment, he could now subtly influence others' thoughts without detection.
Strictly speaking, Zhao Xuhe had become Lü Yang's bait.
And the big fish Lü Yang aimed to catch? Fulong Arhat!
"This life, I'll first help Zhao Xuhe attempt Foundation Establishment, drawing Fulong Arhat's full attention. Then I'll make my own breakthrough."
This way, he could buy himself time.
In essence, using Zhao Xuhe as a shield.
"Go in peace, Senior Brother Zhao. If you take this tribution for me in this life, I'll waive the interest on those Contribution Points you owed me two lifetimes ago..."