Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Can't Guard Against It
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"The body is formed from the Innate Primal Qi. To refine Qi is to refine the self, purifying the body and reversing the postnatal to return to the innate, thereby achieving the righteous fruition of Innate Primal Qi, where both form and spirit are marvelous."
After a long while, Lu Yang opened his eyes, a look of delight on his face.
Compared to the *Yin-Yang Grand Pleasure Ode*, the *Innate Dao Scripture* truly resembled a complete inheritance.
The entire scripture started from the level of a mortal. To begin, one first practiced a set of Innate Skills to temper the body, and it even came with a complementary martial art called the Innate Grand Capturing Hand.
Once the body was perfected, the cultivator would begin to "reverse back to the innate," first transforming the five viscera and six bowels, then the skin, flesh, tendons, and bones, until finally, the physical form was completely dissolved, refining the body into a strand of Innate True Qi. From then on, one could gather and scatter at will, becoming difficult to harm with Daoist arts, innately standing in an invincible position when fighting others.
In addition, the scripture also recorded many magical arts that could be used in conjunction with Innate True Qi.
Techniques like the Skynet Pervasive Dust Smoke, the Single-minded True Qi Sword, and the Spiritual Breath Qi Absorption Art—the sheer variety and diverse functions of these arts were a true eye-opener for Lu Yang.
But just then, Lu Yang, who had been engrossed in his reading, suddenly froze.
"...How is it gone?"
Lu Yang subconsciously lifted his head to look at Liu Xin, only then realizing that the *Innate Dao Scripture* in his hands was only the first half, and the content had come to an abrupt end.
"Junior Brother, the Dao is not taught lightly."
Liu Xin chuckled. "The second half of the *Innate Dao Scripture* concerns the secrets of Foundation Establishment. That's not included in the sect's benefits. You'll have to exchange Contribution Points for it."
Hearing this, Lu Yang shook his head helplessly. "So that's how it is. I lost my composure."
"No matter. Half a scripture is enough for you to cultivate for now."
Liu Xin patted Lu Yang's shoulder warmly. "Come, I'll take you to Heaven Mending Peak to choose a cave residence. Pick a good spot, and we can visit each other more often in the future."
Lu Yang nodded. "Thank you, Senior Brother."
Half an hour later, on Heaven Mending Peak.
At a secluded cave residence at the foot of the mountain, Lu Yang officially settled in. The original furniture and items inside were cleared out like trash.
Watching this scene, Lu Yang's mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts.
"Being a Formal Disciple doesn't seem easy either..."
Heaven Mending Peak wasn't large. The Primal Saint Sect had so many Registered Disciples each year that even with a promotion rate of one in ten thousand, it should have been enough to pack the peak to the brim.
But what was the reality?
As Lu Yang had walked here, he'd seen that Heaven Mending Peak was far from crowded; it was actually a bit empty. Many cave residences were vacant, with no disciples living in them.
Where had all those Formal Disciples gone? Surely they could afford to rent a cave residence?
Lu Yang shook his head, not delving deeper. He took out a meditation cushion, sat down, and assumed the five-hearts-to-heaven posture, beginning his first cultivation session in his new home.
He hadn't felt it before, but the moment he started cultivating, Lu Yang felt a surge of Heaven and Earth spiritual qi—nearly double the amount in the outer sect—rush toward him. It all poured into his dantian, circulated through his meridians to every part of his body, and finally, from outside to in, gradually integrated into his five viscera, six bowels, skin, flesh, tendons, and bones.
The efficiency was so high it left Lu Yang astonished.
In the same amount of time, with the same cultivation method, the amount of true qi he could refine in a full day in the outer sect could be achieved in just one hour in his inner sect cave residence.
"No wonder you have to pay to rent a cave residence in the inner sect."
It's easy to go from frugal to lavish, but hard to go the other way. Once you experienced the speed of cultivating in a cave residence, it would be difficult to tolerate cultivating anywhere else.
The next day, Lu Yang didn't go out. He stayed in his cave residence, cultivating and reading the *Innate Dao Scripture*.
"Although cultivation in this world also depends on talent, there's no such thing as spiritual roots. Basically, anyone with the will can embark on the path of cultivation."
That being said, cultivation wasn't any easier because of it.
Although mortals faced no restriction from spiritual roots when entering the Dao, the grade of the true qi they refined still determined the highest achievement a cultivator could reach in the future.
This was the role of "methods."
The higher the quality of the cultivation method, the higher the grade of the refined true qi, and the greater the chance of reaching a higher realm in the future. Conversely, the lower the quality, the more likely one was to encounter bottlenecks.
True qi had nine grades and thirty-six ranks. The lower the grade number, the better; the higher the rank, the stronger.
Generally speaking, true qi below the seventh grade meant no chance of Foundation Establishment. Below the third grade, forming a Golden Core was difficult. And for anyone without a first-grade true qi, attempting to condense a Nascent Soul was a dance with death, with ten dying for every one who tried.
"Rogue cultivators really have it rough."
Lu Yang couldn't help but sigh. Compared to the great sects with their complete inheritances, rogue cultivators had no room to choose their cultivation methods. They practiced whatever they could get their hands on.
Under such circumstances, even with the highest talent and comprehension, they lost at the starting line, destined to live a life of regret.
The difficulty of immortal cultivation was plain to see.
At this thought, Lu Yang's brow gradually furrowed.
"The 'Innate True Qi' refined from the *Innate Dao Scripture* is ranked at the first rank of the sixth grade. A cultivator has a chance to reach Foundation Establishment. Strictly speaking, it's not considered weak."
However, it still fell short of his expectations.
If he were just an ordinary cultivator, it would be fine. But now, he possessed a wondrous treasure like the 【Book of a Hundred Lives】. His future was filled with limitless potential. A cultivation method that stopped at Foundation Establishment could no longer satisfy his ambitions.
"If only I could obtain a supreme true inheritance of the first grade..."
Lu Yang fantasized for a moment, then sighed. "Forget it. I have to take things one step at a time. If you take too big a step, you're liable to pull something."
"I'll cultivate the *Innate Dao Scripture* first and become a great Foundation Establishment cultivator..."
Once the Dao foundation was established, one could live for three hundred years, a lifespan almost equivalent to a mortal dynasty. In the cultivation world, such a person could be called a "Great Cultivator."
Once he had the strength, he would seek a higher inheritance. As soon as he got it, he would restart.
By repeating this cycle, his dream would one day come true.
As long as he was patient and didn't act rashly, time would always be his good friend, standing on his side. This was the confidence the 【Book of a Hundred Lives】 gave Lu Yang.
Ten days later, in Lu Yang's cave residence.
A white qi swirled and billowed, at one moment transforming into rolling black smoke, the next into an invisible sword of qi, before finally coalescing into a graceful, immortal-like figure.
"I did it!"
Although the *Innate Dao Scripture* was profound, it wasn't difficult to practice. In just ten days, Lu Yang had successfully dissolved his physical form, refining his body into a strand of true qi.
【Name: Lu Yang】
【Lifespan: 18】
【Cultivation: First Level of Qi Refining】
【Talent: Dual Cultivation Prodigy (White)】
【Cultivation Method: Yin-Yang Grand Pleasure Ode (Perfected), Innate Qi Refining and Form Shedding Art (Perfected)】
【Divine Ability: None】
【Treasure: None】
【Book of a Hundred Lives Pages: 99】
Looking at the updated information in the Book of a Hundred Lives, Lu Yang trod upon the air, feeling better than ever. Even his original body's venereal disease had been cured without medicine.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, the triumphant Lu Yang frowned, abruptly stopping his movements. He looked again at the 【Book of a Hundred Lives】 and fell into a strange contemplation.
"...Something's wrong."
It felt like he had overlooked something.
Lu Yang subconsciously began to recall the events of this life. He hadn't encountered any difficulties, had smoothly become a Formal Disciple, and had smoothly obtained the *Innate Dao Scripture*...
In the next second, Lu Yang finally realized what he had overlooked.
【After dual cultivating with you, Yu Suzhen broke through to the Qi Refining Realm. However, the venereal disease was deeply rooted and could not be purged by her true qi. She was bedridden for several months before succumbing to her illness.】
In the previous life, why did Senior Sister Yu die?
Since she was a Formal Disciple, she must have also been taught the *Innate Dao Scripture*. As long as she successfully cultivated it, shedding her form and transforming into qi, how could she have possibly died from a venereal disease?
Did she fail to master it?
"Impossible!" Lu Yang shook his head.
The *Innate Dao Scripture* wasn't that difficult to practice. Since Yu Suzhen had the ability to break through to the Qi Refining Realm, she couldn't possibly have failed to master it in a few months, no matter how poor her aptitude was.
"Unless... she wasn't practicing the *Innate Dao Scripture* at all!"
In that instant, Lu Yang felt as if he had been plunged into an icy cavern.
The sound of his heart beating had never been so clear, his breathing became rapid, and the excited expression quickly faded from his face.
"The *Innate Dao Scripture*... was prepared specifically for me by Liu Xin?"
Lu Yang thought back to the scene he had witnessed in the Treasure Refining Hall.
That Registered Disciple from the Treasure Refining Hall thought he was on the verge of achieving the Great Dao, but he was actually courting his own death. Not only did he fail to break through, but he refined himself into a magical treasure instead.
That moment then, was it just like this moment now?
Just then, a familiar and cordial voice called from outside his cave residence:
"Junior Brother Lu, are you there?"