Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Make the Witch-Ghost Path Great Again!
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After hearing the voice transmitted from Lu Yang, Ancestor Tingyou fell into deep self-doubt for a moment. The three hundred and sixty-seventh generation disciple of the Witch-Ghost Path?
"Outrageous!"
In the next second, Ancestor Tingyou erupted in fury. "Our Witch-Ghost Path has shallow foundations. I am merely the sixth-generation sect master. Where would a three hundred and sixty-seventh generation disciple even come from?"
Faced with Ancestor Tingyou's questioning, Lu Yang did not panic at all. Instead, his eyes reddened, and two streams of hot tears rolled down his cheeks. He choked out, "Ancestor, you may not know this, but over the past thousand years, the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion has never let us go. They've hunted us relentlessly, and to this day, only my single line of descent remains."
The inheritance of great immortal clans and sects differed from that of loose cultivators.
Any major immortal clan or sect was at least overseen by a Foundation Establishment true person, with stable and orderly succession. Often, even after several centuries, there was only a generational gap of one.
Loose cultivators, however, were different.
Most loose cultivators wandered far and wide, living precarious lives. If they had a few enemies on top of that, generational turnover happened at breakneck speed—dozens of generations in mere decades was entirely normal.
Thus, Ancestor Tingyou quickly caught on.
If the sect truly had a branch line scattered outside, without a true person in charge and under constant pursuit from the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, a thousand-year inheritance spanning hundreds of generations was not impossible.
'.Wait, that's not right!'
Soon, Ancestor Tingyou grew suspicious again. He was the final sect master of the Witch-Ghost Path. If there was a branch line out there, how could he possibly not know about it?
With that thought, Ancestor Tingyou suddenly asked, "Which branch line are you from?"
—In truth, the Witch-Ghost Path had no such thing as branch lines. Ancestor Tingyou was only saying this to bluff Lu Yang, clearly still not fully believing him.
Yet Lu Yang answered fluently. "In response to Ancestor, the sect has no branch lines passed down. We are the descendants of the Grand Elder. After you achieved peak Foundation Establishment but clashed in destiny with that lord from the Sword Pavilion, he secretly sent us beyond the sect and severed our karmic ties, allowing our line to survive."
He had obtained the full inheritance of the Witch-Ghost Path, after all.
In the divine sense imprint left by Ancestor Tingyou back then, there was deep nostalgia for the entire Witch-Ghost Path. Thus, Lu Yang knew no less about it than he did.
For instance, the Grand Elder he mentioned.
That Grand Elder had once vied with Ancestor Tingyou for the position of sect master and had been both friend and foe to him, always opposing his decisions.
Including the idea of establishing the [Hall of Yama].
So Lu Yang had used him to fabricate his identity—flawless and airtight. No matter what Ancestor Tingyou asked, he could handle it with ease.
"To think it was him."
After hearing Lu Yang's explanation, Ancestor Tingyou was stunned for a moment. Long-buried memories flooded back, pulling him into reminiscence.
When he snapped out of it, his tone had softened considerably. "I see. I'd always thought that old codger opposed me out of spite because he lost to me and I took the sect master position. Now it seems he had far greater foresight than I did."
No, he was really just opposing you for the sake of it.
While inwardly mocking him, Lu Yang proactively changed the subject. "Time is of the essence, Ancestor. Please wait a moment. I'll find a way to get you out right now!"
"No, wait."
Ancestor Tingyou hurriedly waved him off. "Don't worry about me. I have my own way out. You should leave quickly instead—don't get tangled up with me!"
He already believed Lu Yang's words by eighty percent.
This had nothing to do with Lu Yang's eloquence. Through subtle probing, he had confirmed that Lu Yang truly held the Witch-Ghost Path's inheritance in his hands.
If Lu Yang were a fake, where would he have gotten that inheritance from?
It couldn't possibly be from him, after all.
Thus, even though Ancestor Tingyou found Lu Yang's identity a bit far-fetched, he chose to believe it and treated him as a disciple of the Witch-Ghost Path.
"Regardless, carrying on the inheritance is what matters most."
With that, Ancestor Tingyou grew urgent again. "That Golden Core sword qi is still here. Hurry and leave, or you might get locked onto."
"No need for Ancestor to worry about that." Lu Yang shook his head at the sight, then revealed a hint of bitterness. "Actually, there's something I've been hiding from you, Ancestor, and I'm afraid I've disappointed you."
"The Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion hunted us for a millennium, leaving only my single line. For self-preservation, I dared not claim to be a disciple of the Witch-Ghost Path anymore. I had no choice but to hide my name and join the Primal Saint Sect, borrowing their karma to conceal myself. That's how I grew to my current cultivation."
With that, Lu Yang lowered his head.
He looked just like a child who had done wrong and feared his elder's scolding.
"So that's how it is."
But Ancestor Tingyou showed no surprise at all. Instead, he looked enlightened, resolving one of his doubts about Lu Yang.
After all, Lu Yang's cultivation was a bit too high.
With Ancestor Tingyou's discerning eye, he could naturally see that Lu Yang was just one step shy of Foundation Establishment and had even reorganized the [Hall of Yama]—incredibly strong.
But if the branch line had it so rough, how had Lu Yang reached this level?
Ah, so he joined the Primal Saint Sect.
That explained everything.
"This is actually for the best." Seeing Lu Yang's guilty expression, Ancestor Tingyou comforted him proactively. "Bending to circumstances for the sake of the sect's inheritance is nothing unusual."
"Besides, the Primal Saint Sect might not even care."
"In fact, I'd say you made the right move. Who would've thought our Witch-Ghost Path, clinging to survival for a millennium, would gain such an outstanding disciple as you."
At that thought, Ancestor Tingyou even looked at Lu Yang with a touch of感慨.
This kid's had it rough!
Ancestor Tingyou sighed. "You've suffered."
"For the Witch-Ghost Path, it's no hardship!"
Lu Yang shook his head, wiped his eyes, and declared firmly, "To be honest, Ancestor, I came to Skull Mountain this time to seek the sect's lost ruins."
"After all, I've now reached peak Qi Refining Great Perfection, needing only the final step to attempt Foundation Establishment. Once I succeed, I plan to immediately reopen the Witch-Ghost Path's mountain gate. I'm just short on resources and foundations, so I came to Skull Mountain to reclaim the sect's former heritage and make the Witch-Ghost Path great again."
With that, Lu Yang looked at Ancestor Tingyou expectantly.
Ancestor Tingyou felt a bit awkward under his gaze. He did want to help with some funding, but after a millennium, even if there had been sect foundations, he had long since used them up.
Where would any be left?
Seeing his expression, Lu Yang's eyes darted. He sent a thought, and the [Hall of Yama] appeared. The protector deity Su Nü stepped out from within.
Su Nü met Lu Yang's gaze and understood instantly.
"Master, isn't there still the earth vein?"
"What earth vein? What do we need an earth vein for!" At her words, Lu Yang immediately put on a stern face and scolded her angrily. "How can you say that?"
On the other side, Ancestor Tingyou had a realization. "Right! There's still the earth vein!"
"Ancestor, you mustn't!" Lu Yang hurriedly waved his hands. "You are the sect master. Only you can control Skull Mountain's earth vein. How could this junior presume to borrow it?"
"No, I think your protector deity makes a good point." Ancestor Tingyou shook his head. "Though I've lived out a fifth life through possession, I'm nearing my limit. My soul is badly worn, and I don't have much lifespan left. I can barely use the earth vein anymore."
"Better to give it to you. It might still prove useful."
As his words fell, Lu Yang sensed Ancestor Tingyou truly yielding control of the earth vein, allowing Su Nü to steer the [Hall of Yama] into residence.
He believed it. He really believed!
(End of chapter)