Chapter 4: Impossible to Guard Against
“Man is formed by a single breath of Primordial Qi. To refine Qi is to refine oneself, to purify the self, and to reverse the process of birth, returning to the Primordial. One can thereby cultivate the perfect result of Primordial Qi, where both form and spirit are wondrous…”
After a long time, Lu Yang opened his eyes, a look of joy on his face.
Compared to the [Ode of Yin-Yang Great Bliss], the [Primordial Dao Scripture] truly had the appearance of a complete inheritance.
The entire scripture started from the level of a mortal. The introductory phase involved practicing a set of [Primordial Exercises] to temper the physique. There was even a matching martial art called the [Primordial Great Capture].
Once the physique was fully accomplished, the cultivator would begin to “Reverse the Congenital to the Primordial.” First, one would dissolve the five viscera and six bowels, then the skin, flesh, tendons, and bones, until finally, the physical form was completely dissolved. The body would be refined into a wisp of [Primordial True Qi]. From then on, one could gather and disperse form at will, becoming difficult to harm with Daoist arts, and standing in an invincible position when battling others.
In addition to this, the scripture recorded many dao arts that could coordinate with the Primordial True Qi.
Dao Arts such as [Heavenly Net Dust Smoke], [One-Mind True Qi Sword], and [Spirit Breath Qi Absorption Technique]… The completeness of the Dao Arts categories and the diversity of their functions opened Lu Yang’s eyes.
However, just as Lu Yang was entranced by his reading, he suddenly froze.
“…Why does it stop?”
Lu Yang subconsciously looked up at Liu Xin, only to realize that the [Primordial Dao Scripture] in his hand consisted only of the first half. The content came to an abrupt halt.
“Junior Brother, the Dharma is not lightly bestowed.”
Liu Xin chuckled softly. “The second half of the [Primordial Dao Scripture] concerns the secrets of Foundation Establishment. It is not included in the sect’s welfare package— you must exchange Contribution Points for it.”
Hearing this, Lu Yang shook his head helplessly. “So that’s how it is. I lost my composure.”
“No matter. Half a scripture is enough for you to cultivate for now.”
Liu Xin patted Lu Yang’s shoulder affectionately. “Come, I will take you to select a Cave Abode on [Heaven-Mending Peak]. We’ll pick a good location so we can visit each other often in the future.”
Lu Yang nodded. “Many thanks, Senior Brother.”
Half an hour later, on [Heaven-Mending Peak].
Lu Yang officially settled into a remote Cave Abode at the foot of the mountain. The original furniture and utensils inside the cave were swept out like trash.
Watching this scene, thousands of thoughts raced through Lu Yang’s mind.
“It seems being a formal disciple isn’t easy either…”
[Heaven-Mending Peak] was not large. The Primordial Saint Sect took in so many honorary disciples every year; even if the promotion rate was only one in ten thousand, it should have been enough to fill [Heaven-Mending Peak].
But in reality?
As Lu Yang walked up the path, let alone being overcrowded, [Heaven-Mending Peak] actually felt a bit empty. Many Cave Abodes were in a state of disuse, with no disciples occupying them.
Where did all the formal disciples go? Surely they couldn’t all be unable to afford the rent?
Lu Yang shook his head and didn’t delve deeper. Instead, he fetched a meditation cushion, sat down, and assumed the five-hearts-to-heaven posture, beginning his first cultivation session within the Cave Abode.
This session was shocking. The moment he began to cultivate, Lu Yang felt a surge of Spiritual Qi from heaven and earth—nearly double the density of the Outer Sect—swarming towards him. It flooded into his Dantian, circulated through his meridians to his entire body, and finally merged from the outside in, integrating step by step into his internal organs, skin, flesh, tendons, and bones.
The efficiency was so high that even Lu Yang looked amazed.
With the same amount of time and the same technique, the True Qi that took a whole day to refine in the Outer Sect took only an hour in the Inner Sect Cave Abode.
“No wonder one has to spend money to rent an Inner Sect Cave Abode.”
It is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but hard to go from extravagance to frugality. Once one experienced the speed of cultivation in a Cave Abode, it would be difficult to endure cultivating anywhere else.
The next day, Lu Yang did not go out. He holed up in his Cave Abode, alternating between cultivating and studying the [Primordial Dao Scripture].
“Although cultivation in this world also depends on talent, there is no such thing as ‘Spirit Roots.’ Basically, as long as one has the heart, anyone can step onto the path of cultivation.”
Although this was true, cultivation was not any easier because of it.
While mortals entering the Dao were not restricted by Spirit Roots, the ‘Grade’ of the True Qi they refined would determine the cultivator’s highest future achievement.
This was the function of “Method” or “Dharma.”
The higher the level of the cultivation technique, the higher the grade of True Qi extracted, and the more likely one was to reach higher realms in the future. Conversely, lower-grade techniques led to bottlenecks.
True Qi was divided into [Nine Grades and Thirty-Six Stages]. The lower the grade number, the superior the quality and the higher the stage, the more powerful the strength.
Generally speaking, those with True Qi below the Seventh Grade had no destiny with Foundation Establishment. Those below the Third Grade would find it hard to form a Golden Core. And without First Grade True Qi, trying to condense a Nascent Soul was a path of ten deaths and no life.
“Rogue cultivators really have no way to live.”
Lu Yang couldn’t help but sigh. Compared to large sects with complete inheritances, rogue cultivators had no room to be picky about techniques— they cultivated whatever they could find.
In such a situation, no matter how high their talent or comprehension, they lost at the starting line and could only live with regret.
The difficulty of immortal cultivation was evident.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang gradually frowned.
“The [Primordial True Qi] extracted from the [Primordial Dao Scripture] ranks at the First Stage of the Sixth Grade. Cultivators using it have hope for Foundation Establishment. Strictly speaking, it isn’t weak.”
But it still did not meet his expectations.
If he were just an ordinary cultivator, that would be fine.
But he now possessed a supreme treasure like the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes]. His future was limitless. A technique that capped at Foundation Establishment could no longer satisfy his pursuit.
“If only I could have one of those supreme true transmissions ranked in the First Grade…”
Lu Yang fantasized for a moment, then sighed. “Forget it. The road must be walked one step at a time. If you take too big a step—crack—you’ll easily tear your balls.”
“First, I’ll cultivate the [Primordial Dao Scripture] and become a Foundation Establishment Grand Cultivator…”
Once the Dao Foundation is established, one can live for three hundred years. That is almost equivalent to the lifespan of a mortal dynasty. In the cultivation world, one could be called a “Grand Cultivator.”
Once he had the strength, he would seek higher inheritances, and restart his life immediately after obtaining them.
Repeating this cycle, his dreams would eventually come true.
As long as he had patience and didn’t act rashly, time would always be his best friend. This was the confidence the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] gave Lu Yang.
Ten days later, inside Lu Yang’s Cave Abode.
A wisp of white Qi steamed and curled, suddenly transforming into billowing black smoke, then into an invisible sword of Qi, and finally solidifying into a graceful, immortal-like human figure.
“I did it!”
Although the [Primordial Dao Scripture] was profound, it wasn’t difficult to practice. In just ten short days, Lu Yang had successfully dissolved his physical form and refined his body into a wisp of True Qi.
[Name: Lu Yang] [Lifespan: 18] [Cultivation: Qi Refining 1st Layer] [Talent: Unorthodox Prodigy (White)] [Technique: Ode of Yin-Yang Great Bliss (Perfected), Primordial Qi Transformation Form Technique (Perfected)] [Divine Ability: None] [Treasure: None] [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes Pages: 99]
Looking at the updated information on the Book, Lu Yang tread on empty air, feeling his condition was at its absolute peak. Even the social disease of the original host had healed without medication.
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, Lu Yang, who had been full of satisfaction, frowned. He abruptly stopped his movements and looked at the [Book of a Hundred Lifetimes] again, falling into a strange contemplation.
“…Something is wrong.”
It felt like he had overlooked something.
Lu Yang subconsciously recalled his experiences. In this life, he hadn’t encountered any difficulties. He successfully became a formal disciple, successfully received the [Primordial Dao Scripture]…
In the next second, Lu Yang finally realized what he had overlooked.
[After plundering your Vital Essence, Yu Suzhen successfully broke through to the Qi Refining Realm. However, the Demon of Illness was deeply rooted and her True Qi could not eliminate it. She was bedridden for several months and eventually died of severe illness.]
In the previous life, why did Senior Sister Yu die?
Since she became a formal disciple, she must have also received the [Primordial Dao Scripture]. As long as she successfully cultivated it and transformed her form into Qi, how could she die from a minor illness?
Did she fail to cultivate it?
“Impossible.” Lu Yang shook his head.
The [Primordial Dao Scripture] wasn’t that hard to cultivate. Since Yu Suzhen had the ability to break through to the Qi Refining Realm, no matter how poor her aptitude, it was impossible for her to fail to learn it over several months.
“Unless… what she cultivated wasn’t the [Primordial Dao Scripture] at all!”
In that instant, Lu Yang felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
The sound of his beating heart had never been so clear, and his breathing became rapid. The excited expression on Lu Yang’s face faded quickly.
“Was the [Primordial Dao Scripture]… specifically prepared for me by Liu Xin?”
Lu Yang thought of the scene he had witnessed in the [Artifact Forging Hall].
That honorary disciple in the hall thought he had achieved the Great Dao, but the result was him seeking his own death. Not only did he fail to break through, but he also refined himself into a artifact.
Was that moment back then… exactly like this moment right now?
Just then, a familiar and affectionate call came from outside the Cave Abode:
“Junior Brother Lu, are you in?”
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