Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Stealing Heavenly Secrets
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"This technique is called Stealing Heavenly Secrets."
With Lu Yang's approval, Zhao Xuhe took out a jade slip. After imprinting it with his knowledge, he handed it to Lu Yang. It was a brief introduction to the effects of the Foundation Establishment secret art he had mentioned.
Lu Yang swept his spiritual sense over it and was immediately astonished.
One look at this "Stealing Heavenly Secrets" art, and Lu Yang knew it had been created by a master from the Saint Sect, for its every line bore the sect's unique style.
The so-called "Stealing Heavenly Secrets," as the name implied, involved first finding a cultivator of the opposite sex whose age, talent, and cultivation were comparable to one's own. Then, one would become Dao companions with them and, through continuous dual cultivation, gradually implant their own Qi signature into the other's body, replacing their Qi seed.
Once successful, the other person would no longer be cultivating their own Qi seed, but that of the practitioner.
From then on, no matter what opportunities they encountered or breakthroughs they achieved, it would all be stolen by the practitioner. Their entire life of cultivation would be for naught, merely paving the way for another.
Insidious, vicious, treating talented people as mere resources... How classic.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang glanced at Zhao Xuhe again, suddenly recalling that in his previous-previous life, he had heard that Zhao Xuhe and Fairy Feixia had become Dao companions.
'So that's how it was. No wonder they both perished after failing to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.'
'Looking at it now, it's likely that Zhao Xuhe killed Fairy Feixia first, and only then died from failing his Foundation Establishment. All that scheming, and for nothing in the end.'
While Lu Yang grumbled internally, he also felt a chill in his heart.
From his perspective, Zhao Xuhe's preparations in his previous-previous life were absolutely thorough; he had utilized nearly every resource available to him.
In that life, after becoming Dao companions with Fairy Feixia, Zhao Xuhe used Skull Mountain to rise to prominence. Not only did he break through to the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, but he also obtained two rare Foundation Establishment items. If one also considered this "Stealing Heavenly Secrets" art, then Fairy Feixia's share was effectively already in his pocket.
All told, Zhao Xuhe had prepared a full three methods to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm!
And yet, what was the result?
He still failed!
"Foundation Establishment, Foundation Establishment, the foundation of the Great Dao... Without it, one is ultimately just a mediocre mortal. No wonder only Foundation Establishment cultivators are worthy of the title 'Perfected Being'."
"Achieving Foundation Establishment is difficult, more difficult than ascending to the heavens..."
After sighing, Lu Yang looked down at the jade slip in his hand again.
"What do you think, Junior Brother?"
Zhao Xuhe looked expectant. "With this as collateral, Junior Brother, lend me thirty thousand Contribution Points. The term will be three months. In three months, I will definitely repay the debt."
"If I can't pay it back, the secret art will be yours as settlement."
"But even if I do pay it back, I'll still give the secret art to you, Junior Brother, as thanks for your timely help, a kindness that will see me through this difficult time!"
Zhao Xuhe spoke with magnanimity and confidence, but after hearing him out, Lu Yang sneered inwardly.
'It sounds like as long as I'm willing to lend him the points, this art of Stealing Heavenly Secrets will be mine. Either way, I won't lose out... but that's not the case at all!'
The key wasn't the secret art, nor was it the loan.
It was the three-month deadline.
Because once he lent the points, if Zhao Xuhe ran into any trouble within those three months, he would have to intervene. Otherwise, he'd never get his points back.
So this loan wasn't about points; it was about roping in a person!
Zhao Xuhe clearly wanted to use this Foundation Establishment secret art to tie him down, forcing him to pay the price for his future adventures and the karmic consequences they would bring!
In short, this was a sugar-coated bullet.
But because it concerned Foundation Establishment, he couldn't refuse.
"But what if I want the secret art without taking on the responsibility..."
Lu Yang looked at the jade slip, pondering how he could eat the sugar coating and throw the bullet back. For instance, sending Zhao Xuhe to become brothers with Liu Xin...
However, Lu Yang quickly dismissed this idea. Just as he had captured Ouyang Haoze as a banner spirit but failed to obtain the core technique of the Divine Might Sect from him, the cultivation world had plenty of ways to prevent techniques and divine abilities from being leaked. Since Zhao Xuhe dared to approach him, he must have come prepared.
The chances of success were too low.
Lu Yang fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "...Forget it."
"I can agree to your loan, Senior Brother, but I have one condition. If you cannot accept this condition, I would rather give up the secret art."
Zhao Xuhe was overjoyed. "Please, speak, Junior Brother!"
"The condition is simple," Lu Yang said softly. "Senior Brother, you must give me the true copy of the secret art. Otherwise, what if you go back on your word later?"
"Of course, you can place a restriction on the true copy, one that will cause it to self-destruct if opened without permission. Then, after three months, you can come and remove it. With your magical power, Senior Brother, the restriction should last at least eighty years. This way, I can be at ease, and so can you. What do you think, Senior Brother?"
Zhao Xuhe thought about it. Seemed reasonable enough, didn't it?
The only issue was his limited magical power; the restriction would automatically dissolve after eighty years when the power ran out. But by then, it would be too late for anything.
After all, the lifespan of a Qi Refining cultivator was around one hundred and fifty years.
And once past the age of one hundred, their essence, qi, and spirit would decline, leaving them with basically no hope of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Lu Yang was already over twenty this year. Eighty years from now, he would definitely be over a hundred, with one foot in the grave. Even if he obtained the Foundation Establishment secret art then, it would be useless.
After all, with this life nearly over, how could he possibly achieve Foundation Establishment?
In the next life?
The more Zhao Xuhe thought about it, the more he felt that Lu Yang's proposal was an excellent solution. It sealed the deal while avoiding mutual suspicion. It was truly a win-win!
"Junior Brother's request is perfectly reasonable. Let's do it!"
Zhao Xuhe nodded decisively, took out another jade slip, and condensed his magical power to inscribe a restriction upon it before handing it to Lu Yang.
Seeing this, Lu Yang naturally accepted it with a smile.
For a moment, both host and guest were perfectly pleased.
"From now on, Zhao Xuhe is useless to me."
"If he makes it back alive, so be it. But if he stirs up any real trouble, I won't get involved. At worst, I'll just wait eighty years to read the secret art."
"Either way, I don't lose out..."
After seeing Zhao Xuhe off, Lu Yang hummed a little tune and cheerfully began setting up his marketplace. After all, this marketplace was now the foundation of his livelihood.
Moreover, the Hundred Skeletons Return to True Grand Array within the marketplace was a seventh-grade formation, while his Blood River Cleansing Sword Formation Diagram was only ninth-grade, its power relying entirely on the Heavenly Demon Blood Transformation Divine Light. Therefore, if he could thoroughly understand the Hundred Skeletons Return to True Grand Array, the insights gained would be of great help to his own proficiency in formations.
Time passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, another month had passed. Lu Yang was startled from his meditation by a sudden fragrant breeze, and then he saw a graceful silhouette walk into the Blood-clothed Tower.
"Senior Sister..."
Lu Yang broke into a smile. "You wouldn't come here without a reason. Could it be that Senior Sister has gained some new insights into formations and wishes to discuss them with me?"
"How many times have I told you? Just call me Feixia."
Fairy Feixia shot Lu Yang an exasperated look, habitually settling into his lap before saying softly, "Someone from the Saint Sect has arrived."
"Didn't they arrive a while ago?"
Lu Yang said nonchalantly, "I already told you last time. I just want to cultivate in peace and have no intention of stirring up trouble. I'm not interested in that Witch Ghost Mystic Realm."
"The person who came this time is different."
At Fairy Feixia's words, Lu Yang's eyes narrowed. "...Who is it?"
"It's our Second Senior Brother."
Fairy Feixia's expression was grave. "The Second Senior Brother of the Three Rivers Association, a true disciple at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm. This time, he personally sent me to deliver the message."
Hearing this, Lu Yang's face gradually darkened.
Because if he remembered correctly, the founder of the Three Rivers Association, this major faction within the Saint Sect... was a Foundation Establishment Perfected Being, wasn't he?
(End of Chapter)