Chapter 155
Chapter 155
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: As Expected of a Family
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Lu Yang had pieced together the whole story.
From his perspective, though, the conflict between the Heaven Mending Peak Master and Lady Ruo Xiang over their children wasn't without a compromise.
For instance, Lady Ruo Xiang could simply end her life and reincarnate ahead of schedule, then use a secret art to awaken her reincarnated self through her children. The Peak Master could then use them to pass his tribulation, maximizing the family's potential.
The only catch was that it required a certain level of mutual trust.
This suggested that there was no such trust between Lady Ruo Xiang and the Heaven Mending Peak Master—nothing deep enough to stake their lives on.
That was hardly surprising.
In the Primal Saint Sect, true trust was rare. Most alliances relied on mutual leverage or shared interests.
"I've understood your intentions, Fellow Daoist."
With that in mind, Lu Yang finally spoke. "But why should I help you? Senior Heaven Mending is profoundly powerful—far beyond what you or I could handle."
Lady Ruo Xiang responded with a seemingly unrelated question.
"Does Fellow Daoist Yuan Tu know why the Primal Saint Sect has the Four Inner Sect Peaks?"
Lu Yang shook his head. He'd long wondered about this. In the sect, any Foundation Establishment cultivator could claim a personal training ground in the Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea.
Typically, even those grounds were reclaimed by the sect upon the owner's death. The Four Inner Sect Peaks were different—they remained fixed above the cloud sea. Even without a Foundation Establishment cultivator in residence, their positions were never revoked.
"The reason lies in the blessings of our forebears."
Lady Ruo Xiang explained, "The founding Peak Masters of the Four Inner Sect Peaks were the closest confidants who fought alongside the sect's first ancestor. They earned immense merit."
"To honor that, the first ancestor promised the four Peak Masters that as long as the Sacred Fire Cliff endures, the four peaks shall stand."
The promise held firm.
After all, the Primal Saint Sect's founding ancestor was still a living Nascent Soul Dao Lord. With him watching, who would dare make him break his word?
"Yet blessings from the ancestors often fail to inspire their descendants."
A helpless expression crossed Lady Ruo Xiang's face. "Over countless years, the Four Inner Sect Peaks have all declined, forced to bring in outsiders."
That made perfect sense.
The previous generation had consumed all the hardships; why toil when one could simply reap the rewards?
In time, decline was inevitable.
But the Four Inner Sect Peaks couldn't go without a Foundation Establishment cultivator. To address the decay, recruiting outside help was the obvious solution.
"Chen Taihe was one such outsider."
Lady Ruo Xiang spat the words bitterly. "Back then, he showed talent on Heaven Mending Peak and was taken in as a son-in-law by my family. With our support, he achieved Foundation Establishment."
"But afterward, he turned against us, suppressing my clan openly and covertly. Several clan members more talented than I were abandoned in favor of me—the lesser talent—all to keep me stuck at early Foundation Establishment, forever no threat to him."
Tears welled in her eyes, her appearance pitiable.
Lu Yang didn't buy a word of it.
All this sob story, but where was the point?
Where were his benefits?
Noticing Lu Yang's polite smile masking growing impatience, Lady Ruo Xiang promptly dried her tears and laid out her offer.
"Chen Taihe is an outsider. So can you be, Fellow Daoist."
"I'll swear a grand causal oath: kill Chen Taihe, and you'll be the next Heaven Mending Peak Master."
"It's more than a title—it's status, authority, and vast resources. Chen Taihe's current cultivation owes much to that position."
"Exactly. If you kill Chen Taihe..."
Her starry eyes lowered demurely as she stepped closer to Lu Yang, murmuring softly, "Everything on Heaven Mending Peak will be yours... including me."
"Oh?"
Towering over her, Lu Yang gazed down at Lady Ruo Xiang, his eyes tracing her frost-outshining skin, sliding down her neck into an endless abyss.
A moment later, he shook his head. "Please mind yourself, Madam. I'm not one for women."
The next morning.
Lu Yang watched Lady Ruo Xiang depart stealthily, having gladly agreed to join forces—not for anything else, but to settle the score with the Heaven Mending Peak Master once and for all.
To that end, she had shared her plan.
"That old fool wants to use Xin'an and Shuqian as tribulation substitutes, but for Shuqian, I have a way to ensure he can't use her during his tribulation."
The plan aligned perfectly with Lu Yang's own, even complementing it.
He didn't mention Chen Xin'an, only stating he'd handle that side himself before sending her away from Luofeng Mountain.
A few days later, though, Luofeng Mountain welcomed a second visitor.
The newcomer wore a raincoat until entering the mountain, then shed it to reveal flowing silk robes. She smiled sweetly. "Shuqian pays respects to Senior Yuan Tu."
Chen Shuqian, daughter of the Heaven Mending Peak Master!
Lu Yang focused on her, eyes narrowing slightly before he smiled. "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on establishing your immortal foundation. Longevity awaits—you're one of us now."
To date, Lu Yang had only met Chen Shuqian once: in the life where he'd remade Yu Suzhen into a superhuman, glimpsing her through Yu Suzhen's body. Back then, she'd seemed the obedient daughter, ever heeding her father.
Now, she was utterly transformed.
"You're too kind, Senior."
Chen Shuqian bit her red lip lightly and continued, "Though Foundation Establishment, I barely scraped through by luck—nothing compared to your past feats, Senior."
"Mm."
Lu Yang pinched his fingers, calculating, then wore a strange expression. "Seems you've come to see me behind Senior Heaven Mending's back. That doesn't sit well, does it?"
"What's wrong with it?"
She pouted. "He's fully focused on protecting my brother right now—no time for me. Don't worry, Senior; he won't notice."
This scene felt oddly familiar.
Lu Yang paused, then pressed on. "Very well, then. What brings you here, Fellow Daoist?"
As he'd anticipated.
Her expression hardened. "To be frank, Junior wishes to slay her father and mother for true freedom. I beg your aid, Senior!"
Lu Yang: "..."
Damn, you really are family!
With those words, Lu Yang instantly realized that neither her parents' schemes had escaped their clever daughter's notice.
*This is the Primal Saint Sect, alright.*
He sighed inwardly but kept his face impassive. With someone delivering herself to his door, he didn't mind profiting from both sides. "What's in it for me?"
Chen Shuqian replied at once, "My Dao foundation is the [Phoenix Luan Harmonizing Dao Foundation], a sixth-grade technique my father created to pair with the Nine Transformations of the Dragon Art. Pairing it in dual cultivation with one who has the [Ten Thousand Chariots Dragon-Riding Dao Foundation] can ignite a spiritual flame."
"This flame is called the [Azure Luan Noon Flame]."
"Noon is when the six yang wanes and yin renews—the fire's fortune peaks, birthing乙 wood to nurture all things endlessly. It's a healing flame."
"It can mend nearly any injury to flesh or dharma body."
"Father's intent was for me to use this flame to shield him from more heavenly lightning."
Hatred flashed in her phoenix eyes. "I offer it as payment—please save my life, Senior!"
"Whoa."
Facing her resolute expression, Lu Yang pondered. It seemed Chen Shuqian hadn't coordinated with Lady Ruo Xiang beforehand.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be begging him to save her.
After all, Lady Ruo Xiang never planned to kill her—in fact, she wanted to protect her. Strictly speaking, he didn't even need to lift a finger.
*This... I can just freeload off it!*
(This chapter end)