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Chapter 46: Heavenly Opportunity Theft
Chapter 46: Heavenly Opportunity Theft
“This technique is called Heavenly Opportunity Theft.”
After receiving Lv Yang’s approval, Zhao Xuhe retrieved a jade scroll, infused it with his spiritual imprint, and handed it to Lv Yang. This was the summary of the Foundation Building secret technique he had mentioned earlier.
Lv Yang swept his spiritual awareness across the scroll and immediately wore an expression of astonishment.
The “Heavenly Opportunity Theft” technique was clearly the work of a Holy Sect expert, as its very style bore the Holy Sect’s distinct characteristics.
As the name implied, this technique required selecting a cultivation partner of similar age, talent, and cultivation base. By forming a spiritual union and continuously dual cultivating, one would gradually implant their spiritual essence into the partner’s body, replacing their Qi Seed.
Once successful, the partner would no longer cultivate their own Qi Seed but instead channel the practitioner’s. Consequently, any fortuitous opportunities or breakthroughs the partner achieved would ultimately be stolen by the practitioner, leaving the victim to toil fruitlessly for another’s gain.
Cunning and ruthless—treating cultivators as mere resources. Classic.
As Lv Yang pondered this, he glanced at Zhao Xuhe, suddenly recalling that in the previous life, Zhao had seemingly formed a spiritual union with Fei Xia.
“No wonder their Foundation Building breakthrough failed, resulting in mutual demise.”
“Now that I think about it, Zhao Xuhe probably killed Fei Xia first, then perished himself after his Foundation Building attempt backfired. In the end, all his scheming amounted to nothing.”
While internally criticizing Zhao Xuhe, Lv Yang also felt a chill of caution.
From his perspective, Zhao Xuhe’s preparations in that past life had been thorough—leveraging every available resource. After forming a spiritual union with Fei Xia, Zhao had risen rapidly, breaking through to Refining Qi Perfection and acquiring two Foundation Building-grade treasures. Considering the Heavenly Opportunity Theft technique, even Fei Xia’s share had effectively belonged to Zhao.
Altogether, Zhao Xuhe had deployed three distinct methods to achieve Foundation Building success.
Yet the outcome? Failure.
“Foundation Building… the very foundation of immortality. Without it, one remains a mortal, no matter how lofty their aspirations. No wonder only Foundation Building cultivators earn the title of ‘True Disciple.’”
“Foundation Building truly is harder than ascending to the heavens.”
After this reflection, Lv Yang turned his gaze back to the jade scroll in his hand.
“What’s your verdict, junior brother?”
Zhao Xuhe’s eyes gleamed with anticipation. “Use this as collateral—I’ll borrow thirty thousand contribution points from you. In three months, I’ll repay every coin.”
“If I default, the technique becomes yours outright.”
“But even if I repay the debt, I’ll still gift you the technique. Consider it gratitude for helping me through this crisis.”
Zhao Xuhe spoke with such magnanimity that Lv Yang inwardly scoffed.
“Sounds like I get the technique either way—win-win for me. But that’s not the real gamble here.”
The crux wasn’t the technique or the money.
It was the three-month deadline.
Accepting the loan would obligate Lv Yang to intervene in any crisis Zhao Xuhe faced during that period. Otherwise, the debt—and the technique—would be lost.
In essence, Zhao Xuhe wasn’t just borrowing money; he was leveraging his life as collateral. He aimed to bind Lv Yang to his future escapades.
A classic sugarcoated trap.
And yet, given its connection to Foundation Building, Lv Yang couldn’t simply refuse.
“I want the technique but not the strings attached. How do I swallow the candy and spit out the bomb?”
Lv Yang eyed the jade scroll, briefly considering offering Zhao Xuhe to Liu Xin instead. But he quickly dismissed the idea. Just as he’d failed to extract the Divine Martial Gate’s core techniques from Ouyang Haoze despite enslaving his soul, cultivation sects had countless measures to protect their secrets. Zhao Xuhe wouldn’t have approached him without precautions.
The odds of success were too low.
After a brief silence, Lv Yang suddenly said, “Fine.”
“I’ll grant your loan, but I have a condition. If you refuse, I’ll forgo the technique entirely.”
Zhao Xuhe brightened. “Name it, junior brother!”
“Simple,” Lv Yang said softly. “Hand me the original manuscript of the technique. Otherwise, what’s stopping you from reneging later?”
“Of course, you may set protective wards on it—say, triggering self-destruction if tampered with before three months. Your spiritual power should sustain the seal for at least eighty years. That way, we both sleep soundly. How does that sound?”
Zhao Xuhe paused, then nodded. The only flaw was that his waning power after eighty years might dissolve the seal prematurely. But by then, the opportunity would have long vanished.
Refining Qi cultivators rarely lived beyond 150 years. Passing 100 marked a decline in vitality, rendering Foundation Building breakthroughs nearly impossible.
At twenty now, Lv Yang would be over a hundred in eighty years—half-dead already. Even with the technique, what use would an old corpse have?
“Next life?” Zhao Xuhe chuckled inwardly. “Lv Yang’s actually proposed a solid deal—mutual trust, no risk. Win-win indeed.”
“Your suggestion is perfectly reasonable. Agreed!”
Zhao Xuhe retrieved another jade scroll, inscribed a ward with his spiritual power, and handed it over.
Lv Yang accepted it with a smile.
The transaction complete, both parted content.
“Zhao Xuhe’s usefulness ends here.”
“If he survives his ventures, great. If not, I’ll retrieve the technique in eighty years. Either way, I win.”
As Zhao Xuhe departed, Lv Yang hummed merrily while tending to his market—his true livelihood. The market’s Hundred-Bone Reanimation Array, a seventh-tier formation, dwarfed his own ninth-tier Bloodwash Celestial River Sword Array Diagram in complexity. Mastering it would greatly enhance his formation arts expertise, complementing his Heavenly Demon Blood Transformation Ray.
Time passed swiftly.
A month later, Lv Yang emerged from meditation as a fragrant breeze heralded an approaching figure. The Bloodcloak Pavilion’s entrance revealed a graceful silhouette.
“Senior brother.”
Lv Yang smiled. “You wouldn’t visit unannounced. Did you have another revelation in formation arts to share?”
“For the last time, just call me Fei Xia.”
Fei Xia rolled her eyes, then settled into his lap habitually before whispering, “Someone from the Holy Sect has arrived.”
“Aren’t they always here?” Lv Yang replied indifferently. “You know I’ve no interest in their affairs or that Wugui Secret Realm.”
“This time is different.”
Fei Xia’s tone grew serious. “It’s the Second Elder.”
Lv Yang’s eyes narrowed.
“The Second Elder of the Three Rivers Association—the Holy Sect’s elite faction. He’s sent me personally to relay his message.”
Lv Yang’s expression darkened.
If his memory served, the Three Rivers Association’s founder was a Foundation Building cultivator.
(End of Chapter)
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