Chapter 46: Stealing Heavenly Secrets
"This technique is called 'Stealing Heavenly Secrets.'"
With Lü Yang's approval, Zhao Xuhe took out a jade slip, infused it with his spiritual imprint, and handed it to Lü Yang. It contained a brief introduction to the Foundation Establishment secret technique he had mentioned.
Lü Yang scanned it with his divine sense and immediately showed astonishment.
At a glance, Lü Yang could tell that this "Stealing Heavenly Secrets" technique was created by a master of the Saint Sect, as its wording carried the sect's distinctive style.
As the name suggested, "Stealing Heavenly Secrets" involved first selecting a cultivator of the opposite sex who was similar in age, talent, and cultivation level. After forming a dao companion bond with them, the practitioner would gradually implant their own qi seed into the other's body through repeated dual cultivation, replacing their original qi seed.
Once successful, the other party would no longer cultivate their own qi seed but the practitioner's instead.
From then on, no matter what opportunities or breakthroughs the other party encountered, all their gains would ultimately be stolen by the practitioner, rendering their lifelong cultivation efforts nothing more than a bridal dowry for another.
Devious, ruthless, treating people as mere resources—utterly classic.
Thinking this, Lü Yang glanced at Zhao Xuhe again and suddenly recalled that, in his previous life, he had heard rumors of Zhao Xuhe becoming dao companions with Fairy Feixia...
'So that's it. No wonder they both perished after failing to break through to Foundation Establishment.'
'Looking back now, Zhao Xuhe probably killed Feixia first before failing in his own breakthrough attempt. All his scheming ended up being for nothing...'
While inwardly criticizing, Lü Yang also felt a chill run down his spine.
From his perspective, Zhao Xuhe's preparations in his previous life had been thorough—almost every available resource had been utilized.
Back then, after forming a dao companion bond with Feixia, Zhao Xuhe soared to prominence through Skeleton Mountain, not only reaching the peak of Qi Refining but also obtaining two Foundation Establishment rare items. Considering this "Stealing Heavenly Secrets" technique, Feixia's share would have effectively belonged to Zhao Xuhe as well.
By all accounts, Zhao Xuhe had prepared three different methods to attempt his breakthrough!
Yet what was the result?
Still a failure!
"Foundation Establishment, Foundation Establishment—the immortal foundation of the Great Dao... Without it, one remains nothing but a mediocre mortal. No wonder only those who reach Foundation Establishment are worthy of being called 'True Persons.'"
"Breaking through to Foundation Establishment is harder than ascending to the heavens..."
After sighing, Lü Yang turned his gaze back to the jade slip in his hand.
"What does Junior Brother think?"
Zhao Xuhe looked at him expectantly. "Use this as collateral, lend me thirty thousand Contribution Points, and I'll repay you in three months."
"If I fail to repay, the technique will belong to you as compensation."
"Even if I repay in full, I'll still gift the technique to you as thanks for your timely assistance in my time of need!"
Zhao Xuhe spoke with grand generosity, but Lü Yang inwardly sneered.
'On the surface, it sounds like I can't lose—if I lend him the points, the technique will be mine either way... But in reality, that's not the case at all!'
The key wasn't the technique or the loan.
It was the three-month deadline.
Because once he lent the points, if Zhao Xuhe encountered any crisis within those three months, Lü Yang would have to intervene—otherwise, he'd never get his points back.
So this wasn't a loan of points—it was a loan of himself!
Zhao Xuhe was clearly trying to bind Lü Yang with this Foundation Establishment technique, forcing him to bear the consequences of Zhao Xuhe's risks and entanglements.
In short, it was a sugar-coated bullet.
And yet, precisely because it concerned Foundation Establishment, Lü Yang couldn't refuse outright.
"But what if I want the technique without the responsibility...?"
Lü Yang stared at the jade slip, pondering how he could swallow the sugar and spit out the bullet—perhaps by sending Zhao Xuhe to join Liu Xin in the afterlife...
But soon, Lü Yang dismissed the idea. Just as he had failed to extract the Divine Martial Gate's core technique from Ouyang Haoze after refining him into a banner spirit, the cultivation world had countless methods to prevent the leakage of techniques and divine abilities. Zhao Xuhe wouldn't have approached him without precautions.
The odds of success were too low.
After a moment of silence, Lü Yang suddenly said, "...Fine."
"I can agree to lend you the points, but I have one condition. If you can't accept it, I'd rather give up on the technique."
Zhao Xuhe was overjoyed. "Junior Brother, please speak!"
"The condition is simple." Lü Yang spoke softly. "You must hand over the original copy of the technique to me. Otherwise, what if you change your mind later and refuse to give it to me?"
"Of course, you can place a restriction on the original—for example, setting it to self-destruct if opened without authorization, then lifting the restriction after three months. With your magic power, the restriction should last at least eighty years. That way, I'll be at ease, and so will you. What do you think?"
Zhao Xuhe pondered it and found no flaws.
The only issue was his limited magic power—the restriction would automatically dissolve after eighty years once his energy was depleted. But by then, it would be far too late.
After all, Qi Refining cultivators lived around a hundred and fifty years.
Once past a hundred, their vitality would decline, leaving almost no hope for Foundation Establishment.
Lü Yang was already over twenty. Eighty years later, he'd be well past his prime, half-buried in the grave. Even if he obtained the technique, what use would it be?
With this life nearly over, how could he still attempt Foundation Establishment?
In the next life?
The more Zhao Xuhe thought about it, the more Lü Yang's proposal seemed perfect—a win-win that satisfied both parties while preventing mutual distrust.
"Junior Brother's request is entirely reasonable. Let's proceed as you say!"
Zhao Xuhe nodded decisively, immediately producing another jade slip. He infused it with his magic power, engraved a restriction onto it, and then handed it to Lü Yang.
Seeing this, Lü Yang naturally accepted it with a smile.
For a moment, both host and guest were pleased.
......
"From now on, Zhao Xuhe is useless to me."
"If he survives, so be it. If he stirs up trouble, I won't lift a finger—I'll just wait eighty years to read the technique."
"Either way, I lose nothing..."
After seeing Zhao Xuhe off, Lü Yang hummed a tune cheerfully as he busied himself with the market's affairs. After all, this market was now his foundation for survival.
Moreover, the Hundred Bones True Formation within the market was a seventh-grade formation, while his Heaven-Slashing Blood River Sword Formation Diagram was only ninth-grade, relying entirely on the Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Light for its power. If he could fully comprehend the Hundred Bones True Formation, it would greatly enhance his understanding of formations through analogy.
Soon, time flowed by.
In the blink of an eye, another month passed. Lü Yang jolted awake from meditation, catching a whiff of fragrant wind before a graceful figure stepped into the Blood Garment Tower.
"Senior Sister..."
Lü Yang smiled warmly. "No visit without a purpose. Have you gained new insights into formations and wish to discuss them with me?"
"How many times must I tell you? Just call me Feixia."
Fairy Feixia rolled her eyes at him in exasperation before habitually settling into Lü Yang's lap. Then, in a soft voice, she said, "Someone from the Saint Sect has arrived."
"They've been here for a while now."
Lü Yang waved it off indifferently. "As I said last time, I just want to cultivate in peace. I have no interest in stirring up trouble or that so-called Witch-Ghost Secret Realm."
"This time, it's someone different."
At her words, Lü Yang narrowed his eyes. "...Who?"
"The Second Senior Brother."
Feixia's expression turned grave. "The Second Senior Brother of the Three Rivers Association—a true disciple at the peak of Qi Refining. He personally sent me to deliver a message."
Lü Yang's face darkened.
Because if he remembered correctly, the founder of the Three Rivers Association—this major faction within the Saint Sect—was none other than a Foundation Establishment True Person, wasn't it?