Chapter 107: Ascension to True Disciple

At the heart of Skeleton Mountain, Lü Yang sat cross-legged in meditation amidst a sea of ghosts, the Myriad Spirits Banner in hand, his qi-refining perfected aura radiating unrestrained.

Suddenly, a brilliant light pierced through the Yama Palace.

The light coalesced into human form as True Person Yinshan emerged, his expression one of astonishment as his gaze locked onto Lü Yang while secretly calculating karma with his fingers.

Then he froze.

This time, Lü Yang made no effort to conceal his karma. Instead, he deliberately revealed most of it—precisely why True Person Yinshan was so shocked.

"You are... Lü Yang?"

His calculations showed Lü Yang had only joined the sect a little over ten years ago, yet his cultivation had already reached the peak of Qi Refining. While that alone was understandable, mastering a divine ability at such a young age seemed utterly fantastical—something no ordinary disciple could achieve!

After a moment of silence, True Person Yinshan reached the same conclusion as in their previous life:

"Might I ask, fellow Daoist, which True Person of our Saint Sect you reincarnated from?"

Lü Yang: "......"

Before Lü Yang could respond, Ancestor Nether Whisper materialized behind him and scoffed, "Saint Sect True Person? Nonsense! He's the inheritor of my Witch Ghost Path!"

"Witch Ghost Path?"

True Person Yinshan's shock deepened as he turned to Ancestor Nether Whisper, recalculating before exclaiming, "Nether Whisper? The last sect master of the Witch Ghost Path?"

"The sixth generation, not the last!" Ancestor Nether Whisper snapped, clearly displeased with the label. Coldly, he added, "The Witch Ghost Path endured for millennia without interruption. Lü Yang is our inheritor, merely taking temporary shelter under the Primordial Saint Sect!"

"Oh?"

True Person Yinshan blinked before understanding dawned in his eyes. If that were the case, Lü Yang's rapid progress made perfect sense.

A disciple who joined with prior skills—naturally, his advancement would be swift.

His gaze then shifted to Su Nu, Lü Yang's guardian deity behind him—the real reason he hadn't attacked immediately ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠upon arrival.

'A manifested avatar, Foundation Establishment cultivation...?'

True Person Yinshan inwardly nodded, assuming Su Nu to be a hidden asset of the Witch Ghost Path. With such backing, Lü Yang mastering a divine ability young was no longer surprising.

After all, divine abilities were only challenging for Qi Refining cultivators. For Foundation Establishment True Persons, they posed little difficulty. The sole question was the origin of this ability—yet when True Person Yinshan traced its karma, he found himself.

"You... belong to my Three Rivers Association?"

Watching True Person Yinshan's shifting expressions, Lü Yang remained composed.

Among his divine abilities, only one could have its karma traced—the Twelve Capital Heavenly Gods and Demons Secret Magic Tribulation Light, learned in this lifetime.

And this ability was a benefit of joining the Three Rivers Association.

No matter how one calculated it, his origins were impeccable. Moreover, having signed the Three Rivers Association's contract, he was technically True Person Yinshan's own subordinate.

As for his other divine abilities of unclear origin, once he ascended to True Disciple status, revealing them would raise no suspicions.

Thus, he needed to become a True Disciple at the fastest possible speed!

Generally, becoming a Saint Sect True Disciple required backing from a Foundation Establishment True Person—proof that one had earned the sect's trust.

In this world, what mattered was influence and connections.

Without backing, you were nothing but cannon fodder.

Hence, Lü Yang had to demonstrate sufficient value to attract powerful patronage—and claiming the "Witch Ghost Path inheritor" title made for excellent camouflage.

"Indeed, Elder," Lü Yang replied respectfully with a bow. "Senior Sister Feixia personally invited me to join. I apologize for keeping this hidden previously."

"I see..."

True Person Yinshan studied Lü Yang with a peculiar look. "You could have continued hiding this. Why reveal it now? Do you intend to revive the Witch Ghost Path?"

He didn't doubt Lü Yang's identity. Ancestor Nether Whisper's karma was unmistakable—the last Witch Ghost Path sect master himself acknowledged Lü Yang as inheritor. How could it be fake? Surely a mere Qi Refining cultivator couldn't have deceived even Ancestor Nether Whisper?

"You misunderstand, Elder."

Lü Yang shook his head firmly. "I am a Saint Sect disciple. Though I've inherited the Witch Ghost Path's legacy, my loyalty lies with the Saint Sect. I've no intention of establishing a separate faction."

"In truth, I wish to offer the Witch Ghost Path's lineage to the Saint Sect."

"...Oh?"

True Person Yinshan glanced at Ancestor Nether Whisper, surprised to see no reaction. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Unbeknownst to him, Lü Yang had already negotiated this.

A thousand years had given Ancestor Nether Whisper clarity—what mattered was preserving the lineage's continuation. Sheltering under a greater sect and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠paying some price was only natural.

"Interesting..."

True Person Yinshan chuckled, eyeing Lü Yang with amusement. "You're using the Witch Ghost Path's legacy as your stepping stone to promotion?"

"Is that unacceptable?" Lü Yang countered.

"Hahaha! Acceptable, absolutely acceptable!"

True Person Yinshan burst into laughter, all prior suspicions gone as he regarded Lü Yang with appreciation. "Truly worthy of our Saint Sect!"

The Saint Sect cared not for virtue, reincarnation, or origins—only value.

If your worth was high enough, even inheritors from the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion could be accepted without question!

Understanding Lü Yang's aim, True Person Yinshan asked directly, "You seek the True Disciple position?"

Lü Yang clasped his hands. "Your insight is profound, True Person."

"Consider it done."

True Person Yinshan smiled. "Offering the Witch Ghost Path's legacy to the sect is a significant contribution. I'll recommend you for a True Disciple position."

His gaze toward Lü Yang had transformed—from viewing a stranger to seeing a junior worth nurturing, especially since Lü Yang had joined the Three Rivers Association and signed its contract.

'Perfect timing. Senior Brother Chong Guang and I planned to explore that realm in eighty years...'

While True Person Yinshan favored Luo Wuya, attempting Foundation Establishment was a life-or-death gamble with uncertain outcomes. Having alternatives was prudent.

Moreover, objectively speaking, Lü Yang showed greater promise than Luo Wuya.

"My gratitude, Elder!"

Lü Yang smiled in relief, bowing again. With this, he'd secured some standing within the sect.

Admittedly, this status remained precarious for now.

As a newly appointed True Disciple without established roots, gaining the sect's full trust would require passing a lengthy evaluation period.

'But that's irrelevant.'

'Time is the one thing I have in abundance!'

..........

At the heart of the Sky-reaching Sea of Clouds within the Saint Sect stood Sacred Fire Cliff—the secluded retreat of the sect master and True Lords, accessible only to the acting sect master:

True Person Chongguang.

Currently, this formidable figure stood solemnly before a meditation chamber, silently counting the days.

'It's about time...'

Just as he looked up, the chamber door opened with a soft sound, revealing an elegant figure.

"Greetings to True Lord Qingcheng Feixue!"

True Person Chongguang immediately prostrated himself, rising only when a gentle voice spoke: "Rise, no need for formalities. How fares your cultivation recently, Chongguang?"

"Minor progress."

True Person Chongguang remained bowed as he reported gravely, "Recently, I completed the final [Rigid Flame Furnace], perfecting my Dao path. Only ascension remains."

"You've mastered the [Rigid Flame Furnace]?"

True Lord Qingcheng Feixue's face lit up. "That earthly fiend position belongs to [Great Wilderness Fall]. With this, your path now combines [Yanfu], [Zhichen], [Zhanmeng], and [Great Wilderness Fall]—four perfected medicines. The [Overturned Lamp Flame] position must be within reach now."

"When do you plan to ascend?"

"More time is needed." True Person Chongguang shook his head. "Hong Yun still ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lives, backed by another True Lord. Attempting ascension now would likely fail."

"Thus, I intend to venture to 'that realm.'"

"Oh?" True Lord Qingcheng Feixue paused before nodding. "At your current cultivation, you could barely manage it alone. You'll need assistance."

"I've already selected candidates." True Person Chongguang affirmed.

Seeing this, True Lord Qingcheng Feixue asked no further questions. "You've always been reliable... However, I emerged this time for the Dao-Seizing War."

"The Dao-Seizing War? So soon?" True Person Chongguang was taken aback.

True Lord Qingcheng Feixue sighed. "The millennium calamity approaches, disrupting celestial order. This was inevitable. Inform the sect and summon the True Disciples."

"...Understood!"

True Person Chongguang nodded, though worry flickered across his face.

A decade ago, he wouldn't have been concerned—back when True Person Yinshan hadn't broken through to Foundation Establishment, capable of suppressing Qi Refining disciples from rival factions.

But now, True Person Yinshan had ascended.

While other exceptional True Disciples existed, most were stationed across Jiangbei and couldn't be easily recalled.

Among those available, none possessed the overwhelming prowess needed to secure victory.

No doubt rival factions had seized upon this vulnerability, hastening the next Dao-Seizing War to diminish the Saint Sect's dominance.

"It seems this time, our sect may have to swallow some losses..."

With a heavy sigh, True Person Chongguang turned to carry out his orders.