Walking into the Library Pavilion, an elderly man with gray hair lay lazily on a rocking chair, basking in the sun, carefully reading a Daoist Scripture.
As soon as Lü entered, the man looked over.
"Another new recruit?"
The man said indifferently, "Go and choose for yourself. Remember, follow the rules written inside, otherwise, don't blame me for not warning you if you die."
"Thank you, senior, for the guidance."
Lü cupped his hands, then walked towards the bookshelf.
Sure enough, as he approached, the Disciple Token at his waist seemed to sense something, a faint light appeared, and then lines of text emerged in the air.
"Lü Yang, disciple of Heaven Mending Peak."
"Eligible to claim the Heaven Mending Peak's secret cultivation technique for free. Additionally, for your first technique purchase, a zero down payment credit plan is available"
Lü Yang didn't hesitate and claimed it right away.
The next second, the technique's contents appeared on the Disciple Token, and Lü Yang read through them carefully.
"This technique, why is it written into two parts like the Manual of Primal Qi?" Recalling the ending of his past life, Lü's face turned somewhat grim, "Dragon and Tiger Great Joy Technique: when cultivating it to Perfection, one can produce Yin Yang Dragon Tiger Qi, ranked Fifth Grade. Theoretically, it's also a technique that can pave the path to Foundation Establishment...."
"But, I only received the Qi Refining Chapter!"
With the lesson from his past life, Lü was deeply wary of such techniques that were incomplete, even considering giving up cultivation at one point.
However, after pondering for a long time, he sighed, "I still have to practice it!"
There might be hidden dangers in the future, but if he didn't practice it, Lü might not even have a future.
Moreover, this demonic technique was indeed very profound; it can extract not only the target's Qi energy but also the knowledge, including one's cultivation techniques, abilities, and expertise.
"Furthermore, anyone tormented by this technique will gradually have their mind taken over by the cultivator, eventually becoming the cultivator's puppet—one who would even willingly die for their master. It truly is a demonic technique taken to the extreme…"
Lü studied the technique, silently comprehending.
Half an hour passed like this before he attempted to circulate his Qi; two streams of Qi flowed at his fingertips, forming a dragon and tiger, nearly transforming into a new type of Qi....
"Ugh!"
The next second, Lü Yang's face went pale, the Qi at his fingertips dissipating.
"Failed? Well, although I mastered the theory, I haven't practiced it with someone yet....."
Lü Yang wasn't discouraged, instead turning his gaze to the dazzling array of books in front of him.
According to the Library Pavilion's rules, as a new Official Disciple, he also had a chance to purchase one Cultivation Technique without a down payment.
What surprised Lü Yang was that there were not only demonic techniques here.
There were also many Cultivation Techniques evidently from Righteous Sects, covering a very wide range of fields: Divination, Sword, Five Elements, practically everything.
"Elementary Heaven-Cutting Technique, Taiyi Five Elements Sad-dharma, To Longevity, Supreme Heaven Sword Mastery....."
Lü Yang took his time selecting, and finally made a choice.
"'Supreme Heaven Sword Mastery', price: 1000 Contribution Points."
"As this is your first purchase, no down payment is required. The loan carries an annual interest rate of thirty-six percent, payable over ten years. Would you like to proceed with the purchase?"
How much???
Lü Yang almost cursed, an annual interest rate of 36%, meaning he would pay back 460 Contribution Points per year, totaling 4600 points over ten years!
Loan 1000, repay 4600?
It's like squeezing blood from a stone!
"Wait.....I don't need to bother that!"
Lü Yang's eyes suddenly lit up; a high-interest rate loan with no down payment might be a trap for others, but for him, it didn't matter at all.
In the worst-case scenario, he could just reopen a new life and leave all the unpaid loans behind.
As long as he wanted, he could enjoy the Library Pavilion's Cultivation Techniques and Abilities for free!
Free from worries about the loan, Lü Yang calmed down considerably and, without a second thought, took out a loan to purchase Supreme Heaven Sword Mastery.
What happened next was not expected by Lü.
This time was different from the Dragon and Tiger Great Joy Technique, which had revealed its contents outright — Lü received only a message:
"The technique is in delivery and expected to arrive at your Cave Mansion within three days."
"Please wait patiently."
Looking at the message on the Disciple Token, Lü Yang was a bit puzzled, 'what does it mean the technique is in delivery, is this technique a rare copy, not transcribed?'
Still, Lü Yang believed the Stain Sect wouldn't take his points and run.
Before leaving, he approached the elderly man at the entrance of the Library Pavilion again.
"Senior...."
As soon as Lü Yang greeted, the man on the rocking chair spoke, "I'm no senior, just a disciple of the sect, only a bit older than you."
Lü Yang was stunned for a moment, then changed his wording, "Senior Brother, do you know if there are death row inmates suitable for us to practice techniques with in the sect?"
Being in the Demon Sect, Lü Yang naturally had no intentions of purifying himself and wouldn't shy away from cultivating demonic skills; he intended to utilize anything, including humans, that could make him stronger.
The old man glanced at Lü Yang and suddenly said, "Did you loan to buy a technique?"
Lü Yang paused, then nodded.
"Then you do not need to worry about this matter."
At this point, the man revealed a meaningful smile, "Although this cultivation technique loan is annoying, it isn't without its benefits...."
"Go back and wait!"
Lü Yang returned to his Cave Mansion, confused.
However, soon he understood why the 'Supreme Heaven Sword Mastery' needed time for delivery and what the old man meant by "benefits."
....
Three days later, a box was delivered to Lü Yang's Cave Mansion entrance.
Lü Yang moved the box inside and opened it.
Inside, he found a vigorous woman with a sharp, imposing look, her hands and feet bound, stacked in the middle of the box.
Although the woman wasn't the epitome of beauty, she was naturally pretty.
Her face, though bare of makeup, carried an air of elegance.
Due to staying in the stuffy box for too long, crystal-like sweat beads hung on her body, dripping down her white neck into her collar.
"Demon Daoist!"
The woman looked at Lü Yang, her gaze wishing to tear him apart, while her lovely face showed despair, as if realizing her fate.
Seeing this, Lü Yang frowned, "You are.....a disciple of the Celestial Sword Pavilion?"
"So what if I am?" The woman closed her beautiful eyes, two streams of clear tears slowly rolling down her pale cheeks, "Just kill me!"
Only then did it suddenly dawn on Lü Yang.
The Supreme Heaven Sword Mastery was a secret technique of the Celestial Sword Pavilion — the top Righteous Sect in the south. He'd always wondered by what means the Stain Sect would let him learn it.
Now he understood.
First came the technique that could copy another's knowledge.
Then came the disciple from the Celestial Sword Pavilion.
The pattern was clear now—if he wanted the Supreme Heaven Sword Mastery, he only had to torment his opponent, which meant to dual-cultivate with her.
Making the most out of everything — that's classic Stain Sect.
This way, it not only provides the technique but also takes care of the problem of finding a Dao Companion for dual cultivation — killing two birds with one stone.
The Sect's approach to cultivation was no exception: while the Righteous Sects forced their disciples to train through bitter cold and scorching heat, the Demonic Sects made the path to power far more... comfortable.