The Demonic Sect's Cultivation Methods

Upon entering the Library Pavilion, Lu Yang immediately saw an elderly man sprawled listlessly in a rocking chair, basking in the Greater Yang as he diligently leafed through a Dao Book.

The moment Lu Yang stepped through the door, the man looked over.

"Another new disciple?"

The old man said blandly, "Go inside and choose for yourself. Remember to follow the rules written within. If you die otherwise, don't blame me for failing to warn you."

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior."

Lu Yang cupped his hands, then headed toward the bookshelves.

Sure enough, as soon as he drew near, the disciple Token at his waist seemed to sense something. A faint glow emerged, then transformed into lines of text suspended in the air.

"Lu Yang, disciple of Mending Heaven Peak."

"You may claim the Mending Heaven Peak's secret Cultivation Method, 'Dragon-Tiger Yin-Yang Joy Scripture,' free of charge. Furthermore, for your first Cultivation Method exchange, you may obtain it through a zero-down-payment loan."

Lu Yang did not hesitate and claimed it directly.

The next instant, the contents of the Cultivation Method appeared on his disciple Token. Lu Yang's mind quickly sank into it, and only after a long while did he come back to himself.

"Why is this Cultivation Method divided into upper and lower volumes, just like the Primordial Dao Scripture?" Recalling the ending of his previous life, Lu Yang's expression darkened. "The Dragon-Tiger Yin-Yang Joy Scripture can, upon completion, refine a strand of Yin-Yang Dragon-Tiger Qi. It ranks as Fifth Grade and, in theory, is also a Cultivation Method that points directly toward Foundation Establishment."

"But I've only been given the Qi Refining section!"

Having learned his lesson from his previous life, Lu Yang was deeply wary of such Cultivation Methods that were cut off halfway through. For a time, he even considered giving up cultivation altogether.

However, after pondering for a long while, he sighed. "I still have to cultivate it!"

If he cultivated it, there might be hidden dangers in the future.

If he did not, he might not even have a future!

Moreover, this "Dragon-Tiger Yin-Yang Joy Scripture" was indeed profoundly mysterious. Not only could it Plunder a target's vital essence, it could also Plunder the other party's knowledge!

Cultivation Methods, divine abilities, experience—he could Plunder them all!

"Furthermore, cultivators who have been Plundered by this Cultivation Method will gradually have their thoughts controlled by its practitioner. They will become utterly devoted, unable to extricate themselves, and eventually become the practitioner's puppets. They may even willingly die for the practitioner. It truly is a demonic art strange and sinister to the extreme."

Lu Yang studied the Cultivation Method and silently contemplated its mysteries.

Another half hour passed before he attempted to circulate the art. Two streams of true qi flowed around his fingertips, forming a dragon and tiger, vaguely on the verge of transforming into an entirely new kind of true qi.

"Mm!"

The next second, Lu Yang's face turned pale, and the true qi at his fingertips dissipated.

"Failed? That makes sense. Although I've already grasped the theory, I haven't put it into practice. Dual-cultivation methods were not meant for one person to cultivate alone."

Lu Yang was not discouraged. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the dazzling array of bookshelves before him.

According to the Library Pavilion's rules, as a newly inducted formal disciple, he still had one chance to exchange for a Cultivation Method or divine ability through a zero-down-payment loan.

What surprised Lu Yang was that the Library Pavilion contained more than just demonic arts.

There were also many Cultivation Methods clearly originating from renowned righteous sects, covering an astonishingly broad range of fields. Divination, Sword Arts, Five Elements techniques—it had everything one could possibly want.

"Lesser Heaven-Severing Art, Supreme Taiyi Five Elements Orthodox Method, True Explanation of Longevity, Divine Firmament Sword Control Art..."

Lu Yang browsed for a long time before finally making his choice.

"'Divine Firmament Sword Control Art,' price: 1,000 Contribution Points."

"Detected that this is your first exchange. You may obtain it through a zero-down-payment loan, at an annual interest rate of thirty-six percent, repayable over ten years. Would you like to exchange for it?"

How much???

Lu Yang nearly cursed aloud. A thirty-six percent annual interest rate meant that principal and interest together would cost him 460 Contribution Points every year—4,600 points over ten years!

Borrow 1,000 and repay 4,600?

They were sucking the marrow from his bones!

"Wait. I'm different!"

Lu Yang's eyes suddenly lit up. A zero-down-payment high-interest loan might be a bottomless pit for others, but to him, it did not matter in the slightest.

At worst, I'll Restart. What do the loans from my previous life have to do with me?

As long as he wanted to, he could completely freeload the Cultivation Methods and divine abilities in the Library Pavilion!

Since he had no intention of repaying it, Lu Yang became much calmer. With a grand wave of his hand, he took out a loan to buy the "Divine Firmament Sword Control Art" without even blinking.

Then something unexpected happened.

When he had obtained the "Dragon-Tiger Yin-Yang Joy Scripture" earlier, its contents had been provided directly. This time, however, Lu Yang received only a message:

"Your Cultivation Method is being delivered and is expected to arrive at your cave dwelling within Three Suns."

"Please wait patiently."

Looking at the message on his disciple Token, Lu Yang was somewhat puzzled. What did it mean that the Cultivation Method was being delivered? Could it be an orphaned copy with no transcriptions?

Even so, Lu Yang believed the First Saint Sect would not simply swallow his Cultivation Method like this.

Before leaving, he approached the old man at the Library Pavilion's entrance again.

"Senior."

Before Lu Yang could finish bowing, the old man in the rocking chair spoke. "I'm not worthy of being called Senior. I'm also a disciple of the sect, merely a little older than you."

Lu Yang froze briefly, then changed his form of address. "Senior Brother, do you know whether the sect has any Cauldrons available for us to claim, suitable for cultivating dual-cultivation methods?"

Being in a Demonic Sect, Lu Yang naturally had no thoughts of remaining unsullied like a lotus rising from clear water. Nor did he shy away from dual cultivation. He would make use of anything that could make him stronger.

"A Cauldron..."

The old man glanced at Lu Yang and suddenly asked, "Did you take out a loan to buy a Cultivation Method?"

Lu Yang paused, then nodded.

"Then you needn't worry about that."

At this point, a meaningful smile appeared on the old man's face. "Cultivation Manual Loans may be infuriating, but they are not without benefits."

"Go back and wait!"

Lu Yang returned to his cave dwelling in a complete fog.

However, he soon understood why the "Divine Firmament Sword Control Art" needed time to be delivered, and what exactly the old man had meant by "benefits."

Three Suns later, a box was delivered to the entrance of Lu Yang's cave dwelling.

Lu Yang carried the box inside and opened it.

Then he saw a valiant woman with a curvaceous figure and sharp, commanding phoenix eyes. Her hands and feet were bound, and she had been stuffed into the center of the box.

Though she could not be called a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms, she was naturally beautiful.

Her unadorned face bore no trace of rouge, instead carrying a clear and elegant air that seemed removed from the mortal world.

Moreover, having been trapped in the stifling box for too long, glittering beads of sweat clung to her body, rolling one by one down her fair neck and into her collar.

"Demon!"

The woman stared at Lu Yang, her eyes seeming to wish she could slice him into a thousand pieces. At the same time, she appeared to have imagined her own fate, and despair surfaced across her lovely face.

Lu Yang frowned at the sight. "You are... a disciple of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion?"

"So what if I am?" The woman closed her eyes, and two trails of tears slowly slipped down her fair cheeks. "Kill me!"

Only then did Lu Yang come to a realization.

The "Divine Firmament Sword Control Art" was a secret divine ability of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, the Leader of the Righteous Path in the south. He had previously wondered where the First Saint Sect had acquired it.

Now he understood.

The Dragon-Tiger Yin-Yang Joy Scripture could Plunder a target's knowledge and experience, while the First Saint Sect had directly delivered a formal disciple of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion to him.

In other words, if he wanted the "Divine Firmament Sword Control Art," all he had to do was Plunder her.

"By doing this, they both impart the Cultivation Method and solve the disciples' need for Cauldrons. Killing two birds with one stone—they have truly maximized every scrap of value."

Making full use of everything, just as expected of the Sacred Sect's style.

Compared to the bitter ascetic training of righteous sects, practicing through the coldest days of winter and the hottest days of summer, this was the Demonic Sect's cultivation method.