The Tormented Li Haoran

At the Refining Peak canteen, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou found their senior sister Zhou Lulu, who was reading a book and drawing sugar figurines at the same time.

"Senior Sister Zhou, is Junior Brother Li on the mountain?" Lu Yang asked politely.

"It's Junior Brother Lu and Junior Brother Meng! You've reached the Core Formation stage? That's fast!" Zhou Lulu looked up and saw Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou's cultivation levels, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

At that age, she was only in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

"You're looking for Junior Brother Li? He's in his own cave abode."

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou both smiled. They were like brothers with Li Haoran, and naturally they wanted to show off in front of Li Haoran after achieving Core Formation.

Otherwise, what's the point of all that hard training?

"Junior Brother Li should be sleeping."

"Sleep? I don't remember Junior Brother Li being a person who likes to sleep."

"He wasn't like that before. Ever since he came back from visiting relatives last time, he's become very fond of sleeping. Every time he wakes up, he has a gloomy expression, as if he had a nightmare. I asked him if he dreamed of something bad, but he wouldn't say."

"I asked my father, and he also said that I shouldn't get involved in this matter."

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou exchanged a glance and roughly guessed what was going on. It must be that Li Haoran dreamed of his past life's memories in his sleep.

Qin Haoran is a legitimate leader of a demonic cult, and he does all sorts of heinous things. Considering what the cult leader said about many people coveting Qin Haoran's position, all of this makes Li Haoran feel uncomfortable.

The two put aside their boasting and decided to visit Li Haoran.

However, it wouldn't be good to go empty-handed. Lu Yang thought the sugar figurines drawn by Senior Sister Zhou Lulu were quite fun, and he was just about to buy one for Li Haoran.

Before Lu Yang could speak, Zhou Lulu gently blew a breath, and the two sugar figures seemed to come alive, wielding weapons drawn with syrup in the air and clattering together.

Lu Yang's eyes twitched as he watched. If he wasn't mistaken, the combat power of these two sugar figures was equivalent to that of the Golden Core stage.

If these two sugar figurines are sold to Li Haoran, he might just beat Li Haoran up.

Never mind, let's choose a different gift.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou walked around the cafeteria. There were fried dough sticks that could shrink and grow to be used as roof beams, steamed buns that could be used as hidden weapons, sesame seed cakes that could be used as breast protectors, and roasted sesame seeds that could be used to practice Iron Palm... None of them could be given as gifts.

"Your cafeteria's cooking is excellent!" The only immortal chef gave high praise to the Refining Peak cafeteria.

I'd rather they were less skilled.

"You have no ambition!"

Lu Yang ignored him.

In the pitch-black cave, a figure with a ferocious expression writhed involuntarily, as if suffering in his sleep and unable to wake up, silently enduring the pain.

He suddenly opened his eyes; sweat soaked through his clothes and the bedsheets.

The candlelight illuminated the entire cave abode and also lit up Li Haoran's face.

Li Haoran stared blankly at the cave abode, only then realizing that he had woken up.

He recalled his experiences in his dream, the dark side of the Nine Nether Sect, and the unknown pressure Qin Haoran faced. He couldn't help but shudder and muttered, "Damn memories of my past life..."

His master, the Fifth Elder who oversees the Weapon Refining Peak, has no good solution for the recurring memories of his past life.

Li Haoran silently recited the Mnemonic, first casting the Cleansing Clothes Incantation to wash his clothes clean, then casting the Cleansing Body Incantation to wash his body clean, which made him feel better.

"Hmm? Senior Brother Lu and Senior Brother Meng are at the entrance?" The array within the cave abode reminded Li Haoran, making him perk up.

He opened the cave abode door and saw Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou with cheerful smiles on their faces.

"Junior Brother Li, you're awake?" Lu Yang asked with a smile, secretly observing Li Haoran's condition.

Li Haoran had dark circles under his eyes, droopy eyelids, and a listless expression. Excluding the possibility of self-induced virginity, the only explanation was Qin Haoran's memories.

"Please come in, both of you," Li Haoran greeted them warmly.

The two entered Li Haoran's cave and saw many crafted magical Law Artifact on display, including armor, shields, and bronze cauldrons... If a Golden Core stage artifact crafting master saw them, they would all praise their extraordinary nature.

Li Haoran slightly beckoned with his finger, and the teapot on the table started moving on its own. The teapot stretched out two arms and two legs, and started running around on the coffee table, filling itself with water, adding tea leaves, putting on the lid, and sitting on the stove to burn itself.

In no time, the teapot was heated to a high temperature, the tea was boiling vigorously, the teapot was tilted, the teacups were filled with tea, and it was pushed in front of Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou subconsciously said thank you, only to realize afterward that the teapot was just a mindless magical Law Treasure, so why bother thanking them?

"I heard that Junior Brother Li hasn't been getting enough rest lately?"

When this topic came up, Li Haoran looked dejected and gave a bitter smile, "Senior Brother Lu guessed right. I can't tell anyone else that I'm the reincarnation of Qin Haoran. I can only complain to my two senior brothers."

Lu Yang patted Li Haoran on the shoulder, giving him an understanding look. "You must have seen many secrets of the Nine Nether Sect in your dreams, and these secrets must have caused you immense pain."

Li Haoran nodded, finally someone understood him, and he was quite excited. "Yes, every time I close my eyes, all I see is the deficit of the Nine Nether Sect!"

"The salaries of the followers, the expenses for cleanup, the travel expenses, the cost of building strongholds... all these are places that cost money. The Nine Nether Sect has no legitimate way to make money at all. They only know how to kill and rob, and that's how they make a little money. It's a drop in the ocean. They lose money, lose money, lose money every day!"

"The Nine Nether Sect is a huge organization, and everything costs money, from food and clothing to lodging and transportation. But Spirit Stone don't just fall from the sky, so where would Spirit Stone from?"

"The people below are still unaware of the situation, fantasizing about building the Nine Nether City on the ground. Putting aside the possibility of being discovered by the imperial court, does the Nine Nether Sect even have the Spirit Stone to build a city?"

"Can you imagine? Qin Haoran sits in the leader's seat every day, handling all sorts of matters, and then he's thinking about ways to make money."

"In my dreams, I'm from Qin Haoran's perspective, sitting there with him, thinking about how to make money."

"Or I could face the deficit data with Qin Haoran and try to find a way out. Right now, I get a headache just looking at numbers!"

"Fortunately, Qin Haoran later met Yiren, who gave him a safe haven. Otherwise, I can only imagine how difficult Qin Haoran's situation would have been."

Li Haoran rubbed his temples in pain and complained to the two of them.

Lu Yang: "..."

Meng Jingzhou: "..."

Why is this different from what we expected?

Lu Yang recalled the circumstances of Qin Haoran and Su Yiren's meeting. Someone was chasing Qin Haoran, which resulted in Qin Haoran being seriously injured, breaking through the barrier, and falling unconscious in front of Su Yiren, which led to their subsequent fateful encounter.

Lu Yang had previously deduced that the Nine Nether Sect was in chaos, with someone plotting to seize power and thus besieging Qin Haoran.

Now, upon hearing this situation, it seems that's not the case at all.

"Who were the people who were chasing Qin Haoran before...?"

Li Haoran said expressionlessly:

"Creditor."