Chapter Five: Confessing the Replication Technique

Under the watchful gaze of Shi Jian, Yang Qi underwent a gradual transformation.

His physical body emitted a series of creaking sounds as his shattered meridians and internal sea of energy began to knit back together, mending with a resilience far greater than before. With the successful cultivation of the Prison-Suppressing Divine Elephant Technique, Yang Qi’s cultivation base was fully restored.

Meanwhile, Shi Jian had finished recording the technique. Having watched Yang Qi practice the Prison-Suppressing Divine Elephant Technique right in front of him, the Heavens Library had naturally captured every detail.

"This technique is truly heaven-defying. It is countless times more profound than the cultivation methods of my Yang family; it is, without a doubt, a peerless divine art!"

Yang Qi’s old skin sloughed off to reveal a new layer beneath. He stood tall and vigorous, brimming with vitality. He turned his gaze toward Shi Jian and said, "You crossed boundaries to save me and revealed my future to me. Such great kindness is impossible to repay. Since you came to witness this divine art, allow me to pass it on to you!"

A look of awkwardness flickered across Shi Jian’s face. "Ahem, actually, while you were cultivating just now, I used certain methods to record the technique. I was already planning to practice it once I returned to my own world."

Since he had chosen to be honest, he would see it through to the end. He would undoubtedly have to deal with Yang Qi in the future. If he hid it, could he really avoid using the Prison-Suppressing Divine Elephant Technique in front of him forever? It was better to clear the air now and avoid any future grievances.

Yang Qi was startled. He had only practiced it once in front of Shi Jian, yet Shi Jian had already memorized it? This capability was truly terrifying. However, a wry smile soon touched his lips. "Your methods are truly beyond comprehension. But now, I have nothing left to repay you with!"

Yang Qi kept the weight of Shi Jian’s kindness close to his heart, for not only had the man warned him of his fate, but he had also crossed worlds to offer his aid. Even though he understood that Shi Jian’s primary objective had been the divine technique, the fact remained that he had been helped. More importantly, Shi Jian was forthright; he had a goal, but he had not deceived him. This candor deeply moved Yang Qi, who had just suffered a bitter betrayal at the hands of a woman.

Yang Qi was genuinely grateful to Shi Jian from the bottom of his heart and had intended to use the technique as a token of his gratitude. But given Shi Jian’s heaven-defying abilities, he found himself at a loss as to how he could ever repay such a debt.

Noticing his inner turmoil, Shi Jian said in a somewhat grandfatherly tone, "If you hadn't cultivated it, I wouldn't have been able to 'steal' this technique. It was your destiny. If I have learned it, it is merely because my methods are somewhat unconventional."

Yang Qi shook his head. "If you can learn it just by watching me practice once, that is your own ability—how can that be considered unconventional? If I possessed such a talent, I would have been eager to learn every divine art in the world."

Yang Qi’s perspective was clear: Shi Jian’s ability was a sign of his immense power, not a petty theft. It was like alchemy: if he had gained an ancient formula and refined a divine pill, and someone had stolen the formula to replicate it, that would be theft. But if someone simply watched him refine the pill and then reverse-engineered the formula to create their own... could you call that theft? That was a display of pure skill. Similarly, while others might not even recognize the divine nature of the technique when he practiced it on the street, Shi Jian had mastered it just by observing. Yang Qi admired this capability wholeheartedly.

"Meeting is a matter of fate. There are countless worlds in the heavens, and each world holds infinite living beings," Shi Jian continued. "Out of all these worlds and all these beings, the fact that we met in the chat group is destiny itself. You help me, I help you, supporting one another—why dwell on the concept of debt? If you were to 'repay' this, would you stop helping me if I ever sought aid in the group in the future?"

"Of course not!" Yang Qi instinctively retorted. He was truly grateful. Given his character, even if he had cleared this debt, he would still assist Shi Jian if asked, provided no betrayal occurred. After all, Shi Jian had come to his aid at his lowest moment. Heaven knew how desperate he had felt when, betrayed and broken, he had been reduced to nothing more than a cripple.

"Then that settles it. Don't get hung up on favors. My world is extremely dangerous, and I will inevitably need your help in the future!" Shi Jian said with a playful tone, wishing he were tall enough to pat Yang Qi on the shoulder. "When that time comes, I’ll even use this 'favor' to force you to act!"

Yang Qi took the request seriously and pledged, "If you ever face danger, no matter how many times, as long as I am alive, I will cross worlds to help you!"

Shi Jian felt a wave of satisfaction. Look at that—that is what it takes to be a protagonist. A small kindness, and he remembers it to the grave; a great kindness, and he would lay down his life for you. If it were someone else, his help might have been met with a knife in the back.

"If you are in danger, I will come whenever you call, too," Shi Jian promised, and he meant every word. He had chosen the path of honesty because he genuinely wanted to be friends with the members of the group. If Yang Qi was willing to go through fire and water for him, he would do the same for Yang Qi. This applied to everyone in the group. It was undeniable that Shi Jian had initially approached them with the intent of relying on their strength, but as long as they treated him as a brother, he would return that sincerity in kind—with the obvious exception of those named Tang or Guyue.