I and countless versions of myself simultaneously travel through time.

Inside the cultivation chamber, Ye Yan sat cross-legged, his spiritual energy surging like a tide.

He could sense that the opportunity to break through to the Great Perfection of Qi Refining was right in front of him, just one step away.

But he didn't rush to take the plunge. His many years of experience in the underworld had taught him a lesson: breaking through too quickly is not a good thing.

An unstable foundation will prevent one from going far; an exposed aura will make one an easy target; a sudden surge in cultivation will attract unnecessary attention, especially since even those at the Foundation Establishment stage can easily calculate the Great Net of Cause and Effect.

This is utterly pointless.

He first circulated his internal energy to consolidate it, repeatedly refining every strand of spiritual power within his body until he was certain there was no longer any sense of emptiness, before he began to suppress his cultivation. He activated the Breath Concealment Technique at full power, compressing his Qi Refining Perfection aura layer by layer until he reached the seventh level of Qi Refining, before stopping.

To outsiders, he was just an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator who had just broken through to the next level, and he was not particularly remarkable.

The worldview of the First Saint Demonic Sect is more cruel than any other world.

Lu Yang's Hundred Lifetimes Book was created by Jun, and each time it reopens, it is plotted against and targeted, as if fate itself is against him. The cultivation system here is also different from that of the outside world. Foundation Establishment True Persons are comparable to Nascent Soul Old Monsters, and Golden Core True Immortals are equivalent to True Immortals. Ye Yan has been surviving in this world for more than forty years, barely clinging to life and enduring at least three life-or-death crises, each time surviving only through extreme caution.

He looked down at the cultivation manual in his hand—the "Primordial Immortal Slaying True Scripture".

He found this cultivation technique a few days ago at a roadside stall in the market. The seller said no one was interested and he would only accept three low-grade spirit stones.

At the time, he thought he had gotten a great deal, but now he realizes that the market wasn't uninhabited; someone had deliberately placed the cultivation technique there, waiting for him to take the bait.

Ye Yan sighed. The spirit stones he used to buy cultivation techniques were exchanged for contribution points earned from stock trading. That's right, the contribution points of the Initial Saint Demonic Sect can also be used to trade stocks. He was lucky a while ago and bought a lot, making a fortune.

"I'm being watched," Ye Yan muttered to himself, his tone as calm as if he were remarking on the nice weather.

He only recently switched to swordsmanship; before that, he always used talismans, which were safe, reliable, and less likely to be taken advantage of.

But now, things are really messed up. He's been targeted by a Foundation Establishment cultivator in this ditch world. With his Qi Refining strength, he can basically only wait to die.

Ye Yan closed his eyes and his consciousness sank into the talent panel.

【Lü Shishu】, this talent is simple, yet its power is terrifying.

It allows him to restart one of Lü Yang's past lives and share one of the following categories from that life: cultivation level, talent, magic weapon, or supernatural power. However, he can only choose one.

It's equivalent to another version of the "Book of a Hundred Generations," except that the character "百" (hundred) has been replaced with "吕" (Lu), and the process has changed from an active restart to a passive inheritance.

He opened the panel's instructions, and lines of golden text appeared before his eyes.

[Note 1: During the Foundation Establishment stage, each level can be upgraded once, with no limit on the number of upgrades. Please pay attention to the target's strength, supernatural abilities, cultivation level, and talent in each incarnation. Choose carefully, and bear the consequences yourself.]

[Note 2: The same character's talent stats will automatically share your cultivation level, mana, foundation, and rank. The sharing process works on the same principle as sharing a physical space; please be prepared.]

[Note 3: This world contains many entities beyond the panel's calculation range; please maintain a sense of awe.]

[Note 4: When the host senses that they are "too lucky," it is recommended to immediately stop their current behavior and stay away from anything that might bring such an opportunity.]

[Note 5: Living is more important than anything else.]

Ye Yan looked at the few lines of notes and let out a long sigh.

Every sentence is a reminder, every sentence tells him that this world is too dark, so dark that even the cheat system can't stand it.

"A person must rely on themselves." Ye Yan silently remembered this sentence in his heart.

Having an unlimited number of chances to restart made him feel much more relaxed, but he couldn't escape the fact that he was being targeted by a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

There are too many people like Xiao Shiye, who become complacent because of good luck and lose their caution because of smooth sailing, and in the end, they all die.

"My Qi Refining skill is only so-so, and I didn't originally intend to buy this Foundation Establishment cultivation technique." Ye Yan sighed several times, his voice full of helplessness. "But once my attention is focused on someone, I can still change my mind? Foundation Establishment cultivators are truly terrifying."

He had lived for over forty years and had seen countless talented people in the Holy Sect, yet he was the one who was targeted.

However, Ye Yan adjusted his mindset quickly; after all, he was different. Before coming to the shared space, he was as mediocre as a background figure; after coming, he simply let go of his inhibitions.

What's there to be afraid of if you can restart an unlimited number of times?

Even if you die in this life, you can be reborn in the next.

But we must not waste any opportunity, and we must live a valuable life in every lifetime.

"Fine, what's done is done." Ye Yan stood up, put the "Primordial Immortal Slaying True Scripture" into his storage bag, and said, "Since a Foundation Establishment True Person wants me to pay off my loan so badly, then I'll pay it all off. I'll max out all my contribution points and make a killing in the stock market. If you try to scheme against me, I'll just take all your resources."

Forty years of life as a cunning strategist taught him not only caution, but also the resilience to find a way to survive in dire straits.

Since we can't avoid it, let's face it head-on.

You have your schemes, I have Lü Shishu; you have your secret techniques and backdoors, I have my shared space.

It remains to be seen who will emerge victorious.

Ye Yan pushed open the door to the secret room and walked out.

His cultivation at the seventh level of Qi Refining was completely exposed to the air. The surrounding Qi Refining disciples all turned their heads to look, some in surprise, some in envy, and some in sour whispers.

A young disciple with a youthful face approached, clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute, and said with a smile, "Congratulations on your breakthrough, Senior Brother Ye! You are truly a prodigy!"

Ye Yan smiled and waved his hand, saying, "I'm over forty, old, and useless now."

Upon hearing this, the faces of the several disciples who were over a hundred years old and still stuck at the third level of Qi Refining immediately turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

They opened their mouths, as if to say something, but in the end, they didn't dare to utter a single word.

In the Holy Sect, the strong prey on the weak, and strength reigns supreme. Everything is used to its fullest potential. Although Ye Yan is only at the seventh level of Qi Refining, he can easily crush those at the third or fourth level of Qi Refining.

In the Holy Sect, might makes right. Anyone who disagrees will be beaten until they submit.

Ye Yan walked towards the Hall of Registered Disciples.

He's going to take up his new post today and check the books.

He applied on his own initiative, and his purpose was simple: he wanted to see when the legendary Lü Yang would arrive.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator must have figured out the strength of the Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivator. Since it can't be hidden anymore, then it won't be hidden.

Go meet that "paramecium" and try to get as much luck as possible. If the Lucky Taoist wants to cheat him, he'll fleece the Lucky Taoist first.

Inside the hall for registered disciples, a Taoist priest in black was looking down and flipping through a register of names.

This person had delicate features and a hint of femininity between his brows; he was none other than Liu Xin from the original novel.

The book in his hand was no ordinary object, but the legendary "Primordial Dao Book," which was the result of the Primordial Daoist Wuyoutian's attainment of enlightenment and could record the fate and destiny of all living beings.

Liu Xin is merely the current holder of this book; the true owner is someone else.

"Junior brother, it's my turn to carry out the task today." Ye Yan walked into the hall, his aura as a seventh-level Qi Refining cultivator naturally flowing out.

Liu Xin looked up and saw Ye Yan, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He remembered Ye Yan, a disciple of Butian Peak, over forty years old, who had been stuck at the mid-stage of Qi Refining. How could he have suddenly broken through?

However, breakthroughs at the Holy Sect level were not uncommon, and Liu Xin quickly composed himself, cupping his fists and smiling, "Congratulations on your breakthrough, Senior Brother Ye! You've come at the perfect time, the roster is here, please take a look."

Ye Yan was well aware of the benefits of the book catalog.

This is Chen Guo's selection roster of cannon fodder talents, which is held every three years. It records unlucky people with mediocre talent and bad luck, who are sent to the Holy Sect as expendable resources.

Ye Yan took the booklet and flipped through it casually. The names on it were densely packed, and behind each name was a pitiful person who was about to be drained dry.

"Not bad, Junior Brother is quite handsome." Ye Yan nodded, patted Liu Xin on the shoulder, and said gently, "I'll check the book list today, you go and rest."

Liu Xin was eager to do less work, so he quickly thanked him and left.

Dressed in a blue robe, Ye Yan stood at the entrance of the Hall of Registered Disciples, flipping through the register of names and reading them aloud one by one.

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every disciple present.

After reading it once, "Lü Yang" was not found.

Two days later, Ye Yan brought another book list.

Liu Xin looked at him speechlessly: "Senior Brother Ye, do you really enjoy handling the work of nominal disciples?"

Ye Yan smiled and said, "We have talented people."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xin immediately understood that an unlucky disciple was about to arrive.

Most of the cannon fodder on the book list are mediocre, but there are also a few unlucky ones who, once targeted by the Holy Sect, will not even leave behind a trace of their bones.

Ye Yan stood in front of the hall, opened the book of names, and said in a loud voice: "Those whose names are called, come forward."

"The first one is Chen Liang."

"Here!" A thin boy stepped out from the crowd, his face full of fear.

Ye Yan glanced over and a thought struck him—good heavens, Lü Yang had finally arrived. He then looked at the composed-faced, piercing-eyed young man behind Chen Liang, and understood. Ye Yan nodded slightly to Lü Yang, who frowned, a sense of unease creeping into his heart: Had he been discovered?

Ye Yan withdrew his gaze and looked at Chen Liang.

This young Taoist novice is handsome and has decent aptitude, but unfortunately, his luck is too low, and he is destined to be cannon fodder.

Ye Yan lightly swiped the book list, and Chen Liang's body stiffened abruptly before he slumped to the ground.

Blood was sent to the Alchemy Hall, bones and souls to the Treasure Refining Hall, internal organs and limbs to the Beast Taming Hall, and the head to the Alchemy Hall.

A one-stop service, leaving not even a crumb.

Lu Yang stood in the crowd, staring at the scene in disbelief.

Ye Yan coldly surveyed the entire room, his tone chilling: "In the Holy Sect, you are not disciples, but 'talents.' Value is the sole measure of your life and death. Those with mediocre talent live to serve the sect; those whose value is exhausted will have their bones refined into artifacts. As for those with exceptional talent... ha, they are merely more valuable 'commodities.' Gentlemen, take care of yourselves, and don't forget that we are the Demonic Sect."

His well-intentioned reminder, however, felt like a bucket of ice water being poured over everyone's head.

No one thought it was a joke, because the pool of blood on the ground was still warm.

"Next, Lü Yang."

"arrive!"

"Good, very energetic."

Lu Yang stepped forward, his back ramrod straight, his gaze fixed on Ye Yan, showing no sign of backing down.

Ye Yan narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing him with a smile: "Junior brother, you have an extraordinary bearing and are quite like a proper disciple. Come, stand beside your senior brother, and I will personally lead you to the Hehuan Hall."

Lu Yang stood respectfully beside Ye Yan, but his heart was in turmoil.

He didn't know what this "Hehuan Palace" was, but since it wasn't immediately cleared away, it was at least safe for the time being.

It's at least a draft.

Ye Yan patted his shoulder and whispered, "Junior brother, you're lucky."

The paramecium smells so good!

Lu Yang didn't speak, but silently remembered the sentence, though he remained extremely vigilant.

Dog day!

Just watch me!

Lu Yang's heart sank suddenly, and a chill ran down his spine.

That feeling of being locked on by an invisible gaze.

This made him almost certain that the secret he relied on for survival could no longer be kept hidden.

Ye Yan pointed wherever he was curious, and one by one they died, all of them being sent to the outer hall as talents.