"Who made a promise with you? Let's talk about it in the next life!"
"With the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes, at worst, I'll just take the 『Myriad Chariots Ascending Dragon Scroll』 in this life, and the 『Nine Transformations Dragon Art』 in the next—either way, they're both mine!"
From the very beginning, Lü Yang never trusted Zhao Xuhe.
All that talk about sharing Daoist scriptures was nothing more than a temporary expedient. Lü Yang was certain that as soon as Zhao Xuhe escaped, he would find a way to kill him.
Unfortunately, Zhao Xuhe was stronger, and Lü Yang didn't have absolute confidence in killing him to eliminate future troubles. If they truly fought to the death, it was possible that he might die instead.
Moreover, with his loan about to mature and no way to repay it, the time left in this life was already running out. So, as soon as he obtained the Daoist scripture, Lü Yang decisively self-destructed.
【You brazenly self-destructed and died.】
【Current remaining pages of the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes: 97】
【Restarting a new life, you can choose one of the following gains from your previous life:
2: Cultivation.
3: Lifespan.
4: Abandon all gains and randomly awaken a talent based on your previous life's experiences.】
"Those whose names are called, step forward."
As consciousness cleared, Liu Xin's familiar and detestable voice rang out on the stage. Lü Yang ignored it and said in his heart, "I choose cultivation."
Boom!
In the next moment, Lü Yang felt a surge of true qi erupt from his dantian, swiftly flowing to his limbs and bones, beginning to frantically transform his essence, energy, and spirit. However, he gritted his teeth and operated the qi-concealing technique he had obtained from the three black-clothed men, suppressing all movements beneath his skin.
A moment later, Lü Yang exhaled a deep breath of turbid air.
"I'm back again!"
Qi Refining Stage, Level Four, Mid-stage!
Raising his head to look at Liu Xin on the stage, Lü Yang no longer felt the fear he had at their first meeting.
At this time, Liu Xin was only at Qi Refining Stage, Level Six!
He would only be able to break through the bottleneck to the late stage of Qi Refining after selecting a registered disciple and refining them into Innate True Qi.
Only then might he be able to see through Lü Yang's qi-concealing technique. Before that, even if Lü Yang stood right in front of him, he would only be regarded as an ordinary person.
"But there's also an unexpected surprise."
Lü Yang looked inward at his dantian and saw a misty white qi floating within—it was the Innate True Qi from his previous life, and it still existed in this life!
"I understand now... The Book of a Hundred Lifetimes doesn't rewind to the original 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 in the next, without having to start from scratch each time.
Next, Lü Yang's actions proceeded as usual.
He went on stage, was assigned, and entered the Pleasure Hall.
He surpassed Yu Suzhen.
He quietly lay low, broke through after three months, and silently became an official disciple.
"In this life, according to my plan, besides the remaining volume of the 『Nine Transformations Dragon Art』, there are two major events worth attempting."
The first was naturally the "Merit Lottery."
Lü Yang stayed in his cave dwelling for a few days, then went to the Merit Hall to receive the "Accumulate Merit" task, and immediately rushed to the Merit Pool.
"2025113!"
Standing among the crowd around the Merit Pool, Lü Yang stylishly combed his hair and began to imagine how he would spend the grand prize after drawing it from the Merit Pool.
Ten billion, ten billion, a lifetime wouldn't be enough to spend it all~!
Goodbye, poverty, I'll miss you...
In the next second, a commotion arose among the crowd, and countless people looked at Lü Yang in surprise, as well as at the merit fish drawn by his selected number.
"Brother, you have pretty good luck."
Someone approached Lü Yang, speaking enviously, "A purple merit fish, although only slightly better than white and blue ones, is still a rare encounter."
"...What?"
Lü Yang tilted his head, a row of question marks appearing above it.
A purple merit fish?
Not a colorful one?
Lü Yang quickly looked at the merit fish he had drawn, which was emitting a blue glow, and then checked the number he had chosen—2025113—there was no mistake.
Why didn't he win!?
Could it be that the lucky guy from his previous life, Xiao Shiye, lied? But he couldn't possibly know that someone could restart a life, so there was no reason to lie.
That being the case...
"There's a scam going on!"
Lü Yang was so angry that his hands were trembling, his face flushed red, and he finally realized: that so-called lucky guy, Xiao Shiye, was clearly a prearranged shill!
"Forget it, at least it's still a merit fish." Lü Yang could only comfort himself this way.
.Purple was still considered rare, second only to gold and Colorful ones.
Although he missed out on the ten billion grand prize, consuming the purple merit fish would likely allow his cultivation to quickly reach Qi Refining Stage, Level Five.
Thinking this way, Lü Yang felt much better.
Then, just to be safe, he didn't take the merit fish back to his cave dwelling but consumed it on the spot in front of everyone, then began to meditate and refine it.
After completing everything, Lü Yang clearly felt several gazes on him dissipate.
As expected, the essence of the purple merit fish allowed him to smoothly break through to Qi Refining Stage, Level Five, and even brought him to the threshold of Level Six.
"This is just the purple one—if it were Colorful..."
Lü Yang's heart was filled with longing. After all, in his previous life, that Xiao Shiye had consumed a Colorful merit fish and advanced from Qi Refining Stage, Level One to the Great Perfection overnight.
"Forget it, I won't force it."
Lü Yang quickly regained his composure. The first matter had failed, but there was still a chance with the second one—the "Substitute Death Yin Puppet Price Bubble Incident."
Elder Wang Borong of the Library Pavilion had nearly lost everything because of this, and was deceived by Zhao Xuhe into becoming cannon fodder on Panlong Island. But ultimately, it was because Wang Borong entered the market too late. Lü Yang was different; he knew the timing of the price bubble's fluctuation.
"It's already showing an upward trend now."
Lü Yang opened his disciple token to check the price of Substitute Death Yin Puppets and found that there was indeed some fluctuation, indicating that insiders were already manipulating it.
"I still lack a sufficient amount of capital to enter the market..."
Lü Yang thought for a moment and turned to the Merit Hall.
As expected, as a new disciple, he was seen as a fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered by the senior disciples. Before long, Zhao Xuhe approached him proactively.
"Junior Brother, you don't look well. Are you facing some difficulties?"
Hearing this, Lü Yang looked up and gave a bitter smile: "What difficulties could there be? Just lacking money. I wonder if Senior Brother has any tasks that can earn contribution points?"
"So it's a lack of money... I understand. I've been there myself. When I was your age, I was also worried about contribution points every day, overwhelmed with tasks, and even my Dao companion despised me and broke up with me... Sigh, every day was filled with endless tasks, and life seemed hopeless."
Zhao Xuhe spoke with a sigh, appearing to share Lü Yang's plight.
After speaking, he patted Lü Yang's shoulder and said, "I've wasted half my life, and finally concluded a universal truth."
"That is, money is dead."
"So, let money generate money. Use contribution points to earn more contribution points. Only then won't you become a slave to the Primordial Sent Sect and can escape this life of drudgery!"
Upon hearing this, Lü Yang immediately showed admiration: "Listening to your words is better than studying for ten years!"
But soon, Lü Yang lowered his head in disappointment: "But Senior Brother, I don't even have any contribution points now. How can I earn more?"
"That's short-sighted!"
Zhao Xuhe's expression became even more amiable, flashing a smile: "Although you don't have money now, you can borrow it. Just repay it after earning more, right?"
"But..."
Lü Yang still looked hesitant.
Seeing his opportunity, Zhao Xuhe wouldn't let it slip away and quickly said, "How about this, I see that Junior Brother and I are fated, so I'll lend you some!"
Lü Yang's eyes lit up immediately: "Really?"
Seeing his ...seeing his eager expression, Zhao Xuhe became certain—the fish had taken the bait!
"Of course it's true!"
Zhao Xuhe pounded his chest in assurance while taking out the so-called Sanhe Association badge, then asked Lü Yang, "Junior Brother, how much do you plan to borrow?"
Lü Yang paused for a moment, then raised two fingers.
"Two hundred?"
"Two thousand!"
Lü Yang looked resolute. "To be honest, I haven't used my Cultivation Loan yet—worth 1,000 contribution points. Plus, I still have my newcomer benefits: the Bone Flying Sword, Vitality Pills, the Human-Faced Owl… I’ll use all these as collateral. Senior Brother Zhao, can you lend me 2,000 contribution points?"
Zhao Xuhe froze.
Since when were young people this reckless?
I’ve barely pitched anything, and you’re already going all-in?
Before Zhao Xuhe could react, Lü Yang said something even more shocking, "Senior Brother Zhao, I plan to go all-in on Substitute Death Yin Puppets."
"What!?"
Zhao Xuhe was first stunned, then as if a realization dawned on him, he quickly lowered his voice, "Junior Brother… you didn’t happen to learn some insider info, did you?"
"Senior Brother is wise," Lü Yang also lowered his voice, "When I was choosing a cultivation method at the Library Pavilion earlier, I overheard Senior Brother Wang Borong at the door saying something—it seemed like the southern battlefront was losing, and the mass grave producing Substitute Death Yin Puppets was lost. But the Holy Sect has secretly sealed off the news..."
"Hiss!"
At these words, Zhao Xuhe gasped, then his eyes were filled with intense greed—it was clear he smelled a golden opportunity.
If the news was true, then this was a chance to get rich!
Watching the excited and restless Zhao Xuhe, Lü Yang sneered inwardly.
The fish had taken the bait!