Chapter 18: The Correct Use of Cheats
Chapter 18: The Correct Way to Use Cheats
"A predecessor's cave dwelling?"
After hearing Zhao Xuhe's proposal, Lü Yang shook his head: "Senior Brother's enthusiastic invitation is appreciated, but this junior's divine abilities are lacking. Right now, I only wish to focus wholeheartedly on cultivation."
"Oh?" Zhao Xuhe narrowed his eyes: "Does Junior Brother distrust me?"
"Senior Brother overestimates my concerns. It's just that I haven't mastered any divine abilities yet and have no combat skills. Even if I went with Senior Brother, I'd only be dead weight."
Lü Yang's reasoning was perfectly sound.
After all, he had only recently entered the sect before speculating on Substitute Death Yin Puppets, even mortgaging the Library Pavilion's cultivation method loans—something Zhao Xuhe was well aware of.
"...Then forget it."
Zhao Xuhe shook his head, his expression cooling.
At this moment, killing intent had already sprouted in his heart. After all, he had lost everything down to his pants, while Lü Yang had managed to profit and exit early.
How could he accept this?
More importantly, the contribution points Lü Yang had earned—the principal had all been borrowed from him. By rough calculation, that money should rightfully be his!
"Fine, consider it temporarily stored with you..."
Zhao Xuhe sneered inwardly: "Focusing only on cultivation without learning combat divine abilities—does he think this is some righteous sect where he can cultivate peacefully? Once I deal with Coiling Dragon Island's affairs, I'll find an opportunity to infiltrate his cave dwelling at night and kill him. Those contribution points will still be mine!"
..........
"Without a doubt, Zhao is already plotting how to deal with me."
Leaving Zhao Xuhe's cave dwelling, Lü Yang swaggered toward the Library Pavilion, having already guessed Zhao Xuhe's thoughts. Yet he wasn't the least bit worried.
After all, he hadn't been idle these past few days.
While others were fervently speculating on Substitute Death Yin Puppets, he had shut out the outside world, purchasing large quantities of spirit pills and immediately entering secluded cultivation.
From Qi Refining's fourth to sixth layers—all within the mid-stage—there were no bottlenecks. One only needed to spend money on pills to break through.
Having profited ten thousand contribution points, Lü Yang naturally wasn't stingy. Thus, he had already broken through to Qi Refining's sixth layer, reaching mid-stage peak.
Incidentally, the syphilis inherited from his original body had also been cured with a Dust Cleansing Pill exchanged for contribution points.
In fact, this proved that the greatest incurable disease in life was poverty.
The reason Yu Suzhen from his first life had died from syphilis ultimately came down to lack of money.
As for the mid-stage bottleneck, he had originally wanted to test whether Primordial Qi could help him break through. Unfortunately, whether due to insufficient quantity or other reasons, the effect was negligible.
This suggested that Liu Xin had likely scammed more people than just him.
As for not learning divine abilities, that was naturally just to fool Zhao Xuhe.
In his previous life, he had barely managed to suppress Zhao Xuhe by setting up an ambush when the latter was exhausted. This time, he wouldn't need to go to such lengths.
Even in a direct confrontation, he had confidence in escaping!
"Senior Brother Wang, how have you been lately?"
Arriving at the Library Pavilion, Lü Yang familiarly produced a gourd of wine, smiling: "Premium Drunken Flower Brew, specially obtained for Senior Brother."
"...It's you again."
At the Library Pavilion's entrance, the aged Wang Bairong twitched at the corner of his eye before sighing: "Drunken Flower Brew at fifty contribution points per gourd... You've truly struck it rich, kid."
This time around, Lü Yang had focused on building a good relationship with Wang Bairong.
Initially, Wang Bairong had paid him little attention. But after the Substitute Death Yin Puppet bubble burst, this elder senior brother's attitude toward him improved significantly.
The reason was simple.
Just before the bubble burst, Lü Yang had persuaded Wang Bairong to sell part of his stockpile, avoiding complete ruin.
Since then, Wang Bairong had been immensely grateful to him.
"This old man has lived decades in vain, less perceptive than a youngster like you. Had you not enlightened me, I might have already suffered qi deviation by now."
"Don't say that, Senior Brother. You mustn't undervalue yourself."
Lü Yang shook his head: "As they say, good advice is wasted on those doomed to perish. That day, I advised many people, yet only you truly listened."
"Senior Brother's courage to rein in at the brink is itself a form of wisdom."
"Hmm..."
Wang Bairong narrowed his eyes, stroking his beard. Though he knew Lü Yang was deliberately flattering him, the words grew more pleasing to his ears by the minute.
Soon, the two set out a table and chairs to drink together.
Wang Bairong didn't stand on ceremony, pouring himself a full cup of Drunken Flower Brew and downing it in one go before speaking slowly: "Kid, what exactly are you after?"
This was the only question in Wang Bairong's mind.
"We're neither relatives nor friends. Surely you don't actually believe those rumors outside that this old man is some hidden master of the Library Pavilion waiting for a destined one?"
"Of course not."
While refilling Wang Bairong's cup, Lü Yang smiled: "They say one oldster is a house's treasure. I simply thought that since Senior Brother has lived to such an age in the Saint Sect, you must have considerable skill. Working in the Library Pavilion, perhaps you could offer some guidance on cultivation methods and divine abilities..."
Lü Yang spoke with utmost sincerity.
Wang Bairong remained noncommittal, continuing to drink until he began complaining about the Saint Sect's shameless exploitation of disciples this time.
"Absolute beasts!"
"At the very peak of prices, they suddenly intervened to suppress them—this was undoubtedly premeditated. There are villains among the sect's higher-ups!"
Lü Yang refilled the cups while casually agreeing.
Only when Wang Bairong was thoroughly drunk and swaying did he lower his voice: "Senior Brother, I came this time to select cultivation methods and divine abilities."
"Does Senior Brother have any recommendations? The more powerful the divine ability, the better!"
"I knew you had a request!" Wang Bairong chuckled smugly: "But you've asked the right person!"
Lü Yang quickly clasped his hands: "Please enlighten me, Senior Brother."
"First, don't even think about top-tier divine abilities. Our Library Pavilion is just a branch of Mending Heaven Peak—the methods here are limited in power."
"The truly formidable divine abilities are all kept at Sacred Fire Cliff, accessible only to true disciples!"
"But this is normal. Disciples at Qi Refining's early and mid-stages are just the Saint Sect's beasts of burden—why would we be taught powerful divine abilities?"
After all, why should beasts of burden know so much? Too much knowledge isn't conducive to unity.
As for true disciples—they're the elite formally integrated into the sect, destined to inherit its legacy, and thus treated entirely differently.
"Is there no middle ground?" Lü Yang whispered.
"Of course there is!"
Wang Bairong smiled faintly. Having worked in the Library Pavilion for over forty years, there wasn't a single cultivation method or divine ability he didn't recognize.
Though he might not know their exact contents, he was thoroughly familiar with their effects once mastered.
"In our Library Pavilion, if we're talking about divine abilities with genuinely superior power upon mastery, there are only three—each with severe side effects."
"Side effects?"
At this point, Wang Bairong's expression turned grave: "For instance, I know of one divine ability called 《Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light》. It greatly enhances a treasure's power through self-sacrifice, but upon mastery not only shortens lifespan but also prevents further cultivation—essentially cutting off one's immortal path."
"Tell me, aren't the side effects severe?"
Wang Bairong intended to deter Lü Yang, but instead of being discouraged, Lü Yang grew even more excited after hearing his warning.
"Such a divine ability is perfect for me!"
Though the side effects were indeed severe, they only applied to this lifetime—and what did this lifetime's side effects have to do with the next lifetime's him?
He seemed to have discovered the correct way to use the 《Book of a Hundred Lifetimes》!