Heaven-Stealing Secret

"This method is called Heaven-Stealing Secret."

Having received Lu Yang's approval, Zhao Xuhe took out a Jade Slip, infused it with his memories, and handed it to Lu Yang. It contained an overview of the effects of the Foundation Establishment secret art he had mentioned.

Lu Yang swept it with his spiritual sense and immediately revealed a look of astonishment.

At a glance, Lu Yang knew that this "Heaven-Stealing Secret" had been created by some great figure of the Sacred Sect, because every line bore the Sacred Sect's distinctive style.

So-called Heaven-Stealing Secret lived up to its name. One first sought out a cultivator of the opposite sex whose age, talent, and cultivation were evenly matched with one's own, then became Dao companions with them. Through continuous dual cultivation, one gradually planted one's own aura within the other's body, replacing the other's Qi Seed.

Once successful, what the other cultivated would no longer be her own Qi Seed, but the caster's Qi Seed.

At that point, no matter what opportunities she obtained or breakthroughs she achieved, they would ultimately be stolen by the caster. A lifetime of cultivation would merely make a wedding dress for another.

Sinister, vicious, treating talented people as mere materials. It was a classic.

Thinking of this, Lu Yang glanced at Zhao Xuhe again and suddenly recalled hearing in his life before last that Zhao Xuhe had seemingly become Dao companions with Fairy Feixia.

So that was it. No wonder they both died after failing to break through to Foundation Establishment.

Looking at it now, Zhao Xuhe probably killed Fairy Feixia first, then died after failing his Foundation Establishment breakthrough. After all that plotting, it still came to nothing.

While silently criticizing him in his heart, Lu Yang also felt a chill.

From his perspective, Zhao Xuhe's preparations in his life before last had been absolutely thorough. He had nearly exploited every resource available to him.

After Zhao Xuhe and Fairy Feixia became Dao companions in his life before last, he rose to prominence through Skull Mountain. Not only did he break through to Qi Refining Great Perfection, he also obtained two rare Foundation Establishment treasures. And if the Heaven-Stealing Secret was taken into account, Fairy Feixia's share had in truth also been within Zhao Xuhe's grasp.

All told, Zhao Xuhe had prepared no fewer than three methods to break through to Foundation Establishment!

And what was the result?

He still failed!

"Foundation Establishment, Foundation Establishment—the Immortal Foundation of the Great Dao. Without Foundation Establishment, one remains an ordinary, mediocre mortal. No wonder only Foundation Establishment cultivators deserve to be called True Persons."

"Foundation Establishment is difficult—harder than ascending to the blue heavens."

After sighing, Lu Yang looked again at the Jade Slip in his hand.

"What does Junior Brother think?"

Zhao Xuhe's face was full of anticipation. "With this as collateral, Junior Brother, lend me thirty thousand Contribution Points. The term will be three months. Three months from now, I will definitely repay the money."

"If I cannot repay it in full, the secret art shall be used to settle the debt and given to you, Junior Brother."

"But even if I do repay it in full, I will still give the secret art to you, Junior Brother. Consider it my thanks for sending charcoal in the snow and helping me through this crisis!"

Zhao Xuhe spoke with bold generosity, but Lu Yang sneered inwardly after hearing him.

It sounds as though, as long as I am willing to lend him the points, the Heaven-Stealing Secret will be mine, and I cannot lose either way. But that is not how it works at all!

The key was neither the secret art nor the loan.

It was the three-month deadline.

Because once he lent the money, if Zhao Xuhe encountered any crisis during those three months, Lu Yang would have to intervene. Otherwise, he would never get his money back.

So this loan was not lending money—it was lending himself!

Zhao Xuhe clearly wanted to use this Foundation Establishment secret art to tie him down, forcing him to pay for Zhao Xuhe's future adventures and the Karma he stirred up!

Put simply, this was a sugar-coated cannonball.

Yet because it concerned Foundation Establishment, he could not refuse it.

"But what if I want the secret art without wanting the responsibility?"

Lu Yang looked at the Jade Slip in his hand, considering whether there was a way to swallow the sugar coating and throw the cannonball back—such as sending Zhao Xuhe to become brothers with Liu Xin.

However, Lu Yang quickly rejected the idea. Just as he had taken Ouyang Haoze as a Banner Spirit yet failed to obtain the Divine Martial Sect's core Cultivation Method from him, the cultivation world had countless methods of preventing techniques and divine abilities from being leaked. Since Zhao Xuhe dared come to him, he must have made preparations.

The chances of success were too low.

Lu Yang fell silent for a moment before suddenly saying, "...Very well."

"I can agree to Senior Brother's loan, but I have one condition. If Senior Brother cannot accept it, I would rather give up the secret art."

Zhao Xuhe was overjoyed. "Please speak, Junior Brother!"

"The condition is simple." Lu Yang said softly, "Senior Brother must give me the original copy of the secret art. Otherwise, what if you go back on your word and refuse to give it to me later?"

"Of course, you may place a restriction on the original copy, such as one that will immediately destroy it if it is opened without permission, then remove the restriction after three months. With Senior Brother's Dharma Power, the restriction can last at least eighty years. That way, I can rest easy, and so can you. What does Senior Brother think?"

Zhao Xuhe thought it over. There did not seem to be anything wrong with it.

The only issue was that his Dharma Power was limited. After eighty years, the restriction would automatically unravel once its Dharma Power ran dry. But by then, the daylilies would have gone cold.

A Qi Refining cultivator's Lifespan was around one hundred and fifty years.

And once one passed a hundred, one's essence, Qi, and spirit would decline. At that point, there was basically no hope of breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

Lu Yang was already over twenty this year. Eighty years later, he would certainly be over a hundred, with one foot in the grave. Even if he obtained the Foundation Establishment secret art then, it would be useless.

After all, his life would nearly be over. What would he use to establish his foundation?

His next life?

The more Zhao Xuhe thought about it, the more he felt that Lu Yang's proposal was wonderfully sound. It completed the transaction while avoiding mutual suspicion. It truly was a win-win situation!

"Junior Brother's request is entirely reasonable. We shall do it this way!"

Zhao Xuhe nodded decisively and took out another Jade Slip. He first condensed his Dharma Power and carved a restriction into it, then handed it to Lu Yang.

Seeing this, Lu Yang naturally accepted it with a beaming smile.

For a time, host and guest alike were delighted.

"From this day onward, Zhao Xuhe is of no use to me."

"If he returns alive, so be it. But if he stirs up any trouble, I will not lift a finger. At worst, I will wait eighty years before looking at the secret art."

"Either way, I will not lose out."

After seeing Zhao Xuhe off, Lu Yang hummed a little tune and cheerfully began arranging the Marketplace. After all, the Marketplace was now the foundation upon which he lived and stood.

Moreover, the Hundred-Skeleton Return-to-Truth Formation within the Marketplace was a Seventh Grade formation, while his Blood-Washing Heavenly River Sword Formation Map was only Ninth Grade. Its power relied entirely on the Heavenly Demon Blood-Dissolving Divine Light. Thus, if he could thoroughly comprehend the Hundred-Skeleton Return-to-Truth Formation, it would also greatly aid his attainments in formations through drawing inferences from one instance.

Time soon passed.

In the blink of an eye, another month went by. Lu Yang awoke from meditation and suddenly caught the fragrance of perfume before him. Then he saw a graceful, lovely figure enter the Blood Garment Pavilion.

"Senior Sister."

Lu Yang broke into a smile. "One does not visit the Three Treasures Hall without cause. Could it be that Senior Sister has gained new insights into formations and wishes to exchange ideas with me?"

"How many times have I told you? Just call me Feixia."

Fairy Feixia rolled her eyes at Lu Yang in annoyance. Out of habit, she settled herself into his lap before speaking gently, "Someone from the Sacred Sect has arrived."

"Hadn't they already arrived long ago?"

Lu Yang was utterly unconcerned. "I said it last time—I only wish to cultivate in peace and have no desire to provoke trouble. I have no interest in that Witch Ghost Secret Realm."

"This time, the person who came is different."

The moment Fairy Feixia said this, Lu Yang narrowed his eyes. "...Who is it?"

"It is Second Senior Brother."

Fairy Feixia's expression turned grave. "Second Senior Brother of the Three Rivers Society, a true disciple at Qi Refining Great Perfection. This time, he personally asked me to deliver the message."

Lu Yang's expression gradually darkened at those words.

Because if he remembered correctly, the founder of the Three Rivers Society, that major faction within the Sacred Sect, seemed to be a Foundation Establishment True Person.