Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Another One in the Foundation Establishment Realm!
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To be precise, the Star Realm Heaven no longer existed as such at this moment. All that remained was a wondrous spectacle fully integrated into the world, manifesting as mountains and terrain.
[Ten Thousand Gu Cavern]!
High above this mountain cavern, a mass of golden auspicious clouds churned and surged, occasionally resounding with the roar of thunder. Shadowy images of true dragons flickered within the clouds.
As it inhaled and exhaled the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the scale of this auspicious cloud continued to expand.
Only when it had stretched to over a thousand li in range did the cloud finally halt its movements. It hung high in the sky, exuding an aura of perfect fulfillment, flawless and complete.
This was the [Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon-Riding Dao Foundation]!
The clouds spanning a thousand li were merely a manifestation borrowed from the ambient qi. The true Dao Foundation, along with Lu Yang himself, resided deep within the vast Foundation Establishment Realm.
"What a Foundation Establishment Realm."
The difference between Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining was like heaven and earth. Though he had gathered a full ten parts assurance before breaking through—slaughtering Qi Refining cultivators like mowing grass, appearing no different from a Foundation Establishment Perfected Being in the eyes of Qin Tianhe and the others—now that he had truly stepped into this realm, his thoughts, perceptions, and everything he sensed still felt like an upheaval of earth and sky.
Boom!
Lu Yang's eyes opened and closed, lightning flashing within them. In the next instant, a peal of thunder truly exploded across the land shrouded by the auspicious clouds!
With a single thought, the world stirred—no more than that!
This required scarcely any magical power from him. It was like picking up a brush to paint on paper—casual and effortless. Why exert extra force?
The moment he entered Foundation Establishment, inspiration struck Lu Yang like a blessing. He gained sudden insight into many things, including the hidden secrets of Foundation Establishment. Matters once hard to fathom now became crystal clear. Surveying the Foundation Establishment Realm, he frowned slightly. "No wonder Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings live only three hundred years. This place is no blessed land."
The Foundation Establishment Realm was the object of every Qi Refining cultivator's wildest dreams.
Yet upon truly entering, Lu Yang realized it was no paradise. On the contrary, it was a perilous land of unparalleled danger!
"When forging the Dao Foundation, myriad heart demons come to harass."
At first, Lu Yang thought that once his Dao Foundation was established, these intangible heart demons would dissipate like smoke. But reality proved otherwise.
"Called [heart demons], but that's just a superficial name."
Only after true Foundation Establishment could one pierce the illusion of heart demons and see their true face: a wind—a great wind that eternally lingered in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
"It is named [Bi Wind]."
This wind was insidious, entering through the crown of the head, piercing straight to the dantian, striking the nine orifices, scattering the soul and spirit. A single pass could scatter one's soul to the winds!
Only the Dao Foundation could mitigate the damage of this Bi Wind. Thus, cultivators who failed the first step of ascension might still survive, but failing the second step of Foundation Establishment meant certain death. Without a Dao Foundation for the soul to anchor to, facing the Bi Wind was a path to doom!
Before, they had been mistaken for heart demons due to a mere leaf obscuring the forest.
But even more terrifying was that even with a Dao Foundation's protection, one merely reduced the Bi Wind's harm, not gained full immunity.
Over time, it would still erode the soul.
That limit was precisely three hundred years!
"Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings live three hundred years not because their natural lifespan is limited to that, but because after three hundred, the soul can no longer withstand the Bi Wind's wear!"
"Thus, after three hundred years, they must reincarnate."
"Through the mysteries of reincarnation, they mend the damage to their soul from the Bi Wind, then re-ascend to Foundation Establishment to enjoy another three hundred years of lifespan."
It was an unsolvable conundrum.
Without entering Foundation Establishment, one's natural lifespan topped out at one hundred fifty years at most. But entering brought the Bi Wind's erosion, capping life at three hundred years regardless.
Under such conditions, it was clear the number of Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings would never be too great. Yet as long as the immortal sects of the world maintained orderly lineages, backed by vast numbers of Qi Refining disciples, their numbers would hold steady at a certain baseline.
Not to mention they could reincarnate and return.
'It feels almost like deliberate, planned control!?'
A chilling suspicion leaped into Lu Yang's mind, only to be instantly dismissed. Better not to dwell or probe too deeply. Some things were best left in blissful ignorance.
With that thought, Lu Yang hurriedly shifted his mind:
"That said, after Foundation Establishment, it feels like I've become a blank slate again."
Before Foundation Establishment, he had a body full of divine abilities, the Blood Yang Sword Pellet, the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner—fully equipped. But after, the situation changed dramatically.
First, the Blood Yang Sword Pellet had been scrapped when he unleashed [Twelve Capital Heavens Divine Baleful Secret Devil Calamity Light]. Even if it remained, it would be useless now. His Dao Foundation unfurled with a thousand li of auspicious clouds; compared to that, the Blood Yang Sword Pellet was like an ant shaking a tree.
The Ten Thousand Spirits Banner still had some utility, but not much.
After all, its guardian spirit, the Maiden, was at least Foundation Establishment. Though greatly diminished in use for him now, it could still serve as a shield.
As for divine abilities, they weren't useless.
But compared to the advantages in Qi Refining, divine abilities were standard for Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings—no longer rare, hard to use for gaining an edge.
"No rush. Take it slow. There are still a few opportunities ahead."
Lu Yang's thoughts raced, soon recalling the heavenly secret treasure in Old Ancestor Yun's hands—one that could even fool a True Lord's senses!
"Such a supreme treasure belongs in my hands, lest a pearl be cast in dust!"
Gathering his thoughts, Lu Yang turned his divine sense outward. The thousand-li auspicious clouds gradually contracted, dissolving their form and entering through his mouth and nose.
Looking back, he found himself in mid-air. Behind him lay the Primal Saint Sect's Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea, the Dharma body of Perfected Being Clear and Serene Flying Snow spanning heaven and earth. Opposite stood the True Lords of the Pure Land and Dao Court. At this moment, the gazes of all three True Lords fell upon him almost simultaneously!
In the next second, voices rang in Lu Yang's ears.
"Congratulations, young friend. From now on, there's another True Person in the Foundation Establishment Realm."
"Young friend, so young and talented—rare in the world. A pity you're mired in the demonic path, wasting your gifts. If you joined my Dao Court, you could at least claim a Directorate position."
Dao Court Directorates equated to Foundation Establishment.
The Dao Court cultivated the "Heaven-Patrolling Dao on Heaven's Behalf." Official rank equaled realm. They appointed twelve Directorates, each overseeing a great province—elite among Foundation Establishment.
A single Directorate was at least mid-Foundation Establishment; those near the Dao Court's core might even be late-Foundation Establishment great True Persons!
Before Lu Yang could respond, another voice drifted over:
"Amitabha. Donor, having formed the [Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon-Riding Dao Foundation], you are fated with my Pure Land. If you convert, you will surely attain Bodhisattva fruit in the future."
Bodhisattva? True Lord!?
Lu Yang's pupils contracted. The Pure Land's Bodhisattvas were Golden Core True Lords. This was promising that joining the Pure Land offered a path to Golden Core True Lord?
His heart stirred fiercely.
Yet he unhesitatingly feigned staunch loyalty, ignoring the two True Lords' overtures.
In the next instant, a majestic divine sense descended from the heavens, scattering the voices in his ears. Perfected Being Clear and Serene Flying Snow smiled at him:
"You did well in this Dao-Seizing Battle. Worthy of being my Primal Saint Sect disciple."
". . . You overpraise me, milord."
Lu Yang bowed respectfully, then glanced at the distant Pure Land and Dao Court True Lords—who had never openly spoken from start to finish.
Had they truly been recruiting him just now?
Recalling the Primal Saint Sect's usual methods, Lu Yang had reason to suspect: Damn it, could it be that the Sect's True Lord was baiting him?
(End of chapter)