Chapter 15: Fishing
"Who made a promise with you? Let's talk about it in the next life!"
"With the Hundred Lifetimes Book, at worst, I'll just take the Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon Riding Ascension Scroll in this life, and the Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Art in the next; they'll still both be mine!"
From the very beginning, Lu Yang had never trusted Zhao Xuhe.
Sharing Dao books was merely a temporary expedient; Lu Yang was certain that as soon as Zhao Xuhe escaped, he would find a way to kill him.
However, Zhao Xuhe was stronger, and Lu Yang had no absolute certainty of killing him to eliminate future troubles; in fact, if he truly fought to the death, it might even be him who died.
Coupled with the impending loan maturity, which he couldn't possibly repay, his time in this life was already running out. So, as soon as the Dao book was in his hands, Lu Yang decisively self-destructed.
[You self-destructed heroically and died.]
[Current Hundred Lifetimes Book remaining pages: 97]
[Reopen a life, you can choose one of the following gains from your previous life:
One: Treasure.
Two: Cultivation.
Three: Lifespan.
Four: Give up all gains and randomly Awaken a talent based on your previous life's experiences]
"The person whose name is called, come to me."
As his consciousness regained clarity, Liu Xin's familiar and hateful voice sounded from the stage. Lu Yang ignored it and said in his heart, "I choose Cultivation."
Rumble!
The next second, Lu Yang felt a surge of True Qi erupt from his Dantian, then rapidly flow through his limbs and bones, furiously transforming his essence, Qi, and spirit. However, he gritted his teeth and circulated the Qi Concealment Art he had obtained from the three black-clad men, containing all movements beneath his skin.
A moment later, Lu Yang exhaled a deep breath of turbid Qi.
"I'm back!"
Qi Refining Fourth Layer, Middle Stage!
He raised his head and looked at Liu Xin on the stage. Lu Yang no longer felt the fear he had experienced upon their first meeting. At this moment, Liu Xin was only at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer!
Only after he selected a Named Disciple and refined him into Innate One Qi could he break through the Bottleneck and Breakthrough to the Late Stage of Qi Refining. Only then might he be able to see through his Qi Concealment Art. Before that, even if he stood right in front of him, he would only treat him as an ordinary person.
"But there's also an unexpected surprise..."
Lu Yang inwardly observed his Dantian and saw a swirling white Innate One Qi floating within it, which was surprisingly from his previous life—it was still here in this life!
"I understand... The Hundred Lifetimes Book doesn't revert to the initial anchor point, but to my previous life!"
This was undoubtedly a good thing.
Because it meant that the treasures, Cultivation, and even lifespan he chose in each life could be retained for the next, without having to start from scratch every time.
Next, Lu Yang's actions were as usual.
On stage, assignment, Joyfull Hall.
Beyond death, Yu Suzhen.
Silently biding his time, he Breakthrough after three months, becoming an official Disciple without fanfare.
"In this life, according to my plan, besides the remaining scroll of the Nine Transformations Dragon Transformation Art, there are two other major events worth trying."
The first, naturally, was the Accumulating Merit Lottery.
Lu Yang stayed in his Immortal Cave for a few days, then went to the Good Deeds Building, took on the task of 'Accumulating Merit', and then rushed non-stop to the Merit Pool.
"2025113!"
Standing among the crowd around the Merit Pool, Lu Yang stylishly combed his hair and began to imagine how he would spend the grand prize if he won the Merit Pool lottery.
A billion, a billion, enough to spend for a lifetime~!
Goodbye, poverty, I'll miss you...
The next second, a commotion immediately erupted in the crowd, and countless people looked at Lu Yang in surprise, as well as the rainbow Merit Fish drawn with the number he had chosen.
"Brother, good luck."
Someone approached Lu Yang, their tone envious: "A purple Colored Merit Fish, although only slightly better than white and blue, it's still a rare sight."
"...What?"
Lu Yang tilted his head, a line of question marks appearing above it.
Purple Colored Merit Fish?
Not rainbow?
Lu Yang quickly looked at the Colored Merit Fish he had drawn, which was indeed glowing blue. He then checked the number he had chosen, 2025113, and it was correct.
Why didn't I win!?
Could it be that the lucky person from the previous life, Xiao Shiye, lied? But he couldn't possibly know that someone could restart a life, so there was no reason for him to lie.
In that case...
"There's foul play!"
Lu Yang was so angry his hands trembled, his face flushed red, and only then did he realize: what lucky person, that Xiao Shiye was clearly an internal stooge!
"Forget it, at least it's a purple colored Merit Fish..." Lu Yang could only comfort himself this way. Purple was considered rare, second only to gold and rainbow. Although he missed out on the billion-dollar prize, eating the Purple Merit Fish would probably allow his Cultivation to quickly reach Qi Refining Fifth Layer.
Thinking this, Lu Yang felt much better.
Then, just in case, he didn't take the purple colored Merit Fish back to his Immortal Cave. Instead, he consumed it on the spot in front of everyone, then began to meditate and cultivate to refine it.
After doing everything, Lu Yang clearly felt the several gazes on him dissipate.
The result was as he expected: the essence from the Purple Merit Fish allowed him to smoothly Breakthrough to Qi Refining Fifth Layer, and even brought him to the threshold of Qi Refining Sixth Layer.
"This is only purple; if it were rainbow..."
Lu Yang's heart longed for it, after all, in his previous life, after Xiao Shiye consumed the rainbow Merit Fish, he went from Qi Refining First Layer directly to Great Perfection overnight.
"Forget it, no need to force it."
Lu Yang quickly regained his calm. The first matter had fallen through, but there was still a chance for the second: the "substitute yin corspe Price Bubble Incident."
Wang Borong, the old man of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, almost lost everything because of this, and then was deceived by Zhao Xuhe, becoming cannon fodder for Dragon Coil Island. But ultimately, this was because Wang Borong entered the market too late, and he was different; he knew the timing of this price bubble's fluctuations very well.
"There's actually an upward trend already."
Lu Yang opened his Disciple token and checked the price of the substitute yin corspe, finding that there were indeed some fluctuations, clearly indicating insider trading by informed individuals.
"To enter the market, I still lack a sufficient amount of principal..."
Lu Yang thought for a moment, then turned and headed to the Good Karma Building.
As expected, he, the newly initiated Disciple, was a fat lamb waiting to be slaughtered in the eyes of the older Disciples. Before long, Zhao Xuhe proactively approached him.
"Junior Brother, you don't look too good. Have you encountered any difficulties?"
Lu Yang looked up at his words and forced a bitter smile: "What difficulties could there be, it's just a lack of money. Senior Brother, do you know of any tasks that can earn contribution points?"
"Oh, so it's a lack of money... Yes, I've been there, Senior Brother. When I was your age, I was also worried about contribution points, stressed out every day, and my Dao Companion even disliked me and broke up with me... Alas, endless tasks every day, it feels like there's no hope for the future."
Zhao Xuhe's tone was full of sighs, appearing to sympathize with Lu Yang.
After speaking, he patted Lu Yang's shoulder and said, "I, your Senior Brother, have toiled for half my life and finally summarized a universally applicable truth."
"That is, money is dead."
"So, to make money make money, to earn contribution points with contribution points, is the only way not to become a slave of the Primordial Sect, and to escape this fate like an ox or horse!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Yang immediately showed an expression of admiration: "Listening to your words is better than reading for ten years!"
However, Lu Yang soon lowered his head in disappointment: "But Senior Brother, I don't even have contribution points now, so what can I use to earn them?"
"Too small! The scope is too small!"
Zhao Xuhe's expression became even more cordial, and he smiled, revealing his teeth: "Although you don't have money now, you can borrow it, and just repay it when you earn money, right?"
"But..." Lu Yang still looked hesitant.
Seeing that a deal was coming, Zhao Xuhe wouldn't let go and quickly said, "How about this, I see that you, Junior Brother, are fated with me, I'll lend you a sum!"
Lu Yang's eyes immediately lit up: "Really?"
Looking at his eager expression, Zhao Xuhe immediately confirmed that the fish had taken the bait!
"Of course it's true!"
Zhao Xuhe patted his chest in assurance while also pulling out the so-called Three Rivers Association signboard, then asked Lu Yang, "Junior Brother, how much do you plan to borrow?"
Lu Yang was silent for a moment, then held up two fingers.
"Two hundred?"
"Two thousand!"
Lu Yang said resolutely: "To be honest, I haven't used my Cultivation Technique loan yet, which is equivalent to 1000 contribution points, and my new Disciple benefits: the White Bone Flying Sword, Blood Qi Pills, Human-faced Owls... Can I use these as collateral, Senior Brother Zhao, to borrow 2000 contribution points?"
Zhao Xuhe was stunned.
Are young people nowadays all so bold in their actions?
I just said a few words to trick you, and you're already going all-in?
Before Zhao Xuhe could react, Lu Yang said something that shocked him even more: "Senior Brother Zhao, I plan to buy substitute yin corpse with my entire position."
"What!?"
Zhao Xuhe was first shocked, then as if he thought of something, he quickly lowered his voice: "Junior Brother... You wouldn't have learned some inside information, would you?"
"Senior Brother is wise." Lu Yang also whispered: "When I was choosing Cultivation Techniques in the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, I overheard what Senior Brother Wang Borong at the entrance said. It seems the war in the south is unfavorable, and the Ten Thousand Corpse Pit, where substitute yin corspe are produced, has fallen, but the Primordial Sect has secretly suppressed the related news..."
"Hiss!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Zhao Xuhe immediately gasped, and then his eyes showed intense greed, clearly having sniffed out a business opportunity.
If the news was true, then a chance to get rich had arrived!
Looking at the agitated Zhao Xuhe, Lu Yang sneered inwardly.
The fish has taken the bait!
I feel like I've been playing alone, is anyone there?