Chapter 104: Third Visit to the Witch Ghost Realm
Chapter 104: Third Descent into the Witch-Ghost Realm
Though determined to show off in the newbie village, Lü Yang still planned to make thorough preparations beforehand. He aimed to accomplish three minor objectives before setting out.
"First is obtaining the Saint Sect's true disciple status—the simplest task."
"All I need is to replicate my actions from two lifetimes ago: follow the standard procedure, display perfected Qi Refining cultivation, and master a grand divine ability. That should qualify me."
"Second is Skeleton Mountain's spiritual vein."
"Although I successfully inherited the [Yama Palace] when I restarted with the Myriad Spirits Banner, I lost the enhancement from Skeleton Mountain's spiritual vein."
"I'll need to figure something out."
"Without the mountain's spiritual vein boost, Su Nu's current state means the [Yama Palace]'s power is less than half of its peak strength in my previous life."
"Lastly... the Yun Family Patriarch."
"The Heavenly Instrument Ultimate Treasure in his possession would be immensely useful to me. It might help me foresee karma in advance and minimize variables to the greatest extent."
These three minor objectives—the first securing status and position, the second ensuring combat strength, and the third preventing unforeseen circumstances—along with Zhao Xuhe as a shield, formed four layers of insurance. Lü Yang refused to believe he couldn't handle Fulong Arhat with such preparations.
In fact, his ambitions extended even further.
Fulong Arhat was, after all, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Even if Lü Yang broke through, being constantly targeted by such a powerful foe would remain a significant hidden danger.
If possible, he wouldn't mind luring Fulong Arhat over and trapping him to death!
Only then would the problem be permanently resolved!
Setting this goal firmly in his heart, Lü Yang recognized that the world was vast and fraught with dangers. Only by achieving the position of a True Person could one truly command the power to survey all under heaven.
.........
With his objectives clear, the remaining steps were already familiar territory. He merely needed to replicate his actions from two lifetimes ago without any additional effort.
Speculating on Substitute Death Yin Puppets, earning tens of thousands of Contribution Points, then publicly announcing seclusion—Lü Yang was patient, in no rush to act.
In the blink of an eye, ten years passed.
During this decade, Lü Yang gradually regained the grand divine abilities from his past life, perfected his true qi, and once again reached the peak state where he could attempt Foundation Establishment at any moment.
A decade later, Lü Yang emerged from seclusion, having successfully "broken through" to late-stage Qi Refining.
Everything proceeded smoothly thereafter. Fairy Feixia, representing the Three Rivers Association, came to recruit him. Lü Yang promptly agreed, conveniently acquiring another grand divine ability for free.
This time, Lü Yang chose a grand divine ability called 《Twelve Capital Heavenly Gods and Demons Secret Magic Tribulation Light》.
As the name suggested, this ability differed entirely from the Corpse Dissolution True Method and Heavenly Silkworm Secret. Rather than increasing the chances of Foundation Establishment, its effects leaned more toward combat.
"To master this divine ability, one must refine a treasure, elevate it into the thirty-six layers of heavenly aether, and use it to gather boundless sha energy from beyond the skies. Over time, this energy condenses into a tribulation light that can be summoned when needed. Wherever this light passes, all living beings perish!"
"Moreover, the longer it accumulates, the greater its destructive power!"
"However, merely lifting the treasure into the thirty-six heavenly aether layers is nearly impossible for a Qi Refining cultivator—the difficulty is absurdly high."
Of course, this was a minor issue for Lü Yang.
"Let Su Nu suffer a bit more."
Summoning Su Nu, Lü Yang handed her the Blood Sun Sword Pill and instructed her to fly into the thirty-six heavenly aether layers to cultivate this grand divine ability on his behalf.
"With this ability, I'll have another trump card for future battles."
"Once fully prepared, my chances of breaking through to Foundation Establishment could rise to ninety percent. The Righteous-Demonic War will make up the final ten percent."
Perfect Foundation Establishment!
Though Lü Yang hadn't initially aimed for this achievement, ensuring absolute success in this lifetime likely required this step.
Perfect Foundation Establishment meant reaching peak early-stage Foundation Establishment immediately upon breakthrough!
Perhaps only then would he truly possess some measure of self-preservation strength.
..........
A month later, following the standard procedure, Lü Yang accepted Fairy Feixia's invitation. Alongside her, Zhao Xuhe, and Lu Yuanchun, he set out to oversee the Skeleton Mountain market.
However, compared to two lifetimes ago, this iteration included Zhao Xuhe as an additional variable.
In that previous life, having lost the Coiling Dragon opportunity, Zhao Xuhe had fallen into destitution. His last gamble was bringing the Stealing Heavenly Secrets technique to the Skeleton Mountain market.
This time, however, Zhao Xuhe was brimming with confidence. As the "reincarnation of True Person Panlong," his cultivation progress was astonishingly rapid. With Lü Yang's covert support, he reached perfected Qi Refining within a decade, also standing at the threshold of Foundation Establishment.
This arrangement suited Lü Yang perfectly.
After all, True Person Yinshan needed a Saint Sect disciple to activate the secret realm. Since Lü Yang had no intention of cooperating, Zhao Xuhe could serve as the perfect substitute.
..........
Northern Jiang, Skeleton Mountain.
"I'm back..."
Slipping away from the group, Lü Yang soon arrived at the entrance to the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm, intending to reconnect the [Yama Palace] to Skeleton Mountain's spiritual vein.
Yet the next moment, he froze.
"The spiritual vein... already has an owner!?"
As he activated the [Yama Palace] to link with the vein, he discovered an imposing palace already standing at the vein's core—another Yama Palace!
"Is this... Ancestor Nether Whisper?" Lü Yang frowned, memories from past lives flashing through his mind before realization dawned on his face.
Two lifetimes ago, news of the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm had first spread from the Divine Martial Gate, discovered by its disciples. At the time, he hadn't noticed anything amiss.
But now, reconsidering—if he hadn't appeared, wouldn't Ancestor Nether Whisper have noticed when Divine Martial Gate disciples entered the realm? How could he have simply let them be? Moreover, the cost of his soul possession technique required slaughtering everyone within the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm.
Yet in that lifetime, the realm had been empty!
In a flash of insight, Lü Yang reached a conclusion: "At this point, Ancestor Nether Whisper has likely possessed a Divine Martial Gate disciple and begun his fifth life!"
This meant that in that previous life, Ancestor Nether Whisper had actually succeeded.
Because in the end, True Person Yinshan had resolved the Golden Core sword qi and reopened the Witch-Ghost Secret Realm, only to take away a single [Heavenly Corpse Sha]...
Leaving the spiritual vein intact!
Seeking the Dao, True Person Yinshan had hooked the Heavenly Corpse Sha, unaware that he himself had become Ancestor Nether Whisper's bait, used to remove the Golden Core sword qi!
"...Remarkable!"
If Ancestor Nether Whisper truly still lived, his schemes had succeeded! It was only in the last lifetime, with Lü Yang's interference, that his plans had failed.
Even Lü Yang couldn't help but marvel at this realization.
Without his own variable presence, Ancestor Nether Whisper would have been a miracle—a Foundation Establishment cultivator escaping a Golden Core True Lord after a thousand years!
Just then, a surge of consciousness emanated from the spiritual vein's core:
"Who are you!?"
The voice brimmed with astonishment, confusion, and even bewilderment—undoubtedly Ancestor Nether Whisper. Lü Yang's eyes darted as he instantly understood.
Because he was using the [Yama Palace] to connect to the spiritual vein!
And the [Yama Palace] was Ancestor Nether Whisper's unparalleled divine ability, a secret never transmitted. In his view, only he alone should have been capable of wielding it.
How could there be a second?
Realizing this, Lü Yang's expression swiftly transformed—ecstatic, awestruck, his voice trembling with emotion: "Ancestor Nether Whisper, is it truly you?"
"You still live!"
"Heavens above, the Witch Ghost Path is not forsaken!"
Without another word, Lü Yang bowed deeply, performing a grand salute: "Disciple Lü Yang, three hundred and seventy-sixth generation of the Witch Ghost Path, pays respects to the Ancestor!"
Ancestor Nether Whisper: "...?"