Chapter 4: Unforeseeable and Unpreventable

“The Lady is formed by the Primordial One Qi. Refining Qi is refining the self; purifying the essence, reversing back to the Primordial state, one can achieve the Primordial One Qi True Fruit, where both form and spirit are exquisitely profound.”

After a long silence, Lyu Yang opened his eyes, his face glowing with joy.

Compared to the *Ode to Great Yin-Yang Joy*, the *Primordial Daoist Scripture* truly possessed the appearance of a complete and proper inheritance.

The entire scripture began with mortals; the first step of entry was to practice a set of Primordial Arts to forge the physique, even accompanied by a matching martial art called the Primordial Grand Capture.

Once the physique reached great perfection, the practitioner would begin to "reverse back to the Primordial." First, they would transform the five viscera and six organs, then the flesh, muscles, and bones, until finally, the physical form was completely dissolved, refining the body into a single strand of Primordial True Qi. From then on, one could gather and disperse at will, becoming immune to the damage of Daoist arts, standing invincible in any battle of magic.

In addition, the scripture recorded many spells that could be coordinated with the Primordial True Qi.

Spells such as the Heavenly Net Dust Cloud, the Single-Intent True Qi Sword, and the Spiritual Breath Qi-Gathering Technique were so complete in variety and diverse in function that they truly opened Lyu Yang's eyes.

However, just then, Lyu Yang, who had been reading in a trance, suddenly froze.

"...Why did it end?"

Lyu Yang subconsciously looked up at Liu Xin, only to realize that the *Primordial Daoist Scripture* in his hands only contained the first half, and the content had come to an abrupt halt.

"Junior Brother, the Law is not lightly bestowed."

Liu Xin chuckled softly. "The second half of the *Primordial Daoist Scripture* concerns the secrets of Foundation Establishment. It isn't included in the sect's benefits; it must be exchanged for contribution points."

Hearing this, Lyu Yang shook his head helplessly. "I see. I lost my composure, Senior Brother."

"No matter. Half a scripture is enough for your cultivation."

Liu Xin patted Lyu Yang's shoulder affectionately. "Come, I'll take you to Heaven-Mending Peak to select a cave dwelling. Pick a good spot, so we can visit each other often in the future."

Lyu Yang nodded. "Thank you, Senior Brother."

Half an hour later, Heaven-Mending Peak.

In a remote cave dwelling at the foot of the mountain, Lyu Yang officially settled in. The original furniture and utensils within the dwelling had been swept out like trash.

Watching this scene, Lyu Yang's mind was filled with complex thoughts.

"It seems being a formal disciple isn't easy either..."

Heaven-Mending Peak was not large. The Initial Saint Sect had so many registered disciples every year that even if the promotion rate were only one in ten thousand, it would be enough to fill the peak.

But in reality?

As Lyu Yang walked along, Heaven-Mending Peak was not overcrowded; in fact, it was somewhat empty. Many cave dwellings were sitting idle, with no disciples residing in them.

Where had all those formal disciples gone? Surely they couldn't afford to rent a dwelling?

Lyu Yang shook his head, choosing not to dwell on it. Instead, he took a prayer mat, sat down in the Five-Pointed Star position, and began his first session of cultivation within the cave.

It was one thing to cultivate, but once he actually began, Lyu Yang felt a surge of spiritual energy nearly twice as abundant as that of the Outer Sect rushing toward him. It poured into his dantian, circulated through his meridians to his entire body, and finally moved from the outside in, step by step merging into his viscera, flesh, muscles, and bones.

The efficiency was so high that Lyu Yang was struck with amazement.

In the same amount of time, using the same technique, the True Qi that would take him a full day to refine in the Outer Sect could be achieved in just one hour in an Inner Sect dwelling.

"No wonder you have to pay to rent an Inner Sect dwelling."

It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury back to frugality. Once one experienced the speed of cultivation in a proper dwelling, it became hard to endure practicing anywhere else.

The next day, Lyu Yang did not go out. Instead, he stayed tucked away in his dwelling, cultivating while flipping through the *Primordial Daoist Scripture*.

"Although cultivation in this world also depends on talent, there is no concept of 'Spiritual Roots.' Basically, as long as one has the will, anyone can step onto the path of cultivation."

That being said, cultivation was not necessarily easier because of it.

Because while mortals lacked the restriction of spiritual roots to enter the Dao, the grade of the refined True Qi still determined a cultivator's future peak achievements.

This was the function of the "Law."

The higher the grade of the technique, the higher the grade of the refined True Qi, and the greater the possibility of reaching higher realms in the future. Conversely, the higher the risk of hitting a bottleneck.

True Qi was divided into nine grades and thirty-six stages. The lower the grade number, the superior the quality; the higher the stage, the more powerful it was.

Generally speaking, if True Qi was below the seventh grade, one had no hope of Foundation Establishment; below the third grade, it was difficult to form a Golden Core; and unless one possessed the first grade, attempting to condense a Nascent Soul was a death sentence.

"Rogue cultivators truly have no way to live."

Lyu Yang couldn't help but sigh. Compared to great sects with complete inheritances, how could rogue cultivators have the luxury of choosing techniques? They simply practiced whatever they could find.

Under such circumstances, no matter how high one's talent or comprehension, they lost at the starting line, ultimately living a life of regret.

The difficulty of cultivation was evident.

Thinking of this, Lyu Yang's brow gradually furrowed.

"The 'Primordial True Qi' refined by the *Primordial Daoist Scripture* is ranked at the first stage of the sixth grade. A practitioner has the hope of Foundation Establishment; strictly speaking, it isn't weak."

However, it still did not meet his expectations.

If he were just an ordinary cultivator, that would be fine.

But he now possessed a miraculous treasure like the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes], making his future limitless. A technique that stopped at Foundation Establishment could no longer satisfy his pursuits.

"If only I could have a supreme inheritance ranked in the first grade..."

Lyu Yang fantasized for a moment, then sighed. "Forget it. I have to take it one step at a time. If I take too big a stride—*crack*—it's easy to pull a muscle."

"I'll cultivate the *Primordial Daoist Scripture* first and become a Foundation Establishment expert before anything else..."

Once the Foundation was established, one would enjoy three hundred years of longevity, which was almost equivalent to a mortal dynasty. In the cultivation world, one could be called a "Great Cultivator."

Once he had strength, he would seek higher inheritances, and once obtained, he would immediately start anew.

In such a cycle, there would eventually be a day when his dreams came true.

As long as he was patient and did not rush, time would always be his best friend. This was the confidence the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] gave Lyu Yang.

Ten days later, in Lyu Yang's dwelling.

A plume of white Qi steamed and drifted, suddenly transforming into rolling black smoke, then into an invisible Qi sword, and finally into a graceful, immortal-like figure.

"I did it!"

Although the *Primordial Daoist Scripture* was profound, it was not difficult to practice. In just ten short days, Lyu Yang had successfully dissolved his physical form, refining his body into a single strand of True Qi.

[Name: Lyu Yang] [Lifespan: 18] [Cultivation: Qi Refining Layer 1] [Talent: Rogue Prodigy (White)] [Techniques: Ode to Great Yin-Yang Joy (Perfection), Primordial Qi Refining Transformation Art (Perfection)] [Divine Abilities: None] [Treasures: None] [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes Pages: 99]

Looking at the updated information on the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes, Lyu Yang stepped into the void. He felt his state was at its absolute peak; even the venereal disease of his original body had been cured without medicine.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, the triumphant Lyu Yang frowned and abruptly stopped his movements. He looked back at the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes], falling into a strange contemplation.

"...Something is wrong."

It felt as though he had overlooked something.

Lyu Yang subconsciously recalled his life. In this life, he hadn't encountered any difficulties; he had smoothly become a formal disciple and smoothly received the *Primordial Daoist Scripture*...

The next second, Lyu Yang finally realized what he had missed.

[After plundering your essence, Yu Suzhen has broken through to the Qi Refining Realm. However, due to deep-seated illness and the difficulty of purging the True Qi, she remained bedridden for several months and eventually died of severe illness.]

In the previous life, why did Senior Sister Yu die?

Since she was a formal disciple, she must have also received the *Primordial Daoist Scripture*. As long as she successfully refined it and transformed her form into Qi, how could she die from a minor illness?

She failed to refine it?

"Impossible." Lyu Yang shook his head.

The *Primordial Daoist Scripture* was not that difficult to practice. Since Yu Suzhen had the ability to break through to the Qi Refining Realm, even with poor aptitude, it was impossible for her not to have finished the refinement within a few months.

"Unless... what she practiced wasn't the *Primordial Daoist Scripture*!"

In that instant, Lyu Yang felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

The sound of his heartbeat had never been so clear, and his breathing became rapid. The excited expression vanished quickly from his face

"The *Primordial Daoist Scripture*... was specifically prepared for me by Liu Xin?"

Lyu Yang thought of the scene he had seen earlier in the Treasure Refining Hall.

That registered disciple in the Treasure Refining Hall thought he had achieved the Great Dao, but in reality, he was seeking his own death. Instead of breaking through, he had refined himself into a magical treasure.

At that moment, was it just like this moment?

Right then, a familiar and kind voice suddenly called out from outside the cave dwelling

"Junior Brother Lyu, are you in?"

(End of Chapter)