218. The Cauldron
Watching the disappearing figure, Beno Alder felt reassured. Being a nobody had its advantages—the new reception guy didn't consider him worth noticing, which suited his purposes perfectly.
With this thought, Beno turned his gaze toward Heaven Mending Peak in the distance.
"Xin Liu," he sneered. "Hmph!"
A few days ago, Xin Liu had emerged from seclusive training, officially breaking through to the Wave Realm, and had become the personal disciple of Heaven Mending Peak's Headmaster. He was now riding high on his success.
Beno let out a cold snort, withdrew his gaze, and strode into the Archives Pavilion.
Although he yearned for revenge, he was currently too weak. His most urgent priority was to focus on training—everything else could wait until he became stronger.
As the Chinese saying goes, a gentleman's revenge can wait ten years.
This was merely a strategic delay—patience would serve him better than haste!
Upon entering the Archives Pavilion, he spotted an elderly man reclining lazily in a rocking chair, basking in sunlight while intently studying a Daoist text.
The moment Beno entered, the man glanced up at him.
"Another new initiate?" the old man said flatly. "Go inside and choose for yourself. Remember, follow the rules written inside, or don't blame me for not warning you if you end up dead."
"Thank you for your guidance, sir."
Beno bowed his head, then walked toward the bookshelves.
Sure enough, as he approached, the member's badge at his waist sensed something. The screen lit up and displayed lines of text.
"Beno, formal member of Heaven Mending Peak."
"You may obtain the Heaven Mending Peak secret technique Dragon-Tiger Kama Sutra Yin-Yang Great Pleasure Scripture free of charge, and for your first technique exchange, you may use a no-down-payment loan option."
Beno didn't hesitate and claimed it directly.
In the next moment, the technique's contents appeared on his badge. Beno quickly immersed himself in the text, only returning to his senses after a considerable time had passed.
Why is this technique also divided into upper and lower parts, just like the Innate Dao Scripture? Recalling his previous life's outcome, Beno's expression turned grim. The Dragon-Tiger Kama Sutra Yin-Yang Great Pleasure Scripture, when perfected, can forge a Dragon-Tiger Yin-Yang Essence. This fifth-grade essence theoretically leads directly to the Wave Realm.
But they've only given me the chapter for First Realm!
Drawing from his previous life's lessons, Beno was extremely wary of techniques that were cut off halfway, and even briefly considered abandoning the practice altogether.
But after deep contemplation, he sighed, "I still have to practice it."
Even though practicing this technique could pose significant future risks, not practicing might mean no future at all!
Besides, this Dragon-Tiger Kama Sutra Yin-Yang Great Pleasure Scripture was truly profound.
It could not only absorb the target's essence and memory, but also gradually control their thoughts, making them fanatically devoted and unable to break free. Eventually, these victims would become the practitioner's puppets, even willing to die for them—truly a demonic technique of extreme deviousness.
Beno studied the technique, absorbing its intricacies in silent concentration.
After another half hour, he attempted to practice it. Two streams of essence flowed from his fingertips, forming dragon and tiger patterns that seemed on the verge of transforming into a new type of energy.
Mmph!
In the next second, Beno's face paled, and the essence at his fingertips dissipated.
"Failed? That makes sense. Although I've mastered the theory, I haven't had any practical experience. After all, coupled training techniques aren't meant to be practiced alone."
Undiscouraged, Beno Alder turned his attention to the dazzling array of bookshelves before him.
According to the Archives Pavilion's rules, as a newly initiated formal member, he had one opportunity to exchange for another technique using a no-down-payment loan.
To Beno's surprise, the Archives Pavilion contained not only Red Party techniques.
There were also many non-Daoist texts that appeared to have Western origins, covering extremely diverse domains: body tempering techniques, sword techniques, will embodiment techniques, movement techniques, even medicine, science, and weapon forging—virtually everything one could desire.
"Celestial Rift Technique, Will Embodiment of Crane, True Explanation of Longevity, Empyrean Verdict Blade"
After browsing for a long time, Beno made his choice.
"Empyrean Verdict Blade, price: 1,000 contribution points."
This mystical secret technique originated from the Horizon Dawn, a Martial Order that opposed the Red Party. Beno had previously heard about its remarkable power and effectiveness.
"We've detected this is your first exchange. You may use a no-down-payment loan with 36% annual interest, to be repaid over ten years. Do you wish to proceed with the exchange?"
How much?! Beno nearly cursed out loud. A 36% annual interest rate meant he would have to repay 460 contribution points of principal plus interest each year, totaling 4,600 points over ten years! Borrowing 1,000 to repay 4,600?
That's highway robbery!
"Wait... I'm different!"
Beno's eyes suddenly brightened. A high-interest loan without down payment might be a trap for others, but for him, it meant absolutely nothing.
Worst case, he could start over—what did loans from his previous life have to do with him now? He could essentially get the techniques from the Archive Pavilion for free as long as he wanted! Since he had no intention of repaying, Beno grew much calmer. With a grand wave of his hand, he took out the loan for the Empyrean Verdict Blade without batting an eye.
Then, something unexpected happened.
Unlike with the Dragon-Tiger Kama Sutra Yin-Yang Great Pleasure Scripture, which had provided the technique's content directly in his badge, this time Beno only received a message: "The Empyrean Verdict Blade from Horizon Dawn is being delivered. Estimated arrival at your home within three days."
Staring at the message on his badge, Beno furrowed his brow in confusion. What exactly did "being delivered" mean? Was this technique some kind of unique manuscript without any duplicates?
Nevertheless, Beno believed that the Red Party wouldn't simply withhold his technique.
Before leaving, he approached the elderly man at the entrance of the Archives Pavilion.
"Sir..."
Just as Beno began to bow, the man in the rocking chair spoke: "Don't 'sir' me. I'm also a party member, just a bit older than you. Call me Comrade."
Beno Alder was startled, then corrected himself: "Comrade, do you know if there are any training partners within the Party suitable for practicing the Kama Sutra techniques?"
Given his past life experiences, Beno had no illusions about maintaining moral purity, nor did he hesitate to engage in coupled training. He was willing to use any means necessary to increase his power.
"You mean cauldrons, eh?"
The old man glanced at Beno and asked abruptly, "Did you take out a loan to purchase a technique?"
After a brief hesitation, Beno nodded.
"Then you don't need to worry about that."
At this point, the old man's face creased into a knowing smile. "Though these technique loans are annoying, they do come with certain... benefits. Just go home and wait!"
Beno returned to his quarters, feeling puzzled.
Soon, however, he understood why the Empyrean Verdict Blade required time for delivery, and what the old man had meant by "benefits."
Three days later, a wooden box arrived at Beno's doorstep.
Beno carried the box inside and opened it.
Inside, he discovered a curvaceous woman with sharp, valiant amber eyes, bound hand and foot, crammed into the middle of the box.
Her face, devoid of makeup, radiated a natural, transcendent elegance.
After being confined in the stuffy box for too long, her body glistened with beads of sweat that trickled down her fair neck into her half-open bodice.
"Red Party pig!" The woman glared at Beno with eyes sharp enough to slice him into ribbons. Simultaneously, despair washed over her delicate face as she contemplated her imminent fate.
Beno frowned. "Are you... a disciple of Horizon Dawn?"
"What if I am?" The woman closed her beautiful eyes as two crystal tears rolled down her porcelain cheeks. "Just kill me!"
Beno suddenly understood. He had been wondering where the Red Party had obtained their enemy's technique.
Now he knew.
The Dragon-Tiger Kama Sutra Yin-Yang Great Pleasure Scripture could absorb a target's memories, and the Red Party had directly provided him with a disciple of Horizon Dawn.
In other words, if he wanted the Empyrean Verdict Blade, he only needed to extract it from her memory.
This way, they've both taught him the technique and provided a cauldron—killing two birds with one stone, maximizing utility.
Making full use of resources—truly the Red Party's style.