Chapter 5: I Will Remember This Grudge

“Senior Brother Liu. He’s come for me!?”

Listening to the voice coming from outside his cave dwelling, Lu Yang’s pupils shrank violently. His expression instantly darkened to the extreme; instead of responding, he suppressed his aura.

“...Junior Brother?”

The voice came again, but Lu Yang still did not respond. Although he had no hard evidence, he was now certain that there was something wrong with the contents of the Primordial Dao Book he had been practicing.

“I still suffered from a lack of experience; I actually didn't suspect him before.”

“The Hehuan Hall and Sky-Mending Peak are closely related, so the cultivation technique should have been related to the harmony of Yin and Yang. However, the Primordial Dao Book has absolutely nothing to do with that.”

“I was deceived by him!”

“But why would he want to harm me? Even though the Primordial Saint Sect is a demonic path, they still have sect rules. Private fighting between formal disciples is strictly forbidden; once discovered...”

Thinking of this, Lu Yang slapped his forehead hard.

“How could I have believed the tricks of a demonic sect!”

“Once discovered, once discovered... if it isn't discovered, it doesn't count as private fighting?”

The more Lu Yang thought about it, the uglier his expression became. Ultimately, it was due to inertia; Liu Xin’s every word and action previously had fulfilled the duties of a guiding disciple.

Aside from introducing the inner sect's situation, he had also provided all the benefits an inner disciple should have—magical treasures, pills, spirit beasts, and so on. He had been conscientious and selfless, leaving nothing for himself, especially at the Treasure Refining Hall, where he had even instructed the deacon there to get him the very best...

It was all an illusion!

Everything before was merely to facilitate that final step of handing him the *Primordial Dao Book*, making him lower his guard and believe completely in his goodwill!

“Thinking about it now, he might have even harbored the intention of embezzling my resources.”

“After all, if I die, all those magical tools, pills, and spirit beasts I obtained will naturally belong to him... No wonder he specifically insisted on getting the best!”

What a beast!

Just then, a voice drifted from outside the cave dwelling once more.

In the next second, with a loud *crack*, the formation of Lu Yang's cave dwelling exploded violently, and the main door was torn apart by a streak of sword light!

The doors swung wide, and Liu Xin stepped in, his robes fluttering.

Upon seeing Lu Yang, a look of harvest-like joy surfaced on Liu Xin's face. He nodded with satisfaction: "Junior Brother, you truly are a talent..."

*Boom!*

Before Liu Xin could finish his sentence, Lu Yang erupted!

A torrential surge of Primordial True Qi, carrying the Bone Jade Sword, transformed into a sharp streak of sword light, slashing toward Liu Xin with an unstoppable momentum.

However, in the next second, the sword light came to a sudden halt.

“...A death struggle.”

Liu Xin did not dodge or evade; he merely performed a hand seal. Instantly, Lu Yang's body lost all control, as if he had become someone else's puppet!

“This Primordial Dao Book is truly a fine thing,” Liu Xin couldn't help but laugh heartily upon seeing this. “A practitioner transforms their physical body and primordial spirit into a strand of Primordial True Qi, which can be used as medicine, as a material for refining treasures, or even to increase one's cultivation. Now that I have obtained this miracle treasure, reaching the late stage of Qi Refinement seems within reach!”

“Since you can help me break through, Junior Brother, you can die knowing you've served a purpose.”

As his voice fell, Liu Xin immediately began changing his hand seals. Lu Yang suddenly realized that his consciousness was beginning to dissipate, as if it were being forcibly erased!

At this moment, a sudden realization struck Lu Yang

“This is the second half of the Primordial Dao Book!”

“The first half is a trap meant for others to practice, while the second half is the true method—waiting for someone to practice the first half so that the practitioner can reap the benefits for themselves!”

Rather than a cultivation technique, it was more like a tool-refining art.

However, instead of refining objects, it refined people—specifically, making people refine themselves. The true practitioner hid in the shadows, saving both effort and energy.

Called a Dao Book, but in reality, a demonic art!

“You're impressive. I'll leave this life to you.”

Thinking of this, Lu Yang simply stopped resisting and allowed his consciousness to fade. Even after the initial shock and rage, he had regained a sense of calm and indifference.

“Learn from your mistakes. You can deceive me once, but I have countless more lives.”

“I will remember this grudge!”

In the next second, Lu Yang's consciousness plunged into darkness.

In the void, only the sound of turning pages remained, rustling softly.

【You had your consciousness refined by Liu Xin and were completely transformed into a strand of Primordial True Qi. You are dead.】

【Remaining pages of the Book of a Hundred Lives: 98】

【Restarting a new life. You may choose one of the following from your previous life's gains

1. Treasures. 2. Cultivation. 3. Lifespan. 4. Forfeit all gains to randomly awaken a talent based on your previous life's experiences.】

“Those whose names are called, step forward.”

The familiar voice drifted from the stage. Lu Yang clenched his teeth to restrain his emotions; he did not look up, instead focusing his thoughts on the panel before him.

Treasures, cultivation, lifespan.

If possible, Lu Yang would naturally choose cultivation, but he worried about being discovered and being unable to explain where his cultivation came from.

As for lifespan, he skipped it immediately.

“Can I only choose treasures...?”

Lu Yang frowned deeply. If we were talking about treasures, he only had the Bone Jade Sword to make him look somewhat presentable, but without cultivation, he had no way to activate a magical tool.

Just then, Lu Yang's gaze suddenly froze.

Because just now, the Book of a Hundred Lives had given him a feedback.

“This... can this also be considered a treasure?”

Lu Yang was first stunned, then contemplative, and finally, he gritted his teeth and made his decision: Option One, retain one treasure obtained from the previous life.

In the next second, a sudden change occurred!

Without alerting anyone, the entire transformation was confined within Lu Yang's dantian. At its source was a swirling, steaming cloud of white Qi.

Primordial True Qi!

The Primordial True Qi that Lu Yang had refined from his internal organs, flesh, and bones in his previous life was actually considered a treasure, and he had now exchanged for it!

“Incredible...” Lu Yang lowered his eyelids to hide the joy in his eyes.

He discovered that not only could he manipulate this mass of Primordial True Qi as easily as his own limbs, but he could even use it to cast the spells from his previous life!

“Under normal circumstances, this should be impossible.”

“Because to manipulate Primordial True Qi, one must use the secret methods from the second half of the book. But I am different, because this Primordial True Qi *is* me!”

The two were originally one; to Lu Yang, it was equivalent to having an extra clone at the first level of Qi Refinement.

“Furthermore, before I died in my last life, I heard Liu Xin say that this Primordial True Qi could assist in breaking through realms once used as medicine... This strand of True Qi will be of great use in the future!”

After organizing his gains, Lu Yang began his actions for this life.

First, he was still assigned to the Hehuan Hall.

Then, he counter-killed Yu Suzhen.

However, this time, to avoid drawing attention, Lu Yang did not use Senior Sister Yu's essence to break through to the Qi Refinement stage; instead, he fed it all into his Primordial True Qi.

“In this life, I will stay low and not act recklessly!”

Sure enough, Liu Xin, who was guarding outside the door, lost interest in Lu Yang after seeing that he had not broken through despite plundering Yu Suzhen's cultivation.

Following this, Lu Yang waited patiently.

Ten days later, a disciple from the Hehuan Hall named "Qin Yu" broke through. Lu Yang saw Liu Xin rush over upon hearing the news and lead him away in high spirits.

A few days later, Liu Xin announced he was entering seclusion, and the senior brother responsible for guiding disciples was changed.

But Lu Yang still did not show his face.

“Heaven knows what kind of person this new senior brother is. What if he's just like Liu Xin... Hmm, it's better if I don't stick my head out.”

“To be safe, I'll wait another month.”

Another half-month passed like this. It wasn't until more outer disciples broke through to the Qi Refinement stage and entered the inner sect safely that Lu Yang chose to break through.

With the support of the Primordial True Qi, Lu Yang didn't actually need to practice demonic arts to break through.

However, to deceive others, he randomly picked a few outer disciples to practice with.

This time, the formal disciple responsible for guiding him was much more perfunctory, lacking Liu Xin's enthusiasm and even showing a hint of disdain.

“This is the Library.”

After handing out the benefits, the man led him to a pavilion and said casually, “Use the token to enter. If you want any cultivation techniques, exchange them yourself with contribution points.”

With that, the man walked away.

However, seeing this, Lu Yang felt a sense of relief. Small characters have the advantages of small characters; the fact that the man didn't take him seriously actually suited his intentions perfectly.

Thinking of this, Lu Yang turned his gaze toward the distant Sky-Mending Peak.

“Liu Xin... Hmph!”

A few days ago, Liu Xin had emerged from seclusion, officially breaking through to the late stage of Qi Refinement and becoming the personal disciple of the Sky-Mending Peak Master. He was currently at the height of his success.

Lu Yang snorted coldly, withdrew his gaze, and strode into the Library.

Although he harbored a desire for revenge, he was currently too weak. Without power, his priority was to work hard on his cultivation; everything could be dealt with once he was strong.

A gentleman's revenge is never too late.

A temporary compromise is better than acting in haste!