Chapter 4: Unpredictable
"Man is formed by Innate One Qi. Qi Refining is refining oneself, purifying one's own body, and reversing to Innate, which can refine the Innate One Qi Right Fruit that is marvelous in both form and spirit."
After a long while, Lu Yang opened his eyes, his face filled with joy. Compared to the Yin Yang Great Bliss Art, the Innate Dao Book truly had the appearance of a complete Legacy.
The entire Dao Book, starting from a Mortal, first trains a set of Innate Cultivation Technique to temper the body, and even has a supporting martial art called Innate Great Seizing.
After the body reaches Major Achievement, the Cultivator must begin to reverse to Innate, first transforming the five internal organs and six fu-organs, then the skin, flesh, tendons, and bones, until finally completely transforming the physical body, refining the body into a stream of Innate True Qi. From then on, it can gather and disperse unpredictably, making it difficult for Dao Spells to harm it, and allowing it to stand in an invincible position in battles.
In addition, the Dao Book also recorded many Spells that could be combined with Innate True Qi.
Such as the Heavenly Net Misty Smoke, the One-Mind True Qi Sword, and the Spirit Breath Qi Absorption Art. The completeness of the types of Spells and the diversity of their functions greatly broadened Lu Yang's horizons.
However, at this moment, Lu Yang, who had been completely engrossed, suddenly paused:
"....Why is it gone?"
Lu Yang subconsciously looked up at Liu Xin, only to find that the Innate Dao Book in his hand only had the first half, and the content abruptly stopped.
"Junior Brother, the Dao is not easily taught."
Liu Xin chuckled: "The second half of the Innate Dao Book concerns the secret of Foundation Establishment, and it is not included in the Sect's welfare. It needs to be exchanged with contribution points."
Lu Yang shook his head helplessly upon hearing this: "So that's how it is. This Junior Brother was out of line."
"No matter, half of the Dao Book is enough for you, Junior Brother, to Cultivate."
Liu Xin patted Lu Yang's shoulder kindly: "Come, I'll take you to Mending Heaven Peak to choose an Immortal Cave. Pick a good spot, and we can visit each other more often in the future."
Lu Yang nodded: "Thank you, Senior Brother."
Half an hour later, Mending Heaven Peak.
In a secluded Immortal Cave at the foot of the mountain, Lu Yang officially settled down, and the original furniture and objects inside the Immortal Cave were swept out as trash.
Watching this scene, Lu Yang's mind was filled with thoughts.
"It seems that being an official Disciple isn't easy either."
Mending Heaven Peak was not large. The Primordial Sect had so many Named Disciples every year, and even if the promotion rate was only one in ten thousand, it would be enough to fill Mending Heaven Peak.
But in reality?
As Lu Yang walked along, Mending Heaven Peak, let alone being overcrowded, was even a bit empty. Many Immortal Caves were vacant, with no Disciples living in them.
Where did all those official Disciples go? They couldn't possibly be unable to afford to rent an Immortal Cave, could they?
Lu Yang shook his head, not delving deeper, but instead took a cushion and sat down. Then, with his five centers facing the sky, he began his first Cultivation session in the Immortal Cave.
It was fine if he didn't Cultivate, but once he did, Lu Yang immediately felt nearly twice the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi compared to the outer Sect rushing towards him, all pouring into his Dantian. Then, it circulated throughout his entire body through his Meridians, finally integrating into his five internal organs and six fu-organs, skin, flesh, tendons, and bones, step by step, from outside to inside.
The efficiency was so high that Lu Yang was astonished.
With the same amount of time and the same Cultivation Technique, the True Qi he could refine in one day in the outer Sect only took one hour to refine in an inner Sect Immortal Cave.
"No wonder inner Sect Immortal Caves cost money to rent."
It is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. Once one experienced the speed of Cultivation in an Immortal Cave, it would be very difficult to endure Cultivating in other places again.
The next day, Lu Yang did not go out, but stayed in his Immortal Cave, Cultivating while reading the Innate Dao Book.
"Although Cultivation in this world also depends on talent, there is no such thing as a Spiritual Root. Basically, anyone can embark on the path of Cultivation as long as they have the will."
That being said, Cultivation did not become much easier because of this. Because although Mortals entering the Dao for Cultivation are not restricted by Spiritual Roots, the grade of True Qi refined can still determine the Cultivator's highest future achievement.
This is the role of the 'Dao technique'.
The more Advanced the Cultivation Technique, the higher the grade of True Qi extracted, and the more likely one is to reach a higher Realm in the future. Conversely, the more likely one is to encounter a Bottleneck.
True Qi has nine grades and thirty-six ranks. The lower the grade number, the more superior it is; the higher the rank, the more powerful it is.
Generally speaking, True Qi below the seventh grade has no hope of Foundation Establishment, below the third grade it is difficult to form a Golden Core, and for those who are not first grade, attempting to condense a Nascent Soul is a sure death.
"Loose Cultivators truly have no way to live."
Lu Yang couldn't help but sigh. Compared to large Sects with complete Legacies, Loose Cultivators had no room to choose Cultivation Techniques; they just practiced whatever they had.
Under such circumstances, no matter how high their talent and Comprehension Ability, they would lose at the starting line, and ultimately could only live with regret. The difficulty of Cultivating Immortality was evident.
Thinking of this, Lu Yang gradually frowned.
"The 'Innate True Qi' extracted by the Innate Dao Book is ranked first in the sixth grade. Cultivators have hope of Foundation Establishment, and strictly speaking, it is no longer weak."
However, it still did not meet his expectations.
If he were just an ordinary Cultivator, then so be it. But he now possessed a miraculous treasure like the hundred lifetimes book, which meant his future was promising. A Cultivation Technique that only stopped at Foundation Establishment could no longer satisfy his pursuit.
"If only I could have that kind of supreme Legacy ranked in the first grade…"
Lu Yang imagined for a moment, then sighed: "Forget it, I still have to walk step by step. If I take too big a step, crunch, it's easy to pull a muscle."
"First, I'll Cultivate the Innate Dao Book and become a Foundation Establishment Major Achievement Cultivator."
Once the Dao Foundation is established, one can live for three hundred years, almost equivalent to a dynasty for Mortals. In the Immortal Realm, it can be called a "Major Achievement Cultivator."
Once he had the strength, he would then seek a higher Legacy, and immediately restart upon obtaining it. Repeating this cycle, there would always be a day when his dreams came true.
As long as he was patient and not reckless, time would always be his good friend. This was the confidence the hundred lifetimes book gave Lu Yang.
Ten days later, Lu Yang's Immortal Cave.
A white Qi steamed and swirled, sometimes transforming into rolling black smoke, sometimes into an invisible Qi sword, and finally into an ethereal, immortal-like figure.
"I succeeded!"
Although the Innate Dao Book was profound, it was not difficult to Cultivate. In just ten days, Lu Yang had successfully transformed his physical body, refining it into a stream of True Qi.
[Name: Lu Yang]
[Lifespan: 18]
[Cultivation: Qi Refining First Layer]
[Talent: Double Cultivation Prodigy (White)]
[Cultivation Technique: Yin Yang Great Bliss Art (Perfection), Innate Qi Refining Transformation Art (Perfection)]
[Divine Ability: None]
[Magic Treasure: None]
[Hundred Lifetimes Book Pages: 99]
Looking at the updated information on the Hundred Lifetimes Book, Lu Yang trod on air, feeling in peak condition. Even his original venereal disease was cured without medicine.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Lu Yang, who was feeling triumphant, frowned and abruptly stopped his movements. He then looked at the hundred lifetimes book again, falling into a strange contemplation.
"...Something's not right."
It seemed like he had overlooked something.
Lu Yang subconsciously recalled that he had not encountered any difficulties in this life. He had smoothly become an official Disciple and smoothly received the Innate Dao Book.
The next second, Lu Yang finally realized what he had overlooked.
[After Yu Suzhen harvested you, she had already Broken Through to the Qi Refining Realm. However, the venereal disease was deeply rooted, and True Qi could not remove it. She was bedridden for several months and finally died of severe illness.]
In the previous life, why did Senior Sister Yu die?
Since she was an official Disciple, she must have also received the Innate Dao Book. If she had successfully refined it, transformed her body into Qi, how could she have died from venereal disease? She didn't succeed?
"Impossible!" Lu Yang shook his head.
The Innate Dao Book was not difficult to Cultivate. Since Yu Suzhen had the ability to Break Through to the Qi Refining Realm, even if her Aptitude was poor, it was impossible for her not to succeed in a few months.
"Unless, what she practiced wasn't the Innate Dao Book at all!"
At this moment, Lu Yang felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. The sound of his heart beating had never been so clear, and his breathing became rapid. The excited expression quickly faded from Lu Yang's face:
"The Innate Dao Book…was it specially prepared for me by Liu Xin?"
Lu Yang thought of the scene he had witnessed in the Artifact Refining Hall earlier. That Named Disciple of the Artifact Refining Hall thought he had achieved the Great Dao, but it turned out to be a self-inflicted death. Not only did he not Break Through, but he also refined himself into a Magic Treasure.
At that time, was it exactly like this moment?
Just then, a familiar and kind call suddenly came from outside the Immortal Cave:
"Junior Brother Lu, are you there?"