"A precursor's cave mansion?"
After listening to Zhao Xuhe's proposal, Lü shook his head: "Senior Brother warmly invites me, but my skills are not refined, and at present, I only want to focus entirely on my cultivation."
"Oh?" Zhao Xuhe squinted his eyes upon hearing this: "Junior Brother, could it be that you don't trust me?"
"Senior Brother, you're overthinking. It's just that I haven't yet learned any techniques, and I have no skill in combat. Even if I were to go with you, I'd only be a burden."
Lü Yang's reason was well-based and convincing.
After all, shortly after joining, he started investing on Death-Warding Skeletons and even used his Cultivation Technique Loan as collateral, which Zhao Xuhe was fully aware of.
".... Then just forget it."
Zhao Xuhe shook his head, his expression cooling.
At this moment, he felt a murderous intent grow within. After all, he lost everything, while Lü Yang managed to make a fortune.
How could he accept this?
What's more, Lü's principal was all borrowed from him, so the profits should rightfully be his!
"Then so be it, I'll let you hold onto it for now...."
A cold smile formed in Zhao Xuhe's heart: "He only knows cultivation and doesn't learn combat techniques; does he really think he's in those righteous sects where he can cultivate peacefully? Once I've resolved matters on Panlong Island, I'll find a chance to sneak into his cave mansion at night and eliminate him; those contribution points will still be mine!"
....
"If nothing goes wrong, Zhao should already be plotting against me."
Departing Zhao Xuhe's cave mansion, Lü Yang swaggered towards the Library Pavilion. He had already deduced Zhao Xuhe's intentions, yet remaining utterly unperturbed.
After all, he hasn't wasted these past few days.
While others were caught up in speculating with Death-Warding Skeletons, he paid no heed to the outside world and bought a large number of Spirit Pills for cultivation.
The Fourth Layer to Sixth Layer of Qi Refining are all part of the Mid-phase, with no bottleneck. As long as money is spent on pills, breakthroughs are possible.
Having earned ten thousand contribution points, Lü Yang naturally didn't need to be frugal with pills. Therefore, he had long since reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, the peak of the Mid-phase.
The syphilis from his original body was also cured by a Cleansing Pill.
It's a fact that the greatest incurable disease in one's life is poverty.
The reason that Yu Suzhen in his first life was killed by syphilis was ultimately due to lack of money.
As for the Mid-phase bottleneck, he initially thought of using Primal Qi, but unfortunately, one Primal Qi was insufficient for breakthrough.
Clearly, Liu Xin harmed more than just one person and collected more than one Primal Qi in the past.
As for no techniques, naturally that was to deceive Zhao Xuhe.
In a previous life, he relied on the array to barely suppress Zhao Xuhe when he was exhausted. But in this life, he had confidence in his escape even in direct confrontation!
"Senior Brother Wang, are you well recently?"
Upon reaching the Library Pavilion, Lü Yang skillfully took out a gourd of wine, smiling: "This is a top-quality Flower Brew, specially procured for Senior Brother."
"...It's you again, kid."
At the Library Pavilion entrance, Wang Baifeng's eyes slightly twitched as he heard this, then sighed: "The Flower Brew costs 50 contribution points per gourd."
"You kid are truly wealthy now."
This life, Lü Yang focused on establishing a good relationship with Wang Baifeng.
Initially, Wang Baifeng was somewhat aloof from him, but ever since the burst of the Death-Warding Skeleton bubble, this senior brother had been treating him much better.
The reason is simple.
Because he convinced Wang Baifeng to sell off some hoarded goods before the crash, avoiding total ruin.
Since then, Wang Baifeng has been immensely grateful to him.
"It's pitiful, living these decades in vain, yet seeing through less than a young lad like you; had it not been for your advice, I might have detonated my self by now."
"Oh, not at all. Senior Brother, you're far too modest."
Lu Yang shook his head with a sigh. "They say that wise counsel rarely reaches those doomed to ignore it. Back then I tried to persuade many, but only you, Senior Brother, were willing to listen."
"You were the only one wise enough to step back from the edge."
"Hmph…"
Wang Baifeng narrowed his eyes, stroking his beard. He knew Lu Yang was flattering him—but the more he heard, the better it sounded.
Before long, the two set out tables and chairs and sat down to drink together.
Wang Baifeng didn't stand on ceremony. He filled a large cup with Drunken Flower Brew and downed it in one go. Only after wiping his beard did he slowly ask, "Kid, what are you really after?"
That question had been lingering in his mind from the start.
"We barely know each other. Don't tell me you actually believe those rumors claiming I'm some hidden master of the Library Pavilion, secretly waiting for a destined successor?"
"Of course not."
Lu Yang poured more wine for him and chuckled. "But they say a household elder is a treasure. For someone to survive this long in the Stain Sect, Senior Brother must have real ability. And working in the Library Pavilion… perhaps you could guide me in choosing Cultivation Techniques or Arts."
His tone was sincere, even earnest.
Wang Baifeng did not confirm or deny a thing. He simply kept drinking, and soon began complaining—quite energetically—about the Stain Sect's shameless behavior in exploiting its disciples.
"Absolutely disgraceful!"
"Just when prices hit their peak, they suddenly crush the market. Obviously premeditated! There's a rat hidden among the top ranks of the Stain Sect!"
Lu Yang nodded along as he refilled the cups.
When Wang Baifeng had drunk enough to loosen up and start swaying slightly, Lu Yang quietly said, "Senior Brother, I came today to choose a Cultivation Technique or Ability."
"Do you have any recommendations? The stronger, the better."
"Hah! I knew you'd ask!" Wang Baifeng burst into laughter, chest puffing out. "And you're asking the right person!"
Lu Yang cupped his hands respectfully. "Please teach me, Senior Brother."
"First of all, forget about the true Superior Divine Techniques. Our Library Pavilion is only a minor branch of Heaven Mending Peak. Truly powerful arts are stored on Stain Fire Cliff and taught only to the true inheritors."
He snorted.
"That's only natural. We early and Mid-phase Qi Refining disciples are nothing but sect fodder. Why would they teach us anything truly powerful?"
Ordinary disciples learning too much was considered a threat to the sect's control.
True Disciples, however, were different—fully integrated into the Stain Sect's lineage, future elites expected to inherit its legacy.
"No middle ground?" Lu Yang asked softly.
"Of course there is!"
Wang Baifeng grinned. After more than forty years in the Library Pavilion, there wasn't a Cultivation Technique or Ability he didn't know—if not the full contents, then at least their resulting effects.
"In truth, the Pavilion contains only three Arts that can reach truly upper-rank power when mastered. But every one of them comes with a severe price."
"A price?"
At this, Wang Baifeng's expression turned solemn.
"For example," he said, leaning closer, "there's an art called Heavenfiend Lifeblood Offering Radiance. It allows a cultivator to empower an artifact through self-sacrifice. But once used successfully, it reduces lifespan and prevents further cultivation. In short—it cuts off one's immortal path entirely."
He raised his brows.
"Now tell me, are the adverse effects significant?"
He fully expected the warning to scare Lu Yang away.
Instead, Lu Yang's eyes lit up.
"That sounds perfect for me!"
Even significant consequences only applied to this one life. And why should the price paid in this lifetime matter—when he still had another?
At that moment, he felt he had discovered the correct way to use Centome.