Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Promotion to True Disciple
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In the center of Skull Mountain, Lu Yang held the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner, sitting silently in meditation and regulating his breathing amid the throng of myriad ghosts. The aura of peak Qi Refining showed no sign of restraint.
Moments later, a brilliant glow shone into the Hall of Yama.
The light coalesced into human form, and Perfected Being Yin Shan stepped out from within, his face etched with astonishment. His gaze locked onto Lu Yang, while he secretly divined the lines of causality.
But then he froze.
This time, Lu Yang had not deliberately concealed his own causality. Instead, he had proactively revealed most of it, leaving Perfected Being Yin Shan utterly shocked.
"You are... Lu Yang?"
In his divination, Lu Yang had joined the sect just over a decade ago, yet his cultivation had already reached peak Qi Refining. That could still be understood. But for someone so young to have cultivated a great Divine Ability? That was nothing short of fantastical—absolutely beyond what an ordinary grassroots disciple could achieve!
After a moment of silence, Perfected Being Yin Shan arrived at the exact same conclusion as in his previous life:
"May I ask, fellow Daoist, which Perfected Being of our sacred sect have you reincarnated as?"
Lu Yang: "..."
Before Lu Yang could respond, Ancestor Tingyou materialized behind him and sneered.
"What sacred sect Perfected Being? This is the inheritor of my Witch Ghost Dao!"
"Witch Ghost Dao?"
Perfected Being Yin Shan was startled anew. He turned to Ancestor Tingyou, divined for another moment, then revealed his shock.
"Tingyou? The last sect master of Witch Ghost Dao?"
"The sixth generation—not the last!" Ancestor Tingyou spoke again, clearly displeased with the term "last." He said coldly,
"My Witch Ghost Dao has endured for a millennium without ever breaking its lineage. Lu Yang is my inheritor in the Witch Ghost Dao. He is merely temporarily sheltering under the Primal Saint Sect for now!"
"Oh?"
Perfected Being Yin Shan blinked in surprise, then realization dawned in his eyes. If that were the case, Lu Yang's rapid progress made perfect sense.
Bringing arts to the sect master—naturally.
With that thought, Perfected Being Yin Shan glanced at the guardian spirit Su Nü behind Lu Yang. That was the real reason he hadn't attacked on sight.
"An external incarnation, Foundation Establishment cultivation?"
Perfected Being Yin Shan understood now, mistaking Su Nü for Witch Ghost Dao's foundation. In that light, Lu Yang cultivating a great Divine Ability at such a young age was no surprise.
After all, the difficulty of great Divine Abilities was limited to the Qi Refining Realm. For Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings, they were far simpler. It was normal for Lu Yang to achieve one young. The only lingering question was its origin. But when Perfected Being Yin Shan divined to the end, the trail led back to himself.
"You are one of my Three Rivers Association?"
Watching Perfected Being Yin Shan's shifting expression, Lu Yang remained utterly composed.
Of all his great Divine Abilities, only one could be traced back through causality: the Twelve Capital Heavens Divine Baleful Secret Devil Calamity Light, which he had learned in this life.
And that great Divine Ability was a benefit of joining the Three Rivers Association.
No matter how one calculated, he was legitimately one of their own—especially since he had signed the Three Rivers Association's contract. Strictly speaking, he was Perfected Being Yin Shan's own man.
As for his other Divine Abilities of unclear origin, he could reveal them after ascending to True Disciple status, with position and standing to avoid suspicion.
To that end, he had to promote to True Disciple at the fastest possible speed!
Normally, to become a True Disciple of the sacred sect, one needed a Foundation Establishment Perfected Being as backer—signifying the sect's trust.
In the jianghu, it was all about factions and backing.
No backing? Then you were small fry, destined to be a tool at best.
So Lu Yang had to demonstrate value, pull in a strong patron for himself. "Inheritor of Witch Ghost Dao" was a fine tiger skin to wear.
"In reply to Senior, yes."
Lu Yang bowed respectfully and said,
"Senior Sister Feixia personally invited me to join. I concealed it before—please do not hold it against me, Senior."
"So that's how it is..."
Perfected Being Yin Shan looked at Lu Yang with an odd expression.
"You could have kept hiding it. Why reveal yourself now? Do you intend to revive Witch Ghost Dao?"
He harbored no doubts about Lu Yang's identity. Ancestor Tingyou's causality was crystal clear—the last sect master of Witch Ghost Dao had openly acknowledged Lu Yang as his inheritor. How could it be false? Impossible for a mere Qi Refining cultivator to fool Ancestor Tingyou.
"You misunderstand, Senior."
Lu Yang shook his head firmly.
"I am a disciple of the sacred sect. Though I received the Witch Ghost Dao inheritance, my heart belongs to the Primal Saint Sect. I have no thought of establishing my own sect."
"In truth, I wish to offer the Witch Ghost Dao lineage to the sacred sect."
"...Oh?"
Perfected Being Yin Shan glanced at Ancestor Tingyou, who showed no reaction whatsoever. His heart grew all the more astonished—unaware that Lu Yang had already discussed it with him.
A millennium past, Ancestor Tingyou had long faced reality.
The priority was the sect's survival and lineage. As long as the inheritance endured, sheltering under a greater sect—even at some cost—was only natural.
"Interesting."
Perfected Being Yin Shan caught on, looking at Lu Yang with a half-smile.
"You're using the Witch Ghost Dao inheritance as your stepping stone to promotion?"
"Does that not work?" Lu Yang countered.
"Hahaha! It works, of course it works!"
The next instant, Perfected Being Yin Shan burst into laughter, all prior doubts vanished. His gaze toward Lu Yang brimmed with approval.
"Worthily a disciple of my sacred sect!"
Under the sacred sect's rule, they cared not for merit, reincarnation, or origins—only value!
Value high enough? Forget Witch Ghost Dao inheritor—even a Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion disciple would be accepted. The sacred sect never minded!
With that realization, Perfected Being Yin Shan understood Lu Yang's aim.
"You seek a True Disciple position?"
Lu Yang cupped his hands.
"Perfected Being sees clearly."
"I agree to this."
Perfected Being Yin Shan smiled.
"Offering the Witch Ghost Dao inheritance to the sect is great merit. I can recommend you upward for a True Disciple slot."
Now, Perfected Being Yin Shan's gaze toward Lu Yang had changed. Before, it was toward a stranger. Now, knowing Lu Yang had joined the Three Rivers Association and signed the contract, he saw him as family kin—a talent worth heavy nurturing.
'Perfect. Senior Brother Chongguang and I set a date eighty years hence for that realm.'
Though Perfected Being Yin Shan favored Luo Wuya, breaking through to Foundation Establishment was nine deaths one life—who knew the outcome? He needed backups.
Strictly speaking, Lu Yang clearly held more promise than Luo Wuya.
"My thanks, Senior!"
Lu Yang smiled too, cupping hands in gratitude. He breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. Now he had some standing in the Primal Saint Sect.
Of course, this standing was presently a castle in the air.
His True Disciple status was parachuted in—name without substance. To truly earn the sect's trust required a long probation.
'But no matter.'
'After all, what I lack least is time!'
Primal Saint Sect, center of the Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea.
This place was called Sacred Fire Cliff, the seclusion grounds of the Sect Master and the various True Lords. Only the current acting Sect Master was permitted entry.
Perfected Being Chongguang.
At this moment, the heroic, ambition-driven Perfected Being stood solemnly before a quiet chamber, silently calculating the time in his mind.
'Almost time.'
After an unknown interval, Perfected Being Chongguang finally raised his head. Almost simultaneously, a soft click sounded from the chamber before him as a graceful figure pushed open the door and emerged.
"Greetings, True Lord Clear Clarity Flying Snow!"
Perfected Being Chongguang bowed low without a word.
Only when a gentle voice sounded did he rise.
"Rise. No need for excessive courtesy. How has Chongguang's cultivation progressed of late?"
"Some progress."
Perfected Being Chongguang remained bowed, speaking solemnly.
"A few days ago, I completed the final Rigid Flame Furnace. My Dao path is now complete—only the heavenly ascent remains."
"You've completed the Rigid Flame Furnace?"
True Lord Clear Clarity Flying Snow's face lit with joy.
"This Earth Sha position belongs to Great Wilderness Fall. With it, your Dao path now holds Yanfeng, Zhixu, Zhamon, and Great Wilderness Fall—the four medicines complete. The Covered Lamp Fire position should be within easy reach."
"When do you plan to ascend?"
"Still needs time." Perfected Being Chongguang shook his head.
"Hongyun lives, and True Lords back him still. Ascending rashly may fail."
"Thus, I plan to head to 'that realm.'"
"Oh?" True Lord Clear Clarity Flying Snow paused, then nodded.
"With your cultivation, you can barely go—but you'll need aides."
"I have candidates." Perfected Being Chongguang nodded.
True Lord Clear Clarity Flying Snow asked no more, inclining her head.
"I have always trusted your judgment. This seclusion break is for the Dao-Seizing War."
"The Dao-Seizing War? So soon?" Perfected Being Chongguang started.
True Lord Clear Clarity Flying Snow shook her head.
"The millennial great calamity approaches, heavenly stars in disarray—this is to be expected. Go proclaim to the sacred sect and summon the True Disciples."
"...Yes!"
Perfected Being Chongguang nodded, though worry creased his brow.
A dozen years ago, he would not have worried. Back then, Perfected Being Yin Shan had yet to break through to Foundation Establishment—the sect's Qi Refining disciples could overwhelm all rival traditions.
But now, Perfected Being Yin Shan had achieved Foundation Establishment.
Though among the True Disciples, aside from him, there were other brilliant talents, most were needed to garrison the northern reaches of the river and could not move lightly.
Among the True Disciples who could move, there was no longer one stunning enough to clinch victory single-handedly.
The other traditions had surely seized on this, reopening the Dao-Seizing War so soon to suppress the sacred sect's prestige.
"It seems this time, the sacred sect can only take a loss."
With that thought, Perfected Being Chongguang could not help sighing.
(End of chapter)